It is official

The ADD Youth Pastor is now officially a part of the WWW.  This blog can now be reached through the following url (of course if you are already here do you need it?):

www.theaddyouthpastor.com

If I Seem Grumpy

Today is day one.  Today I joined Weight Watchers.  I'm doing it on line because I have this idea in my head that that meetings are a bunch of overweight ladies talking about their battle avoiding bonbons during their favorite soap.  Now I know that's not a PC statement I'm just being honest that's the picture in my head. I have yet to meet a man that attends the meetings although I'm sure they exist.  As a matter of fact I'm participating in the Weight Watchers online for men.

So today I kept track of my points, actually the web site does that for me.  I punch what I ate and the site figures up the points.    

My food intake today consisted of the following:

Whole grain pop tarts for breakfast (I actually ate this before joining but being the good, honest person I'll count the points)  If I knew that they were worth 4 points I would have ate one tart and then ate the second later when I got hungry again.

A salad for lunch.  The salad thing is the deal because it is worth zero points.

For supper I cooked my first weight watchers meal.  Chicken Alfredo on linguine noodles.  I browned the chicken with garlic, I then mixed up whipping cream, non fat yogurt and chicken broth and let it simmer with the chicken for 30 minutes.  Pulled out the chicken, mixed in the fresh cut parley and Parmesan, tossed in the whole wheat pasta and voila it was good.

So here it is about an hour since I ate and my stomach is already growling.  I have a feeling my stomach will be growling quite a bit for the next week or two as my body adjusts.  So if I seem grumpy it's because I'm hungry and when I'm hungry I'm cranky.  So back off! :)

Three Things

As a believer in Jesus Christ there are three things we can do when things in life don't go like we would like them to go:

1.  Trust God

1.  Remember He is Sovereign and has a plan for your life.

1.  Pray

I know they are all numbered "1".  I do that because these need to happen  at the same time and not in steps or a certain order, all are equally important.

Sleeping on Pins and Needles

Is that even possible?

I'm going to give it a shot and see.

Pins and Needles

In the experiences that we have been through in our marriage we have experienced many pins and needles moments.  Those moments that put you on the edge of your seat.  The movie goes in slow motion type of moments.  I'm sure we have all had those moments in our lives.

I was in the middle of playing a Thomas the Train numbers game when I got the call from Rick. Tricia is waiting to hear from the transplant team if the set of lungs that will fit her are a match.  I can't imagine what it would be like in their room right now.  But I'm sure we are all on pins and needles.

My prayer is that this is the real deal and not a dry run.  I'm also praying that God will continue to be glorified.  

The ADD youth pastor's household is on the edge of our seats.

Together is Good

Together is good.  God has created us for community.  His plan for believers is that we be plugged in, connected, with other believers in the family of  local church.  We were meant to be together, and together is good.  

Together is good.  How does a parent teach a teen about the importance of community?

1.  Set the example because more is caught than taught

2.  Have their teen get involved in their church's youth ministry

Together is good.  It bugs me when I hear someone from a church that has at least one teenager in the church say, "We don't have a youth ministry".  Fact of the matter is if there is a teenager in the church then there is (or should be) youth ministry.  Parents or caring adults in that church could pull together and put some plans into action, even if youth ministry isn't their cup of tea.  

Together is good.  This week at NHC our youth group had some great together time.  We had Contagious on Wednesday night with a fantastic turn out of students during spring break.  We talked some more about why faith is important and knowing the core truths of our faith will help us from crumbling when faith is put to the test.  We viewed a great video about Bethany Hamilton, the teen surfer whose arm was bit off by a shark and how she used that event in her life to be used by God to reach others, rather than quitting and dropping out on her faith.

(We also ate the best nachos in the world)

Together is good.  Yesterday we spent the day at Cale Retreat.  Many climbed the rock wall, some did some trap shooting, lots of games of Apples to Apples were played.  We grilled some hot dogs for lunch.  We took a look at Saul's encounter with Jesus Christ on the Damascus road and how that encounter changed his life dramatically.  

We finished the day at Applebee's, their slogan - Together is Good.

The Cost of Freedom

Chutes and Ladders

The game that never ends. . . .

This Is What Church Looks Like!

This came to me from fellow blogger Barb, Swahilimama.

You need to go to this link and read the blog and look at the picture.  It is amazing!

A picture of what the church is supposed to be to each other as we worship the One who has brought us together.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=4757

I don't do Windows

Really, I can think of a lot more things I would rather do on a Saturday than wash windows.  I could have been at home working in my yard, or playing with my son.  You see washing windows just isn’t my thing.  I think there are probably other people out there that enjoy washing windows but not me. 

One thing that has really bugged me about my church is the front windows have needed cleaning for a long time.  Here at the beach the salt and sand really mess a window up quick.  The past two weeks I’ve been thinking someone needs to really clean those windows.

Earlier this week I pretty much decided the someone that needed to clean the windows was probably me.  Why?  I saw the need. 

Don’t get me wrong.  Nags Head Church is a great church when it comes to doing ministry.  The majority, over 90%, of our members are on ministry teams.  Some serve an hour or two a week to several hours a week. 

What I have never understood is how someone can be part of a church and never lift a finger in ministry.  That has always boggled my mind.  I think that being selfish is part of the old nature but I have (in my adult years) always done my best to pull my share of the load in ministry. 

So as I stood out front, with the 20-foot pole with a squeegee on it, I was doing some thinking.  What else can you do while cleaning windows?

I think God used those big windows today to remind me of a few things:

1.  Leaders need to set the example; if we expect members to take their “day off” to serve we should be willing to do the same.

2.  When I see a ministry that needs doing I need to help get it done, after all I’m part of the body at NHC.

3.  Sometimes we do ministry because it needs to be done even when it's not our "cup of tea".

4.  Serving God is fun; even though I don’t do windows I enjoyed my time cleaning windows.(because I was serving my Savior, I wasn't just cleaning windows)

5.  We should have a desire to serve God and the church.

6.  Parents should look for opportunity to do ministry with their kids.  What better way to teach children about getting involved in ministry?

7.  Vinegar and hot water do an awesome job cleaning windows.

What needs doing at your church?  Just do it!  (That’s how I ended up in youth ministry)

PS In this post I’m not looking for a pat on the back or a prize (God will take care of that) I’m just sharing what I thought about while on the roof of the lobby cleaning windows.

The Goat is Taking Shape

I end the day with this picture.  The goat is starting to take shape and I look forward to longer braids in the future. :0

The World's Greatest Hot Dog

Today my boy and I had lunch at a local hot doggery.  The sign over their grill reads, "World's Greatest Hot Dog".  Now I'll admit my foot long chili dog was good.  World's greatest?  I don't know about that.  They did have a picture of Johnny Cash outside of their establishment and that was cool.

I know what hot dogs are made of and I do prefer the all beef franks.  Turkey dogs are just plain gross, same goes for chicken dogs.  Now I've had some "light" hot dogs by Oscar Meyer, pretty good.  I don't eat hot dogs every day but I do like a good "dog" every now and then.

I think my love for a good hot dog stems from my upbringing in Lynchburg, Va.  There are at least three places in that one city that all claim to be the "world's best".  The best was Meeks' Deli until Mr. Meeks closed up shop.  

My question is this:  How can so many places be the World's Greatest?  Who is the on the Greatest Hot Dog Commission and who placed them there?  What are the judging criteria?  Is it just because some patron, who may or may not have good tasting abilities in the world of frankfurters, spouted out their mouth one day at the counter, "This is the world's best hot dog!"?

I am thankful that I live in this great country and that in our neck of the woods there are restaurants  (yes, I said restaurants) that focus their whole menu around a hot dog.  Even if we can't really determine who has the "World's Greatest Hot Dog".

Here are some that wear the label "World's Greatest Hog Dog":

Gene and Judes 

Spanky's Place

Weenie Stand #1, #2, #3

Pete's Famous Hot Dogs

Captain Franks

Stadium Diner

Pinks in Hollywood

Windmill

Calgary's Hot Dog Emporium

Jody Maroni's

Great Hawaiian Hot Dog Company

Can't there only be one World's Greatest?

Easter Dinner

This evening I grilled some chicken, smothered in Stubb's Barbeque sauce (been to Stubb's in Austin, TX and it was awesome).  I served this chicken with some green beens cooked with new potatoes.  Then to add a little swank to our meal I steamed asparagus and served it covered in holloandaise sauce.

What did you eat for Easter dinner?  Please take a moment and help the team here at theaddyouthpastor in our scientific research.

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More than Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs

My two favorite things to eat at Easter time are Peeps (you should see what a microwave does to these little yellow morsels of marshmallowy goodness) and Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs (they are like Reeses PB cups on steroids).

But I know that Easter is much more than Reeses PB Eggs.  Easter is about the Atonement, when Jesus Christ redeemed, bought back, his own.  He created us yet he died for us to pay for our sins.  A key truth to our faith that we as believers need to grasp is the fact that salvation is about Jesus Christ and what he has done and I (we) can do nothing to save myself.

The band introduced a new song to the church last night and I think the words wrap the meaning of this Easter weekend up in a nut shell:

You Gave Your Life Away

You spoke and worlds were formed

You breathed and life was born

You knew that one day You would come

So far from Heaven's throne

Clothed in human form

You showed the world the Father's love

You gave, You gave Your life away

You gave, You gave Your life away

You gave, You gave Your life away for me

Your grace has broken ev'ry chain

My sins are gone, my debt's been paid

You gave, You gave Your life away for me

For me

You lived a sinless life

Yet, You were crucified

You bought our freedom on the cross

Forsaken for our sin

You died and rose again

Jesus, You are the Lamb of God

You gave, You gave Your life away

You gave, You gave Your life away

You gave, You gave Your life away for me

Your grace has broken ev'ry chain

My sins are gone, my debt's been paid

You gave, You gave Your life away for me

For me

How glorious is Your love

 If I could sing forever it's not enough to say

How glorious is Your love

If I could sing forever it's not enough to say

How glorious

You gave, You gave Your life away

You gave, You gave Your life away

You gave, You gave Your life away for me

Your grace has broken ev'ry chain

My sins are gone, my debt's been paid

You gave, You gave Your life away for me

Acoustic Groove Publishing

Kathryn Scott & Paul Baloche

Contagious!

Contagious was crazy good tonight!

Hang Time we had students all over the place hanging out together, playing games. 

Several guests attended tonight.  Next week we should be introducing a couple new youth group members.  We are in a growth spurt and it is exciting!  Looking forward to bringing another man from our church on board serving on the youth ministry team as a "family" group leader.

(I will be blogging soon about youth ministry teams verses the lone ranger youth leader)

The high light of Hang Time was when we gave 4 young men some nice clean cut crew cuts.  The hair was hitting the floor.  Not only do we give some spiritual guidance but we also give hair cuts!  Big fun!! We didn't just clip the hair of, we did a little design work as we went along.  One young man had shoulder length hair for about 5 or 6 years, he now looks ready for the Marines.

The students voted on our youth web site and their choice of Hang Time food was "build your own pizzas".  About 50 personal french bread pizzas were consumed!

We talked some more tonight about atonement, Jesus paid the debt.  This was week two of our study on atonement which is the fourth core truth for an unshakable faith.  

Building Community in a Youth Group

I am a member of an online community of youth leaders, this community is iyouthministry.com and is open to anyone that leads in youth ministry in their local church whether on staff or volunteer.  It's a great place to get some ideas and resources.  

The following is a blog I posted t iyouthministry recently:

Years ago I realized our mid-week youth group was doing absolutely nothing to build community.  Students would show up right at 7 or just a few minutes before and we would dive right in.  Our church doesn't have Sunday School or small groups at that time, so this was our one shot to for students to build some meaningful relationships with other students and with their leaders.

We introduced "Hang Time".  We gave students the option to show up at 6 for an hour of just chilling and hanging out together.  No real organization to it.  Throw out some snacks, have some table and video games available and a ball or two, crank up the music videos and Hang Time had its birth.  Fun brings people together, unless the individual has a crusty personality.

Hang Time has become one of our favorite time as a youth group for both students and leaders.

Some thoughts on building community:

1.  Look for something you already do as a youth group that could be tweaked to build community

2.  Provide opportunity for students and volunteers to just hang out together.  Buy a bunch of table games/card games and turn them loose to have some fun.

3.  If you use a worship service type of youth group meeting time then mix it up.  Have students sit at tables with a volunteer and mix in some discussion and prayer time into your weekly lesson.  Sitting in rows doesn't build community, but gathered around a table discussing together does build community.

4.  Start a (or some) small group(s) that meet in homes.

5.  Find  some mission or local community service projects you can do on a quarterly basis together.

Community is a huge part of Christianity and students and adults alike all have a longing to belong.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

From all of us at The ADD Youth Pastor

Have a very happy St. Patrick's Day.

Watch out for little men dressed in green you never know where you might find them and their pot o' gold.

Me and Ellie

This ties into my post below about my 7 things:

Andy and Donna Douglas

Fellas, try not to be jealous!

Join me tomorrow for a special theaddyouthpastor St Patrick's day tribute.

My 7 Things

Nathan shared on his blog about 7 things you may not know about him and challenged us fellow bloggers to do the same.  So here we go:

1.  When I was born my dad was in Vietnam serving and fighting at a Marine.  My momma was raising 4 kids all 11 years and younger when I showed up on the scene with dad out of town, way out of town.  I've always been glad my father made it back from Vietnam.

2.  Andy Griffith is my favorite TV show of all times.  I don't care so much for the color ones I like the black and whites with Don Knotts.  I can watch them over and over and over.

3.  I have hung out and rubbed elbows with more celebrities than most average americans.  I had lunch with Donna Douglas (Ellie May Clampett), Wilford Brimley, Reba McEntyre, Newly from Gunsmoke, Garth Brooks, the guy that does the "Yahoo" yodle, Backstreet Boys,   many more that I can't even think of.  But in the game of 6 Degrees of Bacon I'm just two from Kevin Bacon.  Reba was in Tremors with Kevin Bacon.  That means if you know me you are just three degrees from Bacon.

4.  When I was 5 I broke my femur bone in my left leg.  When I was eight I broke my pinky toe and cracked bones in my face.  When I was 9 I ripped the string of flesh that holds your bottom lip to you gums completely off, it is gone.  In college I ripped the fiber tissue thingys that hold your neck muscles to your collar bone in a car wreck that I shouldn't have walked away from.  I got straight liquid bleach splashed in my eyes, that hurt . . . real bad.

5.  I've never been a pro rodeo bull rider. I've only been thrown from a horse twice.  I can shoot M&M's from my ear.

6.  My hair is beautiful.  It's natural, I don't dye it.  I've had spiked hair for a very long time.  When Mish and I got married I had the John Stamos, Full House, hairdo.

7.  I've eaten dog and no it doesn't taste like chicken.

Are you good at reading maps?

Ever think about the course of your life?  Have you ever stepped back and looked back at your life, both the "good" and the "bad"? 

I've done this with my life.  I took the time to think back through my life.  I wrote down the good and bad events in my life on different color post it notes and placed these on poster board good on one side, bad on the other.  It was interesting to see how God used all of these events both the good and the bad to shape me into who I am today.

We are a masterpiece of art.  Our lives are like an art museum, imagine your life the good and the bad like are works lining each side of the hall.  

Even more mind boggling is that God has planned out the course of my life.  Let's take my marriage for example.  Mish, born in Japan, grew up in Colorado and Texas.  She leaves her home in the Dallas area and heads to a small Christian college in Virginia, Liberty University.  I was living in Hawaii, I leave and fly to a small Christian college in Virginia, Liberty University.  Misha's roommate is a friend of mine from earlier in my junior high years.  Mish and I meet, fall in love, get married.  I can think of many more examples but I think you get the picture.

"Andy, that kind of stuff happens everyday."  That's exactly my point!  That is what it makes mind boggling.  All these lives on this tiny planet spinning around in a huge universe and every life has a course lined out by God.  God is sovereign in all things.

Psalms 31

• 14. 
• But I trust in You, Lord; I say, "You are my God."

• 15. 
• The course of my life is in Your power; 

• Now wouldn't it make sense to get to know the map maker?

First Impressions Team are a Bunch of Animals

That's right! I called them animals. Each week we are greeted by friendly smiling members of the FI team. Guests are made to feel welcome. People are pointed in the direction of the free coffee bar and Krispus Kremus. Part of what the FI team does is to make people feel warm and welcomed. The team has grown today, we now have several new members to the FI team.
Imagine being the parent of a toddler, a bit nervous about leaving your child in the church nursery (NHC nursery has workers who have agreed to a background check and most are CPR certified, and we have a secure check-in and check-out process). Imagine being a little toddler walking into a big building with lots of tall people around you. After completing the check in process you round the corner to the children's hall and are greeted by our new FI team members. . . .

Contagious!

Tonight was another fantastic night at Contagious:

>Cookies, Chips, and some super salty popcorn was consumed
>Some students spent time helping stuff the eggs for the children's easter egg hunt
>Football was being played on the front lawn
>Ping Pong was being played (even Ramon with his knee brace was playing)
>We got to present another magnet tonight to a new youth group member
>Lots of hanging out together
>Brandy and Janette got to sit on the stage at a little round table and enjoy a pizza during the Bible study
>We covered the core truth of Atonement. Do you know what Atonement is?
>Another student trusted Jesus as Savior tonight! (the same one that got the magnet)

Rated R Movies

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Student Life Summer Camp

For several years now we have attended Student Life Camp.

They do a fantastic camp.  I thought you might like a glimpse of what Student Life Camp is like.

Core Truth #4

The following is from our Contagious lesson at youth group this week.  We are in a series based out of  Stand: Core Truths You Must Know For An Unshakable Faith, by Alex McFarland.

Atonement - Christians Believe Jesus Paid For Their Sins

Many Christians struggle with accepting this truth.  Now at first some say, "yes, I believe this truth", but if you threw out the name of someone that we consider in our minds to be a "worse" sinner, someone like a mass murderer or Osama bin Laden, and the answer may change to "no".  But we must grasp this core truth for two reasons:

1.  It will help us in dealing with our own sin

2.  It will help us in reaching out to others with the love of Christ

Jesus Paid for the Sins of the World

Atonement = payment for a debt

Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, not just for our sins but the sins of the whole world.  I John 2:2

Whole means whole, everyone, no matter who they are or what they have done.  He died for all that includes me, that includes you, that includes the worst person on the face of this planet that we can think of.

Christ's payment is complete, in full, total payment.

Enough Forgiveness to Go Around

There is no one that God won't forgive.  There are a lot of people on this planet, billions.  Think about this:  God not only has enough forgiveness for everyone on this planet and this very moment but he has enough forgiveness for everyone in the past, everyone in the present, and everyone in the future.  His forgiveness does not and will not run out.  

As a 7 year old boy God forgave me, the murder on death row who accepts Jesus as Savior, God forgives him the same way He forgave me.

No Standbys in Heaven

Aren't we glad heaven doesn't work like a standby ticket at the airport?  Just hanging around waiting and hoping we get on board.  We can know we are going to heaven if we have trusted Jesus as Savior, accepting his gift of forgiveness and eternal life.  

I'm glad that God doesn't offer forgiveness for only some but that He offers this forgiveness for all.  John the baptist said:

"Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

Basic Facts About the Atonement

Atonement means "to make payments for a debt."

Most of us would understand taking on the responsibility of our debts but would we be willing to take on the debt of strangers?  What about taking on the debt of someone that hated you, didn't love you or even give a rip about you?

I don't know about you but I'm glad that God didn't respond to our debt that way.

Atonement is Needed Because of the High Cost of Sin

(read Romans 5:10-11)

The human race has a huge sin debt.  Jesus Christ sacrificed his life on a mountain sized altar outside of Jerusalem when he died on the cross for my sin and for yours.

Parent/teen discipleship:

Read the following verses together with (let them read, take turns reading) your teen.  Discuss with them and ask their opinion of what they think is the meaning of these verses:

Ezra 9:15; I John 2:2; John 1:29; Psalm 100:3; Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23;Revelation 21:27; Romans 5:10-11; Mark 1:45; Ephesians 1:7

(Next Week: Why Atonement Matters)

A Kiss for Mommy

I grew up in church, I have attended church since months before I was born.  Back in the day (again referencing my old age) missionaries would occasionally give a report at the church service.  Now, as a kid, I was always thrilled because that usually meant a break from the normal preacher, plus you were getting drug out of the house for the evening service and missing Wonderful World of Disney so the missionary was a good substitute.  (let me give a shout out to pastors: don't be afraid to give up the pulpit one Sunday morning every now and then to let your folks hear how God is using a missionary to impact lives.  I bet if there was a poll done most missionaries end up with the Sunday night and Wednesday night service, short changing the congregation from learning more about missions.  Isn't missions what we really are supposed to be about.  And if you do give up preaching a Sunday morning sermon don't try to make up for it by giving a half hour of announcements :) )

 I was also thrilled as a child because generally (back in the day) the missionary was from some jungle somewhere, or at least it seemed like it.  The missionary would show a slide show. Remember those old machines with the wheel of slides?  As a kid I would really get excited if I noticed a second wheel sitting next to the projector.  There would also be a table set up with some sort of table cloth made of native materials and a spear or arrow or dart gun or knife, things that interest an 8 year old boy.  

This morning's service at NHC was awesome!  Not because of the break from the normal preacher ;) but because we got to hear from Stacey, one of our missionaries.  Her ministry, Precious Miracles, is incredible.  Stacey has a home for abandoned and special needs babies.

Keeping in mind that I'm an emotional person I got teary eyed when the video played and the song was a perfect fit.  I got really emotional as little Joseph, one of Stacy's former children from her home came out on stage with his new "forever family".  During the second service while Rick was talking little Joseph held his mommy's face in his hands and gave her multiple kisses.  It is obvious this little boy loves his "forever family" and his new parents love him.  It was also obvious to see the love Stacey has for these children as I watched her and Joseph together at dinner last night and at church this morning.  Jesus said this was "true religion", to take care of orphans.

The miracle of adoption is a huge part of my life and holds a special place in my heart.  I have learned a lot about a father's love in the past 3.5 years.  When you see the love of Joseph's parents you see the love of God.  God loved me enough to adopt me into His family and make me His own.  

How has God's adoption of you impacted your life?

You Are Grounded!

I write this post now as there is no one grounded (that I know of) from youth group (at least at our church).  Now that is not to say it hasn’t happened in the past and it probably will happen again in the future.  I write this because I know some youth pastor came home from youth group last night or last Sunday night disappointed because the lesson was one that really would have been good for “Johnny” to hear but “Johnny” wasn’t there because he had been grounded from youth group.

Let’s unpack this grounded from youth group scenario.

It is understandable when a parent who isn’t a Christian or isn’t involved in church grounds their kid from youth group.  They don’t understand the importance that youth group plays in the spiritual formation of their teen.  (How did you like that use of “formation”?)  So let’s assume that “Johnny’s” parents are Christians.

Why ground a teen from youth group?  “It’s just a bunch of games at youth group”.  

Perhaps at some youth groups that is true.  But truth of the matter is that while there may be games to help bring a fun factor into church there is still truth taught from God’s Word.  Sure there are games and fun.  If church was boring why would a teen (or an add youth pastor) want to even go to church?  

Church isn’t something we do only on Sunday morning.  We are the church, whenever we get together as believers we are the church coming together to worship.  Teenage Christians are the church.  When the youth group gets together that is church.  So would you ground “Johnny” from church?  Church is church whether it is on Sunday morning or Wednesday night, whether it is in the “sanctuary” or in the youth room.  To ground a student from youth group is to ground a student from church.

It’s been interesting that in the many years I’ve been a youth pastor I’ve seen many “church kids” grounded from youth group.  I have never actually understood it.  Many of my youth pastor friends have shared their frustrations with me in this area.  What compounds the frustration is when “Johnny” is grounded from youth group but is at ball practice the next day.  “Johnny” has a commitment to his ball team."  What about his commitment to the church?

Why ground “Johnny” from church?

Top Ten Reasons You Know a Missionary is at Church

OK.  Let's put on those thinking caps!

Contagious!

Tonight was a great night at Contagious!

Hang Time was most excellent:

>Big game of Apples to Apples

>Football on the front lawn

>Chillin on the balcony

>Ping Pong (sorry Nic for taking you to Ping Pong school)

>Middle school girls running around in a pack doing middle school girl stuff

>Kitchen Queens were cranking out the snacks

>Music videos playing on the flat screens

>All of this happening at the same time

Contagious:

>A great game of Clumps

>Magnet presentation with some great rap music, dancing, even some break dancing!  ("boring" doesn't equal "spiritual")

>We took a look again at the 3rd Core Truth for an Unshakable Faith, the deity of Jesus Christ.

>Gospel was given plainly and clearly.

>Two students trusted Jesus as Savior!

>Their two friends were brought in on the chat afterwards to help them see they were instrumental in their friend's being reached

>Table groups spent some time sharing prayer requests and praying together.

So I would say that Contagious was most excellent tonight.  

Next week more magnet presentations!  Throw your hands up!!

O.K. I got glasses!

I think I look quite smart in my new spectacles.

Ladies and Gentleman

The ADD Youth Pastor is not a place for debate, especially one with cruel comments aimed to hurt some one's feelings.  My feelings aren't hurt, I'm pretty thick skinned.  

I welcome your comments and personal opinions if shared with the right attitude, a friendly one.

Some people have used my blog as a back door to make jabs at someone else.  I don't approve of that and won't put up with that, especially when done anonymously.

The original purpose of this blog is to share thoughts from my mind about my life and about youth ministry and parenting.  

I have now had to turn off the anonymous comments because of a few hateful remarks made by a very few people.  For those that have commented anonymously and have been kind in your comments I say, "thanks".  I'm sorry but you will now need to sign up because of the mean spirited comments of other.  

It amazes me to think that there are people who enjoy surfing through blogs leaving mean comments to people they don't even know.

There was a time in my life that I would have enjoyed arguing with someone.   There was a time in my life when I would have enjoyed just ripping someone apart verbally.  There was a time in my life when I would have enjoyed being just as mean back at someone who was mean to me. Those times are over for me.

#1 - Jesus is my Lord and Savior so I will be obedient to him when he says, "Love your enemies."  That is the choice I make because love is a choice and not a feeling.

#2 - I don't want to waste anymore time in my life dealing with hurtful, mean spirited or cruel people.  I'm the add youth pastor and I like to have fun.

Thanks, and I would encourage those of you that are legitimate friendly posters to sign up with a google account.

Rick, look out!  They hit Nate, they hit me, I guess you are next.

If you haven't already please take the time to read my posting below.

(Bump) I find it interesting. . .

Here's my thinking:  (some of you will catch this, if you don't, please don't worry about it and remember this is from an ADD mind)

>If you come to my house for dinner you don't tell me that the meal I'm serving is all wrong.  You either eat the meal or you politely excuse yourself and leave, but you don't cause a scene because you don't like meat loaf.

>If you don't like a TV show you change the channel, you don't call the station and complain.  It's not that hard to simply press the button on the remote and move on.

>If say country music isn't your cup of tea you don't tune into the country station and then e-mail them to let them know how much you can't stand their music.  That's an extreme act of idgitness.

>If you don't like roller coasters you don't stand in line to tell the guy that locks you into the car "I don't ride roller coasters, especially yours."  That's a waste of your time.

>If McDonalds is your favorite fast food restaurant you don't walk into my Wendy's and complain about my square burgers.  Just stick to your round little dinky ones with too many onions and be happy.

>Don't go to China Garden expecting to get Olive Garden food and then gripe because there is no chicken marsala.  Choose the right restaurant that fits your taste buds.

Make sense doesn't it.  It does to me and I'm not even a rocket scientist.  BUT I find it interesting that some people just don't get it.

Are you self-feeding?

"Feed me preacher!"

"I'm not getting fed at this church."

"What?  No Sunday school?  How do you study the Bible?"

Ladies and gentleman welcome to the world of feeding yourselves.  As we mature as Christians we need to move away from the "spoon fed" from the preacher/Sunday School teacher and move to feeding self.  When we are spending time during the week feeding from God's Word on our own our focus on Sunday moves from "serve me" to "I want to serve".  When we feed on our own during the week our personal worship flows into and affects our corporate worship.

Now don't get me wrong.  I do think we get fed, perhaps even challenged in church by the preacher man or by our Sunday School teacher.  God does use others to impact us.  BUT when that becomes our main way to be fed we become weak. 

I was reading in Psalms 25 this morning and these couple of verses jumped out at me:

 

• 4. 
• Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;

• 5. 
• guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long

David was a man after God's own heart.  If David realized the importance of one on one time with God shouldn't we?  I think, and no offense to my pastors, I would like to learn from God, to have Him teach me.  (I know he uses others in my life to teach me and I see the importance of discovering Him and His ways from Him directly)  God reveals Himself and His plan and His ways through His Word.  It's all there, I just need to pick it up and feed myself.