Down South

I flew out of Indianapolis this afternoon and arrived in Columbia, South Carolina early this evening. I'm here to present the CORE tomorrow. The CORE is a youth leader/parent/student leader training seminar. As soon as I got off the plane it felt good to be in the south! It was about 70 degrees with a soft breeze blowing. I stopped to eat a local Italian place called Stephanos - it was awesome. My body needed a rest like this. Sure it was a long day of travel, but it was great to get here and relax for awhile too. I'm anxious to see what God's going to do with this seminar I'm leading tomorrow. I'm just trying to follow His leading and obey what He wants me to do and it contineus to lead me into some very exciting opportunities. I never know what's around the next corner. That's an exciting way to live! Why not give it a try?

What's Up With This Blogging Thing Anyway?

Seriously, I've had tons of people pushing me to BLOG more regularly, but I just can't seem to make it a priority. Maybe it's becasue I'm finally 40 years old, maybe I just dont' get it. Why would anyone want to read my ramblings about life anyway? And don't I already have enough to do without trying to write about it all in my blog? I mean seriously, why is this always one o fthe last things on my "to do" list? I mean it's been 3 week or so since my last post and it's not like I haven't had anythingt to write about. There's a ton going on in my life! But I'm more prone to pick up my old school journal where I actually write stuff donw with a pen in a book. Wow am I old! Last week I even opened a Face Book account becasue I want to try and stay as young and hip as possible for as long as possible, but now I've got all these people trying to get in touch with me and be my "friends". I don't mean to sound crass, but I don't need more friends. I need less friends. I can't keep in touch with the friends I already have, let alone adding some new ones! I have no idea how I'm going to survive all of this. I remember laughing at my parents becasue they couldn't figure out how to program their VCR and it kept flashing 0:00 and now I'm turning into my parents! AAAAaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! What am I going to do about this blogging thing? How long amd I going to seriously keep this up? Is anyone relaly reading this anyway?

God's Power

I had the opportunity to witness the power of God at work this week. I watched Him work in a friends life...my friend came to a stark reliazation about himself that he's been wrestling with for years. It was awesome to see God working in his heart as he surrendered his will to God's. It's going to be even more fun to see what God does to change my friend into the person He originally created him to be! I can't wait to see how it all goes down! What a privilege to walk alongside someone in whom God is working! It's definitely not easy work. It's not pain free. But it's incredibly miraculous to watch Jesus do what only Jesus can do in someone's life. God, thanks for the reminder of just how powerful you are! Help me to remain open to your power as well!

Chew On This!

Well my first book is finally out and available. I would love some honest feedback on this blog. I think it's a great book for Jr. and Sr. High students, so pick one up and let me know what your kids think about it!

The Core

For the past 10 years I've had the privilege of training and encouraging youth workers all over the world through an interactive training seminar from Youth Specialties called The CORE. This spring I'll be traveling again and would love to see you! Please come up and introduce yourself...tell me you read my blog and I'd love to talk some more! Here are the cities and dates of my 2008 SPeaking Tour:

2/23 - San Diego
2/29 - Tri Cities
3/1 - Nashville
3/7 - Columbia, SC
3/8 - Kansas City, KS
3/29 - St. Louis, MO
4/5 - Jacksonville, FL
4/12 - Hartford, CT
4/26 - Virginia Beach, VA
5/3 - Toronto, CA

I'm excited about what God's going to do through this year's tour! We're talking about CHANGE in students and youth workers and it would be great to have you involved in the conversation. You can register at www.youthspecialties.com

Last Post of the Year...Changes are coming!

Well this will be it for the year...and what a year its been! Like everyone else, there have been lots of ups and lots of downs, but its been exciting to see God working through it all! I've been blessed in so many ways: My Savior loves me and pursues a relationship with me daily, My wonderful wife and I have enjoyed 16+ years of marriage and are looking forward to many more, My kids are growing up and learning to love Jesus on their own, My extended family know and love the Lord and dedicate themselves to pursuing His Kingdom. What more could a guy ask for?

Here's what I'm looking forward to in 2008...
1. Growing closer to Jesus by dedicating myself to seriously studying His Word in depth as often as I can. I also want to learn how to fast and pray!
2. Modeling Christ's love for my family by serving them with Jesus' love.
3. Going on a mission trip with my entire family to Nicaragua to serve the poor (But probably more so for what God wants to do in each of us!)
4. My fist book comes out on January 4 and I'm excited to see what God will do with it to change lives.
5. I want to learn to live in community with a few other men who will love me and encourage me and get in my face on stuff and who will allow me to do the same for them.
6. I'm excited about a web project a friend and I are working on in 2008. I believe it has tremendous potential to help people by using cutting edge technology and the Word of God. Stay tuned for more information...

Of course I can't do any of this on my own. I need your help Lord. So I pray for your will to be done on earth - right here where I'm at...just like it is already being done there in Heaven where You're at!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog this year. I look forward to what God will do through this little tool in 2008.

Happy New Year!

Letting Go

A friend shared the following words with me today from the Henri Nouwen Society. They reminded her of my last post and I loked them so much I had to pass them along...

Giving Permission to Die

One of the greatest gifts we can offer our family and friends is helping them to die well. Sometimes they are ready to go to God but we have a hard time letting them go. But there is a moment in which we need to give those we love the permission to return to God, from whom they came. We have to sit quietly with them and say: "Do not be afraid ... I love you, God loves you ... it's time for you to go in peace. ... I won't cling to you any longer ... I set you free to go home ... go gently, go with my love." Saying this from our heart is a true gift. It is the greatest gift love can give.

When Jesus died he said: "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit" (Luke 23:46). It is good to repeat these words often with our dying friends. With these words on their lips or in their hearts, they can make the passage as Jesus did.

Henri Nouwen continues to influence my spiritual journey well after his own death. Thank you Lord for the gift of spiritual mentors who breathe into my life.