Little man's first snow experience!
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We recently received a few thousands dollars given by members in our church so that students who couldn't afford to go to camp could experience this life changing week. I am just blown away! Generosity is truly refreshing! I think God's heart is shown greatest in humanities simple acts of generosity. This must be the true nature of God because we see His generosity in the two greatest acts of creation and redemption. God gave Adam dominion over the earth and God gave His only Son for our salvation. This is the mark of someone who understand their life is not their own.
I feel most alive, most like my heavenly Father, most like how I am supposed to be when I live in the spirit of generosity. So why then is it such a struggle at times to live there? My flesh hates giving, preferring others and being generous. I know this because no matter how much I want to be a generous person, each time I am faced with a giving opportunity it feels like wild horses are dragging me away from choosing this spirit, this mindset. fortunately with the help of the Holy we can overcome our flesh and see the fruit of the spirit in our lives.
Neal E. Boyd
What an incredible ending to the two hour show of America's got talent. You have to watch Neal E Boyd and hear his story. Normally these shows are pretty stupid, but Neal is so genuine and vulnerable. I was on my feet cheering for him while wiping the tears from my eyes. These are the sort of people that should get the stage.
Keep yourself in the love of God
I found myself reading the Book of Jude this morning, which was random, but I was totally blessed. One line stood out and has been with me all day. Jude 1:20-21 says, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourself in the love of God." What a profound statement that implies so much more than understanding God loves us. I think in our sunday school christianity we can simplify the love of God to a place where it loses some of it's profound power and purpose in our lives. God began to speak to me as I read this that He wants to continually do a work in me as I keep my self in the love of God. But he said that this is not an intellectual pursuit, but one that can only be done through praying in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit causes the love of God to pour over us. Romans 5:5 "The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit." We have no hope to live out Christ to a desperate world in need of real love without a daily outpouring of God's love on us. Without this true abiding in the love of God, we will become tired, we will become frustrated, we will become bitter...we will lose hope. If you have found yourself at a place where you have groan weary and dry as I have many times, then drink deep of God's love.
Caleb's first swim
This was Caleb's first swimming experience, and his grandpa Robert was loving it! We are in San Antonio on vacation until Wednesday. It is about 95 degrees here, so swimming is about the only thing we feel like doing. I know, it's a rough life. Tonight is our anniversary, so we are going out to a nice steak house to celebrate! I feel like the luckiest man alive because I have a beautiful, smart, fun, caring wife who loves Jesus and an amazing Son named Caleb who is the coolest little man ever!
The biggest giver
Last weekend Pastor Burt brought back a video message that we showed in our youth service becasue it was so powerful. The essasnce of this message was that the life of a giver is the best life you can live. This simple message has been the single thought on my mind as I have been on vacation in San Antonio. The life of a giver is the best life you can life. I want to live this kind of life, but is seems that the world all around us is doing the opposite and beckening us to join them, to live for ourselves. I wonder what it will take for people to begin living for God's kingdom and not their own...our own? Do it in me. I have been stunned as peopel have been moved to respod after hearing this compeling message. It's one thing to be stired, but it's a whole other thing to me moved. And these people were moved!
- LIVI PARMITTER - Levi is a 9th grade student in our youth ministry who runs a very successful lawn buisness. And Sunday after church God spoke to him about giving of his time and abilities, so Levi drove over to Daniel Hunt's house with his lawn equipment and mowed his lawn for free!
- KYLE FLORICK - Kyle is a 12th grader in our youth mnistry who is incredably bright and has an amazing future ahead of him. After hearing this message God spok to him about giving the first year of his life to the Lord after highschool. So he resolved to apply for Anthem, our year long discipleship program next year.
- UNONIMOUS GIVER - After the 9 am service this weekend, a couple walked up to me in the foyer with tears in their eyes. They explained to me that God had spoken to them about giving the youth department there 1965 Ford mustang to sell as a fund raiser.
RADIO is one of the greatest examples of living a life for another, inspired by a true story.
www.uturn.cc
I have exciting news. After 9 months of planning, dreaming and creating we finally launched our NEW uturn web-site yesterday! (www.uturn.cc) One of the reasons this was such a priority for us is because of how much we value good communication with families, leaders and students. Uturn has so much going on, reaching students through all the small groups, REACH services and big events. So naturally, having a functional up to date web-site has become essential. All credit for the creative design has to go to the infamous Boaz. He is a huge blessing and always surprises us with his artistic abilities. But our web-site isn't just creative, it is very functional and has all the current information for everything going on in our ministry. So whether your a student, parent or leader, check out our web-site.
The phrase "changing our generation through the local church" is on the home page of our site and has become sort of a slogan in our ministry. This statement says so much about who we are and what we value. Because not only are we a movement of passionate young people wanting to change a generation, but we realize that this can only be done through the Local Church. You see, I believe the local church IS the hope of the word. It will not be some movement, event, revival or election that changes the course of history. No, it's the church. Sometimes I think we as church leaders get confused as to what exactly we are doing here. Make no mistake about it, we are leading the most powerful force on earth. "And on this rock I will build my CHURCH, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 16:18-19
Caleb and the Word
"But my servant Caleb, because he has a different Spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land." Numbers 14:24
When Heather and I chose the name for or Son, we really felt like we heard from the Lord that he was to be called Caleb and that he was going to be of a different Spirit, following the Lord fully.
Recreating youth culture
So I was sitting at home just chatting with my Grandma who's in town when my Pastor calls me from the Foursquare convention in Houston TX and tells me that he wants to help us purchase a brand new curriculum for our Uturn small groups called Re.Create by Ron Luce. He quotes in his book, "All you need to do is look at the Internet, television, and movies to see that the hearts and souls of America's teens are at risk. What can you do to re-create culture for God's glory? Calling parents, pastors, and youth leaders to reject quiet Christianity, and help reshape our wayward media and values-starved society." Sounds pretty awesome! recreating healthy youth culture just happens to be one of my passions! I really believe that the church should be the pace setters for culture and this generation of young people could rise above and take such a stand that the ripple effect could be like nothing we have ever seen before. Oh I don't know, like changing a city! I would welcome feedback from anyone who might know more about this curriculum than I do. I am just excited and honored to serve at a church where the senior pastor is so deeply commited to investing in the next generation!
Kiss from heaven
One of my favorite things in the whole world is the time I get to spend with my son Caleb after his bath. Today I found his ticklish spot and I exploited it. It brings me such joy to see him laugh. Do you think that this might be a good picture of the way God looks at us? With this same sort of pleasure, with this same sort of love. I think His love is much more intense.
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