Monthly Archives: June 2012

Holy Interruptions

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Kevin

Serving youth is a busy life. Many times we get so caught up in our schedules that we don’t have time for God to work. However I came across this post on our National Network of Youth Ministries Facebook page from Jeremy Holbrook, a youth leader in Columbus, Ohio:

“Good morning everyone! Praying for you this morning as you embrace the partnership with the Spirit to reach others for the everlasting Kingdom of Christ! Hold on to His word, believe in His promises, and allow Him to “mess” with your schedule and put you in the places He’d have you go today, for His name’s sake!”

What a great reminder! So I asked him how God has been messing with his schedule and here is what he responded:

“Kevin, in a very cool experience, the Lord used an opportunity to interrupt our youth ministry’s work & witness trip last week (in atlanta).. We had pretty specific plans and an organized itinerary to follow–but on Wednesday morning, we were able to impromptu deliver 20 dozen donuts to Northpoint Community Church (staff meeting) to show our appreciation of their ministry that reaches across the country. The blessing, was that from where we were staying (Lilburn, Ga) to the Krispy Kreme facility, to the church, and then back downtown to serve at the homeless shelter, we were very pressed for time…however, we pulled into the shelter (no joke) on the very minute we were scheduled to arrive. God messed with our schedule, and got the glory!”

I am encouraged by Jeremy’s dependence on God in allowing Him to dictate his priorities. How will you allow God to make “Holy Interruptions” into your schedule? You can check out our Facebook page for more conversations on working together to transform teenagers into disciple makers.

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Christmas in June

Posted on June 10, 2012 by Kevin

Christmas in June seems so out of place but the importance of Christmas lasts all year long. So how can the Christmas Story have meaning to us when it is so far out of season?

God Transforms Daily

I was reading through the Book of Matthew and came across the story of the angel Gabriel telling Joseph that his fiancé didn’t shack up but had God inside of her. Wow! What a shocker. The supernatural intersects with the natural and disrupts lives. But God also gives wisdom to handle it. God is still at work today in our lives. He is changing us and moving situations to through power and wisdom. His goal is transforming us to be one with Him.

God With Us

2000 years ago God came to earth in and put skin on. He walked and breathed and felt pain just like us. That is what the term “Immanuel” means: God with us. God chose to be intimate with us Because He came, died
and resurrected, now His Holy Spirit lives inside of us in the ultimate sense of being “with.”

Christmas Every Day

When we choose to be with Him, He hangs out inside of us! It is the gift of His presence, His very Being. God lived in us. His power and wisdom is in our bodies. I don’t understand how the infinite God dwells in such a finite form as me. But that is the whole story of Christmas. God bridges the gap to be with us.
This is a gift meant to be given. There are so many more that need Christmas in June and every month of the year. Anyone can experience Christmas if they choose. And those who already have the gift can choose to give it away.

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Why We Are Better Together: Part 3

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Kevin

One word could change the entire world, if we only knew how to apply it.

As we are working together to disciple teenagers into disciple makers our motivation is love for God and one another. Love is one of the most used and misused words in our language. It has been applied equally to stuff and people. “I love my girlfriend,” or  “I love my Ipod,” the same word has totally different meanings. But what does it really mean?

In answer to the question, “Why are we better together?”  love is the command that Jesus gives us. In Part 1 we looked at unity, Part 2 was equipping and now lets look at how Jesus wants us to love one another.

John 15: 11-15

“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.” -The Message

Sacrifice
How simple would it be if we could just follow the command to love one another. However, this kind of love is not cupids and hearts, it is more like “Saving Private Ryan.”  Jesus modeled love by laying his life down for those he called friends. And it was just as bloody as the movie! Love is not a transaction or an emotion, it is putting others first and building them up even if it means setting aside your own goals and ambitions.

From our local ministry network we have developed a  youth leaders’ small group where we meet for building community and studying scripture. Over memorial day weekend our small group helped another youth pastor move out   of their third story apartment. They had a 350 pound desk that was in their loft. We hoisted that beauty down 20 feet and then navigated a narrow stairwell. We laughed while we strained and grunted. That is love, giving time and strength to help another in need.

Friends
Jesus calls us friends not servants.  Jim Britts, the network coordinator in my home town , said this, “You gotta be friends before you can partner.” As friends we check our logos and egos at the door. We meet together because we genuinely want to be together.  By looking out for one another’s interests we become like-minded in our love for teenagers. When the students we work with see the love we have for other youth leaders from other churches and organizations they will know we are Christ followers. And they will model this love to those around them.

Joy

The purpose  for love that Jesus gives us is seeing our joy grow up. He wants to have His joy, the  “take joy even though I am going to the cross kind of joy.” It is based strongly in each network member understanding who they are in Christ and what He has done for them. And each member matures by being equipped in their God-given passion and role for multiplying disciples.  As our joy matures, our network matures and the partnerships leads to more teenagers transformed by love.

In Chardon, Ohio a group of youth leaders decided to mature their joy and partnership. Out of their love for one another they chose to meet as one youth group. Youth leaders from multiple denominations equipped teenagers to share their ministry and interests and have their groups become one. This my not be for your area but there are so many possibilities that happen when are networks mature in love.

Action

This may date me but I remember the old DC talk song, “Luv is a verb.” So how can you act on the sacrifice, friendship and joy of love? Reach out to another youth worker in your community. Join a network if you have not already, Or start a network if there is not one in your area. And love one another…


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Losing Bear

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Kevin

This week I went to the celebration of life service of a friend, mentor and partner in ministry, Bear Trillizio. I am saddened by the loss of this great saint.  I was awed and amazed at the turn out of over 2000 people at the service. It was standing room only for the two and a half hour program. And there was such sorrow and joy intermixed. A Marine color guard, teenagers up front playing worship songs, pastors sharing stories, An african american choir singing gospel: all these elements and more were there to send off Bear to His final homecoming.

So who was Bear and why was it so hard to lose him?

Pastor to Youth  and Youth Leaders

Bear was a pastor to youth pastors.   Bear was a mentor of mine. He cared for me as we worked together to unite and equipped youth workers to transform teenagers into disciple makers. Together we hosted “Bear’s Free Lunch” where he shared the same message over and over again, “Be united. We are all a part of the same church.”  He met with thousands of youth leaders over his 30 years at the same church. He helped start Christian clubs across North County San Diego and poured his life into students with his 25+ years of student ministry.

Wholly Human

He was so human. He would sometimes call up his football buddy from the Buffalo Bills to have a cuss out session to relieve the pressure of life. He could also be bull-headed and belligerent. One time he tackled another youth pastor on staff in the hallway because he wasn’t listening! He led a hard life  before he knew Jesus with many regrets that plagued him throughout His life.

Wounded Healer

Even with his shortcomings, he cared so much for others who were hurting around him. “Your ministry is to the person right in front of you.”  He would have the right words to say to cheer or to strengthen you when you are down. He married so many people and did so many funeral services. He was very present and with you.

Marine Evangelist

He was well known for being a Marine and an evangelist. He did secret ops during the Vietnam war and bore physical and emotional scars from a hard life.  And he gave his heart to those Marines. 36.000 Marine recruits  heard the message of Jesus from his lips over the last five years. 5100 came to know Christ and Bear personally baptized 4900 of them. We would always joke that the Marines was the biggest youth group in the world.

Family Man

Bear loved his family. He felt he didn’t deserve the wonderful wife and four teenagers that God blessed Him with. His experienced God’s grace every time he was with them.  He would be at every game and recital he possibly could and bragged incessantly about his kids.

Legacy Leaver

What do you want to accomplish in your life? Bear did so much and yet wanted to do more. I am inspired by Bear’s life to live my life with reckless abandon in love for my Jesus. Bear had courage to stand up and make a difference. And he influenced so many lives.

What legacy will you leave? Be with Jesus, love your family, minister to the person right in front of you and don’t worry about the rest. That’s what I learned from losing Bear.

You can see the live stream of his service at www.NorthCoastCalvary.org

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