Report 4

Timing is Off
Since Heath started third shift, I have been unable to sleep during the night. It started out as me being a scaredy cat not used to being alone, especially in Marion. Now, I am on Heath's schedule: staying up all early morning, going to bed at 7am and waking up around 3pm. Yet, some days I have to wake up earlier than that because of counseling appointments with youth, church activities, and time spent in the office. Right now, it is 5:30 in the morning, and I am WIDE awake. So, I am trying to make the best of this new sleeping schedule, but it is taking a toll on my physical health as well as how I used to go about my summer days.

Despite the awkward schedule...
Sports Ministry?
We had another successful week with the youth group. Sunday, June 28th was our Softball Sunday but due to occupied fields we ended up playing kickball. Whenever we walk town to the softball diamonds or the elementary school fields to play a game, we bring in so many more kids and teens from the community. These areas are central spots. We realized this last summer. It is such a great way for the un-churched or non-churchgoers to realize that we are not all that different from them. We'll get kids that are rough around the edges (cussing, bad attitudes, etc.) but they quickly learn there is no need for that. Heath and I as well as the youth group always enjoy these times (we have such a competitive and athletic group!)

This past Sunday, July 5th, we played Ultimate Frisbee as our last activity for the youth evening. Our group has come a LONG way with this game. Heath and I realized that this is more of college age played game than it is for teenagers. Yet, they have grown to like/ove it very much! This week, due to lack of sleep on Heath and I's part, we did the game after worship time and the message. We know this is generally not a good idea since they need to get their energy out before sitting and listening to a sermon, but they did pretty good!

Worship Band
Last week we had our second meeting with the worship band at Ivanhoes (yes, it was glorious...). In this meeting we discussed our experience with our time of fasting. Everyone was successful in this discipline. They realized how much our bodies depend on food whether we need it or just feel like eating it. This was all of theirs first time fasting. What we hoped they will gain from this experience again is to use that time to focus on God. Many of them did not set aside designated time during the fast to be with God.

Being that it is summer, it is so hard to get everyone together. There were only two members (out of the four) that showed up for practice and youth group this past Sunday. These two are the ones that really started the worship team and their own band. They are improving, but they have a LONG way to go. Heath and I try to let them do it all on their own, but when they ask for advice, we give it to them. I advised the worship singer/leader to not fill time between songs with meaningless chit-chat and drawn attention to himself (I did not word it like that, though!) Instead, I advised him to fill that time with silence, prayer, explanation of the next song, or scripture. It seems more like a concert than a time of worship when they are up rambling. Also, they like to play one of their band songs (not worship songs) at the beginning to show off their newest and latest song. I suggested that they consider holding off band songs for special youth groups and not every single one. A lot of the teens told me they were confused if it was worship time or not. I think by not having them have personal band time will lessen the confusion and ease the whole worship time transition in general.

Counseling Time
God, I praise you for what you are doing through this counseling relationship. Thank You for speaking through me to speak to your beloved daughter.
Last week, I had a wonderful time with the girl I have been counseling/mentoring. She as come such a LONG way this past month. I do not want to give the details in respect of her privacy and our counseling relationship, but I will say that she has grown SO MUCH. She is hungering after God. She is realizing the footholds that Satan has in her life. She is asking questions that not even our consistent, long-time devoted youth are even asking. God is revealing Himself to her and showing her what reality is. I am so thankful that I get to be a part of this process. Through this God has confirmed my passion for counseling and mentoring. I look forward to the time counseling her more than anything in the week. God and I are so in tune that I can literally feel His presence with me.

Hang Out Time
As usual, we spent time at softball games. They are wonderful times to just be with our teens. However, we are not sad to see the season winding down. They involve a lot of driving around and coordinating schedules.
Another good time of hanging out was at the Varsity Grill in Marion. Every Tuesday from 5 to 9 they have karaoke. Our youth have really enjoyed this time!

Board Meeting Sunday
Sunday morning we attended the monthly board meeting. I realize that I have blogged a great deal! I could get into all the details of this meeting, but for the sake of whoever reads this, I will put it in a nutshell. Like all other board meetings/elder meetings, this is a time where we play catch up with what is going on in the church (health concerns, ministries, missions trips, fundraisers, personal lives...). I prepared information on where we are at with the missions trip to Cincy at the end of the month (funds, meetings, students, etc.). After that the rest of the meeting got into a discussion about setting up another outreach event--there was a debate between how to collect money for it and how to give this time to prayer and consideration. What I gained from this experience was how little our church leaders pray. Their focus was on the financial aspect than on God's prompting and leading. Heath and I even spoke up on this matter and it seemed to go completely through one ear and out the other. These next four weeks Heath and I will be preaching and leading services since our senior pastor will be away on his honeymoon. We have made a vow to cover these services in prayer as well as ourselves.


Hours for June 29th to July 5th
Hang Out/Extracurricular Activities-6 hours
Pastoral Counseling- 2 hours
Preparation Sunday- 4 hours
Board Meeting- 1.5hours
Sunday Services/Youth Group-4 hours


Personal/Spiritual Reflection
This schedule is really throwing me off. I am not sure how to discipline myself on this schedule spiritually. I feel weak and tired quite often. Right now if not a good time for me to reflect because that is now what I am feeling! I know that the time of fasting was truly good for me in realizing how much more I need God. As I guide, counsel, and direct others, I am constantly reminding of how much more I need to spend time with Him. My prayer for this week as I spend time in silence is truly listening to how God wants me to spend more time with Him.