and so it begins....

Today is the first day of June, and for me that means that summertime and a wealth of great ministry opportunities. I am so blessed to be here at Grace and have such wonderful students and families to serve alongside. This June we are taking on some great tasks and I cannot wait to see what all comes of it. Our seniors have graduated and now they are looking towards this being their last summer here as the leaders of our youth group. All of our seniors have been great leaders and I know this summer they will continue to lead us in a powerful way. Our biggest work this June will be leading the outreach at the Pekin Housing Authority. We will run a kids club from 1:00-2:30 the week of June 18th. Most of our efforts will lead to this week and making sure we are prepared to teach these kids and make a spiritural impact on their lives.

RadicaL

A few months ago I posted about a possible change in the name of the JOLT youth group here at Grace UMC. Well time has passed and we did change the name, to RadicaL. That might seem strange, but the leaders and students were very excited to take our name in a new direction.
Our students here are not your typical ones. They are different. They seek to know and serve Christ in ways that I have never seen students do before. Their hearts are in the right place and those around them notice this difference as well. I am personally very proud of them and love to see them grow in the Lord on a daily basis.
More updates will be coming soon, and as we prepare for the summer of 2012, I absolutely can't wait to see what God does.

New Design

Here with the youth group at Grace, we have been throwing around the idea of changing our name and logo. Rebranding ourselves would be the best way to describe it. Well, yesterday I had the chance to sit down with someone skilled at this and we created a new logo and design. I am super excited to show it to the kids and give them a chance to get pumped about it. Check back tomorrow and see what the next generation of JOLT will look like!

Job and the Ark

On Wednesday night we have completed our study of the book of Job. Now I have a problem with calling Job, Noah. I realize they are different people and I know the difference, but I continue to make that verbal goof. Job is a fascinating study and there are some powerful lessons in there for all of us. The main lesson that I wanted my students to hear is that God is always in control. Not only is He always in control, He has ALWAYS been in control. As we read the line of questioning that God gives to Job towards the end of the book, that point is made exceedingly clear. God created everything from the earth and the heavens to the donkey and the dinosaurs.
If we really believe that God is the creator of all, then that should help us to better believe that He is completely in control of all that happens. I expressed to the students, that as a teenager it is sometimes difficult to understand this and live your life with this knowledge. Many things happen that cause us to question God and wonder why certain things happen to us and those around us.
All I can say is the sooner we can all come to grips that God is in control and His plans for us are for our best, then we can serve God better and share our faith more confidently.

Youth Services

This past weekend our JOLT group had the opportunity to lead our two Sunday morning services. I was able to step aside and let the students share about our summer experiences. The first part of the summer was spent working with a summer outreach at the Pekin Housing Authority. Our students planned all aspects of this from the Bible lessons, to the snacks and games and crafts. It was truly a blessing to see them put this together for students 1st - 6th grade. We also offered a sports camp for the older students in the area and they also had Bible lessons and a time of prayer each day.
These students continue to amaze and bless me on a daily basis. On this Sunday of sharing, many of the students shared about their personal experiences and exactly what God has taught them this past summer. One thing that is critical for us all to remember is that God can and will teach us in whatever situation we find ourselves in. These students are incredible reminders of that for me!

Sore, but good

There are definitely times I start to feel my age, today is one of those days. I was blessed and able to spen Thursday and Friday moving one of my girls stuff to college. (A student here at church who I treat like my own)  God has been so good to my family as we work to figure out all this ministry that we have been called to do. But, living alongside kids and serving them is such a joy and brings christ to life for me. He served and loved and I want to show that to these kids and to my own kids as well.

Another College Weekend

This past weekend I had the great fortune to spend some time at Belmont University. One of the most special students we have asked me to go down there with her and her mom to check out the school. Belmont is a Christian University, however they are not what I would call a Bible College. Chapel is not required and as I told our tour guide, I do not like mixed dorms. I still do not get why colleges put guys and girls in the same dorm, albeit many times on different floors. Security is easier and the ability to track students and help keep them safe is more efficiently done with separate dorms. Enough of my complaints there.
The point is, I am so blessed to continue to be a part of the lives of such wonderful young people. Our college kids are so special to me and seeing them make these tough decisions is exciting and stressful. It is hard to not just tell them what to do, and hard to not overstep my bounds in sharing my opinions. Some of these young ladies are like my own daughters and seeing them grow up to serve our Lord and wanting to do His Will is such an incredible thing.
So be in prayer for college students, they need you!

Day at IWU

Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to spend the day with my family. Not only did we spend the day together we spent it with two other very special young ladies. We went to IWU, had lunch and spent the afternoon playing cards. After days like these, I am always in awe that God has allowed me to be blessed with so many wonderful people in my life.
Spending the day with students and just enjoying their life alongside them is a dream for me. I do enjoy studying, reading, working out and other stuff, but hanging out with students, especially with my family, is one great way to spend the day. I pray daily that God will continue to allow me play a part in so many students' lives and to be able to serve them in any way that God sees fit.

The Hole in our Gospel

The college Bible study that I have the wonderful blessing to lead on Sunday nights has been studying the book "The Hole in our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. He is the President of World Vision, and has written a very powerful book about our role as Christians in the world of today. Last night at Bible study we talked very specifically about what the church should be doing to meet the needs of the poor and oppressed. Unfortunately we decided that perhaps the church isn't doing enough. There seem to be plenty of programs for congregations to attend, but what are we doing to help the poor around the world.
Which brought us to an exciting opportunity to help with the United Methodists Church's campaign to end malaria's death toll on the people of Africa. There is a local rally next week in Morton, and our students will be there to learn about the campaign. Then we will work to intertwine the Gospel of Jesus Christ along with it, so we can hopefully save lives both here on earth and for eternity.
www.imaginenomalaria.org

More or Less

This past weekend I had the opportunity to preach and lead our youth as we presented a mission report to the congregation. you can check out the message at www.pekingrace.org/Worship

Our lesson focus for the summer was More or Less. The theme coming from John 3:30, Jesus must become greater, I must become less. The students were challenged in a mighty way to begin this transformation in their lives. We are bombarded with so much in our lives and we live in a very selfish culture. Our students strive to get good grades, succeed in sports, or clubs and maybe even date and enjoy good friends. We talked alot this summer about putting those personal things aside and striving towards what God has planned for us. One thing that is for sure, this change probably won't happen overnight. It takes time to forge a lifestyle change and to allow God to come and transform our lives. These students are wanting this and I cannot tell you how excited I am. They are going to absolutely change the world, and many are already changing the atmosphere in their high schools.

A New Era

Leslie just posted some very similar thoughts that I am about to share: http://www.thejourneytojillian.blogspot.com/ But I feel compelled to share my thoughts as well, for whatever that is worth.

These past two weeks have been very hectic and stressful for many students and parents as the school year has begun again. Perhaps, the most anxiety comes for the families with students going away to college, and especially for those going away for the first time. It is is tremendous joy to be able to play a role in so many young people's lives and seeing them go off to college is a blessing, but also a little bit sad. These past two years it has been my tremendous honor to take one of our college kids to school and help her move in. Without fail, on my way home the tears just start coming down and I think about all the challenges she will face at school and how her faith will be tested. Selfishly, I also think about how much I am going to miss seeing her. Now that Leslie and I have been here awhile there are a lot of our students moving on and it is different around these parts of the world without them in it.

Praying with them and seeing them off, when we were able, has been a joy and something that we will continue to do with these students, and planning visits is also something we must do. As students go off to school, they continue to need our support, our prayers and they need to know that they are not forgotten back home. High school graduation seems like a finish line of sorts and we as a church must move that line back. Our students haven't finished anything yet, they are just moving onto something different, and they are still students and young people that need us. I am excited for this new school year and I can't wait to see all that God does in the coming year!

Challenged to live different

This past week I had the wonderful opportunity to learn and grow at Gull Lake Ministries. God has blessed me and my family with this camp for the past three summers. We get to go with other families from our church, which gives me a great chance to hang out with my teenagers. The speakers for the week were both Godly men who have given their life to Christ and allow Him to direct their paths.
The teaching really challenged me to think differently about how I live, and exactly what I am doing here with my life and resources. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and a church full of teenagers that I absolutely love. However, I want to make sure that I am not missing out on the main reason why we are all here, and that is to praise Jesus Christ and share the Good News with all we come into contact with. I need to get back to that priority and I hope to help lead my youth in that endeavour also.

New Bibles

New Bibles are always exciting. I probably have more Bibles than any one person should have. This past year I have switched over to using the ESV version of God's Word. I read it for my devotion time and I have preached out of it when I get the opportunity to teach from the pulpit. Up to this point I have been pretty much the only one around me who has made this translation transition. However, the most amazing thing has happened over the past couple of weeks. Some of the guys in our youth group have bought new bibles. Now, knowing that some of your high school guys went out on their own to buy new Bibles is very exciting ,and you have no idea how wonderful it is to know that they did this. But, to top off that excitement, the guys decided that they would all get ESV versions. :)
Now, this doesn't necessarily mean that we are going to make the full switch in JOLT to ESV. Currently, Leslie is doing the teaching anyway, and she is fully confident in her NIV. I have a hard time finding words to describe how overwhelmed I was when I first heard that the guys all bought new Bibles. It is definitely a step of strength and faith to get your own Bible. It is truly a pleasure serving these young men and I cannot wait to see what God does through them this coming school year.

VBS week

Here at Grace it is VBS week. This can be a very exciting week for kids and a tiring one for the workers. However, it is definately a very important week. There are so many kids that come to hear about the Good News of Christ. I am praying that as a church we are meeting that need this week. The kids that come need to know how Christ loved them so much that He died for them on a cross. Come to think of it, we all need to make sharing this fact our passion. There is really no reason that all the people around us don't know about this. We all have the ability to share and give of ourselves in a way to make the saving power of Christ clear.
Be on the look out for a way to share Christ with someone today!

The Main Thing

My friend Gary over the years has constantly reminded me to "keep the main thing, the main thing". This has never been more true for me then over these past few weeks. We have just returned from taking 23 wonderful students to Coastal Carolina and serving our Lord there. With any trip there are many details to take care of and many situations that arise as you prepare to leave. To many times I worry so much about the details that I tend to forget that God is in control. I tend to put myself in charge and can sometimes miss the great things of the Lord and I can miss seeing the great work He does through these great students.
My prayer is that I will not miss His work. That I will not miss His doings here on the earth.

All We Have to Offer is Jesus

Last Thursday I attended the Related Leaders Conference at Riverside Church in Peoria. http://www.riversidepeoria.com/calendar/related-leaders.asp The keynote speaker was author Leonard Sweet. http://www.leonardsweet.com/ He talked about the Gutenberg Church in a Google World. It really challenged me to think differently about how I put together lessons and prepare for sermons. The thought that has continued to stay with me is this, "all we have to offer is Jesus, but that is everything." That makes so much sense to me, yet many times we look for church to provide so many other things. At the heart of it all is Jesus. He is the son of God and the reason for our being here on earth.
Leonard continued on by speaking about how the church is still stuck in the 1950's, or the good ol' days. We are in the year 2009 and the church needs to catch up or the church will cease to exist. I know my students here at Grace are very technological and enjoy using tech stuff to accomplish tasks. The counter to that is I know that God's Word is amazing and it doesn't need flash and dash to teach the truth. There is a fine line between just using technology to get attention and using it effectively to preach the Gospel of Christ to our world.
The conference reinforced to me that the Bible has got to be our preaching tool and that the scriptures are the living word of God and all we need to do is present it. Our God will do the work in the heart's of those that listen.

Making Tents?

I am in Minneapolis currently at a Tentmakers training. Many wonder what actually is happening up here, am I really learning how to make tents? The answer to that question is, "no". Tentmakers is a training institute where I am putting together a professional ministry plan, and a personal ministry plan. Today we spent alot of time on decision making and the proper steps in making a good decision. The one thing that stuck out to me is it helps to write down the choices and the criteria you are using to make your decision. I many times just make the decision and move on without really establishing criteria and looking at possible choices based on that criteria.
The other thing that has stuck out to me this week is how much I miss being home. I enjoy the time I spend every night with my family and the unexpected run-ins with students and their families while we are out and about. My family and JOLT family mean the world to me and I am excited to get home to see them all again soon.

Fire Cantata

I am probably the world's worst blogger, since I have not added anything since November. That will all change when I have Internet in my home. Which needs to happen in the next week, since we are hopefully getting a computer for the house.

This past Wednesday our youth praise band, The Fire at 4th and State put on a Christmas cantata. It was Todd Agnew's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" It has 11 songs written from the different points of view of those associated with the Nativity. It was a very meaningful night for all who attended. I know for certain that I didn't have a dry eye most of the night. There are probably apologies owed to those around me who had to listen to me singing along with the tunes. The music of Christmas is powerful. To think that our God sent his one and only Son to earth to live and die for us is incredible. As I work on sermons for this weekend and Christmas Eve, I am constantly reminded about the real meaning of the season. Please join us here at Grace Church this weekend and on Christmas Eve at 4:30 as we explore salvation through Christ! That is the best gift of all.

A Historical Night

What an incredible evening in the history of our country. It was neat to watch the reactions of so many people on the election of Obama as our next president. I must admit when he first announced and started his campaign I wondered if our country would elect an African-American as president. Our country has such an awful history of hatred and violence towards blacks. You could see the joy on the faces of many African-Americans in the crowd last night in Grant Park as president-elect Obama gave his speech.

We definitely need a leader to come and help to clean up the mess that is our country right now. Obama seems to be that leader. His ability to reach out and bring people in is exactly what is needed currently. I appreciate his knowledge of history, and I think that the world will stand up and take notice as to what has happened here. We will all look back one day and remember exactly how we felt when we heard that Obama was elected president and I hope we don't soon forget the civil rights activists who risked so much to bring our country to a point where this could happen.

Election Day

Today is Tuesday November 4th, and I would imagine most bloggers are writing about their experiences today. I took advantage of early voting and did my civic duty last Thursday. It is very encouraging to see how many folks are out and about already this morning voting and it appears that turnout will be at a record high. Personally, I am very excited because there are a couple of teens in the youth group here who will be voting for the first time today! I still remember the first Presidential election I participated in. It was President Clinton's first election as he challenged the incumbent President Bush (sr.) The opportunity to vote is not something that we can take for granted, nor is it something to take lightly. There are many countries around the world today who do not have the opportunity to take part in their countries governmental proceedings and I encourage all of you to get out and vote today!