Monday, August 21, 2006

A Lot to be Thankful For

So, Saturday night during a bad storm, a tree fell on our house. And in the past week and a half, our ministry has lost five SIMYs (that's the acronym for our adult leaders). So why the title, "A Lot to be Thankful For"? Well, with regards to the tree, everyone is OK, and the damage could have been a whole lot worse. It just clipped the corner of the front porch. And with regards to our ministry, we still have many good, solid, committed leaders in our youth ministry, so I have that to be thankful for. And, I talked with my aunt the other day, and she told me of the problems they have had with bitter youth leaders that have gone so far as to leave their church (they are the junior high youth leaders) because they don't agree with the direction that the new youth pastor is taking the ministry. As near as I can tell, and from what those that have left our ministry have told me, we are not experiencing that sort of bitterness at all. It is simply a matter of people trying to scale back their lives or God taking them in a different direction in their own ministries. So praise God for that!

On a different note, I am looking for some good quotes. We are nearing the end of the renovation of our youth space at La Croix. There is a company that sells lettered wall decals. I would love to get some good, meaningful quotes that would appeal to youth to add to the walls in there. So if you have any, please pass them along. And, part of the renovation is a prayer room. If you have any quotes that specifically pertain to prayer, please pass those along as well. Thanks in advance...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

you had a tree? I thought it was too hot for trees.

Jory Rapps said...

get a decal that says "And God said 'LET THERE BE LIGHT' and it was done" right above the lightswitches!

Mark said...

If you have a verse that you've based your ministry on. Not like the youth group name or anything, but something that you personally keep coming back to. It would be a great place for you to be visually reminded, as well as something for you to share with your leaders. I've been using Luke 2:52 (even before someone smarter than me started marketing some pretty cool stuff with that verse and a cool logo on it). I figure if Jesus did those four things growing up, maybe the kids at our church should as well. They even painted it on the wall in the church basement this summer.

Mark said...

By the way.....I might need a ride this New Years Eve....are ya busy?

kate said...

A wise word I often go back to is "let the heat in my heart melt the lead in my feet." it actually made me move to Birmingham!

You are great and I miss you! I am glad that the house is okay!