R.I.P Santa Claus

Yes, it is Halloween and I am writing about Christmas! Although October 31st is a day that my family looks forward to with anticipation every year, something recently trumped it's hype...the reality of Saint Nick's existence.

Now before I get too far in let me preface this by saying that we have a very intelligent little girl, and last year she almost caught us setting up all the presents downstairs. We knew that it is only a matter of time before she would find out, and better to come from us then some kid on the play ground.

So, my wife had been talking to a Christian friend of hers about how they held Santa Claus as myth in their household from day one with their children, but clearly taught them that there was a Christ loving individual who really did give individuals gifts in secret and that we can still practice that spirit around the celebration of Christ's birth. We were totally on board with raising our new born in this mindset, but how would we bring our seven year old to this untimely fact?

It happened on a car ride (which I was not part of). There was a story, some tears, questions, more tears. Finally there were signs of  a breakthrough in understanding, then she said to her mother, "So Santa is in Heaven, and it's his spirit that delivers all those gifts!" More emotion filled talk was had, and while I didn't ask for all the details I assumed that she finally understood the matter because one of the first things she said to me when I got home from work was, "I know it's you who eats all the cookies and milk."

A week later things seem pretty good, until last night when she asked me, "Daddy, do you think I will get a prize the next time I stick something under my pillow for the Tooth Fairy..."

What interesting stories do you all have from your kids learning the truth about stuff?

Tommy's Mommy

And now the "Chronicles of Tommy" continue, but this time new character emerges...

A woman knocks on your office door. Her wardrobe looks like something your grandmother would wear, but see looks half the age.

CAROL: Hello?

YOUTH PASTOR: Hello there! Can I help you?

CAROL: Yes, my name is Carol. I am Tommy's mom.

YOUTH PASTOR: Oh, well hello! Nice to meet you. I was wondering if he was going to be popping his head in any time soon. He usually comes with you to the Women's Bible Study on Tuesday mornings, right?

CAROL: Oh, why yes he does! But today the The Union for Schooling in the Home (TUSH) was having a field trip to the textile factory and I knew he just wouldn't want to miss that for the world!

YOUTH PASTOR: Sounds exciting.

CAROL: Oh, it is, and the kids enjoy going every year. But I just wanted to check with you on something real quick. Tommy just had a wonderful time at youth group last week, he talked all the way home about the games you played, about all the other kids that where there, and how he wanted to invite his friend Billy.

YOUTH PASTOR: Oh yes, Billy. Tommy had mentioned him to me before.

CAROL: Yes, and I just wasn't sure if the kids were allowed to invite friends or not whose families weren't church members.

YOUTH PASTOR: Of course they are. We want the kids to invite all of their friends.

CAROL: Oh that's wonderful to hear. Because this boy needs to be saved in the worst way. His daddy died when he was real young, and his momma remarried to some Mormon farmer, thank the Lord he doesn't actually practice, but I tell you that Satan is in that house. They just let Billy watch all sorts of garbage on TV, and last week I went over there to pick him up for a sleep over at our place and he was playing with fireworks unattended....I tell you it's bad.

YOUTH PASTOR: A-ha, I understand. Tommy said something about Billy living on a farm and that he couldn't go to church, but now things make sense

CAROL: Yes, the poor thing is just in need of Jesus so bad, and we figure if he would just come then you may be able to reach out to him.

YOUTH PASTOR: Well, you...

CAROL: But the problem is that next week I have to take my husband Cal...You know Cal don't you? The Chair of the Deacon's Board?

YOUTH PASTOR: Oh yes...we have...met a time or two.

CAROL: Well I have to take him up to the city hospital tomorrow afternoon to see his hemorrhoids specialist, and we won't be back until late, so I was wondering if there was any way that you could give Tommy a ride and then he could show you how to get to Billy's so that he could come with him?

You wince a little as the words come out

YOUTH PASTOR: Well, um...I guess we could do that. I would just need to plan for it, but I don't see why not.

CAROL: Oh that's wonderful! Thank you so much. The boys will just be so thrilled. I will let them know, and then I will send some snacks with them for the group. Would you like anything in particular?

YOUTH PASTOR: Well that's thoughtful. Anything you would like is welcome by me.

CAROL: Well then I will just make up a batch of my sugar free raisin cookies!

YOUTH PASTOR: Sounds...nutritious.

CAROL: You know, they are, but I just make them so Tommy has something to snack on in the afternoons and not get all wound up. You know he is the worst when he gets into sweets.

YOUTH PASTOR: Yeah, we found that out after our "Whipped Cream Pie Eating Contest" game last week...

CAROL: Well listen, I need to run, and I am sure you have to get back to whatever it is that you do. Thanks again!

YOUTH PASTOR: No problem, see you next week!

Hear Carol head out church door into parking lot.

YOUTH PASTOR: "Whatever it is that you do"?

FREE Three Part Hunger Games Study

Hey there internet savy youth workers! Here is the Monday Give Away! It is a three week lesson guide you can use with the movie "The Hunger Games". It covers a plethora of different social issues like obeying authority, murder, and euthenasia. It should generate some good discussions in your groups. Enjoy!

Ode to the Part Timmers

To all who have had to balance school or a job that pays the bills while ministering to teens.
For those who spend their breaks at work checking kids Facebook status'.
The ones who use their vacation time to take the group on a trip.
Don't let anyone say that you aren't doing ministry full time, because its where your heart and mind is all the time!

To all who wish they had an office space inside their church building.
For those who got the unlimited texting package even though they aren't getting reimbursed for it.
The ones who stay up late at home to finish a lesson,
You are just important as the rest of us!

To all who go back in on Monday after driving the group back from the weekend conference,
For those who don't get to go to coffee with the other area youth pastors during the week.
The ones who pull an eight  hour day pushing paper only to go home and find their inbox contains an an angry email that needs answering.
We salute you!

Your deserve more credit for what you do. Hang in there brothers and sisters, and keep up the great work!

The Return of Tommy (Part 2)

If you haven't gotten the pleasure of reading our first encounter with Tommy meet him here, and then read the first part of today's ongoing conversation here.

TOMMY: So yeah, I want to come but my mom said I should ask you if I need to bring anything.

YOUTH PASTOR: Uhh...umm...well we encourage all students to bring a Bible with them for our study time, and you probably want to wear tennis shoes instead of flip flops when we do active games.

TOMMY: I can do that. I have my bible from AWANAs's and I never wear flip flops anyways, may mom says my feat smell so bad that if i want to wear my Birkenstocks I have to wear them with socks and then I have to leave my sneakers out in the garage.

YOUTH PASTOR: Hmm...well that's nothing to be ashamed of.

TOMMY: Well I don't know what my mom is talking about, but really I think if you want to know who has got smelly feet, it's Billy.

YOUTH PASTOR: So who is Billy? Does his family go to church here too?

TOMMY:No, he is my friend from scouts. His family doesn't go to church. I think it's because they live out of town on a farm. But my mom says I should invite him to youth group because it would be good for him.

YOUTH PASTOR: (a little bewildered by previous statement) So...this farm, is it really far away or something?

TOMMY: No, its just like 10 minutes down the road from our house.

YOUTH PASTOR: Then why...you know what, I will just ask your mom later when she drops you off for youth group this week.

TOMMY: (poking through all of the items on your shelf and stuffing more candy in his mouth) So what are you doing here today?

YOUTH PASTOR: Well I am here everyday usually.

TOMMY: Really! Like you work here?

YOUTH PASTOR: Yeah? Why, did you think I did something else?
TOMMY: Well I was up here on Monday with my mom dropping off some stuff for the Women's Group Rummage Sale and I looked around for you and you weren't here, so I thought you must have a real job somewhere.

YOUTH PASTOR: ...

TOMMY: OH, GUESS WHAT! I just got the demo for Modern Warcraft 5: Mercenaries of Madness!

YOUTH PASTOR: Oh, you know what Tommy? I have to finish up my lesson for tomorrow night before a meeting I have to go to here in a little bit. How about you tell me about that another time...


Stay tuned next week for my adventures with Tommy!

The Return of Tommy

A student walks into your office in the middle of the day. It's your "favorite" home school teenager, Tommy...

TOMMY: Hey!

YOUTH PASTOR: Oh, hey Tommy. How's it going?

TOMMY: Oh pretty good, just up here with mom again for her ladies Bible Study.

YOUTH PASTOR: Well that's cool. What...

TOMMY: OOH! Is that bowl of candy free?

YOUTH PASTOR: Well not the whole thing...

(Tommy grabs hand full)

YOUTH PASTOR: but you are welcome to some if you like.

TOMMY: (shoveling two fun sized Snickers in his mouth) This is so great, my mom never lets me have this much candy. She says it gets me all wound up.

YOUTH PASTOR: Well maybe you should save some for later then.

TOMMY: Good idea! (shoves another hand full in his pocket)

YOUTH PASTOR: So...yeah...what have you been doing lately?

TOMMY: Oh! That reminds me! I came in here to tell you I have good news. I'm going to start coming to your youth group.

YOUTH PASTOR: Well that's great, but I thought you had scouts.

TOMMY: Well, we did have it, but then at our camp out last month our scout master's tent got set on fire when Billy was trying to roast marshmallows, and he tried to blame it on me because I was on "fire bucket" duty, but I had already used the water to put out the dead raccoon that we threw in the fire because it really started to smell when it burned, and when we got home my mom said he was quitting because he had a nervous break down or something. But like I said, now I am going to come to your youth group and next week I may bring Billy.

YOUTH PASTOR: ....

A Prayer Request for Strength and More

Although I have covered some ministry "blahs" in the last few weeks on this blog, I must admit that I am not currently dealing with the aftermath of loosing my job, a church leader on my back, or a letter from a concerned parent (but I haven't checked my inbox yet, so we will have to wait and see).

What I am dealing with right now is some financial worries. Worries that I know can be cared for by God. Daily I am praying for discernment and God's peace in this situation, as well as the money that we need. And when I am praying for this I feel I am asking in the right way, like Agur did in Proverbs 30:7-9 by asking “give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." I want to maintain my faith in allowing God to provide, and I never want to forget Him. I know this prayer is where my heart needs to be, but it is still hard.

As the Bible says, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).Today I reach out to all of you asking for prayer because as youth workers you know what its like to be under financial burdens. I ask for a double portion of the peace of God's Spirit for my family, discernment on what avenues to pursue in seeking help, and of course for the miraculous work that only God can do to provide all the things (including money) that my family needs right now.

As I count my blessings I remember that I have one of the best jobs in the world, and that is partly because of my"co-workers" who can truly be supportive in these struggles. Please keep my family in your prayers, we need them.

Thanks for reading, and looking forward to some lighter content for you tomorrow!