Finally, I am coming to the realization that you just can't do it yourself in youth ministry.
This was the first year I had two interns. Do I regret it? No way!
But I would be lying if I told you that I wasn't a little worried. Worried that the interns would slack off on the job? Worried that they would be insufficient?
NO! I was worried that they would SUCCEED!
And succeed they did.
I witnessed them in action. Their classes were fantastic. They were funnier than me. They were up on all the latest trends! And above all, I watched them have some deep spiritual conversations with teens...without me!
This disturbed me at first. It made me think that I was losing touch and declining in effectiveness. It really made me wrestle with my ego.
So what's my conclusion?
The teens ought to thank God that I'm not their only hope, their only contact, and their only adult friend! God knew what He was doing when he sent those interns our way!
Why should God only do His work through me? It makes WAY more sense to use a lot of people!
More interns, more contacts for lost and hurting teenagers, more godly people, more God...and less of me. Thank you for teaching me, Father!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Next Wood Baby...
My wife is due September 19th.
She went in for an ultrasound and doctor visit today. Our son is already like 6 and 1/2 pounds!!!
The doctor told my wife he thinks we will be spending some time in the NICU. Her blood sugars have been high (gestational diabetes) which means her body does not break down sugars very well, and so she has been sharing a high sugar blood concoction with our son. That must be why he is so huge!
Because of this, he will probably be born and then tank as far as blood sugars are concerned. Until his body straightens itself out. Doctor also says we will probably need to have him early. So instead of September 19th, it will probably be in between September 5th and 12th.
Great.
I've had enough of NICU. I hate it. Especially when I'm watching my own kids in there.
I told my wife we're done. I know she would love to have a baby girl. I would too!
I just don't know if my heart can take another tough pregnancy and possibly another baby in NICU.
She went in for an ultrasound and doctor visit today. Our son is already like 6 and 1/2 pounds!!!
The doctor told my wife he thinks we will be spending some time in the NICU. Her blood sugars have been high (gestational diabetes) which means her body does not break down sugars very well, and so she has been sharing a high sugar blood concoction with our son. That must be why he is so huge!
Because of this, he will probably be born and then tank as far as blood sugars are concerned. Until his body straightens itself out. Doctor also says we will probably need to have him early. So instead of September 19th, it will probably be in between September 5th and 12th.
Great.
I've had enough of NICU. I hate it. Especially when I'm watching my own kids in there.
I told my wife we're done. I know she would love to have a baby girl. I would too!
I just don't know if my heart can take another tough pregnancy and possibly another baby in NICU.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Is That Your Final Answer?
Have you ever been asked a question, and later regretted your answer?
Perhaps you regretted it because you told the truth...but the truth hurt someone. Or maybe you regretted your answer because it highlighted a weakness in your life.
Take a moment to answer these two questions... (and DO NOT read further down until you have answered!!!!!)
1. What made you into the person you are today?
2. Who are/were your favorite teachers?
If you are anything like me, here is how you may have answered:
1. My parents, my family, my experiences, my travels, my friends, my wife and kids.
2. Mrs. Perkins, Mrs. Moonga, Mr. Mwanza, my dad, Stafford North, Jim Baird.
Those are not bad answers. However, could my answers be better?
I have been challenged recently to rethink my answers to a lot of questions.
In the Bible, Paul answered the first question by saying, "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace on me was not without effect..." (1 Corinthians 15:10.)
How come "the grace of God" was not in my answer? Seems like God's grace ought to be a changing, driving force in my life! My wish now is to answer more questions with God in mind. I hope He becomes more and more a part of my everyday answers! (Thank you, Jim, for sharing this insight!)
As far as the second question, this was one I asked in a recent class to the teens. Then I made the point that Jesus was referred to as "teacher," and that if the teens were anything like me, they probably would not list him in their top list of teachers. This, too, needs to change! I hope in the future I would say, "Jesus is one of my favorite teachers...I could listen to Him all day!"
My prayer is that you will find "God" appearing in more of your answers when people ask about your life.
Perhaps you regretted it because you told the truth...but the truth hurt someone. Or maybe you regretted your answer because it highlighted a weakness in your life.
Take a moment to answer these two questions... (and DO NOT read further down until you have answered!!!!!)
1. What made you into the person you are today?
2. Who are/were your favorite teachers?
If you are anything like me, here is how you may have answered:
1. My parents, my family, my experiences, my travels, my friends, my wife and kids.
2. Mrs. Perkins, Mrs. Moonga, Mr. Mwanza, my dad, Stafford North, Jim Baird.
Those are not bad answers. However, could my answers be better?
I have been challenged recently to rethink my answers to a lot of questions.
In the Bible, Paul answered the first question by saying, "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace on me was not without effect..." (1 Corinthians 15:10.)
How come "the grace of God" was not in my answer? Seems like God's grace ought to be a changing, driving force in my life! My wish now is to answer more questions with God in mind. I hope He becomes more and more a part of my everyday answers! (Thank you, Jim, for sharing this insight!)
As far as the second question, this was one I asked in a recent class to the teens. Then I made the point that Jesus was referred to as "teacher," and that if the teens were anything like me, they probably would not list him in their top list of teachers. This, too, needs to change! I hope in the future I would say, "Jesus is one of my favorite teachers...I could listen to Him all day!"
My prayer is that you will find "God" appearing in more of your answers when people ask about your life.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The summer sun warmed our car as we waited at the car repair shop. We had turned in our van, and my wife had run inside to see if it was ready yet.
"Dad?" came the small voice from the back seat. It was my four year old. "You have to buckle my seat belt again!"
"WHAT? Why?"
I turned around to confirm what he had said. It was true. Now, this particular buckle was manufactured by an evil person, because I could not do it from my front seat. It would require me to climb out of my seat, open the door, lean over my other son, and buckle the seat belt. I would have to stand in the hot sun!
The anger rising inside me, I threw open the door, yellin...I mean, speaking very loudly, "FISCHER! WHY is it that one minute you can be SO sweet, and the next you are being SO NAUGHTY!!!!"
The next millisecond slowed to an eternity, my words ringing in my head: "WHY is it that one minute you can be SO sweet, and the next you are being SO NAUGHTY!"
I imagine God laughed during my moment of self-realization.
"Well," I thought, "he IS MY son! Here I am calm one moment, and yelling the next! I'm pretty sure God would love to say this to me...over and over again!"
Kinda reminds me of this passage in Romans 7:
15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
"Dad?" came the small voice from the back seat. It was my four year old. "You have to buckle my seat belt again!"
"WHAT? Why?"
I turned around to confirm what he had said. It was true. Now, this particular buckle was manufactured by an evil person, because I could not do it from my front seat. It would require me to climb out of my seat, open the door, lean over my other son, and buckle the seat belt. I would have to stand in the hot sun!
The anger rising inside me, I threw open the door, yellin...I mean, speaking very loudly, "FISCHER! WHY is it that one minute you can be SO sweet, and the next you are being SO NAUGHTY!!!!"
The next millisecond slowed to an eternity, my words ringing in my head: "WHY is it that one minute you can be SO sweet, and the next you are being SO NAUGHTY!"
I imagine God laughed during my moment of self-realization.
"Well," I thought, "he IS MY son! Here I am calm one moment, and yelling the next! I'm pretty sure God would love to say this to me...over and over again!"
Kinda reminds me of this passage in Romans 7:
15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
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