a random call to evangelism

had a great talk yesterday with a youth pastor from a city that is close to us.  he just called out of the blue without much connection before our phone call.  we had a great talk about evangelism.  big events, and large outreaches were the center of our discussion.  how do you cover follow-up?  do you present opportunities for salvation just once during that night?  how do you equip students to be the one that is leading them to christ as opposed to one speaker up front?

my heart was stirred once again with a passion to reach out to students.  but as we talked i was more convinced that no one should ever be at an altar alone.  the purpose is not to get a student to an altar, but into a relationship with Jesus.  i want our students to be a part of seeing their friends coming to christ.  i think that also helps with disciplining those students.  they already have a connection to come back, and someone that can talk with them about what it means to be a christian.  what are thoughts you have on bringing people to christ?  would love more voices in this conversations.

an early christmas box

like a kid waking up on christmas morning is the feeling that i had on tuesday when I came into the office.  i had ordered my next set of books to read.  they came in the freshly packaged amazon box and were sitting on my desk. i was so pumped.  my goal is to read through these all by mid-january.  hoping to have some extra time over christmas break to devour these.  what goals are you currently reading that are rocking you or changing your prespective on ministry.

raw and authentic prayers

last night at our service we talked about sexual purity [probably one of the least talked about subjects but more important subjects].  at the end we got into groups to pray for each other.  I slipped into one of the groups, and got challenged from a group of high school boys.  it was raw and authentic.  they didn’t use words that we would use, the words they used most people would say have no place in prayer.  I thought do we water down our prayers and use words to sound proper and somehow in that loose the power of being honest before God.  You know what I am talking about, the filler phrases and words.  God help us to stay pure, don’t let us do bad stuff, Don’t let us sin, forgive us our mistakes.   We use these instead of really saying what we are feeling and doing.  After all God knows what we are really going thru.  So maybe you would not use the phrase “bang a girl” or “masturbation” [i know you maybe thinking, is he allowed to say that in a prayer or blog] but are you real in your prayers?  Are you trying to hid your sin and make them sound more presentable to an all knowing God?  I have been challenged to be more authentic after last night.  thank you to the a group of high guys for being real in your prayers, and relationships with Jesus.

a youth pastors chaotic fight for organization

I have filled my macbook pro with tones of trials to organize, to do list, and plan
my busy and chaotic life.  Husband, father of 5, pastor of two ministries, teaching team and the
list goes on and on.  my iphone has helped some because now most of these programs
go mobile with me.  I have recently added excel sheets for a color coded breakout
of where my time is spent during the week.  still it is overwhelming, and chaotic to
keep organized and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

ical  |  things |  sketchbox |  jott express |  evernote

Any programs you have found that help in the on
going battle to stay organized?

this week . . . the trend is

Wednesday:
First Wednesday at Riverside.  Got to have dinner with @scotthodge, @creativearts, and @taylorphelan

Thursday:
Related Leaders Event with Scott Hodge.  It messed me up in ministry  [who has God positioned us to reach  |  what will it cost to reach them  |  am I willing to pay the price]  Those will be questions it will take me a little bit to wrestle through.

Friday:
Vision and strategy for United Spring 09.  It was a great day, and I am so pumped and excited about what God is going to do this Fall.

Saturday:
once again got my but kicked working out with @diamondslice.  lets just say I am not as energetic as i was at 18.

Sunday:
is to have my wife run jr high service so i can sit home and puke my guts up

8 youth pastors: too much fun

Erik, Evan, and Myself taking on the forces of the world in
Rambo,

jon trying to get kicked out of gameworks.  ackward hope no one throws a ball

evan kicking our butts on nascar racing.

great few days.  these are some of the top youth guys in the state of illinois.  i love chances where i get to hang with them.  I always walk away challenged and energized to go and continue to win students for Jesus.  thanks you guys for sharing your ministry experiences, and challenges.