Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A Joyful Sad Day

Sunday I had the privilege as the youngest staff member in the church to offer the wedding vows for all those who wanted to renew their vows on Valentine's Day. It was a rare and special occasion as many couples who signed up and some that didn't joined us at the front to renew their vows in marriage to one another. It was so full of joy. My wife also got to participate with me and it was a great learning experience as well as a blessing to be a part of.
That evening I was on my way to pick up one of my teens who lived at the other end of town from most of my teens, so naturally I thought to pick him up first so that everyone doesn't have to ride past the church to get him. Plus I like to catch up with him while en route to get the others.
Upon my arrival I noticed there was a police car and an ambulance in front of his house. One of his friends who was with him called me out back and explained that his brother had just found his mom in bed and she hadn't been breathing for some time. Only minutes after speaking with her did he come out from talking with the police. He looked at me as he started to fall apart and barely was able to utter, "My mom's dead".
It took all I had not to cry with him because I knew his mom, she had some real issues. Through all of this, and the sadness of the funeral, I have been able to share Christ with him, his brother, his adopted mother and brother, and many other people surrounding them numerous times. I have no doubt that we have put Christ in their ears and left sticky notes on their hearts, but I can't help myself for also feeling some grief. I guess when you become family with people at church, when they hurt, you hurt. That's what's so wonderful about the family of God is that we can all be there and no one has to face death and grief on their own.
By the way, they never actually formally asked me to speak, but there was nothing formal about this arrangement. So in a sense my first funeral was a surprise funeral.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Jehovah's Witness, Really?

So today while my kids were napping some Jehovah's Witnesses stopped by. They were two very nice women named Gina and Nicole. Nicole just stood and smiled the whole time. Gina was older (late 40's) and she did all the talking. We got to know one another and what churches we are apart of. Funny thing, they never argued. All they wanted was to show me the "truth", and Gina actually flipped to a few key verses which she promptly took out of context. That's ok though, it's to be expected of the deceived.
They asked if they could come back sometime and I said they are more than welcome to come by but I don't think we will be switching churches any time soon. At the conclusion of our conversation, and after a brief Wesleyan history, they were still confused as to how we were related to the Methodists. That's ok, it's to be expected of the deceived.
Then they hand me a pamphlet, which I'll admit I did peruse. They misused Jesus title as the "Word" with another passage of scripture that was just talking about small caps "words". But that's ok, it's to be expected of the deceived.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Skeels chapel session

So here I am, a graduate of Skeels Christian School. Now I've had the opportunity to go and speak in their chapel, and out of that lesson I think I've struck on something that may effect a good part of my ministry to come as a youth pastor.
The lesson was about following the rules of Christianity and how it's impossible to completely follow some list when really it's just letting God live in us. All the rest of His rules come in hand with loving Him. At the end of the lesson I had covered so many rules that they were all kind of chuckling like, "We're never gonna remember this stuff". Believe it or not this was the response I was looking for because the goal of my lesson was to give them something they could remember. I don't know how original it is, but I've never heard anyone use it so I'll call it mine (with direct influence from the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit). I then told them to live love loud. I also had them repeat it.
So regardless of whether or not you remember anything about this blog entry or who is talking to you I recommend that you live for God in your life for all of your life, that you love him with everything you've got, and then be loud about that love by telling everyone you know, fearlessly and boldy, that you love to live for God. Live love loud.