I read something that struck me this morning, "Church hoppers are like wife swappers! They get plenty of honeymoons but never know the deeper joy of committed, costly, enduring love!"
When I read this, names of people started flooding my head. Do you know those people that just go from church to church? They try to get involved, then mess things up and leave. I've experienced that with people in our church. It's sad, it really is. Do you ever view the church as a relationship? Think about this, what if you were to tell me that you really like me but you just can't STAND Libby - how do you think I would feel about you? As a human, I would struggle not to punch you in the face. She's the woman I have devoted my life to and she's my wife! The one I have chosen to be with! So we hear these people say, "I love God, but I hate the church". It makes no sense to me, yet I have been one of those people in the past. I know the institution of the church is a struggle to some, but why? Have you been hurt by the church? Being at the Bridge, I meet many people who have been hurt by the church. They were involved in the church and then something happened. I have a friend like that who is now atheist because of how things went down at his last church. To just completely leave the church because of an incident that didn't sit well with you, how mature is that?
Look at it in a relationship again. Libby and I get into arguments and disagreements - you could call them fights. Now let's say we get in a fight and I decide after that fight I'm done, I'm leaving her. What would you say to me? I would hope someone with some sense would come to me and point out my stupidity and overreaction to something. So why don't we do this to those that leave the church? We write them off as just another church hopper. This is an epidemic that needs help, it's needs our attention. So what can we do to stop it?
Just my observations on a snowy monday morning, feel free to help me process this if you care :-)
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Rivers and Floods
Indiana is finally getting some storms that we needed and we got a decent amount of rain the other day. But I was thinking about what it would be like if we flooded. The rain just continually comes and creates all of this damage and wrecks many lives and destroys homes. I also live by the river. The river flows and does it's thing. There is a purpose to a river. The river flows to a destination and creates a way for people to get somewhere with the current that it provides.
They are both bodies of water but there is a difference - focus. As a leader, the goal is to channel people, time, energy, money to one clear vision. Being in leadership, I can see the value of being like a river. I also see the destruction of being like a flood. Many leaders today act as floods, they have their position and they sit and all it does it create damage. We need to look at our lives as rivers and know what we are trying to accomplish and help lead those around us to that goal.
Not a life update really, just was sparked by a leadership challenge and thought I would share.
They are both bodies of water but there is a difference - focus. As a leader, the goal is to channel people, time, energy, money to one clear vision. Being in leadership, I can see the value of being like a river. I also see the destruction of being like a flood. Many leaders today act as floods, they have their position and they sit and all it does it create damage. We need to look at our lives as rivers and know what we are trying to accomplish and help lead those around us to that goal.
Not a life update really, just was sparked by a leadership challenge and thought I would share.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Blessed and Encouraged
Passion seems to be a topic that is talked about OFTEN around me and my sphere of people in my life. I work with a guy who is the definition of passion to me. In all he does, he puts his heart into it. I'm always impressed by him and constantly learning from him...maybe I should tell him that. But a couple weeks ago, I met with another junior high pastor and we were just talking about passion. I asked her to pray for me in that area. It's weird, passion seems to have it highs and lows with me. If you know me, I'm a very moody person - wish I could rewire that in my brain. But she asked me what ignites my passion and I told her anytime I'm with the middle school kids, it's there, I leave and just have this energy and passion for what I do. Tonight really ignited some passion for me - which is something I've been praying for and I know some of you have been praying for me in that area, which I am so appreciative of! So thank you. But let me tell you a little about tonight that was pretty cool to me - there were lots of things, but this sticks out.
We have this boy who is handicapped (I think he has severe autism?) The story I got was that he has been to many youth ministries and has never felt accepted and didn't like it. I guess the Bridge was their last hope. Well, he came out a couple months ago and I have these 2 guys leaders that are just AWESOME with these kids (Brady and Landon) and they just clicked with him and made him feel a part of it. I talked with the boy's dad one time and he told me how much he loves it there and loves those guys. Every week he has a behavioral specialist with him and they let me in on stuff about him. They say how he loves to play knock out, but he never gets involved. He likes to go to the corner and just hang by himself, he's pretty tough to talk to. Tonight, he got out of the car and came running down to the court and was talking to me (HUGE!), then he got right into the games without me having to ask him to play (HUGE!), then we go inside and I ask the kids questions that will lead into my message - he put his hand up. His behavioral specialist mouthed the words to me "OH MY GOSH" - he shared something. She told me that is NOT something people with his disability will do. That is not him at all, but something is happening in him. She was almost crying about it because it was that big of a deal.
That reignited some passion for me. To watch a kid come out and totally come out of his shell and be so comfortable - it was awesome! All of the middle school kids love him and are buddies with him.
I've just been so impressed by these middle schoolers. They are so eager to learn, every week on sundays they share what they are reading in their Bibles and how they are applying it to their lives. I watch as kids help each other as they're going through hard times. These kids are seeing what being a church family is all about. They're getting it at such an early age and I get to be a part of that and I feel so privileged to be where I am.
So thank you to all of you that pour into me, encourage me and pray for me. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed and I appreciate it so much. God is good and He is doing some BIG things in the youth ministry at the Bridge.
We have this boy who is handicapped (I think he has severe autism?) The story I got was that he has been to many youth ministries and has never felt accepted and didn't like it. I guess the Bridge was their last hope. Well, he came out a couple months ago and I have these 2 guys leaders that are just AWESOME with these kids (Brady and Landon) and they just clicked with him and made him feel a part of it. I talked with the boy's dad one time and he told me how much he loves it there and loves those guys. Every week he has a behavioral specialist with him and they let me in on stuff about him. They say how he loves to play knock out, but he never gets involved. He likes to go to the corner and just hang by himself, he's pretty tough to talk to. Tonight, he got out of the car and came running down to the court and was talking to me (HUGE!), then he got right into the games without me having to ask him to play (HUGE!), then we go inside and I ask the kids questions that will lead into my message - he put his hand up. His behavioral specialist mouthed the words to me "OH MY GOSH" - he shared something. She told me that is NOT something people with his disability will do. That is not him at all, but something is happening in him. She was almost crying about it because it was that big of a deal.
That reignited some passion for me. To watch a kid come out and totally come out of his shell and be so comfortable - it was awesome! All of the middle school kids love him and are buddies with him.
I've just been so impressed by these middle schoolers. They are so eager to learn, every week on sundays they share what they are reading in their Bibles and how they are applying it to their lives. I watch as kids help each other as they're going through hard times. These kids are seeing what being a church family is all about. They're getting it at such an early age and I get to be a part of that and I feel so privileged to be where I am.
So thank you to all of you that pour into me, encourage me and pray for me. I want you to know it does not go unnoticed and I appreciate it so much. God is good and He is doing some BIG things in the youth ministry at the Bridge.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Adventures at Highland
Every week I venture into the local junior high to hang with some students. Most of you have kept up with our city's issues with the merging of schools and all that jazz. Phil is over at the high school and loving it. Kids attitudes seem to be great and he's got a great gig over there. I, on the other hand, do not so much have a great gig where I'm at. Every one was all about Anderson high school and focusing all of their energy there, that I think they forgot about highland. EVERY week I go in, I'm either breaking up a fight, or dealing with a bully situation. I face a LOT of negative attitudes - they're directed at me too. But every week, I leave that school, sit in my car and just pray...a couple of times, I just cry. I cry because I hurt for these kids and I feel at such a loss. You know the song "Hosanna", the line in there "break my heart for what breaks yours...EVERYTHING I AM FOR YOUR KINGDOMS CAUSE". I think I caught a glimpse of it today. Every week, I see a glimpse of God's heart breaking for these people. But for once, I caught the second part - everything I am for your kingdoms cause. I exerted all of my energy today, I did all I knew to do and still left hurting for them. I know it won't change immediately, but my goodness, this is a HUGE mission field.
There is this girl, her name is Anna. Pray for Anna. I randomly went to her table at the beginning of the year and she was the meanest person I've probably ever met - she's in 7th grade. She likes to be called the devil and prides herself on that nickname. Every week she cusses at me and tells me to go away and doesn't get why in the world I go in there if I'm not forced to. I told her a few weeks ago that my goal is to get her to smile...today, she smiled. I threw a party for her. I was so excited, she was so angry because she finally broke, but I told her how much joy it gave me to finally see her smile and her response "GO TO HELL".
This is what I deal with week after week. There was almost a fight, I talked with one of the kids today who was really angry to get him to calm down, talked with the dean about it, finally got him calmed down. As I'm leaving, I get a phone call - that kid got in a fight after lunch and is now suspended for 5 days. Guess what I'm doing - hanging out with that kid for one of those 5 days. The deans are starting to look at me as their only hope in the school. This is not to toot a horn - it's to say, WE NEED HELP! If I'm all they got, this is sad. Everything I am for your kingdoms cause. Now I'm going to go into the school and meet with the deans and discuss how I can have a bigger reach and impact in the schools. I don't want to police the lunch room, I do not want to be the disciplinarian, that is not my job. But now I have an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of kids who are constantly being fed lies about who they are. They don't see themselves the way God sees them.
So I guess why I'm writing this - I need your prayers. There is a lot that needs done and I'm only so much, but God is bigger, God is stronger, God is greater and nothing can stop the work that God wants done. I believe after today that I am to be the light in their darkness, to be in their world and empower these kids to be who God made them to be. There is so much that needs prayer at that school that I don't know where to begin. But would you join me in praying for these kids?
There is this girl, her name is Anna. Pray for Anna. I randomly went to her table at the beginning of the year and she was the meanest person I've probably ever met - she's in 7th grade. She likes to be called the devil and prides herself on that nickname. Every week she cusses at me and tells me to go away and doesn't get why in the world I go in there if I'm not forced to. I told her a few weeks ago that my goal is to get her to smile...today, she smiled. I threw a party for her. I was so excited, she was so angry because she finally broke, but I told her how much joy it gave me to finally see her smile and her response "GO TO HELL".
This is what I deal with week after week. There was almost a fight, I talked with one of the kids today who was really angry to get him to calm down, talked with the dean about it, finally got him calmed down. As I'm leaving, I get a phone call - that kid got in a fight after lunch and is now suspended for 5 days. Guess what I'm doing - hanging out with that kid for one of those 5 days. The deans are starting to look at me as their only hope in the school. This is not to toot a horn - it's to say, WE NEED HELP! If I'm all they got, this is sad. Everything I am for your kingdoms cause. Now I'm going to go into the school and meet with the deans and discuss how I can have a bigger reach and impact in the schools. I don't want to police the lunch room, I do not want to be the disciplinarian, that is not my job. But now I have an opportunity to speak truth into the lives of kids who are constantly being fed lies about who they are. They don't see themselves the way God sees them.
So I guess why I'm writing this - I need your prayers. There is a lot that needs done and I'm only so much, but God is bigger, God is stronger, God is greater and nothing can stop the work that God wants done. I believe after today that I am to be the light in their darkness, to be in their world and empower these kids to be who God made them to be. There is so much that needs prayer at that school that I don't know where to begin. But would you join me in praying for these kids?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Stolen Bus!!
It's been about 4 months since I've put anything on here. This whole blog thing was Libby's idea and we don't even update it :-) So let me know if you read this!
It's 11:15 on thursday night and I just got home from being with the cops - and I wasn't riding along this time. I got a call tonight from a cop friend of mine saying that our church bus got stolen by an 11 year old and I needed to come down there to get it and do whatever to the kids. I thought for sure he was joking, so I reluctantly said I'll be there. Then I get a call from a detective at the police station asking if I needed a ride out there. Ok, now it's for real and I'm a little freaked out. Here's why...
Today I was talking with my boss about how great life really is right now. The past 2 months or so I have gotten more encouragement than my first 4 years in ministry. Normally this would be sweet for me...but it wasn't for some reason (that's a whole other mess), but I think I was scared because I feel like once life is great, something huge happens that messes me up. Saturday morning I leave for a middle school camp on that bus and I thought "Great, one more thing to stress out about with this camp". My whole thought process going out to this bus was all about me and what I was feeling. Then as we were getting closer my heart was POUNDING through my chest. I've never felt that way before. I felt like God was really working me over - as angry as I was and as much as I wanted to just roundhouse kick those kids - my thought was "don't press charges - make it so these kids have to attend youth as their 'punishment'" Luckily that part didn't happen tonight...I'll get to go to court for that one, so I can process this further.
I'm not sure why I have been emotional lately...I promise I'm not pregnant (yes, this is Gabe writing). But I about started crying when I got out to the bus. There, sitting on the curb, an 11 year old and 15 year old in handcuffs. I talked a little with the boys to know their life and see what got them to where they are today. The 15 year old - no family, lives with a nanny and parents have nothing to do with him. The 11 year old - mom makes meth, sells crack and the cops are always at their house. When the cops asked if his mom would care he was going to jail, he shrugged his shoulders and acted like it was no big deal.
This is my city. This stuff happens every day. There are hundreds, if not thousands of lives just like this in Anderson. This is why I live here and do ministry here. Sure, I feel unsafe at times, but I'm doing God's work, I'm in His hands, I trust His plan. Even though my heart is a wreck right now, I believe my eyes were opened so wide tonight to a hurting world all around me.
So I'm left with that and I won't be able to sleep tonight because I have one huge question that I can't wrap my mind around - NOW WHAT?
It's 11:15 on thursday night and I just got home from being with the cops - and I wasn't riding along this time. I got a call tonight from a cop friend of mine saying that our church bus got stolen by an 11 year old and I needed to come down there to get it and do whatever to the kids. I thought for sure he was joking, so I reluctantly said I'll be there. Then I get a call from a detective at the police station asking if I needed a ride out there. Ok, now it's for real and I'm a little freaked out. Here's why...
Today I was talking with my boss about how great life really is right now. The past 2 months or so I have gotten more encouragement than my first 4 years in ministry. Normally this would be sweet for me...but it wasn't for some reason (that's a whole other mess), but I think I was scared because I feel like once life is great, something huge happens that messes me up. Saturday morning I leave for a middle school camp on that bus and I thought "Great, one more thing to stress out about with this camp". My whole thought process going out to this bus was all about me and what I was feeling. Then as we were getting closer my heart was POUNDING through my chest. I've never felt that way before. I felt like God was really working me over - as angry as I was and as much as I wanted to just roundhouse kick those kids - my thought was "don't press charges - make it so these kids have to attend youth as their 'punishment'" Luckily that part didn't happen tonight...I'll get to go to court for that one, so I can process this further.
I'm not sure why I have been emotional lately...I promise I'm not pregnant (yes, this is Gabe writing). But I about started crying when I got out to the bus. There, sitting on the curb, an 11 year old and 15 year old in handcuffs. I talked a little with the boys to know their life and see what got them to where they are today. The 15 year old - no family, lives with a nanny and parents have nothing to do with him. The 11 year old - mom makes meth, sells crack and the cops are always at their house. When the cops asked if his mom would care he was going to jail, he shrugged his shoulders and acted like it was no big deal.
This is my city. This stuff happens every day. There are hundreds, if not thousands of lives just like this in Anderson. This is why I live here and do ministry here. Sure, I feel unsafe at times, but I'm doing God's work, I'm in His hands, I trust His plan. Even though my heart is a wreck right now, I believe my eyes were opened so wide tonight to a hurting world all around me.
So I'm left with that and I won't be able to sleep tonight because I have one huge question that I can't wrap my mind around - NOW WHAT?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Malachi Joseph
So I'm an uncle again!! Joe and Natalie had their third child - Malachi Joseph. I haven't talked with Joe yet, but from what I've read, this child is a miracle. He was born over in Africa so their medical isn't that great compared to the states. When he was born, the cord was wrapped around his neck and was in a knot. But everything is fine and he's a healthy little boy!! But this is also hard for me too. I'm not sure if anyone even understands why except my family - but I've been at the hospital for the birth of all my nieces and nephews. But I won't see Malachi until he's about 11 months old.
I learned something over Christmas break that is huge in my life. My time with my family is huge for me. I love my in laws, they are incredible and couldn't ask for better in laws, but nothing can beat your family! I love getting to be with them and just spend time with them and I think too often people take for granted that family is always there. I guess it's not something we learn until our family is no longer close to us. I don't really have a main point in writing this other than to let people know about Malachi. But also to let ya know that I'm at a stuck point in my life. I know my brother is doing what he's supposed to be doing and there are missionaries all over the world that leave their families in the states. I just never thought that the family left here would struggle with it. Now that I'm on that end, I see that it is hard and I'm sure it's hard for my brother to be away from everyone. I've always had the dream of being an uncle like my Uncle Steve was to me. We had a cool relationship and felt like we were buddies and he called me "partner" and we wore the same hat when we were out on the boat. Just memories like that with my uncle, I want my nieces and nephews to have with me. Who knows what is in the future for our family, but I'm just trying to trust God's plan for all of it. Maybe we'll just have to have kids so I can have kids in my life to love and spoil :-) I think I need to take Vivian for a day (my niece in Indy) so I can get my fix!
I learned something over Christmas break that is huge in my life. My time with my family is huge for me. I love my in laws, they are incredible and couldn't ask for better in laws, but nothing can beat your family! I love getting to be with them and just spend time with them and I think too often people take for granted that family is always there. I guess it's not something we learn until our family is no longer close to us. I don't really have a main point in writing this other than to let people know about Malachi. But also to let ya know that I'm at a stuck point in my life. I know my brother is doing what he's supposed to be doing and there are missionaries all over the world that leave their families in the states. I just never thought that the family left here would struggle with it. Now that I'm on that end, I see that it is hard and I'm sure it's hard for my brother to be away from everyone. I've always had the dream of being an uncle like my Uncle Steve was to me. We had a cool relationship and felt like we were buddies and he called me "partner" and we wore the same hat when we were out on the boat. Just memories like that with my uncle, I want my nieces and nephews to have with me. Who knows what is in the future for our family, but I'm just trying to trust God's plan for all of it. Maybe we'll just have to have kids so I can have kids in my life to love and spoil :-) I think I need to take Vivian for a day (my niece in Indy) so I can get my fix!
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