Sunday Night Flash Back

Ok, yesterday was an pretty good day.

However, I'm just going to say...WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

Middle Schoolers, seriously where were you...you missed a great time! 2 Liters of Soda being drunk in 2 minutes...belching contests, and a really cool message.

High Schoolers, come on now! You guys missed the flying eggs.

Anyway, last night was a really good night. We were just low.

But I need your help...we want to reach as many teenagers as possible. It's the biggest reason we split Middle School from High School. We need your help:
1. What can we do on Sunday nights that would make it the highlight of the week for you and your friends.
2. What can we do to get your friends here.
3. Do you know anyone in a band...we're looking for a worship leader.
4. INVITE your friends.

We are trying to be a lot more creative in what we do and you won't want to miss it!

If you have any thoughts or ideas on the above things or anything at all leave a comment.

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Okay, I have a lot on my mind tonight, so bare with me and excuse my hyperactiveness.

• We had an awesome day in our Morning Worship Experience. We joined hundreds of other churches for the National Porn Sunday. Where we tackled the tough subject of pornography. Pastor Craig Gross delivered a very impacting message! Check out his ministry: XXXChurch.
  
• I am very proud of our band at Coastal. They really are doing a great job, and are adapting to change very well! They are so awesome and committed to serving and leading us in worship.
  
• We had an awesome fundraiser today to help out with our ski retreat. The students did a great job selling tickets for our pancake breakfast and did an even better job serving. I really appreciate Ryan and Twila Sabin, Janie Nave, and Ricky and Teresa Spell for helping out and cook the pancakes.
  
• We had a decent crowd for UnderCurrent tonight as we finished our series, “It’s Not About Me.” The whole jist of this series is to get our students thinking outside of themselves. Especially if we are a Christians, life isn’t about us any way. Everything we do, everything we say, how we act and everything else should be to glorify God. We should be making Him known and introducing our friends to Him. I have really liked this series, but I am already pumped about our next one.
  
• Our next series is all about Parents (and their kids). We’re calling it, “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” It kicks off on October 21. And it will be awesome. We are inviting our parents to come and participate with the students. Then, on the 28th we have a student speaker, who is speaking about Parents. Come and be a part of this awesome series.
  
• I am really excited about our LIFEgroups (student small groups) starting on Oct. 17. This is a Wed. night and we will be beginning with our High Schoolers. They will be meeting at Ryan Spell’s House!
  
• I’m really happy that Michigan won this weekend! Kinda hoping that Detroit would have one today, but not too disappointed.
  
• Cyndi’s really happy that Notre Dame FINALLY won.
  
• I love Grey’s Anatomy and hopefully will have a few clips for my message next Sunday.
  
• I am really ticked that LOST isn’t coming back on TV till Jan. BUT at least their won’t be any reruns when it finally starts.
  
• A church I’ve been paying attention to is getting some flack on CNN. I think this church (The Gathering Church) is really trying to do some awesome things, and reaching their community in Tennessee. Check out the CNN video and the drama that its sparking here.
  
• I wish people would STOP PLAYING CHURCH! I really wish people would realize that the church should be influencing the media and our world. We’ve got to grab the attention of people because look who we are competing with...

Well, that’s about all in my head tonight, off to bed I go!

Some PARENTS Really Tick Me Off.

I know I've been away from the blogging world for a little more than a week. But I have a confession to make... I've been going nuts!

Okay, for those of you who know me you already know I've been going nuts since the day I was born but the last few weeks have been really crazy for Cyndi and I.

We've really been trying to improve how we do student ministry and let me tell you, it takes a ton of work!

But it's been great. I am in the process of hopefully writing my first book. And I'm thinking about starting it out as some of my blog postings. I thought about calling it "Confessions of a Hyper Active Youth Pastor" but I would love all of your input on a title for it.

Basically, the whole thing is my thoughts on the ins and outs of being a youth pastor.

Tonight, will be my first entry for my book. So here we go:

Tonight, I want to share with you what has been on my heart the last few days. Let me beforehand say I am not going to apologize for what I am about to say. I believe it to be true in many churches, and it frustrates the living poo out of me. If you have a problem with what I am going to say or the fact that I just said poo, let me introduce you to a couple of my friends who happen to be Pastor's and they will punch you in the throat.

Some parent's really irritate me! WHOA! I know it's a bold statement but here is why.
I have been in student ministry for many years now and I have heard it time and time again from many parents: "We are committed to do whatever it takes to get our kids involved in church, and for them to bring their friends too." Wow, how awesome it is to hear this! I really do get excited when parents tell me this. However, I have come to discover that many times this statement from parents is a load of bull!

Many times its the same parents who say this, that ground their kids from church. Wow, do parent really ground their kids from not going to church? Absolutely and its STUPID! Why in the world would you ground a kid from going to church? I've been told it's because, "My kid has a lot of fun and really wants to go, and it's the only way to punish them" Imagine that, a kid wanting to go to church? I wonder if Jesus would want that. I'm not going to lie, I want church to be so fun that it is every students favorite place to go, their favorite night of the week, and an attractive place that they will want to bring their friends. But one thing is for sure, they get to hear about Jesus every week.

So really, when parents ground their kids from going to church (or retreats, or camp, etc.) their really saying you know what, I don't want you to hear about Jesus. I don't want you to develop a meaningful relationship with Him, or with His followers. I love you son or daughter, but you should just go to HELL!

The other thing that irritates me is when parents don't encourage their kids to go to church, or they won't encourage them to bring their friends. You know what if 75% of kids in a Christian homes don't have a relationship with Jesus, don't you think we ought to be doing something different? Don't you think maybe (especially if you're a Christian) you should really push your kid to go to youth group? If 75% of kids in a CHRISTIAN home don't have a relationship with Jesus don't you think it's time for you to say enough is enough! Don't you think its time to say church and youth group will be a priority! What, you want to play xbox? Well, your going to go do it at church! What, you want to go hang out with your friends? Well, your going to do it at church and your going to bring your friends with you! We're going to stop having family fun night during youth group because youth group is a PRIORITY and we will make our family fun night another night. YOUTH GROUP and CHURCH SHOULD BE A PRIORITY, not just something to do when it's convenient for me and my kid!

I know what some parents are thinking, well I don't want to force my kid to go to church because they will hate it later! BOLOGNA! Parents you force your kids to do a lot of other things, like clean their rooms, play sports, eat their vegetables, etc. WHy not force them? I promise you this, when it comes to our youth group if you force them to come they will love it. If they don't love it, we will do what ever it takes to make them love it!

Parents, if you are serious about your relationship with God, and you want your student to be serious: MAKE not only church a priority, but YOUTH GROUP as well! Let's not be satisfied the 6% of teens that graduate high school that will have a relationship with Jesus. Let's not be satisfied with 25% of kids that come from Christian homes who have a relationship with God. Let's not be satisfied with the 1 out of 3 students who will stay in church after they graduate high school! NO MORE! Let's Step it up and make this a priority people. WHO AND WHERE IS YOUR PRIORITIES?

Sometimes I feel so inadequte

NO LIE! Sometimes I really feel as though I am not good enough.

I'm not good enough to be a Pastor, I'm not good enough to be a husband, I'm not good enough to be an adoptive Daddy. I just feel like BLAH!

Have you ever felt that way.

Right now I am feeling that way about my message for our students on Sunday night. I have been working my butt off and it just seemed like it wasn't coming together. Seriously, I had this whole message wrote and I just was struggling through it and I got home tonight and began to pray over it, as I was preparing and I just felt like it wasn't right. So I scratched the whole thing. And the cool thing is God has such a better message for Sunday...same topic just a better way of presenting it!

That’s the great thing about God...when you aren’t able to accomplish something, He is. When you feel so small and not worthy, He is so BIG and totally worthy! He loves us so much that He willingly helps us if we let Him. I’m reminded of the story of Moses when Moses argues with God about not being a good speaker, and God just laughs. He says to Moses, “Moses, I will go with you, My Words will be your Words. But you know what I will send a little bit of support with you, take your brother Aaron. But my Words are enough.” HIS WORDS are enough!

I am really pumped up about this Sunday night, its going to be like no other delivery of the Word that our kids have ever experienced before. I have to admit some of the idea came from one of the churches that I really follow. However, its gonna rock.

By the way, I am preaching in our main Sunday Morning Worship Experience on October 14. I am really pumped...I think I know what God is leading me to speak on. I think God is leading me to share with our church that we have got to make our children and youth a priority! They aren't the church of tomorrow they are the church of RIGHT NOW!! My main text is going to come from Matthew, where Jesus tells the Pharisees that healthy people don't need a doctor, it's the sick that do!

Anyway, just some rambling thoughts for this evening.

God is sending a downpour in Atlanta, GA

Interesting title for a blog huh?

But its true! God is throwing down an amazing downpour here in Atlanta. No, I'm not talking about a physical rain, but I am talking about a SPIRITUAL FLOOD, a fresh new awakening among our students.

We've been doing some fun stuff, like going to the World of Coke (which by the way everyone should visit, even if you are a Pepsi fan like I am), going to Six Flags, and Six Flags' White Water. However, our personal one on one time and our large group time has taken an incredible influence on our students.

Their challenge this week is to let God send a downpour of His Spirit on their lives...and they are responding. I believe personal revival begins with one person at a time, and this week I can see its going to take place with 16 people!

downpour on us!

It's Been Awhile

So, it definately has been a few days since my last post. BUT HEY!! Cyndi and I have been busy!

Right now we are in the middle of VBS, which is totally rockin'! Cyndi is the official photographer and I am leading the kids in some really fun and outrageous worship! We have a ton of volunteers which is awesome to see so many people give up their evenings to come and spend time with kids. I am really proud of our youth, who are really doing a great job serving. I especially want to point out Sarah and Lydia who are teaching a class by themselves!! Way to go ladies!

Well, on a different note...MY PARENTS ARE HERE!!!

You have no idea how excited I am! I knew they were coming into town but they came a few days earlier and totally suprised Cyndi and I. REALLY SUPRISED! My sister left Sat. and we thought we had about 4 days before my folks were coming in. So the apartment was a mess, and we weren't ready for visitors again.

But they're here and I am so glad! I missed them...yeah, I know it was just May the last time we visited with them but that's tough for me. I am a big Momma's boy...and being 12 hours away from Momma is difficult.

Well, anyway gotta go finish uploading some stuff to our new student ministry web site...take a look at it sometime.

www.coastalcommunitychurch.org/waves

LATER!

fun day at Carowinds...

What a fun and crazy day yesterday! Imagine this...
6am-students showing up ready for a day filled with Roller Coasters, Water Rides, and so many awesome thrill rides.
We drove to the North Carolina/South Carolina state line to hang out for the day at Carowinds Amusement Park.

I enjoy the rush, excitement, and times the fearful adventure of Roller Coasters. Well our students were awesome, well behaved, kind, and really showed Jesus in all of their actions. Their youth pastor on the other hand was a little frustrated and pulled a really stupid thing. I lost the van key. I don't know how it happened, I had it one minute and the next it was gone.

However, not to worry. I called Enterprise (they pick you up) and they took care of it! They called a local locksmith got a new key made...no worries. I did get a call this morning from Carowinds saying they found our key! A day late and a dollar short.

The ride how was filled with excitement of the day and excitement about our next event...The Summer Retreat.

I love our students, they are so filled with energy, compassion, and kindness. Carowinds was great but our summer retreat is going to be so much better!!

so pumped...

Well, tonight was my first night back with all of our youth in a couple of weeks. I am pumped! We have so much going on in the next few weeks and I am just so excited because we will be spending a ton of time with our youth group! I really do love these awesome young people! They energize me!

This Wednesday we head to Charlotte, NC for a fun filled day at Carowinds Amusement park! I cannot wait, I love roller coasters. It's hard not to love them when you grow up going to the Roller Coaster Capital of the World...Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH.

I am really excited about August coming here in just a week. I know a lot of our students aren't too happy because that means back to school. However, I am excited for our Summer Retreat to Atlanta, GA. This year's theme is "downpour." In which we are asking God to downpour Himself on us. I desire to see revival to much, and I especially think it will start with our students.

I am so excited for some of the things our student ministry team is planning for the fall... So be on the lookout for some exciting series, events, and other stuff.

Remember to invite your friends!

Undercurrent update 7/08/07

Well, tonight was our weekly student ministry program we call UNDERCURRENT.

You could definately tell it is the summer time and people are on vacation...Seems like when summer hits people tend to check out of church too.

But we had a great group of students and their passion to worship, learn, and hang out together is absolutely incredible! I love our students! They are so encouraging and have such a great attitude about everything.

Tonight we continued our series entitled, "Divine Obsession." We continued to seek out what or whom our obsession is. As we know, God is obsessed with us, but did you know that His love is so immense and He desires just for us to know Him. Not just the hi God how's it going, type of know Him. NO! He wants the I KNOW GOD, type of relationship. Meaning, He wants to truly hang out with us, be there at all times, share His name with us!

Wow, what a great night!

great students...great message...great night

What a great night!

Sunday July 1, 2007 - 6pm

Hillsong's new cd blasting away, students pouring in, ping pong balls flying, and the foosball table going crazy...
What's going on?

WAVES student ministry's Sunday Night event known as UNDERCURRENT.

We started a brand new series entitled, "Divine Obsession." Last night we talked about God's inseperable love for you! He is obsessed with you and he loves you so much that no matter what happens, he will always love you. Check out Luke 15:11-32 or copy and paste this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:11-32;&version=51

Students were challenged to leave their doubts, insecurities, and anything else that hinders them from being obsessed with God.

I am just so pumped about what God is doing and can't wait for next week!!

divine obsession-WAVES student ministry's new series

This Sunday we begin a brand new series during Undercurrent (Sunday nights 6-7:30pm).

Let me ask you, What are you obsessed with? A Covertable Camero Z28? A girl? A guy? How about a xbox 360, PS2 or PS3, or any other gaming system? Chocolate?

Do you know what God is obsessed with? YOU! That's right God is obsessed with You...he has an absolutely crazy LOVE for you and me. He created us in His image. Think about it...HE died for us, that's LOVE!

This new series totally talks about that, God's obsession with us.

Are you obsessed with Him?