AHHH. . .
Summer is Crazy busy. But so much going on. Need to update and share about Project Noah, CCE, WOC coming up soon! And the many things happening at CGC in Cedar Grove! Wow one of these days will get it all done. Or not? I guess it is more about the adventure and process than the finsih?

Big-D this Weekend

Am I ready? I think so. Sarah and I will be running the BIG-D Dallas Marathon this Sunday. You can watch our progress at www.texasmarathon.com Pray that it is good weather and most importantly is that Sarah's knee is good and healthy! We are looking to just finish this one. Well hope you all have a good weekend.

On another note we had staff retreat this week Sunday-Wednesday for our church. It went well. I think we all bonded in new ways and learned something new about each other. I am excited to see what happens down the road. We are sensing a re-awakening within our staff and congregation. These are certainly amazing times to be involved in the work of Christ. Pray for us as we pray for all of you in your area of the world.

Thanks be to God for all of you.

Knocking out Laziness

This past weekend we knocked out laziness. We challenged the youth to identify areas of their lives that they were being lazy. Specifically we asked in the area of their FAITH, WORLD (Social Action) & FORGIVENESS. We challenged them to paint their shortcomings on three warnout broken lazy boy chairs we had. Then we gave these things to the Lord in an old fashion knock out. We took hammers, fits, and whatever we could muster up and destroyed these chairs as a sign that we are not going to be lazy. That we are serious about our Faith and growing deeper, that we are doing our part in the world and our community and that we continue to forgive and as forgiveness to those who we wrong or are wronged by. Check out the video we shot of them destroying the chairs!

Well it is eight in the morning on Monday, February 16, 2009. We are almost 24 hrs into the 30 hour fast/famine. Last night with the youth we slept outside in cardboard boxes. The temperature dipped into the upper 30s but stayed plenty warm in my little cardboard house. Doing pretty good so far on the fast. Last night falling to sleep was the worst of it all. Wishing for just a little snack. My stomach turning and growling for just a bit of nurishment. But then I was quickly reminded of the thousands of children and people across the world that were going to sleep with nothing in their stomachs as well. But theirs was not by choice! Today we continue our famine projects as well as head to the local food pantry and our mission "The New Room" to serve. I think this moring will be the most difficult for the youth to focus and stay motiviated. Pray for them. This afternoon at 3:30 we break the fast with a communion service and then dinner. The 30 hour famine is teaching our youth how fortunate they are. They are making a difference in Shreveport, our congregation and the world by bringing attention to the many who suffer everyday. May we all remember the 26,000 children who died this past day due to hunger related diseases.

Thank you!

Have you ever thought about how far a "Thank You" goes? Have you ever worked in the food industry? Waited tables, warshed dishes, cleaned-up after people? If you spend anytime in youth ministry you begin to realize that you do a lot of these things. Sometimes you feel like a short order cook, waitress or even a dish boy. And of course you do all this serving out of the part of your heart that loves these youth. But sometimes it feels as if no one notices. That the only time that they want or need anything from you is when their needs are not being met. But then low and behold a monet of time stops when one of them says thank you. It could be as simple as thank you for picking that up or getting us snacks tonight. Those are the times that are worth it all. Those are the times that makes what we do in youth ministry seem to matter. When the youth say, Thank You!

Just yesterday we were doing our typical homework help tutoring program in Cedar Grove. One of the girls that I have worked with all school year; trust me she is a handful, quite the attitude from time to time; but this time it was different. I had gathered up her homework sheets and placed them into her folder. The kids were getting ready to circle up for prayer and snacks and I handed the folder to her. She took it and turned away, but then stopped turned around and said thank you. I told her she was welcomed. A smile immediately came to my face and I knew that no matter how hard we have worked with her and how much more we would struggle with her I knew it was all worth it. It all seemed to matter now when she said those magical words.

May you remember that the next time someone does something so simple as throw away your trash or open a door for you. The next time you go out to eat and one of our local resturants. Remember to be appreciative and simply let them know by saying those magical words. Not to bring the glory to them or yourself. But just to simply let them know that you are Thankful!

Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

This past week Sarah and I have had the priviledge to spend a week at NYWC (National Youth Worker Convention). I have been attending NYWC for about ten years. It is always a rewarding and eye opening time. We get the opportunity to worship, reflect, recharge, enable and learn. This year was no exception. God certainly opened our eyes and hearts and stirred in us things that have been festering in our souls for quite some time. We certainly look forward to returning home and continuing our conversation and pursuing God's Will and direction for ministry that He sees fit in the Shreveport area. LET'S GET RADICAL!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Fest at the White House

Fall Fest on 68th Street
October 29, 2008