Grounded Youth's Weblog

Long Time No See…

Pastor Jon — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:04:01 +0000

It’s been awhile since anything has been posted on the Blog and for that I apologize. Now with a new laptop things will be much easier to maintain and for that I apologize! Coming soon- some videos from the First Fog Day School Cancellation of 2009!

CDYC=Amazing

Pastor Jon — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:43:38 +0000

This was Bran and my first CDYC and I wasn’t sure when we first arrived here at West how CDYC worked, or even if I would enjoy it as a youth pastor. In the words of Tony the Tiger…it was Great! I was just amazed at how you all let the Lord work in your lives during this past week…most of you took really big steps toward a deeper Christian walk. I was so proud of you for stepping out and being so real about where you were in your faith and where you wanted to be. We also just loved getting to know you—you are an incredible group of young adults!! You are funny, gifted, and sincere. Congrats to the JH girls and our ‘pro ball’ SH boys on medaling in BB–to Brooke, Chelsea and Cami for rocking out the music solos; to Brooke, Allana, Brittany, Audra and Desarae for ‘representin’ with the beautiful artwork, and to the SH girls VB team…who proved that alot of heart and the right granny panties can make dreams come true! Grounded Youth are the finest in the kingdom as far as I am concerned and I am grateful for the amazing memories I will always share with you from CDYC!

Attaboy

Pastor Jon — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:32:07 +0000

You never know when things are going to come back ’round…seems like that’s just how God works–I mean check this out. You guys know I was a youth pastor in Ohio, in a denomination that I am not a pastor in anymore–and every Spring we youth pastors from this particular denomination had to climb aboard a plane and fly to Florida–Torture, I know! There I met a guy named Amos who I really hit it off with. He was a huge encouragement to me, and I hope I was to him as well…For two years I flew down to Florida, and hung out with Amos (and some other truly amazing guys) then, this past October I left that church, that denomination, left that state and moved here to work with the awesome youth in the GROUNDED youth group. Every year, since dinosaurs roamed the Earth all you from West…aka GROUNDED have gone to CDYC. So as the new youth pastor, of course it is my privilege to organize our group to go…there at CDYC they usually have a band–this year it is a stellar group called ATTABOY. That just happens to be Amos’ band…So I get to hang out and see him for four days–isn’t that amazing? It reminds me that God wastes nothing, and that someone I meet today may show up in my life at a later time…So I need to live everyday real in my faith and make sure I am transparent and true to who God has called me to be. That way someday I’ll hear the Lord say ‘Well Done”…umm…or Attaboy!

The Easter Bunny Was in My Home Town

Pastor Jon — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:50:02 +0000

Now, the Easter Bunny has never really been a friend of mine. In fact, I have never ever believed in him even from the time I was a child (now the Tooth Fairy was a whole other matter). Growing up Jewish, there was never a reason really to put much stock in a bunny that would come and lay plastic eggs with treats inside and the thought of how they were laid is even something I would rather not think about.

But apprently he must exist, as he came in full force last night to our house. He left behind at least 423 eggs, some broken most not- which is very nice of him. I figure he must have some cohorts- I mean helpers that go to Grounded Youth, but the verdict is not quite out in that!

The truth is, I love eggs. A lot, I even had some for breakfast.

And I couldn’t help but think how blessed I was by having to pick up each dozen that was strewn along in the grass, because even after counting each egg that was on the lawn- to know that the blessings of God bestowed on us all are numbered even higher.

So thank you for the many eggs and thank God for the blessings!

Miracles

Pastor Jon — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:47:37 +0000

The fact that not a single Yoder was hurt, or a single chicken for that matter—total miracle.

Supplies!!!!

Pastor Jon — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:36:16 +0000

In our garage, in a cardboard box, are the remains of a recent attempt by some beloved students to redecorate our yard. It looks like we killed a mummy…ummm….right–mummy’s are already dead, ok at least it looks like we unwrapped it. Tonight at a location that will remain nameless I perhaps overheard a conversation that never happened regarding something similiar to what is in my garage…I almost offered the dead mummy for reuse. All I have to say is–if you are going to do something, do it well. Very well. Then again, I can neither confirm nor deny that something is going to be well done later tonight. Good Luck.

Sending out prayers

Pastor Jon — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:13:43 +0000

Remember to pray for Josh and Brady, as they continue to get things back to normal at their house…Also lift up others who have suffered damage to their homes and property during these recent storms. Love you guys!……PJ

The Surfin’ Shark

Pastor Jon — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:19:07 +0000

At Christmas time for Bran’s family, they give out some really good presents…and her Mom also gives out one very lame ‘gag’ gift…usually we draw straws for it. A few years back I caught a glimpse of the gag gift, and I really wanted it–it was a surfin’ shark figurine! “Sweet” I thought…”This is something a youth pastor SHOULD have”…I imagined it playing music, like ‘Surfin’ Safari’, or ‘Little Surfer Girl’…I envisioned it lighting up, and waving back and forth to the beat of the music–man, I WANTED that surfin’ shark!!! Go fig, I got it, and it lights up…sort of…that’s ALL it does, no music, no realistic wave sounds…no wave motion. Just lights up–sort of–, and sits—all that promise and no action. Sometimes our walk with the Lord gets like that, we have the potential to be a really cool amazing surfin shark, and because we don’t move–or make any noise for Christ, all we really do is sit there and sorta light up. Lord…May I fulfill my promise in You.

Tornado Drill

Pastor Jon — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:52:35 +0000

I am not sure what tornado drills look like at schools ’round these parts…but when Bran and I were teaching, we used to corral students to a cramped basement area, where they would have to scrunch themselves up. Pressed up against cement block walls, hands over our heads, feet falling asleep we waited for the principle to call the all clear, so we could get up and go back up to where we knew the sun was shining and there wasn’t a hint of tornado. We longed for that blessed moment of escape from little kids after recess smell and dank basement depression. No one really longed to get back to math class, though—or probably the class I taught either..I had a reputation for being scrict–can you believe it?!! Anyway, sometimes in my life I feel like I have had to assume the tornado drill position, and I feel like it’s for no good reason that I am squashed up, and far away from sunshine. But storms come—one came through here tonight, and I am glad that when they do come, the Lord has shown me clearly through the lesser tests how to handle the bigger ones…By lifting my hands and waiting for the all clear from Him. Love you guys tonight I am thinking of you and praying for you.

Cami ‘s Three Legged Cat…Angel

Pastor Jon — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:05:21 +0000

When times in my life get tough–when stuff isn’t going right…like days when I break some stupid ornament in Edelwiess by sneezing…and days when my cell phone gets run through the washing machine–or my car is making crazy noises and I don’t know why…I am going to think of Cami’s three-legged cat. It is one sorry looking feline, and it makes funny sounds when you pet it–but that cat never gives up. It even tries to scratch behind the ears with it’s sad little stump. It doesn’t know that the leg is gone. I hope that the Lord makes me a little like that…a little optimistic about things, even things that I have lost. If I could just look past the fact that I may have lost something I think I need and learned instead how to function without it, and trust God–I think I’d be happier…who knows I may even walk around making really funny noises for no apparent reason.