The next chapter…

When this summer wraps up, I will have worked at Christ In Youth for four years.  I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some of the most creative minds I’ve ever known!  Much has happened since I arrived in September 2006 – both within this organization and in my personal life.  There is no doubt in my mind that God placed me here for specific events, lessons, mentors, connections, and a host of opportunities that many others would covet. I thank Jesus for my experiences!

Now, I believe, He is calling me to another experience.  We (CIY) call students to be Kingdom Workers.  Meanwhile, I have struggled over the past year to see how this plays out in my own life.  Wrestling over this matter in thought and prayer, I have come the to realization that God is calling me away to a different style of ministry.

Cincinnati Christian University has accepted my application and offered me a spot on the Masters of Arts in Counseling program.  On April 14, I officially accepted their offer.  I begin classes this fall!  If everything goes well, we could be moving to Cincinnati around mid-July.  Rachel grew up in Ohio and attended CCU for her undergrad.  When we were dating, I came to really enjoy the Cincinnati area.  Moving there will also bring us MUCH closer to family!

I have nothing but positive things to say about the ministry, mission, and people of Christ In Youth.  I stand behind the goals and ambitions of the leadership.  My departure does not spring from bad blood.  For my part, I can say that I leave with bridges intact…and that is a great feeling.

Thanks to everyone here at CIY, especially my teammates on the MOVE team, for creating a work environment that I will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.  I have loved my time here, and I will miss you all.

Rachel and I are sad to leave behind our small group, church, neighbors, coworkers (and the list of friends goes on…) but we are excited about the doors God will open for us down the road.  There will be church seeking, apartment searching, and job hunting, so we would appreciate your prayers as we begin to pack up and head into a new life in another city.

Thanks!

Power Through Prayer

Every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God’s work and is powerless to project God’s cause in this world.

-E.M. Bounds

American Idols

Just wrapped up two weeks in Tennessee with our 2009 MOVE event.  This summer, as we walk through the story of Exodus, we discuss God’s redemption plan for His people…and how they so quickly turn from Him back to their idols.  One specific night, students and leaders are given the opportunity to throw down their idols, wash their hands, and engage in worship.  Last week, we had a very interesting situation…

As students were waiting outside for the doors to open, one of the band members frantically rushed in to the back room.  “Do we have internet back here?!  Check the news!  Somebody just said Michael Jackson is dead!”  A quick search confirmed that, indeed, the “King” had passed away due to cardiac arrest.  Through the incredibly fast technology of our generation, students and leaders had learned the news before we had even made it halfway through the session.

That night, we addressed our idolatry, students symbolically (and literally) trampled their idols, they washed their hands, worshiped, and went out into their groups to share their victories, confessions, and prayers with each other.

The next day, a youth minister approached me in the cafeteria.  He shared how his group had met in the dorm lobby to have some serious discussion about idolatry.  As they were in deep discussion about the things in life that become more important to us than God…several female adult leaders rushed into the lobby, switched on the TV, and glued themselves to coverage of Michael jackson’s death.  He said it was a strange, but obvious object lesson for his students.

I’m not saying its wrong to observe the mass grieving of Jackson’s death.  I’m not even saying its wrong to feel sad at his passing.  The man changed the face of music.  I just find it interesting, that in the midst of teaching students the importance of removing idols…some of us can’t even focus on the discussion because of our own.

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MOVE 2009 // God is leading…Are you following?

This Friday, I pack up a van with my friend & co-worker Adam, along with six interns, and make the 14 hour trip to Johnson City, TN.  Milligan College is the first stop on my summer tour with MOVE.  Boxes are getting packed with supplies, computers loaded with videos, and binders filled with important notes & reminders.  Youth group housing is getting coordinated.  Registrations are getting sorted.  Stage pieces are being built.

I’m taking a break from going over my sermon.  This summer, we’re walking through the book of Exodus: God’s plan to deliver His people, their journey out of Egypt into the wilderness, and God’s promise that He would be with them…all the way to the promised land.  Each Monday night, we begin our study by taking a look at Moses’ identity crisis.  He went from poor little orphan, to wealthy prince, to murderer, to fugitive, to shepherd.  As we read the story of the Burning Bush, we don’t see God reinforcing Moses’ identity as much as God firmly establishing His own.  We’re asking students to “turn aside” and open themselves up to who Christ is, and what He will do through them once they do.

The sermon is coming along.  I think we’re all just ready to get on the road and put planning behind us.

I’ve been doing stuff, and things, and whatnot.

BIRTHDAY

So, I turned 30 a week and half ago.  Due to the “milestone nature” of my birthday, my wife, Rachel, had a whole bag of surprises this year.  I had to travel on my b-day (Nov. 12 if any of you want to hook me up with some loot next year), so when she picked me up and drove me home, our living room was full of surprise birthday party guests.  I’ve never really had a surprise party before, so that was a lot of fun.

Then, last Saturday, she surprised me with a flight to Arizona to see my friends, Chris and Rachel Holohan.  I hadn’t seen the Holohan’s in three years!  It was the fall of 2005 to be exact.

THEN, another surprise was thrown into the mix!  Our neighbor’s dad is a pilot in Prescott, AZ.  He took us up in his Cessna, flying over the valley, and eventually landing in Sedona for lunch.  (I briefly flew the plane, which was an awesome experience…even if it only lasted for about five munutes)

I had a great 30th birthday!  I will always remember this one.  (Thanks Rach! I love you!)

YOUTH SPECIALTIES

I am currently taking advantage of the free wifi at Panera Bread in downtown Nashville.  We’re on a short break before we have to go back into the Youth Specialties exhibit hall, stand on concrete, talk about CIY, and hit a beachball back and forth…occasionally apologizing to passersby for hitting them in the head with said beachball.

DISCIPLESHIP

When I return home, we will be hitting the filming process pretty hard in gearing up for our Discipleship conference this winter.  The website is up and running, and we are taking registrations.

That’s life right now.  I hope you’re having a great day.

Taylor Brown’s EP Download

My brother, Taylor, recently made several songs available for download through Noise Trade.  You can access the songs through their site, or visit Taylor’s site.  Either way, you need to give them a listen!

POLLS!

So, WordPress now has a poll feature.  This is gonna be fun.  Let’s try one:

For Worship Leaders

I frequent a great blog called “Worship Matters” written by Bob Kauflin.  I really enjoyed this morning’s post.  If you are a worship leader or a worship song writer…read this.

Man, I’m in trouble.

i discovered this site through a friend’s Facebook profile: How Long Could You Survive Chained to a Bunkbed With a Velociraptor.

This was my time:
I could survive for 1 minute, 9 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

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