What do Michael Vick, Pacman Jones and Terrell Owens have in common? They are the role models of a 12 year old I met today. I was serving at a children's day camp with several of our students today for M*A*S*H week. At the end of the day, I had some time to just chat with one of the eighth graders I had the opportunity to tudor earlier. I asked him what he did for fun, and he said that he liked to play football. I followed that question with, "So who is your favorite football player?" His response was, "Michael Vick." He then followed that with, "And my favorite team is the Cowboys." It was hard for me to keep asking questions, because I was quite shocked. I didn't have time to follow-up on those answers, because the children left to go to lunch, and our group left for the day.
Today, our students began our yearly M*A*S*H week. M*A*S*H means "Mastering a Servant's Heart." Each year, we set aside one week during the summer to focus on serving the community of Baton Rouge. We cancel all of our weekly programs including Gr8ness (summer youth group) and community groups. Our students spend several hours each day serving at local food banks, homeless shelters, day camps for underprivileged children, or doing random acts of kindness all over the city. It's one of my favorite weeks of the summer, because I get to see our students worshipping God through acts of humble service. I was talking to several of our high school guys today after they served food at a local homeless shelter, and their comments amazed me. These were some of the things I heard:
- "We had a lot of fun."
- "While I was serving, I couldn't believe all the physical and mental handicaps these people had."
- "While I was serving food, I couldn't help but wonder where these people were staying or going after they got their meals."
- "They don't have a home to go to once they get their meal."
- "They don't have a place to sleep."
By now, I'm sure most of you have heard the story from Massachusetts where a group of high school girls supposedly formed a "Pregnancy Pact" among themselves with a hope to all get pregnant and raise their children together. If you haven't heard about it, wake up and pay attention to what is happening in the world! Until you wake from your culture slumber, you can read about it here.
I heard an awesome quote from a sermon at The Refuge 7:37 Experience on LSU's campus a couple weeks ago. John Boudreaux, LSU Campus Crusade leader, said, "God doesn't care about your comfort. He cares about your character." Whoh! How much time do I spend worrying about the things that make me comfortable or not? And how much time do I spend focused on God refining my character to look like His? Read the quote again, think about it and assess whether you spend more time caring about your comfort or your character.
I recently found this quote from Jeff Jarvis, a man who blogs about the news and media, "Do what you do best and link to the rest." This week while on vacation I've had the opportunity to blog more than usual. I know that many of you right now are screaming at your computer screen, "Michael! You're on vacation. Get off your computer, play on the beach and enjoy the things you love." I appreciate your concern, and my answer to you is this: I am doing one of the things that I love to do. I love to write. I love writing blogs, yet I rarely get to do it as much as I would like. I have no desire to write a book one day, but I love putting my thoughts into words. Anyway, what do I do best? Personally, I believe God's given me the gifts of encouragement and teaching. So my hope is that my words will always be ones that encourage and teach people how to love God and people. If there are other things on my blog other than those things, it will probably be a link to someone else that God has gifted in a different way than me or someone who has more knowledge on a subject than I do.
This psalm takes on a whole new meaning when you're sitting on the beach at dusk. Right now, the clouds are white with a pink reflection from the sun setting. There is no doubt that God has revealed Himself in creation. How can people listen to the waves crashing against the shore, feel the breeze run against their skin, see the sun setting, watch a crab crawl five feet in front of them, watch people of all ages run across white sand and enjoy an early glimpse of the moon and question whether God is real or not? Nearly everyday I find myself pausing for a moment and saying, "Wow God! Thanks for letting me enjoy your glory today." Go outside right now: Look at the blue sky, stare at the green grass, gaze into the clouds, watch the rain drops fall to the ground and praise the God who made all of it! You can enjoy the song below while you do it too.
[The picture you're looking at was just taken moments ago from our first floor patio with the camera on my Macbook.]
- Dad loves Jesus. That's how you lead your family spiritually...by following the lead of the Lord.
- Dad loves mom. Thanks for setting the example of what a godly marriage should look like. There has never been a doubt in my mind about your love for mom.
- Dad loves his boys. You put us before so many things in life! You never missed a ball game when you were in town. You never missed a track meet or golf match either. I will apologize for Brian and I right now for putting you through those long and boring sporting events. But thank you for showing us your love.
- Dad loved me enough to discipline me. Thanks for using your hand, belt and hickory stick on my rear end to show me what was right and wrong.
- Dad knows everything. Seriously, I could call dad right now about plumbing, computers, cars or electrical work, and he would probably be able to fix my problem. I can only hope to have a little bit of his wisdom and experience one day.
- Dad taught me to finish. One of dad's favorite sayings was, "Michael, you have to finish what you started." Every time I wanted to quit little league baseball, quit a golf tournament, or quit church league basketball, he wouldn't let me give up, and I'm so thankful for that now.
- Dad taught me that "work comes before play." I still struggle with this one sometimes, but I remember that saying so many times. There were so many days that Brian and I to play football in the yard, yet the leaves had to be raked. And when I say leaves, I mean TONS! I hated every minutes of it then, but I'm so thankful for dad's work ethic and for him trying to instill it into me.
- Dad taught me how to be quirky. Erica makes fun of me on a regular basis for making weird sounds, funny faces, or doing quirky things, and I have you to thank for that dad.
- Dad showed me the discipline of tithing.
- Dad taught me how to put others first.
- Dad taught me humility.
- Dad taught me about character.
- Dad taught me how to "bury a little boy in the sand."
- Dad showed me how to run around like Rambo.
- Dad taught me the value of a "pulled finger."
- Dad showed me how to laugh, love, and cry.
- Finally, dad showed me how to give thanks to the Lord in all situations. Try having your kneecaps shattered by a drunk driver and see if you can praise God in that situation. If you can, you may be able to hold a candle to my dad. Until then, my dad will always be the best, greatest, and most wonderful dad in the world!
Here's a great link on "Generation Y." If you're a youth pastor, this presentation will help you understand the students you're working with, understand what they like, and understand how to advertise to them. If you understand who they are, you're more apt to understand how to share Jesus with them most effectively.
Last night we kicked off Gr8ness, our summer youth group, and it was awesome! Here are some quick thoughts about the night:
- Our youth and student leaders are awesome! I can't imagine trying to do ministry alone. "God, thank you for allowing me to do ministry with such incredible servants!"
- Special Shoutout to Quinn: Thanks for the video and for helping all day yesterday. You blessed me more than you realize.
- Video Recap: We set-up our summer skits and videos with a hilarious video about the great cereal mascots of the world being taken out by "The King." Now, "Tommy the Tiger" is on a great quest to save cereal. (Very vague description...I know. However, we might try to get it posted online at some point. If you're a youth, you don't want to miss any of these skits and videos all summer!
- David and Chase were hilarious.
- I didn't realize watching four kids attempt to move straws in their mouths from one side of the straw to the other without using their hands would be so entertaining.
- I love "True/False." Who knew that mosquitos had 47 teeth?
- The band did an incredible job! Thanks guys! I really think we have one of the best youth bands anywhere. I'm blessed to work with them, and I appreciate their humble attitudes. The last song they played was "Everything" by Lifehouse. It's so powerful and brings me to a worshipful spirit every time I hear it.
- I really felt like God moved during the message tonight! Every person was very focused and alert. Never forget: The names of God tell us who He is and what He wants to do in our lives! "God, reveal more and more to us by understanding your great name. May we never put our confidence in anything other than your name alone."
- Pizza moms: Thank you so much for all your service! You may not think you have a huge job, but your service is needed and does not go unnoticed! Thanks again!
- Finally, after the response we've had, the "Michael and Drew Rap Crew" may have to make another appearance before the end of the summer. If you read this and saw the performance last night, please comment on a possible new name for the loosely named "Michael and Drew Rap Crew" that I just made up. If you're wondering what all of this is about, here's a quick recap: Quinn, our tech guy who is awesome, accidentally kicked the power strip as I got up to welcome everyone at the beginning of the night, and the entire computer system was knocked out for a few minutes. Drew and I had to fill in the dead air with randomness, and Drew decided to say, "Let's do some karaoke without music." (Everything I want to say right now is completely sarcastic, and I'm trying to work on being edifying rather than sarcastic all the time, so I can't write anything about Drew's request for karaoke.) Anyway, I just started beatboxing the most simple beat I know, "Ice Ice Baby." What followed was nothing short of...AMAZING or sad! Drew continued the beat as I rapped a couple verses of the old school rap song. Everyone was quite "surprised" by our performance to say the least!
