• You’re Not Deep Enough

    Here is a great article by Perry Noble pastor of NewSpring

    If you are a pastor/church leader then you have probably heard this statement before–and it just bothers you…I will admit it has always fired me up. BECAUSE…when a person makes a statement like this it is not an attack against you, although they mean for it to be, but rather an indication of their own spiritual condition–which would be both lazy and self serving.

    My daughter is three months old…and I am confident that within the next year or so that we will not have to feed her…a part of her growing up and maturing is her being able to feed herself…and if she doesn’t learn to do that then we will have problems.

    Read the rest on his blog here

  • The Potential of Community

    A couple of years ago I had written an article for PDYM Community. Yesterday I got Simply Youth Ministry news letter and found that they have added it to a list of other great articles from other Youth Workers pertaining to student ministry on their website. Here is a clip from the article,

    Last year the PDYM team had a vision to connect youth workers with other like minded youth workers for the sake of developing community. Ultimately for community to happen people have to be willing to connect with each other. There have been several attempts to provide opportunities for this to happen but I want to briefly challenge us to think for a moment what a local pdym community has to offer you and me, our students, and other youth workers.

    A local community is a place where you can connect with others. For many of us, we’ve read the pdym book and maybe even went to a conference, but now, through the local community, we can actually talk face to face with other youth workers who share the same passion and methods for ministry. We can be encouraged and share openly with people who understand the demands that youth workers face . . . what a relief to know that we are not alone!!!

    A local community can be a resource for leadership training. Let’s face it, leadership training can be tuff and expensive! When you connect with a local community you have the opportunity to learn from others and have others learn from you. You have a new resource of potential guest speakers who understands what you are trying to do and who could come and train your leaders. This is a great Resource!!!!

    Click here if you want to read the rest of the article!

  • Late for School


    Have you ever tried to do something and then your wife calls to tell you all the things you forgot? Yeah, that was our morning. As I am driving my son to school this morning I thought we had everything covered and didn’t even have to worry about waking up mom. Was I ever wrong! Half way to school she calls to let me know I forgot a snack, he was supposed to wear his school shirt, and he didn’t have a drink for lunch. Sooo, needless to say we had to turn around and go back home. As I took him in to school 15 minutes late, I heard him tell his teacher, “My dad was running late!” He is three, we didn’t rehearse excuses on the way to school, he came up with this on his own. What do you say to that?

  • Genesis 41:37-57

    “Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, ‘Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.’” v37-40
    Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a man “filled with the spirit of God.” You probably wont get to interpret dreams for a king, but those who know you should be able to see God in you, through your kind words, merciful acts, and wise advidce. Do your relatives, neighbors, and co-workers see you as a person in whom the Spirit of God lives?

    Joseph rose quickly o the top, from prison walls to Pharaoh’s palace. His training for this important position involved being first a slave and then a prisoner. In each situation he learned the importance of serving God and others. Whatever your situation, no matter how undesirable, consider it part of your training program for serving God!

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Genesis 41:1-36

    “Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.’
    ‘It is beyond my power to do this,’ Joseph replied. ‘But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.’” v14-16

    Our most important opportunities may come when we least expect them. Joseph was brought hastily from the dungeon and pushed before Pharaoh. Did he have time to prepare? Yes and no. He had no warning that he would be suddenly pulled from prison and questioned by the king. Yet Joesph was ready for almost anything because of his right relationship with God. It was not Joseph’s knowledge of dreams that helped him interpret their meaning. It was his knowledge of God. Be ready for opportunities by staying close to God. Then, when he calls you to a task, you’ll be ready!

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Genesis 40:1-23

    “‘We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.’
    ‘Interpreting dreams is God’s business,’ Joseph replied. ‘Go ahead and tell me your dreams.’” v8

    When the subject of dreams came up, Joseph focused everyone’s attention on God. Rather than using the situation to make himself look good, he turned it into a powerful witness for the Lord. One secret of effective witnessing is to recognize opportunities to relate God to the other person’s experience. When the opportunity arises, we must have the courage to speak, as Joseph did.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • BUUUUURRRRRRRR

    Today we experienced our first really cold day in Texas. Yesterday, it was 86 and today, I don’t think it topped 55. It reminds me of Missouri weather! I guess it is supposed to be like this all week! YUK!!

  • Genesis 39:1-23

    The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat!
    Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.
    But Joseph refused. ‘Look,’ he told her, ‘my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.’
    She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, ‘Come on, sleep with me!’ Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.” v2-12

    Joseph was blessed by God!
    Joseph was a man of integrity!
    Joseph was a man of high Character!
    Joseph served well in whatever situation he was placed!
    Joseph maintained a good attitude!
    Joseph was faithful!

    These are all great qualities. It would be easy to say that Joseph was wronged, and I believe he was, but the thing that stands out is how faithful Joseph was to God and the people in authority over him. Instead of having a bad attitude, he sought out ways to help in every situation.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Pumkin Patch




    Last weekend we went to a FREE Pumpkin Patch. It was huge!!! Face painting, bounce houses, hay rides and a so called train ride! Our family had fun together and enjoyed spending the time with our friends!

  • Started a New Series this Weekend


    This new series called FEAR-LESS seemed to hit home with the students this weekend. Really excited to see how God uses it in my life and theirs!