Tomorrow is my last day at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, as an intern or member. I have been going there since I was 3 years old, which makes 17 years of attendance. During this time I have seen a lot of changes. Building changes, staff changes, friend changes, and vision changes. Rocky Creek has gone from a "church happy" church, to a mission oriented church, and I am incredibly proud of that.

I have been reflecting the past couple hours on what tomorrow is. It is a goodbye, I don't know when I will return. The youth I work with now will grow up, become leaders of their own- some of them I have known since they were in kindergarten. I will miss them, all of them. I was one of them, I grew up in the youth group- I never really left.

But with every goodbye comes a new hello. This hello is a new church, with new opportunities. I don't know what God has in store for East Flat Rock First Baptist Church, but I know this: God has something in store. Nothing else is needed.

I also know that goodbye is not a term even remotely associated with the word forever. At all.

My youth pastor, Toby, became my supervisor in an internship, now, he moves to colleague. But more importantly, one thing isn't changing- he is my friend. He built a relationship with me that will last eternally. I want to have that with my students. I want to be the example that Toby has been for me.

Me leaving the youth isn't about them losing an intern, or about me leaving a position, or anything like that. I am leaving what shaped me. Fifteen years ago, I learned to play basketball in the very building that I lead worship in today. I had birthday parties there, I met my fiance there, I grew up there. It is like leaving home. It is home.
From the haunted stairwell behind the office, to the children's room that was once our fellowship hall.
From the organ side 2 row pew that was my family's row until I was in 7th grade to the gym where I had my first job.
From the field where I learned to play baseball, kickball, football, wallball, tag, and countless other games, to the very same field where I learned to drive automatic and later manual transmissions.
From the corner window I used to climb through to get into my father's office to the room with no windows that we played sardines in.
From the third floor classroom where I got my first girlfriend on a Wednesday night, to the baptistry where my father baptized me.
This church literally holds my childhood in the walls.

And I will miss it.
And at the same time, I look forward with immense joy and excitement on all that God is going to do at East Flat Rock First Baptist Church. The goodbye is sad, but the joy that comes from the hello is so, so good.

in my previous post, i mentioned that i was hired as the new youth pastor at east flat rock first baptist church. i start on march 1, and i am incredibly excited for all God is going to do there.

i started thinking what i wanted this youth ministry to "be about". God showed me that ministry is about relationships, about continuously building new ones. i realized i want this youth group to be built on that theory, and to follow christ's teaching and commandments. Christ sent the disciples out into the world, to make more disciples, who retroactively are called to make more disciples, and so one and so forth. you get the picture- lots of disciples in the world making more disciples who make more disciples. in the world. yes- the world, that big scary secular place that we are not of. God sent us to it to change it.

i want my youth to learn and embrace it, as i learn and embrace it along with them. but, as countless missionaries will tell you- after a while, the world gets to you. you burn out, lose energy, get depressed, get apathetic. This is where many people stop. Say, "Well I gave it all for You, God. Now I've used all my resources and energy. I'm done." but that is NOT where we as Christians should stop.

the purpose of the church is fellowship of believers, uniting to praise the One, True God. everyone has felt that "hilltop experience" sometime before in their life- go to a camp, get completely changed for God, go tell the world, and then burn out. what happened? they didn't have a time or place to recharge that passion. THAT is what recharge student ministries is about- igniting, and fueling, the passion for making new disciples in the world, sharing the love of Christ with those who need it.

i am praying that God will use this ministry as a tool to change the surrounding community, where the majority of people are unchurched. just like a cell phone, however, it only works when it has been charged. and so, beginning on march 1- twice a week God will be recharging the student ministry at east flat rock first baptist church.

On Friday, I got a phone call telling me that I got the job for the new youth pastor at East Flat Rock First Baptist Chuch, in North Carolina. I had gone to the personnel committee the day before, which went amazingly. God totally worked through me (which was obvious because I wasn't speaking like an idiot) and brought me to this place.

So I am very excited, I went office supply shopping and bought: a planner, and a desk calendar. Two items I will learn to cherish and protect as family members.

This is my first youth pastor job, as well as my first real job other than interning or giving people food after making them work it off (i worked as a fitness salesman, then pizza delivery). I am nervoushappyjoyousexcitedscaredworriedhyperreadytostart (no, it is an emotion, look it up.)

So to the youth, and others, at the First Baptist Church in East Flat Rock, North Carolina: hide your caffeine.

Also I've gone a week without biting my nails! (there were a few brief relapses)

What does it take to have unconditional love? Is it attainable? Or can you only apply it to maybe one person in your entire life?

I want to learn everything I can of love. To know how it comes, and why. I want to know unconditional love, the love that God has for me, the love I want for my family.

Unconditional love means that someone loves someone regardless of what happens. If the love is not returned, it makes no nevermind. This love does not depend on anyone or anything, it is completely independent, given that the lover gas given himself completely to the love.

Why do we love? Many love to be loved, but is that really love? No. It is selfish, and useless, because the lover who loves only to be loved truly has no love for that which loves him or her.

We love because we can't help it, we can't not love. We care for someone, and no matter what we, or the lovee, does, we still love.