I’ve been laying low this last week (in terms of blogging) and enjoying time with family as well as some needed contemplation.
As I reflected on 2011, an apparent theme that emerged from last year was “change.” I experienced a lot of change!
Here’s my list of the 10 most significant changes I experience last year:
1. I joined my friend/youth pastor Jim Burns at HomeWord/APU
This change has been a highlight as Jim and I have reconnected to figure out how to help families and marriages. We’ve also engaged into the academic world at APU (grad & undergrad). APU’s youth ministry staff is excellent, and I’m honored to play a small part.2. My mom died
Obviously, this was a biggie! Last January my mom left the hospital and came home to die near her family. Fortunately, I was able to drop everything for 3 weeks and be by her side as she entered eternity. I’m still trying to process all that happened within me during mom’s final days.3. My son went to Africa for 7 months
The same time mom was dying, Cody followed the prompting of Jesus and moved to Kenya to serve street kids. This loss/change was tough for me. It’s always been my prayer that my kids would follow Jesus… and he certainly did. When I visited him in July I saw firsthand why Jesus had him there.4. I left Simply Youth Ministry (SYM)
What started in my garage 20+ years ago grew into a youth ministry company much larger than my abilities to lead it. Because of that reality I chose to merge SYM with the wonderful folks at Group Publishing in June of 2006 and get me out of the President-role so I could focus more on Youth Pastor role. It was definitely a win/win/win for my family, SYM and Group. After a great 5-year partnership, I felt like it was time for a change and I left “my baby” in the very capable hands of the team I helped develop (who I am so proud of). This was a very emotional change for me.5. I re-joined Youth Specialties (YS)
YS gave me a global platform many years ago. A phone call from Mike Yaconelli in 1985 changed my life. It turned into a multi-year relationship with YS thru speaking, publishing, and influence. I have deeply loved YS for many years! When my formal role with SYM was coming to a close, conversations began with YS. During several meals and phone calls with Tic Long & Mark Matlock, they painted a picture of the future that I couldn’t resist. I’m so excited and honored to move into the future with them.6. I switched churches
While I resigned from 2.5 years ago, my family and I have remained committed to serving there. While it was odd to move from 18 years full-time pastoring to a volunteer role, I have enjoyed the transition! I’ve loved volunteering in the youth ministry and occasionally speaking/teaching to the entire congregation. For 20 years Saddleback has been my church home. In August, Cathy and I committed to help a long-term friend (of 35 years) plant a church (we were in same youth group, college roommates, stood in each other’s weddings, etc…). Helping plant a church is something I’ve never done before. I have no intention of going on staff (I love my non-church staff life), I will volunteer in the youth ministry, and occasionally preach on Sundays. We don’t know where we’ll meet, when we’ll start, or[really] what we’re doing… but, it’s definitely been an exciting change!7. I changed my reading
For about 30 years I’ve been reading everything having to do with youth ministry. This year my reading focus changed to marriage and family. I don’t know if God is changing my heart or if I’m seeing that the best way to serve teenagers is to care for their parents’ marriage. I don’t know… yet. But I do know I’m excited to read, study and think differently about church, marriage and family.8. I traveled a ton!
Speaking has been my primary form of income since leaving church staff. This has put me on the road more than I’ve ever traveled before. In travel-speak, I made the 1k club (100,000 miles a year on same airline) which is both good and bad news. Good news: travel perks. Bad news: time away from family (although I managed to only miss 2 volleyball matches—out of 60+).9. I started CrossFit
I’m not going to comment on this too much since I’m the poster-child for yo-yo diets and workout plans that I don’t complete. But, there’s something I really like about these workouts, and I’ve got 12 months to get in the best shape of my life before I turn 50. 50! 50?10. I started blogging
I knew this change was coming and I still wasn’t prepared for it. A few years back I remember telling my friend, and blogging hero Josh Griffin, that I don’t need to blog because I write books. Little did I know that blogging would be more difficult than writing books. The constant pressure (and joy) to think, write, reflect and engage with readers has been both wonderful and pressure-filled. Since 1/1/11 at 1:11pm… I wrote 270 posts and learned a ton. I’m hooked… at least for another year.I don’t know about you, but I typically don’t consider the impact that change is going to have on me prior to the change. As I reflected on this last year I came to better understand why last year I was unusually scattered, unorganized, tired and emotional. Hmmm… I’ve got some more thinking to do on all of these changes.
Question: What about you? What was your most significant change from last year and how did it impact you? Share it here.
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