Thoughts from this Week

Youth and Families,
This email finds you at the end of a week likely filled with sadness, confusion, and many questions. I pray, however, that this has also been a week marked by moments of extraordinary faith, hope, and love.

This summer several of the adults and youth involved in our ministry are reading Elijah's story, found in 1 Kings and 2 Kings. Each week a staff person has posted their thoughts on our blog. Given the circumstances of this week, I thought it appropriate to share my thoughts with all of you today. 

1 Kings 19 speaks a word directly to where many of us find ourselves this week. Elijah is at one of the low points of his life, so much sorrow has overcome him that asks the Lord to take his life. God graciously says no. In fact, God calls Elijah to do just the opposite. Elijah wants to lay down and die, God tells him to get up and go: to walk 40 days and then climb a mountain where he will meet the Lord. At the top of the mountain he finds a chaotic scene, a scene filled with fire, earthquakes, and fierce wind. Then, suddenly, in the midst of the chaos there is a moment of sheer silence. Elijah hears a voice, the Lord says, "Elijah..."

Whether you are at a great low point in your life this week, or whether your mourning is for your brothers and sisters right now, may this story from Elijah be your story for this week. May you listen for where the Lord might lead you, may you trust Him and go, and when you arrive may the Lord again meet you with the word you need to hear. A word for you, or a word for you to share with someone else.

None of us know exactly how to care for those who are grieving, but we do know that the Holy Spirit is with them and with us. Will you take a few moments in the midst of the chaos this weekend to create silence and listen? Who knows what God will do with that time. 

I am immensely proud of our youth and families. I believe that just as Elijah was an agent for God in the Old Testament, that you are agents for God today, being used to bring the good news of Jesus to the world.

I am proud to be with you. 

Yours in the ever-lasting and ever-merciful love of Christ,

Matt

PS - It should go without saying that the entire youth staff is available to you and your family during this time. We are available to talk, pray, or just listen to both teens and parents. It would be an honor to visit with you. 

Week #1- 1 Kings 17- Elijah

Welcome to our Biblestudy blog!  For the rest of the summer, we are challenging you guys to read one chapter out of 1st Kings, a book that tells the story of Elijah, per week; we as a staff will be sharing our thoughts and questions on the verses you all are reading.  Cant wait to hear your thoughts on Elijah!

I Kings: Elijah

Setting-  Elijah is one hardcore prophet in the ancient country of Israel, and he’s against this equally hardcore yet totally evil king named Ahab.  This ranks right up there with the strongest nemesis of all time; Think Harry Potter/Voldermort, Batman/the Joker, Texas/Oklahoma- they are both huge, and larger than life, and sold out to destroying each other.  The size of their opponent just drives them to even greater heights.  

The books of 1 & 2 Kings are both historical and didactic – that means they not only tell us what has happened in the past, but also teach us something about the present and the future; by teaching us about what has happened, they tell us what will happen and what we can expect from God as well. 

Eijah is a prophet- means that he has the tremendous power and responsibility to speak for God.  This gets him into trouble when he lives in a country run by a very evil king- a king who wants to do just about everything except follow God.  Ahab is doing everything he can to draw the people of Israel away from god, and Eijah is doing all he can to draw them to god- its an epic tug-of-war match for the heart and soul of the entire nation.  

In the process, Elijah ends up in a few truly epic moments- at one point he has a showdown with 450 false prophets - and he defeats (read: kills in an epic divine grudge match) all of them. 

In spite of all his highlights, Eijah is also a real person- he does absolutely huge things, but he has very real emotions.  He trusts God, but sometimes he gets scared.  He believes in God, but sometimes doubts arise. He follows God, but sometimes he gets tired and wants to quit (and even asks for God to kill him).  He definitely lives it out, but he definitely expresses genuine, raw emotion at times, and that gives me a little hope that ordinary humans can live extraordinary lives through god.  

-Bill

Most Successful Swishin' for Mission Ever Because of You!

Dear HPUMC Youth and Parents -

     

     On behalf of the Youth Ministries at Highland Park United Methodist Church - we would like to sincerely thank you for such a successful Swishin’ for Mission!  Thank you for volunteering, for playing, and for sponsoring.

With your help and contribution, we had one of our most successful years yet.  This year we had a record number of 94 teams registered and the largest amount donated by our corporate sponsors!  All together, Swishin’ for Mission brought in $26,000!!!

     We just can't thank you enough for your donation and endless hours of service to this great mission.  It's not only great for our ministry and our church - but a great blessing to everyone in our community.  Most importantly, your gifts will make a difference in the lives of those around the world whom our mission trips serve!

We would like to send a very special thank you to:

Our fundraising committee heads Phyllis Walker and Robin Bagwell, as well as Sharon Popham and Karey Lewis.  Together they were able to acquire a record number of corporate and family sponsors

Valerie Meletio for coordinating all of our wonderful volunteers

Sara & Marty Alleman for organizing concessions

We would also like to say thank you to all of our corporate and family sponsors:

The Landes Family

The Dedman Family

The Tichenor Family

You’ve Been Flagged

The John L. Adams Family

The Kulas Family

Benchmark Title

Cantina Laredo

Caron Foundation of Texas, Inc.

Community Partners of Dallas

Cornerstone Café

Clicks Billards

Cooper Aerobics

Rusty Taco

Texas Legends

Bank of Texas

Refined Realty/Donna Parker

Stewart Title

Zogg Benefits

Studio Movie Grill

Kid Biz

The Bagwell Family

The Helm Family

The Vendig Family

We couldn't do it without the help and support of ALL of you!  Thank you again for such a fantastic Swishin’ for Mission!

Look forward to next year already!

With gratitude,

Stephen Lohoefer

Communication for Spring Break Mission San Antonio 2012

While we are in San Antonio we want to keep you as updated and informed as possible.  We’ve designed several avenues for you to access that information as easily as possible while we are away; Twitter, HPUMC Youth website, our Blog, and our Facebook page.  Please read below for more information. 

Twitter- If you are on twitter, please follow @HPUMCYouth.  If you want to get an account, head to twitter.com, signup for an account, and choose to follow us.  Twitter is essentially a mini-blog or mini message board.  This is where in 140 characters/letters or less you can say whatever you want.  We will use this to post thoughts from the day, photos, and videos.  You can access this from both your computer or if you have a smart phone.  The youth staff is all on twitter, so if you would like to follow us we are;

Stephen Lohoefer- @StephenLohoefer

Phil Dieke- @PhilDieke

Bill Gepford- @BillGepford

Andrew Beard- @Hasabeard

Hillary Barnard- @HillBarnard

If you have no interest in getting a twitter account, our twitter feed/posts will be on our website, our facebook, and our blog.  You can also just go to twitter.com/hpumcyouth and see our twitter feed without logging in or getting an account.  When we do twitter updates, we will tag our tweets with #HPFearFactor.  So if you tweet something about the trip, please tag it with #HPFearFactor as well.

HPUMC Youth website- HPUMCYouth.org.  You can access this by using the URL or you can navigate there through the HPUMC.org website.  On the homepage we have a twitter feed that will update every time we tweet something.  As well on the youth page you can access the HPUMC Youth Blog.  We will probably be having youth updating this throughout the trip. 

Blog- hpumcstudents.blogspot.com.  This is the website that you are currently on...so somehow you got here before, but here is what we'll be putting on this site.  We’ll have youth post thoughts from the day and possibly photos and videos.  With inconsistent Internet connection, this will potentially be the least updated form of communication.  The blog can be accessed from a computer or a smart phone.  There are several ways to access the blog; type in the URL listed above, go to the youth website and click “the blog” link under the video on the right side of the homepage, or scan the QR code below for quick access to a mobile version for your smart phone.

Facebook- www.facebook.com/hpumcstudents.  Our facebook page will have our twitter feed as well as photos and videos from our trip.  You can access this by going to the URL listed above, from our website, or just typing in “hpumc students” in the facebook search.  You will need to “like” our page to have it show on your news feed.

We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to see what we are up to while we are gone.  Please let us know if you have any questions and feel free to pass this information to family and friends so they can stay updated on our trip as well.     

Swishin' for Mission Donors Needed!

Dear HPUMC Youth Families and Friends!

We are excited to announce our upcoming Swishin' for Mission basketball tournament. It is a great event we host annually and this year we need your help!

Swishin' for Mission is a basketball tournament that raises funds for HPUMC’s local and international youth missions – it is our only fundraiser for the year, which enables our youth to serve both our local community and the world at large.  With your help, last year we were able to send over 400 youth on our mission trips!  Whether you can donate $5 or $50,000 – we need your help!  Below you will find listed the donation levels and their corresponding recognition for you or your business.

Silver Sponsors           $500 - $1,000            Names/company listed on t-shirts.

Gold Sponsors             $1,001 - $2,500         Names and Logo on t-shirts.

Platinum Sponsors      $2,501 +                    All of the above and a banner in the gym.   

Here are some of the things our youth have to say about these experiences:

“Mission trips are life changing in unspeakable ways…you are constantly building upon your relationship with God, and the people around you. Giving back to the people that are less fortunate than we are really allows you to grow as a person and a Christian. Without mission trips, I have no clue where my faith would be.” - Blakely Lott

“God doesn't call us to be comfortable he calls us to love and be loved.  When you get outside your comfort zone to love a stranger you truly witness God's kingdom” – Lauren Bagwell

The impact these mission opportunities have in the lives of our youth is undeniable, but we want all youth to have access to these same experiences and your financial gift allows us to make that possible.

We need individuals, families, organizations, or companies that will support our youth in this endeavor by donating to Swishin' for Mission.

Your support is vital and can be made out to Highland Park United Methodist Church 3300

Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, Texas 75205

Attn: Lucy McDaniel, or you can donate online -  http://www.hpumc.org/pages/youth-donate-hpumc-students

We sincerely appreciate your consideration and we thank you for helping these youth serve those in need.

Stephen Lohoefer

Director of Youth Ministries

Swishin' For Mission

Time to Register for . . .

SWISHIN’ FOR MISSION

24th Annual 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Thursday – Sunday, February 23-26

The Youth Department’s 24th annual Swishin’ for Mission is a 3 on 3 basketball tournament for 3rd through 8thgraders which is held at the Biggers Building.  Teams are gender and grade specific.  This event is an outreach into the community and fundraiser for our youth.  The proceeds from this event help underwrite our spring break and summer mission trips.

$120 per team

Contact Lucy McDaniel with questions

214.523.2233

mcdaniel@hpumc.org

To get more information and team registration:

http://www.hpumcyouth.org/swishin

Summer Mission Trip

The Youth department is so excited to announce that for our Summer Mission Trip we are headed to............ Pensacola, Florida!

  

We are fired up about going to Pensacola, as it is going to be a great trip – West Pensacola has twice the poverty rate of the rest of Florida, so we will stay busy fixing houses and rebuilding lives.  On our free days, we will head to the beautiful beaches for some fun in the sun!   

Here’s a snapshot of the details:

Dates: June 10-16

Cost:  January 1 - March 27: $749; March 28 - May 3: $799;   May 4 - June 1: $850

Who: Anyone is welcome! Grades 6 - 12 (that does include graduating seniors) – non-members are always welcome, so bring your friends!

Parent Meeting Dates:  Mandatory parent meetings will be on Tuesday, May 8 at 6pm, and Monday, May 14 at 6pm in the Youth Basement

– A parent or legal guardian must attend one meeting!

Don’t forget! This is a great trip to invite your friends on, especially if they have never been on a mission trip before! 

Your invitation could be the difference in their life!

Register today! http://www.hpumc.org/pages/youth-pensacola

T's Weekly Thought: I Love You

Hey Everyone!

This last week I received a text message from a dear friend of mine whose husband is a well known coach.  She had read a not so nice article about her husband in the paper.  My heart sank as I thought how difficult this would be.  I mean, if I give a bad thought or sermon - people may talk about it - but you're not going to read it in the paper! 

I was talking about it with Topher - telling him how upset this stuff makes me.  I mean who does the media think they are!  This guy is terrific!  And he has a FAMILY.  But the media doesn't care about that.  They just have a story to tell, and by gosh, they are going to tell it.  Regardless of how it personally might affect someone. His/her family. Friends. 

I couldn't help but think how we all might be a little more like the media than we would like to admit.  How quick we are to judge. Pounce on someone.  Someone looks different, acts different.  Doesn't wear the "right" clothes.  Is socially awkward.  Someone makes a bad decision.  And BAM!  we are all right there - ready to talk about it.  "Put it in the headlines".  Sometimes just not leaving the kind of room we should for grace, understanding, love.

The other day a friend of mine sent me the following quote:

"Admit Something:

Everyone you see, you say to them, "Love me."

Of course you do no do this out loud, otherwise someone would call the cops.

Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect.

Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye that is always saying,

with that sweet moon language,

what every other eye in this world is dying to hear."

Gosh, I just loved it. Because isn't it so true?  I mean when it comes right down to it - don't we all just want to be loved.  Honestly - I don't care who you are.  How popular, confident, nerdy, alone you are.  Regardless of the heirs we try to put on or the masks we wear. Whether you know it or not.  EVERYONE - every single one of us is DYING to be loved. 

The youth have spent the last 6+ years making fun of me because I always seem to talk about love.  Inevitably every Sunday or Wednesday somebody jokingly says,"What are you talking about today/tonight? Oh wait, let me guess, LOVE?"  Ha ha ha ha ha! 

Honestly, I think I could preach, write weekly thoughts, talk about love every day for the rest of my life and people would still get it wrong. I would still get it wrong. 

Why is it so dang hard to just LOVE?  Especially when it's the very thing we are all dying to be........loved.

As I write my last weekly thought to you as your Youth Director - my greatest prayer is that you have felt my love for you.  I have certainly been far from perfect over my tenure here - but the one thing I actually tried really hard to get right is to love you.

One of the greatest things our Savior taught us is that nothing can separate us from love.  Nothing.  Not distance.  Not death.  When you love someone - it's forever.  And that's certainly how I feel about my love for you.

Thank you for blessing me with the opportunity to serve you these last few years.  I am forever changed, forever better because of my time spent with you.

Never ever forget........

I love you. Always will.

T

Great News at HPUMC for Cornerstone and Youth

As you may have seen in a recent email or you heard yesterday at Thrive, we have very exciting news happening in Cornerstone and in the Youth department.  Below is a copy of the email sent out. 

I am so pleased to announce the following staff promotions within our HPUMC family. Effective January 15th, Tova Sido will move into Cornerstone as the Cornerstone Campus Pastor. Given the rate of growth in Cornerstone, I believe it is vital to have great visionary leadership in place to serve the congregation and plan for the future. Tova has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in her present role as Director of Youth Ministry, and we are blessed to have her accept the opportunity to serve the greater church. As Campus Pastor, Tova will direct the Cornerstone staff, plan and implement mid-week programming, and coordinate discipleship for the Cornerstone community. I will continue as the lead preacher in all Cornerstone worship services.

Along with this transition, Stephen Lohoefer will step into a new role as Director of Youth Ministry. Stephen has been on the youth staff for six years as Youth Worship Coordinator, and he has demonstrated great leadership, innovation, and relational presence in the department. He has a bright future in ministry, and we are lucky to have him on staff and eager to assume the new role. We have an incredibly talented and gifted staff here at HPUMC, and it is a joy to work alongside them as they fulfill God’s call upon their lives. I hope you will take a minute to congratulate each on their new assignment.

Sincerely,

Paul Rasmussen



Dear Youth and Families -

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about the opportunity to be named the Campus Pastor to Cornerstone.  I am equally excited that Stephen has been named the new Director of Youth Ministry for our church.  Honestly, we are the luckiest to have someone so incredibly talented to serve as our leader.

As a leader in our Youth Ministry for over 6 years now, I have been incredibly blessed - by the staff, the parents, the church.....and most especially, the youth.  For years you have been my family - my blessing.  An incredible gift to me.  I will never, ever take for granted or forget the time that God blessed me with each one of you.

The ONLY way I can walk away from this position without a flood of tears and immense sadness is two fold -

1.  I am moving to Cornerstone - best Contemporary Worship service ever.  Right next door.

2.  Stephen, Phil, Hillary, Bill, Lucy and Andrew have GOT THIS.

I have NEVER felt more confident in our staff- they are the best I have ever seen - our youth, our volunteers, our families.  You are in the best hands ever.......and I know- without a doubt - that God is watching over and blessing us along this path.

Please know that I am never far away. 

I love you.  Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: LIVE!

As you know, I spend a lot of time talking about my kids - all the wonderful life lessons they teach me.  Most of the time it's because they do cute or sweet things........today I didn't get so lucky.

Today I had a car full - taking and dropping kids off.  One of my best friends crawled in the back of my Yukon and immediately pipes up, "Uh.....T, do you know that there is writing back here on your seat?  lt looks like someone took a marker to your seat."

No actually, I did NOT know that one of my kids took a sharpie to my leather seat. 

This is where the Lord's gift of deep breaths comes in REAL handy.

Shortly after, they got out of my car and headed to sports camp at Biggers.  My words were few. They got "the eye" from me - and that was enough for them to know that I wasn't happy - and we would have "the talk" later.

Later today I headed to Biggers to get a workout in before I had to pick them up. From the 3rd floor of the building I could look over the gym where the 3 of them were enjoying sports camp.  They caught my eye - and immediately were working diligently to make "everything okay" - blowing kisses, hugs, waving incessantly.  I thought to myself - Oh man they are WORKING ME!  Trying so hard to make up for the damage done - wanting to be forgiven - back in good graces......for everything to be "okay".

Gosh - in that moment I so sympathized with them. I remember being a little kid and doing something super stupid - getting in to trouble and just desperately wanting for my parents to stop being mad at me.  To please just forgive me and move past that yucky feeling of being "in trouble".

Sometimes I don't know whether that feeling is a curse or a blessing.  And honestly, I'd love to tell you that one day you'll never have to worry about that feeling again - that you'll stop doing stupid stuff- making bad choices.....live without any regrets.....but here's the hard truth -

You're entire life you will need forgiveness.  You're whole life you will need the grace that Jesus taught us to give.

And receive.

I saw something in my children today that is all too familiar in myself. I totally mess up and can't help but wonder-

Am I worth being forgiven?

Will they still love me?

Of course I am.  Of course my children are.  And of course you are.

But why is that so incredibly difficult to believe? 

I think that Jesus' grace is one of the most beautiful things about him.  One of those rare qualities that leaves us scratching our heads and saying things like "Really?  Are you SURE you still love me?  Are you positive I still have value?  Even after I did THAT?"

YES.  You do. 

Jesus himself in Matthew 26 said, "This is my blood of the  covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Jesus did what He did so we could walk with our back straight and our head high.  So we could KNOW that yes, we do make mistakes - we write on our mom's Yukon leather seats with Sharpies - and are STILL worthy of His love.  STILL worth forgiving.  STILL have value.

I think sometimes in life it's a whole lot easier to look at our past, our mistakes - as some sort excuse for why we aren't living.  Why we can't change.  That somehow we are destined for this life of "failure" and sin because well, it's what we've always done.  We don't believe we are worth more than our sin.

You wanna know something........that's just a sad lie.  Because God didn't send His son to die on a cross for you to resign. Give up. 

Jesus came to give each one of us hope.  Forgiveness.  Redemption.  And not just once -but again and again and again.

I don't know what you are hanging on to. What sin keeps you from fully living.  What failure has lied to you....

Here's what I know. Christ came.  He lived a perfect life. He showed us how to live and to love.  And then died for our sins.  Three days later He rose from the dead - ascended in to heaven - and dwells with our eternal God where WE -ME AND YOU - can and will return one day.

YOU are worthy of that gift.  YOU were worth dying for.  YOU are worth forgiving.  and YOU are worth loving. 

PERIOD.

Now........go live that life!!  Stop making excuses and live -  KNOWING that you are of worth, value, love, forgiveness.

I love you.  Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: Already Been Given

This past week I had an incredibly special treat.  My younger sister received a masters degree - and so my entire family (brother, 2 sisters, and dad) were all together for the weekend.  It was simply the best. I love my brother, sisters and dad so much.  Time with them is like winning the lottery.  I was especially lucky to steal a few moments with my brother.  Saturday morning we woke up early and went for a jog together.  In that 40 minutes I felt nothing but love.  We had such a great talk about the holy spirit- and how both of us in so many ways had felt God's love for us.  We talked about the different ways God had revealed himself to us.  Through answered prayers, other people, comfort, love. 

Gosh - God is so incredibly good.  His love for us is so real.  I am reminded often - whether through a personal experience, or of those around me - that God REALLY does know us.  He is so incredibly aware of us.  Our needs.  Our desires.  Our weaknesses.  And I believe, more than anything, that it is His desire for us to believe in Him.  For us to believe that He really DOES care. Really does know.  Really does bless..........even in those darkest, saddest, loneliest moments. Our Savior stands - waiting to hear our prayers and bless us in and through those moments.

Tonight as I was cleaning out an old bookcase I found a journal I kept shortly after my daughter Louisa passed away.  I wrote, "Last night I had a dream.  Louisa was in my dream.  I don't remember what happened - but I know I saw her - and as I looked at her a song was playing in the background -

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand says you'll catch me whenever I fall

You say it best, when you say nothing at all."

I just had to sit down for a minute......gather myself as I was reminded of God's great love.  Again. 

Christ isn't physically here - but He promised us before He left that while He was going - we would never be alone. The power of the Holy Spirit is so real.  That spirit blesses us and reminds us often that our God would never ever leave us to do this life alone. How could we??

My prayer this Christmas season is that Christ's greatest gift - His love - will permeate your heart.  Your life. Your home.  That you will be reminded this season that He DOES know you.  He loves you. His desire is for you to feel and know that love.  And while He isn't here physically, his Holy Spirit can and will bless you through precious feelings, other people, comfort, love........peace.

May Christ's Holy Spirit reign throughout your holiday and remind you that the greatest gift has already been given.......the life and love of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Race To Nowhere: Don't Miss Our Unbelievable Panel

Dear Youth Families -   

A couple of months ago our church hosted a viewing and panel discussion of the film, The Race To Nowhere.  I was so personally moved by this film that I felt like we had to do more.  This film addresses the pressure on kids today to keep up - and the never ending "race to nowhere".  




On Sunday, January 8, HPUMC Youth Ministry will be hosting a second viewing of this film with a panel discussion to follow that includes:
 
Dan Myers, M.D., author of Biblical Parenting
Richard Bohac, Assistant Principal of Highland Park Middle School
Cathie Looney, Certified Reality Therapist and acclaimed national speaker
Tova Sido, Director of Youth Ministry, HPUMC
Candace Winslow, Interim Director of Children's Ministry, HPUMC 

I am so excited to have so many incredible, relevant people on our panel.  It's going to be a great event - something you don't want to miss.    Please put this date on your calendar.  Then make sure your whole family can be there.  Then invite 3 families you know. 

It's just that important.    

See you there!!

Tova


http://www.hpumc.org/racetonowhere

T's Weekly Thought: Prayer

I have had something on my mind a lot lately.  Prayer.

Honestly, I don't know how people in this world get along without it.  Whether I am experiencing exceptionally good or bad times-I am all over prayer. In the bad times I need help, and in the good times.......I can't help but say thank you - and please please please........let it last.

I remember when I was about 8, I was visiting my aunt in Florida.  Flying on a plane all by myself.  I prayed and prayed and prayed for weeks before that I would sit by someone who was nice - and there wouldn't be any turbulence during the flight.  The day finally came for me to board that plane. I sat next to a girl my age who happened to be flying alone too. Turbulence free, we sat there and played cards and sipped on Sprite the entire flight.  I couldn't have been happier.  I knew God had answered my prayers.  And I was His forever.  I believed that He knew me, He loved me, that I was His child that He really did care about.

Tonight I was at the Festival of Carols at our church.  The youth choir sang the most beautiful song......Will We Know Him?  It's a beautiful song that talks about the birth of Christ.  Here is this King....Jesus, who was born. And even though He is born in lowly manger, when we see the star - and this tiny little baby - will we know Him when He comes?

I love that song. I love how humble Christ was. How sweet and unassuming He came. How precious and beautiful He lived......and how courageous and selfless he died.  It's amazing how little He required - and yet how impactful He was.  I mean think about it - this one beautiful person changed everything for everyone for forever.

I couldn't help hearing that song tonight, asking myself the same question........Would I know Him?  If Christ was here - if He came and stood before me - walk among us - Would I know?

Would you?

I think it's easy to think about "back then".  I mean OF COURSE if I was alive "back then" - when Christ was here - I would know Him.  I would follow him.  I wouldn't deny him.  You would too.  Right???

Really?  Would I?  Would you?

How would we know that it's REALLY Him? That He was worth listening to?  Knowing?  Following?

Back to prayer.......

It seems to me that one of the precious gifts that Christ gave us to KNOW him is through prayer.  I believe with everything inside me that this is truly a way to KNOW that Christ is there. That He listens, cares, answers.

I think a lot of us think we know Christ, want to know Christ, hope to know Christ - but how many of us PRAY to know Christ.  Beg for His presence in our lives.  ASK for Him to help us along our way. Plead for His spirit to help us, guide our path.

Because of your relationship with Christ - Would you know Him if He came?  Would you fall to your knees like the wise men?  Bringing gifts for the King that came as a poor baby in a barn??

I hope I would. I hope that my life reflects a desire to know Christ. I would hope that because of my persistent reflection and love for Christ that if He came again - regardless of where or how - that I would know Him.  Worship Him.  Cry out to Him.

Prayer is such a gift. It is such a necessary gift that I feel we often miss.  Miss an opportunity to see God in so many beautiful ways........

My gosh He loves us.  And believe it or not, He really knows you and really loves you.  I have to believe that He desires for us to know and love Him in the same way.  I think that prayer is a gift He gave us to fill that desire.  To bless us in unbelievable ways.  Help us in this crazy world along our unpredictable paths.

I encourage you to use it.  Take advantage of this precious precious gift our Savior gave us.  Prayer WILL change your faith.  WILL bring you more peace.  WILL help you see your Savior in your life - blessing you along your path.

I have experienced it in my own life.  I have seen Christ move mountains in my life.  No question I have seen Him. 

I desperately pray for you to believe that Christ wants the same in your life.  For you to.......know Him.

I love you.  Always will.

T

Help Us Congratulate Clayton Small

Dear HPUMC Youth and Families -

I know many of you over the last few years have been incredibly blessed by our fabulous part-time staff Clayton Small.  Clayton has truly been a gift to our ministry.

Sadly, for us, Clayton will be graduating from Dallas Baptist University this December and has taken a full time job in Kansas City to be a Jr. High youth minister.  This is a great opportunity for Clayton - and his new wife-to-be in the coming year!  And while we wish him all the luck, love and blessings - we can't help but be incredibly sad to lose one of the greatest ministers ever to be a part of this ministry.  Clayton came here as a freshman in college - wide eyed and green as they come!  Almost 4 years later, he will leave a young man - one of the best I have ever know.

This week is Clayton's last week.  He will be preaching this Wednesday at WOW and this Sunday at THRIVE - and would love the opportunity to say good-bye to all of you who can make it.  I know he would also be blessed by your words of love, gratitude and encouragement.  His email is smallc@hpumc.org.

Clayton, thank you - You have been an incredible gift and blessing to this ministry and especially to this staff.  We love you.  Wish you the best of luck.....and hope you know you always have a home here with us.

God bless you forever and always.

Tova

T's Weekly Thought: Today

This past weekend I went to a Christmas party where I ran into a friend I haven't seen in a while.  As we chatted and caught up I asked her how her children were doing.  She answered, "Ya know....today was a good day."  I absolutely loved that answer.

Today was a good day.

I wish when I woke up I could think - just do good TODAY.  Be kind today.  Be a great mom - just for today.  I wish I could look at my life in "today" language.  

I think that's a super difficult thing to do.  I put an inordinate amount of pressure on myself to not just be mediocre - but instead to be darn near perfect.  Now - I fail a lot of the time - but it certainly doesn't mean I am not trying.  And so when I break that down and think - okay - hopefully I am going to live for many more years.......how am I going to achieve so much for so long?  How can I possibly work out, do yoga, jog for the REST of my life?  How can I go on being patient with my kids forever?  How can I possibly achieve so much as a youth minister for much longer?  

It can be incredibly overwhelming.

And let's be honest.  Ya'll are A LOT younger than me.  You have a lot more years ahead of you than I do.  I can't imagine the pressure to look perfect, make perfect grades, be the perfect son, daughter, sister, brother, friend.  To move WAY beyond mediocrity in sports, playing instruments, etc, etc etc.  I mean I see the pace you have to keep to "keep up" (which is just gives me a stomach ache to write about - I can't imagine the pressure of actually living it!) - it's mind boggling.  And I have to imagine that over time - that pressure day in and day out takes a toll.  Everybody's worried about the grades you're getting, the colleges you will apply to, who will accept you, where will you go, will you make the team, do you have enough friends, money, clothes, technology?

So.....HOW exactly do we do it?

The answer.........You just do it - Today.

Just today.  And then tomorrow, do it....tomorrow.  Without worrying about it....Today.

Jesus hit this spot on when he told us - "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Over the holidays (or just life) it is so incredibly easy to get overwhelmed.  You have finals, shopping, cooking, guests......finals, shopping, cooking and guests again.  It can be super stressful.  I think if we take the time to focus on just TODAY - I think it might help.  It allows us to let yesterday go - and not worry about what tomorrow will bring.  According to Jesus, today has enough trouble of its own.  ; )

Take a deep breath.  The only thing you have to do today.....is today.

I love you.  Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: What A Gift

com·pas·sion (km-pshn): Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.

Last week after the long weekend - great holiday, I was tired.  We had traveled from St. Louis all day Saturday - and after 10.5 hours in the car - I was ready to get out - just have a little bit of space.  As I put my kids to bed - my patience waned.  We quickly said a prayer, I blew kisses and said good night and swiftly shut the door.  As I shut the door I heard Anna-Prin say, "Geez, she didn't even give us kisses."  I opened the door, and said, "You know what guys, I'm sorry.  I am super cranky tonight.  I'm tired.  Haven't been what you deserve tonight.  You come home from vacation and just get dinner and get to go to bed.  I come home - need to sweep, clean up, unpack, do mounds of laundry.  Sometimes mom just wants someone to feed her dinner and put her to bed.  But that's not your fault - and so I am sorry I was cranky tonight.  You deserved better from me."

Carter chimes in, "Mom, let's trade.  We will get up and sweep and unpack and do laundry and you go to bed.  Let us help."

I went to give them all proper kisses and told them how much I loved them.

I have learned from a great counselor that ultimately, we all just want to be understood.  Heard.  For someone to have compassion.

Compassion is hard.  Compassion is hard because it's so much easier to NOT understand.  To NOT help.  To NOT say I'm sorry.  To let pride win.  We would rather be right than have compassion. 

When someone takes the time to show compassion - to understand what you might be going through, YOUR side of the story, your life - my gosh, doesn't that feel good?  When someone asks you how you are doing - and really cares about the answer.

I think compassion is one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other.  And frankly, I don't think people have to be suffering in order for us to give it to them.  I think we can just have more compassion. 

Every single person has a story.  Every single person is going through something.  Big or small - we all are.  We are ALL worried about something, someone.  We all feel insecure about one thing or another.  We all feel inadequate.  Overwhelmed at times.  What if someone showed you compassion for all those things.  And even better -what if you did for them.

Have you ever considered what it's REALLY like to be your dad?  Mom?  Sibling?  Special needs?  Abused?  Addicted?  Lose someone you love?  Have a learning disability?  Depressed?  Have serious money problems?  A teenager?

I promise you, you know people who are going through something, whether you know it or not. 

Maybe if we looked on each other with a little more compassion, we would have better relationships.  Trust each other more.  Be more honest about our needs - and be more willing to let others help.

Your compassion can be an incredible gift to someone who isn't expecting it.  My son melted me.  In that moment, I was understood - heard - someone reached out instead of getting angry, hurt, taking something personal. Gosh, that was nice.

Each one of us has the ability to be compassionate.  To give that gift to someone who needs it today.  Reach out to someone.  Lighten their burden.  Try to see and understand where they might be coming from..........love them, in spite of them.

What a gift your compassion could be.

I love you.  Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: Every Last One

Last Friday I was at Preston Hollow Elementary where I was invited to a nice lunch by the Principal of the school. It was a lovely lunch given in honor of the teachers and volunteers at the school. As we sat there eating, the principal stood to say a few words about his love for the school, learning, the children, his staff......and the gratitude he felt to work in such a wonderful school - a school that you know is different, just by walking the halls. He got a little choked up. And frankly, so did I. After a beautiful prayer, we all sat and enjoyed this really nice meal together.

As I walked out of that school that day, I was so grateful. Grateful that my kids go to such a great school. With such great teachers. Have made such great friends. And are led by such a Godly man as their Principal.

Here's the really funny part. Or maybe not so funny.....

A little over a year and a half ago I went to visit that school as a "potential" place for my kiddos to go when they arrived here from Ghana. When I went to the school I sat down with the counselor and listened as she proudly told me all about Preston Hollow Elementary. I listened, was gracious - but as I walked out, called my husband and immediately said, "NOPE!" There is no way they are going to that school. It is WAY too diverse, too many kids are bused in, we don't know what kind of homes these kids are from, etc. etc. etc.

You can imagine.

I made RIDICULOUS judgments (the very ones I preach to YOU to stop making) about these kids, their families, their homes. And immediately put myself, my family, my children in "another category". This school was nice for "them" - but not so much for me.

Funny how life works out.

Our kids arrived last summer - about 2 weeks before school started. There were no choices or "alternatives". Private schools weren't taking applications 2 weeks before school started - and frankly, it just wasn't an option.

So there I was, first day of school, pulling in to Preston Hollow Elementary. With all my

judgment. All my assumptions.

YUK.

Long story short. I was dead wrong. I was so off the mark about "that school" and "those bused in kids" and "those families", etc. etc. And shame on me for ever even thinking in those terms. In those ways.

Every single Friday now I volunteer at my kid’s school. Yep. I actually CHOOSE to spend my day off there volunteering at "that school" serving lunch and picking up trash after "those kids". And let me tell you something, I love it. I absolutely love it. They are the cutest, sweetest, kindest - most humble kids I have ever met. And wow are they cool. I love their families. I love their parents. I love the sweet community.

My gosh we are sad, silly people sometimes. I mean, honestly, how many more times do I have to hear "we are all created in the image of God" to actually BELIEVE that we are ALL created in the image of God? And how limiting it is to our life and the potential we have to love to place judgments on people that just don't deserve it?

I am so grateful that God continues to teach me - or maybe that through His love, I am reminded of a better way. While I am truly ashamed of my judgment, I walk away grateful. Grateful to be reminded that making judgments on people we really know nothing about is nothing short of unkind. Real unkind actually. There should be little room in our hearts for them. Every single one of God's beautiful creatures deserves a chance.

Every last one.

I love you. Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: Jesus at the Finish

Sunday was really awesome. 

A bunch of people who love Tom Lueder and the Lueder family got together to run for DFW Purple Stride to raise money and awareness for pancreatic cancer.  Most of you know Tom passed away due to the disease less than a year ago.  So Sunday was awesome.

Sunday was also sad.

As I walked the 5k - I couldn't help but look around at all the signs on people's backs.....

Running in memory of:  my friend, my aunt, my brother, my daddy.

Those signs were tough.  And even though I didn't know the people, my heart still went out to them - for what they and their loved ones were going through.  The toughest one for me was the one on Tom's brothers back.  It simply said, "My brother".

As we were driving home I couldn't help but tell my kids how proud I was of them - and grateful that they tried so hard for Tom.  Carter said, "Mom, he was there.  And he won the race with the angels carrying him."  We were at a light and I turned around from the front seat of my car to tell Carter that I thought he was exactly right.  There was no doubt that Tom was there and had won the race.  Carter said, "Of course he won mom - he was running to Jesus at the finish!"

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus was at the finish line.  And not just for the race Sunday.  But for the race Tom ran his whole life.  Tom ran every single day of his life.  And even though a disease took his body, it did not take his spirit - that no doubt, ran to our Savior the day he left this earth.

I find enormous comfort in Carter's words.

And.........in the words of Isaiah where it says, "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

The only sure thing in this life is death.  And while that can be a very scary thought - and incredibly sad - our hope and our joy and our peace in the midst of it all is that on that day, we WILL find new strength.  We will soar on wings like eagles.  And we will run.  And for those who remain faithful, our Savior will be waiting with open arms to welcome us home.

Eternal life is a precious gift our Savior gave us.  To one day, win our race - and find Jesus at the finish line.

I love you.  Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: THAT is a lie

Happy Day Everyone!    Hope you are all doing terrific!

This last weekend something happened that I guess I always knew would happen -but never wanted......and no matter how much I've thought about it - nothing could prepare me to hear it.

My son, Carter had spent the night out with a friend - while he was at some friends - some more friends (people that Carter didn't know) joined in to play.  There was a soccer game and Carter accidentally hit the shin of one of the older/unfamiliar boys.  Well -this boy decided to just go off!  He called him names - bad names. Names that have to do with the color of his skin.  Names he had never heard before.  Names I have always dreaded he - or any of my children would be called......that somehow Topher or I would have to explain.

The next day, Carter's friend's mom pulled me aside to tell me about it and how sorry she was.  I calmly listened.........

As we got in the car - we all talked about the incident.  About the names.  About the words.  I asked Carter what he thought.  He said that he told the boy that it didn't matter what he thought.   They were lies - and that he just must feel bad about himself to say such horrible things to somebody else..........

HECK YES!!!!!!

Carter was right on. 

It was a wonderful teaching moment.  A wonderful moment to remind ALL of my kids that the only true thing about us is what God says about us.......and God said everything not just by his words - but by His life and by His death. 

SO.......why can't we all do that? If I could just bottle up what Carter said and sell it and somehow that would make everyone feel better - WOW - I'd be rich.  Because every single one of us at some point or another listens to lies that other people say about us.  People call us fat or ugly or poor or stupid - or not good enough - or not fast enough or not smart enough or popular enough - and the list goes on and on and on and you want to know something TRUE??

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS A LIE.

And I think when we believe them - it absolutely breaks our Savior's heart because you are so LOVED and so PERFECT and so GOOD that YOU, yes YOU were worth dying for.

In the Psalms it says that we were perfectly and wonderfully made.  Every single last one of us.  Of course we were.  I mean.........you really think God "forgot" something??  I can just hear it now - "OH SHOOT!  I just put Tova in her mommy's belly but I forgot to give her the perfect body and a perfect smile and dang it!!! I meant to give her really blonde hair - not brown! And gosh darn it - I left some of her brain out - she was meant to be WAAAY smarter than I made her....." 

Something tells me......that just didn't happen.  It didn't happen because God got it right.

God got YOU right.

And so if and WHEN someone comes along with a big fat LIE that YOU or parts of you are a mistake.......you need to remember something - and this is really really important......here it is:

What someone negatively or unkindly thinks or says about you says WAAAAAY more about them then it ever does about you.  Period.

And here's why......God calls us to love.  And God calls us to not judge.  And God calls us to be US- in spite of others - or what they think about US and who God made us to be.

Be you.  Be the person God created you to be.  Be PROUD of that.  And embrace the fact that ANYONE who tells you that THAT person that God created isn't "right" or good or somehow "wrong".........well, THAT is a lie and it says way more about that person than it does you.

You were created in the image of God.  Period.

I love you.  Always will.

T

T's Weekly Thought: Suicide

Over 6 years ago when I was hired at our church to work with the youth, there was a word......a situation.....something that I prayed I would never ever have to deal with. 

That "thing" was suicide.

I felt like I could handle almost any other situation as a youth minister.

But suicide......that's where I really struggle.

I struggle for those who find themselves in so much hurt, so much pain - so little hope - that they believe the only way out is death.

And I really really struggle for those left behind.  I can't imagine the questions......

Why?

How could they do it?

Wasn't I worth staying for?

Why didn't they ask for help? 

Get help?

Why would they give up?

Lose the fight?

What about me?

I have avoided this topic for a long time because I always thought it was only applicable to a few people.  Unfortunately, what I've learned over the last few years is that there are very few people in this community that escape without the unbearable sting of suicide.

Let me start by saying that I don't have any answers.  I am not going to pretend for one moment that I understand that kind of pain or hopelessness.  As difficult as my own road has been at times, I have to admit that suicide was never a real option for me. 

So....what do we do in the midst of it?  How do we get through it?  And more importantly, how do we help others avoid it? 

Again, I don't want to pretend for a second that I have any answers.  I feel so unqualified to address this issue.......at the same time.....it is an issue.

I think the first thing we have to do is understand that suicide has little room for judgment.  I know a lot of people use the word "selfish" when they talk about the person who committed suicide.  I guess suicide may appear selfish......but I have to think there is way more to it that someone acting out in selfishness.  I think it's much bigger than that.  Much deeper than that......and a whole lot more painful than that.

I think suicide, like any death, reminds us how precious moments with the ones we love are.  And how we shouldn't take a single one of them for granted.  Ever.

I think suicide is also a reminder that we never really really know.  We never REALLY know what someone is going through.  We don't fully know their pain, insecurities, fears, regrets, emptiness, loneliness.......heartaches.  And because we never REALLY know.....the only response we should ever have is love. 

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying that love heals all wounds, takes away all the pain, heals every illness - but I can't imagine that it hurts.

I've said this before - but there is a quote I love.....it says, "When we begin to understand, only then can we love."  When we try to understand people, talk to people, listen to people.......it's a whole lot easier to love people. 

Suicide just breaks my heart.  As I hug those close to me who have dealt with it - in that moment I imagine what it would feel like - to be that person's wife, daughter, sister, mom......and I can't help but well up in tears and pray for the questions, the hurt.......the pain.

My deepest prayer is that before any one of you considers suicide as an option - you reach out - just one more time......cry.  Cry loud for help - come to me, to your mom, your best friend......anyone you trust to help you get through that dark moment so that you can once again find hope.  The hope that our precious Savior gave us.  He promises he came to give us life.  Life abundant.  I believe in that hope because I have seen that hope shine through the darkest moments of my own life.  He will never leave you.  Never forsake you........

Ever.

I love you.  Always will.

T