October is over

Wow...that's all I can say about October. I'm not looking for anyone's pity-points here, but October was easily one of the worst months of my life. I spent 2 weeks of it on the couch recovering from a freak gator-over-a-cliff-Evil Knievel type of stunt. I spent the other 2 weeks of October trying to catch up on all of my work. I missed Powered Up a third time in October due to a Cold and fever. My wife exhausted herself carrying more than her share of the responsibilities of my household while I was layed up. I missed more than half of my sons deck hockey games to due my injuries and obligations, and I don't think that I spent more than 30 minutes alone with my daughter over the entire month.

That last sentence was pretty hard to type.

Needless to say, I'm glad that October is over. In fact, I just want to climb to the top of the highest mountain and shout to the world that October is over.

OCTOBER IS OVER!!!

November is here, and I'm looking forward to making the most of this month. Here's what I have in mind:

1) I'm cancelling my cable TV service.
After chatting with Jean about it, praying about it, and reflecting on my family's routine, I've concluded that my family gives the most precious opportunities that we have to "connect with one another" to a bunch of stupid sitcoms. It's actually grieved my heart to recognize that Zach and Cody, Hannah Montana, and J.D. from Scrubs receive more attention from my family than we receive from one another. That is going to change!

2) I'm going to date my daughter this month.
Everyone else has to wait in line behind her. Marley and I have plans.

3) I've started writing again.
You can laugh at me if you want to. But...years ago I felt the leading of the Lord to write a book, and, in fear, I put it on the back burner. Well, God has reminded me of His call for this book, and I have started writing it. I'll write for 45 minutes a day until its done. I don't care how long that takes. That's what I'm prepared to do. I'm excited. I'm scared. I'm inspired. And I'm ready to see what happens with this. And...maybe nothing will happen with it...yet maybe this book will bless someone...either way...I'm just going to be obedient and write it.

4) I'm reminding myself why I'm working in ministry.
I don't care who agrees or disagrees with my next statement, but the truth of the matter is that I believe that youth ministry is one of the toughest professions in the marketplace. Add to that the fact that we are about to begin the busiest season of the Church calendar, and you have a perfect recipe for discouragement. But I'm going to do everything that I can do to rise above that by regularly and creatively reminding myself of why I do what I do. And for those of you who want to know, here's my reason for working in ministry:

Jesus has given me a personal invitation to do it.

It's not a requirement. It's an invitation to join Him in the work of loving the unlovely, helping the needy, and sharing the Good News of salvation in His blood. I could do any one of several other things: play music, sales, etc. But I choose to do this because He has given me an invitation. And frankly, I LOVE WHAT I DO! I get to work side by side with some of the best in the Kingdom here at Charter Oak Church, and it's all because of an undeserved, yet divine invitation.

If you have a few moments to pray for me, I'd appreciate it. I'm serious about everything I have shared with you in this post, and I need your support and encouragement as I focus on Christ and press on to be the man that God created me to be.

Grace and Peace