Lawn Mowing

     In ministry there are always factors beyond the normal job description.  Currently, I am in a season of vast and wide ministry.  In the past month, I have had to perform my "normal" job (if that is even possible for a youth pastor to have a normal job) plus I have put a ton of hours into our State ministry.  Last month I spent a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday planning and dreaming with our State Leadership.  This month I have had a ton of phone calls and emails in preparation for our 2011 and 2012 State Youth Conventions that I help to oversee.  I spent part of my day Thursday in a lunch meeting trying to secure a spot for our 2012 event.  The last 2 weeks I have spent countless hours creating and producing my poster for the 7th and 8th grade camp that I direct every July at Camp Sharon.
      By far one of the greatest honors I have received thus far came today.  I was asked to speak at the Glendale High School Baccalaureate.  This immediately made me think back to my Baccalaureate 12 years ago now.  I don't know what I will say yet but one thing that comes to mind is that those Graduating Seniors should never give up on God's dream and plan for their future.
     Since graduating, I have been working at being God's hands and feet for the last 12 years...some days I see hope...some days I see people who are lost and hurting...some days I see joys...some days I see pain...some days I see nothing but emails and a computer screen.  Some days I feel like I have accomplished a ton...but those days are few.  Most days I feel like the task is too big, the job is too overwhelming, there is always work left to be done, those who are lost who need to be found.  I feel like I am constantly mowing my lawn.  I complete the circuit just to discover that the grass has already overgrown the place where I began...so the mowing forever continues.  I have discovered that ministry is all that...except...I have God at my side giving me the strength to continue the work until He says ''Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share in your master's happiness!" (Matt. 25:23) So I will continue to mow until I am put in charge of more yards and then I will keep mowing until the Lord tells me to stop. One thing I have found through daily servant-hood is that God reveals himself in the laughter and in the tears.
     Speaking of tears and laughter, this year is a special year for me in ministry.  This is the first graduating class that I have been a pastor for all the way from 6th grade on through graduation.  I will be attending several graduations this year but 2 in particular are going to be extra special: Sarah's who attends Glendale and Craig's who attends Central.

This is Sarah and Craig in 2005

     This has me thinking about the new 6th graders who will be coming into Connection Youth Ministry in May...Time to start on the next lawn...