Blog from the swing

It's Saturday and there is a certain calm before the storm. A moment to breath. Please don't get me wrong, the storm that is coming is a great thing. It is out teen week at church. We call it CTO for Crosslink Take Over. They will do everything! Last year I was a huge part of the message and no, I am not a teen, tho I am a part of Crosslink. This year I have been kicked off of the stage. Two of my amazing teens want to deliver a message that God has laid on our hearts. Every time we meet to plan, I get more exited. This is a message that people need to hear, the music they will play and the food and greeting that will happen.

In addition to this amazing Sunday we will be selling lunch on the grounds to finalize our camp fundraiser. This will be a crazy next couple of weeks. We have a lot to do and I am not one who likes to give up control. Pray for out May 15th event: that God will speak though these kids, that the people will accept the message given them, that we will pull it all off and that God gets the credit for the whole thing.

So in order to better focus on listening to God: starting Monday, I will be logged off of Face Book until after the event. That's two weeks from tomorrow. This will be challenging form me since FB is the primary tool I use to communicate with the teens. Their post tell me how they are doing and even sometimes tell me what they need. I will not fast from loving them, they will just have to watch their phones for text and check there....wait for it...Emails!!! Who knows: maybe they will see a little something from me in the mail (check that box out by the road!).

I want to better at listening to God and recognizing His voice. I promise: they more you actually listen, the more you will hear.

So I am sitting here on my swing, in an amazing 72 degrees and a nice breeze. The dogs are playing, and wanting me to play and I am enjoying the calm before the storm.

Be in prayer, be listening and be at 621 W. Firetower Rd,Winterville, NC 28590 on May 15th at 10:10am.

That's your blog!!!

Had to post!

Turn up the volume! This message needs to be heard!!!

Stepping aside and along for the ride

I have been doing a lot of thinking about Discovery Churches youth ministry called Crosslink. This group of teens as been growing and growing strong over the past year. Before that, we had a good flow of teens coming but not like this. We are blessed with several visitors each week and the leaders really haven't been doing any inviting. So where are they coming from? Well the teens are inviting them. They are engaging their friends in conversations about God, Jesus and the Bible and apparently in a way that actually draws people in rather than push them away. Crosslink is growing from the outside in.

These kids get it. They are not leaving the work up to the pastors and leadership, they are out there BEING the church in what we are calling the “between Sundays”. Make no mistake: this is NOT some plan or strategy that we are pushing. It is not an attendance program. It is simply Teens letting their faith show through in their daily lives. It is something that THEY are teaching us. And I want to celebrate that! These kids have become some of the most influential people in my life. I thank them all for that.

Let me assure you that I am not concerned with how many teens we get there on a given Sunday night but do be assured that I am thrilled that these kids are showing fruit. The Kingdom is growing and our Sunday night numbers are showing that.

Discovery Church is focused on making disciples of Christ by Deepening our relationship with God and believers, By Doing something to serve God and others and finally by Developing relationships with unbelievers. I think it is this last “D” that the teens really get. Them being more social than us grown-ups, they shine in the Developing were we are naturally better at the Deepening and Doing. So maybe we can all learn from each other and share our strengths, work on our weaknesses and celebrate the “Wonders of God”.

Thank you for still checking my Blog, you are all awesome for putting up with my lack of maintenance here.

See how Camp Caswell inspired us!