He really liked that idea and here is proof that will incriminate us…

He had to make sure to wash his face so no one would know when we got back to the house! It was a fun day spending time with him and creating some special moments with him. I can just imagine what was going through his head as he said this is a Dad & Zach Day.

This got me to thinking…is this how I feel when I spend time with God? Or is it more of the reverse? What I mean by that is that often times I can feel too busy or rushed when it comes to my relationship with God when all He wants is to get some ice cream with me each day. Focused time with him developing our relationship. He is always there wanting to spend that time with us if we would just take a moment to stop and connect. Reminds me of the book Refuel by Doug Fields that I read a while ago and even have used as a message series in Student Ministry of Stop, reflect and connect with God daily.

Yesterday was fun day connecting with Zach and doing a Dad & Zach Day and I look forward to making this more of a “norm” than what it has been, and also making the time for Drew & Tyler too…I need to be having these connections with my kids. I also want to use this as a way to remind me of having Ice Cream with my Heavenly Father too…wonder if I can get the Hot Fudge everyday without the calories

Also check out this video Re-Mix of All He Does Is Win…although they did lose to NE this week…guess even with Tebow you can’t win them all…just ask the Packers!

For the past 18+ years I have had the privilege of working with students as a Youth Pastor! Through those years there has been some great times…and then the other stuff that God has used to help me grow closer to Him…called life! These last few years I have found the community of other Youthworkers (YM Nation or #ymnation) has been a life-line that has encouraged me, prayed for me, listened to me, and the list can go on. We simply need to take time to BREATHE!

My friend Darren Sutton says it best here…well he doesn’t really talk but can you relate?

Simply Youth Ministry has provided a way for youthworkers in the “Nation” to gather to learn together, be refreshed, encouraged and have fun together that I have found a “must do” or “Bucket List” item each year! This year it will be in Louisville, KY Home of the Louisville Slugger! Mark March 2-5, 2012 on your calendar and go here to get more information and register! Join me and others in the #ymnation You can also message me here and I can send you a code to save $25 on your registration…and who doesn’t like $25! That is like FREE Starbucks for the weekend! Don’t delay…this conference has sold out each year. All it takes is a $50 deposit to hold your spot and then pay the Balance in Mid-January 2012.

We also had a night where we packed the shoeboxes together and ate pizza together. It was a great project to get kids thinking about others and how they can have an IMPACT on our world.

Here are the results from the night..well worth the price for kids to be involved in this project Matt Sedlak & I were the willing participants!

I was recently at a meeting of pastors and leaders and the speaker made the comment on how as a pastor and leader in an organization that his own kids are starting to call him “uncle” as he is gone so much. Now that “badge” I do not want to wear! To tell you the truth it kind of turned me off to even listen anymore…is that what we are called to as pastors or leaders in the church? I don’t think so!

My responsibility as a follower of Christ is to first of all be a follower of Jesus, then to be the person who is discipling my own family before I even think of ministering to others. I find myself at times struggling with the balance of life as a husband and father and as a pastor to children and students…it is a constant balancing act. I love being called to youth ministry but realize my biggest ministry is to my own kids. Over the last few years I have seen how that has changed as our kids get older and involved in their own activities. What once was taking my kids to see students in our ministry play sports, it has now reversed. If I don’t make it to my kids activities who will? I “dislike” hearing stories of pastors/leaders kids being sacrificed at the altar of ministry.

Just thought that as pastors and leaders we need to be careful what badges we wear wether intentional or unintentionally. And how we communicate that to others…

Today I was the YW Nation pick and shared this about Building Your Team…

Coaching & Sharing Life with your Team: A response

I love being part of a team! Whether it was as I grew up and participated in different sports, during intramurals while in college or now as I watch my own kids and help by coaching their teams during the different seasons of sports, being part of a team is fun.

Early in my ministry as a youth pastor I have learned some great ways to build and sustain healthy teams that has helped in accomplishing the goals we have had for our student ministry, let me share with you a few:

Inviting others to join your team

As many times as I have put announcements in bulletins, newsletters or other publications of the church I have found that the best way is to find other adults to join your team by building relationships with the adults of your church community. I love working with people that I like hanging out with and as I get to know people within our church community I invite them to come and check out our student ministry to see if they might want to join our team. I also use that same invitation with our current staff and use them to help find adults that they think would be a good addition to our student ministry team.

Meeting with your team on a regular basis

I have found over the years the importance of meeting with our student ministry team on at least a monthly basis. Much of our time together is building our relationship with one another as well as talking about planning, evaluating, and praying for our student ministry. We also take time to play together throughout the year. A team that plays together…stays together!  The teams I have been a part of it is important to have fun together. So find ways to do this throughout the ministry year, and you need to plan it to make it happen. Put it on your calendar!

Support and training for your team

I see my youth leaders as volunteer youth pastors and my job is to train and equip them as we partner together to lead our student ministry. They need to be supported and trained so look for ways to meet with them each month, contact them by phone or e-mail/text. Take them out for a cup of coffee or meet them for lunch. Find out ways that you can pray for them or care for them. I see myself as the “pastor” to the youth pastors of our church. Also be sure to provide the training for your team, whether that is in your monthly meetings or take them to a training event locally or in your area. The extended time away at a conference will benefit your ministry more than you can imagine plus build memories for your team.

As much as I love being part of a team, I also love leading our team…take time to invest in your student ministry team!

That is where The LifeBook comes in…a few months ago I heard about The LifeBook on a podcast by Doug Fields, Matt McGill, Joshua Griffin & Katie Edwards. I thought…this would be a great way to follow-up this year’s SYATP and challenge students to give the friends that they prayed for at the Pole a LifeBook. As a network we were able to have 12,000 LifeBook’s here in the Quad Cities and seeing our students get excited about sharing their faith with their friends at school.

Then this last weekend we as a Student Ministry had our Fall Retreat where we were able to get away as a ministry and bond together and become unified as we participated in Team Building Initiatives and challenged in the Word about what is a Wise Friendship…such a great season of ministry to be in right now…many things happening but able to see God working through our students and leaders.

Came back refreshed and renewed even after getting to my house at 3am. The friends, connections and relationships built during these past few days were just an extension from an on-line community that started over a year ago on Facebook. Now to be able to put a face and voice to those who have prayed for me and I in return or given advice or even just listened was just what I needed.

I love the heart and leadership of the people who make up this community and it goes far beyond the “organization” but it is all the youth workers who are a part of this community. It isn’t build on a program, personality(ies) but a central passion for seeing students entering into a relationship with Jesus and growing in that relationship.

I come home from a time with friends like this and they have become a Youth Ministry Family for me…a place to laugh together, cry together…and to build life together.

Looking forward to this next Live Podcast that I am thinking I may actually be there for…but you can also check in at your own computer too. Looking forward to being @ the Summit next week with other Youthworkers from around the country and even world…Canada is another country right? Be sure to tune in!

Group Magazine Live is a topical, live podcast that will run every two months to coincide with the current issue of Group Magazine.

GML’s second episode will discuss “Youth Leaders at Risk”. We will dive into the what, when, where, why, how a youth worker is to care for students, family, oh yeah and themselves! Guests will include Jon Acuff (author/speaker - http://www.jonacuff.com/blog/), cross-fit expert & 100 mile marathon veteran Andy Brazelton, Leneita Fix (founder ofhttp://www.blueskygreensky.com/), and Darren Sutton (an in the trenches Youth Worker & Biggest Loser Applicant). Oh and special surprise guests that might be musically inclined, super funny, or just some close ministry friends! Rick Lawrence (Editor of Group Magazine) will host, & Toby Rowe (of Group WorkCamps) will co-host. Together they’ll expand on the topic of “Youth Leaders at Risk”, and how to combat the struggles of ministry, life, and health in order to personally draw nearer to Jesus.

Be sure to join the LIVE Q&A portion of this event when you arrive at www.SimplyYouthMinistry.tv

PLEASE INVITE your volunteers, fellow church staff, youth leaders, area pastors—even your parents! We’ll do our best to get to each of your questions.

To watch LIVE at 12:30pm MST on September 12th, 2011 click here or go to www.SimplyYouthMinistry.tv.