a full heart, and a full belly

wow, what a day.

the last day of the NYWC was firing on all cylinders. I went to hear Reggie Joiner, who titled his talk The Missing Piece of Student Ministry. Reggie was one of the original architects of the movement known as North Point Community Church, and was responsible for all the family ministries there. He's now one of the folks leading the rethink group and the orange conference. Reggie spoke about the 5 pieces that we youth workers generally hone in on, tweak and twist, attempting to get things as right as possible. He outlined the 5, then gave us his alternatives, and what he sees as shifts toward what matters most:
from Student to Leader development
from Content to Experience
from Production to Relationship
from Age Focus to Family Ministry
from Growth to Service
He calls service the missing piece, and highlights it as the difference maker between students attending church and students being the church.

As he talked, it was as if I could hear the Lord saying, "See, you're headed in the right direction. Stay the course, maintain your heading, and keep on keeping on." Those are some of the foundational changes that we have been moving toward over the last few years.

Then we all moved in to the big hall for the closing session. Lost and Found, the Skit Guys, Fee, and marko. It was an absolutely beautiful closing session. I loved what marko had to say about the preferred future of youth ministry, and pray that his words are accurate and prophetic for us as a whole. I am so grateful for folks who have the ability to see the big picture, who can step back, take things in, and give us a snapshot of where we are, see where we need/want to be, have a sense of what God is doing in the mix...

there were moments today (and over the past few days) that I felt completely overwhelmed by the presence and love of God. I thought that I was coming in to this convention ats a pretty healthy person. And maybe that's true. I didn't expect any big revelations from God, though. But he was speaking to me from the outset.

I so appreciate YS and the work that they do to care for and nurture the souls of the men and women who care for and nurture the souls of students.

my heart is full. and so is my belly.

We ate lunch at the Fire of Brazil. I have never tasted meat like we ate today. I am totally blown away. I will now and forever be an evangelist for the Fire of Brazil. There were moments of sincere worship around our table as we praised the God who made meat and decided that Adam and Eve could eat meat. Uh-maze-zing. My only regret is that we waited until today to eat there. If you have never eaten at a Fire of Brazil, and you live close enough to make it a possibility, step away from the computer, find your keys, and make haste to the nearest FoB. I ain't even kiddin...