Looking Forward To Tonight

So Thursday is quite possibly my best and worst day of each week.  Every Thursday morning I think about how much I could be a better youth pastor.  "I should have talked to the teens more this week, should have done another event, should've studied more....I hope teens show up".  Every week this is what I go through.  Then when the afternoon rolls around I get so freaking hyped for The Pointe.  I can't wait to see who's going to be there and be a part of what's going on.  We have so much planned and we want everything to work.


Ultimately it comes down to the fact that God has placed a burden on my heart and the heart of my wife to see teenagers lives get changed for the glory of God.  There is all kinds of emotions mixed in with our burdens, but we all have to learn how to manage them.  If I let my burden get the best of me in a bad way then every Thursday I would be down on the world (which occasionally does happen).  The real glory of God is shown when we let our burden move us to action and to an excitement that is attached to the anticipation of what God is about to do.  

The Pointe Event Calendar

Events for the Month of August:

-8/1 @ 7.00 p.m.: Bizarro Olympics

-8/11 @ 9.30 a.m.: Carowinds

-8/22 @ 9.00 p.m.: Lock-In @ the Annex

The Pointe News 7.28.08

So this year we will be having our first ever "Bizarro Olympics" for The Pointe.  Competition will be fierce for a not-so-typical Olympic experience.  We will start at 7.00 and end at 9.00.  The winner gets a free trip to Carowinds on August 11th with the youth group.  The deadline to sign up is this Thursday, July 31st.  (let us know if you're allergic to anything...you never know).   

Also, this week we will be continuing our series "Belief" for week 2 of 3.  This week we will be discussing Losing the Faith looking through the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis.  Remember, we are in the Annex every week from 6.30 to 8.00.  Jump on board now as things are getting ready to pick up.

Mohawkalicious

So I have told the teenagers now for a few weeks that if they got 20 teens at church on a Thursday night that I would let them give me a mohawk and color it whatever they wanted to...well they did it!  I now am the proud owner of a pink mohawk.  Better yet, I have to preach in church on Sunday with the mohawk.  It should be a sight to see.  

Also, saw the new Batman movie today, "The Dark Knight".  BY FAR THE GREATEST MOVIE that I have seen in a while.  They move the characters along so well and develop them as well as any move I've ever seen.  I would recommend this movie to everybody if you are even remotely a fan of this kind of movie.  So much better than I ever could have expected, and I had some pretty great expectations going in to this movie.  

Anywho, hope to see everyone Sunday morning as we continue our series "Blessed".  

Satan Sucks

It amazes me how the devil always seems to pick on those who do the most good.  The question constantly comes up "why do bad things happen to good people".  Some of the best people I know (who may not admittedly be the best Christians) seem to be the ones going through the most garbage, whether it be death, family issues, or debt.  While I don't pretend to know the answers because this stuff even forces me to ask God "why" I think there is encouragement in these situations.

 In the Old Testament Habakkuk cries out to God, "How long, O Lord, must I call for help?  But you do not listen!  Violence is everywhere! I cry, but you do not come to save.  Must I forever see these evil deeds?  Why must I watch all this misery?"

God's response?  "Look around at the nations;  look and be amazed!  For I am doing something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it."  

Just wait on the Lord...see what happens...you wouldn't believe what He can do in your life even if I told you.

Sunday Recap

I figure since Shane was out this week that I should take this over for the week:

-had a good amount of people today.  Some regulars out on vacation, but still strong with some more visitors

-Bonnie rocks.  Wherever she is needed she just steps right in and gets the job done

-props to Josh Ditch and Jamie Steele for jumping right in on the lights and sound and doing an awesome job...they really got those lights going and making what we do look even better

-our teens are awesome.  We have teens coming every sunday that were not coming even a month ago

Just a Reminder

Just reminding The Pointe that if there are 20 teenagers @ The Pointe this thursday then I will get a mohawk....also this week we will be starting our series "This is the Pointe" and examining what it means to be a part of our group. Everything will change starting this Thursday @ 6.30.  

Anniversary Thoughts

So as of today I have been married for one year.  This got me thinking...I knew nothing a year ago.  One year ago I was a 21 year old that just got back from Cambodia looking to graduate college.  I was just getting married and thought that I had everything all figured out.  One year later I'm not where I thought I would be (which is a very very very good thing) with my wife, at a church that I love, and still figuring out what it means to be a husband and a pastor.  

I think that a lot of times those of us who have been Christ followers for a little while think we know God's plan, what it means to be a Christian, and think we know God.  I have been a Christian now for 4 1/2 years and I can see just how far God has taken me in that short time.  Guess what...3 years ago I thought I knew it all (but I didn't)....2 years ago I thought I knew it all (but I didn't)...We all need to take some time and realize where we are and how far God has taken us.  We need to thank God for what He has done and remember that "the best is yet to come" for us as Christ followers and for us specifically as a church.  We have nowhere but up to go because we have God's promise.  Not to mention that we are on a roll lately that is completely a God thing.  

New Logo/Name

Fusion Student Ministries has now officially become "The Pointe" Student Ministries.  Our new logo is awesome and I like the name because it's ours.  Every youth group around is named Fusion and I am glad to have something more original.  Props to Katie for coming up with the name and Shane for helping with the logo that "my friend Dave" helped to start.