I then thought what am I trying to be, who am I trying to be, and are the models that have gone before and coming from America good models? Check out the following video which hits a few good points…

So here’s my A-Z of what He, the youth pastor should not be, but should be. For three years I’ve been tempted to try to be things I should not be, and careless in striving to what I should be

he is not…autocratic, he is…approachable
he is not…brash, he is…brave
he is not…childish, he is…christlike
he is not…daft, he is…discerning
he is not…envious, he is…energetic
he is not…funny, he is…focused
he is not…glamerous, he is…genuine
he is not…humerous, he is…holy
he is not…idolator, he is…imitator
he is not…judgmental, he is…joyful
he is not…kool, he is…karing
he is not…loud, he is…loving
he is not…mad, he is…measured
he is not…narcissistic, he is…nurturing
he is not…obnoxious, he is…obedient
he is not…perfect, he is…prayerful
he is not…quarrelsome, he is…Quintessential
he is not…rhetorical, he is…real
he is not…sad, he is…spontaneous
he is not…totaliarian, he is…teachable
he is not…unapproachable, he is…understanding
he is not…vain, he is…valuable
he is not…woolly, he is…wholehearted
he is not…xhausted, he is…xample
he is not…yappy, he is…yours
he is not…zzzzzz, he is…zealous

I hope I can be moulded to be less of what I should not be and more of what I should be, by the master potter.
 

John Pipers book ‘Think’, is now free on audiobook.  We used this book as a concept for a 6 week youth series last year on thought life, which explored film, music, advertising and others.  The book is a bit more theological than our application based series.

I hope you enjoy this nice free resource – put it on your iPod, memory pen or cd and take a listen

let me know what you think…

What next?

Back to a difficult home life, or back to a church you find so boring and irrelevant and you are the only young person your age there, or back to school where you know it’s going to be tough.

Two worlds collide – the world of camps or festivals and the real world – and it’s usually messy!

I don’t think this is a new concept that only applies to Christians today – but I’m  sure as Jews went home after three yearly festivals in Jerusalem they felt the same way, or as the many converts at Pentecost went back home they hit a bit of a downer.

So how can we live back in the real world?  Check out some ideas below or post some of your own in the comments box

1. It’s really important to know that life is going to be different and not expect it to be the same.
2. Remember one thing that you can definitely take home from camp/festival – that is your relationship with God.  He is still with you, he still loves you, he still cares for you and he still wants to hear from you.
3. Keep in touch with new friends made, keep in touch with leaders who really helped you – you are not alone in what you are feeling and you don’t need to pretend everything is easy.
4. Read over some notes you made during talks, read the passages again and remember what God spoke to you about at camp/festival.  More importantly, keep reading more and more of the Bible, it’s your daily bread.  Camp is like a feast of all the finest foods, with an all you can eat sign, and when you get home it’s not quite like that, but keep eating whats on offer.  Get good reading notes, that will challenge and inspire you
5. Get involved in church life.  It’s not going to be the same, but we gotta go in with a good attitude – not what can I get, but what can I give.  Talk to your youth leader about how you’re feeling and see how you can work together in making things the best that they can be.  You may be part of the change in your church.
6. Don’t give up.  Never ever quit.  You can and will get through.

Would love to hear what you think…I find it difficult too…and i’m looking forward to next year already

50 extraordinary churches

God’s will is usually not shown to us on a Placard.  That frustrates me sometimes.

And I’m sure for more than one of you, there is a situation in your life right now and you just cry out, ‘God, show me what your will is!’  Maybe you use different language – ‘what’s going on’ // ‘where are you’ // ‘this isn’t how i planned it’.  Maybe like me, you are sitting and waiting on something to happen and to one day wake up and find yourself ‘right in the middle of God’s will’, or infact, living a life that you always thought you would live.

Over easter I took time to read a few books, the best was maybe ‘Just do something’ by Kevin DeYoung, or as the subtitle states how to make a decision without dreams, visions, fleeces, impressions, open doors, random bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky etc.

Following a few lunchtime conversation while back at work, it seemed a good time to write about it, basically so that when i come to do some youth stuff on this topic i’ll be able to remember a few key points.  I’d encourage you to buy the book, my rawest thoughts are this.

First, Remember 3 things.

1. God is good.
2. God is sovereign.
3. God knows everything (past, present and future)

Next, use 3 counsels.

1. Counsel of God (read the bible, pray, journal),
2. Counsel of others (ask your pastor, a wise old couple, a good friend),
3. Counsel of your spirit (what feels right etc).

Also remember that unexpected things do happen – dreams, visions etc.  don’t expect them to happen, but don’t expect them not to happen.

Finally, as the book said Just do something.  3 things to do.

1. Get involved in life.
2. Get involved in other peoples lives.
3. Get involved in your local church.

God is soverign and will carry out his will, but he also calls us to make decisions.  Sometimes decisions will be minor, others major,  some will impact you, some will impact a lot of people around you aswell.  But it’s good to remember that God is more concerned with who you are than where you are – his desire is that we become like Christ, how and where he leads us on that journey is more of a sub plot in the story he has for our lives.

Finally, it’s not about you.

This free PDF book, Seeing and Savouring Jesus Christ, is a great resource to read in the run up to Easter.  13 short chapters – that’s less than one a day until easter – it could change your view of Easter and could even change your life.

Ever struggle with issues of God’s sovereignty in all things, of evil and of suffering?  Are you in a situation where you are struggling to see how all things can work together for good?

Corrie Ten BOOM’s book deals with all of these issues, and see’s how that is worked out in her life.  Looking forward to listening to this audiobook as Easter approaches

Corrie Ten Boom – The Hiding Place – free for April

Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. ~I Corinthians 13:4-7

I can also be thankful that Paul’s words to Timothy are also true…

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. – 2 Timothy 1:5

Thanks for teaching and continuing to teach and show me what the Gospel is…

After a cracking weekend at sheep island view full of energy drinks, cold showers, rain, wind and sleepless nights, we had a reunion tonight at HRBC to reflect on what God had been doing in our lives during the weekend.

What an encouragement to be reminded of how God transforms peoples lives and to hear what He has been teaching some of our young people.  As I listened to some of out young people tonight I learned new things and It reminded me that you will never know the full impact of your ministry in this life.  So if you are involved in Sunday School, Youthwork, schools work or any other form of ministry can I encourage you to continue being faithful and leave the results to our awesome God.

We finished the service with some real-life cardboard testimonies.  These are always a tear jerker when seen on video, but to see many of our young people, sunday school teachers and youth workers walk onto the stage and testify to what God has done in their lives was very special.  From lives of legalism to lives of idolatry, it was another reminder that we all need a work of God’s grace for us to become a new creation.

Thanks to everyone who took part from welcoming to leading worship, to asking questions, to answering questions, to making videos, to showing the videos, to speaking, to making cup cakes, to eating cup cakes.  I was pretty good at the latter…

This is one I seen at a church in Belfast…seemed more like an email you get in your junk mail…

This is one I seen at a church in Lurgan…really not sure about this one.

Here’s a collection of others

1. Notice in a church parking lot.  Trespassers will be baptised.
2. If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep.  Talk to the Shepherd.
3. Fight truth decay — study the Bible daily!
4. No God – No Peace. Know God – Know Peace.
5. Free Trip to heaven.  Details Inside!
6. When the restaurant next to a chapel put out a big sign with red letters that said, “Open Sundays,” the chapel reciprocated with its own message: “We are open on Sundays, too.”
7. Come work for the Lord.  The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world.
8. In the dark? Follow the Son.

Would be interested to hear or see of any you have seen and what you think…

It’s interesting to then look at the Bible and read in John 13 that the church be known for their love towards one another.  I think we need to work on this.  I think I need to work on this.

I was reminded yesterday at our youth workers training morning of the great message of good news we have at church – “You are more sinful than you can ever believe, but you are more loved than you can ever imagine” – I hope can share this message of hope in a clear and loving way.