Morning Thoughts

sometimes i like to type in lowercase letters…..it looks simpler to me for some reason.  I am not the guy who gets up early every morning to go downstairs to read and pray, I try to do that in during the middle of the day or in the evenings sometimes.  honestly i’m not as faithful at it as i should be!  this morning I woke up early, and headed downstairs with a thought on my mind.  as I opened up my bible to proverbs 24 and began to read a familiar portion of scripture i was all to aware that I was alone.  alone is something that I have never been very comfortable with either, but recently I have felt the Lord drawing me into some time alone.  most who know me would tell you that I like when people are around, so as you can imagine this is going to be a stretch for me!  i continued to read and verse 16 leaps off the page at me, “for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.”  now I am know that this has personal meaning for me, but as I began to pray and think it hit me pretty hard that the reason we view our setbacks as failures is because we have a tendency to not get back up.  i sat there for a bit and opened up a devotional that I have by mr. wigglesworth to the corresponding day….”standing firm through trials.”  so I am now certain that God had me out of bed and has set me up to reassure me that no matter what happens, GET BACK UP!  my prayer is that I always do and that you do the same, because there was  price that was paid and there is too much at stake if we stay down.  today let’s rise and stand firm.  have a great Sunday!

 

out of sync out of touch

I feel like I have not done a good job at writing.  i was looking back over my last post and realized it was on fathers day last year.  I will try and do a better job, but can make no promises really! 

Do you ever have that feeling like you need to be put in your place?  Notice I said “put in your place’ and not that I needed to someone to handle the task for me!  I have found that the Holy Spirit is quite capable of doing His job If I will just stop and listen….but I often don’t.

My Life is good.  In fact its better than good its really fantastic.  Sometimes I fail to see just how fantastic it is.  I have a beautiful wife who is loving, supportive, caring, all the things that a man could want in a wife.  I have two amazing sons who I adore and I’m pretty sure they both know that.  I have a great job working with great people doing what I love to do.  But I seem to find things to complain about, often. 

As the arrival of Victoria Eden-Marie Burrows is approaching I began to take an mental inventory of how fortunate and blessed I really am.  I don’t want to waste another moment complaining about how I wish certain aspects of my like could be different…..I want to live!  

Complaining really puts each one of us out of sync with the world around us.  It says essential that our plight is worse than those around us.  I have stopped and looked around, and found that its simply not true.  I am, at this moment sitting in our local Joe Muggs(we have no Starbucks) and I am watching people come in and out.  People who I used to go to church with,  police officers, single moms, you get the picture.  My complaining keeps me from being able to be an arm extended and a voice of hope, it keeps me out of touch!  If I am out of touch with those around me then I render myself ineffective, and I refuse to be ineffective! 

My effectiveness is not determined by just by how good my plan or strategy is….my effectiveness is determined in part by how much my actions match my words.  I want my actions to match my words to, match my life, to impact those who I come into contact with. 

Fathers Day 2011

I was sitting in my office yesterday afternoon thinking about my message for tonight at Crave. Fathers Day in years past has always been a bit difficult for me. My Parents divorced when I was 4 and Frankly I just never got over it. I felt short changed and ill equipped to be a father myself. I love my dad very much and am grateful for the things that I have learned from him over the years,even when he was unaware that I was watching. But it was only in the last couple of years that I became aware that despite the shortcomings that I did see there was a great deal to be learned from this man.

First, believe in yourself. My dad taught me how to do this, probably better than anyone else. I watched my dad continue to be who he was with as much scrutiny and pressure as any man should be able to handle. It has helped me walk through the last year. He wasn’t perfect but he was aware that he wasn’t.

Second, hard work pays off. We have all heard that phrase “work smarter not harder.” I think that is one of the problems with my generation. We have become lazy. I remember watching my dad work from sun up to sun down…..he worked hard and still does. I would like to think that my work ethic comes from him.

Thirdly, its never to little to late. On my 29th birthday, 25 years after my parents got divorced, i stood in my dads driveway saying our last goodbyes before we left on the adventure of a lifetime(moving to Florence) and watched my dad break down and cry. It was the culmination of 25 years worth of tears and frustration of thoughts of would I see in him the man that he really was or if i would just remember the fact that he left….

Dad today on Fathers Day 2011 I want you to know that I am thankful, thankful for all that has happened in my life. It has made me who I am today. I am a Husband and a Father, I am a son, and I have you to thank for that. I love you.

In addition to my dad there are a few other men who have had a tremendous impact on my life;

first, my father in law Emilio. I would be a very confused and misunderstood man had it not been for and mom. Your investment in my life is being deposited in generations of young people who will change the world. thnx dad.

Pastor Ken Hope, I remember a conversation at a gas station that changed my life forever. Jason and I asked you where you saw us in 10 years, your reply ” i see you standing before thousands preaching the gospel.” That comment along with constant reassurance that I could do it has made the difference. Thnx, PK

Pastor Rusty Nelson, I remember sitting at your feet a little over a year ago question what I should do next. You reminded me of what you did and how it turned out. When I think of fathers, you come to mind for me, because you have been able to look past who you saw and see the call. thnx Ps. Rusty

Pastor Bill Davis. I remember the first conversation we had about me coming to Florence, Lauren and I got in the car and said “if we get an offer from them we have to take it.” I believe in you and the call that is on your life. and I am grateful that you gave this kid a shot to do what I am doing. thnx Ps. Bill

Uncle Dan Sneed. Wow….there is not words to say of that amount that you put your neck out there for me. You really have been a father to me, but more than that you are a father to my generation, when you really have no reason to. thnx for not only paving the way, but for taking us with you.

Jason Lee Jones. We will forever be friends no matter the distance. You are a source of constant inspiration to me and countless others. I remember when there were no kids in the picture and life was care free…..those were good times, but the best is yet to come.

James Varnadore and Steve Lorenz. The Sixstringmafia will forever and always be one of my favorite things. You guys are some of the greatest fathers I know and some of the greatest friends I have ever had.

Pastor Chris Mitchell. I have been a fan since our cruise. It has been an honor to work alongside of you the past 2 years. You love for God is contagious and you have taught me a great deal about youth ministry. thnx for helping me keep my head on straight and for continuing to push me to be all that God has called me to be.

Finally I would like to thank God for not leaving me where He found me. I was a rough kid and He made sure that there were men in my life to look to and look up to. I will forever be “Chasing Him.”

its all a matter of perspective.

Today is June 12 2010. Nearly a week ago my wife and I along with the other Pastors of the church we were at resigned for our positions. There are so many people who have questions and without a doubt opinions. I am one of them. Why did things happen the way they did? Will the students who three weeks ago loved me and trusted me ever do so again? What happens to next week when there is no pay check? the list of questions is quite long and it gets longer with each passing day.
Today is June 12 2010. The boys and I went for a ride to the store to pick up a few things early this morning and I did something I’ve never done before….I let Micah ride in the front seat. He is old enough by Alabama law and the air bag was off for all who were concerned! As we drove down streets we drive every day there was a different look in his eyes. They were filled with amazement and wonder. it was at this point that it hit me; he was seeing this very familiar landscape from a different perspective. Its all about perspective!
Today is June 12 2010. On the eve of the day of our first service as Church of the Shoals I am excited and terrified. In the last three years my wife and I have helped merge two churches and grow a great youth ministry in Daytona Beach, been part of an amazing church in Florence, Alabama with a great group of students, and now plant a brand new work. life can’t get any more exciting than this. For every student that will read this and many of you might not, but I want you all to know that if we hurt you in anyway then we are very sorry, it was never our intention. To any parents that feel we did you an injustice again please forgive us.
Today is June 12 2010. With all that has conspired in the past three weeks I have decided to change my perspective on how this thing looks. It all been father filtered and he holds our world in His hands. hopefully it won’t be so long until my next post. Chasing Him, ben

He has not, can not forget you

I was pondering somethings this morning as I made breakfast fro my boys and began to wonder. As a Youth Pastor I am aware that those years of junior and senior high are…..well confusing! I know that this may bring on some scrutiny from fellow Pastors and maybe even some friends but stick with me. When I was younger in the Lord I remember the feeling like I was miles away from the Him at times and really feeling like I would never measure up. I know that may come to as a surprise to some of you who know well, but there was something about God that made me feel incredibly secure and really insecure at the same time! does that make sense? I am aware that it’s a maturity thing for all the very mature out there, and that it was and can even be from time to time a misunderstanding of how much He really loves us.
I found myself this morning reading Isaiah 49:16; See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands your walls are ever before me. That is a seriously comforting verse. I think the thing that stuck out most was the fact that it says “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands not your name! That is I have engraved you…..all of you, your life, your sins, your destiny, your temptations, your circumstances, all of who you are and I will not, have not, cannot forget you ever! Today no matter who you are, or what you’re going through know this that God not only see’s you, but furiously longs to be with you. have a great day and share this with someone today.

Update

There has been much that has gone on over the past month or so. Here is a brief update. We have had some of the most amazing youth services this past 6 or so weeks. One occurred when my wife and I were out of town…..it’s always good to know that the world continues to spin even when you’re not where you normally are. the reports that I got back from some of my staff where that and I quote “kids who don’t raise their hands raised their hands, and the entire football team was in a corner praying for one another.” That’s good stuff. When we got back in town I had the task of planning a big 3 day event for our students called 3 degrees. The event included an all day water event where we had a 42 foot water slide, belly flop contest and finished the night off by watching a movie outside on a ten foot projection screen. The other days we played paintball on a field some of the guys and I built, had watermelon eating contest and a watermelon football game. it was a huge success and a lot of fun. Did I mention how much I love my job!
During all this Lauren and I working on getting our house on the market in Florida, tough task from 750 miles away. Needless to say it went on the market Friday the 19th and since then we’ve had 7 people look at it. Tomorrow night is our second compel night of the year entitled LOST! I am expecting big number and for the Holy Spirit to be poured out in ways we’ve not experienced yet. We leave for Florida on Monday for 8 days………and that all I have to say about that! I get the chance to work with amazing people, doing what I was created to do; not sure it gets any better than this. consider yourself updated! we are on a 40 day media fast so I wont be on face book after I post this on there unless I post again. much love, B

Potential

I have been thinking a lot about one’s potential lately. I would gather that people who believe in God would say that He is a creative being. If we say we believe in God, I would argue that we would have to believe in the Bible. Seems really simple i know, but you would be surprised at how many people say they believe in God, but don’t believe the Bible is His infallible Word.
My point is this Scripture says that we are made in the image and likeness of God, and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. If we hold these things to be true then our potential is only limited to the limitations we place on ourselves through our unbelief or sinful lifestyle. We have the creator of the heavens and the earth living on the inside of us. WOW!!! That is incredible to think about. I mentioned in a previous post how our creativity is tied to our spirituality, and this has everything to do with our potential. When we allow ourselves to first and foremost dream, and secondly allow the Holy Spirit to breath upon our dreams God places His anointing on our potential and creativity is the result.
The question I would pose today is are you living up to your potential, and if not what is holding you back? Potential lies in between what is, and what is not. Today as you set out, grab hold of your potential and let nothing keep you from creating life you have dreamed about. Your dreams are not going to come true with you just sitting back and saying “well if God wants it to happen, it will happen.” He wants you to dream and create, because He Himself is a dreamer.

Being a Youth Pastor

I find it an incredible honor to be a Youth Pastor. It is the most rewarding position one can hold in the church in my opinion. I truly never thought I would see the day that I would be doing this full time, but after the past four months I cannot see myself doing anything else. I love my job and my students more than I can express in words. We have been in Gatlinburg for three days now and it’s awesome. The weather is cold, the students are having fun and I am loving being here with them. I Pastor a group of about 100 students throughout the week, and this job would be impossible without a group of dedicated volunteers. This trip has done wonders for my relationship with my leaders. Thrive youth ministry is ran and operated by the best staff in the world, and I am blown away by how each of the leaders on this trip has laid down their life not just for the students, but for Lauren and I as well. You guys are amazing. I watched some of my students today ride go-carts and I remember looking at a fellow Youth Pastor and saying “is there anything better than being a Youth Pastor?” The answer is NO!!! I love this job, It’s not really a job, but a privileged. My wife and I have a great group of students, and they will stand before kings and queens and proclaim the goodness of God one day……You guys are the best and we love you all very much and are so proud of you guys.