When I was a little boy, my Mommy (actually my step-mom, but the only woman I ever knew as "Mommy") used to make "Hot-Milk-Toast". It was one of my favorite things to eat. Basically, it's exactly what it sounds like: Heat up milk, pour it over cut up pieces of toast, and add some sugar on it, which puts a sweet taste on the soggyness of the bread instantly created. Might sound gross to some, but if you eat it quick enough it was very tasty! Obviously, let the milk cool down, and the bread get absolutely soaked to the point it falls apart, and no amount of sugar is going to save it.
Lately, I think I'm seeing too many of us Christians walk thru our lives like a bowl of Hot-Milk-Toast. We get our spiritual lives on fire (Hot-Milk), and pour it over every broken piece of our lives (Toast), and then try to add fun things to it (Sugar) to make it look, smell, and taste ok. The problem is, all too often, we get ourselves prepared correctly, and then do nothing with it...becoming soggy, luke-warm Christians, "and no amount of sugar is going to save it".
I'm sitting here thinking of so many of the young people I work with...some doing very well, some probly needing a bigger pat on the back, some needing a bit of a spiritual kick in the rear-end...and yet, I still wouldn't trade it for anything.
We are in the middle of VBS this week at Horizons, and so many of them are involved, I'm very proud of them. It's great to see and hear about their servant's hearts...
As we look forward to Summer Camp at Hume/SD I have to say I'm as excited as I've ever been about the theme, "All-In". I think, and pray, that our students will be challenged to put up or shut up, when it comes to their walk with God. Even after all these years in youth ministry, it still bums me to know that some problems and choices teens still face continue to take them down paths that God so wants to help them avoid. It's hard to watch good kids make poor decisions, and yet contstantly refreshing to watch God not give up on them.
There have been parts of the last year that have been very trying on me personally in ministry, perhaps like never before. And yet, in the last few weeks I have seen a group of young people stand up and say, "Troy, we want to make a difference, and we will not put up with spiritual soggy lukewarmness anymore!" I can't wait to invest the next year into THESE students, as well as anyone else who wants to come along for an amazing ride.
Hot-Milk-Toast can be a great treat, or a disgusting mess...kind of like our spiritual lives...just random thoughts....
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Saturday, June 26, 2010
SOME (final?) THOUGHTS FROM HUME/SD 2010
First of all, I'll just say that I'm as excited, encouraged, and motivated to work with High School students as I've ever been! What a great finish to the week as we went down to the beach and baptized a number of students! Next to talking with and leading a person as they pray to receive Christ, there is no greater joy for me than to baptize a brother or sister in Christ :)
On an update note, the young man, that I mentioned in my previous blog, and I are communicating and there is definitely a strong movement towards the restoration of our relationship, so your prayers are being answered, praise God!
Back to the week...just some totally random thoughts as my mind wanders and thinks of different things from the week...
Our group meetings of about 30 guys at night in the dorms were some of my favorite times of the week. Just seems like these guys truly became a band of brothers in Christ. Didn't have the "freshman are newbies, and as upperclassmen we can treat them poorly" feel to it at all.
Corporate worship, whether with a group of my peers, or a group of teenagers has always been and will always be one of my favorite parts of being a Christian. What a blessing we will have in Heaven to sing with the saints in the Bible as well as the Angels and our friends!
Our volunteer staff this week was incredible. They gave everything they had for the whole week. They were the true youth pastors this week and were there for every moment for the kids they were linked with. I love pouring into our staff, and empowering, encouraging, and enabling them to do Christ's work as He leads them!
Roberto's Mexican food in San Diego at midnight is still one of the best meals on the planet! We had an order of over $240 for all the kids, and it was amazing.
I'm so proud of how our guys showed respect for each other all week. And the way they interacted and cleaned up the dorms so quickly. They totally captured the theme of Excuse Mwa this week, and did not live for themselves, but put other guys first. If our teens can capture this nature, and be an example to all of us men, our church, and The Church, would be forever different and more like what I believe Christ intended it to be.
This was one of, if not the best, themes and implementations of the theme, in the history of my time associated with Hume Lake Ministries. That's over 25 years speaking...
In spite of the fact we only get to spend a few precious days together every year, Cliff Carey and Jay Johnson are truly two of the best friends I have. I love and respect them so very much, and I'm blessed to be a part of teen ministry with them.
About an hour and a half outside of home, I predicted a 6:40 arrival time...the front wheels of the bus crossed the driveway of the church at exactly 6:40 pm...just sayin...
Jared has inspired me to finally begin P90x...hopefully starting Monday!
Aubrey (the main office administrator at the Hume/SD) is truly a blessing. She always takes care of us here at Horizons. And anyone who can put up with my hi-maintenance self should be appreciated!
Somehow I need to have my wife at these things. It's so hard to have these truly neat and deep spiritual times of my life without having her, my partner, experience them with me.
I'm so glad I get to do what I do for a living. I pray I'll always be involved with youth ministry in some capacity. Whether speaking from time to time, or just having a small group of guys...simply a joy of my life.
Paper-Plate awards are cool!
I was so bummed that a couple of our kids didn't get to experience camp as planned. Jesse had got sick two days before camp, but J-Dub got to go in his place, and God totally worked in his life! Kyle was sick after the bus ride over to the other church that we traveled with and wasn't able to go, and Alyssa had to go home at the end of the first day because she also became sick. It was good to see her at the baptisms though! :) We missed you guys!
McDonald's BBQ packs shouldn't cost .11! Especially when you bring a group of 55 people and their money into your restaurant!
and finally...
I guess to sum it all up I can just say how proud I am of these students. With the size of our group being about 25 more than any group I've ever led to camp, it was harder than ever to get quality time with individual students (which again emphasizes the importance of our volunteer staff!) and I truly miss that part of having a smaller group. At the same time, the fact that our students heard so loudly and responded so faithfully to what He is challenging them is the way it's supposed to be! Can't wait to see the next year of our High School ministry as the friendships grow, the commitments made are lived up to, and God continues to do His work in His Ministry!
GOD RULZ!
TN
First of all, I'll just say that I'm as excited, encouraged, and motivated to work with High School students as I've ever been! What a great finish to the week as we went down to the beach and baptized a number of students! Next to talking with and leading a person as they pray to receive Christ, there is no greater joy for me than to baptize a brother or sister in Christ :)
On an update note, the young man, that I mentioned in my previous blog, and I are communicating and there is definitely a strong movement towards the restoration of our relationship, so your prayers are being answered, praise God!
Back to the week...just some totally random thoughts as my mind wanders and thinks of different things from the week...
Our group meetings of about 30 guys at night in the dorms were some of my favorite times of the week. Just seems like these guys truly became a band of brothers in Christ. Didn't have the "freshman are newbies, and as upperclassmen we can treat them poorly" feel to it at all.
Corporate worship, whether with a group of my peers, or a group of teenagers has always been and will always be one of my favorite parts of being a Christian. What a blessing we will have in Heaven to sing with the saints in the Bible as well as the Angels and our friends!
Our volunteer staff this week was incredible. They gave everything they had for the whole week. They were the true youth pastors this week and were there for every moment for the kids they were linked with. I love pouring into our staff, and empowering, encouraging, and enabling them to do Christ's work as He leads them!
Roberto's Mexican food in San Diego at midnight is still one of the best meals on the planet! We had an order of over $240 for all the kids, and it was amazing.
I'm so proud of how our guys showed respect for each other all week. And the way they interacted and cleaned up the dorms so quickly. They totally captured the theme of Excuse Mwa this week, and did not live for themselves, but put other guys first. If our teens can capture this nature, and be an example to all of us men, our church, and The Church, would be forever different and more like what I believe Christ intended it to be.
This was one of, if not the best, themes and implementations of the theme, in the history of my time associated with Hume Lake Ministries. That's over 25 years speaking...
In spite of the fact we only get to spend a few precious days together every year, Cliff Carey and Jay Johnson are truly two of the best friends I have. I love and respect them so very much, and I'm blessed to be a part of teen ministry with them.
About an hour and a half outside of home, I predicted a 6:40 arrival time...the front wheels of the bus crossed the driveway of the church at exactly 6:40 pm...just sayin...
Jared has inspired me to finally begin P90x...hopefully starting Monday!
Aubrey (the main office administrator at the Hume/SD) is truly a blessing. She always takes care of us here at Horizons. And anyone who can put up with my hi-maintenance self should be appreciated!
Somehow I need to have my wife at these things. It's so hard to have these truly neat and deep spiritual times of my life without having her, my partner, experience them with me.
I'm so glad I get to do what I do for a living. I pray I'll always be involved with youth ministry in some capacity. Whether speaking from time to time, or just having a small group of guys...simply a joy of my life.
Paper-Plate awards are cool!
I was so bummed that a couple of our kids didn't get to experience camp as planned. Jesse had got sick two days before camp, but J-Dub got to go in his place, and God totally worked in his life! Kyle was sick after the bus ride over to the other church that we traveled with and wasn't able to go, and Alyssa had to go home at the end of the first day because she also became sick. It was good to see her at the baptisms though! :) We missed you guys!
McDonald's BBQ packs shouldn't cost .11! Especially when you bring a group of 55 people and their money into your restaurant!
and finally...
I guess to sum it all up I can just say how proud I am of these students. With the size of our group being about 25 more than any group I've ever led to camp, it was harder than ever to get quality time with individual students (which again emphasizes the importance of our volunteer staff!) and I truly miss that part of having a smaller group. At the same time, the fact that our students heard so loudly and responded so faithfully to what He is challenging them is the way it's supposed to be! Can't wait to see the next year of our High School ministry as the friendships grow, the commitments made are lived up to, and God continues to do His work in His Ministry!
GOD RULZ!
TN
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