Mind your manners

Wildfires in Myrtle Beach

Many of you know that we used to live in Myrtle Beach and still really have a heart for those who live and work in that area below is a letter from a friends church in response to what's going on.

Friends in Christ,

Through phone, e-mail and this blog we have been shown support from friends all across North America as well as England. Many thanks for your prayers and concerns. I was taking a short cycle ride to clear my mind and crossing the waterway saw a stunning sight. Large black plumes of smoke stretched across the sky for what looked like 10-15 miles in either direction. Flying above the smoke were 3 Black Hawk helicopters carrying large buckets to douse the fire. Once the Black Hawks had cleared a C-130 guided by a smaller white prop plane flew over the blaze dropping water over the tree line. It was a humbling thing to know this fire has resisted our finest fire fighters and military personnel for three days now.

Trinity is still on the short list to become a shelter if the need arises, but it looks as if this is not Trinity’s role to play in this crisis as many people are finding shelter in hotels preferring to sleep in beds rather than cots. As for those of you who have made your homes available I am tremendously thankful and will let you know if we will be honored to serve in this way.

As it is at the moment, I am waiting for the Red Cross and Salvation Army to call us back and give us specific instructions and specific needs for which we could contribute. In addition to this, my wife and I are currently in the process of organizing two charitable fundraisers to contribute to the relief and rebuilding effort. Stay tuned for more news on those fronts. I am hoping to be able to make an announcement at Sunday morning services about the specific role Trinity will play in the coming weeks. Until then, the TRINITY WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND serves as the best option for those of you that wish to make a contribution through Trinity.

Finally, I wish to thank my former pastor and former church, Steve Wood and St. Andrews Mt. Pleasant for pledging funds for the relief effort here in Horry County. Knowing the passion for Jesus that characterizes St. Andrews it is of no surprise to me that they were first in line to pledge assistance in this crisis.

For contributions or volunteer sign up please see the post immediately below.

Continue to pray that the wind will die out, the humidity will rise, the fire will be extinguished and that lives and homes will be preserved.

much love in Jesus Christ,

Rob

Adventures in youth ministry...

One of our Sr.'s emailed me this last night. I got his permission to post it and have removed all the names. The context is that he's trying to set up a meeting with his small group of 8th grade guys. It's rather funny in my opinion.

I am gathering my boys to work on testimonials and try out a small group in a little bit tonight. So to start off my sim card fried and i had to get a new one,losing all my old numbers. I also got a new bible and cannot find my old one with my numbers in it,convinent eh? So i get in touch with ______ and get his list to save time.out of the 4 numbers,one worked.(now before i say anything else I have contacted all of them now.) I sent out a generic text like this.this is verbatim

Starbucks on coleman tonight from 6 to 7.it will just be us tonight so no outside pressure.call me if you cannot come or have any questions.

sounded ok to me!well apparently I sent it to a wrong number and it was percieved as a threat and this 16 year old girl fought with me (on an unknown number by the way) and argued that i was not contacting a group of boys to talk about jesus but to kidnap her 11 year old sister. it was really interesting experience.and i thought it would let you hear about this random encounter to always keep in our minds that no good work comes without hard work. haha,i am about to go hang with the group now.Have a good night and i will see you soon!
god bless!

It's Friday

The week is finished and Friday is here. I know life has Day 158 TGIF, originally uploaded by Dupmeister. really kept me from this blog lately. To my faithful friends and family who continue to check it thanks! Here's a little update on how life is going...

• Home : Things are good. Yesterday was a big day in that it was the one year anniversary of us closing on this house. Today is a big day in that Abbie turns 3 months old today. Tomorrow's a big day (well actually Sunday) in that my bride turns____ (i know better) We're having a big shindig tomorrow to celebrate. Not to brag but i rocked out in the gift department this year. My brother and his girlfriend stopped by Wed. of this week. It had been almost a year since we had seen each other and this was Abbie's first time meeting her uncle. Despite it being so short of a visit it was good to see them.
  

• Work : Work is winding gearing up to wind down. This season in the student ministry is always busy. We have several things coming to a close all at once which loads on the longer days and busy Sundays. However we do end up soon so a change in pace is on the horizon. Our Sunday evening gatherings end up soon as does the season of Confirmation. (if you want to see something really awe inspiring stop by St. Andrew's Mt. Pleasant on May 1st at 6:30pm trust me). New Wine is gearing up. (NewWineUSA.org) so that is taking lots of planning as well as us getting our ducks in a row for summer. Also our office is a mess which is a great indicator of the hectic pace of this season.
  

It is however Friday which means Sabbath for me. Time to spend with my girls. Time to spend walking the dog, time to just be. So here's to kicking my feet up and enjoy this beautiful day.

- One final note: the fires that have been in the national news lately are really serious. They are taking place in Myrtle Beach and have affected hundreds of people at the onset of tourist season. I'll post some pics later and how you can help out.

Funny moments in youth ministry...

The other night at the high school small group I lead we assigned dead people to research. People who God has used to impact the kingdom for his glory. So as we went through the list and assigned students great historical people to study we came to Jonathan Edwards. As this great preacher was assigned to a student the student got a confused look on his face and said "The guy from North Carolina who ran for President"? !

Farmers market

Farmers market, originally uploaded by dlibbon.

Saturday we headed down to Marion Square to the large farmers market that takes place there every Saturday. We had a really good time. The weather was great. Sunny but not hot. Loads of people but that comes with the territory. Stopped by Kudo Coffee and had a great Kenya AA while we walked the blocks of down town historic Charleston. (the rest of the pics are posted on my flickr site on the left) Over all a really great day.

Tis the busy season at work so the blog is a bit quiet. I'd expect things to pick up around here after a few weeks.

Oh that I sould be so...

This is a quote I came across this morning as I was studying. It's one that struck me last spring as well...

“Oh that we should see the great head of the church raise up once more certain young men who he may use in this glorious employ. And what manner of men might they be? Men mighty in the scriptures, their lives dominated by a sense of the greatness the majesty the holiness of God and their hearts and minds aglow with the doctrines of grace. They will be men who have learned what it is to die to self, to human aims and personal ambitions, men who are willing to be fools for Christ sake who will bear reproach and false hood. Who will labor and suffer who’s surpassing desire will not be to gain earths accolades but to win the masters approbation when they shall appear before his awesome judgment seat, they shall be men who preach with broken hearts, and tear filled eyes and upon who’s ministries God will grant an extraordinary infusion of the holy spirit who will witness signs and wonders following the transformation of multitudes of lives.”

~ Whitfield

Prayer

"Behold lord and empty vessel that needs to be filled. My lord fill it. I am weak in the faith strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust in you. In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have. Strengthen my faith and trust in you. I am poor; you are rich and come to be merciful to the poor. I am a sinner; you are upright. With me there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive but to whom I may not give."

~Martin Luther 1483-1546

Define: Disciple

I know it's been thin around here lately. The blog has grown quiet as our semester heads to it's conclusion. One thing I'll share in brief is something I came across this morning.

Often in ministry definitions are hard to come by. For example what is success? Numbers, depth, staying power, passion? Or how about this one...What is maturity look like? Does it mean that I read my bible every day, pray, serve? Sounds like a check list to me, sounds like law not grace...Do you feel my frustration. While doing some reading I came across a definition I really like for maturity... The mature person in Christ has "The level of authentic confession of sin, persistent belief in the gospel, love for one another, and sharing of life and mission is remarkable"

Those 5 things are foundations in which as I pray for myself, my family, and the students entrusted to my ministry.

Perhaps you view it differently? What would you add? or take away?

Spring Break

What we did over spring break...

Where we spent our afternoon.

Botnay, originally uploaded by dlibbon.

Today the family packed up and headed to Botany Bay near Edisto SC. It was amazing to see mostly untouched coast line. Shell's were amazing and the weather beautiful. Click here for some more pics.

Journaling

It's Saturday and morning has sprung here at my castle. Something significant happened last night. Several years ago. (Actually 2002) I received a challenge to conical my final years of college and the transition into "the real world". This challenge was one I took seriously it was one that right off the bat blessed me.

• Journaling allows me to take the theoretical and make it physical. I read once that vision is just good intentions until you can write it down. This helps me clarify my thoughts. It allows me to work through them to process them as they flow from my pen to the paper.
  
• This simple act of recording my thoughts, goals, prayers, and hopes at the end of the day have allowed me to look back and see how God's hand has guided my life through all the years.His presence over my life is amazing.
• Journaling forces me to slow down. For me it acts as a check and balance system. If i pull out my journal and see that it's been several days since the last entry I know to examine my life and see if I've been to busy to simply be still and listen to my creator.

As I crease the first pages of my fifth volume of blank pages I stare with wonder at what might fill them. A year ago if you would have told me that new job, new home, new community, and a new life would grace the pages I'm not sure i would have believed you. So come Lord Jesus write this next chapter.