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.

And now your BROski moment of the week (come at me bro)

James, the Anti-Philo

In James (7 yrs. old) and Nolan's (5 yrs. old) Sunday School class today the teacher asked a question about the disciples to the kids.  Nolan raised his hand.  The teacher called on Nolan to answer the question.  Before Nolan could speak James spoke up, "Why are you asking him? He doesn't know anything."

She's a gentle flower ain't she

I asked Heather, my wife, to do a favor for me...

Heather:  Well, maybe I would if your asked me nicely!
Me:  Didn't I say "will you" and "please"?
Heather:  I don't know.  I wasn't paying attention!

The first day of school for the Phillips family

Levi was left out
After dropping James off at the Elementary school and Nolan off at the Primary school Heather, Levi, and I headed home.  When we got to the house we saw that Levi's (3 yrs. old) bottom lip was poked out and his eyes were full of tears.  When Heather asked Levi what was wrong his lip started to quiver and he had the saddest look on his face.  Then he answered through tears, "Dad forgot to take me to MY school".

James' favorite part of school
Heather:  What was you favorite part of school?
James:  I didn't have one!
Heather:  There had to be one thing you liked.
James:  Nope! No wait!  I liked that on the bus ride home me and all of the other boys were pooting.

Nolan's teacher
There was not a specific story about Nolan, but you can only imagine what a joy it is to listen to him say his teachers name: Mrs Rinseburger.  Winse-buh-guh

For the Phillips' Life is a Beach

Three stories from our day at the beach...

James gives gas advise:
Before we headed to the beach, we took the golf cart to the gas station to pick up a couple drinks.  While I was inside a man drove up to the gas pump in the wrong direction.  Instead of moving his car around, he just pulled the gas hose over the top of the car.

As he began pumping the gas, James stood up in the back of the golf cart and yelled to the man, "Sir, next time you should think about pulling your car in the other direction."  The man just shook his head.

Nolan makes cakes:
We spent some time playing in the sand; we dug for sand fiddlers, buried Nolan up to his stomach, and used sand to make a mer-man (what the boys call a male mermaid) out of James.  At one point Nolan approached Heather with a huge, flat, handful of wet sand.

"Look Mom I made a sweetie pie!"
"A what?"
"A sweetie pie!"
"I think you mean a mud pie."
"Nope."
"Why do you call it a sweetie pie?"
"Because I made it for you!"

A moon underwater
James was hit by a big wave.  He came from under the water gasping for breath.  Then he said, "That wave knocked my pants down, but it's ok only the crabs saw my butt!"