Nolan and James create a new creed

This week I was driving my oldest two boys, James (7 years old and Nolan 5 years old)to school.  During our ride we practiced our memory verse, talked about how to act in school, and then had a small dose of theology.

Me:  Nolan, what do you know about Jesus?
Nolan:  Nothing
Me:  Is Jesus God's son?
Nolan: (a mischievous grin crossed his face) Maybe!
Me:  Did Jesus die on a cross?
Nolan:  Maybe!
Me:  Did Jesus rise from the dead?
Nolan: Maybe
(clearly it was time to move on)
Me:  James, tell me something about Jesus.
James:  Well, he was with God at the beginning, and he helped to create Earth and the universe.  Then he created cars.
Me: Cars?  He created cars?
James: He created people, and then he created all of the stuff that goes into cars.  Then he made people put them together.
Me:  Do you know anything else about Jesus?
James:  He died on a cross and then...
Nolan: (interrupting excitedly) HE RAISED FROM THE DEAD!
Me:  Ok, Nolan, what else do you know about Jesus?
Nolan: Nothing
James: It was my turn Dad...Well, he died on a cross, and then one of his servants came and carried him to a tomb.  He wrapped him up so he would not stink.  Dead people stink, Dad!  The 3 days later he rose from the dead.  Now he is alive in heaven with God...oh, yea, and in my heart!

Directors cut scene/ from the empire strikes back

This is totally not mine.  I found it on the internet, but was unable to find the original source.




A furious lightsaber duel is underway. DARTH VADER is
backing LUKE SKYWALKER towards the end of the gantry. A
quick move by Vader, chops off Luke’s hand! It goes
spinning off into the ventilation shaft. Luke backs away. He
looks around, but realizes there’s nowhere to go but straight
down.

Darth Vader: Obi Wan never told you what happened to
your father.

Luke: He told me enough! He told me you killed him!

Darth Vader: No, Luke… I am your father!

Luke: No. It can’t be. That’s not true. That’s impossible!

Darth Vader: Search your feelings Luke… you know them
to be true.

Luke: NOOoooo!

Darth Vader: Yes, it is true… and you know what else?
You know that brass droid of yours?

Luke: Threepio?

Darth Vader: Yes… Threepio… I built him… when I was 7
years old.

Luke: No! … Wait, huh?

Darth Vader: Seven years old. And what have you done?
Look at yourself. No hand. No job. And you couldn’t even
levitate your own ship out of the swamp…

Luke: But… I destroyed your precious Death Star!

Darth Vader: But that was when you were 20! When I was
10, I single-handedly destroyed an entire Trade
Federation Droid Control ship!

Luke: Well, it’s not my fault…

Darth Vader: Oh, here we go… “Poor me… my father never
gave me what I wanted for my birthday… boo hoo, my
daddy’s the Dark Lord of the Sith… Nobody loved me…
waahhh wahhh!”

Luke: Shut up!

Darth Vader: You’re a slacker! By the time I was your age,
I had already exterminated the Jedi knights!

Luke: I used to race my T-16 through Beggar’s Canyon.

Darth Vader: Oh, for the love of the Emperor… 10 years
old, winner of the Boonta Eve Open… the only human to
ever fly a Pod Racer… right here baby!

Luke looks down the shaft. Takes a step towards it.

Darth Vader: I was wrong… You’re not my kid… I don’t
know whose you are, but you sure ain’t mine.

Luke takes a step off the platform, hesitates, then plunges
down the shaft. Darth Vader looks down after him.

Darth Vader: And get a haircut!

Who you gonna call?...NOLAN

My son Levi (3 yrs. old) was walking into the living-room.  As he was passing Nolan (5 yrs. old), Nolan shoved him on the ground.  Levi began to cry.

Me:  Nolan, why did you do that?
Nolan:  Well, I thought he might be a ghost, and I pushed him because he scared me.

Nolan worries for a frog

This is a great video.  I watched it while my son Nolan (5 yrs old) sat in my lap.  When the snake shows up on the scene Nolan tensed u a bit, and I heard him whisper to himself with great worry, "Jump frog, jump frog, jump!".

An oddly successful season

I wrote this back in June.  I wrote it kinda for myself.  It helped me to heal through a tough time, but before I put it on my blog I wanted to make sure I was not harboring any sour-grapes.  I did not want this post to be a "in your face" look how awesome I am TD celebration, but I do want to shine a big spotlight on God and what he is still doing around me and through me.  As future youth ministry opportunities are opening up and with seminary just around the corner it felt like the time to post this.

In mid-March I was told I would be let go from the church where I had served for the past 6 years (my last day would be June 1st).  I spent next couple weeks feeling sorry for myself, whining, and complaining (mostly to myself).  Since then I have had some time to reflect about the past few months, and I have to realize that as odd as it may seem this season of my life has been an extremly successful one.  As a matter of fact, God has blessed me as much as He ever has since I began doing ministry.

• 2 days after I was told I would be let go 2 youth made decisions to commit their lives to Christ.
• I had the honor to lead a youth to Christ a few days later.
• One of my former youth, who I have had the pleasure of mentoring since her 9th grade year, just accepted a job as a full time youth director in Savannah, GA.
• A few weeks ago, 2 former youth who I have discipled since their 6th grade year were married.  Both of them were virgins on their wedding day.
• In late May we had our annnual Senior night.  You almost need to be there to understand what a blessing this evening was.  Youth laid hands on each other, prayed for each other, and experienced God is an amazing tangable way.
• The youth handbell choir took their week long mission trip.  I did not go, but it was reported to me that during Daniel Hughes' testimony he spoke of the time he and I met weekly during confirmation as one of the major factors that contributed to his faith.
• Many of last years seniors have returning home from college after their freshman year.  Most of these young men and women have returned with their faith in tact and they are actively pursuing the disciplines of the faith.

I have been a Christ follower for over 30 years, and God has been with me all that time.  For 18 years of youth ministry God has poured blessings on me, and those blessings are continuing.  God has not removed his blessing from me, my family, or the ministry in which He has called me.  I have attempted to faithfully follow God into the unknown: full disclosure...I did it kicking and screaming.  God has begun to reveal a small glimpse of what is to come, and He is begining to replace any frustration and cofusion I have with excitement and antcipation.  God has been all over me for over 30 years, and He is showing no signs of going away any time soon.