Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Your A Husband Of a Youth Worker If . . .

I found this blog post on the YMJen blog. Jen is in youth ministry in Illinois. Her husband was a guest blogger for her and writes about 20 Ways that you can know that you are a youth worker's husband. Good stuff. Check it out.

http://ymjen.com/blog/you-might-be-a-youth-workers-husband-if

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Two Places At Once

This Sunday will be a first for Jana and I.  It is an odd thing for us.  We will BOTH be speaking at the same time.  Well, not really the exact same time, but . . . basically.  Even when Jana was working at a church full time, this has never happened.  We will only be about 100 yards apart, but in different churches.  I will speak at our home church and she will be just down the road at the United Methodist Church.    She will get to hear me in our 8 AM Service but I won't get to hear her. :(  I am proud of my wife and support her in her ministry and I am looking forward to hearing about her talk.

I guess if I think about about, we are going to be two places at one - with us being "one" and all.  What a great opportunity I(we) have to minister to others.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Grip of Grace: Babymoon....to Williamsport!

Grip of Grace: Babymoon....to Williamsport!: "I never heard of a babymoon until recently - basically it is like a honeymoon before the baby comes and you start your new life as parents. ..."

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Hanging On To My Wife's Shirt Tail

So Last night I found out that I will be going to Colorado, AGAIN, with my wife.  She speaks for Group Workcamps and we have been asked to come to evaluate the programming for this year's camps.  I was pleased to be invited but I know that it was because of my bride that I am getting the invitation - not that I am not capable, but because she is the one that is intimately involved. 

I am so proud of what Jana is accomplishing through her ministry, Taraja Ministries.  She is extremely talented and loves teaching and imparting her life.  So this is a great opportunity for me to watch and learn as she shines. 

This is just another positive aspect of living with a youth minister for me.  I want to encourage and support Jana just like all husbands need too and I an thankful she is doing what God has made her to do!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Our Youth Ministry "Date Day"

When you are married to a youth director, sometimes you have to get a bit creative while trying to balance ministry and home life.  On Saturday, my bride and I did just that!  "Her" football players were in the state playoffs and she obviously wanted to go to support them and spend time with people she knew.  I, loving football, was willing to "tag" along.  So, we decided to make a day of it.  It was a day game (they won, BTW) so we headed to a nice restaurant for a late lunch.  We then, being a bit weird, a little nerdy, and all around fun, travelled to a few places to get some Foursquare/WeReward/Checkpoint points to waste a little time before we travelled to meet up with some friends for some nice evening conversation.  It was a great day.  Jana was able to minister and WE were able to spend some quality time together.  Youth minsitry can be mixed with pleasure. 

How have you mixed ministry and home life in a positive way?  Let me know. 

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Early Mornings and Jealousy

The iPhone alarm sounded at 4 AM this morning. My “Youth Ministry” wife, MS and all, got out of bed and into the shower. She had set her alarm five minutes ahead of mine, which was obviously set at 4:05 AM. I knew I had to get moving as well. I was going to be driving her to the airport and I had to find the GPS for her and make sure the luggage was taken to the car.  SHE is on her way to Estes Park, CO for a Group Workcamps Foundation training while I stayed at home with the dog . . . and, well, the cat. Yes, me – the twenty three year veteran of youth ministry will be staying home to keep house and continue to minister to our church “kids” while my wife, (herself, a seven plus year veteran of youth ministry), travels around the country speaking to students!

Just so you know, I “married UP”! Jana is so talented in what she does and she loves doing it as well. She has desired this and she deserves to be learning and leading whenever she can. I encourage her every chance I get because I love what she is doing. I am very proud of her!

However, one of the things I fight as a “youth minister married to a youth minister” is jealousy. I would love to be doing what she is doing right now. It would be nice to be at Estes Park, CO enjoying the sights and gleaning from other ministry minded people! And yet I know that God has given me other responsibilities. And, if I were totally honest, I love what I do and doing anything else right now would be a mistake. I am happy to drive her to the airport and support her as she serves others. I can feed the dog, clean the living room and, well, take care of the cat. Because, I am convinced that she is doing what she was born to do!
While I never imagined my life would be this way, I couldn’t be happier.