Archive for April, 2007

Youth Ministry and Events

{ April 21, 2007 @ 1:16 am } · { events, spiritual formation }
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I often wonder what youth ministry would be like if it didn’t have events? It’s a question that I think about a lot. It’s not because I don’t like events, in fact events are one of the things I enjoy the most about youth ministry. I enjoy envisioning, crafting, organizing, implementing a retreat. I enjoy spending time in study and prayer with students at camp. I grow abundantly when I am stacking bricks next to another student in Mexico. However, events can easily take over and when they do how do we regain the true importance of youth ministry.

Events are to be a tool and method of youth ministry, not the youth ministry. Thinking through the spiritual formation of students is what youth ministry should be. Not that we are necessarily preparing them for adult faith, but that we are guiding their faith now.

We typically ask questions of what event will bring us closer? What event will open their eyes to something new in scripture? What event will allow them to serve? What event will show them the father like nothing else?

When we ask questions about spiritual formation, then the methods will make a larger impact. How can students partner with God in his mission now? What can be done to further the kingdom today? How can students make an impact for social justice? What can the youth ministry do to bring the church together?

We ask the questions then we use methods to assist the formation of students and the ministry.

-Michael

Prayers for Virginia Tech

{ April 17, 2007 @ 11:07 pm } · { mourning, tragedy }
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My prayers are with the families and friends of the ones lost due to the horrible tragedy at Virginia Tech. Also, my prayers are with those who have loved ones that are injured and still in the hospital. Right now we as a nation will grieve and mourn. I pray that the Christians in Virginia will continue to help in the healing on that campus.

-Michael

Love Made Perfect

{ April 12, 2007 @ 2:16 pm } · { Anniversary, Leah }
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April 12, 2003 was a perfect day with the perfect wedding.

April 12, 2006 love continues to be perfect.

Love is not only of God, but is God. God is love! And although Leah and I aren’t perfect, because God is love and God is perfect, our love is!

I remember the first time I saw Leah on campus. We had known each other previously and she yelled out my name at chapel. She leaned over the railing and we talked for about 60 seconds. It was the best 60 seconds I had that day. My life at that time was filled with anxiety, distortion of reality, and loneliness. That 60 seconds and the remaining day I couldn’t have had more hope and joy. I remember our first date (I’m giving in on this one, because there is a debate between us whether or not this was a date) going to a High School musical to see some of my students perform. She looked radiant and my face hurt from smiling. I remember seeing the Nutcracker here in Abilene and the patience she had as the little girl kicked her chair and the laughter we shared from listening to this girl’s comments about the play. I remember our first kiss and how awkward it was and am thankful she didn’t run right then. I remember leaving Abilene and the sadness we felt. I remember the long distant dating for 3 years and how the joy of one weekend could last us a month. I remember our wedding and tears of joy as I watched her in all the beauty of a goddess walk towards me down the isle. I remember our first apartment and our first home together. I remember our six months apart as she kept her commitment to her students. I remember the trials and tribulations of waiting a year and two months for our house to sell. I remember that in all the scrapes, bruises, ups, downs, and journey of this marriage that in the end there is always love and it’s Perfect!

Today we celebrate 4 years of marriage. She is still gorgeous! She is still kind and caring! She is still thoughtful and giving! She still wows me with her love and dedication.

I thank God for giving me my perfect partner!

I love you Leah!

-Michael

True Adolescent Easter

{ April 11, 2007 @ 1:58 am } · { Uncategorized }
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I pulled this off a student’s myspace. Yeah, this is the true Adolescent thought of Easter.

-Michael

An Adolescent Easter

{ April 9, 2007 @ 12:30 am } · { Easter; Adolescence }
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What is it about Easter that an adolescent can truly get into. Eggs and the bunny have become something of child’s play. Dying and rising with Christ seems a bit far into the future. What does the resurrection say to the adolescent? Well, Easter isn’t just the exclamation point on the end of the Christian life where our decayed remains transcend into a new perfect creation, rather a beginning to an existence of newness that promotes life, beginnings, newness, hope, and promise.

Today I experienced so many aspects of Easter. I attended a sunrise service with other downtown churches and experienced darkness to light, death to life. I attended Highland’s service and heard brilliant words from three different families who have lost children at young ages and how resurrection proclaims hope. And I witnessed one of our youth group girls give her life to Christ and receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit through baptism. All of these experiences remind me that we live in a blessed world with a fallen nature. We serve a living savior with a redemptive hand. We stand juxtaposed in the “already, but not yet” mission of God. We ponder, we anticipate, and we worship until we are brought into the newness of the last day when all of creation is reborn to perfection and our Savior calls us home. We live for the cross and beyond; to the Resurrection and to Life.

Happy Resurrection Day; Happy Easter

-Michael

Hobbling Here, There, and Everywhere

{ April 6, 2007 @ 8:33 pm } · { injury, softball }
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Last Monday night I was running to third while playing softball and decided not to slide knowing I would be out anyway. As my heel dug in my body moved sideways and my ankle rolled. I fell to the ground and one spectator said it looked nothing like a slide. Of course she has never seen me slide. Anyway I came up limping and went back to the dugout. Few people noticed because just as I was put out and fell, the ball was thrown to second to get that runner out, but no infielder was there and the ball hit him straight in the temple, giving new meaning to double play. Both of us sat out for the rest of the game. Which wasn’t an extremely long time since we were run-ruled the next inning. I was trying to be manly but still almost passed out twice trying to fight the pain and the humiliation. I went home to the perfect nurse, Leah, and slept in spite of great pain that evening. The next day I called the doctor and went for an appointment. I could hobble on the ball of my right foot and left foot wasn’t a problem. I was sent to a completely different building for X-rays. I hobbled in and out of there. Then I hobbled to another building for crutches. The X-rays confirmed no broken bones, yet the doctor has labeled it a severe sprain. I am on crutches for at least two weeks or longer if I can’t put any weight on that foot. So now I am hobbling to and from work, to and from school, to and from church, and all around the house. There isn’t much pain, just many inconveniences.

-Michael

Camping on a Waterbed

{ April 5, 2007 @ 2:07 am } · { camping, family }
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This past weekend I went down to Lake Texana (look it up on a map) to go camping with my dad and brother. Everything went extremely well until 3am on Saturday morning. Then the rains came down and by 7:00 am the floods came up. The side of the tent that my dad was on became more like a waterbed. Luckily I had a great tent and the water didn’t seep in the tent. However, we ended up taking down the tent in the rain and fled to my dad’s house in Ganado (look it up on a map). We did have a great time, though. We played dominos from 10:00 am until 11:00 pm. I know its insane, but we had a great time and it was a great weekend. My Monday was a little rough, but I will post on that next.

-Michael