It's been 2 1/2 months and I haven't written anything!

So i have been a little busy and haven't written a thing for 2 and 1/2 months. SO here is a recap of what has gone on in that time. Church softball has started and we stink. We are "un-victorious" this season with 4 games left. Lori and I went to Philadelphia to visit Andy and Kasey and had a great time. We saw the Rocky statue, ate cheesesteaks, went to a Phillies game, and saw the Liberty Bell and all the buildings there. Then there was the 30 Hour Famine with the youth on April 24-26 weekend. We didn't eat for 30 hours and we played games at the church and began the tearing down in the gym to make way for the renovation which starts next week. I also got to preach on Famine Sunday and the students did all the work in the service (ushers, greeters, singers, children's sermon, etc.). We raised $2500 for hungry children across the world. On May 11th I tried to qualify for the US Open and failed miserably. Wwell it wasn't that bad but I didn't qualify. I finish 33rd out of 80 or so. Not too bad for a youth pastor! Lastly I went on vacation last week to Destin, Florida with Lori, Stacey, TJ, and Madelyn. We had a blast. The weather was great, food was great, golf and swimming were great. We even got to meet up with the Lyons' family at AJ's for dinner our last night and there 2nd night there which was a great time! OH, and how could I forget that I won an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles through Catalyst for my dominating NCAA bracket. I had 14 of Sweet 16, 8 of Elite 8, 4 of Final Four, 1 of Final 2, and the Champion picked correctly! I get to go on that trip next April. I won the trip out of 15,000 people which was awesome. OK now I have caught up everything so I can back to writing on here a little more frequently!

College Retreat Reflection

I just returned yesterday from a 3 day trip to Pigeon Forge, TN with our college students from Broadway. There were 10 of us on the trip and we did a whole lot of nothing while we were there. We watched TV, went shopping, played pool and various other games, and of course we did a Bible study over the weekend. We watched a video series called UNSTUCK by Dave Edwards. This video Bible series was about how we get stuck in things that we should have relied on God to take care of in the first place! We don't rely on God like He asks us to or like He would love for us to. We think we can handle any situation thrown at us when in reality we can't. We wait until we are in over our heads before we cry out to God for help. We have to have hope in who God is and in what He can do. This hope will lead us to faith in those same things and then action carried out as we depend on God to guide and lead us through our situation. Find your hope so you can have the faith in what God is capable of doing in your life. Don't limit God on what He can do, because He can do all things because, well... He is GOD!

Pastor Fred Winters

This morning at 8:55 a.m. a gunmen walked in to FBC Maryville, Illinois. He walked down the center aisle minutes into Pastro Fred Winters sermon. He approached the stage with gun in hand and Fred asked him how he could help the man. The man pointed the gun towards Fred and fired 3 times. The man was tackled by 4 members of the church where 2 of them were stabbed and the gunmen attempted to stab himself during the scuffle. 4 people were taken to the hospital including Fred. Pastor fred winters later died from the injuries received during the attack. Pastor Fred leaves behind his wife, Cindy, and 2 children. Pastor Fred Winters was my pastor for 8 years. He baptized me during junior high and was a great influence on my life, my walk with the Lord, and my current career in ministry. I thank him for all the lives he reached through the years. He will be missed by many people from the Maryville area and the surrounding communities. I pray God will watch over his family and see them through this difficult situation.

My Ordination Service

Last night, Sunday March 1, I was ordained at Broadway Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. Pastor John Birchett led the service with the Drex Kemplin, the chairman of the deacons, giving the candidate presentation on behalf of the deacons, Pastor John, Music Minister Jeff Randolph, and Brother James Heard after my completion of the council on February 21st. The service was great. Pastor John spoke out of 2 Timothy 2:14-30. Rebecca Seitz, Kevin Tolliver, and Megan Davis read scripture during the service as well. Brother Jeff led the singing with Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Just as I am, and others. I was encouraged by the number of ordained men (pastor, music minister, and deacons) that prayed for me while laying their hands on me. I received a Bible and an Ordination certificate from the church. A reception of Chic-Fil-A nuggets, cupcakes, and fruit foolowed the service. My parents and grandparents, Lori's parents and grandparents, and my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and niece Madelyn were all in attendance for the occasion. It was a great night for glorifying God and I pray that I can continue to do so.

Faith Greater than a Furnace

I spoke at Woodford Christian School this morning to 100 kindergarten through 8th graders. It went well. I spoke on Daniel 3:13-29; the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. This is my all time favorite story from the Bible. It shows the blinded eyes of King Nebuchadnezzar and his confident attitude in his gods and his 90 foot tall golden idol. It also demonstrates the faith that these 3 men had in our God. Their faith was so strong that they knew without a doubt that God would save them from the fiery furnace and He did. They did not waver in their stance against placing another god before the One True God. They were a visible testimony to the king and all who were there for the glory of God and His capabilities. God performed a miracle so great that the king renounced his own gods and made God the head of the land and even place rules for required obedience and praise for Him. God did not let these faithful men down just like He doesn't let us down when we are in a time of need. Oh, to have faith like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!

Take a Stand

I am finishing the study with my student ministry tomorrow night on "Do Hard Things" which is a book by Alex and Brett Harris. This is the 5th and final week of the study and it deals with "Taking a Stand." The Harris' are 2 young men that have done the things they promote in their book and this 5th focus is no different. I only hope to proclaim this principle to my students in hopes that they would stop living for the world and live their life for the purpose of Jesus Christ. Pleasing people in the world today is only temporary and we can receive eternal blessings through glorifying Christ while we are here on earth. God commands us throughout the Bible to be free of this world and to proclaim Him only in the things that we do. We are to live in the world but not be of the world. Taking a stand for God requires being made fun of, persecuted, laughed at, uncomfortable, and uneasy but you will be respected once people realize you are sincere in your stand for God. Your sincerity must make it through the beginning of the stand and persevere to the end for ultimate glory in Jesus Christ. Listen to what Jesus says in John 17:14.

Southeast Conclave

I attended the Southeat Conclave last week on January 29, 30, and 31 in Atlanta, Georgia. There were some great speakers in Francis Chan, Chap Clark, and Ergun Caner along with great worship led by Todd Agnew and emcee Brock Gill (illusionist). I enjoyed my 3 days there and really got alot out of the time in seminars and worship. God spoke to me in some clear ways regarding our student ministry, campus outreach, mentoring, and the love of Christ for all! I am so excited to put into place some of the things God laid on my heart while I was there. I became convicted over the thought that everything I do for our student ministry needs to be Jesus-centered and the complete focus of all the programs and events we have. Everytime we get together we have to have the focus of Jesus to make our time together worthy and successful. In ministry, we get caught up in the events and details while forgetting the real reason for the events and programs. Jesus is the focus and must be evident in all that we do.