what a life!

There are so many days that I feel like I am just going to die from business.

But this weekend made up for them all. I did nothing. well, I had dinner guests, led worship, went to Sunday school and then to a church picnic. but the rest of the time, no lie, I read!! Here is the thing about working with youth kids. I am leaving today to go on a float trip...I know that there will be at least 2, maybe 3 kids who will have read "HARRY POTTER 7" and they will be talking about it. I sincerely did not want the ending ruined, so, of course, I took about 9 hours of daylight and finished it! It was so good! I was absolutely happy with the ending and I am pretty sure that it is the best installment of all the Harry Potters!

I have been reading "your first 2 years in ministry" by Doug fields, and I keep seeing the same thing over and over again. Business does not make a ministry good. It makes it busy. I keep thinking about how we try so hard to make sure that the kids have something to do, and meanwhile we are so crazy, we have neglected each other, our houses, and our own spiritual life. The book talks about taking a sabbath day, and if you don't, you won't last long in the ministry. It sounds discouraging, but is was so good to read a 30 year veteran saying all the things I have been feeling. It is weird how the youth ministry is one of discouragement. Everyone wants the youth to do this, and serve in this way, and gets mad at them when something is left a mess. They (the people) want the youth staff to be at work all day so as to show face, and then come back, or never leave to actually execute the programming. I start to laugh when I realize that the youth programs, when they are full, are actually the most active of programs. We meet twice a week, we have bible study in the morning before school one day, we have weekend functions, and we have praise band practice...on top of that you have to be on the top of your spiritual game... I am not complaining, but it is a hard job and no one who hasn't actually done it, I don't think, could really understand the investment being made! It is a crazy life,

but I would not change it for anything!

I wish you could know, and some of you do, how these kids take a piece of my heart, and how in everything I see them do and try, I just want to see them succeed and then teach them a life lesson whether they fail or succeed. I want to see them graduate and the girls go on to stand up for what the believe in and not focus on finding a "boy" as much as solidifying their faith. I want to see them search out where they can and ultimately will serve God to their greatest ability, And I want them to good Godly men who treat them with the respect they deserve, and I want them to know they deserve it, because Andrew and I set an example and taught them how special they are.

I want to see the guys raise up to be Godly men, who these girls would be more than lucky to end up with. I want them to seek the Lord and long for the hunger and conviction that not even we could teach!

My heart is in my job, my job is Our ministry,

and Our ministry is OUR LIFE!

Oh, What a Life!