on to the mission trip

Tonight we had a business-like meeting at youth group to pick a place to go (I had narrowed it down to 7 choices). We are still on the fence, but tomorrow a decision will have to be made to make sure we have the space reserved. Pray that I make the right choice.

I must admit, I'm a bit worried about this trip. Not of the idea of taking 10 kids somewhere far away, not of sharing the Gospel, not of doing work, not of the dangers that may accompany such work. I'm scared that I'll miss the mark on organizing things. It is definitely one of the things that I am worst at doing. Pray that I would be confident, faithful and organized in planning this event. Also, pray for my spirit to be humbled because, in the end, it doesn't matter how good I am at planning the event...it is God who will be accomplishing His work of spreading the Gospel...with or without good organization. But still, I strive to be better at this.

Thankfully I have some great kids who help me out (one who now works for me an hour a week to organize my life at church). Pray for them...they have to work with a bumbling idiot on a fairly regular basis.

Mostly, pray that God would be magnified in the kids of my church and in the lives of those we serve and share the Gospel with. A heart for missions is an amazing thing and the earlier kids catch wind of the Spirit of power in evangelism, the more time God has to do great things through them.

-joe

merry christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you have spent some time thinking and rejoicing in the birth of Christ today.

I had many plans for the day. The only one accomplished?...Going to my brother and sister-in-laws for lunch. I was also planning the following:
1. Reading a good portion of Calvin's Institutes
2. Finishing my sermon for Sunday
3. Finishing these books (20 pages or less each) Brothers We are Not Professionals, Let the Nations be Glad, Cost of Discipleship, Fit Bodies Fat Minds.
4. Going over to Nigel's. (I came home to take a quick nap and just now woke up...8 hours later)
5. Going on a quick hike up the river.

Well, hopefully I can get some of that reading done tomorrow. I'm planning on working on my sermon until I fall asleep again.

-joe