I tend to be the kind of person to dwell on the stuff that I neglected to do or didn't do as well as I had hoped.
For example, I am going through the people I didn't contact as much (or at all) this past year and should have. Students that I have not seen but did not call. Youth group sessions that I should have done differently. Bible studies I meant to plan but never got around to. Telling my kids I would play play station with them but didn't (I was told by Luke I owe him $10 if I don't play before school starts on Thurs.). How I played my guitar for a funeral and at the end of the song hit a wire so in the silence after a wonderful rendition of Jesus Loves Me by my younger bro, there was a loud crack at the end. How on our trip to the ELCAYG I really didn't talk to and foster as many relationships with the students I brought down as I would have liked. How, as much as I tend to be gone from my family both with work and other things I am in a position to talk to families how they should be.
I am struggeling with what to do with my SH students this year. I need a name for youth group. "Youth Group" just seems blah. I need to figure out what the heck I am going to do this year. I used up all of the Nooma videos the past 2 years, which I used as an intro and really loved it, now I have to move on and I don't know what direction I am going to go. In addition to YG (or whatever it needs to be called) I need..yes, need, to set up a Bible study to go deeper with those students who want/desire to do so.
I lead our contemporary worship twice /month. When I say lead, I mean plan the worship, get the band together to rehearse, set up the music stuff (all with help, but its still my thing) etc. I have been trying to figure out the best way to do the service so the people who this reaches..well...it reaches. This also means continuing to argue for the existance of said service and explain to people why it is needed.
I need to get my bum in gear and get more of a 7th and 8th grade program going. This means stuff beyond just confirmation.
We have an entire group of 20 something adults who are not coming to church with whom we need to do something..anything for on a frequent basis.
Did I mention my office needs some..umm..work? by some, I mean..a lot. (anyone?)
And finally, I really need to figure out a way to better utilize our youth and family committee this coming year. I am totally a "do it myself" kind of guy and..well..if I really want things to go well this year, I think I probably need to lean on them a bit more than I have been.
So, I have a few things going for me..
1) The Twins stink this year. When I mean stink, I mean they are terrible. So, I don't have to be distracted by a pennant race this year.
2) There are a bunch of great people at my church to work with. I have an extraordinarily supportive (yet a bit undeserved) pastor, parents and adults who truly care about the faith formation of students, youth and families at FLC.
3) It may seem cliche', but I also believe it a God who takes us as we are, and even though I may screw up, He still walks with me. Watching a family who i care about deeply go through a terrible tragedy helped remind me of this. After saying that line 50 times during the youth gathering trip, it really came to light while visiting the family. I don't believe in a God who promises me everything will be hunky dory. Instead I believe in a God who says He will walk beside me no matter what. And really, that means a lot more to me than anything else.
At the Youth Gathering, Switchfoot played. I like em. A lot. This is a great song. For me, it also tells me to get off my butt and get something done...
There is a lot of crap to get done. I suppose it might help if I get to sleep and get started tomorrow...
