Worry about…

June 27, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

 

I know for me I usually hit the worry button before the prayer button.  And I know better…I’ve read this verse numerous times, I once had screen saver on Windows Vista that showed this verse all the time.  For me I can be a big worry wart.  If you don’t believe me ask my wife.  I worry about the small things such as what we are going to eat or what I’m going to wear.  But that then leads to me second guessing decisions I make, and worry myself to death at times about what I wrote in an email or how I responded to someone.  I get myself sick at times or worry myself into low confidence.

But I am coming around  I have been really working on praying more instead of worrying so much.  Its a big change for me to actually put this action into place.  And by doing so it has really calmed the stress and anxiety in my life.  I still worry many times a day, but putting prayer into action over worry really does work!  Try it!

Filed Under: church, God, just sayin, Personal Care, Prayer, Soul Care ·

A clear mind…

June 1, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Over a month ago I decided to take a break from here and also have been limiting my social media time.  The main reason is that at the end of April I did not pass the board of ordained ministry in the area of theology.  The next week my wife and I went on our anniversary cruise so I went a week without my iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and it felt great.  After we got back I have taken the last month to relax and not spend as much time online.  This past weekend I served on a Chrysalis weekend and went 3 days without going online.  It has been a great time for me to get back to me and spend more time with my family.  I have really enjoyed it and it has really cleared my mind.

The best moments have been late at night, after my daughter has gone to bed and my wife is at work.  Instead of browsing twitter and Facebook I have been spending time in the word and in prayer.  It has been much needed.  I have slept better.  It has also allowed me not to stay up late, which has meant I have been in the office earlier and have gotten more accomplished during this past month.

So I’m back to blogging, but going to keep limiting my online time after I get home from work.  It is great Soul Care and I am glad that it just happened!

Filed Under: Current Affairs, God, Personal Care, Prayer, Soul Care ·

The Lord’s Prayer

March 26, 2012 by · 1 Comment

Last night I had my students do a prayer walk through our church with the Lord’s prayer.  Last week I felt God tell me that my lesson for Sunday night needed to change.  So at small groups on Wednesday night I asked my students what they wanted me to talk about.  After a few minutes, there were several students that wanted me to talk more in depth about prayer.  We spent one night earlier this semester talking about it but they wanted more.  So I looked in my files and found a file that I had once used that had the Lord’s prayer explained in a prayer walk.  So for three days I looked over it and prayed what God wanted us to do.  On Saturday afternoon/evening I got this old file and updated it and adapted it our church.

I had students come up to the alter and pick up a piece of paper.  On each sheet it had one line of the Lord’s prayer followed by several questions, a prayer, and meditation.  They journeyed throughout the church individually and finished in the sanctuary.  We then closed with several songs and discussion.  It was one of the most powerful nights of worship.  It was so awesome to hear from my students and see that they are getting what it means to pray.  I stayed and talked with several students in the parking lot afterwards.

Many of the students said that they have said the Lord’s prayer hundreds of times but never really thought about what they were saying.  They said it was just a routine.  By breaking down the Lord’s prayer line by line and having them see it from their eyes, they said it was “actually relevant” and that it was truly a model of how and why we should pray.

Its amazing sometimes how the simple things in ministry can change perspectives in students lives…

Filed Under: church, God, Prayer, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , , ,

Day 3 at #SYMC 2012

March 5, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Kurt Johnson summed it up best tonight in his closing prayer tonight…”WOW!”  And that is the feeling of mine and many of today’s awesome day at SYMC!  Today started off for me sleeping in…till 10:30AM.  I really do not remember the last time I’ve slept in that late.  But it was great.  I felt very refreshed, but also a little bummed since I missed a breakout session.  Well since I was running late, I got the morning session a few minutes late and decided to chill in the back on the floor.  Worship once again by Tim was a great way to start off a Sunday morning.  Rick Lawerence led our morning devotion time with a video about deaf Jazz Singer Mandy Harvey.  And to have Dad perform was an amazing surprise.   But I really enjoyed the breakout groups during the session this morning.  I was able to make a new friend Troy, from Pennsylvania.  really awesome guy who has  big heart for God.  I had the chance to catch up with a few more times during the day.  And thats what I love about these conferences, finding new friends in ministry.

After the session I went to a session with Group Publishing and learned a lot about their whole process of how the publish all their lines from online to the magazine to books.  Really cool talking with those guys.  i then met my good friend Jason for lunch.  It was great to talk with him and talk about some past things.   Been wanting to have that conversation for years and so glad the opportunity presented itself today.

I then went to Simply Soul Care and caught up with everyone there and we all realized that we had all known each other for years from the old Youth Speciality Message boards… And then I had the chance to provide soul care for a fellow UMC youth worker.  My heart goes out to them and their family during this time in their life and ministry.  It was a very humbling but awesome time in prayer.  Please keep this person in your prayers.

Tonights worship was off the CHAIN!!!!  The Shanes did an amazing job leading in worship.  The Skit guys did my favorite skit and even though I’ve seen it and shown it numerous times, it still brought tears to my eyes.  Derwin Gray…what can I say….He gave the best message I have ever heard at any conference.  He brought it and it was simply amazing.  After his message, he had an alter call and many youth workers came down front and were prayed for.  Words can not describe what God did in this conference today for me and the other youth workers in attendance.

And then it started to Snow here in Louisville…

AMEN!  WOW!!!!!!!

Filed Under: church, God, Personal Care, Prayer, Soul Care, UMC, Youth Ministry · Tagged: , , , , , ,

Simply Youth SoulCare

February 10, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

This past fall I saw a tweet about a new ministry by Simply Youth called Soul Care.  I took a look at the site and thought it was an area that has been needed in youth ministry for the longest time.  Over the past six months I’ve had to deal with several things in ministry and in my personal life that I was unsure where to go to for answers, prayer, an ear to listen, and advice.  One night in September after praying for several hours about a difficult situation in ministry I was dealing with I opened up twitter on my iPhone and saw a tweet from @SYMsoulcare .  It was asking for any prayer requests.  So I sent a DM to them and had a response within a few minutes.  The next day I filled out the form and got a call from one of my friends who is a big part of SYM Soul Care and talked to him about the situation.  It was great to have an ear outside of my everyday circle to listen to what was going on.  It was even more encouraging with the followup and knowing so many were praying for me and my situation.

Since that time I have leaned on SYM soul care for several ministry and personal situations.   On their site, SYM Soul Care describes their ministry as:

Everyone experiences highs & lows in life & ministry, and sometimes it can feel like there is no “safe place” to turn when things get tough. But you’re not alone. Simply Soul Care is a new ministry outreach from Group & Simply Youth Ministry that offers youth workers free, confidential pastoral support when you need it. It’s like “urgent care” for a youth worker’s heart & soul! This ministry first began onsite as “the Shelter” at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference, and we’ve realized the need extends outside the conference walls all year long.

Like I described in one of my situations back in September, they go above and beyond the call in a much needed area.  Thanks to this amazing group of people!  They have been a light during a few dark and confusing times over the past few months.  They are more than just a text, an email, or phone call.  They are a network of prayer warriors that are Kingdom minded!  I’m very glad to have them in youth ministry.  It is a long overdue ministry that is and has been needed.  I look back at the last fourteen plus years of ministry and wished they would have been there for other times.

I’m a strong believer in prayer and helping others build up the body of Christ.  If you are going through something personally or professionally in youth ministry, don’t care the burden yourself.  Take a moment and go to their site and fill out the form.  You will not regret it.  And if you are going to SYMC next month be sure to join the Facebook group to connect with them while you are there.  And if you are going to SYMC leave a comment below or shoot me a message on here, twitter @uscerock , or Facebook.  I would love to catch up with you there!

 

Filed Under: church, Current Affairs, God, Personal Care, Prayer, Soul Care, Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Ideas · Tagged: , , , , , , , ,
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