9/25-10/2

All is well here for the most part, and for the other parts I will explain.

I think if you were sum up what I have learned this past week it would be respect or my lack of it.

I want to explain what journey I have gone through this past week and what have been taking place over the last year. I story of my own arrogance or pride to fulfill my agenda that was destroying relationships and the ministry that I was involved in this past year.

I went into the youth group with a plan to help and to serve, yet from the very start I had a desire to take control and make the youth group what I wanted it to be. I desired this because of the lack of structure that I saw coming into the group; poorly planed lessons, and no assigned direction. With that lack of structure in mind, I thought “for the sack of the teens, I will do whatever I can to help them, even go around the youth director.” This is the mindset that I went into the ministry with that nearly destroyed all the work that had been accomplished there. All because of the pride that I had. All that pride led me to a disrespect for the authority that is over me.

Now, looking back, I understand what I am supposed to do. I am responsible to respect the authorities that God has put over me, weather that be parents or policemen, respect is due to both. I believe that because I was not respecting my youth director, the youth group was not growing. I also believe that if we begin follow God's will (which for me in this situation is to respect my youth director) that God will grow us as a youth group.

Thus concluded the very short version of what my week was about. If you could pray that I remember this lesson and respect those over me, I would highly appreciate it.

Other events and circumstances that have arisen in my life over the last week or will present themselves in the weeks to come:

I have a big decision that I have to make for next semester, and I have to make it rather quickly. The decision has a lot of implications with it and needs to be made very prayerfully. I do not want to go against God's plan or will for my life.

I have a project do for youth evangelism class coming up in the next few week and it is really important that all the details get hammered out soon for it to run smoothly and effectively. Since it is a para-church event, prayer is always helpful and needed.

My lesson for wednesday when well, God ended up doing something very different with it than I was thinking, but I think people learned just the same. Thanks for the prayers

Rachel is going to New York this weekend for class. Pray that she would be safe and enjoy the time off campus. She is also visiting her sister's family up there with some of her free time.

That is the majority of what is going on as of right now. Here is the layout for the rest of the week from what I know:

Saturday Sept 18:

Dinner with Ross

TA work

Sunday:

Church 9-12

Monday/Wednesday/Friday:

Wake/Devos 5-7

Homework/breakfast 7-8

Class/chapel 8-11

Lunch/work/class 11-1 (Friday Lunch with Rachel)

Homework/class 1-3

Work in kitchen 3-7 (Except Wednesday for youth group 6:30-9:30)

Work maintenance after work/youth group

sleep around 11

Tuesday/Thursday:

Wake/Devos 5-7

Breakfast 7

Class/chapel 8:30-1

(Tuesdays) Meeting with Dr Wilhite about Class 1-2

(Thursday) Lunch 1-130

Work in kitchen 3-7

Work maintenance 7-8

(Tuesday) Dorm meeting 10:30-11:15

Sleep 11:30 (hopefully)

Honor the King

This week has been like a spiritual kick in the pants. When I thought that all my plans were going well and that my course of actions were correct and with good intentions, God decides to teach me a lesson. Taught me a lesson is what He did alright.

I had been working on my lesson for youth group for almost two weeks now. I have put off assignments and lost sleep for this lesson that I am working on so that I could get it just right for the kids, and it turns out that I don't even get to give it, but instead God gives me the lesson. The lesson is one on respect and was very hands on.

When I first started to attend the youth group that I am working now, I had a desire to see the group grow and change. I had a vision for the youth group and had an agenda to accomplish while I am there. But the problem came with the youth director, who is okay with keeping the group the way they are and not changing activities or approach to much. Regardless of what is going on, the principle is that I am having an issue with the authority that is over me as a youth leader in the youth group. I have been trying to work my way around the youth director, trying to fulfill my agenda underneath him without him knowing. I would purposely not communicate actions that I planed to take because I knew he would disagree with them. I was not honoring his authority, or even him as a person. This week I realized that fact.

I realized this fact when he took over my lesson and changed my plans. Rachel saw my frustration and pointed out to me that I was not being respectful of the youth director. She pointed me to scriptures the allowed me to see that I was doing more harm then good with my agenda. Unity is important, not good programs. Relationships, not good lessons. Following God's agenda, not mine. His agenda says that I need to honor the authorities that He has put in place over my life, regardless of whether or not they are doing good.

In the bible, Paul wrote to the Romans while under the authority of an evil king this passage:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
~Romans 13:1

Later

South Africa

You would not believe it, but I have been presented with an opportunity to go to south Africa for next semester. Pastor Don McCall, one of my professors knows someone from down there that is leaving for 6 months starting next year. I know that we talked about trying to get me down there, and here I have the chance to do so. I don't really know what to do though. I would love to go and spend the semester down there, I am sure it would be very good for me. I just don't know what to do next. I have to raise support in order to get down there, and I need a good chunk of it before I get there. The total is 10,000 for the whole 6 months, which is very reasonable I think, but none of it I have. Sounds like I am relying on God for this one if He wants me down there.

Later

Update Sept 18th

Hey

Thank you for reading this letter and for praying for the situations that I find myself in, it is very appreciated – I really do thank you. Also, it is really nice just to let everyone know how I am doing without having to call everyone or Facebook everyone. I do apologize for the generalization of my letter, but I do end up sending this to lots of different people and it is somewhat necessary,

Anyways, thank you again, especially this week. Blah! I have had a long week. At the beginning of this semester I was given the chance to do an event for youth group, and I took it. The catch is the date was only three weeks away(Sept 25th)! Meaning that I needed to plan, advertise and organize people around this event in less than three weeks in order for it to work. On top of planing the event I work about 25-30 hours a week and go to school full time, making a very stressful situation. I wanted to do the event later, but that didn't work out in the discussion. I ended up taking the date and trying to get everything together while doing everything else, then only after pushing for this and stressing about this for two weeks do I find out that it is very unlikely that it can even work. Most of the leaders can be there and most of the teens that we have can't be there either. Right now I am waiting to hear back from my youth director about moving the date back, hopefully he will agree and move it into October at the very least.

Despite this rough week of planing, we had a great time at youth group this week. We didn't play dodge ball but instead mixed it up with other games that I think the teens really enjoyed. We made a lot of progress getting to know the teens just by playing these games I am going to try and introduce new games until we get a good mixture of what the teens like. I really want to get games that build relationships between the teens and the leaders.

Other news that might be of concerns for you: I was presented with a chance to go down to south Africa next semester as a intern of sorts. I haven't decided if I am going to take the offer or not. That would definitely be something to pray about as I consider the option. I would love to go, but I also really want to stay and work with my youth group here. I think that if God wants me to get there he will provide a way and the desire to do so.

Oh, I just remembered, I am teaching a class here in about a week. I will be presenting my youth group project that I am/will be working on for the next few weeks along with where I want to take the youth group over my stay here. Things I want to see changed and how to do that as a leader. This is going to be something new for me and I just hope that it goes well.

I have to teach youth group on Wednesday, I am pretty excited about that. I just hope that I have enough time to be prepared for it. I want to provide for more discussion than normal. Prayer for that would be preciated.

On top of these things, I really miss my family. My little sisters especially. God answered my prayers with a yes this time and is giving me a chance to go home at the end of next month. I am really looking forward to just getting home and hanging out with my sisters. Pray that everything works out and then they are home when I am. That really depends on what God is planing though. I'll let you know what I am planing for the next week

Saturday Sept 18:

Bike ride 9-12?

Date with Rachel 5-8

Sunday:

Church 9-12

Monday/Wednesday/Friday:

Wake/Devos 5-7

Homework/breakfast 7-8

Class/chapel 8-11

Lunch/work/class 11-1 (Friday Lunch with Rachel)

Homework/class 1-3

Work in kitchen 3-7 (Except Wednesday for youth group 6:30-9:30)

Work maintenance after work/youth group

sleep around 11

Tuesday/Thursday:

Wake/Devos 5-7

Homework/breakfast 7-8:30

Class/chapel 8:30-1

(Tuesdays) Meeting with Dr Wilhite about Class 1-2

(Thursday) Lunch 1-130

Homework 1:30-3

Work in kitchen 3-7

Work maintenance 7-8

Homework 8-10

(Tuesday) Dorm meeting 10:30-11:15

Sleep 11:30 (hopefully)

two for two

Hey,

This makes two updates in two weeks, which is better than I have been doing lately with school.

Last update was very brief and rushed I felt, and so I would like to be more careful when writing this one. To do that I am going to start before the weekend that I would like to post it. I would like to have it done by Friday afternoon, not Saturday morning.

My week has gone well, from what I can remember of it. It seems like each day just blends into the next, and each week is a continuation of the first, and that time in general is going very fast. I noticed this when I realized I didn't know what week of school it was. That is pretty bad considering that it has only been three weeks as of the end of today. This lack of observation might be the result of having a busy schedule.

Speaking of schedule, I think mine will get easier as the semester progresses. Most of my assignments are within the first eight weeks I am pretty sure, and then they start trickling off. By thanksgiving I don't think I have any assignments due other than a test of something small. I think an online quiz is the biggest thing that I have after thanksgiving – I don't even have exams in more than half my classes. I am incredibly thankful for that.

I am also incredibly thankful for a guy that is taking some of my hours for work during the week. At first I was overwhelmed by the work that I was doing during the week, then I was thankful for the check that I got for working, then I was overwhelmed again because homework started. But I see this as a God thing, that Tony would start working as soon as I need some extra time to get things done during the week. More than that, I think I will be able to pick up sub shifts over the weekend to make up for the lost of time during the week. I think that is pretty cool.

It is getting colder here, fall is just around the corner. With that is the end of biking season, which is very saddening. I think that I'll be able to get about two more rides in if weather permits. I would like to get 1200 miles on my bike for the summer, but that all depends on the weather over the next few weekends. I am pretty happy with having 1000 miles, but I surly wouldn't mind more. What I do what more of is time spent with the guys who go biking, hopefully to have some good conversations.

Youth group went really well this Wednesday! The lesson itself was somewhat of a flop at best, but the discussion that happened afterward was very valuable. The female leaders and students went off and talked, and since there were not guy students the guy leaders just talked. We were able to discuss the structure of the youth group and it's effectiveness, and make suggestion for changes that might help. It ended up being a very helpful meeting that I think everyone profited from.

That is about it when it comes to highlights from the week. It is interesting to think that non of those things that happened this week I planned in the least, and yet all of them had importance to my week. I am excited and nervous to thing what this next week will hold. I'll give you a glimpse at what I have planned, and then next weekend I'll tell you what God had planned – because most of the time they aren't exactly the same.

Saturday Sept 11:

Bike ride 9-12 or Meeting for class 9-10

Meeting? 12-1

Homework 1-5

Date with Rachel 5-8

Homework 8-sleep

Sunday:

Church 9-12

Homework 1-3

Work in Kitchen 3-6

Homework 6-10

Monday/Wednesday/Friday: I have a exam to turn in on Wednesday

Wake/Devos 5-7

Homework/breakfast 7-8

Class/chapel 8-11

Lunch/work/class 11-1 (Friday Lunch with Rachel)

Homework/class 1-3

Work in kitchen 3-7 (Except Wednesday for youth group 6:30-9:30)

Work maintenance after work/youth group

Homework until sleep around 11

Tuesday/Thursday: I have an online quiz that I have to take before Thursday

Wake/Devos 5-7

Homework/breakfast 7-8:30

Class/chapel 8:30-1

(Tuesdays) Meeting with Dr Wilhite about Class 1-2

(Thursday) Lunch 1-130

Homework 1:30-3

Work in kitchen 3-7

Work maintenance 7-8

Homework 8-10

(Tuesday) Dorm meeting 10:30-11:15

Sleep 11:30 (hopefully)

Busy week ahead of me as you can see, all of which I get through by God's grace and prayer. Here are some things (if you desire to do so) can you pray for:

• Youth Group progresses toward effectiveness in outreach

• That I would have patience to deal with people even when I am tired

• That I would be a good leader and care for Rachel sacrificially

• Pastor Tim Vine: he is moving this weekend

• That I would humbly rely on God to get me through each day

Later

Updates

Hello everyone!

This semester I believe that I will have a hard time updating what is going on in my life and what God is teaching me. I do however have an assignment that I will be sending out to people as a prayer letter update letter. It won't be as personal as this normally is, but it will be something. So here is my prayer letter/update letter:

A lot has been going on the last two weeks. Time for an update for sure!

School has started and with it all the classes, people, and work. There is of course my relationship with Rachel that takes a good chunk of time, at least energy. The various people and ministries that I am part of, and they take up some more. Hopefully I get some sleep in there, too! Needless to say I have a long and busy semester ahead of me, but hopefully a lot of learning as well. I want to take this letter as a opportunity to take you along with me as I go through it. I will be trying my best to send out this letter every weekend about what is going on during the week. This may include what God is doing in my life, prayer request that I have for the week/month/semester, just everyday things that are going on in my life, and what my week will look like.

First, what God has and is doing in my life lately. Most of this involves school and the relationships that are here. I am doing a lot of reading for classes, books that I hope will challenge me in my faith to grow in ways that I didn't think possible. Just the classes themselves are pushing me to consider doing things I would not have before and think of things in a different light.

One class that I think I will learn the most in is a class that I am not even taking. I am TA (Teachers assistant) for the class teaching ministry philosophy. I have taken the class already, but now I have to help others learn it, which will push me to know the material in a new way.

Another class that I am that really looking forward to is basically a class about spiritual growth. This class I think will be an answer to prayer. I have been praying that I would be challenged to grow this year and I think this will be it. The whole class is built to help students discipline their lives for a regular growth. I am looking forward to it.

Some every day things that are going on:

Rachel and I are still doing well – She is actually with me right now. We are up at her grandparents for the weekend to help them for the weekend at their camp. It is also a good time to just to catch up and visit with her family.

I have also been biking almost every weekend. There is a group that goes road biking a few times a week and I try to go with them on Saturdays. It is a lot of fun to ride in a group with other crazy bikers. I have also met some other students on campus that have road bikes and enjoy biking as much as I do.

Youth group is just starting out for the semester. I think it will be a good year for the youth group. I would really like some things to change, or at least improve for the sake of the teens. The hard thing for me is when I can do anything at all. Since I am not a member, I have no authority to change anything. I just have to keep praying that God will open opportunities.

Prayer Request:

Rachel and I both have a rough semester ahead of us. Pray that we would both keep up with our studies and not let them over whelm us. More importantly, that we would keep our relationship pure, with a priority to God first.

When I go for bike rides, most of the people I run into aren't believers or church goers of any sort. I really want to reach out to them and hopefully have significant conversations.

What I really want to see this semester is some change in the youth group. I want to see growth in the church, the students and members that go there. Once we as the members of the church start growing together, I think things we start changing for the better.

My week:

Saturday: Date day with Rachel and helping with grandparents for the better part of the day

Sunday: Go to church in the morning and do homework for the rest of the day

Monday: the day starts at 5am, School for most of the day and work/homework in the evening

Tuesday: Same as Monday with a meeting with a teacher about youth group

Wednesday: School and youth group in the evening

Thursday: Normal day of school and work

Friday: School in the morning with an exam in expository preaching class, and then another normal day of class and work.

I'll be doing my best to keep you up to date and let you know how things are going.

Later