God is always at work. I affirm this with all of my heart. I believe God is still working in my life and the feeling is surreal as I think about this post. Some of these thoughts aren’t really new to some of you. I’ve shared in previous posts these reflections.
This post is unique.
A very long time ago I wondered upon the campus of a church that I’ve come to love very much. It’s my home away from home. I’ve always loved this church. It’s composed of people who’ve become some of our dearest friends.
There are people in this church who have no clue and don’t even realize how much of an impact they’ve made on my life for Christ. I am a follower of Jesus, husband, father, and pastor because of how some of these people were used in my life by Christ.
When I was a Jr. High kid there were two places I could be found.
The boulevard or at church.
This past Wednesday I had an experience that was so surreal that I felt I was in a scene out of the matrix. It happened again on Friday and even on Saturday morning.
I dropped my kids off with some friends of theirs at this church for a youth group function. At this church there is a room where the youth function took place. This room always takes me back to my life as a kiddoe.
This room was where I learned from folks that I was loved and valued by Christ.
It was a room where I learned how to play guitar and lead worship. It was a room where I earned a Holy Land coin from my 7th grade Sunday school teacher if I memorized scripture. It was a room where I heard good news as a youth that Jesus loved me and would be faithful in the midst of the joys and struggles of life. It was even the room where I served with my wife in ministry prior to us getting married, helping her run an after school children’s program for the neighborhood.
This week our two boys got introduced to this room. They were introduced to people who continue the vision of loving kids and giving Jesus to them by showing them simple acts of kindness. Seeds of faith planted into their hearts.
As I drove off after dropping them off, I couldn’t help but remember the emptiness I had as a kid not having parents who were available and who showed up as parents. As I drove off I was overwhelmed with God’s blessing that although I didn’t have my parents, that I had the church, the kingdom of God here on earth filing that hole in my heart. As I drove off I was tickled pink that my wife and I get to be parents of some awesome gifts from upon high. As I drove off, I felt grateful that the Lord of the universe, through the work of the church, saved my life. And as I drove off I was overwhelmed with joy that the seeds of faith that were planted in my heart as a youth, were being planted and rooted in the hearts of our kids. Seeds of faith that I took from people who loved me and that we gave and still give and will give to our kids as parents.
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.
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?
(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.
While at LJO’s thing last week picked up some more books at the Fuller Book store. Tonight I decided to see what this one was about. Very applicable to my ministry as a small church pastor.
Right from the first chapter…
“Culture is the most important social reality in your church. Though invisible to the untrained eye, its power is undeniable. Culture gives color and flavor to everything your church is and does. Like a powerful current running through your church, it can move you inland or take you farther out to sea. It can prevent your church’s potential from being realized, or-if used by the Holy Spirit-it can draw others in and reproduce healthy spiritual life along the way.”
When Jesus sends us out into the world, he sends us to places that either bring us joy or places where we will be challenged to grow in our faith. After finishing a week of vacation Bible school, I can’t help but hear the words of Jesus, “as the father sends me, I also send you…”
Ministry is a whole lot of sending sometimes. Every where you go and everyone you meet is an opportunity for giving and living like Jesus. I have to say that I was on the receiving end of grace this week as we concluded a week of VBS. I love watching kids move from that initial first day of, “what have I gotten myself in to,” to singing goofy VBS church songs, which yours truly always enjoys doing. (I will be singing “whose side are you leaning on” in my sleep for about a week in my dreams) I especially enjoyed our celebration this evening when the kids whose parents had showed up for an end of week BBQ wanted to sing the songs for their parents. It was awesome and refreshing. I especially enjoyed watching the adults give of their lives in a way where one adult made a comment to another, “now what am I going to do now that VBS is over?”
I have no doubt they experienced what I experienced in receiving grace from a bunch of kids who were challenged at the beginning of the week to do just one thing…just have fun. The joy in being sent by God is knowing that even when we are sent to places that either bring us joy or challenge us that God has a way of renewing our hearts for for his purpose. Even when and if we’re feeling spent after a week of goofy VBS church songs, bible themed snacks, and loud ear piercing sounds and smells of kids just trying to enjoy the gift of being kids.
Blogging stinks right now. Not much happening. Went to Gilbert Arizona for a few days with the family. Nice little community there in Gilbert AZ. Gilbert has a few things I’m liking that California needs to get quickly…and that we loved.
1. lifetime fitness (a very cool gym with more televisions than best buy to work out to, a rock climbing wall facility, and an indoor/outdoor mini-water park and pool that we sat in and played for around four hours in 108 degrees of HOT sun) I’m sorry 24 hour fitness. When lifetime fitness comes to Cali…you guys are toast, we’re going lifetime.
2. PEI WEI- I loved Panda. I love Pick Up Sticks even more…PEI WEI will take over Pick Up Sticks fairly soon and I will love PEI WEI. Please come to the AV Mr. Pei Wei???? (We didn’t get to go, but drove by two stores I think…have come to learn PEI WEI is here in Cali…hurry up and come to the AV)
3. Wildflower Bread Company We had breakfast here and Panera Bread you rock with the all you can drink coffee and free WIFI…but these guys serve a cool little Honey-Cured Ham & Brie Frittata that was awesome and yes all you can drink coffee is happening at the Wildflower…
We are now back and ministry is happening this week in Littlerock! Another cool thing about my call as a pastor and that I get to help make happen….
VBS!!!! 15 kiddoes. It was pretty cool. I have to say that we have a cool church in that we have people who really do care about ministry and making sure that when kids come to the church that they are loved like Jesus loves them.
Four more days to go!!! Please pray for us as we try to reach kids for Christ in Littlerock! AND YES I get to play my guitar!!!
My gaming as a kid was asteroids and pac-man at a local 7-11 in Hollywood in 1981. If you wanted to play a game, it cost you a quarter.
I will be charging now as the kiddlings enter the age of the need to play 24 hours a day…
Twenty Five Cents…in 1981????
$5.00 in 2007?????? Oh yeah!!!! I”ll be rich by the time they get out of high school…I guess they will need allowance now…maybe not rich, but coffee money is nice.
ht:ysmarko
I love this place. I miss taking youth groups here. It was a home away from home and it was because of this place I came to know Christ and his love for me. Now my kiddoes get to go. Our oldest gets to go with the church I went with when I was in Jr. high this next week. Can’t wait for him to experience what I exprienced. The next dude gets to go in a couple of weeks. I’m thrilled!!!!! Our prayers are that they get refreshed and come to know Jesus as one who loves them no matter what…P.S. Can you find waldo in the above pic (I’ll give you a clue…a whole lot of black hair)
