Parents, Take Note

"In recent years, adolescents have had fewer opportunities for times of interaction and communication with their parents and other adults. Many families have experienced divorce; and in those families where Mom and Dad still live together, members get busier all the time thanks to schedules full of meetings, activities, clubs and sports. The other extreme is also occurring in a growing number of families, where members may all be at home in the evenings, but everyone retreats to the "aloneness" of their own rooms to interact "solo" with the TV, computer, or any number of media outlets that fill their personal spaces.

All of these factors keep families from eating together on a regular basis, and these realities have certainly contributed to the fact that when teenagers need advice, they're more likely to turn first to a friend (55 percent), followed by Mom (44 percent), a boyfriend or girlfriend (23 percent), and then Dad (20 percent). When push comes to shove, American dads and moms are devoting less time to bringing up their sons and daughters, thereby allowing someone or something else to raise their kids for them." - Walt Mueller

An Amazing Story

I was going to blog about something else, but this story just could not be ignored. Click here and then click 'Listen Now' to hear this powerful 3 minute tale.

The Paradox of Ministry

I love it to pieces and hate it to shreds! How do these feelings go together?!? If you can answer this, you are truly from the line of Solomon.

Quote Of The Day

"The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us… The decline of the knowledge of the holy has brought on our troubles. A rediscovery of the majesty of God will go a long way toward curing them." - A.W. Tozer

Northside PunkMonkeys

Thought that I would let you see a few shots of the wild bunch around here at Northside. I got tired of not having a camera, so when I went out and got one the other day, I started snapping shots. I have been going hog wild with it ever since.

Got some card sharks in our midst. They were having some fun after we met with and prayed over Richard and Shirley Wallace before embarking on their journey to Africa.

Cameron C looks like he couldn't care less about our topic of conversation!

A wild and motley looking crew! They can get very crazy at times. Well, most times. OK, every time.

Boodle

Sorry that I didn't blog yesterday! The day was great but fuller than I thought it would be. Take a look at this pic of my sweet girl. If this cutie doesn't warm your heart, I don't know what will! I will blog later today about other things.

More Senior Sunday

I don't remember what this was about but apparently Mary Jo, Carlton's mom, did not think it was as funny as I did!

We had a nice show of friends and family to show their appreciation to the 6 men.

One of our shepherds, Terry H, prayed a beautiful benediction over the six young men.

I want to say a special thank you to Greg T for all the great work you put into the video presentation. Also to Paul P for all the help that he has been in the past and most recently with everything. And I sure could not have done it without Philip H (and Stephanie for letting him spend a lot of his day with me). Thank you all for that you have put into this! You are wonderful workers.

Senior Sunday

Sunday was our day to honor and celebrate the achievements of our graduating seniors. 2008 is the year of the male. We have 6 graduates and they are all young men! Wildness.

The morning service was a time for me to challenge the guys before they head out to worlds unknown and begin a new part of their journey with the Lord. Afterwards, we went over to the Outreach building to have a special potluck banquet.

I want to thank all of the parents of the Juniors! You were some great hard working people on Saturday afternoon. And the energy and creativity you brought were what made Sunday go so well.

The first pic you see is of Justin, David, and Lance followed by a pic of Will, Carlton, and Cameron.

Devon not only roasted his older brother, but most of the graduates and even his mom as well!!

Savannah had 'snaps for Lance' - you had to be there. She also had some gifts to give him (one was an alarm clock because he has trouble waking up at events like Winterfest!)

It was a sad and exciting day.

Not Happening!

I can't move.

My legs won't bend.

I can't scratch my back at all.

When I need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I have to find a way to roll out of bed!

And Jenniva wants me to bend over and pick her up more lately! A little more difficult than usual.

All of this is due to my recent weight lifting regimen with Ed and Davis Butterworth. They are a father and son duo who go extreme or not at all. Davis is 15 years old and about 6'2"-230. He is a future lineman for the Benton Panthers Football team. His dad, Ed, just seems to be getting thicker and thicker everyday. I noticed this a few weeks ago and they told me that I needed to join them because I was too scrawny.

Well, I did. Now, it is truly hard to get up and out of my bed, recliner, office chair-you name it. Just not happening as fast as they should.

I have noticed, however, that my clothes are getting looser and tighter in the all the right places. Starting to feel like The Hulk!!!

I will be back later with a glimpse of the kinds of rigorous lifting they put me through.

Transitional Wedding

True flexibility was tested this past Friday when what was meant to be a 'beautiful outside on the lake with the sun setting' wedding turned into a 'scurry inside without getting soaked from the downpour' wedding. I sat back and watched as the families of bride and groom as well as all involved in the wedding party remained calm and cool when they realized the plans were changing. They took it very well. Probably better than I would have. I was happy for that.

The evening was a night of beauty as 2 of my former students from my ministry in Marble Falls, TX, vowed to love one another unconditionally in the bond of marriage. Brian Jamar and Jasmine Nelson are, and I have to say this, 2 of my favorite people. They stuck with me through the highs and lows of my work with the church there. They were constant in their devotion to the word and serving others in the name of God. They were and are the kind of people that make ministers truly happy to be doing what they do. Assets in every sense of the word-I know they will go on to make some college, family or preaching minister very happy as they tirelessly work in conjunction with them!!

Once we got inside, the wedding brought tears of joy and much laughter as Brian and Jasmine shared their hearts together and became one with the other. It was an evening to remember.

I even got to see some old friends and others from my student ministry there.

Great Night!!

Quote Of The Day

"What we are teaches the child far more than what we say, so we must be what we want our children to become." - Joseph Chilton Pearce

Can I get an Amen?!? Being a youth and family minister as well as a father, I need these words to penetrate our very core. By doing that, prayerfully, a fire will be lit within us to talk the walk, so to speak.

I challenge you parents, grandparents and leaders of youth-anyone who has a claim in the shaping and molding of young hearts-to live what you teach and preach every day!

Jenniva

El has never liked it. And I always did it. But not anymore.

Every youth event, bible study, trip or get-together, I would borrow our camera for the pics. Over the years, El had begged me not to take our camera in case something cool happened at home with the little girl. That's pretty smart thinking on her part.

The summer is almost upon us. With that comes many, many youth and family activities to capture on film.

Plus - the Youth and Family Board is getting pretty bare and needs a reload.

So I finally broke down and went out yesterday to purchase a camera for the youth and family ministry here at Northside.

Be ready to get a whole lot of pictures thrown your way in the near future!

In the meantime, here's a picture of Jenniva that I shot when trying out the new camera yesterday when I got back. Look at that hairy head!!
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Be back later with some thoughts about this past week's events.

Levity and Brevity

I think it time for a little good humor. Everyone knows that I am always up for a good laugh! I saw this and wanted to share it with you, dear reader. To see and read about the 50 greatest comedy sketches (compiled by someone with a lot of time on their hands) in TV history, click here. Now that was pretty brief, huh?

Misc

First off, keep these in your prayers.

I have been dealing more lately with the Family aspect of Youth and Family Ministry and it has been a growing, learning experience for me. As of February, I have been counseling 6 sessions a week. Some are pre-marriage, some are marriage while others are family and teen troubles. Doing the research has been wonderfully exhausting but I am feeling it right about now.

Last week, I added to that list a young lady who is struggling with Bi-Polar Disorder and possibly using Meth and Heroin. I realize that this was out of my field of expertise and the church is helping pay her way through some professional therapy.

She came to church last night to be part of the youth group. Great to see her with us!! I just pray that she will let God into her heart.

I solicit your prayers for these families and individuals as they go through struggles. I also ask that you lift me up to the throne as I guide them to the Father's heart.
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This past Tuesday night, our quintet (formed on Thursday the 24th with no name yet, although "Flash In The Pan" sounds pretty great to me) performed at the Diamante Country Club in Hot Springs Village. We sang 4 songs to a crowd of about 200 from the Village Church of Christ. Although I thought we could have sounded a bit better, we received a standing ovation and got another gig right off the bat.

The guys were excited and we are already brainstorming some more songs to add to our repertoire. I am having the time of my life!
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I leave for Texas this coming Monday. I will be spending my vacation with my family in Arp and Lindale and later with my old friends in Marble Falls. I will marry an awesome couple (Brian J and Jasmine N from my former youth group in MF) on Friday the 9th, spend some time in San Antonio with my 2 sweetheart girls and wrap it all up at the Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler with my family on Mother's Day. Sweetness!!

Pray for Traveling Mercies.