The Insomnia Chronicles

Sleeping bag, Bible & Bugs spray

I'm off to speak another week of camp.  I never, ever, take for granted the high honor it is to speak into the lives of teenagers on behalf of our loving Father. This week is especially meaningful to me because I'm serving to Sr. High students in Ohio.  I was a youth pastor in Ohio for over almost 10 years and served on staff at the Ohio camp for many of those years.  So many memories flood my mind.

Today, one of our church members asked me, "why do you still do all those youth camps?  aren't you getting too old?" ... ouch!  I smiled, laughed, and shared the verse that God gave me as a much younger pastor:

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake
me, O God, till I declare your power to the
next generation, your might to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:18

I didn't used to fully grasp that verse - I simply used it as a way of saying, "I'm in youth ministry for life!" But, now as a lead pastor & church planter, I've discovered that I was never really in 'youth ministry,' I was (and am) in MINISTRY. And regardless of my age, I must be a forerunner for the next generation. To live, by example, an exciting, real and attainable life.  One that gives them assurance that they can grow older and still keep their passion and zeal. 

So, off I go...  please pray for me and the students this week.  In the words from on of my favorite movies, The Gladiator...

What we do in life,
echoes in eternity.

• Do you have a personal camp testimony?
• Did you ever sneak out of your cabin at night?
• Was camp food really that bad?
• Why does camp has such an impact on teens?

Stay connected this Summer via Facebook or shadow my every move via Twitter.  You can also listen to my podcasts via iTunes and subscribe to this Blog...

Too Mature??

Observations of JHighers:

• brutally honest
• never stop talking
• unlimited energy
• all shapes & sizes
• squeeky voices
• lots of braces, freckles & pimples
• always squirming
• prone to daydreaming
• still cry when they get mad
• really LOUD
• can have fun anywhere

Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, let me make it clear - I think ALL of those descriptions are wonderful!  You see, last evening I had the unique honor of sharing my life & ministry with the students of NXT JHi. It was remarkable and amazing to me.  Being in a room with so much life and such staggering potential is breath-takingly cool!  Sure, they're at one of the weirdest stages of life (and human development) but they're full of passion, they DO without thinking about it for hours, and they're wide-open to change. In fact, it may be the last time in a person's life where they are seriously open to change... truth... LIFE! 

"God, please give me a junior-highers heart.  Full of wonder and imagination.  Eager to believe, laugh, and YELL.  Let me go after life with joyful passion and reckless abandonment.  I want to LIVE every single day of my life.  Yes, even on those days full of drama, may prayer & warm cookies bring comfort and perspective.  May the world know that you are the COOLEST AND MOST FUN Father, God, Lord and Friend because of my crazy, exciting life IN You! Amen "

Youth!

I love ministering to teenagers.  It's weird that God still allows me to do it... and keeps me relevant.  HE'S BEYOND RELEVANT - so, the key is being IN Him.  This past weekend I was with the students of All.ACCESS at their annual Snow Retreat. I think it went really well - 10-15 students accepted Christ on the first night!! Their pastor Don Champion and his wife, Jaime, do an awesome job.

Then, later this week, I'll be flying to Chicago (Naperville) to minister to the Junior High students of NXT! Some of my closest friends and former staff/disciples - Chris & Nia Gillot - lead this amazing ministry. I'm excited to be with them.
    - then, while in Chicago, I'll be hooking up with my Iron Men to talk through this year's WAR WEEK - wow, you DON'T want to miss it this August!

So, praise God for an exciting week ministering to the next generation!  My life theme:  Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18

staying young,
Chilly

Hey, IF you haven't taken my Vitamin Water quiz yet, DO IT (left column)!!  Oh, and please know, you can choose two (2) flavors not just one.  IF you only picked one first time, go back and re-vote... thanks!

humbling.

Sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the honor God has given me to minister to students and adults all around the country & world.  Tonight is one of those times...   hundreds - perhaps as many as 500 teens - boldly stepped forward (in front of nearly 1,500 others) to commit their lives to Christ and declare Him: Savior and Lord. This was during the opening of my message - then, almost all 1,900 came back to the altar at the conclusion to declare themselves whole-heartedly available to God's will for their lifetime!  Crazy cool...

Both my parents were born in Tennessee and it felt like "home" in a sense tonight - weird to put in words.

Also, southern hospitality is NOT overrated - they really have treated us like royalty.

So, yeah, tonight was a humbling night for many reasons.  I feel like David when he uttered the word, "who am I that you are mindful of me?"

I minister again in a few hours...  trusting God for even more!!

Thank you to ALL of you who hold me in your heart and lift me in your prayers.  I really love you and I'm truly grateful!

~ chilly

killy continues...

Thanks for all your prayers - God's doing amazing things!!

KEEP PRAYING!

I'm praying for Real Church and Hamtramck this afternoon...  just a reminder:
"In such ways I have trailblazed a preaching of the Message of Jesus all the way from Hamtramck far into northeastern United States. This has all been pioneer work, bringing the Message only into those places where Jesus was not yet known and worshiped. My text has been,

   Those who were never told of him—
      they'll see him!
   Those who've never heard of him—
      they'll get the message!"
                      Romans 15:19-21
                      (Message w/ a little Chilly)

ok, back into the woods  -  little-to-no service  -  peace, Chilly

chilly in killy

Well, I'm off to preach a youth retreat for some really cool people out east.  I'll be taking in the scenery and loving on teenagers in Killington, Vermont!  It's always such an honor to be asked to minister - I never take it for granted... so, yeah, throw some prayers my way for a powerful time this weekend!

I may not be able to blog for a few days - but, I'll try to send daily updates on Twitter (see words in top right column)...  if you don't want to miss one boring detail, click "follow me" >>

Seperate subject:  the picture on this post is a little glimpse into our surroundings here in Detroit.  I ate at this place tonight - wow, it was so amazing and so filling... ugh!  Come visit some time...  we'll hook you up!

Peace, Chilly

nothing is typical

wow...  what a day I had yesterday.

at 8am I arrived at Life Challenge of Southeastern Michigan - on the westside of Detroit.  I spoke for their chapel service.  they have around 55 men and 20 women in their program receiving treatment for various forms of substance abuse.  what an amazing ministry - there are Life Challenge centers (formerly Teen Challenge) all across the globe, in fact it is the oldest, largest and most successful program of its kind in the world.

I really enjoyed sharing God's Word with this unique audience!  they were really responsive and God gave me a really cool, fun & practical message to share with them.  it was especially meaningful to me because sitting right on the front row was a young man named Scott - he's a guy God directed me to go after (Chuck Norris Evangelism) several weeks ago.  he was so messed up - nearly destroyed by alcohol and crazy living.  but there he was: dressed nice, cleaned-up, Bible & journal in hand and a big smile.  Jesus really does give hope to the hopeless!!

Jihun Park, our Compassion Director at Real Church, joined me for the morning.  we spent some time after we left Life Challenge grabbing a little breakfast at our favorite spot.  Ji has such a heart for hurting, discarded, lonely & homeless people.  it was cool for both of us to reflect on Scott's progress and also to think & dream about how we can better serve the needs of our community.

a little later in the day, I was joined by Anthony Gancer, our College Director, and Andrew Jump, our Business Director.  they joined me for my trip north to Fenton, Michigan to minister at One Truth Student Ministry. This outreach to teens has been doing a month long emphasis called the Rage and had invited me to share last night. They even had a free "chili dinner" for all the students before the service... ha.  The youth pastors, Josh & Jenni Wellborn, are doing a fantastic job there  - they had a small army of students praying long & hard before the service started. Then, almost 300 teens filled the auditorium - incredible!  This is not a big city and their building is not right in the center of town - so, seeing that many young people was so awesome!  I preached a new message God laid on my heart when I walked in the door there - gulp - and it went really well...  over 100 teens coming forward to accept Christ as Savior & Lord!!!  every kind of kid from hardcore skater to a Buddhist foreign exchange student came and met Jesus!!  then kids just hung at the front worshiping God and ministering to each other.  a cool atmosphere for sure...

(while I was away all day doing ministry elsewhere, my team at Real Church led all of our Wednesday ministries: Logos Noon Bible Study and Family First in the evening which includes:  Genesis, UK, REPO, and Parent Chat. we have such a cool team...)

driving home last night around 1am, I simply had to smile and thank the Lord once again for allowing me the privilege of serving Him and loving others.  what an amazing life.

            today's a new day and there much left to do...  I'm on it!! 
                            peace, Chilly

the honor was all mine...

Tonight, I sat in awe as perhaps the greatest living missionary alive in the world today ministered at War Week!  His name is Loren Cunningham and he is the founder of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), an ever-expanding global "family of ministries," born in 1960, which has reached into every nation.

Loren is also Co-founder and President of the University of the Nations (U of N), YWAM's global university. Since its inception in 1978, the U of N has grown to offer more than 800 courses and seminars (125 different courses/seminars).

Loren has personally gone to EVERY sovereign nation on earth (yes, you read that correctly, he's been to every nation in the world!), all dependent countries, and more than 150 territories and islands, for the sake of the Gospel. This has given him valuable insights into global trends and uniquely prepares him to share God's strategies for world evangelism. His wisdom, experience, leadership understanding and call to build bridges of unity within the body of Christ have caused him to be sought out by leaders of nations and organizations worldwide. He speaks publicly in 30 to 40 nations a year, and has spoken to live audiences from a few to more than a million people gathered in one location.

After the service tonight, he signed copies of all of his books for me and then he, Netta and me, and the Dilenas & Andres (war week steering committee) all went to Greektown and ate and shared together until 2:30am.  So, amazing!  I am so blessed with friendships/relationships that ONLY by grace am I afforded. 

Earlier in the evening, during the service, 200-300 students & adults, stood committing themselves as missionaries.  Oh, and prior to the service, 11 block parties took place simultaneously in Hamtramk & Highland Park - with MANY or our "neighbors" accepting Christ!!  Woo-hoo!

This has been the best War Week yet!  Praise God!!  Why not join us next year? Mark your calendar for July 29-Aug 1, 2008!  Also, be sure to check out the War Week site for upcoming pictures & videos.

ok, now I can finally get some rest (for a few hours at least) - then, back to war!
peace, Chilly

dreams & visions

Tonight, I watched in amazement as hundreds of teens poured their hearts out to God - weeping and rejoicing as God set them free of sins, hurts & oppression.  As I stepped through the crowds laying hands on these young people, I became so aware of their destiny.  The devil has lied to them for so long and tonight his grip was broken - his lies exposed.  Pastor Donnie McClurkin was so vulnerable & transparent as he ministered - his testimony is so powerful - truly a story of how God can take a broken vessel and restore it & fill it with His glory.  No one is beyond God's power... NO ONE.  I pray that the teens this week will experience more than a  spiritual high but rather an inner awakening and outward acceptance of their calling & purpose.  These are the days for their generation to STEP UP!

    I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters
        will prophesy... Your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28

ministry... still learning.

serving God is such a rush!  i love seeing lives changed by the power of Christ.  this week I have seen students come to know Christ as Savior, receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit, called into ministry, healed from sickness, overcome their past hurts, and delivered from alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, sex, etc...  plus, ready to share their faith, serve others and live loud!  amazing.

but, I must admit, that it still bothers me that I cannot be MORE effective.  some say I'm hard on myself - I guess I just want to reach everyone.  that's not always easy when you're addressing specific issues and sins. you try to use different ways to draw others to the light: humor, examples, stories, and direct confrontation...  most respond well - but sometimes, in a large crowd, some get angry, hurt or offended and miss the bigger point.  that really stinks.

it's so weird - I can hear 100 "great job" comments and still dwell on the one kid who was upset and unmoved.  I know I'm not perfect...  by a long shot.  I know that I don't deserve to live the life that God has set before me.  perhaps I'm in denial by believing I can reach anyone and everyone.  but, you know what, I'm going to keep trying.  I want to improve and will strive to find better ways to communicate the amazing realities of Christ's love!

IF you're ever upset or disappointed in me - you're not alone.  please throw some grace my way and turn your attention to the Lord - He's perfect and loves you purely & completely.

I love Jesus, I love you too.  I'm still learning the art of ministry. 

I rejoice in all the victories of this past week.  I pray for the victories that are yet to come from camp. And, I pray for those still disillusioned or uncertain.  Please look beyond the messenger and hear the message.  YOU MATTER TO GOD - HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON FOR YOU. TRUST HIM, LOVE HIM AND LIVE!

                            fighting to learn & love better, chilly