Yesterday, I prepared for Bible study with some local teens that I am hopefully going to be doing on Monday evenings. The study we are doing is from FCA on developing Character. The first study that I was working on yesterday was on developing breadth and heart. As I sat last night and waited for guys to show up and counted off the minutes leading up to the time Bible study was supposed to start and the minutes after when no one had shown up I really became saddened. I’m not trying to rag on my boys in this blog or anything like that, but working with teens over the past few years and trying to get them excited and encouraged to seek Christ and grow in a relationship with them, it is discouraging to see how there is a lack of breadth and heart in there walk’s with the Lord.

Over and over again we have seen where teens have turned down opportunities to grow in their faith to go do something that seems more fun to them in the moment. A lack of dedication to follow through with commitments and a lack of desire to plow deep into God’s Word. I just often wonder what it will take to get their attention to realize their need and the urgency of a deep relationship with our Lord. How that after all He has done for us the least we can do is being dedicated to serving Him and not only desiring a close relationship with Him, but pursuing it with our whole hearts.

Please pray for our teens here that we are working with. I don’t want to ever let my discouragement get in the way of being a light of encouragement to them. Pray that they will not only see their need but pursue it. Pray for Erin and I to always show them Christ’s love!

Today we had our weekly FCA huddle at the high school. Instead of a normal study like we do each week, this week we decided to have a time of praise and prayer requests followed by splitting up into groups of guys and girls to pray together. I really have been encouraged by the way God is working in the lives of our students and to be seeing growth in their lives. While it seems to be a long 4 year process in the lives of some of our seniors, I really feel that not only are we seeing God moving and working in their lives but also that some are on the cusp of doing great things for Christ. Please join Erin and I as we are praying for our students each day. Also pray with us that God will raise up two students in each huddle that will become spiritual leaders for the rest of the students.

Tonight we made it back in from a visit to WV to pick up Nixie and visit with the in-laws. Now I am trying to get caught up some stuff around the house, plus getting ready for our Middle school FCA huddle that meets tomorrow morning. I am really praying that the kids in the middle school will start to open up a bit more. They are really great kids but don’t really respond to us at all. Please be praying that they will begin to open up and interact with us!

Greetings from WV. After three weeks of being separated from her baby, I brought Erin to WV this weekend to pick up Nixie our mini schnauzer. I say our, but we all know she is Erin’s, just like our boxer Angel is mine. Currently Angel and I are hiding out in Erin’s parents’ office so that she can eat her purina with out the help of all the other dogs!

It’s weird being gone from Beattyville the weekend that the big Festival of the Worm is going on. I definitley miss seeing old friends and eating tons of fried junk. On the other hand I guess my wallet and my stomach are going to be very happy!

Well, I have to run, just wanted to say hi to everyone. We are heading out to a dog park so that our “girls” can have some fun!!

Well today is officially the first day of the 2009 Woolly Worm Festival. So I was up bright and early this morning making breakfast pizzas to sell at the Festival. At the moment though the rain is pouring down at a very fast rate. I really hope it clears up so that this weekend won’t be a loss for us.

Just wanted to let everyone know we made it back to KY safe and sound. God gave us a wonderful trip and truly blessed us with good meetings and fellowship w/ old friends!

Our week at MBI wrapped up on Friday in a very exciting way. Erin and I were teaching a seminar on working with kids in public schools. I was expecting a modest turnout, but we were blessed to have over 80 kids come to our session. Several students stayed behind and talked w/ us about the possibility of doing full time ministry and summer internships in KY. Please keep praying for these kids to come as we need both staff for summer camps and projects, but most importantly full time staff.

After the conference was over Erin and I went around Chicago visiting different shop and sights that we don’t get to enjoy back in KY. We ended up at Navy Pier where we watched fireworks set to halloween type music.

On Saturday, I fulfilled my promise to Erin by taking her to Ikea. My one friend texted me and let me know I was walking into a dungeon for husbands. It wasn’t bad though, she was able to find stuff to help w/ our house and I had a jamba juice to keep me occupied.

This weekend we have also enjoyed staying w/ our friends Jason and Karla. They alway are a hoot to catch up with and just have a good time. Last night Jason and I enjoyed going to pick up food from one of our favorite restraunts Fat Willy’s Rib Shack. It was goood.

This morning Erin and I went to my home church Bethel Community. It was great to see old friends and also have a chance to thank the church for their support and bring them up to date on all that is going on in KY.

Right now we are Jason and Karla’s enjoying football and the girls are discussing house decorating. It’s been a good week…

Today at the missions conference went really well. This morning I again had close to 40 people in my seminar on using sports ministry in rural areas. Then this afternoon we had another one where we did an agency presentation for KMM and has several kids took applications. Keep praying for us!

Just wanted to give a quick update to let everyone know how the mission conference @ MBI is going. So far we have had a blast and God has been giving us a lot of opportunities to share about the ministry here in KY w/ the students. I have been really excited to be able to stay in my old dorm as well. The guys are new, but it’s really as though I never left the place.

Today I did a seminar on doing sports ministry in rural areas. It seemed to go really well with over 30 students in attendance. A couple of students seemed really interested in the possiblity of doing and internship w/ us.

So to wrap up this blog please keep praying for clarity as we speak w/ students and that many would be touched by God with a deire to come do ministry w/ KMM. Also, I ask you to remember Erin in your prayers as she has been really under the weather today. Thanks!

This week I am back in Chicago where I am going to be teachin some sessions at Moody’s annual missions conference. I am really excited because it’s a chance to share with the students here and hopefully God will pull on their hearts to do full time ministry in KY the way he did mine 10 years ago this month. If you think of me this week be praying that my nerves will calm and that I will be able to speak clearly and that solid students with a heart for rural missions would come to KY!!!