A New Day???????

So I have now found that almost 7 people read this blog. If you are one of the people reading it who still haven't let me know through email, text, or voice, please let me know.

Warning! What you are about to read is P-Mike getting some things off of his chest. He is not targeting anyone, so don't take it personally. Just read it, and find out where you can get better.....

Some days I feel so good about myself, my family, ministry, and all that good stuff. And then there are other days when I feel like everything I am doing is for nothing. Any way that i spin it, somebody always gets egg all over their face. last night, it was bo (lol), but normally it is my face. (BTW, that means that you try really hard to something, and you get nothing out of it; or you look like the foolish one.) If anyone ever wanted to know, youth ministry is by far the hardest ministry in the church today. There is no recognition, definitely last place on the importance scale, long crazy hours, many students who seem to not care about anything, and in the end i always ask myself, is anything that we actually do even working or even worth it.

Why does youth ministry have to be last? It's because students don't bring in money to the church, they don't come on Sundays, they don't seem to care about anything else that is going on, their music is too loud, they don't worship enough, they don't talk to old people, they have holes in their pants, they waste the money they do get, they disrespect their parents, and then there are the kids who can't sit still in a service for even 5 minutes. Why can't some kids just grow up and stop being so stinkin immature......

A day like today would mean a lot normally; coming off of a great night of fun and relaxation; no pressure from parents to transform their kids lives, or to have permission slips ready even if we just walk over to the park. No pressure from students to have a worship and prayer night, game night, small group night, fun message night, fusion stuff, speed the light, crazy games, a lock-in every other day, allow students to speak and preach, sing Break Free, Solution, and NEW stuff, special other things, recognize every birthday, all wrapped up into one night, because apparantly if we were able to fit all of that into 1.5 hours, then everyone would be happy, or would they? I think not, but thanks for trying....

Then there are kids who don't care what we do, as long as they get a few hours away from home, away from their life, so they can come and make their lives better? It's those kids who really need what we are doing, yet those kids are too stubborn and prideful to even consider living for God whole-heartedly. Well, their parents aren't doing it, so why should they. Somebody made them mad to day, so let's take it out on God. "No God, i am not going to worship you tonight because I am mad at my friend, who didn't talk to me for 20 minutes today, and on top of that my favorite American Idol contestant got voted, and that's more imporant than you. No God, i am not going to listen to your message because I have all the answers myself. That is why I am depressed, addicted, lonely, lost, confused, spiritually dead, and emotionally somewhere around basketcase. No God, I am not going to sacrifice for missions or the lost because if I don't get more useless stuff like games, clothes, food, or movies, then I won't be the "coolest" kid at school. I would just be average then. On top of that God, how come when I prayed for those things last month for 2 minutes you didn't give them to me. I really wanted them and I am mad at you for not giving them to me. I guess you are not real. I am going to tell everyone now that you aren't real."

Isn't it amazing that Jesus is sometimes like Santa; it's all good until you ask for a Pony for Christmas and get an X-Box. Then we stop believing in Santa, just like that. Or maybe for some it was because someone else told them that Santa wasn't real. It's crazy how it seems to be that easy for some to write off God, like He is some fat guy with elves making toys just so YOU can be happy. Last time i checked God wasn't always in the "make you happy" business. Sometimes, it's the "make you work for it" business.

What's the point here? Honestly i could write a book on this stuff. You students have to know that your youth pastor is not perfect. He never claims to be. He tries really hard at his job, and yet somehow like a coach, he can't play the game for you. If all is going well, then the players get lots of credit for listening to the coach and learning how to do things. however, when things aren't going so well, the blame is laid completely on the coach for not changing the way that the players live and play (insert Billy Gillispie).

I know that I have disappointed some of you in the past. I am probably disappointing some of you right now. Please accept my apology and let's get on with life. But please understand that if your walk with God is based on me or Defy Youth, then you have already missed the point. If you can't live for God in the situation you're in right now, YOU WILL NEVER be able to live for God when you don't have people around you that are trying to help you out. You're beginning to see now why so many students give up on God and church after high school, right???

my challenge to you this week is simply this: TRY HARDER! GROW UP! FOLLOW GOD! SEE THE BIG PICTURE!

One day, i guess i will look back on this as my chance to get some things off of my chest, because it certainly doesn't feel good where it's sitting right now. How do you feel about this? Let me know....