Over a month ago a member of the church came to me and said he had something he wanted to talk with me about. He was talking with some folks and he had an idea that would be another way of reaching the local youth of the community in Littlerock. It would be a concert for the youth of the neighborhood that would be held out of his back yard. He’s invited several other church youth groups and some other bands  who will be coming to play. The persons heart is awesome and his passion for Christ and the kids in the town is obviously from the Lord. How do you say no? You can’t say no. You don’t say no. And because of this persons desire to do something to reach the kids for Christ, the Littlerock Christian Youth Fest is now taking place on Saturday, June 7th from 12pm – 5pm. The music will be loud and will hurt my ears, but it’s not for me or any of the other adults in the church. It’s for the kids and to share Christ’s love with them. The two bands that will be helping us in helping kids become followers of Jesus are farfromfamous and dead theory. Now when you listen to these guys, trust me when I say it’s loud and its loud. And music again has come full circle. So, turn down your speakers and say a little prayer for our church and the other churches who will be bringing kids to this event. And when someone comes to you with that sparkle in their eyes and has passion that’s overflowing and contagious? You might want to just listen and you might want to just yes and ask, “how can I help?” And if you are one of the cool folks from cpclr we’d love your prayers and support. We’re still needing support in the areas of food, outhouses, and other items for the day. And if any of you have a connection in getting some Bibles? Let us know.

One of our church’s in our Presbytery is hosting an event that I think will be beneficial for all of those in the church. Here is an excerpt from the Church Basement Roadshow Website:

Three authors/friends/public speakers hit the road for a summer, barnstorming churches around the country in a cross between an old time tent revival and the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Speaking at churches large and small, Tony, Doug, and Mark will present a 90-minute show (including a 20-minute intermission) that will combine humor and passion, speaking and video, preaching and dialogue. Audiences will be entertained, to be sure, but, more importantly, they will be given a vision of an alternative Christianity, one that it woefully lacking in today’s world—this alternative is a Christianity of adventurous theology, passionate faithfulness, postmodern wit, and unrelenting concern for the justice and peace that God offers.

It’s on June 14th and the doors open at 6:30pm.

Our three kids rock in so many ways. Each have their own gifts and talents and get their smart stuff from my bride. Here’s something that happened last Friday as I was traveling down to Del Mar to rock out with Skillet and hang with the youth group:

Our boy making us proud. It’s only the beginning.

What a weekend. First, let me say I love Del Mar and Solana Beach more and more every day. There is a little tiny beach off of hwy 101 that we hung out on for a couple of hours and enjoyed every moment. As for Spirit West Coast 2008? I have to say God is good and that the students and adults enjoyed the time away. The adults came together as a team and the youth all made the weekend a wonderful weekend all in all. There was some rain which we’d thought would never end, but ended up being a refreshing gift of God’s grace. We had another youth group join us for the weekend which was cool. Hello Lancaster peeps! (Ruth, Greg, and the storybook crew) As for the bands this year? I must say Newsboys of course are always a treat. As for Jars? Boys, God has used you and continues to use you, but I must admit “Skillet” rocked this year. It was my first “skillet” experience. Per Greg’s suggestion we’d like to start an “old farts” for “skillet”group. Anyways, the video here is something someone else put on youtube from the skillet show this past weekend. Watch it carefully. And notice the little wave of heads dancing in the spirit to the right of the video. I could be totally out of touch which is usually the case with the amount of stuff we’re trying to just keep up with in our lives. I had seen “moshing” in the past, but I never really paid attention until this year for some reason. Someone, if they haven’t already needs to write a book on the “theology of the mosh pit and youth culture.” There is something that happens in the mosh pit that needs to be disected just for fun and would be revealing for those of us still serving in our old age in youth ministry, trying to figure out how to minister effectively, and would add insight to the way we do ministry in the midst of the 21st Century. When “Skillet” shifted gears for some worship the moshing took a break until rockin’ resumed which I was blessed to see. Anyways, good time this year! As for Third day? Nothing trumps Third Day. Their music keeps getting better with age. Did I just compare Third Day to a bottle of wine? Weird. But talk about a spirit filled group of guys. Thanks for leading us into the throne room of grace boys! I must say its time for Crowder to come back to Spirit West Coast. What’s the deal David?

Hung out with one of our sons tonight watching his baseball game. Something I know I didn’t see from my dad. It’s a treat for me that I get to do these things with our kids. Being a dad trumps so many other things. It’s a gift from God to be able to share with my wife in the role of parenting. Tonight, the boy got a solid outfield hit and got someone out on a throw he made from right field to second base which ended the inning. Made me proud. On the way home we had a good talk about the game and how he felt really good about what he contributed to the game. He says, “I really needed that hit, because he’s had a slow season at the plate. As we talked some more, the topic came up about who got the game ball AGAIN. Kids at this level are so used to getting a game ball from the younger leagues that it becomes the “ata boy,” of the day. I sensed his frustration about how some of the same kids keep getting game balls, some have gotten them at least twice, maybe even three times. And in the coaches defense, the game ball is sometimes the accolade a boy needs to encourage a kid. So, don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with the game ball concept for now. Anyways, as I drove my boy home and as my heart broke as I listened to his frustration of, “how does one earn a game ball,” my fatherly words of wisdom that flowed from my mouth, sounded like cheese whiz on crackers. We talked about the “ata boys and accolades of life” and how when God sends you an ”ata boy,” it comes when you at least expect it. And my boys response to my cheese whiz? “Just like that hit I got.”

I think he got it.  

I’ve seen Steven Curtis Chapman on more than one occasion lead the people of God into worship. It breaks my heart to hear of his loss. Prayers for the Chapman family tonight.

(Last years Third Day Concert in Del Mar) Steve has his Coachella koo koo festival and a whole lot of youth groups this weekend from all over California will have Spirit West Coast Del Mar. Mind you there a couple of the bands that are just way to loud for me and I can’t understand the lyrics in my old age. The idea of a mosh pit scares the poop out of me and I’d be happy hanging watching Jars of Clay and Third Day all day long. But for some reason God moves and groves in the pit of mosh. Anyways, a bunch of us from the Antelope Valley and Littlerock will be cruising down to Del Mar for a weekend get away to worship God and to build some relationships with some really cool youth. Say a pray for us and especially for some of mi familia as they will be in another part of the country hanging with relatives.

For close to 15 years my wife has worked in public education. She’s taught in public schools both here in California and in New Jersey. She’s an awesome elementary school teacher and God has blessed her with a tremendous amount of gifts when it comes to teaching. Both parents and children have been impacted by her teaching. I’ve witnessed first hand her teaching abilities in the classroom.

Over the last several months one of the hot topics in California has been public education and the budget cuts that have and will take place all over the state. We’ve seen this before and have heard about the cuts over the years. She’s always been safe from any district budget cuts until this year of course. My wife and at least 58 other teachers in her district have been issued pink slips. I know there are other districts that are also issuing pink slips.

You never think about the possibility of loosing your job until it happens to you. I think that’s what’s exhausting. It becomes real when your one of the ones facing the possibility of unemployment for whatever reasons. What’s even harder not only for my wife, but for others, is that there are some really good teachers who care about the promises they made to themselves and to the kids and parents they serve every day that when they come to work that they are more than just prepared to teach; that they’re ready to make a difference in a child’s life.

When we relocated back to So. Cal we very much trusted that God would provide for our family. Even before we made the move back my wife was hired by the school district she currently teaches in. This is how we knew that we possibly were making the right decision to come back home. God has always been at the helm of any transition we’ve been part of over the years. Every move we’ve made my wife has been blessed with a teaching position or other employment. This is how I know that she’s more than just a gifted teacher. This is also why we aren’t stressing yet. Although tempting.

Faith is more than our bandage right now. It’s our strength. It’s always been our strength. And with the given events in the other parts of the world like Myanmar and the loss and suffering that others are enduring in our own country in the mid-west, because of weather it puts things in perspective. It keeps me from making this post all about the issues and politics at hand especially when it comes to public education right now. It keeps me from thinking of the worst case scenarios for myself in my current call as a pastor and for my family.

My prayer for those who teach and who’ve been affected by the state wide budget cuts is that you will find the strength and hope needed that God will provide for you as God has provided always for my wife and family. My prayer is also that those who’ve been called to make the tough decisions will listen to God and will take into account all of the scenarios not only for those who are good at what they do as teachers who will eventually find new employment, but the kids and parents who were looking forward and hoping to have the best of the best teachers who do more than just teach. Parents and kids who were looking forward to the blessing of being blessed by teachers who care about making a difference in a child’s life.

I know I’m a few days late on the mother’s day reflections. Mom died a bunch of years ago. Some days I miss her. Others, she’s mud to me. Still grateful to God for her though. It makes me happy though that I get to plant seeds in the hearts of our kids that mom rocks and deserves more than just a day. Enjoy this little piece from the skitguy dudes.

ht: brianeberly.com

Pentecost is a time for celebration within the life of the church. The birthday of the church, the day when the God of the universe fulfills God’s promise of Holy Spirit power for his people. Monday is usually a day where I think about church and what happened during worship on Sunday and my sermon. One of my thoughts yesterday I tried to convey was that when God’s Spirit comes upon God’s people that its usually a noisy event.

What if there’s no noise though? What if we don’t feel the noise of pentecost? As Monday is now here and the celebration of mother’s day is behind me, I think about some of these questions. And I wonder that if I have these questions, maybe others in my church have the same kinds of questions about their own lives when it comes to the power that God has promised us through the gift of his Holy Spirit. 

I think to often that people are judged on whether of not a person has God’s Spirit within them by how much they are doing within the life of the church or by whether or not they act a certain way. I think this can really hurt a community of faith. Another thought that I had coming away from yesterday is that I wonder if we in the church forget that when God promised the gift of God’s Spirit, that it wasn’t meant to be a private gift. It was a gift meant for the whole people of God to be shared. It’s a gift that empowers us to do the work of proclamation, sharing with the world, the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

It’s also what keeps us above water and Its what keeps us smiling at the noise within the life of the church, even if there isn’t a whole lot of noise going on.  What I enjoy about Pentecost is that God’s Spirit is always at work. Always moving and always creating some noise. It means though that we need to stop, watch, and listen to the noisy parts of the church that people often forget to pay attention to in the day to day things of church and community.