Heres my life update:
Where am I at? definitely down time this week - thank God for it... my back was killing me last week, I was walking round like an old man. Yesterday i finally noticed improvement, and today, big improvement. I'm still stiff, but not like I was last week. Praise God for health - I thought about it several times when I was tempted to complain - some people have permanent health issues that will never be resolved.

God is good - even in the crazy times. I'm encouraged to see Zion be supportive and loving to some families that are going through crazy stuff. When I say crazy, I'm not kidding. A kid who half grew up in the church (his grandparents are faithful members) is in prison on murder charges. He is only 14... not even old enough for youth group. Anyway, I wish that I had had a chance to make a difference in his life... but he wasn't in my circle of influence at all. Thats not all... I can count 4 more in addition to that, who have friends in our youth group or some sort of close connection to a major crime... its ugly whats going on in Reading these days... But the real answer is Jesus. I just hope that God brings something good out of all this junk - and that God can use me in some way to keep young people going for God.

Club Worship is all up in the air right now. Our equipment is still at the ballroom, and Hope of the Nations does not yet know whats up with their new potential building... We all thought we would know by now... but we don't.

Tonight I went to a service targeted at 20 somethings at LCBC - a megachurch in Lancaster, PA. It was amazing - Sounded great - great worship band, good teaching - the place was packed, it was beautiful - nice flyers, nice graphic design, and amazing coffeehouse in the atrium afterward that reminded me of a food court in a high end mall or something. Probably 500 or so young people - 99% white... i saw one girl that might have had some hispanic blood or something. Not that its bad or anything - thats who comes. I don't know why I am bringing it up. Part of me was attracted to the professionalism.

Part of me realized that Zion has a uniqueness to its approach to being the body of Christ. I love that uniqueness and would miss it if I had to leave. I think it would be easy for me to get a job in a mega church - my skillset would probably be valued there - Video, high tech stuff, innovative, contemporary worship, whatever. I grew up in the suburbs... so I can relate to that crowd very easily... but is that where God wants me? Ive been at Zion for almost 20 years - and that time has influenced me more than anything - to love Jesus, and to love diversity. The mix of city folk, and country folk genuinely pursuing God together is beautiful.

All in all, I don't have a clear picture of how God will move next in my life. It amazing how the time just keeps right on moving along... Candace has been working extra, and so Ive been home more often... and just maintaining the house and stuff - ive still been busy, and my to-do list is still way longer than it should be. Of course I have kept up with all my responsibilities at Zion - which is almost like a part time job... speaking of which, there is a congregational meeting on Feb 7 to discuss bringing me on staff.

Jon did a great job with his sermon on Sunday - yes convicting but not condemning - as we wrestle with the difficult decisions involved in how to respond to peoples physical needs (hunger etc.) I'm so proud of Jon - I know I don't tell him enough.

I'm proud of Gabby too. She sang so excellent at her first real concert gig last Saturday. And songs she wrote too. I was too pre-occupied with other stuff like trying to get it to sound better... and I wish I had sat down and taken a better listen to the words of the songs... If I knew that she had written all of them before hand, I would have made more of an effort to listen closer.

Oh of course I'm proud of so many others too, and never tell them - I know I should. Just never get around to it.

Candace is on Jury Duty in Philadelphia this week, so I am home more this week. She can't talk about the case, but hopefully it will wrap up by Thursday.

anyway, hopefully my ramblings are just enough of an update to keep track of my life. I thought it was about time to post something.

 
 
 
 
thought I would post a couple pics from the youth group reunion we had two weeks ago... i hope to post a pile of the pictures somewhere, but I havnt decided where I should put them yet.

We had a lot of fun remembering great times, watching silly old videos, and just catching up with some great young people - some of whom we hadnt seen in a while, and some we see regularly. All in all, we probably had close to 40 people there throughout the night. Anyway, good times.