The stinky kid...

So in Springfield, I help out with Fusion Student Ministries at Central Assembly. It's a fairly large youth group of well over 200, and it's still growing. It's a great youth ministry. But my job, as it has been for the last year and half, is to be the sound man for an AMAZING worship team. And the sound booth isn't your parents' run-of-the-mill system... it take three people to run the show up there... fully moving computer controlled lights, projection system, about 3-4 videos a week, and my responsibility, the sound board and control system that takes up half of the booth.

I love working up there, interacting with an amazing staff, and getting to be a special part of Fusion knowing that they rely on my efforts every week. However, this means I don't get as much student interaction that I would hope for, although it's nice being able to view this ministry from almost an outside perspective as I run sound.

But this past Wednesday, the students had to sit in a church meeting, so of course volunteers are needed to supervise the youngins to make sure they are respectful. So as I was sitting there, two boys, both named Dillon, came and sat next to me. They were about 10 or 11 years old, so I introduced myself and started a conversation with them. The two boys were pretty cool kids, and were a little reckless sitting there, but what I love about jr. highers is that they think anyone older than them is super cool. So of course, I felt like the bomb.

But then I noticed the kid sitting next to me... Dillon #1... was kind of smelly, his hands were covered in dirt, his jacket smelled, and he was just overall a little messy... but the smell is what got me. I greatly dislike smelly people... really. I am always overly self-concious about how I smell, and so I think other people should be aware of their odors too. haha. But Dillon #1 was so excited to be there and brought his friend, Dillon #2, to church so that he could check out our sweet youth group and all the Xboxes, Wiis, and Playstations we have in our atrium.

Add to that, the kid in front of us chose this as a great opportunity to make fun of all the little kids around him because he wanted to make himself feel better because his family life wasn't all that great.

It's funny how God teaches you things in the most unusual moments. There I was, listening to the Senior Pastor turn in his resignation because he was voted in as the new General Secretary, surrounded by stinky, friend of stinky, and crazy kid, and I learned about the unconditional love of God. Not every kid that will come into my future youth group will be sunshine and roses. But it takes love and willingness to look past the outward appearance, and to truly love on the children of God.

Thanks Dillon(s), I'll see you guys next Wednesday.

57:7

So this weekend, 57:7 is in the middle of its first "gig."

Usually when bands get together, they have to work their way up to the top, achieving better shows and venues. But fortunately, we're a little different. This is because 57:7 has been in existence for a while (I remember seeing them at camps whenever I was in high school) and we are a ministry team. Let's just say, this is probably as big of a deal that 57:7 is going to get this year.

I say all this to mention that Saturday, the 8 boys drove down to Branson and stayed the night so that we could begin the first of three services this morning (Sunday). "What are the services for?" you may ask. Well friend, 57:7 has the amazing opportunity to lead worship at the National District Youth Directors conference. And for those of you who are not in the A/G, it's a pretty big deal with all the head honchos in attendance from the National Youth office. This is an awesome chance for me to meet and talk with these individuals who have given their lives to youth ministry and have gone through the same things I am going through and are pursuing the same goals that I have.

This conference is riding on the coat-tails of the National Childrens Ministry conference that Heartsong played at Thursday and Friday mornings. So by Tuesday, I would have spent six half days in a row in Branson, Missouri.

Heartsong is also about ready to kick start our weekend ministry endeavors this next weekend starting with a church plant in Willard I believe. So that'll be fun getting to do that again and I am excited to see what's in store for Heartsong this semester. In May, Heartsong will be going to Amsterdam and Brussels for an entire month, and I still cannot believe all these opportunities that are being put before us.


Oh, and answer to last week's trivia question about the Tower of Terror... the premise behind the ride is that the elevator shafts malfunctioned and parts of the building were blown off the front, as you can tell by the scorch marks on the front of the building. BUT, the "original" Hollywood Hotel sign is still there even though it is in the place that was supposedly blown off (notice the perfect condition sign with the burn marks behind it). Designers later changed this flaw for other variations of the ride for the other Disney parks around the world.