snowboard discipleship

I recently have had a revelation. Don't get too excited, it's not about the end times. But every now and then, God connects thoughts in my mind that hadn't come together yet.

For example, on our annual ski trip we took the group to North Carolina's Sugar Mountain. The first day, we had some beginners, so I offered to help our snowboarders. Only one had never been before, so he and I got our equipment and headed to the mountain. We met up with some other students who had been before and immediately headed toward the ski lift. *NOTE TO SELF* I should never take a beginner straight to the lift. Not that he fell or anything, but we would be starting on a much steeper hill than the bunny hill. Don't let the excitement of the moment get me distracted from the current need.* So we got off the lift with little incident, and strapped on the boards. From here, it was a long process of getting down the hill. This was really my fault, not the new snowboarder's fault.

My whole idea to this post is this: as student ministers, we get all excited about seeing a student come to put their faith and trust in Christ, but what do we do next?

This is what hit me on Sugar Mountain: I get all excited about going on the ski trip and getting the students there, but do I just hand them the equipment and say go for it? Or in another way, I can be part of the process where students come to Christ, but then what?

Here's the conclusion I came to: it's not enough just to get them to a certain point (the mountain/point of accepting Christ); I'm going to have to stay with them and keep coaching and keep encouraging and constantly challenge them. Sure we need to get them the right equipment (Bible, solid teaching,etc.). But we can't give up on them. Even though the process is going to be messy (we're dealing with people here, right?) and can be painful at times, it's so worth it.

When we launch students into college, work, or military life; I pray that they are able to keep growing and learning on their own. And hopefully they can teach the next generation to love God and love others. Or maybe even snowboarding (or skiing for all you ski people out there).

A secondary point is that I know I am not going to be able to disciple everyone, which makes me realize that much more our need of small groups and leaders who love God and like teens.

desire to change

Being in ministry(any kind of ministry), it's easy to get comfortable with how things go, to kind of get in a groove, or worse: a rut. Maybe I'm the only one, but occasionally, I start to get upset at things staying the same. We do the same events, see the same students, have the same fun, same, same, same = blah. Nothing wrong with traditions (they actually make my life easier), but ... like Sunday school, ok. Do we just keep doing it the way we've been doing it because it's the way we have always done it, or should we change the format? Like to small groups. These are the thoughts rolling around in my head/heart. I know deep down that we need, let me emphasize NEED small groups for our students' growth in Christ. Some of their classes are not small, by any stretch. All of our Sunday school teachers are fantastic. I trust them. I'm really just wrestling with this now. If you happen to read this, and you have faith in Christ: would you please join me in prayer for guidance on this? I'm not interested in coming up with my own clever ideas (I usually have none- it's easier to borrow someone else's), I'm %100 interested in what God wants to do here at Grace in this town at this time. Help us Lord, to be doing what You're doing.

regrets

Last week, I updated my blog with some serious frustration on my part. I was hurt and reacted out of a place of felt personal injury. I have since deleted my previous post. I appreciate everyone that read it and called or e-mailed or facebook messaged me with encouraging words. I needed to hear that.

From here we move forward. I love every single student at our church. I love their parents. And I'm glad to partner with them. For any who read my now-deleted post, I apologize. I was wrong to react like that.

Looking forward to the future,
dw

oh the times they are a changin'

Not just a good Bob Dylan song, but a reality for us here at Grace. As I type this, our first service is in progress. Today will be our lead pastor's last Sunday with us as he is following God's call to Westminster Nazarene in Denver, Colorado. He will certainly be missed around here. I'm so glad he brought me on staff here at Grace. I honestly had my doubts before moving here if I could do both high school and middle school ministry again. I'm not saying I've got it all figured out, but God has helped me make the transition (which I still feel like I'm in the middle of). I'm learning that I need to depend on Him more and more.

But my thoughts are really today about what this whole thing means for Grace. It will certainly take some time to get used to even an interim pastor. And then when a new pastor is brought on staff here, it will take time for them to get to know the 700+ people that come here every Sunday morning. One of my hopes is that the next pastor will keep us all on staff, and that I will get along with them, and be able to learn from them as I have previous lead pastors.

Though I know pieces of the machine get moved around from time to time, it's reassuring to me that I know I can count on God through it all. Not because I've earned it- I haven't. But because He is good; despite what the circumstances may currently look like. I have hope for the future for my family, for God's church and for the next leader that is to come. Thanks God, that You are trustworthy and faithful.

insane

We here in America have it easy. I don't mean the economy or whatever. But religious persecution at least to me seems that persecution for Christians here is relegated mainly to being not included in others' plans, being made fun of, or otherwise socially outcast. Here are what some brothers and sisters in Pakistan are dealing with. Read about it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/world/asia/03pstan.html?_r=2

Jesus, please encourage and comfort them right now, in your Name.

lesson 18 reflection

The Church needs individuals of all generations committed to a biblical
understanding of whole-life stewardship.

We have to constantly teach the next generation about giving of their time, talent and treasure for the purpose of honoring God. If not, they will miss out on the blessings that come with knowing they're serving the Lord and future generations will not get to know the Lord.

Reflect on your own attitude in each of the six categories from the lesson resource.
Environment- has recently become more important to me, recycling and reusing things like paper and plastic have become normal in my life

Personal lifestyle- offering my gifts and abilities to help people know about the Lord is what my life is dedicated

Faith community- as a Christian, I understand that I'm a part of something larger than myself, I am part of the family of God

Outreach- This area has always been important to me, but could be put a little more passion/thought into

Wealth- I don't view wealth as a bad thing, mainly because we always have enough to meet our needs. I've thought for a long time if we ever get a super-abundance of income, that I would have fun giving to meet others' needs. For now I will give when moved to give and when able, in that order.

General financial commitment- I don't know how many different ways to say this, but I understand that God is my provider of everything, and make sure that in budgeting, He gets the first offering, not what's left over.

Lesson 19 reflection

Reflect on your own attitude about tithing and giving. I believe in tithing and have never really had an issue with it. I cannot remember a time where I wish I had the tithe money for myself. I do my best to give to special offerings whenever I can. We also sponsor a child in Nepal through Nazarene Compassionate ministries.

- Reflect on your commitment, and history in tithing.
I made a commitment early on to practice tithing, and as far as I know, have stuck with it since then. I did find an envelope buried in the back of a drawer the other day that was supposed to be given a couple months prior. So I just turned it in with the rest of my tithe the next Sunday.

- the "Big Idea"
Whole-life stewardship recognizes God as the ultimate source of all things. (2 Cor 9:8)
Whole-life stewardship is God‘s method for supporting the local church. (1 Cor 9:6-14)

God is the one who provides our every need, spiritual, physical, emotional and mental. He provides our shelter, food, clothing and jobs.

Not only does our tithe help us support the church financially, our gifts and talents help support the leadership of the local church; lifting their burdens and allowing others to experience God's grace as well.