December 24, 2009

Christmas Memories

Growing up I just loved Christmas time! We would go to my grandma & grandpa McKibben's (moms parents) on Christmas eve and be together and unwrap presents and eat a lot. Christmas morning was always at home...I loved that! We would get up really early and wake up mom and dad and have a great time as a family. One of the earliest and best Christmas's was at our house in the country in Albion when my brother and I both got tractors you got in and drove around! We had a yellow one and a red one (I can't remember now which one was which...because we fought over who got what! lol). We drove those things around in the basement a lot! Later on Christmas day we would go to my grandma & grandpa Johnson's (my dads parents) in Fairfield. I love going there because of 1 thing...grandma Johnson's white cake! She made the best!! In fact, I would start at the dessert table after prayer just so I can make sure I got plenty of it!

Now Christmas is a little different. Both of my grandpa's are gone, and my father-in-law is no longer with us. So Christmas is a reminder of get-together's with less special people. I truly miss my grandpa Johnson each year at this time. For some reason, I miss him a little more this year than in years past...maybe because I see my grandma struggle health wise all alone in the nursing home. My grandpa was a great man...one that loved his family, his wife and kids, his children and grandchildren, and His God with all he had!

I also love passing down to the girls the love and passion that God has for us when He sent Jesus to the manger on the way to the cross. We don't put much emphasis on gifts on Christmas day...we really don't even talk about it much. We want to make sure that the focus and emphasis is on Jesus and what all he left (heaven) to be able to give us hope, peace, and joy.

I love Christmas. I love Easter. I love both because it took both events to give me and my family and friends the greatest gift ever...salvation for anyone who accepts, believes, and obeys.

Thank you Jesus!
Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Matt

December 15, 2009

Hard Look Back

For me, 2009 has been one of the best year's in a long time. As I begin this blog it may not seem like it, but I wouldn't trade the experiences of 2009 for anything.

I was involved in a youth ministry here in Olney for over 3 1/2 years and it was going well. We had around 25-30 Jr. High & High School students on Wednesday nights, around 15 on Sunday nights (the entire church only had around 20 Jr. High & High School students total!). Our youth were growing spiritually and there was a team of adults that were joining in giving their energy to the youth there.

Then, on August 1st everything came crashing down. I never in a million years ever dreamed that I would be fired, not because I thought that I was above that, but because I have always had this thought that church workplace was different. Pastors only get fired because of immorality and really bad stuff...not because of personality conflicts or other "petty" things. I was wrong.

I did make some mistakes, however, as I was in charge of a youth financial account that I did not keep any receipts for and the bookkeeping was not done properly. Did I deserve to be let go? No. Was that church and myself a good fit? Definitely not.

I spent the next week after being let go being dean of 2nd Jr. High church camp. I can honestly say that I do not remember much of anything about that week. I spent the next couple of weeks in hiding. Not out of guilt...I did nothing wrong, but out of shame. It's humiliating enough to be let go from your job, especially when you are supposed to be the financial caretaker of your home. We decided to try out Mt. Gilead church the next Sunday...we went to church and left, which is exactly what I wanted to do. I barely even wanted to go to church, in fact, I really only went because I didn't want to let the girls know how much emotional pain I was in. I spent the next couple weeks basically sitting in my house doing nothing.

I finally started sending out job applications from Evansville IN to Fairview Heights IL. I sent an estimated 30-40 applications...not for ministry, but for anything. I was done with ministry. Not one phone call. Nothing. The day after Labor Day I finally decided to do something that I should have been doing all along...for the first time since August 1 I opened my Bible and began to pray again. A couple days later I got a phone call from 2 different churches to be their youth minister. I reluctantly decided to pursue the idea. A week later I was approached by Mt. Gilead Church, where we were still attending, about coming on staff. We prayed about it and let God open and close doors until it was very clear that Mt. Gilead was where we were meant to be.

I began serving on staff at Mt. Gilead on October 4th. My salary is a little less than $500 a week less than what I was making, Darla is working the same 3-4 days at the hospital she has done since June. Through all this time it looks amazingly like we are going to finish the year (man, I have tears as I write this!) with Christmas bought and all our bills current for the first time in our marriage!

"Do not let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God; trust also in me." John 14:1

I love Mt. Gilead. I truly (along with God, of course) credit this place with saving my life, spiritually speaking. Without the love, grace, fellowship, and unity in this body of believers I don't want to think about where I would be in my walk with God. Trust in God...HE will never let you down!

Love, Matt

December 10, 2009

Ministry

I had my life planned out from the earliest time growing up that I can remember. I remember in school we had career days and other days where we dressed up in the job profession we wanted to be when we grew up. Mine was easy...never even a second thought. Sports Broadcaster. That is what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to travel the country with a professional baseball team and be the sportscaster for that team.

I remember during my junior year in High School having a call on my heart to go into ministry. Man, I fought that hard! I was helping my youth minister in our children's department teaching, helping, and assisting wherever needed...and I enjoyed it, but my life was already planned out. I went to Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel after High School and enrolled in the Radio/TV department and was on my way to mapping out my life. I justified to God that I could do this and stay involved in helping at my home church with the kids...that's ministry, right?

During that first semester nothing was going right with college. Plans were falling through, quickly learned there was a lot of politics and knowing the right people to get to do what you want. In November I received phone calls from 2 different bible colleges in the same week asking if I was still considering Bible College...wow, was God making things clear!

After visiting 2 or 3 Bible Colleges, I enrolled at St. Louis Christian College in January of 1992 and began my journey down the road of ministry life. I could not imagine being any happier and more content doing anything else! There are days where I have wanted to throw in the towel and forget it...but there are other (and more often) days where I feel so overwhelmed at the blessing God has placed on my life to be able to communicate Gods truth to young people!

What is God calling you to? Listen...HE knows what is best, and HIS best is beyond your wildest dreams!!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

December 7, 2009

What a day...

Sometimes I'm a man of God...sometimes I'm just all right. That is part of a song by Audio Adrenaline called "Man of God". I try and be a great dad, husband, friend, pastor...but sometimes I get caught in what Paul writes in Romans..."We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law..." (Romans 7:14-15, 21-22)

This morning I was short and impatient with the girls before school. I have battles before school. When I do this I feel so small and insignificant. I go through the rest of the day knowing that I can be so much better than that. The worst part is...I have to wait until the end of the school day to say I'm sorry and try and do better.

I write this for a couple reasons...1) Therapy. It's good for me to get my thoughts and feelings out there. It helps me with the repentance process. 2) I know I'm not alone. I know this because I have ministered to hundreds of kids over the years and realize that parents play a major role in their kids behavior. Expectations that parents have for their children, as well as the environment that they create are major factors in who a child will become. I take that very seriously.

I can't wait to see the girls at the end of the day, snuggle up with them, and tell them the 5 most important words they will hear all day..."daddy's sorry", and "daddy loves you!"

Matt




December 4, 2009

Worry

It seems lately there are people worrying about all sorts of things. Some are worried about getting the Flu. Some are worried about climate change. Others are worried about our country's financial situation. While it is ok to be slightly concerned about some of these, and even ok to prevent or make adjustments in lifestyle or habits to help alleviate the impact of these things...it is important to remember that it's not our job to worry about these things.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 "who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" If you are a believer and truly put your faith and trust in a relationship with Jesus, then it's HIS job to be concerned about the stuff that troubles you! Isn't that a great relief? Later in Matthew Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Take some time to let God have all that is troubling and worrying you this moment. We all have troubles and concerns in life...but always remember what the writer of Hebrews says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Matt