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!

Just a reminder...

I'm supposed to leave for Tijuana at 6:00am on Thursday. There will be 5 chuches represented with a total of 37 people. I wish I could say that it was smooth sailing from now until then, but it's not. Lots of little things have popped up and I'm still waiting on 2 more phone calls with more details to finalize.

I think this is God's way of reminding me that this is His trip, not mine. I'll admit that it's hard for me to completely let go. I'm the type that wants to have things under control at all times. But I keep having to remind myself, "He is in control. HE is in control. HE IS IN CONTROL!"

My wife is currently en route back home from the coast. It'll be nice to see her again. I've missed her lots. I miss my kids lots too. I'm just a basket case these days...

Bring it on...

With a new season almost underway (I'm not counting the FA Community Shield), I thought it was time to talk a little football.

It was good to see Rio sign his contract at long last. I'll admit that I was one of the people wondering just what he was thinking. Through his entire ban Fergie and the team stuck by him and then after playing last season he comes back demanding more money! Well, at least this ended well!

It was also good to hear that Ole might be soon making a return. With the most recent injury to Saha, it is certainly great timing, although I wonder if we'll see the Ole of old after such a long absence from the game.

I'll admit that the prospect of having Michael Owen at Old Trafford is more than a little appealing. If Smicker truly ends up playing in the midfield, maybe a move for Owen wouldn't be a bad idea.

Whatever happens in the transfer market, I'm ready for the season to begin. It's just too bad that I'm missing the official beginning as I will be in Tijuana with a group of my high schoolers. Oh well...

There's still only one United!

Leading worship...

I was looking at some video that my wife shot last weekend at Family Camp while my band and I led the worship time. It's always strange when you hear your own voice!

But that got me to thinking about the weekend as a whole. It sure was nice to lead in a relaxed atmosphere where people felt comfortable with one another even though they may not have known each other.

It was also nice to talk with some people after the services and to hear that they actually appreciated what we were doing and to let us know that they enjoyed the worship time. Not a single complaint during the whole weekend. That was a nice change.

Too bad that can't be normal.

Time for a change...

This blog has been in desperate need of a makeover for some time now, and since it's so quiet around here...I'll explain that in a bit...I thought I'd make some changes. I've added a few blogs that I like to read from time to time and I've updated my reading list (which is larger than usual because I'm getting ready for a 2 week missions trip to Tijuana).

My wife and kids left for the coast this morning. The wee lil ones are spending some time at the grandparents while we're on teh trip to Mexico. My beauty of a wife won't be back home until Tuesday and then we leave on Thursday. I won't see my kids until August 26th. I miss them already, although I must admit that the peace and quiet was kind of nice for a few hours tonight. But now I'm ready to hear them laughing and talking and have them running around again.

I've got some other exciting news, but I'm waiting on that for the time being.

On the bandwagon...

Just bought an ipod last week. So far I'm loving it. I might love it more once I have all my music on it. And I imagine that this will come in very useful on our missions trip to Tijuana next month.

Any ideas how many Dave Matthews Band concerts I can fit on this thing?

But...

God is even in this.

I was just reminded if that upon finishing "God is Closer Than You Think". God's got a great sense of timing...

Words cannot describe...

I don't even know where to start, but I do know that I don't like this...I think.

This can't be normal...can it?

It's already Friday...

Ok, so this is a little crazy. In the midst of preparing for a missions trip in the middle of August, I've also found a way to get scheduled to preach this Sunday, and organize a missions trip fundraiser immediately after the service. Then I lead worship on the 24th before heding up to camp with my band to lead worship there over the August long weekend.

And let's not forget about planning for the fall. I'm working on a new proposal for our youth ministry that would see things changed up a fair bit.

My parents are coming on the 24th, which means I need to clean the basement up so they have a place to stay (that's where the extra bed is). And I've also got a long list of housework to do in the very near future. Fix fence gates that won't open, do some painting, patch some holes, fix a sinking sidewalk.

Yikes...it's almost like I have too much to do and too little time to do it in.

I must admit...

I'm usually one of the first to complain about the lack of good TV during the summer months, however I thought I'd take a step of faith today and make a confession. I like watching Big Brother.

I hope you don't lose too much respect for me, but my wife and I regularly carve out time to see what's happening each week. I think the best part about this show is that it finds its way onton my screen almost 3 times a week. That's the way TV should be...new epsisodes every couple of days.

Sweet dreams...

I think I'm falling in love...but don't worry, my wife knows!

Good tunes are coming...

I am absolutely looking forward to the new album by these guys. And the even better part is that they'll be leading worship at NYWC in Sacramento just after the album is released. Woohoo!

So much TV...

Well, I've been sick since Thursday night with a brutal sore throat and I've been running a fever, so I ended up spending most of my time today on the couch. That meant I was able to jump on the Live 8 bandwagon.

While I'm impressed by the sheer number of people that witmessed this event (whether live or on TV) I don't know if it will have a huge impact. I mean, let's be honest, do we really think that world leaders give a rip what multi-millionaire celebrities really think? Or that millions of people showing up for concerts will really have a voice?

I guess it would be nice to be wrong, but here's a few other random thoughts..

*Dave Matthews Band---I had to watch this one via AOL because CTV wasn't showing it, but these guys are always amazing! And ABC did a brutal job of editing when they showed DMB on their highlight show.

*Celine Dion---She got booed by the Canadian crowd because she was making a live appearance from Las Vega. Cruel? Yes! But stinking funny!

*Green Day---Way to wreck a classic Queen song. Oh, and lose the makeup!

*Neil Young---There really was no better way to end the Barrie show than with everyone joining him on "Keep on Rocking in the Free World".

*Motley Crue---Absolutely lame. Who let these clowns on the stage?!?!

*Sarah McLachlan---She has one of the most amazing voices in the industry. I didn't care much for Josh Groban joining in, but I can overlook it for now.

*Barenaked Ladies---It was too bad they were the second last act to take the stage because they only got 2 songs. They definitely deserved more stage time.

*Releasing the doves---I wonder if anyone got hit from above...if you know what I mean.

Well, at least I can say that I witnessed a piece of history, even if it was only on my 27" black box.

This is ridiculous...

Too many times in the past month I have heard things that make me cringe...words that make my heart and soul ache....language that I am sure breaks the very heart of Jesus. I'm not talking about "colorful" terminiology. I'm talking about conversations that come off as nothing more than pure bigotry and hatred.

You know the kicker...it's people who should know better.

I know, I know, I shouldn't attempt to speak on His behalf...