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Why I Love My Job (Part 4 of ?)

This is AJ.

AJ is older than his birthday would tell you.

I trust AJ a great deal.

He has a way with people and a desire to connect relationally that I will never be able to achieve.  I'm thankful for AJ.  The problem that AJ and I have is that we have a very similar sense of humor.  This can be dangerous for our self discipline.  Thankfully, God has a hold of his heart.  AJ's conviction and desire to learn is a great challenge to this old Student Pastor.  

I pray that AJ and I have many years of ministry together ahead.  

"that is, that you and I may be encouraged by each other's faith."

Romans 1:12

Why the Slow Down?

My pace of blog posts has considerably slowed down. "Why?" You ask?  Well, there are several reasons. 

1.  Northwood Student Ministry has been in a busy season as of late.  We're trying to get a leg up on our summer plans after a last second opportunity.  Along with the regular week to week details, we're also trying to stay ahead of the game with our curriculum preparation.  Not to mention that we're planning another Parent meeting, All NSM Volunteer meeting and Spring Break plans.  And in case no one noticed....Easter is right around the corner.

2.  I've been reading a lot.  I mean A LOT.  I've never read this much in my life.  Seriously.  My high school and college GPA would have been exponentially higher had I been reading then like I am now.  As sad as this is to say, I've read more Scripture in the last six months than I ever have consistently in my life.  I'm reading through the Old Testament and I'm loving it.  I'm almost done and these minor prophet books are oustanding. 
    I'm also reading a lot of books outside of Scripture. So far in 2009 I've read four books.  That may not be a lot for some, but for me it's huge.  I set a goal for myself this year.  I'm going to read at least twenty-four books (two each month).  If you're interested in what I'm reading click here.

3.  I'm coaching soccer at Northwood Academy.  I'm working with a great guy name Todd Ellis.  We're coaching the Middle School team.  Practically every player is actively involved in NSM.  These guys are getting to see a different side of me.  I'm trying hard not to lose influence as a Pastor because of my tendencies as a coach.  Slippery slope.  Did I mention I'm considering playing in a softball league too?

4.  I'm trying to spend more time with my family.  I'm a "Choosing To Cheat" guy.  Over the last six years that's been real easy.  Lately though I've been allowing myself to slip into the work groove.  The problem with loving your job and being pretty good at it is that you want to spend more time doing it.  Anita and I had an honest conversation a few weeks ago where we realized I was giving my family my left-overs.  I'm not only trying to delegate and trust more at work; I'm also trying to cut back on my bad habits at home (television and internet).  For Lent this year I'm giving up television after 10pm (along with sweets and soft drinks).  This will give me the opportunity to have some quality time with Anita after the girls are in bed and get some better rest equally better Daddy time during the day.

So that's where I'm at.  Sorry to all the faithful readers that have been stopping in day after day to the same posts.  I'm sure you've managed to find something to keep you entertained.  I hope I'll have some great stuff to write about as I start to see the benefits of cutting back in some areas.  Thanks for reading and I'm praying for each of you to find a way to step closer to God each day.

Jesus Who?

At The ELEMENT (our Wednesday night service for both Middle and High school students) we started a new series taking a look at the irreducible minimums of Christianity.  For our first week we established that Scripture is inerrant.  To believe in any other fact or principle of the Christian faith, we have to believe that the Bible is truth. 

This week we will be looking at sin.  We're all guilty and there will be judgment.  What are your tier one points of Christian faith?  What are your irreducible minimums?


Jesus Who Bumper from Phillip McCart on Vimeo.

Morgan's Baptism

As I mentioned, last week we had a baptism celebration service here at NSM.  Since our building doesn't have a baptistry, we use a galvanized steel tank (horse trough) to baptize our students.  In the video below you'll see one of our high school students giving a brief testimony of how she became a Christian and why she's choosing to be baptized. 

Each student wishing to be baptized must sit down with a staff member along with a parent or guardian and have a discussion about salvation, Christianity and baptism.  After that, students must shoot a baptism video to be played immediately preceeding their actual baptism.  This is a practice I learned and fell in love with during my time on staff at North Point. 

Some would disagree with such a system of requirements but believe me; once you've experienced baptism this way you won't want to do it any other way.  (well, maybe with an actual baptistry.  Emptying that thing was a bear.)

Morgan's Baptism from Phillip McCart on Vimeo.

Five Years

Over the last five years I have learned more about God and His love for me than I had in the previous 25.  The tool He used to teach me with is my daughter Savannah Grace.  Five years ago in Florence, South Carolina, amid difficult circumstances in my own life, she was born.  She's the most amazing, difficult, sweetest, hard headed, beautiful, sinful, graceful, talented, challenging, rewarding, miserable, wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. 

Thank you Anita, for blessing me with the wonderful privilege of being the father of our children.

Thank you God, for the immeasurable gift of being a parent.

Thank you Savannah Grace, for all the wonderful memories we have and will have together.  I love you so much!  Happy Birthday Princess!

Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace.

Psalm 144:12

Just a Thought

I was thinking about leadership and authority this morning.  What do you think about this?

"If you've never been able to encourage your leader in honesty you'll never be able to accept encouragement honestly as the leader."

Your thoughts?

Testing Qik Feed

Trying to test my Qik channel feed on my blog.  Let me know if you have problems viewing.  (Qik is a live feed from my iPhone)

Happy Valentine's Day

 Happy Valentine's Day everyone.  Hope you're having a romantic weekend.  My bride and I will be enjoying a quiet evening at home along with Richard Gere and Diane Lane.  No, not Unfaithful; we've rented Nights in Rodanthe.  This marks the eleventh Valentine's Anita and I have spent together (one while engaged).  I still can't believe she loves me so much. 

I love you babe!

"May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth."

Proverbs 5:18

Baptism @ NSM

What do you do when you've got students to baptize but your church sanctuary burned down two years ago?  You buy a horse trough bring it in your building and fill it with water.  Sounds amazing right?  It was!!  Tonight was an incredible experience.  Ten students were baptized and over 200 family members, friends and volunteers were there to celebrate with them. 

I'll share more when I get permission to post some video footage.  For now, here are a couple of shots of Kevin and I dunking.

Why I Love My Job (Part 3 of ?)

This is Kevin.

Kevin is the Middle School Pastor here at Northwood Church. 

He and I have many similarities.  We both drive Green 2002 Ford Explorers.  We both have two daughters.  We both enjoy LOST, The Office and 24.  We love Middle School students. 

We are very different in most areas though.  Kevin has a great way with people.  He naturally befriends everyone he meets.  I would say that one would be hard pressed to ever hear Kevin speaking a single ill word about anyone (that is except for anyone playing against the Denver Broncos).

Kevin's attitude toward me as his "new boss" should be written about.  He willing and humbly submitted to my leadership and honored his God by honoring me.

As I've gotten to know Kevin, God has used him to challenge me in several areas of my personal life.  Kevin's desire to see God change the hearts of the lost through Missions is convicting.  I know his daughters will grow up with a passion for evangelism because of the model set for them by their father.

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:3-6