The Day the Spirit Spoke - Whaaaa?

So, I told you how this all started a couple of years ago, but now I plan on telling you how I went from the messanger to the target!!

Last March our youth group, jr. high and High School (Echo and The Vibe)went on our annual winter camp snow board trip to June Mountain. It was a fantastic trip and everything was going fine (accept for the fish prank) and we were wrapping up on Sunday. My former Jr. High Director was the camp speaker and was just about finished with his message when it struck me.

I have to say that it wasn't a slap in the face or a picture of Jesus in the snow - it was more like in I Kings 19:12 when the Lord came to Elijah - in a whisper! There was no doubt that God was speaking to me. I was observing all that was happening in the room. My staff was doing a great job, my students were focused and listening, but something was missing. Change - change was missing. We had grown too comfortable with eachother. The upside was that there was great ministry going on. I was able to sit back in that moment and thank the Lord for all that he has blessed me with in the 21 years of youth ministry. I prayed for each of the staff and over my students and then the thought - the simple thought - came to my head, "Enjoy this, this summer will be your last with youth ministry, you can be done".

What happened after that, I am not sure. I know that I have sensed direct leading in my life from the Spirit three other times - each time has played out true - and this was every bit exactly what I had sensed in those other times. I was sure of it, God had spoken to me and was direct. The question was, "what do you plan to do about it?"

I remember finishing the meeting and going outside and talking with my friend who was our speaker, and revealing what I had just gone through. I couldn't believe I was standing here telling Chris that I knew without a doubt that my days in Youth Ministry were now numbered. Fighting back the tears was pretty hard at that moment. This is all I have ever done, Lord what are you doing to me? Why would you take this away? Why would you ask me to leave what I love so dearly? Why would you have me sacrifice what I have poured my life into for so many years - and without any idea of where I was to go next? Why? I will tell you in the next post. It has to do with a dangerous prayer ---- stay tuned!!

Out of the Boat

What could that possibly mean to anyone who just stumbled upon this blog - or who purposfully sought it out? Different things to different people I suppose, but for the sake of not trying to be too "Bono" I will clarify for ya all.

I preached a sermon not more than two years ago at Faith Community Church in Santa Clarita. It was a sermon that was crafted in a cold, hard bunk bed in Mexico while on a missions trip. I was desperatly trying to sleep through the rigors of the snores, clucks of chickens and slasa music drifting through the night air. Just when I was staring a good night of sleep in the face....... thoughts started to crystalize in my mind about the need to encourage our church on the subject of faith.

Right there - Right then, I formed up through the prompting of the Holy Spirit a sermon that would have greater impact than I could have ever predicted.

I delivered the message on what my Sr. Pastor (Craig Miller) affectionately titled "Death Sunday" - this is the Sunday between Christmas and New Years. I distinctly remember our Pastor and his family sitting in the front row while I preached this message. What I didn't know is how much the Spirit of God had really crafted this message that night in Mexico 6 weeks prior - for our Pastor and his family were being asked by God to "Get out of the Boat!" This message, apparantly was a confirmation for them as to what God was asking them to do; to serve him outside the traditions and customs that were comfortable and made sense.

Well, it's almost two years later and my family and I are now being asked to get out of the boat.

By the way, let me explain this statement. It is from the account in Scripture (Matt. 14:29-31) where Jesus encourages Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water with him. The point behind the statement is to act in obedience and walk in faith.

This is where we are and this blog tells our story of getting out of the boat!!