Challenging Normal

Are there specific callings?
youth ministry, children's ministry, missions, worship, etc

or

Is there one calling and different passions?
everyone is called and what we do with the call comes from the passion God has given us

I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter? Does it even matter. Is there such a thing as a full time or part time call?

This went went by really fast. A lot of catching up to do from vacation. Seems like vacation was forever ago.

Every Wednesday is awesome but this Wednesday had a different feel to it from the beginning.

The hardest part...

We have heard it said that life is not fair. We know that but that does not stop us from questioning things when they happen. Why? Why did this happen or that happen? Why me God? Why now? Many people will tell you not to question God. To question God is to doubt Him. That is about as true as drinking Chick-Fila milkshake twice a day will make you skinny. If God is not big enough to handle our questions then He is not big enough to be God. He did not rebuke Job for asking why. He did not give him an answer. He did not rebuke Mary at the tomb of Lazarus when we questioned Him. He can handle the tough questions of life.

So I had a question the other day and would love to get your input.

Is it better to figure God out?
to know why He does what He does

or

Just know Him and trust Him?
trust that He has everything under control and not want to know the reason

Is there a difference? What are your thoughts? Can you search, guess, and figure yourself past faith?

I would honestly love your feed back on these questions?

Today Pastor Steven talked about God's health care plan, here are some thoughts:

• Just like our health care plan comes at a high price, so does God's. The premium was payed by Ehe life and death of Jesus.
• The cost was too much for us to pay.
• Unlike other health care plans, everyone is covered in God's. Our government can not take care of everyone but God can.
• We do not have to qualify for God's health care plan - just believe in it.

If you know me, you know there is not that I love more than this generation. I believe that Thrive is some of the most awesome students in the world and that I am truly the luckiest Youth Pastor alive. Here is a note that one of Thrive's students posted on Facebook and you will understand what I am talking about:

Have had a vacation hangover for the last couple of days. Really have not been motivated to do anything.

Last weekend we were up in Helen, GA for Youth Leaders' Summit. Growing up my family used to go up to Helen every summer for vacation. We used to eat enough funnel cakes to make ourselves sick and my family would embarrass me singing on the sidewalks. We would hike up to Ana Ruby Falls and picnic at Smith Creek. It was something that we looked forward to every year.

Just spent 6 days and 5 night in The Great Smokey Mountains.

Last weekend we spent a couple days in Helen, GA at the Youth Leader's Summit with some of the most awesome Youth Pastors I know. The speaker for the weekend was Jay Mooney, one of the greatest minds in Youth Ministry today. Here are a couple of thoughts from the weekend:

What were you doing a year ago today? 365 days ago I preached to the students of Stockbridge Assembly for the first time. The next day Pastor Steven made it official and brought us on staff as the Youth Pastors. A lot has happened in a year, here are some of my favorite memories:

Hosted The Blizzard, a winter outreach night where we saw over 100 students in service and several make decisions to live for God.

Went ice skating in Centennial Park in 20 degree weather and then hiked through downtown to go shopping at Underground Atlanta.

Broom Ball! First time I played and scored the first goal. Lost this year, but better watch out for us next year.

Played flag football during a snow storm while on Spring Break.

Hosted Rock Star Night, a spring outreach night. We played Guitar Hero, ate tons of pizza and saw record crowds.

We have seen Thrive more than double in the last year.

We have made lifelong friendships and have met some of the most awesome people in the world.

We have seen God change and transform dozens of students' lives.

The last year has truly been one of the most awesome years of our lives and ministry. We know that God has a lot more in store for us and we are very excited about it. Buckle up, it is going to be a fun ride and the best is yet to come!

Wednesdays are Game Day for Thrive!

I do not like to be around students all the time.

I find my security in other people.

Vacation is 5 days away! We will be heading to Helen, GA for a couple day for Youth Leader's Summit and then off to......well we really do not know yet. We are working on that part but we are going somewhere I promise.

• The set looked awesome Wednesday night. Robin and Katie did an awesome job painting it.
• It was the first week of the "Turn It Up" series. I am excited about what this series is going to hold.
• The band opened with The Fray song "Never Say Never" and rocked it out.
• Our attendance was down some but the service itself was awesome.
• Lots of students made commitments to "Turn It Up" in their relationship with Jesus.
• The altar was not come down to the front and get prayed for, it was go and apply what we have learned.
• Already gotten a couple of "Turn It Up" stories from students.
• I know that I say it all the time but I am truly the luckiest Youth Pastor in the world and Thrive are some of the most awesome students anywhere.

Here are some things we talked about:

We as Christ Followers are called to live loud and not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Romans 1:16.

It is time that we stop treating our relationship with Jesus like a relationship with an ugly boy/girl friend and bring it out in public.

We have to live loud because the world is listening. They are listening with their:

Eyes - They want to see it. Is the volume of your actions louder than the volume of your words?

Hearts - They want to feel it. Is the volume of your reputation louder than the volume of your relationship with Jesus?

Soul - With eternity in mind. Is the volume of your decisions louder than the volume of your dreams?

Upcoming Events:

Speed-the-Light Fast-A-Thon is October 2-3. We are getting sponsors for each hour that we are fasting that week. All monies raised go towards our Colombian Speed-the-Light project.

September 16th is a game and chill night at Thrive. Bring your favorite junk food and your favorite game. Everything kicks off at it's normal time.

thriveyouthchurch.com should be back up some time next week with podcasts.

People who fight over the style of worship and church but yet will not fight to keep people from going to Hell.

Transparency has its place but it also has some draw backs. There are so warnings that I should issue with being transparent: