How He Loves Us

This is a song that's been pulling on my heart strings lately. It's pretty simple. The chorus repeats in perfect harmony "oh how he loves us so, oh how he loves us."

And I can't get over the poetic beauty of the two choruses. Remembering the verse in the Bible which reads, "God is a jealous God."

These exact lyrics I copied and pasted off a website which couldn't provide the names of the writers of this song, but it's popularity arose from the David Crowder Band. So thanks to the David Crowder Band for giving this song to the world. Oh if only everyone could believe so passionatly how much God loves them...

How He Loves Us

He is jealous for me,

Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions

eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

We are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about, the way…

God works in our lives

Here's a few stories of how I've seen God move in my own life. Two stories about my involvement on the tech team for Fuel, your Student Ministry weekly program. God gets the praise, but I was priviliged to be part of it.

Story #1:

Just last weekend Student Ministies had our Fall Retreat at NorthBay in North East, MD. We had scheduled enough tech help for two positions; sound, and screen/projector. But we didn't realize that we were on our own for lights. See last year they had on of the employees of NorthBay working their already installed lights; but we didn't realize that it costed about $500 extra than we already spent to rent the place to pay the guy to run lights. More important than money, it didn't fit our theme. They had these really great flashing lights and things, but we were trying to "unplug" on the first night. So loud rock music and flashing lights didn't fit the theme.

So not only did we not have enough help, but our normal lighting design wouldn't work. We have this truss that sits behind the drums in our normal Fuel set up, but because the screen came down so far it would have blocked almost all of the lights on the truss. So it's about 2 hours before the first sessions starts, and we want to squeeze in some dinner before the session and we have no idea how we're gonna design lighting.

It was a cumulitive effort. After giving up and hoping someone else figured it out. I simply said why don't we just put the two poles on the sides and fly lights pointed in various directions. So it was my idea, Alex figured out how to link everything up to the light board, and Brandon being the visual guy pointed them in such directions that made the stage look good. We put our heads together, worked hard, but God showed up. We were running really late we almost missed dinner. We were thirsty and hungry and just desided to leave it the way it was for the night and go eat.

Well we got done eating, and realizing we had about a half hour before the first session we trotted back to the theatre and finished fixing up our design and making it work. I'm becoming more and more convinced that when we get together and work on something that's gonna glorify God, and we run into an issue, God always shows up.

God, our supply, our breath of life, still more awesome than we know.

Story #2:

Last year Matt, our youth pastor noticed there was a problem with our Middle School session, and so he and our lead tech guy Alex worked hard on making it possible for us to move the middle school session back into the cafe like where the Fuel session used to always take place. All sounded good, we're all down for making it an experience for the middle schoolers to come and actually be able to engage in worship and the teaching. One problem, Welcome to Mountain, our class for new comers was meeting in the cafe, scheduled to end at 4:30, and worship service for middle school was supposed to start at 5pm.

While WTM was on a break we were able to move some of our bigger clunkier items into the room, but basically we were not at all set up for a worship service. Within a half hours time it was all hands on deck. The previous group tore down all of their stuff, including their own tech set up, about 15 tables full with tablecloth's and place settings for the lunch meeting. And we began to set up a bunch of speakers, a full drum set and mics for all drums, guitars, singers, and speakers. At the same time some other volunteers were setting up a couch and chair set up as VIP seating for the winners of the big group game out in the gym. They also were setting up chairs in auditorium fashion, all facing the direction and more of them.

To make a long story short, we had enough time to sound check one full song, using that same song as a walk-in for the students. The even resulted in a total change. The kids were plugged in and participating in worship, and listening intently to speaker. It was a total 180 degree change from the previous weeks.

If you weren't there you may not get it. You might think, "so you changed over a room, big deal." I saw it deeper than that. It was the body of Christ, from different ministries coming together and accomplishing a goal. The work got done, everyone put their hand in and we did a total room change in about 20 minutes time. While it's easy to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done; it's always been my perogative to give God the glory. I'm reminded again of the Psalmist, what is man that you are mindful of me? We're nothing on our own. But put us together and we're the body of Christ, the laborers of his field. Solo dei Gloria. To God alone be the Glory.

The Big Picture: Stations

Here's an overview of the stations as part as one exercise of the Spiritual Disciplines portion of the evening. These are in order of how our group experienced them, and to the best of my memory.

1) Hopwood Christian Church; inside the church pictures and stories of heros of the faith. Saints, teachers, professors, leaders, pastors, martyrs.

2) Derthick (classroom building); Make a word with Scrabble peices to describe Christ.

3) Tent of Meeting; in the old testament the people would set up a tent wherever they were camping to have church, and to pray for eachother. Curtis Booher and Phyllis Fox, the leaders of the conference, gave an invitation for those who may request prayer to come and be prayed over.

4) Student Union Building; after being prayed over before, and not having artistic ability I opted out of this one, just relflect on what's going on around me. Magazine articles and other arts/crafts supplies were made available for the students to put a picture together to represent Christ.

5) The hill facing the athletic fields. We all sat our on beach towels and just looked up at the stars in quiet reflection on God. In the stillness and quiet, we opened ourselves up for God to speak to us.

6) Behind Hopwood Christian Church; at a firepit we were given the chance to write down a sin we needed to omit and toss it into the fire. Being of Christ, we all new creatures, the old has passed away. On another card we wrote something we were going to commit to in order to keep away from these sins.

I get the feeling I'm missing a station; but I hope you get the overall magnitute of this event. They mean serious business. Doing this pratical things to intentionally let God in and speak to us. Not just brush him off in the busyness of our lives, "I'll someday give him my full attention." I feel I should say this again, there is no other conference like the Big Picture.

Youth In Ministry: The Big Picture

Another great conference on the wonderful campus of Milligan College in East Tennessee. Recently I've been wrestling with where my life is going. I can't live at home forever. I need to make a change here sometime soon. Being a concerned youth leader, I of course wanted to go on this trip to be there for the students; althought that's not where my complete motive was. I wanted to learn a little more about what it means to be a minister or pastor. I wanted to see what vocational ministry looked like.

So I went there desiring to learn, just as much as I desired to be there for the students. What a great conference. There is none like it. I've been to CIY, I know what it's all about. CIY does a great job at their gig. But The Big Picture is a totally different conference, and they do a great job at what they do too. From classroom teaching where the students receive practical information for their field of interest, to experiencing the spiritual disciplines together; this conference had it all!

As much as this conference is about gaining a better look at vocational ministry, The Big Picture goes deeper than that. Youth in Ministry seeks to allow students grow deeper in their walk with the Lord. We literally had a mountaintop worship experience where we were led to worship our creator. Another time during the week we got to celebrate in a meal of remebrance where we got to sit together, break bread, and to laugh and cry. We spent the hour just sharing with one another what we remember about Jesus.

Did I mention the fun? Our time this week had a lot of fun things involved too! From the waterslide down the hill, to the picnic in the park for supper, to showing of the two-man version of the musical "Star Queen" telling the story of Esther.

This conference had it all. I would definately encourage students to go to this conference. This isn't like any other conference. This one is designed for those students who are rock solid in their faith, and are incredibly serious about growing deeper with the Lord, and those who are open to hearing his call. if I haven't said it enough already, this isn't like any other conference.

CIY Move

In my earlier post I spoke about my involvment in youth ministries at Mountain Christian Church. Well last month I attended with our students the MOVE Conference, a part of CIY. That was a really cool conference, I haven't been to CIY in about 6 years or more. From the second we stepped on the campus of Milligan College I felt like God was gonna, well, MOVE that week. For some reason, for the first few days I kind of seperated myself from the other guys. Maybe I was a bit tired from the drive still, or I really like naps. So the start of the week was a bit rough for me. It was a hard transition from the mundane routine of a full time job to this really awesome God thing.

On the fourth day we this extended free time, so after we went out for lunch our entire group took a trip to these waterfalls up in one of the mountains of East Tennessee. I like to call it my Mount of Transfiguration. I'm not a all an athletic guy, and have terrible balance. After traveling along this path we come to this extremely steep grade that led to the waterfall. After I made it down there and took my shoes off to get into the water, my feet began to shake from the coolness of the water, and I became almost terrified. Did I mention I don't know how to swim? I've got to say the only reason I went down there and didn't chicken out was because I was asked to baptize someone.

So after I get down there and splash around in the water a bit, then we do the baptism. I'm about done and just make my way back to put on my shoes because I'm ready. At this point, realizing I'm not that athletic, begin to realize that I need to somehow get myself back up this intensly steep hill. I was asked to lead the group up at first, then needed to tie my shoe again, so with someone else at the lead the youth pastor and myself were bringing up the rear. It was a big strain on me, became out of breath, terrified of losing my balance. There were all kinds of thoughts in my head.

After we began to take it slow, as my calves were burning once we actually made it up there, we had a few chances to take in the experience. We looked around in amazement of God's beauty, asked eachother what was on our minds. My answer was, "I sure hope Jake still has that iced tea in the mini van from the trip down here four days ago, because I'm awfully thirsty!"

I'll never forget Matt's response when I asked what he thinking about. He said, "I'm wondering what Carrie and the kids are doing right now. How wonderful it would be if they were up here with us." Then our conversation went on and one thing that came to my mind while on this mountain was when Moses received the ten commandments from God on Mt. Sinai. That poor guy was in his 80's when he climbed up the mountain to see God. No wonder it took him 40 days and 40 nights. He was probably there for only 20 minutes, the rest of the time was travel up and travel down.

But God really showed up in this week for me. He really opened my eyes to his love for me, and to the love and encouragement I received from the students patiently waiting for us in the parking lot to emerge from the trail. No one said to me in even a joking fashion, "well it took you long enough," or "man, you looked scared down there!" I imagine if they had said that I would have jokingly laughed it off with them. But they'll never know the level of appreciation I have for their love that day.

Of course since I love naps, when we got back I took a shower and took a quick snooze in the room while everyone was out playing frisbee or something athletic like that. Before I fell asleep I kept replaying my emotions from the few hours before and just cried into my pillow. Thanking God for the love that I felt in that moment. For His love for me, for the love from the rest of the group. It doesn't matter that I lack style, make no money, am overweight, can be quite negative. What matters is that despite my faults I am loved.

That's my encouragement to anyone reading this who doesn't feel loved. Just believe that you are. You can have a lot wrong with you, but then again doesn't everyone? We're nothing without God. The psalmist asks, "what is man that you are mindful of him?" What we are is really nothing. God doesn't need us. But He does love us, and he so longingly desires us.

Welcome to the new blog!

So I used to blog on another website, but I forgot my password. Then when I had it sent to my email, I never got the email from the help department of this blog. So here I am starting this new blog. So I'm a Christian. Following God is definately my goal in life. Although I'm very wary that I may not know where God's taking me, so I pull away and get complacent in where I currently am. One of my passions right now is youth ministry. I feel that may be God's call to my life.

Currently I'm a volunteer leader with the youth ministry at Mountain Christian Church and am having a total blast working with the students, leading them on trips and in discussion groups, connecting with them online, worshipping with them, and growing closer to Christ with them. I'm a definate believer that to be an effective leader you have to show those you're leading that you're willing to do what you're requesting them to do.

So sometimes I wonder if I act more like a student than a leader. But it's important that I take part in the activities with them. Too many adult leaders see themselves as simply security, or van drivers. They stand up in the back of the room and lean against the wall.

Being a youth leader is so much more than just showing up. You need to be transparant. Not that we're showy in our walk with God, but that we model a walk with God that's appealing and going somewhere. That's one reason I love being a youth ministry leader, it forces me to have a good relationship with the Lord. It keeps me in check, allows me to be honest about myself and what I am and am not willing to do. So welcome to the blog. Hope it's a wonderful journey!