Youth Pastor Search pt 2

Ok here's the update on what's going on with the search for a church. I've completed my resume and cover letter. I've sent them out to 6 churches. I have 4 left because one church already filled the position and 1 didn't meet the criteria after talking with them. Ok here's what I need from all those weird people who read what I write and will be willing to help.

First off, pray! Pray that God will send me to the right one and all the others will not be anything like the vision that God has given me.

Secondly, I'm going to give you the websites for the remaining 4 that I'm currently looking at. All of these have have been sent my resume and have responded that they will let me know something soon. OK here's the sites

1) Grace Bible Church www.vbgrace.com
2) Pinecrest Baptist Church www.pinecrestbaptistchurch.com
3) Gayton Baptist Church www.gaytonbaptist.org
4) Westover Church www.westoverchurch.com

Let me know what you think, regardless of how important you think it is. I appreciate your help on this, and I know that God will use all your comments to help me decide on which ones to cut and which to keep. Thanks peeps. God Rocks, Jw

Need I say more?

This song pretty much expresses my heart at this point in my life. So here it is and enjoy

Yearn
by Shane and Shane

Holy design
this place in time
that i might seek and find my God
my God

CHORUS
Lord i want to yearn for You
i want to burn with passion
over You and only You
Lord i want to yearn

Your joy is mine
yet why am i fine
with all my singing and bringing grain
in light of Him

Chorus

oh You give life and breath
through Him You give all things
in Him we live and move
that's why i sing

Chorus
(Acts 17:25-28, Hebrews 12:28-29)

The Search

I'm in the search for a youth pastor job? I've wrote many churches already, but I need help. If could keep you ear open and more importantly pray that God will open the door somewhere that He finds perfect for me. I'm praying for just that. It's hard and I'll tell ya why. I know what vision God has given me and basically I'm trying to be picky over the location. I want a place close to where I'm from because I want someone to take care of my kids when I'm away on trips or whatever. This is me limiting God and His work in my life. I've come to the point where I'm just saying "whatever you want God." I'll go anywhere and do whatever you want, just send me. So this is where I'm at in my overwhelming search for a future for me in ministry. As long as I'm ministering to Student and I'm doing what God wants, who am I to question HIM. Well Thanks for the prayers and I'll keep ya in the loop. God Rocks, Jtw

The Next Generation

First off I'd like to say that if any of my students read this please understand that this probably isn't about you, so don't think it is. This is some of my observations that I hope aren't true. The more and more i learn about student the more scared and the more i realize the utter importance of my job. Growing up I was a complete idiot. I did some of the stupidest things ever. I don't expect the next generation of students that come up to do anything less. There was a difference though. The truth was still the truth. It's come to my attention, and it's only got worse, that the truth has become a personal issue. I've actually heard people say well what is right for you, may not be right for me. If you believe that and you're reading this hit yourself in the head right now. The truth is the truth no matter where you are or who you are. There is no "well it's right for me" truth out there. This is something that I'm hearing and it seems like the truth has somehow become blurred. Since God made the truth, He gets to decide what's the truth. If He says it's wrong, then it's wrong; end of story. Another alarming trend is the amount of sexual things that is so open in our culture. I've had this conversation with lots of students and leaders. I remember asking one student one time that if he knew it was wrong why would he have sex? The response was "I felt like it." I was like WOW!!! Isn't that crazy. It's like they know it's wrong, they'll tell you it's wrong, but when it comes to playing out what they believe it doesn't matter what they believe. Does that not scare you because it scares me. The attitude about sex is that it's just fun, but it should be much more than that right? Another thing that might just be with pastors is that the generation has a major lack of biblical knowledge. I have to admit that I don't know enough and never will. It takes a lot really learn something for me, except when it comes to students. I learn quickly, and I hope I give good advice when they come and need it. I know they don't see me as judgmental or condemning, because I've been there and not afraid to tell them of my struggles. I think that this lack of biblical knowledge seems to be maybe the root of some of these other problems I've listed. If they knew what God found right and wrong and what HE really thought about it it, would they be able to ignore Him? The last thing that bothers me is the lack of wanting to learn and think. It seems like they want the answer now without finding out the knowledge for themselves. If you've ever asked a student a question that doesn't really have an answer, maybe to just talk about you'll know what I mean. They get frustrated at not having the answer. Try it sometime. In saying all that I have to say that there's hope. God has not given up on this generation, nor will He let Himself be forgotton. More students than ever are seeking for answers, and GOD is the ANSWER. There's a spark of hope for the future. Will they embrace the God of the universe or seek after themselves and everything but God? I will do everything that God tells me to ensure that I can give them a chance to hear from God. I was a complete idiot and God found the time to get my attention. It's freaking awesome that the God of everything wants to talk to me. I wish this next generation would learn this. When you realize just how BIG GOD really is then how can you want to do anything but do His will and want to please Him. If you're apart of the next generation and you're reading this, again don't think it's about you. I do hope it changes your life and that you stop wanting to do everything you want and start wanting to seek God for who He is and please HIM only. My prayers will be with you and for this generation. I'm usually very optimistic, but sometimes the truth is what you need to hear. God Rocks, Jw

Mississippi

Well this week I spent a week with some awesome people in Mississippi. I went down there to serve those who had nothing due to hurricane katrina. My wife and I were 2 of the 4 leaders that went. There was a lot that went right and a lot that went wrong. I learned much more than I could have ever wanted to learn. First, I learned a lot about people that I didn't know. I learned that sometimes I have to hold my tongue and sometimes people can misunderstand when they don't care to learn all the information. I learned that leadership doesn't come easy to everyone and I must be patient. These are among some of the things I learned about people. Second, I learned that God's plan is freaking awesome. We climbed on tall roofs, constantly had to jet out into intense traffic, was chased by dogs, spent days in 95+ degree weather, and everyone constantly had nails through their shoes into their feet. Now in saying that no one was hurt more than a bandaid. Scary thing is that God waited until after all the students were gone to side swipe the van. A lady hit the van that I was driving with her car on the way to take it back. Nothing more than a very small dent. No one got a ticket, only one very pissed off lady. Thirdly, I learned that people will mess up and probably lie about it, but the truth will always come out. We had some students do stupid stuff, but hopefully a lesson was learned. If anything was learned is that Integrity is something that's very easily lost, and extremely hard to get back. Lastly I learned a little something about Control. Some people have the theory that In order to have control you must have everything under control. This is crap. Control isn't achieved with trying to control every part of someone's life. Control is acheived by respect. When it comes to students they want people to try to control them, they need honesty and help with choices. Sure they mess up from time to time, but isn't that how people truly learn right from wrong? God I know speaks to some people the way he does to me. He doesn't speak in a small voice, but a random Bat attack to the back of my head. This is how I've learned to deal with students in my 6+ years in youth ministry. I got a lot of time to talk to a lot of the students and I'll continue to pray for all of them each night. So when I got back I was asked if this trip was a success. We helped a lot of people and received a chance to serve. The real point was to see God in a new way and grow closer to Him. Did they learn this? I have no idea, but I know that I grew closer because I saw a spark in the next generation that I hope all of them have. This gives me hope that the next generation will not let God go away, but instead grow up to Love God and want to express that love to others. I will write more on this later. I would say that the mission trip was a success, at least to me. I just hope that all the students that read this will think about this and pray to God for change. God Rocks, Jtw

The ignorance of Pastors

That's right I said the ignorance of pastors. A couple of months ago a friend of mine got fired from her job. She was working as a youth minister at a church in Gretna, VA. The pastor there got her fired because it was said that she took the youth to acquire the fire to learn to speak in tongues. Ok that is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. My guess is that she had the respect of the youth and the parents and he didn't. When he lost control, he couldn't have that. This reminds me of the church in rustburg. No matter how much yelling the pastor did at me, I didn't want to give up on the youth there who were so awesome. When it came to me doing what God says in his WORD and what he said, then he couldn't have it. When he told me that I'd do it his way in his church or I can leave, well that was the time when I told him it was God's church, not his, and I couldn't disobey God to do his work. He didn't like that. Just like the church my friend was at, it was a control issue, God's or someone else's. It's pastors like this that make Christians leave the church and the next generation not even want anything to do with God. I don't hate anyone, but I dislike with a passion those people who try to put themselves above the God they serve. When did the office of pastor become a place where people went to before God. That's a catholic thing, not a Christian thing. Any pastors who read this and act this way should be ashamed and do everything in their power to go from the egotistical people they are back to God's servant. As for these 2 pastors that I've mentioned here, may God have mercy on them, may God change their hearts, and may God put people in their path that will tell them the truth about the way they are behaving. God Rocks, Jw

Since I last wrote...a lot has happened

Well since I last wrote I've experienced worship...that one is obvious. I've finished school with not straight A's this time. That's God's little plan to teach me that I don't have to do everything perfect like I want, but just doing my best is good enough. Funny thing is that my boss told me the other day that my best wasn't good enough for him...funny huh. That's right I got chewed out again. This time it was for asking off for vacation 3 month in advance and giving him notices so he doesn't forget. The answer I got was that he doens't look at it until he's going to do the schedule...sounds like a stupid thing to me, but that's just me. I also started my internship, which is going good. I do lots of busy work, but hey that's the unglamorous part of the youth ministry world. I'm also co-leading a mission trip to Mississippi in a few weeks as part of my internship. That's going to be awesome. And finally today I'm leaving for a week in Tenn for Vacation...YEAH YEAH YEAH. I can't wait, It's been a very long year and I deserve a vacation. Well that's what's going on and there's other stuff that's coming up soon....God Rocks, Jw

All worship isn't created equal

Well I just finished up my semester and after all my research into worship it all comes down to all worship isn't created equal. I refer back to cain and able. They both brought their sacrifice and both worshipped, but both didn't please the Lord did they? I went to many different services, and practiced worship on many different types of worship. I uped my prayer life, my service, my Bible reading and how much I worshipped through music a lot. So what did I learn? I've already expressed what i've learned, that worship isn't created equal. I've come to realize that worship is simple. Worship is just whatever we do to give God the glory he deserves. If this means praying, then pray, if it means reading your Bible more, then read more, if it means that you go to a service and just go crazy for God, then you need to do that. I ended my semester of worship per say with a worship service at church. I've been to churches before with what some people call crazy worship. This just means you act like you actually feel inside. If you feel like you're about to jump out of your skin then why sit there and be quiet. That's stupid and totally not what God wants. What makes people think that if God has blessed them that they should not tell people? What makes people think if God makes them feel like they wanna SCREAM His name that they shouldn't? The conplaincy among Christians today is sicking in my opinion. If you agree then let me know; if you don't, then let me know. What on God's earth makes people get to the place where they hide what God gives them and tells them. I get so pissed off sometimes at people that I talk to sometimes. They talk of God like He's sitting beside them making them want to conquer the world for Him. Then we go to church and they sit there and hardly even sing when the band plays. If God had a stomach, it would definately be turned by this type of worship. To get back to my story and off my soap box, I went to a service. Of course there were some of those at that service that I was talking about that pissed me off. Then there were those that suprised me. These were people who seemed to be quiet people, but when we started singing, they acted like they were worshipping God. When we sang, people screamed the songs to God, they jumped, they danced, and the feeling that was created let me know that God was totally there. I could feel the presence of God like a thick smoke cloud in the room. It was different and I've only felt this a few times in my life. This was a service of worship and everyone knew it, and more importantly everyone acted like it was a service FOR worship. So I've learned that worship is different to different people, but God sees it different. God sees it as if your not going to give it all then why bother. Cain brought his gift to God, but Able brought more than a gift, he brought a life of worship too. This is the point. Worship is a lifestyle and is expressed when you give it your all for God. If you're reading this and think I'm out of line, that's fine. When you get to judgment and God says, why didn't you give it your all, why were you afraid to be made fun of, and I pray that God lets you remember what i've said here. I'll end my ranting with one simple sentence. If you're going to Hide God, be silent instead of really worshipping, and simply being a person who has God, but doesn't act like it I want you to stay away from me. If you're going to be a normal Christian, just one that's got fire insurance., then stay away. I've always been told that the people around you impact your life and help you decide right and wrong. This is why you can't be around me. I want to live a life of worship and live a life like God matters in my life. If you're not going to live like that, then why did you even ask for God to save you in the first place?

In the Quest for Worship

Over the weekend (Apr7-9) I went to a thing called Spring leadership for our business. On Sunday we had a church service. Prior to going God had a big emphesis with our businesses and this just showed more of that. I heard people that had been talking about the business and the awesome thing it is; At church we find out why. They all gave glory to God for the businesseIs. This wasn't the part that really impressed me, I had heard this before. The main guy did the preaching that morning and we sang songs. The worship was definately not what I was used to. It was all vineyard stuff and slow. Normally this kind of stuff is ok, but not really for me. Instead of being bored it was great. The atmosphere made you feel that we were all worshipping God and he was there. After the preaching an invitation was given. Like 1000 people came forward. There were so many people down at the alter that there wasn't enough bibles for the ones who were saved. It was freaking awesome. The music was different, and the preaching different, but the worship was great. Makes me wonder, what is worship. I've spent the last few weeks trying to experience different kinds of worship, and each time I've found stuff that's good and bad. I hope that one day I find a church that will incorporate all the good from all of these different styles. I've noticed that if the worship is awesome then no matter how the preaching is, people will still come back. I wonder why this is? Is it because through worship we somehow get closer to God? We pray and have quiet times, then why is worship the key to closeness? When you add music and singing it even becomes stronger. Could it be that God has developed a way that no matter the culture or location that people can find a closeness in God. I think this is the answer. We'll see more later...I'll let ya know....God Rocks, Jtw

Ever hear God say "See....I told ya so"

This semester has been unbelievably hard. It's been rougher than any semester I've ever had and I went to nursing and paramedic schools. On top of this we've worked a lot, but for one reason or another we haven't had the chance to save any money up. This sucks because for some reason we have to pay $750 a piece for my wife and I to go take an internship this summer so we can graduate in december. We've prayed for the money and for some reason no matter what we tried, it just never happened. For the past few years we've gone out of our way to help people. When we were in NC we did a lot for people, even if we had to sacrifice some. This isn't to brag, just giving some background. This I know will sound bad but in honesty, we wondered if anyone would help us or if we'd just be taken advantage of our whole life. Is that transparent enough for ya? We'll since getting married we'd had trouble with money much like most newlyweds. Thank God for my parents who has helped us out so much. But as for the internship that we need no one could help. We even went to the church that we were at in NC and I think they'll help out when they can. Then Tonight God gave me one of those "See...I told ya so." I got a call from someone that heard how good we'd been doing in school and wanted to help out with our internship for this summer. I told them how much it was just hopeing they'd give a little, but they're gonna give it all to us. WOW...what the crap! I nearly peed myself. So next time you aren't patient on God, just remember me and how stupid I am often. Just trust it's so much easier. God Rocks, Jtw