Fun with Broom Ball

I wanted to post a few pics up here from this past friday nights Game Time 09 that include dodge ball, sardines and a great time playing broom ball. We had a blast. I hope you enjoy the pictures. You can check out more of these photos HERE

In the Mix video Announcements

Hey, this is the first shot at doing a video announcement for you guys. Trevor Foster is up ere today job shadowing me so I thought we would have a little bit of fun putting this together. I promise it will get better. I hope you enjoy them.

Baptism

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday and I'm sure you are looking forward to Christmas, especially since you get a nice long break from school. I wanted to post a picture of Madison getting baptized. There is nothing like watching someone follow Christ obediently in baptism.

If you have any questions about Baptism or just want to know more check out this video from Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, or contact me. If you haven't been baptized and you want to be please contact me and we will get the process started.

Happy Veteran's Day

Today is Veterans Day and I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the Military personel who are serving now, have served in the past or have given the greatest sacrifice their lives to defend our country.

I come from a long and proud line of veterans. My Dad's dad served in WWII in the U.S. Army as an Engineer, my Mom's Dad served in WWII in the U.S. Navy and my Father served proudly in Vietnam in the U.S. Marine Coprs. It was my dream from the time I was a young boy to serve in the Military and I am thankful for the time that I served. I hope you can pause for a few minutes at some point today and thank a veterans.

I am proud of everyone I served with and I continually proud of those who continue to serve, even in the midst of danger. You are in my thought and prayers. As a Veteran I can assure you that most of them give no second thought to the sacrifices they made. All of them would do it again all in the name of freedom and justice. What a great country to be a part of. God Bless America and the Veterans who have served her.

Congrats Fair Grove Eagles

Congratulations to the Fair Groe Eagles football team in their win last night at Mountain View Liberty. You can read more about it here This saturday at 1:30 the Eagles will be taking on the Lamar Tigers in Fair Grove. So everyone is invited to come out and watch the game. Go Eagles!

One Life to Love

Saw them last year at Youth Quake. I love the words of this song. Makes me think of what we value the most. Often times it's not thinking about this idea. Hope you enjoy.

You are God Alone

I have been thinking alot lately about how we lok to keep God in a box. You know one that looks clean and neat, without any holes or problems. I think in some way we try to control God by making Him fit into our lives in a certain way. I

2 Samuel 7: 5-8 says, "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" '
8"Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel.

I think the reason these verses really stood out is because of the picture they display. Think about it. God has never dwelt or been limited to a house built by human hands. He doesn't work in our time schedule or in our ways. He is constantly at work whether we see Him or not. David's intentions were good, but it wasn't what God had planned. The temple guarantees God's presence but at the same time limits His freedom. Look how God addresses the situation. He says, "I have been moving," meaning He is at work. God is a God who will not be held in place by any religious agreement, He is free and cannot be controlled, bought or ordered around.

Think about this in light of today's culture and the ideas we have about God and a Church bulding. We often times think we go to Church to see or hear from God. However, God is freely moving and working in and among us, outside the walls of Church buildings. Why? Because He will not be controlled by man, and the Church is not a building but a movement of people who follow Christ.

Check out v. 8. Notice what God tells David. I took you from following the flock to be the leader. God took David from following to leading, and he wasn't limited or held back because He didn't have a building. David goes from following sheep to being the Shepherd of the Nation of Israel at this point. This brought to mind a song, "You Are God Alone," by Philips, Craig & Dean. Thought you might like to read the lyrics:

You are not a god Created by human hands
You are not a god Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a god In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is

[chorus]You are God alone
From before time began You were on Your throne Your are God alone
And right now In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne You are God alone

You're the only God Whose power none can contend
You're the only God Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God And that's just the way it is

God please continue to protect, guard and comfort Shay in this time of physical struggle. Please touch his body to remove the infection and help his heart to start working as it should. We know you are the great healer and physician and ask for a miracle in this. You are God Alone.


Brian

The Power of Prayer

I hope this finds everyone doing well. I wanted to write just a quick blurb about prayer and then ask that you take advantage of this powerful weapon. Prov 15:8 says "the prayer of the upright pleases Him." James 5:15 says, "the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;" Please be praying for Shay Stallings today. Shay went in for surgery today at Children's hospital in Tulsa, OK for open heart surgery. It is going to be a long and difficult surgery but our God is able to strenghten him and heal him. You can follow along with a blog that was created specifically for Shay.

Here are some things to pray for specifically:

• Pray for Shay's body to respond well to the surgery.
• Pray that God will give the doctors the wisdom and sure hands to perform a great miracle on him.
• Pray for Shay's family as they deal with this difficult time.
• Pray for Shay's recovery and the tough road that lies ahead.

Please check out his blog and leave him an encouraging note just click on his name above and it will take you to his blog.

Faithfully praying,

Brian

If only for One

This past weekend we had 58 people go to S.P.E.J. which stands for Swings, Paintball, Eating & Judgment House. It was awesome! We had a bast with the swings and paintball as you can see with the pictures posted. But what is the best is that 2 people accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. What a Rush. What an Experience.

I am reminded of the words I heard from my parents pastor Jeff Maness "If only for One." In all that we do as a youth minstry and a Church leads at least one to Christ then we have succeeded. But let us not be comfortable or satisfied with reaching only one. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so much bigger than that. It is the word of truth that reveals the truth of salvation to all. I always want to celebrate a victory, but let's not be satisfied. Sometimes satisfaction is what Satan uses to keep us comfortable. Lets continue reaching out to those who have yet to respond to Christ. Always keep in mind the deliberate mediocrity is a sin and that we shouldn't be satisfied with one. Let's keep pushing and keep loving. You guys are doing a great job.

In Christ,

Brian

Thought Provoking!

I came across this today and thought I would share it with you.

Never Ending Circle

Have you ever struggled with doing the right thing? Or maybe you were doing the right things but for the wrong reason. Often times we can get pretty discouraged when we are doing things because of the sin in our life. We do something only if it is going to benefit us. Hopefully this little bit of thought will help you out when you struggle with this thought.

First, you always must remember that in all of our trials and struggles to do good we will still fall well short of what God expects. No matter how good you are the Bible says "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6. What this says is that no matter how good you think you are, in God's eyes you are still filthy cause of the sin in your life.

Second, remember that God loved us while we were yet sinners. Romans 5:8 speaks volumes on the love Jesus Christ had for us. In other words everything that we do and struggle with God knows about, yet He still died for us. Hebrews chapter 9 & 10 say alot about this as well. Read Hebrews 9:13-15 & 10:1-17. The major point being made is Christ's sacrifice is a once for all, never to be redone. Jesus showed His love for us in dying and that sacrifice was the final and perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. In 10:14 when you acknowledge Christ you have forever been made perfect. That doesn't mean sinless, it means that your sins have been cast as far as the east is from the west. Forgotten. Gone. Never to return. But this isn't the end.

Third, Romans chapter 6 tells us to not keep on sinning because of Christ's sacrifice. 6:12 says do not let sin control the way you live, and do not give in to sinful desires. In 6:13 it tells us to use our bodies as instruments of righteousness. The actual thought or idea is to use your bodies as weapons of righteousness. When you use your very self as a weapon of righteousness for the name of Christ you as a shining city on a hill. So the idea is to use your body as a tool to do good to others. This shows others the love of Christ. Have you ever thought about how you are the very weapon that is taking part and doing battle in the Spiritual world? That is what is at stake. Your good works are a proof of your faith James 2:14-26. Hebrews 10:24 says, "Let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. I hope this helps you out, because at some point in life we all struggle with this.

Assumptions

Sarah and the kids and I all flew out bright and early this morning to Denver to come up to Cheyenne. I am officiating my cousins wedding and looking forward to that. Anyways we went out to eat for lunch to a great place called "Parkway Pizza," for us old time Cheyenne folks, but if you were to come here today it is called Losteria Mondelo.

While we were eating lunch the news was carrying a live high speed chase in Los Angeles. Now immediately my mind jumped and I thought it was some sort of punk that was trying to get away from the law. You know what I mean. We have all made assumptions before. I assumed that this GUY had broken the law, stole a car, robbed a bank, etc. and was trying to get away. As the chase went on I began to question the Police tactics. They really weren't doing anything just following. The driver would stop, they would get out of their cars (remaining behind their doors with their guns drawn), and then the driver would drive off again. It got rather comical because it seemed as if the driver would stop to see what the police were going to do and then would drive off agian. Finally after 5 or 10 minutes of this going on the driver pulls over on the side of the road and begins to get out of the car. Remember, we all make assunptions and those tend to lead us into judging others. I am expecting a young (30 or younger male) to get out of the car. When the door opens it's an elderly woman, who looks like she is having mental problems. Talk about a shocker!

It made me think how often times we make an assumption based upon a persons actions or lack there of. As a Christian it is my responsiblility and role not to assume anything about anyone, but to show the love of Christ to all that I come into contact with. Never assume that someone is or is not a Christian. Christ died for all we can't allow assumptions to stop us from speaking the truth of the Gospel and loving others.

Craziness

So I haven't updated this thing in a while cause we have been extremely busy. Now we are tearing into our new youth room, soon to be called "The Refuge." I hope you can come out and help us work on it tonight. There will be no family groups at the host homes just us coming up here to the church and working on our new digs. Here is just a glimpse of what you missed or will miss if you don't take advantage of this opportunity.

Driver's beware!

Ever thought about the other drivers while you have been driving. Ever been distrcted by something and almost caused an accident? Do you drive? Then this is for you. Warning this may be a little graphic, but strongly recommended.

Our Gospel Journey and thoughts on the problem of evil!

So over the past two months our youth ministry has been going through the Dare 2 Share curriculum "The Gospel Journey Maui." Yesterday, we dealt with the problem of evil. So I thought I would share my thoughts and give a little insight into what the Bible teaches us.

First, we have to distinguish two types of evil Moral and Natural evil. Moral evil results from the actions of free people. An example is murder, rape, drunk driving, robbing a bank. Natural evil results from nature as it runs its course and things that are examples of this are hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, Tsunamis, tornadoes, you get the point.

Everyone has their opinion about the problem of evil. As we look to Scripture, I believe that it has a number of answers that highlight the issue or problem of evil.

First, according to II Cor 4:4, Satan is the god of this age or world depending on your translation. Now, this is not without God allowing him to do this. God has allowed Satan this opportunity ever since the fall. God doesn't force his ways on people, but calls them to repentance and acknowledgement of Him. Remember Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool says in his heart there is no God." So God has allowed satan the opportunity to do what he wants in this world, but God also shows himself to be patient, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (II Peter 3:9. That is way he is patient in coming back. He desires for all people to know who He is and what He has done.

Second, since satan is the god of the age he has a method, purpose and plan and that is seen in John 10:10. Satan has no other purpose than to steal, kill and destroy. He doesn't care about you or anyone else. He has one thing he wants to make sure and that is to steal your joy, your meaning in life, to make you think that life is stupid or useless. He desires to kill you any way he can. This may come through various violent acts, (murder, rape, drunk driving, etc.) or it may also come through trying to kill you spiritually. Trying to blind your mind so you don't respond to the Holy Spirit. If he doesn't kill you physically, yet can keep you from your relationship with the creator God then he has accomplished his purpose.

Third, many of us tend to think that because we are doing great things for God, or we have a really strong relationship with Him that bad things won't happen to us. There is nothing in scripture that promises that. God always promises to be with us, but never promises everything to work out the way we want it. Read Job. Job was blameless and upright. In other words Job was a righteous man. He was everything God expected in a Christian. He put God first and other second. He lived out God's commands and loved God with all his heart. Yet Job still loses everything. Why? I think Job shows what it means to follow, obey and honor Christ no matter the cost. He could have easily turned his back on God, questioned God's existence or even renounced him, but he remained faithful. The lesson to be learned is that

Righteousness is not a hedge of protection against bad things.

Bad things happen to the righteous and unrighteous alike. The difference is that the righteous have God to rely on and to gain strength from in times of need (Phil 4:13).

I hope and pray that this helps you the next time you face trials, trouble, evil or difficulties. Remember that the Lord is faithful and desires to help us through every situation we face. He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. You are loved and cared for. YOu have a purpose in life and God is going to accomplish things in and through you, things you may never have imagined.

Denver 2009

It loaded. You can check out the video here as well as stay in touch with our Youtube page. It is TheMergeSpringhill if you go to youtube.


I also thought you might like to see last years video again, so here it is.

Random musings and thoughts

So, we are back into the swing of things after spending a week in Denver serving the Green Valley Ranch Community. It was a great week and everyone did a fantastic job working hard and coming together. I was thinking this morning about how easy it is to get back into a routine and how difficult it can be to maintain an effective time with God because of all the distractions we face. I hope and pray that each of you spend time with Jesus daily. The more you do this, the more you feed the Spirit and do what God wants you to do not what oter people want you to do.

This morning I went to the doctor cause I have been having problems swallowing and breathing at times. I have been having problems with my tonsils for about a month now. While we were in Denver at Water World, I got hit in the throat by one of the mats on he turbo racer. Awesome Ride. Anyways I have been having problems since then and today the doctor told me it looked like I needed to have my tonsils removed. Great! Of all the times to have something like this happen it has to be now. We are getting ready for Ethyl, and then I will be preaching for two weeks after Ethyl and then we are going on vacation. One thing I have learned is that God's timing is perfect and I know everything will be ok. I will keep everyone informed when I finally know what is going on.

Tonight we are going to Lighthouse lanes. Bring $8 and come prepared to have fun and bowl alot. I have uploaded the 2008 Denver Vidoe and the 2009 Denver video to Youtube. Do a search for TheMergeSpringhill and you can find our videos there.

Great Pics

Since we are going to Water World today I thought I would post some pictures from throughout the week. Hope you enjoy them.

What a Rush!

This week has flown by. I can hardly believe we have been here almost a week. Every one of the students has done a phenomenal job this week. they have worked hard, and worked with great servant hearts and awesome attitudes. It has helped make this week one of the best trips to Denver we have ever had.

Today we worked around High Point Academy, pulling weeds, cleaning windows, cleaning walls, mowing and cleaning up the mulch and replacing some of it. We also cleaned out Hope Valley's storage unit moved over to the Buchanek's house. This will help the church save money on the storage since Korey and heather have afairly large garage they can use.

Tonight the kids enjoyed a night off at the 16th Street mall in Downtown Denver. It is a great place to hang out and have fun. It also opens our eyes to the many different types lifestyles of people lead and how they are still in need of Christ. It has been an awesome week, and we look forward to sharing so much more when we get home.

The Glory of it all...

This week has really gone fast. This morning we woke up at 5:25 in the morning to hand out 1,000 free breakfast on the go's to the people in the community. It went really well and no one got hurt. Giving out the breakfasts is always one of the most exciting things, but also can be one of the most nerve racking becasue of the traffic. They all did a great job and have done good all week. I continue to be amazed at how great our kids our serving and have been extremely proud of everything they have done. They have bonded well together and continue to grow closer. I truly believe if we can build upon this they can do some great things for Christ in their schools this year.

We got to take a break this afternoon and took advantage of the opportunity. We loaded up our vans and took off to the west and went to St. Mary's Glacier. It was a great time with some of us hiking to the highest point we could get to. This took us about 2 1/2 hours and gave us some great pictures and helped us realize the greatness of God and his awesome creation.

Sorry we haven't posted every day. The wireless connection we have been trying to use has been having problems. We take advantage of using it when it is up. Thank you for your prayers and we look forward to filling you in on more tomorrow.

Great trip

Hey everyone! Hope things are going well back at home. We have had a great trip so far, full of excitement laughter and hard work. It started on sunday with everyone breaking into groups and canvasing the local homes with some great questions to find out some good information, as well as have personal contact and inform them of a church in this area. You have to understand that the builder of this community has made it a goal of his to "develop a community where people can escape the church." With that in mind here were the questions we asked each house that answered the door.

1) If you could name 2 of David Letterman's top ten reasons people don't attend church, what would they be?

2) Do you know any churches in the Green Valley Ranch area? If so, what are their names?

3) If you were to attend a church what would you look for?

You would be surprised at some of the answers and look for ward to sharing more with you as we come back.

Today we spent all day landscaping at a couples home here in the neighborhood. This couple runs an adoption agency and have adopted 6 chiuldren and have 3 adopted grandchildren. Our team did a great job and had a great spirit and attitude as they worked hard together. I am extremely proud of all of them. We also had a group go to a lady's house to do a garage reorganization and had a great time serving her and building a relationship with her. Please pray for Lana and that she would be open to the relationships with others fomr Hope Valley. God is obviously at work, and we are just beginning to see what all he has in store for us this week. Please keep praying and we look forward to hearing from you.

Safe & Sound

Well we made it here safe and sound and are looking forward to a great day tomorrow. We have church services here at 10, then we will be going out to survey the neighborhoods around here. This is a great way to get to hear the thoughts and opinions of the people around here and their views and opinions on church. Please be praying for this great non threatening opportunity to listen to others. It may also be a great opportunity for us to share the Gospel to those in need of salvation, please pray!

Right up to the last second...

So, I got a call today from the company we were supposed to be renting our vans from and they informed me that they wouldn't be able to meet our request for the vans. Immediately I thought, "Nothing like waiting till the last possible second." I had called on monday to verify and make sure everything was ready to go and they assured me everything was taken care of. Thankfully we were able to find another company that had a van and minivan, optherwise we would have had major problems.

It always seems like things go wrong when it is the most inconvienient time. I have been thinking about this and realized I was pretty upset. I relaized I need to relax and watch how God can take care of everything. He provided us with exactly what we needed, and in just enough time. I hope and pray this is just the beginning of watching God do some amazing things while we are in Denver. Please be praying for all of our team. It is going to be a great week.

Do you read this??????

I have been extremely busy trying to get everything caught up because of being gone for so long. Sarah and I had a great time in Colorado and Wyoming. Sarah spent time with my family while I attended one of the best conferences I have ever been to in Colorado. Then it was off to Romania. What a great joy and a blessing to work with Ionica and Claudia and all the others from Hope Baptist Church in Rimnicu Vulcea. We did a sports camp out at Govora and had quite a bit of success getting the teenagers to really think about and discuss who Jesus really is. A couple even gave their lives to Christ. God is good and faithful.

Now we are getting ready for Denver. I am really excited about this years trip, and I think everyone else is too. This year has been completely different than past years. Everyone seems to be laughing and enjoying things much more this year than any other. It is going to be a great time, and I am looking forward to watching God work in our lives as well as in the lives of those we serve. For all of those who are going to Denver, don't forget to be doing your QT book. I have been doing it, and think it is great. I hope each and every one of us look forward or anticipate seeing God work. He is going to do it, we just need to be onboard.

I also wanted to see how many people are really reading this. If you read this just leave a short comment. It doesn't have to be anything crazy or profound just a hi or you can tell me what you are thinking. Thank you and God bless.

How You say...............................

Things are going great. You can check out today's blog by clicking here. http://ignitetrips.blogspot.com/

Word of the Day- AMAZING (Guest Blogger Tammy Raby)

Well.....it's been an eventful day......AMAZING really! It was perfect weather for Sports camp and about 20+ kids from Govera. We enjoyed getting our rears kicked at soccer (AGAIN) and chasing tennis balls all over the courts. The incredible part was that, inspite of us, God was at work in bringing the gospel clearly to kids who are immersed in a country's deep traditions and the worldview of good deeds will get us to heaven. It's fun to watch the light's come on in the eyes of those who are seeking Him.
We had a SHOPPING TRIP to Horezu on the way back from morning camp - lots of great pottery and an AMAZING demonstration by a local potter (who has been doing this for 20 years) and the pottery painter (is that a profession?) - we have great video to share for anyone who is interested! Ionica shared the story of the potter and the clay from Jeremiah with the potter - pray that the scripture will come alive to that potter!

This afternoon we had another painting party - clearly the teenagers were having a great deal more fun than the adults...........based on the conversations we overheard (MASH, Transformers, Pokemon apparently are all AMAZING - according to sources who will remain nameless).
No naps today - we were completely functional for the first day since we got here (well, as functional as this abnormal team can be).

The second Sports Camp of the day was very eventful - with the youth director getting his rear kicked up and down the field, mostly DOWN on the field (he was playing a group of little girls ! - NOT). SEE PICTURE ATTACHED! :)

We had a great evening together, ending with an opportunity for intimate conversations among several of our Romanian team members with the camp kids. Discussions revolved around questions about heaven and hell; how to define right and wrong; and how do you believe you can get to heaven; Several showed serious interest, while others continue to doubt - please pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to work in the lives of all those who have heard the Gospel through the Sports Camp. The professor who helped with the publication of the sports camp is also a seeker, so particularly pray for her salvation - her name is Elena.

The team continues to have a great deal of fun together - God has protected our relationships and we are thrilled to be here!

Tomorrow we head to Copaceni - a gypsy village about an hour from Rimnicu Valcea. We're looking forward to working with "the brothers" there. Sarah, Layne and I will be leading out in a Ladies Banquet tomorrow night - so lots of fun ahead!

Blessings to you all!

-Tammy

Don't Lick the Goats!

It's amazing the funny things that get said when translation is taking place. Today we were riding in a van talking about goats and sheep (They like sheep cheese around here). And something was said about not licking the goat. We all died laughing and have had a great time.

This morning it was raining so we were unable to put on our sports camp, but this allowed us to come back and paint one of the apartments behind the church. We got alot accomplished and had a great time. Tonight we had our sports camp. I am now a believer that I am not in as good as shape as I thought. I have run all over the place playing soccer and have a new found respect for soccer players.

Ionica presented the gospel tonight and many of the boys prayed to receive Christ, but Ionica said only a few of them were really making a commitment. It is a tough job around here, because so many kids have such a bad view of religion, thanks to the legalism and problems within the Orthodox church. Ionica has a tough job ahead, but they remain positive and he has a great vision for reaching out to the local villages. Please keep praying for some of the following:

- Tomorrow is the last night of Sports Camp, and we ask that you would be praying that we can make some inroads in the kids lives.

- Cristi and Irene have started a new Awana program and had 30 people yesterday. Praise God!

- Pray for Margaret, (german missionary) who has done a great job working with the younger kids here in Rimnicu and in Copacena. She really needs more help.

- Brian

Long night! Awesome Day

Well, we finally got to Rimnicu Valcea last night at about 3 am local time or about 7pm on monday night in Springfield. So it took us a little over 27 hours to make the journey. We had a 6 hours layover in Amsterdam where we were able to get out of the airport and see a couple of the sights. As we were walking along, we were making our way to an old cathedral when we realized we weren't in the best area. In the midst of our wandering tourist thought we wandered into the red light district. Big woops! We didn't know which way to go to get out of the area and the more we tried the further into it we got. It was quite a laugh as well as an eye opener for some of the team realizing the lives some live. Sad!

Today was a great day of ministry out at a Village called Govora. In the morning we went out and played futbol (soccer) with some of the local kids. We also had a tennis camp that Tammy, Layne and Sarah led out in. It was great spending time with some of the local kids, some of them even invited us to go swimming with them tomorrow. This evening we played more futbol and also taught them badmitton and frisbee. Drew & Reid even beat a couple of the girls in a Badmitton match. We also had a visit from the Mayor of the town (who is a seeker) and thanked us for coming and helping invest in the kids lives. God is really doing some great things in this small town. Please pray, I have listed a couple of prayer request below:

- Please pray for the kids we are hanging out with. There are some great opportunities in relationship building.

- We have presented the Gospel each time and hope that God will continue working and show them the truth.

- Pray for Ionica, Claudia, Anastasia, Cristi and the rest of the team here as they continue building relationships with the people in Govora.

- Pray that we follow the Spirit's leading and taht we are do exactly what God wants us to do as a team.

- Pray for a good night sleep for our team as we haven't had much sleep.


-Brian

Delayed!

So here we sit, Stuck in the airport in Memphis. Delayed until 10:25. We don't know what that means for our connecting flight in Amsterdam to Bucharest. Isn't that how things go, our timing is never God's timing and in everything He has it all worked out. I am excited about going and look forward to the journey ahead. It's hard not to get frustrated but we want to make the most of every opportunity. We are having a blast in Memphis. "Wait, I think I see Elvis." Oh, nope He just left the building. Thank you, thank you very much.

Leadership??

Over the past two days we have been discussing the role of leaders in preparing others to partner in the ministry. This has been one of the best conferences I have been to ever. The personal side of it (only 30 people) allows for great relationship building and lots of open communication. There are some other great aspects I have learned and am thankful for:

- True leadership is surprising and surprised at the same time.

- Leadership hinges on the relational connections within a ministry.

- People will follow those they trust, and those who love them.

- I need to give a little more freedom for leaders to run after what Jesus has called them to do.

- Doug Fields and Kurt Johnson (Saddleback youth pastors) are some of the most relational youth pastors I have seen from Mega Churches. They talk with everyone, remember your name and care about your ministry.

- I got to ride to lunch with Doug and four other guys, great conversation and thoughts on Jesus and leadership.

I have learned more from this Youth Ministry Summit than from any other conference. I continue to be amazed at the role relationships play in learning even among youth pastors. This has been a great journey and I long to see what God does in the youth ministry at Springhill and in my life as well. Thank you Jesus.

Ministry Summit

I am in Loveland, CO attending a great meeting of the minds with other youth leaders. It has been a great day of talking through leadership and evaluating my own personal leadership style. I took away a few things today that I thought I would share with you.

- Sometimes leadership is in the background or on the wallpaper and it isn't noticed.

- Others time leadership is in the forfront and is a life or death issue.

- At times I overlook the leadership it takes to make key decisions at crucial moments.

One thing I have seen over the my years of experience in leading is that your leadership style changes as you grow in experience and wisdom. You have to learn to deal with individuals through their personality. I can't treat each person the same. Some need more encouraging and direction others need a long leash and a little push. What I have realized is that leadership is an ever growing and ever learning process, that you will never master, but can strive to understand.

God make me the leader you need to accomplish your will.

If only for the One...

Yesterday I went to church with my parents, since we are in town visiting them before the youth forum. Jeff Manness, the pastor at Element Church spoke on God being determined. The question he asked was What is God determined to do? As he preached from Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zaccheus, he made the point that God is determined to change our city. How true is this? It is God's heart, passion and desire to change the people within the city and because he changes them, he will change the city.

God is determined to change our city one life at a time. First, Here is what we see in Luke 19. God going to the extreme to talk to and visit with Zaccheus, just one person. There are those who are going to mutter, question or gossip about us when we relate with, or invite ourselves into the presence of sinners. Always remember that Hessu came to "Seek and save what was lost." as Christians, when we are determined to follow God and change the city we will face opposition. Just as Jesus did. Second, Jeff brought up this question and I totally agree. "If only one..?" If through everything we do one life is changed then it was all worth it. All the gossip, pain and murmuring do nothing, but when God changes one persons life it was worth every bit. There will always be those who have negative comments especially if you are successful at reaching people and they are satisfied sitting in a pew.

and it starts with me. You see, I can't change the city, but when God changes me the city changes for the better. I think God isn't satisified with just one. God continues to move and work and shows Himself to people and he isn't going to stop. We can celebrate victories but must not become complacent or satisfied with one. God has so much more in store. There are thousands of people around our church and if we reached every one of them we wouldn't have enough churches to hold them.

Think of that. Not enough room to hold the people we are reaching? That sounds an awful lot like the NT church. Check it out in Acts.

I believe this with all my heart and realize how real this is in our ministry. Springhill, God wants to change our cities. Willard, Pleasant Hope, Fair Grove, Springfield. Can you imagine what God is already doing among the people of our cities? All the change he wants to bring about, all the spiritual renewal and hope for those in darkness. God is at work, and we must get on board. If only for the one...

John 17

We are continuing through John in our daily reading and wanted to encourage you to be consisten. It is easy to get distracted and stop reading, but remember that God's word comes to life the more you read it, and God will speak to you through it.

Have you ever noticed how selfless Jesus was. He came down to do the Father's will (John 17:1-5), he healed many, didn't come to please people but to bring about the Kingdom of Heaven and then continuing in John 17 prays for his disciples and for all believers. Notice verse 8-9, where Jesus wants to pray for his disciples because of their acceptance of Christ's teachings. That is a key. In other words, because of their obedience to Christ and his teaching, following what He said and doing what hHe did Jesus is specifically praying for them. He isn't praying for the world, but specifically for His disciples.

Second, look at what He prays for. Have you ever been in the situation where you disagree with someone, you don't think their viewpoint or opinion is right? Lots of us have, but Jesus prays that we may be one. United together as one body for one purpose. You see when we bring glory to God through our words and actions everyone benefits. The body of Christ is an unstoppable force. However, when we allow our selfish motives and conceitedd thoughts to control us we bring disunity and conflict to the body.

I want to encourage you to think about obedience today at some point. Get away from the chaos of whatever you are doing and ask yourself if you have been obedient lately. Are you following God's leading and his word. Second ask yourself if you are striving for unity within the body or conflict. If you are trying to build unity you will create conflict.

I love you guys. Hope you have a great weekend. Sarah and I are going up into the mountains of Wyoming today and tomorrow and I am looking forward to spending some time with God refelcting and seeking his leadership. What a great place to do that, no TV, radio, or other distractions that get in the way. Just me, my family and some time in God's creation.

1984

This Wednesday night we will be leaving The Refuge at 6:30 for 1984. The cost is $5 for all the old school video games you can play. We will return to the church by 8:30.

Cars Theology

TOnight we were putting Ethan to bed and he started asking questions like: Why is Jesus God's son? and What did Jesus die? This brought us to an interesting point of trying to explain what sin is and how we relate with God.

I began to explain to Ethan that Jesus was God's son and that He was sent to this world to die for our sins. I then told him that everyone sins, including Daddy and Mommy and he then had trhe question of all questions. "Daddy, does Lightning McQueen sin?" "Yes he does," I said. "What about Mater?" Again I said "Yes." How about King and guido and..." "Yes Ethan, everyone has sinned." To which he replied, Oh!, Ok Daddy. Gopdnight."

Awesome conversation. I love talking to Ethan and trying to answer his questions as he thinks of them. Believe me some of them are off the wall.

Wednesday Night

Hey guys! We will be meeting in the Refuge tomorrow night at 6:30. We will have the volleyball net up and play some games then hang out and have a Bible Study. Invite as many fireds as you want. Have a great day.

Moving on

Congratulations to our graduates! Each one of you holds a dear spot in my heart and I want each of you to know you will be missed, greatly. Your laughter, humor and leadership, your passion for Christ where a great example to all who see you. When Sarah and I got here you all were going into 9th grade and now you have graduated.

Inside I am torn because I know some of you are going far away, however I know that God has something great in store for each of you. Remember to take what He has taught you and what you have learned here at Springhill and be the light in a dark world. Live with passion, compassion and a servants heart and you will go far. God is going to accomplish great things through the 2009 Seniors. Keep me informed of what God does in you and through you. You are special.

Why is Leadership so hard? (part 2)

Leadership continues to be something I believe everyone strives for, but not everyone acieves with success. I am continuing my thoughts from yesterday concerning my leadership characteristics and flaws. What I have learned I believe will make me a better leader in the future.

Volunteers are some of the greatest people in the world, because they are doing something out of the overflow and generosity of their heart. They are following the call of Christ on their lives, pursuing the direction and meaning God wants to bring to their life. They want to be used by God in ways they nor I have ever imagined. I have a major flaw in this area, not becasue I don't appreciate them, but becaseu I try and do everything. I have always thought, "I am the youth pastor and this is what they pay me for." But what I realized is I can't do it all by myself. God uses the people who step into volunteer positions to take the ministry to the next level. I have to be willing to turn things over to them. I get the opportuinty to empower them, partner with them, help them develop their gifts, to cheer them on, all the while watching them in the excitement of the moment when they realize God has used them to touch the life of another individual. What I have learned is that I love our volunteers and sometimes the one you love the most are also the ones you take for granted. So hear me on this one. VOLUNTEERS ROCK! I love our volunteers.

Intimacy with God is another characteristic that every biblical leader needs. Time alone with God should be our most precious comodity but often times it is what gets pushed aside in the name of ministry. You can be doing all kinds of good things for God, but be missing out on the best thing for you and your inner self. God isn't concerned with success as we define it, but he is concerned with my life and your life. He wants us to be more Christ-like, to be the light to a dark world, to bring hope to the hopeless and to speak from the overflow of our hearts. We can't do any of this apart from God.

Why is intimacy so hard? Intimacy reveals my deepest darkest secrets, my flaws and issues I want no one else to know. Intimacy allows someone to see me for who I really am. The closer I get to Christ, the more I realize how much I need Him. Without Him I will struggle through life. Intimacy with God is vital for any and all leaders.

Why is leadership so hard?

Over the past few months I have examined my role as a leader and looked at some strengths and weaknesses I possess in my leadership style. Also over the last few months I have realized that being a leader isn't the easiest thing in the world. Leadership is difficult. It's time consuming, chaotic, lonely, and at times it hurts. Everyone has their own opinion on what makes a great leader, and yet no one holds the market on knowing exactly what it is that makes one.

While leadership may be difficult it is rewarding at the same time. There are the exciting times you get to experience when someone you have led makes a key decision or steps into a leadership role themselves. What I have come to realize over the last few months and years is that leadership is an ongoing battle to grow and become the leader God wants me to be. That means there are a few things I must be prepared to face.

First, most leaders at some point or another struggle with paranoia. An overwhelming sense that you may fail, or that people don't trust you and will not follow your leadership. Paranoia creates massive leadership problems and will freeze you in your tracks. It says it's alll about me and not about the Kingdom, it is focused on my feelings and intentions often times rather than on God's goal to have us become more Christ like. Leaders acknowledge this reality, but can move past it because they have been called by God to accomplish a certain task or goal. The calling in their heart and the leading of the Holy Spirit pushes the leader to follow the will of God and allows the Spirit to work in ways we could never accomplish under our own power.

Second, brokenness is a huge factor in the quality and personality of a leader. God desires to use individuals who are broken and rely solely on the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Brokenness is something every leader must go through, but it can be one of the most difficult stages as well. What I have seen is that a personal implosion is inevitable without a strong inner life. I have to be fully committed to my call to follow Christ and to spend personal time with Him daily. I can only pour into people what God is teaching me in my life.

I have so much more to write on this subject as God teaches me what it means to be a strong godly leader. Over the next few days I will bear my thoughts and struggles from the past few months of examining my leadership characteristics and flaws.

With that I ask you these questions: What are some characteristics you feel that a leader needs to succeed in His or her God given role? What are some good examples of great leaders in the Bible? Why is a strong inner life (devotional) necessary to follow Christ?

Chaos through the Storm

This weekend has been crazy. We all know that a huge storm battered the area early friday morning. Fair Grove High school had major damage with some of our students inside. Dylan Louderbaugh, Christin Hartman and Mark Harris were in the path of some debris that fell due to damage to the building. Thankfully the Lord protected many people, no one was killed and some were injured with broken legs, twisted ankles, cuts and bruises.

I spent most of the day friday getting supplies (tarp, roofing materials) to protect the building we have so they receive no more damage. Thankfully it was sunny and clear after the storm. I will be posting some pictures of the damage here at Springhill soon. If you are in need of help, or know someone who has some major damage and need help please let me know. We want to be the church to anyone and everyone we can.

Signature of the Author

I came across a great video I thought everyone should watch. I know there are some who have negative comments and thoughts, but this really communicates the truth of what Paul wrote in Romans 1:19-20. I thought you migh enjoy this and would love to hear some of your comments concerning this video.

Teamwork

I want to start this with a statement I read this morning. "Few things are more beautiful to God than seeing His people serve and work together in a united rhythm. It's like a symphony to His ears." I read this in a book I just got called "Doing Church as a Team." Wayne Cordeiro, pastor of New Hope Church in Hawaii wrote this book. One of the reason I am reading this book is the title, the other reason is before Sarah and I came to Springhill we took a trip to Hawaii and while in Hawaii we attended New Hope, and all I can say is, Wow! what an experience.

New Hope Church does not operate out of a church building, rather they meet in schools in various locations throughout the Hawaiian islands. It takes alot of teamwork and organization to pull off their services every week. Without one person functioning in the capacity that God had gifted them who knows what could have become. Not only was the teamwork noticable, the hospitality was great. I can say that even though we were not familiar with anyone at New Hope we felt like we were a part of their family.

Over the next few months lets work harder at becoming the TEAM God wants us to be. One that is focused on Him, while investing in the lives of those who come to Springhill. Let work hard together, be welcoming and friendly and open to building new relationships with others.

You guys rock and I hope you are having a great week.

WOW! $2500

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the youth ministry here at Springhill. THe Silent Auction went great, and as a result of your generosity the youth ministry took in $2500 to be split evenly among the 27 teens who helped work it. Thanks again.

On a lighter note I wanted to give you a link to the baptism videos incase you wanted to have a laugh or two. I hope you enjoy them.

Video 1-

Video 2-

Funny

Yesterday I was mowing the lawn and before I was done mowing, Sarah had to go to work. So, she came outside, said that Ethan was inside finishing up his lunch and that she had to go. I thought "cool, I will be done in 5 minutes and then go in and eat with him." After maybe two or three minutes I finished mowing, put the lawn mower up and headed into the house. When I walked through the door, there was Ethan standing on a chair in front of the fish aquarium. In his left hand he held the net and in his right hand was one of the fish. I was really ticked at first, and was about to blow, when Ethan turned to me with a smile on his face and said' "look at this daddy, I caught a fish."

It was awesome he was so proud of catching a fish and wanted me to see it. I have talked about going fishing and hunting and he always says he wants to go. I realized how much he wants to be just like me and how he strives to do things that will make me happy. I love that kid. He is so much fun. Then I started to think. How many times have I been to the fish store and the worker can't catch the fish. The sad thing is there's like 50 of them in the aquarium. My son however pulls off this amazing feet at the sly age of 3. That's right he caught a fish in an aquarium with only 8 fish in it. I could no longer help being upset with him. No, dad was proud of his son because he was trying to do what Dad has always talked about doing.

Random Thoughts

So I have been preparing for the guys Camp Out this weekend, and boy is it going to be fun. Our campground area is right on the edge of the Niangua river, out in the middle of nowhere. There is no TV, Radio, cell phone reception or anything. Man it's going to be awesome. As I have been planning this a number of random thoughts hit me.

First, I thought about how God wants us in the middle of nowhere, so he can show us where he wants us to go. So many times we try to keep ourselves busy and think we know what God wants us to do, but we don't seek him on a daily basis. The writer of Psalms tells us "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." Are you consistently relying on God's word to guide you and direct you in your daily life? If not you may find yourself in the middle of nowhere, with no map and no directions. When we rely on God's word we know that He is going to give us directions one step at a time. He doesn't want us to rely on anything else but Him.

Second, when was the last time you went somewhere where there were no distractions? I mean no TV, radio, ipod, cell phone reception. It's probabyl been a long time since many of us have had that. What gets me about this, is that God tells us in His word to "be still and know that I am God." Many times we run through the chaos of life missing out on what God wants to tell us cause we can't hear Him over the noise in our life. We stay busy trying to do great things for God, when He wants us to be involved in our relationship with Him daily. It's an ironic thing when God speaks to Elijah on Mt. Horeb (I Kings 19:9-13). Notice how God wasn't in the wind, even though the wind tore apart the mountain. He wasn't in the earthquake that I am sure was felt for miles. He wasn't in the fire either. He was however in the gentle whisper. A gentle wind that spoke to Elijah. Notice Elijah's response. He instantly pulled the cloak over his face, in respect for God's holiness.

This weekend is going to be an awesome time for us to get away as guys, but it may be the spark you are needing to propel you in the direction God wants you to go. It may provide you the stillness you need to hear the voice of God. Are you ready? I am!

Congratulations

Well it's a final. This year's National Champ is North Carolina, and they put a hurting on Michigan State. I knew they would. The winner of this year's youth ministry pool, for the 3rd time in four years is Kylee Anderson. I know we were just as shocked as she was.

I am starting to think she takes part in more pools and gambling than she is letting on. Last year is the first year she has been beat, and she still got 2nd place. Here's to domination. Congratulations Kylee, You rock!

Mark Harris took 2nd place and was close, but not close enough to beat Kylee. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Upcoming Excitement

Hey guys,

Wanted to give you a heads up on some of the upcoming excitement that we have going on here at Springhill.

This Sunday April 5- A.C.T.S. After Church To Somewhere will be going to Steak n Shake directly following the 2nd service.

Also this sunday don't forget our special night at "The Merge" Parents & teens are invited to come for a night of dynamic worship focusing on reuniting, refocusing and reenergizing the family. You won't want to miss this. Cr. Rodney Reeves from SBU will be our special guest speaker.

April 10- 1st Friday will be at the Refuge. We will have a bonfire (weather permitting) and a game night. Come hang out have some fun and bring a friend.

April 17-18- Guys Camp Out, the cost is $20. This is going to be a great weekend full of camping, fishing, fun, games and skeet shooting. Sign up by Sunday April 12.


I hope you are having a great week, and look forward to seeing everyone this sunday.

Reminiscing on 34 years of friendships

Have you ever thought about all the people who have been a part of your life and have shaped it in some way. The people who pushed you to be a better person, they laughed with you when something funny happened, they cried with you when you struggled. Those who you played crazy games with, skipped school with or just hung out with. Teammates, Coaches, teachers, parents, siblings, the list goes on and on. I am continually amazed at how many people influence us and make us who we are. From the people in our lives who discourage us to those who build us up every one of them contributes to us becoming who we are.

Over the past 34 years I have had friendships with some outstanding people who continue to influence me for the better. To recognize every one of you would take much time and then I would forget someone. The years spent in school were a blast, and the friends I have through that are great. Four years in the Navy would be very difficult without the friends and coworkers that understand what you go through daily, thanks. My teammates that helped me become a better athlete. The kids that have been a part of the ministries I have been involved in. I know I am looked at as the teacher, but I want you to know you have taught me as well. I want all of you to know that you have influenced me greatly. I am continually thankful that God placed you in my life, and I pray that you experience the same joy in your friendships both now and forever.

My parents continue to show me what it means to live out Christ daily. Even though I am apart from you, you have greatly influenced me to be a man who relies on the strength and power the Lord gives me. My BEAUTIFUL wife, who God gave me to enlarge my sense of humor. I still am amazed how God brought us together. I am so thankful for my kids, Ethan and Brooklyn make me so happy, I only pray that I can live out a true godly example of what it means to follow Christ daily. I have a long ways to go. Lastly, I want to thank Jesus. Without Him all of this wouldn't be possible. You are the Savior of the World, and my Savior as well.

Who's writing your story?

Today I was reading Proverbs 3:1-6 and some thoughts came to mind. In the midst of the uncertainty of what's going on in the market and in the world there is a story. It's a story each one of us are involved in. It's a story that has a writer who has our best interests at heart. It's a story that is meant to offer us life, not just life, but life more abundantly. It's a story where you are the lead role, the main character. It's a story that begins with a creator and his creation. It's a story of that creator looking out for our best interests, because He loved us and gave Himself for us. What story is this? It's life.

Think about it. God has written each one of our stories, but often times we choose to take over the role of the writer. Rather than playing out the lead role we often times strive for what we think may be better. God tells us throughout Scripture that He has our best interests at heart. He loves us and knows the plans He has for us.

The problem comes when we think we may be a better writer. When we think that God's plan or purpose can't surely bring me life or happiness. When we pour everything we are into rewriting our story, we stumble and fall. We create problems and have to live with the responsibility and consequences of disobedience.

In the end God wants to be the author of our stories, but many of us are to impatient to wait, to out of touch with God to know what we should do, or to careless because we want to have fun now. God has written your story, are you going to choose to follow it?

How do you eat an Elephant?

Lots of people desire to spend more time reading and studying God's word, but I have been asked many times "Where do I begin?" I believe many of us are extremely overwhelmed by the amount of content in the Bible, the various types of writings (prophets, parables, narrative, historical), as well as just plain old confusion.

There is a current book out called "How do you eat an Elephant?" The answer of course is one bite at a time. I believe that we can learn alot from this analogy. I don;t plan on eating an elephant any time soon, but I do plan on continuing my pursuit of knowing God on a deeper more intimate level. In order to do that I have to take one bite at a time. So I wanted to give you a few pointers to get you started in reading and studying he Bible on a consistent basis.

1) Begin with Prayer-Ask God to give you the wisdom to see what he is trying to say to you through His word. Remember you are not trying to discover something no one else has ever seen before. You are trying to gain insight into who God is and how much He loves you. The Bible is God's word and has eternal relevance. Prayer is the foundation to understanding what God wants to reveal to you.

2) Choose a good translation-A good translation attempts to communicate word for word from the original language. A paraphrase while helpful for some insight attempts to express the meaning in today's language often times neglecting the original meaning. (Some good translations are ESV, NIV, TNIV)

3) Make a commitment to regularly spend time in God's word. God told Joshua to "Mediatate on it (the book of the Law) day and night." Don't try and speed read through everything. The goal isn't based on time, but to get to understand and comprehend what is being communicated. Learn to meditate and think on the passage of scripture you are reading.

4)Have a journal or notebook with you to make notes, write down questions, thoughts or ideas that come to mind. This is always a good idea cause you can go back and review or remind yourself of what you have read.

God didn't intend for the Bible to be a cryptic book that only educated people could understand. The Bible was written for anyone to know the truth of who God is, what God has done and what that means for us as God's creation. So what are you waiting for? God is waiting for you. Make the commitment to spend at least 10 minutes a day readig and studying God's word.

Leader or Loser?

What are some key traits or characteristics that make one man a leader while another man may be a loser? I have seen numerous examples of both in my life, and the biggest difference in many of them is how they think. A man's attitude governs or drives his actions. Here are eight differences between a leader and a loser.

1) A leader is always ready to tackle something new... a loser is prone to believe something new can't be done.

2) A leader isn't afraid of competition... a loser excuses himself, beliving the competition beat him out.

3) A leader knows he's sometimes worng and is willing to admit his mistakes... a loser can usually find someone to blame.

4) A leader is challenged by a new problem... a loser doesn't want to face problems.

5) A leader is decisive... a loser frustrates himself with indecision.

6) A leader realizes there is no time like the present to get a job done... a loser is prone to procrastination with the thope that things will take care of themselves.

7) A leader thinks positively... acts positively... and lives positively... a loser usually has a negative attitude and a negative approach to everything.

8) If you want to be a leader, think like a leader... act like a leader... and sooner than you think you will be a leader.

Jr. High Believe

Wow! what a great weekend, together with 6-8th graders. We had a blast playing on inflatables, watching Jared Hall (check him out at Jaredhall.com), awesome artwork, great worship, lots of food and challenging messages from Jason Raitz. I am so pumped about everything that is going on in the youth ministry. I am excited for the upcoming 6th graders, pumped about the beginning of "The Merge," by the way it starts tomorrow night. Looking forward to watching God continue to work in and through us to reach our communities for Christ.

Thank you Lord for being a gracious creator who wants to have a relationship with us and chooses to use us to reach a world caught by deception and lies.

Mission Work

Are you planning on going on a mission trip this summer? Need a little extra cash in your youth fund to cover the cost? Give me a call, we need a few fine teenagers who would love to come up and shovel off the church sidewalks before sunday. If you are interested call me.

Upcoming Excitement

Hope everyone is having a great week at school. I wante to get you some information on upcoming events.

Jan 31- Youth Quake 09. We will be meeting at the church at noon, and should be back around 4:30. Alex Himaya will be speaking and 33 Miles will be the band. Skinny Improv will also be performing. The cost is $5 or $13 if you would like a shirt.

Feb 1- Souper Bowl Party- That's right I sad Souper Bowl. Bring canned goods or non perishable items for your entry into the party. All goods will be donated to a local food pantry. The festivities begin at 4 pm with some football outside the refuge.

Feb 6-7- Jr. High Believe Conf. Great weekend reserved only for 6-8 graders. We will hae a great weekend in Tulsa, Ok.

Feb 6- 1st Friday High School Only. We will meet at the church at 6 pm. Bring some money to go out to eat and then we will be going to Petra Rock Gym from 8-10 pm. The cost to get into Petra is $10 per person. YOu have to have a Petra Release form filled out. Get one from the youth office or online at the student ministry website.