God Is….

God Is Worthy

I remember years ago having this incredible revelation that God is worthy period.  He didn’t have to do anything else in my life, because of what He already did.  Think about it God sent His son to die for our sins.  He paid the price for me, if that was all I was ever promised from God that would be enough, that makes Him worthy. Here is the amazing thing though, Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the greatest promises in scripture.  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Not only does He forgive us but He then has this incredible plan for our lives.  I don’t know of anyone out here who makes a promise to us like that.

So remember, doesn’t matter what is going on in your life, God is Worthy.

God Is…

God is father

Growing up without a father was a big deal.  I never had a real male influence in my life.  My mother wanted a child when she was young and wanted nothing to do with the father.  I did grow up with a step father who was never really there and stepped out of the picture when I was still a young boy.  My mom was great and did everything she could, but she could not fill that role as dad.  At the age of 16 I had an incredible experience where I meet my heavenly father.  That moment something happened on the inside and I knew that even though I did not know my real dad, I had someone watching over me.  I never had the desire to find my real father because of the incredible fulfillment I had in knowing how loved, special, watched over, cared for I was.  Here is the incredible thing though.  When I got older my mom met a great guy who became a father to me.  God provided for me even when I was older a earthly father that has been great.  Four years ago we changed our last name to honour my father and our relationship has been growing ever since.  I am so thankful that God has always been there as my dad.

God Is…

God Is Unity

I think unity can be one of the most powerful things going if we get it right.  We have all heard of the phrase, United we stand and divided we fall right?  Think about how true that actually is.  When I look at corporations, sports teams, and even churches where there is unity there is life and where there is no unity, usually trouble. As a youth pastor I have tried to walk this thing called unity out by taking the time to build relationships with other youth pastors in the city, regardless of their denomination.  I think how powerful it could be as a demonstration to our city if the youth pastors could do what Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity”! To be honest, at times it has been very difficult but when you are willing to press through and fight for unity you get to see some amazing things happen.  I now have some great friends because of our willingness to see past our differences and walk in unity.

Storms

September 2000 I went through the biggest storm of my life.  At the age of 29 with a wife that was now almost 6 months pregnant, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer called acute myelogenous leukemia.  To be honest, I felt God was a million miles away.  So much so that for about two days, He was the furthest thing from my mind.  I had to make the choice that it didn’t matter what I was going through God was with me, and could heal me.  Through my treatment I had my highs and lows.  During the first round of my chemo I could not sleep for four days.  They tried every sleeping pill they knew but the fear, anxiety, doubt of me losing my life kept my mind racing.  One night God showed my that how in the midst of my storm I could have peace.  He told me to look at my wife, who never left my side and slept on a lumpy hospital cot every night.  There she was sleeping peacefully.  Immediately God brought to my attention to Mark 4:38 when Jesus slept through the storm.  I was blown away at how Jesus used my sleeping wife to bring me peace in the midst of my storm. It didn’t matter how bad it was, I could have peace because Jesus had peace. In the midst of my storm, He was sleeping on my boat.  I have never forgotten that.  Let me encourage you that no matter what you go through Jesus is with you and you can have peace in the midst of your storm.

Would love to hear some of your stories, drop me a line!

Parents That Frustrate Youth Pastors Part 2

Here is the continuation of the post by my friend Chico Woo

This is part two of Parents That Frustrate Youth Pastors.  I am writing this post reflecting on the fact that I am now the father of two teenagers. I am not just any father, but a former youth pastor. The reason I am writing is because I was recently in a circumstance where I caught myself being “that parent”. You are probably asking what I mean about “that parent”. Let me explain. When I was a youth pastor, most of the parents of the young people I pastored were wonderful, but there were a few parents who were well intentioned but a bit challenging. At the time I told myself I would never be “that parent”, but now that I am the parent of teens I have realized that the pull to be “that parent” is strong. So I post this not as judgment (because I am finding myself there) but just a reminder to myself not to be “that parent.” This is part 2.  Please read part 1 here.

The Paula Deen Parent

Nothing wrong with this parent. This parent is the parent that is not only a great cook but blesses us with cookies, cakes, pies, meals. I could be grossly out of shape and you still tell me that I’m looking gaunt and offer me dinner. Thank you Paula Deen Parent.

The Shawshank Redemption Parent.

In the movie Shawshank Redemption the main character is in jail for murder. His fellow inmates ask what he is in here for and the main character replies he is innocent and that he did not do it. The other inmate replies. “ You’re gonna fit right in. Everyone in here is innocent, you know that?” You are the parent that no matter what your child has done, he or she is innocent.

The Sam Malone Parent.

No you are not the parent that serves alcohol to minors. If you have ever been in the restaurant business you know that anybody can make a drink. Anybody can pour a drink. But a bartender is someone who knows how to water down a drink. Strong enough to get someone inebriated but watered down enough to stretch the bottle. Well, there are parents that like to water down everything the youth pastor says.

The Career Counselor Parent

This one is specifically for Asian parents. This parent is solely focused on the post -masters from an Ivy League school career. Which boils down to two things: Doctor or Lawyer. Technology is becoming a strong contender, but with a Career Counselor Asian Parent, you say you want to go into technology. They say, okay, great, why don’t you become a doctor and help people who have carpal tunnel from too much programming?

The Sports Agent Parent.

You are the parent that goes to every game but can’t pray with your child or discuss anything spiritual. You bought and memorized all the rookie cards for your child, but have not memorized any scriptures.

The Doctor Dobson Parent

You are the parent that is enamored with Doctor Dobson. He is God’s gift to humanity and to child rearing. In regards to your children, every sentence starts with, “Doctor Dobson says”… I don’t mean to take anything away from Doctor Dobson, and he is a great guy, but Doctor Dobson is not your child’s youth Pastor. I am. I am the one who buys the $10 cokes, I am the one who drives your child, I am the one who prays for your child. How about giving me some that love you give to Doctor Dobson?

The Ghost of Revival Past Parent.

You are the parent that longingly talks about the past camps, conferences, and lock-ins when God moved when you were in youth group. No matter how great it is today, yesterday when you were the teen in youth group it was even better. One thing that I have noticed is that the further you get removed from an event the more we tend to glorify it.

The Doctor House Parent.

This is the parent that enables the chronic hypochondriac child. I am not talking about parents with children who have legitimate illnesses. This parent takes their child to the doctors more than church, and when their child has a cold, it’s not just any cold, it has to be some deadly virus pandemic.

Please comment and add your own experiences .

How Do You Hear God In Different Seasons

I am so glad for the training I had growing up in a great church. So often we think that we are going to hear the big booming voice and when we don’t we get frustrated. I know for myself, whatever I give my attention to God speaks. I could be hanging out with my kids playing and God will speak to me through them. I could be watching a television show and God can and has spoken to me. When it comes down to different seasons of my life, the constant for me to hear God’s voice is my Bible. Nothing gives me more direction, clarity, wisdom, revelation then God’s Word. It doesn’t matter the season I am in, I know I can always here Him speak through His Word.

A Guest Blog

Saw this post on a friends blog and thought I need to share this.  Hope you enjoy it and you can check out more from Chico Woo here

I am writing this post reflecting on the fact that I am now the father of two teenagers. I am not just any father, but a former youth pastor. The reason I am writing is because I was recently in a circumstance where I caught myself being “that parent”. You are probably asking what I mean about “that parent”. Let me explain. When I was a youth pastor, most of the parents of the young people I pastored were wonderful, but there were a few parents who were well intentioned but a bit challenging. At the time I told myself I would never be “that parent”, but now that I am the parent of teens I have realized that the pull to be “that parent” is strong. So I post this not as judgment (because I am finding myself there) but just a reminder to myself not to be “that parent.”

The Gossip Girl Parent
The parent that knows everything going on with every kid in the youth group: who is going out with whom, who held hands, who is listening to secular music, who has a hickey… This parent should be the Google of youth group gossip. Although you may be tempted to enlist this parent’s help to know what is going in the youth group, proceed with caution.

The Judge Judy Parent.
This parent is the parent that makes quarterly appointments with the youth pastor to inquire about what is being done about the rampant sin in the youth group.

The Charles in Charge Parent.
The parent that expects the youth pastor to parent their child.

The Miss Daisy Parent.
The parent that expects the youth pastor be your child’s personal car service.

The Ministry Parent
There are stage parents and sports parents. Well there are also ministry parents. These parents have unfulfilled ministry aspirations and are trying to live vicariously through their child’s ministry. They bear an uncanny resemblance to Joe Simpson. To them I say, “Stop ministry pimping your child.”

The Wimpy Parent
“I will pay you next Wednesday for a hamburger today”. The parent does not give any money to their child, so when we go out I end up buying the $10 coke. Which means that I buy a coke for a $1, and your child buys a $9 meal and I have to pay for it. I try to be generous but you know I’m a youth pastor, which means I make less than a 13 year old on a newspaper route. I have applied to FEMA for a bail out.

The Wardrobe Malfunction Parent.
This is the parent that is totally oblivious to how your child dresses. Give your child a once over before they leave the house. Yes, we should be fashionable, but your children should not be dressed exposing themselves. Pull it up, pull it down, cover it up, button it up, tell them to change!

What are some types of parents that you have encountered in your youth/student ministry?  Please add to my list so that I will not be “that parent”.

Whispers Series

As a staff we were asked to write a series of blogs for each of the series we do as a church.  Over the next couple of days I will be posting the blogs from that series.  If you want to read what is happening now you can always visit www.lifecentre.org and check out all the staff blogs there.

How do you practice stillness?

Stillness, is that even possible  with a young family? I remember when we were on our honey moon and all my wife wanted to do one day was sit by the pool.  Nothing else just sit and be still.  I was good for the first 2 minutes or so, but then it drove me nuts I actually got up and jumped in the car and headed to a sports store.  Maybe you are one of those people that have no trouble sitting and being still, but I can’t.  I really need to discipline myself to do it.  So when it comes to me taking time and doing what Psalm 46:10 says, it takes work.  I can tell you this the most amazing thing that has helped my to take time just to be still is the hammock we have in our backyard.  That is the place I go to practice stillness.  That is the place where I can just forget about everything and truly focus on God.  I have had some pretty incredible times of hearing God for my life, just lying still in the hammock.  Early on I used to try so hard to hear God in the stillness, and it was very frustrating at times.   I have learned the power of Psalm 46:10.  Being still is the first part, but knowing is the second part.  I can truly be still because I know who God is in my life.  I know that there is a plan and a purpose.  I know that in the tough times He is there.  I still have a hard time with this stillness thing but I make it happen as often as I can.  I think I hear my hammock calling now.

One More Try

Well I am back.  I know the blog as been quiet, but I have not.  I have been writing blogs and have a buch ready to go, so  check back daily and enjoy the adventure that I have been on the last while.

What’s The Limit

I know I am late but never the less here is our 4th of 8  core topics that we will introduce to our students next year.

Moral Boundaries

I have heard so many messages on purity as a youth pastor, and almost alll of them only cover on topic, Sexual Purity.  I believe we need to set the bar higher then just remaining sexually pure.  We want to train young people in how they can live pure in all they do.  Their thoughts, words, actions, what they watch, and what they listen to.  Purity is not a destination you arrive at but a direction you chose everyday.  If we can teach young people that I think it will help navigate their way through life with confidence.  Should be a great series when we get to it!