Thoughts after the storm

Tonight I am watching about the destruction of Katrina...it is very sad and upsetting. It reminds me that we can't keep our minds on temporary things, because all of this stuff WILL be gone one day...could I live without the things around me? I'd like to think I could...I know I could deep down inside. Why does this kind of destruction take place? I don't know. It sounds trivial to say "God is in control", but yet we know He is....would we have the faith that we needed if we were trapped on the roof of a house? I wonder...God, give me faith in all circumstances, and give strength to people who have lost all the things of this world.
Tonight we heard from T.J. Cofield and he did a great job...he used Matthew 5:14 which talks about "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." The verse that God used in my life when I had my first youth ministry job, and he is using it again as we get ready to move into Diverse City...the possible theme of our new youth space. T.J. I am so proud of you, what you said tonight was right on. And we wrapped up THE REAL LIFE from this summer. Kelley Butler did an AWESOME job producing this. What a blessing she is in my life. I will never forget this past summer, and I look forward to making lots of memories with you and Chris. I'm looking forward to a few days away at the beach this week-end. I love playing with Jillian in the ocean....the beach is one of my favorite places, but it can also be a place of danger...years ago Alana and I had a swimming accident at Edisto, where we are going, and it was one of the scariest times in my life, but we made it through. A wave came and snatched her out of my arms, and now college is going to do that very soon......Lord, thank you for my daughters, please protect them and help them to make wise choices always and to love you with all their hearts, and take care of them when I cannot through the storms of life...Thanks to those of you who have posted comments.

MONDAY STUFF

I was so glad to hear from Courtney Kelly, who is now serving in NYC...Courtney send me your email address! Mine is students@lexingtonbaptist.org. Anyone else can email me there as well. Today I am working on budget, small group stuff, planning ahead. I know this is going to be a great year in our student ministry here. Tonight we go visiting. Jillian, my 6 year old, just showed me some great pictures she has drawn while sitting here in my office with me...my 17 year old, Alana, auditioned for a play last night, OUR TOWN, and Laura Grace is at volleyball practice. Lord, thank you for my children and my wife, help me to never take them for granted. And Lord, thank you for all the neat people you have allowed me to know over the past few years. Will you bless their lives today? Help them to realize that every day has a blessing, no matter how hard the day may be. (Thanks to Jeff and Debby McElroy who came to our church this past week-end for reminding me of that fact!)
Keep Believing!
John

SUNDAY'S THOUGHTS

Special thanks to Hilary Evans for being one, if not THE, first LBC student to read my blog...I'll never forget that Hilary! Today I prayed with Patrick Gooding...praying with people is something that is very important to me, and I hope it is to all of you. Praying together is what will keep our youth group strong. It's neat to walk over to the new building and stand in the prayer room there, a room I know that is going to be special for so many people, the smallest room in the building, but the real power source of the whole thing! Lots of meetings today...also have been reminded how I need to exercise more! God bless whoever reads this, and write back and share your thoughts with me....
Keep Believing!
John

Saturday thoughts

First, I want to see if this will show up...I wrote all this stuff yesterday and it did not post, still learning the system.
John

Thankful...

FRIDAY...a busy day...visited an older lady in the hospital who reminded me to be thankful for all that God has done for me. She has 2 children serving the Lord, one in Budapest Hungary, he's been there for 25 years. How will I react if God sends one of my children to another part of the world? I'm trying to deal with getting one to college this next year, who knows where! Big meeting coming up Sunday, lots to go over, hope it all goes over well. I could never do this job without LOTS of help. Getting ready to attend a parenting conference tonight...I'm excited about what we will learn, we need to learn ALOT...parenting is the hardest job in the world, and I have good kids....what a struggle it is for those with tough problems. God will show us some good things tonight, hopefully that we can share with others. If you are reading this and are from my church, will you pray for our students right now? God is at work in our group...we have so many that need to experience His love in a real way...pray that we will be a place where that REALLY happens, every time they come to our campus... Keep Believing!

MY FIRST BLOG

This blog is about life...life with a capital L...THE life...His life....some of you know where those phrases come from....on musical drama called Celebrate Life! that tells the story of Jesus. Alden and Trey, two other ministers now that I watched grow up, thanks for telling me about this website. It's been great reading about what has been going on in your lives now. God has really blessed my life by allowing me to know some pretty great young people over the past few years, and you are two of the finest...but we all know that youth minister's CANNOT have favorites, or can they? I'll never tell!
I hope that whoever reads this will be blessed, will find encouragement, and maybe get to know me better...I'm a much better writer than I am speaker, though I don't take the time to write much anymore. Hopefully, that will change now. I will write more later.
Keep Believing!
John