Week of Thanks: The Youth Ministry Community

I am sure you have noticed by now that Thanksgiving is upon us. As we enter into this season I have noticed that Thanksgiving has taken a back seat in our culture; this holiday is no longer about giving thanks but about buying stuff at a discounted rate.

Instead of spending a few posts ranting about all of this, I want to do the opposite. I am going to give thanks, and I invite you along with me on this week long journey. I plan to post once a day for the next week, each day describing something I am thankful for in my life. These are not in any specific order – I am thankful for all of them (mostly) on an equal level.

I am thankful for the Youth Ministry community

So far all my thanks has been directed to those closest to me.  Today, I am giving my thanks to some people that I know really well, and others I only know by a screen name or twitter handle.  The youth ministry community quite literally includes some of my oldest and dearest friends to perfect strangers, and everything in between.  No matter where you fall on that spectrum, if you are a youth worker I am thankful for you.

I am thankful that more teenagers fall in love with Jesus Christ every day.

I am thankful that I am not alone in my calling.  Ministry can be a lonely place, but if I feel alone it is my own fault.

I am thankful that I don’t have to re-invent the wheel.  There is a flood of great resources to help us all do ministry better, made mainly by us.

I am thankful that so many people are willing to invest into me.  From blogs to books to conferences to phone calls to one-on-one conversations I have learned so much from so many of you.

I am thankful that many of you have let me invest into you.  I am still amazed at all the opportunities God (and the YM community) have provided for me to share my opinion on this whole youth ministry thing, and that many of you actually read what I write.

I chose to post this thanks on Friday, mainly because my book is the sponsor of the Simply Youth Ministry show today.  In honor of that my book is FREE on kindle today, so check that out and get your copy!

Week of Thanks: My Family

I am sure you have noticed by now that Thanksgiving is upon us. As we enter into this season I have noticed that Thanksgiving has taken a back seat in our culture; this holiday is no longer about giving thanks but about buying stuff at a discounted rate.

Instead of spending a few posts ranting about all of this, I want to do the opposite. I am going to give thanks, and I invite you along with me on this week long journey. I plan to post once a day for the next week, each day describing something I am thankful for in my life. These are not in any specific order – I am thankful for all of them (mostly) on an equal level.

I am thankful for my Family

I realize I have already described my immediate family, so today I am talking about my extended family. Siblings, siblings-in-law, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and everyone else I forgot to list, if you are a part of my extended family I am thankful for you. I realize not everyone involved in that list holds the same beliefs as I do, nonetheless I still care for you and pray for you.

There are four people that are missing from that list because we want to single them out; our parents and our in-laws. (Maureen and I wrote this post together) They are all wonderful people in their own right, but they also share many things in common, so much of what I’m thankful for applies to them all.

I am thankful for your faith. You have all modeled what it means to follow God through life; through good times and hard times you have always stuck to your faith. Thanks for that example.

I am thankful for your sacrifices. From time spent with us to getting us through college and everything in between you have made a lot of sacrifices to benefit your kids. We have noticed and are thankful.

I am thankful for your support. No matter how crazy dreams seemed when first described, never did you squash them. Even when struggles or road blocks come up you still encourage us to keep going.

I am thankful for your time. You always have a listening ear even if your favorite show is on! Over the years, you were always willing to help when we needed you. We value your time and appreciate all the time you have sacrificed.

I am thankful for your Godly example. Both of you have shown us how to love through better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and health. You truly have followed your marriage vows and what an example it has been!

Joe and Joan, Maury and Patsy, we love you and are thankful for you!

Week of Thanks: My Boys

I am sure you have noticed by now that Thanksgiving is upon us.  As we enter into this season I have noticed that Thanksgiving has taken a back seat in our culture; this holiday is no longer about giving thanks but about buying stuff at a discounted rate.

Instead of spending a few posts ranting about all of this, I want to do the opposite.  I am going to give thanks, and I invite you along with me on this week long journey.  I plan to post once a day for the next week, each day describing something I am thankful for in my life.  These are not in any specific order – I am thankful for all of them (mostly) on an equal level.

I am thankful for my Boys

I have written about my 3 boys before, about the challenges and advantages of raising them while working full time in the church.  Check it out if you are interested.  I absolutely love being a Dad!

I am thankful that we made it through the baby stage.  No more night feedings.  No more diapers.  No more 5-point harness car seats, No more guessing what is wrong, they can just tell us now.

I am thankful that our house is rarely quiet.  We have lots of company, but even when it’s just our family our house is loud, and I am completely OK with it.

I am thankful that my Spiritual leadership isn’t just at church.  I get to teach my own kids about the Bible and how to do life God’s way, what a privilege.

I am thankful that I have boys.  I really wanted a Daddy’s little girl, but at least as of now I don’t have one.  I am thankful that this world will have three more men that will respect women, respect God, try their hardest, and do the right thing.

I am thankful that my understanding of who God is and His love is greater because of them.  I loved my boys before I ever saw them, I care deeply about them just because of who they are, and nothing they do (or don’t do) will change that.  I know God loves me (and them) more than I love them–which seems impossible but still true.

I am thankful for the fun we have together.  Whether it’s wrestling with them, playing a board game, video games, going to the lake, going snowboarding, or whatever we have a lot of fun together!  I am still better than them at most things, but I know that isn’t going to last for long…and I am thankful for that too.

My boys definitely can be frustrating sometimes, but they are a huge blessing.  Thank you Lord for the tremendous gift!!

Week of Thanks: My Wife

I am sure you have noticed by now that Thanksgiving is upon us.  As we enter into this season I have noticed that Thanksgiving has taken a back seat in our culture; this holiday is no longer about giving thanks but about buying stuff at a discounted rate.

Instead of spending a few posts ranting about all of this, I want to do the opposite.  I am going to give thanks, and I invite you along with me on this week long journey.  I plan to post once a day for the next week, each day describing something I am thankful for in my life.  These are not in any specific order – I am thankful for all of them (mostly) on an equal level.

I am thankful for my Wife

As I look at my life and all the blessing I have, most of them are connected in some way to my wife.  I have written about her in an earlier post, and I am so thankful that I get to do life with her.

I am thankful that she loves God as much as I do.

I am thankful that she views life, this world, family, money, stuff, and most other things the same way I do.

I am thankful that she helps, supports, and serves along side me in my life’s calling of youth ministry.

I am thankful that she pursues her life calling of teaching with passion.

I am thankful that she is willing to sacrifice to enable me and our boys to be as successful as we can be.

I am thankful that she tells me the truth, even when I don’t want to hear it.

I am thankful that I am married to my best friend in the world.

I thank God every day for putting us together, I Love you Maureen!

Week of Thanks: My God

I am sure you have noticed by now that Thanksgiving is upon us.  As we enter into this season I have noticed that Thanksgiving has taken a back seat in our culture; this holiday is no longer about giving thanks but about buying stuff at a discounted rate.

Instead of spending a few posts ranting about all of this, I want to do the opposite.  I am going to give thanks, and I invite you along with me on this week long journey.  I plan to post once a day for the next week, each day describing something I am thankful for in my life.  These are not in any specific order – I am thankful for all of them (mostly) on an equal level.

I am thankful for my God

The God of the Bible is of utmost importance to me, I love God with everything I have.  I realize I just said that the order of these posts doesn’t mean a lot, but this one really is number one.

I am so thankful that God has not given up on me; times when I have messed up or struggled the most I still feel his love and acceptance.

I am so thankful that God loves me enough to not leave me the same.  I continue to see Him at work within me, helping me to be better at everything I do.

I am thankful that God tells me the truth about who I am, what I am doing right, and where I need help.

I am thankful that God desires and pursues a personal relationship with me, not just commitment to a religion.

I am thankful that I can trust God even when I don’t understand, because I know He wants the best for me.

I am thankful the God is in charge and I am accountable to Him.  I know that I will never be able to please everyone, and that I don’t have to.  The only person I HAVE to please is God himself.

All of my blessings come from God.