I'm loving it...

I spoke at a youth retreat this past weekend and man was that a blast. Every once in a while it's good for me to go hang out with another group of students for a weekend, it reminds me that I love what I do. After 5 years in one place I've often wondered if I started all over from scratch again, would I still love youth ministry. Apparently so! I'm glad that God threw me into this.

And the even better part of the weekend is that two students gave their lives to Christ. Woohoo!

And now I'm back home just in time to get some laundry cleaned before heading off to California with my beautiful wife tomorrow. A couple days together in Disneyland before heading to Sacramento for NYWC. It should be a great 6 days together of fun in the sun.

But then we'll be returning to say goodbye...hmmm...

What I've heard...

Here's a sample of the comments I have heard over the past week that have absolutely done a number on my heart. These are the ones that make it hard to leave.

"It's not fair. I've only known you guys a year." (recent grade 11 student)

"It feels like I've been broken up with." (well known grade 12 student)

"Why do you need to get better at what you do? You're already great at it. Stay here and practive on us." (well known grade 12 student)

I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I honestly didn't think it would be this hard. I'm going to miss these students. They have left a permanent mark on my life. My wife and I will have a very hard time when it comes time for the official farewell.

In other related news, we meet with the Real Estate Agent tomorrow at 4:00pm. We were originally thinking about selling privately in order to achieve maximum moolah, but then I remembered that I'm still a pastor. How on earth am I supposed to fit selliing a house into my schedule?!?!

On top of all that I'm speaking at a retreat this weekend before my wife and I head off to California for a mini-vacation in D-land and NYWC in Sacramento next week. In one sense I'm looking forward to it, but on the other hand I know that coming back means saying good-bye.

This just isn't going to get any easier is it?

The week in review...

Well, since it's all said and done, I figured that I would recap what happened this past week. It's probably fairly easy to figure out, but here's the rundown:

Tuesday
I read my resignation to the board of elders. My wife and I have decided that it's time to get our Masters. But a few things have led up to this, and I told them that. I think it's safe to say that this caught them completely off guard.

Thursday
Told three of our recent grads who are now off at college.

Friday
Told our volunteer youth staff. They handled it very well and were very excited for us as we take this next step.

Saturday
Told our students. This was by far the toughest. Their comments make this hurt even more, but I'll probably reflect on that later this week.

Sunday
Read my resignation letter from the pulpit.

I'm still processing it all. To loosely paraphrase the great philosopher Napoleon Dynamite, "But it hurts real bad." It's not all gloom and despair though. We are taking a step that we want to take and have wanted to pursue for some time. I just wish that it could have come about under better circumstances.

Oh well, I guess you can't win them all.

What a week...

This week will be, without a doubt, the most difficult week of my ministry career. Last night was just the beginning, and unfortunately the next 4 days will not get any easier. I'd write more, but I'm at a loss as to how to describe it right now.

Expectations...

I'm not sure what to expect anymore.

I came home from vacation to find that not a single student had signed up to attend a concert tonight. It was supposed to be our kick-off for the year, but now I get a night at home. I'm not complaining too much, but it is a little frustrating. Unless I'm around to tell them to sign up, they won't.

I don't know what to expect in the youth ministry over the next few months.

I don't know what to expect from the Board Meeting on Tuesday.

In fact, I don't know what to expect next week at all.

The Man in Black...

Last week on my vacation I walked through an outlet book store and found this book for a fairly good price so I decided to give it a try. (I had seen it before and always wondered if I should give it a read.)

Not only have I enjoyed reading it, but I've also started listening to some Johnny Cash too and I must admit that I think I am becoming a fan.

He's got quite the life story. I'm just sad it took me this long to realize it. Oh well, better late than never. But I will always remember the appearance that he made on a One Bad Pig album. Now that was wild!

Any other fans out there of the Man in Black?

It's been a while...

You'd think that I haven't been around much in the past month. Oh yeah, I haven't!

We just got back from the coast last night. What a blur this last month has been. In fact, it hasn't been just the four of us together by ourselves since July 24th. That's not normal is it?!?!

Words cannot describe what I have personally seen or experienced in the past month. And for the first time in a really long time I can say this in regards to the positive. It's too bad that it's already September though. I feel like I missed my summer.

Oh yeah, at least the countdown is on until NYWC Sacramento! Woohoo!