A few, fun photos

The Importance of Story

I know I've talked about it a lot, but I'm still pondering A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller and thanks to the NYG last week, it's been brought back into the forefront of my mind. Matt Popovitz spoke at the gathering and talked a lot about story... about the story that we're living, that God is using to tell the gospel.

Also that night at the mass event, there was a time of memorial for those groups who had lost youth group members or leaders since the last gathering. Most of you know that in 2008, we lost both a student and a leader within three months. We also have two other students who have lost parents (one this past year and another as an infant but through terrible circumstances). As the tribute began, I watched as my students stood, arms around each other, supporting one another.

I was struck then how powerful is the story of God. His grace, goodness, love, compassion.

How God has worked in the lives, the story of these students. How he is continuing to work good. How he is using, molding, strengthening and shaping them to be his story to others.

The Stretch

The thing about committing myself to doing hard things is that, well...

They're hard.

There are unforeseen results and challenges and risks.

Not to mention that when you put yourself in places where change can happen, you run the risk of change stretching, molding and growing you like no other.

And though it's scary and life is rushing at me faster than I could imagine, life is still full and the stretching, though painful, is still worth it, God's presence still very present.

And that's enough for now.

Recovery

Man.

National Youth Gathering was awesome.

I'll post pictures and highlights soon.

But today, I'm back in the office and trying to figure out this thing called "routine."

More soon.

Travel Itinerary

New Orleans:

Ride bus with lots of high schoolers
Laugh
Catch up with college student Jessie
Make one hundred inside jokes
Play cards
Eat terrible fast food
Arrive in New Orleans
Cut out mustaches and affix to skewer sticks for district booth
"Test" said mustaches
Meet crocodiles and alligators on the swamp tour
Also: talk like crocodile hunter on swamp tour
Mississippi River cruise with the WI district
See the KRIZ!
Initiate the 2010 Cajun Riverboat Dance Party
Take jumping pictures all around New Orleans
See S.Sarah
See Zeal
See 100 other people, friends, family
Scare youth with my enthusiasm for seeing old friends
Walk, Walk, Walk, Walk
Attend mass events with my youth
Follow Big Barbie
Worship with SoulFire
Bible Studies
Serve the City of New Orleans
Eat Po'Boys, Red Beans and Rice, Jambalaya
Wear matching shirts all week long
Attend final Mass Event, say goodbye to friends
Return to OKC