Good friends are SO underappreciated!!
Last week, I met with some guys who are starting to feel like good friends. I have only known them for a short time, but I respect their input and I really covet their prayers. They are youth ministers, like me. They understand my joys and my struggles. Phillip Quelle is in Bellevue, Matt Coppinger is in York, and Trent Baker is in Lincoln.
As we prayed together, I was reminded of some youth minister friends of mine in Oklahoma. Without them, I'm sure there were times I would have quit...given up...thrown in the towel. Tim Hall and Tom Dahlman, I love you guys! You walked with me through some dark days. And even though we don't talk as much these days, I think of you guys alot.
I met another great man of God last week, too. Shane Coffman is the Worship Minister for the Memorial Drive family in Tulsa, OK. What a neat guy! What a great perspective he brings! You can check out his blog (which I check regularly) here: www.shanecoffman.blogspot.com
I also need to mention my "co-ministers" here at Southwest, Chris Pierson and Jim White. What an IMMENSE blessing to work alongside these men! Thank you guys for keeping me honest, for challenging me, for making me laugh, for encouraging me, and most of all, for praying with me.
The list could go on and on. In fact, many who are reading this should be on the list as well. Isn't it cool to have "such a great cloud of witnesses"?! Which reminds me, I'm PUMPED about going to Tulsa tomorrow and seeing a bunch of friends!
Who are your witnesses? Who are your "buddies" who have kept you sane? Challenged you? Listened to you? Loved you?
2 comments:
I totally agree with you! I know people who say they believe in Jesus, but don't need to go to church. I really don't get that - what a support system! Also, if Jesus died for the church, that certainly seems a good enough reason not to abandon it, but I digress. Besides being the right response to being saved and being an amazing vehicle to do His work, we NEED each other. Behind every success story in progress ;) are so many faithful brothers and sisters encouraging, challenging and just being present in each others' lives.
OK, I'm catching back up on blogs after a hectic couple of weeks...
Thank you for the kind words. It was good to get to know you a little better for those couple of days. That's a good group of people that you get to work with.
And thanks for the free advertisement for my blog.
Now I feel the need to come up with something good to say on it...
Post a Comment