The Disciplined Life

"Whoever has begun to pray the psalter seriously and regularly will soon give a vacation to other little devotional prayers and say: 'Ah, there is not the juice, the strength, the passion, the fire, which I find in the Psalter.'" Martin Luther

I recommend a great book: REFLECTIONS ON THE PSALMS by C.S. Lewis

Doing Something Right

Every once in a while, I will have people remind me of what isn't being done right. When this happens, I often think to myself, "but we've gotta be doing something right." After reading a recent article in the Summer 2009 edition of Leadership Journal, I was encouraged that St. Matthews Baptist Church is doing something right in Student Ministry. One statement that popped off the pages was the following quote: "There is a strong link between kids staying in church and their involvement in intergenerational relationships and worship."

WOW. So relationships are as important as worship styles? Yes. More Important. I'm so thankful that many adults have adopted our college students! I'm even more thankful that our church supports a Youth Led Sunday each year and let our students help lead worship in our Faith For Life Service and our Celebration Worship Service.

As I finished reading this article I realized that youth are far more interested in talking to caring, trustworthy adults than we think they are.

We've Moved Back!

Thanks to Everyone who made the move to the third floor possible. Our SMBC youth moved from the first floor to the third floor today and yesterday. We will begin meeting in our youth space this Sunday, August 2nd. Our goal is to have everything in place by Sunday, August 16th- which is the Sunday where all of our youth promote to their new Bible Study groups.

Last Full Day of Passport

Our last full day at Passport Camp was a blast! Our honor campers of the week have been Becca, Lizzie, John Mark, Adam, Christian, Jason and Steve. Our only Camper of the Week was Connor Logue! They were chosen as honor campers by their peers because they had great attitudes and worked hard on their mission sites and because they showed leadership in their choice groups.

We played some great volleyball this afternoon in the Annual Passport Tournament. One of our teams won the church league tournament but lost to the Passport Staff 21-17. They all did a great job.

Church group time tonight was filled with tears and happiness. Thanks to Adam W for sharing his musical gifts with us during this time. We shared lots of great memories of our recent High School graduates and gave them encouragement. After church group time came the Variety Show. Bethany, Dylan and Mandy participated in the Variety Show. Without a doubt, they all did great. Mandy almost passed out at the beginning of the duet with Dylan but she recovered nicely.

So [re]mix it is....2 Corinthians 5:17 - We are a new creation...the old has gone and the new has come.

PASSPORT [re]think

Today was another good day. Our theme for today was [re]think. Many of our older students connected very well with today's Bible Study! During church group devotion time tonight - I had our students [re]think what it means to be a "family." I asked students how many of them have felt judged by someone else in our group and almost all of them raised their hands. Then I asked how many of them have judged someone in the youth group...and almost all of them raised their hands. So, we had an honest discussion about it. Students were challenged by each other in many healthy ways. THEN....we went out to get ice cream!

Passport - [re]do

Great discussion took place today on the theme [re]do. We are all thankful God gives us second chances to correct our mistakes. But what if the mistakes didn't happen in our lives? Would we be the people we are today without learning from our failures and mistakes? [re]do gets to the heart of the second chances that God gives us. The consequences from our mistakes don't go away but we have the chance to make something beautiful out of our mistakes.

The students had a great time during their nightly party - The [re]United 80s Dance. There were lots of puffy sleeves in the room! And by the way...all the middle school girls think Graham is such a cutie!

RECREATION PARTY WAS A BLAST!

Recreation tonight was lots of fun! We had a good day. Some of our favorite activities for the day were Missions with kids, Missions on the Work-site, Curtain call choice and Recess choice!

Shelby, Kelsey and Kobe won the Recreation Party tonight!

FUN TIMES...

Check in at Passport today went really well. We left our hotel around 7 a.m. We had prayer time together on the bus. We prayed for SMBC and specifically Todd Deaton as he brought the message this morning. We made our stop at Walmart before checking into Wingate - buying lots of gatorade and snack food.

The youth had fun tonight meeting their Bible Study Leaders. Most students received their first choice for the week. We have students participating in Missions, Recreation, Soul Food, Tree Space and Curtain Call. Our Camp Pastor is from Texas. Les would definitely love him! Our worship leader is from Kenya. He's all dat and a bag of chips. Best of all (not really), Graham and John Mark's Bible Study Leader is a Duke Fan in Basketball and a Roll Time fan of Football. :)

We met up with Chris Cherry. He was waiting for us in the parking lot with a big smile on his face. I've missed him so it was good to see him. He, Corey and I talked about old times at Passport and the time some of them got in trouble for being late at Givin for the Gulf. Laugh. We also saw many old Passport Staffers who are not here as Youth ministers...Katie Furr for instance...love her.

The seventh grade girls have kept me on my toes. They are absolutely hilarious! During the opening night of camp each year, each church group does a little introduction. Tonight we did our introduction to ice ice baby. It was dope. FoSho.

Gotta GO. The bed is calling my name.

PASSPORT - HERE WE COME!

Tomorrow after lunch, over 40 students and adults will board the American Coach bus at SMBC and begin the journey to Passport Camp at Wingate Univerity in North Carolina. The camp theme this year is [re]mix based on 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Students will be challenged to Re-Think the way they live for Christ and Re-Act in ways that allow us to be the presence of Christ in the world.

Reflection on Voices in the Ville

During our worship times together - we focused on "sacrifice." One night during worship, I had the students complete this sentence: Because of the cross, we have (I have)....

I was blessed to see the responses and you will be blessed too.

Because of the cross we have a future.
Because of the cross God works everything for our good.
Because of the cross we are daughters and sons of God.
Because of the cross there is no condemnation.
Because of the cross our prayers are heard.
Because of the cross we have peace with God.
Because of the cross we can have the Spirit of God.
Because of the cross I have forgiveness of sins.
Because of the cross I have a smile.
Because of the cross I have a Savior.
Because of the cross I have eternal life.
Because of the cross I have freedom.
Because of the cross I have hope.
Because of the cross I have redemption.
Because of the cross I have a comfort.
Because of the cross I have a friend.
Because of the cross I have found acceptance with myself.
Because of the cross I have patience for my enemies.
Because of the cross I have a second chance.
Because of the cross I have security.
Because of the cross I have a Great Father.
Because of the cross I have a beautiful reality.
Because of the cross I have freedom from my anxiety.

Holiday World

Today was a great day at Holiday World. We took 39 students and parents. The rain stayed around until about 2 pm. Elliott rode rollarcoasters for the first time today and I'm so proud of him. He hung out with Dylan, Becca, Mandy and Jana today. Max and I hit the lazy river several times. The kiddy rides were too slow for Max so we basically stayed at the water park.
Thank you God for a safe and fun day!

Sunday, July 12

Today was a good day! Thanks to the Withers for hosting a great SNACK dinner tonight at their house for several of our SMBC students! We had a taco bar and yummy home made ice cream.

Tonight on the way home, I found out that the FBC of Shreveport lost one student in a bus crash. The bus was traveling to Macon GA to attend Passport Camp. Please pray for FBC and for Passport Staffers.

In light of our Mission Trip to Costa Rica - hear this prayer:

Lord, We like to think we are in control of our lives. We struggle with letting go of our "stuff." We think money and possessions buy life, buy contentment, and buy security. Yet we know deep inside that abundant life, true contentment, and true security are found only in you. Help us to see those who understand what it means to truly give, and help us respond to the challenge of their lives. Help us to remember that abundant life is found in giving away our lives! Amen!

John 10:10

I specifically pray for Pastor Angel and his family & for Lalo as they continue giving their lives away!

1 Thessalonians 2:8 sums up my experience and friendships in Costa Rica!

I was delighted not only to share the gospel with you but my life as well because you have become so dear to me!

The Poor Will Always Be With You

1 Thessalonians 2:8 - I was delighted to share not only the gospel with you but my life as well!

Tomorrow is our last day of ministry here in Costa Rica. It's going to be a sad one. I have pondered Jesus' words today: the poor will always be with you. The poverty here in Costa Rica is nothing compared to other parts of the world but it is still poverty. Kids need basic needs met such as shelter, food and clothing. Matthew 25 has been played several times in my heart during this trip. Read it now if you haven't. It is (in my opinion) one of those difficult passages in the Bible.

I spent the day at Pastor Angel's church. Andy and Wally finished their building project and I helped Shannon and Sara with VBS. They had 100 children there today. We went out into the community before VBS and invited children and many of them came. The kids loved the salvation bracelets. God's word never returns void! May God continue to remind each child and mom about the relationship He desires to have with them.

Jeff and Kelli spent their last day with us. They leave in the morning. I am glad that Jeff, Kelli and Corey were able to experience these past few days together.

Fun times! Thank You Jesus

Saw a Glimpse of Heaven Yesterday

I saw a glimpse of heaven today when two little boys jumped off their roof and jumped into Corey's arms. We were on our way back from visiting the River in La Carpio when these two boys were reunited with Corey. I can't wait to get to heaven and jump into the arms of my dad and the many others who have gone before me. Just as the Apostle Paul loved to be reunited with his friends from his missionary journeys, so I too love to be reunited with the people God has allowed me to meet through my journeys here in Costa Rica.

Update from the CR

Great day! We celebrated Wally's Birthday tonight after church with a Costa Rican BQue and an awesome birthday cake that I ordered this morning from a bakery in the barrio of La Carpio. The cake and the BQue were delicious. Andy shared his testimony tonight at church and it was powerful. For those of you who may not know...Andy lost both of his parents in a car accident. Andy was driving the car and survived. Many told him that he should have died too but it was a miracle that he was alive. Andy and Shannon married and began coming to church through Parents Day Out and were later baptized together while they were in their twenties.

Costa Rica Update #2

Today was a great day! We praised the Lord, visited Senora Paula in the barrio of Los Pinos and went to the Central Mercado to buy gifts for our friends and family! Our supplies arrived late yesterday so we can begin work tomorrow at Pastor Angel's church.

Centering Prayer

Each time I visit Costa Rica, I try to begin a new spiritual discipline. This time I have chosen Centering Prayer. I firmly believe all spiritual development begins with prayer. It has been my privilege on these quiet cool Costa Rican mornings to begin practicing Centering prayer. Centering Prayer simply means that you focus yourself only on Jesus - not your concerns or requests. You say his name over and over again as a way of maintaining your intimacy with Him. As you focus on the name of Jesus and the qualities of Jesus, you can feel the Spirit of God expand in your life!

Costa Rica Update

We are all safe and sound. It has been fun reconnecting with friends from last year! Missions is all about relationships - especially our relationship with our Lord Jesus! He is the one who works and we are the vessels! Friday was a typical slow work day as we made our 2 and 1/2 trip to the Hardware Store to order supplies for our construction projects.

Yesterday we visited Jaco Beach with friends from Alajuelita and La Carpio. Today we will be worshipping with Pastor Angel at his church in Alajuelita. Continue to pray for our safety and for God to be glorified!

Preparing for Costa Rica

Tonight has been an eventful night. I was at the church gathering the last of our supplies when Wally called and said my Passport was not in our safe. I became anxious then I prayed! In the meantime, Wally looks in his old backpack (the one he took with him to Costa Rica last year) and sure enough...he found it in a small pocket. The funny thing is that he also found his Bible in this backpack that he thought he lost last year at Student Life Camp.

I already miss Max and Elliott but they are with the grandparents. We really wanted Max to go with us this time but he said that he didn't want to fly in the airplane. Elliott went with Wally and I last year so he decided to stay here as well.

I'm practicing my espanol tonight. Como te llamas? Cuantos anos tenes? Cuando cumplis anos? Vas a la escuela? En que grado estas? Voy a estar aqui ocho dias. Te gusta? Que haces despues de la escuela? Tengo dos hijos. LISTO. Podria recommendar?? Le puedo pacar una foto? Hola. Estoy muy contento. Perdon. Con permiso. Con mucho gusto. Yo no uso drugas. Esto es divertido. Claro. La comida esta muy rica. Estuvo delicioso. Estoy llena.