A Great Cloud of Witnesses

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?

The Need for Affirmation

I see them every day. People that need some positive words spoken into their lives. People that need affirmation. People that just want someone else to like them!

• American Idol - I don't know if it's real or not, but it breaks my heart to see those people cry. Would someone PLEASE say something positive about them?!
• Teenagers - They so badly want to be noticed and loved. The teens at Southwest are SO talented! I probably don't affirm them enough.
  
• Myself - When teenagers give me what I jokingly call "the death look" I find myself doubting whether or not to converse with them. I KNOW they want someone to talk to, but my own doubts about myself tell me, "They don't want to talk to you!" or "You'll get rejected...better not talk to them!"
  
• Letters from Dad - The men at our church are learning from this amazing book. EVERY MAN (and woman) wants desperately to be blessed by their father. Our children need to know that we love them unconditionally.

I am pretty lucky. I've had parents and friends that have communicated their appreciation for me as a person. As a youth minister, I get positive feedback quite a bit. And yet, I STILL focus on the negative stuff WAY too much!
So, what's your story? Have you been affirmed lately? Have you affirmed someone else lately? Your family? Your friends? A stranger?


I appreciate you because you are God's special creation! You are a wonderful friend or family member. You have potential beyond your wildest dreams, and I believe that (with God's help) you can live up to that potential! Don't let your mistakes define you...you are much bigger than those mistakes. You are a "good" person because you are "God's" person!! God bless you today. Know that you are loved by me and many others...most especially by your proud Father in Heaven.