Challenging Normal

Last night will go down as one of the best nights ever for Thrive. 10 students made a decision to follow Jesus for the first time.

Tonight, we have a big night in Thrive.  While preparing my message, I did some research on what happened to the Disciples of Jesus after his resurrection and ascension.  I had read this list a few times but this week it has haunted me more than ever.

This is the last night of our "More Than A Rock Star" series.

It seems that there are some huge things happening for Stockbridge Assembly, Thrive, and even for us personally. Over the past several weeks we have seen many chances to make an impact in our community. So many chances that I am not sure we can tackle all of them. It has made me sit back and ask if some of these were open doors that God has set in front of us, or just good opportunities. I have learned over the years that there is a difference between an open door and just a good opportunity.

Here is the difference. If it is a door that God is opening, there is nothing that you did to bring your way and it is always at the perfect time. It usually is something that only God can truly get the credit for. Most of the time you sit back and ask how it happened.

Good opportunities are great but sometimes do not line up with what God has called you to do. Sometimes they can actually take away from your mission and distract you. My prayer is that we will not be distracted by the many good things that are happening and miss the God thing that we are called to.

If you are wondering if it is truly a door God is opening, then ask if there is any way that any one else could have opened it. Can any one else take the credit for. And on the flip side, can any one really close it. My prayer for you and for us is that God will open the doors that no man can shut and shut the doors that no man can open.

This week flew by in a blur and was full of  ups and downs.

• We had the largest non-event crowd for Thrive last night.
  
• The band opened up with an All American Rejects song last night and knocked it out of the park.
  
• Katie and the crew did a great job with the skit before the message.
  
• Loved watching students and leaders praying for students at the end of the night.  There is not a better scene anywhere.
  
• The first two weeks of More Than A Rock Star has blown our mind, I have a feeling next week is going to be crazy.
  
• I love doing what God has called me to do.

Can someone really ever catch up?  Is the feeling of running behind a normal feeling?  Why does it seem like everyone else's days have more than 24 hours in them?

About five years ago one of my heroes described Student Ministry as a constant state of spinning plates.  There has never been a truer statement made, in my opinion.  In fact life most of the time feels a lot like this.  Running from one place to another trying to keep everything moving, trying not to let anything fall.  This way of living will quickly burn us out and wear us down.  Actually when we get caught up in just spinning plates we miss life, we miss what God has for us.

We are hosting a car show for the Woodland High Band at the church today. I got to be one of the judges. I was the most underquailifed judge in the history of car shows.

Beautiful weather today. I am going to attempt to spend some time on my bike.

This week seemed to drag. With a busy Easter weekend and kicking off more than a Rosk Star this past Wednesday I felt behind all week.

Very proud of Thrive Wednesday night. We introduce several different elements to our service and they handled it perfectly. We also experience some heavy spiritial tension, but we understood why by the end of the service.

Yesterday I tried my hardest to be a bum. Took two naps and watched a lot of television.

Tomorrow our youth worship band will be leading in the main service. They are excited and service. Should be cool.

I am going to need a vacaction soon. It has been nonstop since the first of March.

Finished Brennen Manning's "Furious Longing of God" this week. Excellent book!

It has not been a real exciting week.

Hope you are having a good weekend

• What a night!  Last night will probably go down as one of the top 5 Youth Services of my life.  The kicker is I believe the best is yet to come.
  
• We opened the service with The Frays song "You Found Me."  The band rocked it and the video playing along with the song was powerful.
  
• The band and Patric added some really cool things with a new song.  They took Jesus Messiah and added a rap and a tag on the end.  Really smooth and really awesome.
  
• Grateful for creative students!  The drama that happened before the message really helped set the tone of the message.
  
• There was so much spiritual tension before the service.  So proud of how our students dealt with that in prayer.
  
• Nights like last night make all the hell that ministry brings worth it.
  

• You never truly deal with your issues - you life out of excuse and not reason
  
• You do not have healthy relationships - you are surrounded by people and are still lonely
  
• You never grasp the dream God has for you because you are holding too tight to your plan

Upcoming Events:

Next week is weeks 2 of More Than A Rock Star

April 29th is Rock Star night.  We will have pizza for everyone, guitar hero tournaments, and more.  Come dressed as a rock star and bring a friend.

This Sunday is Youth Sunday at Stockbridge Assembly.  The youth band will be leading worship and Jon Fennell will be speaking.

For more information and updates go to thriveyouthchurch.com

There is something inside of me that is telling me that I am not dreaming big enough.  It is almost like at times I forget what it is like to dream.  I begin to doubt more than I dream.  My excuses begin to outweigh my dreams.  I spend more time telling God what I can not do rather than listening to Him tell me what I am called to do.  I believe that there are things that kill the dreams inside of all of us.  There is nothing that weighs down a life more than a dead dream.

So I give up. I am tired of fighting a losing battle. I do not consider myself a quitter, I would like to think that I do not throw in the towel that easy, but the frustration has become overwhelming. I have come to the understanding that you can not fight seasons. They happen and are often not in your control.

Non-negotiable is a term that was added to my vocabulary a couple of years ago. What are non-negotiables? Many people define this term in many ways. For me, it represents lines that I have drawn in my life that I refuse to cross. These are not just things that I have a strong opinion on, these are things that shape my convictions.

Easter is truly one of my favorite Holidays.  It has represented so much in my life for so long.  I have been in ministry for 11 years and this has been my favorite Easter to date.  Stockbridge Assembly knocked it out of the park with our "Capture Easter" weekend.  There are not words that I can express for how proud I am to be a part of this team and this community of faith.  I am on staff at a church that I would attend if they did not pay me.

Took some time off from blogging this week.  I love blogging but I have purposely took some time off everything I do online over the last two weeks.

Weebles wobble but they do not fall down. There are times we just feel like life's punching bag. After what I have walked through in the last month, I am tired of getting punched in the face. My life has felt like a weeble wobble. You know those things that you can knock around and they bounce back up.

Taking some time off from the blogging thing this week.  I have a lot on my brain and need to spend some time sorting some of it out.  If you would like to take part in Thrive's Easter week devotional, "seven" you can click here.  I will kick back up next week some time.  

Sunday Rambling instead of Saturday because I was helping with a retreat in Forsyth.

The Camp Grounds in Forsyth are one of my favorite places on earth. There are very few places that I can hear God so clearly.

I am writing this during our Middle School Small Group. They are playing a game call "do you love your neighbor." It got violent and I had to take a break.

A good friend came to visit this evening. Ebony is a former intern and a good friend. There are only a couple of people that will always have a spot in our ministry if they want it and Ebony is one of those people.

Got some new office furniture this week. I would like to think my friend Jason from Paramont Church for hooking me up.

It is Spring Break week! I was hoping for some rest but I do not see any coming.

Very excited about our series that starts in over a week in Thrive. I believe that we are going to be blown away.

I am convinced that Thrive are some of the greatest friends in the world.

Got an awesome late birthday present yesterday. Stephanie gave me Season 2 of 24 and has ordered me Season 1.

I do not feel like we had a weekend.

Hope you have an awesome week.

• Pastor Steven spoke and knocked it out of the park.
  
• I really believe that our sound system is demon possessed.  It was jacked up last night.
  
• Loved that so many of our students are taking part in the 30 pieces of silver challenge for Speed-the-Light.
  
• The new Thrive t-shirts are in.  The look good and are selling fast.  Might have to do a reorder soon.
  
• It's good to take a speaking break for a couple of weeks as we get ready for the More Than A Rock Star series.
  
• Love the Peace of God that everyone felt after service last night.
  

Here are some things that was talked about:

Don't be a fool.  Foolish thoughts, leads to foolish actions, that leads to a foolish lifestyle.

Pastor Steven challenged us from Proverbs 7 not to be trapped by foolish things.

Check out the podcast here for more.

Upcoming Events:

Spring Break week is next week

Tuesday - Lunch @ The Varsity then hanging in Centennial Park

Wednesday - Skate night

Thursday - Work Dy

April 15th we kick off a new series called "More Than A Rock Star."  Might be one of the most unique series ever.

All of April we are taking part in the 30 pieces of silver challenge for Speed-the-Light.  Every week the students are challenged to bring 30 quarters for our mission's offering.

For more information you can check out the website here.

The older I get there are some things that I am learning about myself.  One of the things that I am learning is that I love routines.  I love doing certain things at certain times.  I work more efficiently with structure.  Having my day planned out before it even starts.  Having everything organized and knowing where it is.