Sometimes I Write

I loved Zenith this year as much as the previous years, and for the same reasons. There were several things that happened this year to make it unique. In no particular order:

1. Saying goodbye to friends you know you aren’t going to see for a long time-if ever again, is REALLY hard. Two of our Y.M. friends are moving away and getting out of fulltime youth ministry. I know they’ll both do well in whatever they end up doing. They’re both incredibly gifted and Godly men. Adam and Eli – we love you guys!

2. As far as I know, nobody mistook Sarah Paulk for a camper this year! 😉

3. I was perpetually answering the “Where’s Benny and why isn’t he here?” question. He was missed by campers and staff alike! I got more hugs from kids asking me to pass them on to Benny! He’s definitely the kind of guy that leaves an impression!

4. I got to meet the one and only Jetty Betty!!! She is wonderful and I am so blessed to call her friend. My friend Kevin puts it as “friends with 1’s and 0’s” and “friends with skin”. Now she’s both to me! She traveled to OKC to see her mom and we got to spend a few hours chatting and attending Brock’s class on blogging for God. It’s amazing to me how God can bring two very different people together and bond us in a friendship, using us to mutually encourage each other as we journey towards Him. I am overwhelmingly blessed in the friendship department!!

5. Angi took care of my spirit in a million different ways during camp and the time she was at my house. She also took care of Max so I could do my job.

6. I made a few new youth minister friends – Welcome to Trevor and Brittany, Chad, and Nick Miller – who was recently hired as the new youth minister at Westlink – the last church we worked with.

7. Darrel Sears, one of the funniest guys I know, wasn’t able to attend due to severe illness. Please pray for him and his wife and that his doctors will be able to determine what is causing all the health issues Darrel is having. Complete healing would be great!

8. There were no major medical emergencies this year for campers OR STAFF! Thank you God!

9. I got to hear and meet a great band, Poor Rich Folk. They are extremely talented and really great guys. I got the chance to chat with them for a bit before and after their concert. They are friends with my friend Chris. If you ever get the chance to see them in concert, do it. Better yet, if you ever need a band to play for anything you have going on…book them!

10. Two words…Daren Streblow. I laughed so hard my video camera was shaking and I had to stop recording. He’s a comedian-extraordinaire! You’ve got to hear this guy. I think we’re already trying to book him again for next year. Check him out at his website, read his blog, or even subscribe to his e-newsletter. Buy his stuff. He’ll keep you laughing…I promise!