Retreat recap

I didn’t have any internet access on our retreat in TN, so I couldn’t post all weekend! That (and that terrible UNC loss to Maryland) put me in a blogging funk this week. My bad…

The retreat went really well by the way (except for a few stupid things not to be mentioned that the guys decided to do around 12:30 Monday morning…).
(And then they decided to act like whiny little girls when I brought to their attention how stupid their decision making skills were…but I’m not bitter…).
The theme was about Jesus being our Standard in life, giving us the strength to stand strong and stand out for Him! The teachers were great (especially my boy David Nasser), and Kutless and Toby Mac rocked HARD Sunday night!!!

Toby Mac even broke out Jesus Freak! I was pleasantly surprised to rock out to some old school D.C. Talk. (By the way, the guys from D.C. Talk went to the world’s most exciting university)

We had an awesome time hanging out together (just me and the guys) for our last trip with me as student pastor. I destroyed them all in paintball, which was a great way to go out. My favorite part of the weekend though: when Dallas caught this pigeon on our balcony. He caught this huge pigeon with some off-brand Cheese-Its.

 

Winter Retreat 08

Tomorrow morning we leave for our winter retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN.  It is student conference called Strength to Stand.  David Nasser, one of my top 5 favorite communicators, is one of the headlining speakers for the weekend.  Toby Mac is going to be in concert with Kutless too.  I think it will be a pretty sweet set up.

On Sunday afternoon, between AM and PM services we are going to Smoky Mountain Paintball where I will subsequently destroy ever student I take on the trip.  Its going to be a sweet weekend.  I just need to find some time to pack…

Last Night

Last night was my final AMPED meeting as student pastor.  It was really sad for me.  I thought I had gone through all of the emotional stuff already, but it was hard not to be all teary eyed last night.  I managed to hold it all back though.  We watched a ton of our old videos, finished up our “i resolve” series, ate lots of great food (thanks Abs, Whit and Lori), and spent time praying together. 

It was the first time I was ever late to a youth meeting in my life.  We got there a few minutes late and walked in the room and they destroyed us with silly string (Tar Heel blue silly string by the way).  It actually helped that we were late.  There were balloons and streamers and food everywhere.  It was a cool night to go out on.  I will miss AMPED Student Ministry.     

by the way, they beasted my car too…

still resolving

Our meeting last night went great!  The students made their own personal resolve to change what needs to be changed in order to run faster and closer to God.  Next week we will look at not just resolving to change for God, but resolving to be useful to God; to take action for God!

My resolves are still going strong by the way.  The year is a week old and I haven’t taken a sip of soda (although they have stared me down all weekend), I am eating a lot better than ever, and I have finished my doghouse.  I’ve been reading a lot more and drinking a ton of water.  I haven’t skipped breakfast yet, I’ve been blogging regularly.  The only things on the list that aren’t yet happening are the Wii (maybe next year…) and the fish, but you just wait.  So yeah, I’m pretty much a beast when it comes to resolutions, just to let you know.

Resolve

Sunday night is one of two final meetings with my students.  We’re doing a 2 part series called i resolve.  Not iResolve, as if I was clever to mimic iPod along with about 5,800 other Christian leaders…

It is January-the start of a new year.  Everyone is making resolutions and breaking resolutions (minus myself of course).  What if we quit making dumb, unattainable, irrelevant resolutions, and began resolving to honor God more thoroughly with our lives?  What if we resolved to make serious changes in our lives this year that brought us closer to our King? 

Some people make lists of resolutions that are so unimportant and never make it past a couple of months.  What if we resolved to make one change in our lives to become more like Christ each month?  That’s 12 in a year, and 12 positive steps you haven’t taken yet.  So Sunday night we’re going to get serious about resolving to seek God’s help to change our lives into lives that honor and work for Him. 

Join us @ 6:00 this Sunday

Prayer Walk

Last night’s AMPED meeting was pretty sweet.  We had a small crowd, but spent the evening in prayer.  It was humbling to see a bunch of teenagers on their knees in silent prayer for their church, leaders, friends, schools, families, and commitment to Christ.  They spent a long time on their face before God too!  It wasn’t a 30 second deal.  These students are truly seeking God in all circumstances and its awesome and encouraging to see!

They are also planning on a brand new Wednesday night Bible study that will be student led.  This is a prime example of Christians taking action where action is needed!  I’m proud of them and you should be too!  Rock on AMPED Student Ministry!  Be encouraged by these students and challenged to hit your knees in regard to all aspects of your lives.  The Body of Christ praying together, even if not in the same location, is a powerful thing!

Muddy waters

Yesterday was a really cool day, if you can get past how horrible the Panthers are.  At 5:00 we had a baptism-centered worship service at Badin Lake.  Trent, one of my newer students got baptized and about 50 people showed up to celebrate and worship God together!

This was the first baptism I have been involved with.  Pastor Reese and I baptized Trent together in that lovely lake water.  (I lost my feet in it in about 2 steps)  I was excited to see so many people take the drive out to support and encourage Trent. 

We sang songs, read scripture, heard testimony from believers, baptized, and prayed together.  Wait a minute, was that yet another unconventional worship service???  Sounds like it to me, and all under God’s open and beautiful blue sky!  God was as pleased with our worship as with any church in the world that morning.  Isn’t it awesome that we serve a God who remains unbound by ANYTHING!

Congrats to Trent for being obedient to Christ in baptism!  I was honored to be a part of the evening.

GO!

 

Coming up, the Stanly Baptist Association & That Youth Thing are bring GO! to Stanly County.

GO!  will be a follow-up event to See You At The Pole the morning of Sept. 26th.

It isn’t a rally.  We don’t like that word anymore.  It’s just GO!  So bring your kids and come be a part of a ton of fun, free food, an awesome time of worship, and Biblical truth delivered from the man himself, Paul Jenkins.  So after you GO to See You At The Pole on Sept. 26, after you GO to class, after you GO home, don’t just GO to the couch or GO to bed.  GO to North Albemarle (6-8:15) and GO!

Grillin

AMPED students, don’t forget!

Thursday we will be grilling out at our house, from 6-9 pm.

You will be rolling out of the church @ 6:oo pm.

Don’t forget we have a court if you want to shoot some hoops.  We will have plenty of other stuff going on too.  Call somebody up and invite them to come.  This is an awesome starter activity to get a friend involved in our ministry!

This guy will be doing the burgers, so you know you want to be there…

Home sweet home

Well, we are back.  Its nice to be home, although beach sweet beach was stinkin awesome.  Jennifer and I had an amazing time down in Myrtle and Wilmington.  Its time to get back to work though, so here are some things coming up in the life of Pleasant Grove that I am super pumped about:

• Giving the youth room and children’s rooms on the floor with my office a serious face-lift.  We are going to make this entire floor incredible, because our students deserve excellence and the very best!  They are the church of tomorrow AND today!
• Our Fall Festival this October for the kids is going to be the biggest and best ever, with a sweet Wild West theme!
• There will be a meeting on Sunday, August 19th, for anybody interested in working with teens in our student ministry, as we begin to install adult leaders and small groups. 
• We kick off our AMPED meetings on the 26th!
• We have a brand new CD library for the students to check out.  It is time we started responding as Christians to probably the most influential thing in the world: music.  The CD library is all about giving them options of Christian music they might not hear on 91.9
• We are working on some new curriculum for KAYSIKS and overall revamping Wednesday nights for the children!

 We’re pumped about this Fall and our student ministries, and excited to see how God moves in their lives!