"Jesus Changed My Life" Mad-Libs

After a week of intense theological study with our High School students, we were talking about telling the stories of how God has intersected our lives. Which naturally led to testimonial mad-libs over lunch. Here's what we came up with:

Before I jumped to Baltimore I was always ugly. But then I gave my girl to mewithoutYou and they make me so sloppy. I am so dead that he changed my frog.

...and then...

My life used to be full of sea monkey, but since I farted Jesus into my coffee pot my life is full of grey apple pie. Jesus has slapped everything.

I hope these don't offend you. They brought us great joy, which will be to all people. Hence why I'm sharing them now.

DTP 2008

This last weekend we saw about 300 youth at DTP, the youth conference that we, the youth pastors of GP put on. They've been doing it for 5 years now, and this was my initiation. Going into it, I wasn't sure what to think, I guess I didn't have high expectations. But praise the Lord, He isn't limited by my doubts and small thinking. The weekend was very moving for me, everything the speaker was saying was resounding in my mind, and I was just praying that God would open the hearts of our youth to hear his words! Throughout the weekend their faces came to my mind, and I just prayed, asking God to open their hearts, this kid needs to hear this!


Mark Colwell, our speaker.


So I am grateful, and inspired, and feel like God has given me something to pursue with these youth, and some new resources to do it with. I'm excited!

Teen Camp

I've spent the last couple weeks doing Camp. Just finished an exhaustingly great week of Teen Camp. And I can't say I'm anything but excited for life to reach normal. It's been months and months since I've known normal.
Here are some pics from last week:
My cabin does the good ol' balloon toss!
Making sure "not" to spill any on the outside of the cup!
Giant inflatable rasberries make the best games ever!
Seriously!
Our cooks singing to us about how adults like good food to make sure they poop good. Yes, they said those words.

Friday Freedom

Friday marked the end of my first semester of leading Youth Group. Year One... check! Now on to summer camps... gulp!! I gotta say, I don't think I really expected myself to be able to do it, I'm not very self-confident that way. But here I am.
And in some bizarre and wonderful twist, I am so much more self-confident than I was in January. Public speaking, even, no - especially on faith, has become considerably less daunting. Could this be what God wanted to build into me, why He put me in such a bizarre role? I mean certainly my placement here has to be much bigger than what it accomplishes in me. I'm not the point. But in addition to what I am doing, there is the part of asking what God is accomplishing in me. And it is a beautiful thing to say that God is doing things in me, not the kind of thing that makes me feel better. But the kind of thing that makes me a better woman, and more useful to Him.
And that strengthens me, especially when the things of life are messy and painful.
So for the next 3 months I am a free woman, I mean I still have to work just the same. But my Friday night's are now my own. Now what do I do?

Reuben n Greene

I suppose I should mention that the GP Youth had the privilege of seeing John Reuben and Veteran Green, not once, but twice last week! I love the chance to lose my dignity, get a little sweaty and act like I know hip-hop! They were 2 great shows, and whoever didn't come - missed out!

Bad Blogger

I've become a bad blogger. Sorry. It's been a long time since I've graced this page with new words. Well in this moment I'm putting off heading to work, don't worry, I'll go in a minute. Life is good. Mr. John Reuben is here tomorrow night - should be a great show! We've been looking forward to this for quite a while - I hope a ton of kids come out! Guess I'm gonna have to put my hip-hop on.
And then even more than that, Friday morning we're all heading to Calgary for Emerge - ABC's youth conference. I haven't been to Cowtown in 2 years, and I'm excited. Of course this time I'm responsible for the well-being of almost 20 kiddos. Yikes! If you're out there, I'd appreciate your prayers for our safety and for the weekend to have a lasting effect.
Well, starting the car and heading in the direction of the Work can only be avoided for so long.

Meeting the White Hairs

Yesterday was a mildly stressful day as I was forced to realized my wonderfully plotted idea of bussing the kids to the Old Folks home was slightly flawed. Yes, at -30 something, busses don't really like to start. Faced with this fact in the early morning, I spent my day planning an alternative Service Project, just incase when we tried to fire the bus, (an hour before Youth began), if it wouldn't run, we would atleast not be scrambling!
And in a demonstration of my self-sufficiency, I went about all day madly planning the "in-case event", and didn't spend a moment in prayer about it! Seriously, what was I thinking? When it finally hit me, late afternoon, I sorted things out and asked God to intervene as He would will. And when they tried the bus a half hour later, she purred. Much to my delight!
So we went on to Wildrose Manor, piled off the bus and headed in to greet a snowy haired crowd. A smallish crowd I should say. And our kids picked up boxes and spread out, finding interested parties and setting up games of Scrabble, Monopoly and SkipBo. And the games went on for more than an hour, stories were told, and us young-uns generally got beat pretty good! At the end of the night we pulled out song sheets and enjoyed some hymns together, made our goodbyes and ducked out.
They loved us! And from all the reviews and anecdotes I've gathered - we loved them! I saw those kids come alive, even the crew who can usually be rowdy, or fearful of boredom, were attentive and kind. There wasn't a single issue of discipline, no warnings given. No better visit to an Old Folks home has ever happened in the history of Youth Groups! (Maybe that's a bit self-important!) It was awesome to watch! We were invited to come back anytime, and as far our teens are concerned - That'd be great!

Bright Sadness

After a week battling a mysterious stomach-something, I seem to have recovered. Much to my Great delight! This peculiar affliction sabotaged my good night's rests, while leaving me with normal-but sleep deprived days. I'll breathe easy after one more peaceful sleep.
Thankfully I managed to make it to work all week, and had a hectic but rewarding Friday. Friday's are the big show day, beginning each week at an unfortunately timed 7am prayer meeting, they keep trucking straight through till Youth Group wraps up around 10-11pm. T-i-r-e-d!
We had a great night - exploring the noise distractions that fill our lives, and the real goal of Lent - removing our distractions to make room for more intentional times with Yahweh, and doing justice to our neighbours. We listened for Him to speak in the Names of Christ, and in the way He cares for the birds and the lilies of the field. And those who wanted made commitments to Remove, Add, and Do Justice. All starting this Wednesday.
Myself, I will be giving up my at-home Facebook time, that hour of bored surfing and time wasting, is gone for 40 days. And the whole lot of us will be heading out to make friends with the elderly at a local Old Folks home this week.
Because this is the time of Bright Sadness, the advent to Holy Week. Remembering Christ's death in full view of the redemption and life He purchased. Living in the way of Easter Sunday, not far removed from the tragic Friday, but full of hope and wonder.
And I think it's pretty cool that a bunch of kids are willing to give that spin!

Snowballs and Mafia

Another week, another Youth Group down, whew!
I had a blast tonight! We started off with a couple minutes of lovely awkward silence in the basement, that wasn't planned, but did really fit well in with our theme...
But then we really got going with one of the best snowball fights I've ever been in, a wonderful affair, of treason and cold, cold earfuls of snow. When that was sufficiently worn out, and our bodies sufficiently wet, we headed back inside. And enjoyed the most efficient game of Mafia ever played, anywhere - 4 mafia pinned in 4 rounds!
Which was good, because we had just enough time to get on to our theme: Noise. If you've ever heard of the Nooma videos, they're a really neat series of 10+min snippets; Rob Bell discussing one thing or another. And rather thought provoking too. So heading into a season of Bright Sadness next week (LENT), this was a good discussion to get our minds rolling, on the noise and distractions in our lives.
"Does the amount of noise in our lives have any connection to our inability to hear God?" And what things might we want to try removing, what distractions could we lay aside, even just for a short time?
So we had some really good discussions, I was really, Really impressed with all our kids! And really, Really moved by God showing up. This week I feel like, "Yes, we had a great night at Youth Group. God was there and we had ourselves a lot of fun!" I'm feeling jazzed tonight, just cause He showed up and worked out all the plans. Now I must sleep, after all morning comes early and next Friday will be here so fast.

The Twin-ed Life

I ran my first Youth Group last night! In two words: "Hectic Fun!" We had the good company of all sorts of twins, including Elvis and his (stillborn) baby twin brother. I'm serious the kids came up with that one themselves, while perhaps not in the best taste, they are terribly creative. Yes, it was Twin Night, complete with Siamese twin games (duct-taped together), a Choco-pudding feed race, and finally a talent show!
To end the night I spoke about my time in the Phils, and how greatly God looked after me. Ending with a moving and clever, (ahem!), slideshow, which did of course include some beautiful Twins. And the kids listened really well, or at least respected the "you can be bored, just be quiet" request. (Insert smiley face here.)
I felt a little stressed with the whole event, but in reflection realize that that is mostly to be expected and that things went remarkably well, and according to plan. I think we all had fun too.
I'm certainly left wishing I had one of those magnetic personalities that draws peoples' attention and creates a sort of energy. That would be nice... but I guess they'll have to deal with dull, trying to be able to be loud-enough Kim. (Smile again.)
That's okay, in my weakness He is strong.

Good Things

I have had two amazing moments this week! How am I so lucky? And should I really chance mislabeling it with the word "luck"?
What a place to be in, I feel that I am starting something with incredible blessing being placed on me. And it might turn out to be a very difficult thing, it might be very demanding, and I might even have to do battle sometimes. But it is starting so good, I'm being given the gift of starting well. Everything that anyone else can do to help me start, is being done, is being given. The rest is really up to me and my faithfulness to God and task set before me.
The first wonderful Moment happened during Tuesday morning staff meeting, not a place that many people look to for good gifts! But I was welcomed, with warm words, into a group I already know. And they surrounded me and they laid hands on me and prayed, setting me aside for this ministry.
And Moment two happened just tonight, after a chilly couple hours of sledding, with the Youth who have been placed in my care. As they too encircled me, and laid hands and prayed, and the faith-filled prayers of these 14-17 year-olds praised God for His plan. And we all asked Him to do great things in this time, and to make us willing to serve, and to use our gifts.
I am loved, and trusted. And I love them in return, I don't think a better group of teens exists anywhere, these are really great kids! And God has given them to me, and me to serve them. And that is a huge responsibility, I feel it, and I know it's heavy - but I am really just thrilled.
Who wouldn't be thrilled when they had just enjoyed a cupcake buffet with "Welcome Kim" spelled out over top?

I Am IYMD!

Well, I'm in! I started the new job on Wednesday, and I've day-by-day been trying to figure out what it means to be Interim Youth Ministries Director. My big question has been, How do I take these lists of what I'm supposed to accomplish, and make them happen? How does what task I choose right now, lead to Youth Groups, Conferences, and Camps? And that which is even harder to nail down - to discipleship? (Insert proverbial "Duhn-Duhn-Duhn!")
So I'm spending lots of time in the Prayer Chapel. And making my rounds through everyone's offices, gleaning wisdom, and details and old paperwork; to sort through and integrate. And come Friday, we'll get down to business and do Youth Group.
Here goes! If you're the praying kind; please be lifting these kids, this ministry and this me up to the Father.

Cat's Out - My New Job

Well, the Official Cat is out of the bag, so I thought I would finally write on here and share with all of you my news about "The Next Step." And what I'll be doing after I head home in a couple weeks.
What I'll be doing is actually surprising to me, because I never saw it coming. I received an email a couple months ago and sat in the internet cafe with my mouth gaping, at the strange idea it presented to me! The suggestion that I consider serving the GP Church of Christ as youth pastor, or at least pray about it! In that moment I thought it was just craziness, why would anyone ask me that question? I assumed I would write back the next day and tell him, "nope, that's not for me." But I did pray about it, and in fact the idea itself grew and grew in my mind until both the praying and thinking began to push me towards the opposite answer. I began to really want to do it.
So now it is official. Starting in January I will be on staff in my home church, working full time as the Interim Youth Ministry Director. Yikes! And Yay! I'm pretty excited for this, there are just so many amazing Jr. and Sr. High-ers in our congregation! As I have been in and out of GP in the last few years I have had a lot of fun with them, leading in youth group, sunday school and conferences. And now my job is to plan those things and keep having fun, and point them all to Jesus! That's pretty exciting to me.
So the Cats out of the Bag. I figured I should finally blog this, as even my own poor brother found out by accident the other day. So now between the Chronicle and church and this blog, you all should know! I'd appreciate your prayers as I head into big responsibility, and lots of learning!