steve fee

wow. we had around 500 students show up last wednesday for steve fee. it was incredible. we invited 20 or more smaller churches to join us in worship in which 3 or 4 showed. we figured we had around 80 students from those churches. God really did some amazing things that night. the worship was loud and the spirit was sweet. it is times like that i smile and feel very very blessed to be in the place i am at.

my brother and wife just had their first baby last night. it was a baby girl and her name is “ryan scarlet”. i am so excited because i am going to get to see her for the first time this coming weekend. she was 6 pds 11 ounces. 20 inches long. i think i want to be called uncle E. i had an old basketball coach who called me “E” and it seems like it would be easy enough for anyone to pick up.

life has been good and it is always busy. i am excited to see what God is going to do next in our ministry.

middle school wednesday nights have been awesome. we have 30 high school students that come every night to help lead small groups and lead worship. we probably have right around 130-140 on an average wed. night. we are teaching through a book called “beginning in Jesus” which has been awesome.

first wednesday night

this past wednesday was our first middle school wednesday night. i am so excited to see what God is going to do in the lives of our middle school students. we are starting small groups at tables. we have high school students that serve as small group leaders.

the first night was awesome. there was an excitement in the air and the students seemed to have a blast. we played some group building games that allowed the students an opportunity to meet their table leader and connect with their peers. I explained how small groups are going to work and everyone seemed to be on the same path.

the praise band had their first start this past wedneday and did an amazing job. i am pumped to see how these students grow in this opportunity to lead worship.

overall the first wednesday was a success. i am so blessed to be in a place where i have the chance to lead such a great group of students. please stay in prayer that as wednesday come students grow.

ignite – windy gap – camping

that’s right all of those in the last three days.

i had the wonderful opportunity to bring god’s word during “ignite”on wednesday night. man it was awesome. we had around 280 students. right around 20 visitors. i really feel like god is doing some amazing things in the carmel student ministry. I talked about “generation now”. the fact is this generation is in a state of emergency. peers are fallin left and right and it is up to the christ followers of this generation to do something about it. i really feel like the spirit was present and the students were receptive to it. It was incredible.

right after breaking down “ignite” we were off to windy gap. we pulled in around 12:30 and unloaded the bands equipment. carmels middle school heads to windy gap every year for a spiritual renewal. i had the chance to speak thursday morning. the camp was on temptation in our lives. i feel like this was a great message for the students. i opportunity to face temptation head on with victory on our sides. we talked about the importance of healthy friendships in everyones life. I had a chance to close out windy gap on friday with greg. we gave the students a moment to share what god has been doing in their lives. very cool retreat.

i got home around 2:00 on friday. i was able to do some laundry and start packing. i came up to the camp site on friday afternoon and put a tent up all by my lonesome. it was my first time camping doing everything alone. i sweat like a mad man because it was 100 degrees outside. what a moment it was when the last string was tied and that glorious tent stood without me holding it. Camping has been great.

i feel like a blessed man. god has always been good to me and the last three days have been a great reminder of that.

the grumble

have you ever been in a meeting and started to get “the grumble”. it’s that deep down hunger pain that everyone feels around you because they can hear it. today in our budget meeting it happened to me. it’s not a fun thing to go through because you are trapped. you are in the hands of those who are heading up the meeting. they talk about budget and i think about budget and hamburgers.

“the grumble” is a horrible tragedy that everyone at some point will face. good luck.

teacher training

tonight we had our student ministry teacher training. i feel like it went awesome. i am really excited to see all the new teachers in the house ready to serve. it’s such a cool feeling getting ready for something big. you know that something awesome is going to take place and you get to watch it unfold.

it was cool to be able to do the training session with greg and ashley. i feel very blessed to work with people i love and trust. i feel like work is really not work. i wish that everyone going to work could feel the way i do. i would do anything for my coworkers and i feel like if i were ever in a bind they would do the same.

the busy weekend is coming up with open house and promotion sunday. it is going to be another long and crazy weekend at carmel. oh yeah i have my fantasy drafts this weekend which is going to rock.

fantasy junkie

OK so if you are a fantasy sports junkie like me raise your hand. Here is the reason why I am such a junkie. Because I am really good at it. Now I know you are probably reading this and saying “Man this guy is cocky”. The fact is I am good at it and I usually dominate whatever league I am in. I love sports and I love being competitive. When you add some smack talk in the mix you have a ridiculously good time.  I love it.

monday monday

Today was awesome. We had staff meeting this morning that lasted till 12:00. That meant my stomach was actually eating itself. I had a good time. Dr. P was back in the house. I love that man. He is a great boss and a better person. I really do look up to him.

The house I am living at right now rocks. Pat and Reg are the coolest people on the face of the planet. I want to serve people like they do one day. I feel so blessed to be where I am at right now. I feel like only by God’s grace did he allow me to make it here without royally screwing things up. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

back from liberty

I am back from Liberty which is a bitter sweet feeling. I feel like crap because I am going to be away from my future wife for 4 months. I am excited because I know I am that much closer to getting to be with Carrie for good.

I don’t know how you feel about moving but I am personal sick of it. The bad thing is it seems like it’s not going away anytime soon. My moving highlight this weekend was pulling up to Carries apt. and seeing her roommate waving to use from the “THIRD FLOOR”. There I was the only guy which means I get all the heavy stuff walking up three floors in 100 degree weather. But I am alive and Carrie is all moved in.

I have been sitting here for the past three hours working on Sunday School lessons. I am really excited about the upcoming Fall. I feel like God is going to do some awesome stuff in the student ministry. The “Dash” material is good stuff. I love the thought of students walking away from S.S with a Big Idea. It allows them to remember what went on in S.S a lot better.

 Mondays are always exciting so I guess I should head off to bed. Bed time is always exciting. I love sleeping.

weekend at liberty

  Today has been a good but long day. It started by waking up at 5 a.m. This was important because Carrie and I wanted to get to Liberty in time to unload before the weather got jacked up. We did a pretty good job getting here in the morning but even at that time it was still hot. I carried my fare share of tables, beds, and boxs up three flights of stairs to carrie’s new apt. The job got done and carrie seems to be excited.

   I was driving around up here and I forgot how beautiful it is at Liberty. I love Charlotte and it’s cool in its own way but it doesn’t come close to Liberty’s beauty. I guess I  took some of that for granted when I went to school here. Never the less God really did a great job around here.

    One last thing. Life is hard. I am always growing, learning, and messing up. The great thing about it is I wouldn’t change anything for the world. I feel so blessed in my life and I am so stoked to see what God has in store.

not going to be easy

   This is not going to be an easy weekend. I am dropping Carrie off at school. The weird thing is I have done this like three or four times. It doesn’t get any easier. If nothing else it is getting harder the closer we get to getting married. The facts are I am ready to be done with the whole “see you in four months” thing. It is going to be so nice to always be with her one day.

   So on a happier note. I played guitar hero a ton the past two days. I love that game. I am not all that musically talented but for the first time I can pick up an instrument and “Rock” out. It is one of those games I could stand and play for hours. Who ever thought of that concept is a genius.