Man it's been a long time since I posted. Here's a short recap- after we got back from New Orleans, we had a week or two, then went to camp, which was pretty good. After camp, I've been mostly working on painting and renovating the youth building at church, which meant many 12+ hour days (like probably 15 in a 20 day span). Lots of hours...
That project is close to done, however, and I've spent the last couple of weeks working on our new stuff for the upcoming school year. We're doing two new worship services/experiences for our youth- SHIFT, for high school and college, and MOMENTUM, for middle school. So I've been working on that quite a bit (with a team of about 12 students and leaders). We had a big prayer meeting Saturday night to pray for SHIFT, MOMENTUM, the new school year, etc. We just spent like an hour praying that everyone who came would feel God's presence at SHIFT, etc. It was awesome. That brings us to last night...
Last night was the first SHIFT service. I was at church working with the team all day yesterday. We had a crew completely redesign the gym where we hold Sunday morning services. We had like 200 candles and rugs and stuff. We had an awesome band, and Alfred (my boss and the student minister), spoke. It seemed like the whole thing was just hanging by a thread all afternoon as we were working on stuff; things just weren't clicking for me (by the way, I'm serving as the quasi-director for this service, so I'm sort of responsible if it doesnt work).
But fortunately, it all came together, and I really think it went great. I felt God's presence there, and I think many of the students were shocked as well. It was something completely different for them, and from talking to them afterwards, I really think they liked it a lot.
I'm still kinda wired from the service. I was so excited about the way things turned out. I don't really know what to say about it, other than it was incredible. Now, we have to plan the next one...haha.
The band played the song "Everything" by Lifehouse last night, and it was amazing. I love this song. Here's some of the words:
"And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be
Any better than this?
Cause you're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything... everything"
(You may have heard this song on Smallville, by the way)
That's kind of the way I feel right now. Just, how can I stand here amidst the wonderous creation God has made, and not be moved by it? How can I be at a worship service where 30-40 kids are praising God and not be moved by it? It's powerful, and anyone who thinks otherwise is missing out. It was awesome, as in awe-inspiring. Right now, I'm just realizing that God is incredible, and I just don't know what to say.
So, that's what's been going on with me as of late. Well, some of it anyway. There are other cool things going on. We'll just leave it at that for now...
