what does it take to be a good youth minister?

Humility

Home Sweet Schenectady

Do you remember who you were?

I don't know if I do.


This past week my boy Mark got married.  Going home for his wedding was like walking back 10 years.


First I spent time with my family especially my sisters and my brother. It was awesome. We're all so different, but I can see myself in different parts of them, and love them so much.

Next I got to spend time with all the people I was in youth group with. It was special. We all live all over the country and haven't been back together as a group.

These people are so much of who I am. We came to know Christ together, we fought battles together, and know each others faults and know each others greatness.   There is something refreshing to being around people who know both sides. We are indebted to one another so we don't sugar coat  it we don't try to be something, we just are. We are Schenectady and the rest of the world has to deal with it.

Speaking of Schenectady, I was able to spend my last few hours with my best friends.  They are a part of everything with youth group and much more.  They really are my heart.

I couldn't see everyone while I was home, but I did see myself.

So as I start a new chapter God gave me a glimpse of who I really am, and what I have to give. Schenectady

New York New Home- my bro

Ok truthfully I'm just really excited for the Knicks. Carmelo Amare Chauncey.. wow, anyway.

Home has been a big part of my prayer recently for a few big reasons; my brother was seriously ill earlier this month, I accepted a job way too far away from Schenectady, and I was just able to spend a week home for my boy Marky Marks wedding.

My Brother

Earlier this month my bro got really sick. Honestly it was really scary for our entire family.  It made me reflect on a lot of things. First, my relationship with my bro. I have always loved him, but we never go out of our way to build our relationship. But as kid I looked up to him, I loved playing sports with him and he toughened me up taught me to be strong and play hard. I love sports and don't think i would in the same way without my bro. Another thing he gave me was a love for the Knicks. When I was real small a friend of mine loved the Bulls and we were watching a game when my bro came in and said he liked the Knicks better. From that moment on i obsessed over the Knicks and played basketball everyday. When I found out he was in the hospital I felt closer to him when I would go shoot around and think and pray for my brother. I love sports a lot. Why? Because it's part of how i love my bro and my dad for that matter.  Its part of what makes me feel at home.

New Job

Today was my first youth group meeting at my new parish, Most Precious Blood in Corpus Christi Texas.
Really amazing, I cant believe I'm back in full time ministry. In August I stepped away from a job and parish I loved in Lexington Ky. I knew God was calling me to take some time to be refreshed and renewed. I believed I would find myself working in ministry again, but closer to home in a small parish. Still here I am in a big church another 20 hours from Schenectady NY.

It is only appropriate my first task was to lead a bible study on Philippians. We spent our time talking about discerning God's will.

Why do we want to do God's will? Because nothing makes us happier then doing what God wants for us at any moment.

How do we know? By talking to God everyday so we recognize His voice when He calls us to do something.

Then what? Be obedient.

 

Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness;  and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. 

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.

Philippians 2: 5-13

I am so thankful to be where God wants me to be, and trust that all things will work for my good and His glory.

In Christ

JoCip

First Post

Today I woke up late, and only had time to eat a banana as I drove to work. I worked a double shift today first at the restaurant then at the retail store. I'm home now, it was a long and busy day and I didn't get a chance to do much else then work eat and very soon sleep.

So why write a blog about it?

I am more then what I do.

God has done amazing things in my life, it would be selfish for me to keep it to myself.

In this blog. I will share some great things that God has done throughout my life, while reflecting on God's presence everyday, and dreaming towards what He has in store.

My grammar is bad, my posts will be inconsistent, but I will provide an insight into the life of a 25 year old man who wants to be a saint.
God willing this will help us all get there

In Christ
JoCip