God Speaks

God speaks in many different ways. He has spoken to me that way at least. It was 6 years ago yesterday. 7am December 17, 2003 on Missouri Highway 7 near Creighton and the Henry county border when God used a pick up flipping at 70mph and ending up the median that God showed me he had so much more for me and today it happened again.

I came to the conclusion to scrap everything I have been doing in ministry right now and start with a new idea but it seemed redundant what I was planning and I didn't seem to get anywhere praying. And just when you think God isn't listening he always proves you wrong. You see Mel found a note taped to the student center door that confirmed God's essential call on my life and what I am doing. It was anonymous and I will never know who wrote it and it doesn't matter for they were letting themselves be used of God to relay a message to me.

Fun stuff. So be encouraged any of you who feel like your spinning wheels or no one gets you, just remember God speaks when you least expect it!

Watch me burn

I wonder sometimes what God thinks when it comes to people being asleep in the light. Leonard Ravenhill wrote a book about revival and renewal not hitting the American church because we are there but are not there in the aspect of listening to God's heart. I find myself sometimes trying to "rally the troops" with the best message or speech or pep talk and I just wonder what God thinks when they do not heed not my words but God's words and are then disobedient. My heart hurts almost to an anger and I wonder if God experiences the same exact stuff because if he does I really don't see him allowing the world as we know it go on much longer as it is.

The challenge on my heart is to invest in as many people as I can and as Wesley would say set myself on fire so people everywhere will come and watch me burn!

A long time

It's been a long time since I last talked of a crazy journey. I went up to a memorable time with some great student pastors and leaders in Illinois a couple weeks ago and was challenged with some much needed verbal and emotional support. I am starting to realize more and more as I read scripture and just look at myself and others how closely emotional and spiritual stability go hand in hand. I spent 3 nights in a row starting last weekend not getting to bed till after 2 having at least 3 hours of just laying in the dark trying to sleep. I desire to do what God wants me to do and I always hate what he wants me to do most of the time. Being a Christ follower is fun for sure!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I am thankful for the friends and mentors in my life and pastor who is stable and there with the words I need to hear. I am thankful for my home and car that is still running well along with my dog Libby and even this laptop I'm typing this on. I am very thankful for my family though most I will not see this thanksgiving or even at christmas this year. Long story but it will be hard this holiday season. I am very thankful for a wife that puts up with so much from me and others so she can serve and love and respect me the way she wants and needs to. I don't deserve her companionship but she is always faithful. Next to God she is the most faithful person in my life. She is beautiful and ambitious and is full of vision. She is the best and that's all I will share I am thankful for besides the 60 or so students that make up the student ministry at church. They're great to.

I think I will go and reflect more on all the awesome stuff in my life I am thankful for.

The promised blog

So I sent a tweet yesterday about needing to blog about my walmart experience so here it goes:

I went on the nonfood side of walmart where 3 cop cars were. Never figured that one out. I went in and got what I needed and came to check out 6 of the 8 lines had people lined up back in the main isle almost to the clothes. That is where I got into the express lane. Things were going great until the people in front of me go to check out and realize they left their money in the car adn leave with all their stuff on the counter. That was the exciting moment where I texted "o my" to twitter. So after the CSM got over in a few minutes because half of Salem was at walmart checking out and the poor guy was overly busy. So it was cleared out and I bought my 4 things and my 5 minute trip turned into over 1/2 an hour. Fun stuff.

No Subject Heading Today

What do you do when you try to do the right thing but everyone thinks you have done the wrong thing? This question is something that I have thought about and have personally been dealing with on the phone, messaging, and in person with others and I sit and search the scriptures and my heart and plead with God to help me figure this thing out. I don't know how to take care of it. All I do know is Proverbs 3:5-6 to Trust in God with everything and not on what is the facts and let him take control and he will get you on the right road. Crazy! It is so bizarre to think about and I know it's because of our sin nature and desire to be God as those who have come before us. It is so tempting to do what I think is right or what I want to do and others have given in. The only problem is those who had or have a good life and are getting to heaven are the one's who follow that Proverbs verse on faith and full trust in God. That's what it means to be saved! That's what it means to be a Christian! To Trust God and let him be the driver and not you!

I hate being in the back or middle of a convoy of vehicles because I worry I will get separated or lost. I naturally want to lead in the front. I have fun though if I'm in a vehicle where I don't have to worry about getting lost because it's the driver's problem. Whatever we face or have issues or questions with everyday is something we don't need to worry about if we aren't in the drivers seat. And when God is in the drivers seat it's so much better. My prayer today is for God to buckle in so I can buckle in to and can truly sit back and enjoy the ride!

New look

So I spent a couple hours this morning giving my office a new look and while doing that also doing some cleansing and reorganizing. It is fun to do the new thing and reminds me just of how much it is great that we can come and cleanse ourselves spiritually with God whenever. Tonight I am talking about pursuing a deeper relationship with God and it is always important to keep connected to God and others for the accountability to be there so growth can take place. I can only hope growth takes place administratively as I have now made changes in my office...and am worn out from moving stuff around.

The Journey Continues

Well I've decided after spending almost 2 years blogging specifically on the student ministry I lead that it's time to start blogging about life outside of salem student ministry. Today is the last day of September and I can't believe where time has gone over the past 6 months. I do know that I have learned a lot about ministry, Mel, life in general and myself in the past 6 months I wouldn't trade for anything. It's funny how God puts you into certain situations and other circumstances that sometimes prepare you for something later in life whether it be tomorrow or 22 years later or further. All I know is that the journey continues. I am so glad I am not where I was in 1999. I spoke with my old youth pastor who left the church I was at August 1999 and 10 years ago this next month the pastor left. That was a hurting confusing time yet God was faithful and that church as a sophomore that dwindled down to 70 on Sundays was up to 200 by the time I graduated High School with amazing vision and spiritual growth. I didn't see it at the time, but God was doing something that was prepping me for 2007. 5 Years ago this month is when I first met Mel. I never though as well as she never thought we would be where we are at today. Not that where we are at is negative, you just think things will go a certain way and then you find out you're not God (I definitely don't want to be) and He actually has everything under control. If you told me I was going to be a youth pastor at a good church in Illinois I would laugh. The image of Sarah laughing at the 3 visitors comes up but to compare that to her would mean doubting God or some other sin so I don't think I will do that...even though I just typed it. What I do know is something I was reminded of today: God has a bigger picture. Job in the Bible went through a ton of stuff and he never understood. Now that we see the bigger picture as we read the Bible story we get it but at the time Job didn't get it. I'm not saying I experience his suffering but God has reminded me that we don't understand what we go through until we find out how much God used something in our life that we didn't understand to lift up another Christian or to lead another pre-Christian to our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. So be encouraged if things aren't going according to plan. They might actually be going according to God's plan.