Join you at the throne. Kind of reminds me that we don't say good-bye. We
say until we meet again ..here there or in the air. For me "join you at
the throne," has some good memories as well as bad.

Good memories as to I'll be seeing my mentor, pastor as he passed from
this life into eternity..and I get to see him again. One of the best
things I remember was printed about him in the May 30, 1999 Christian
Standard Tom Tanner Spoke at his brother's funeral on Feb 20, 1999 at
Central Christian in Charlottesville, PEI(I stll have that issue). " 'A
light has gone out in Canada' That's what one of my colleagues and a
classmate of my brother Terry from Lincoln Christian College said when he
heard the news. My brother was an American by birth, but he was Canadian
by choice. He loved this country and her people. He loved the people of
Selkirk and the province of Ontario where he had ministered for thirteen
years. ..... He learned to love God's church from his roots. And it was
from his roots that he learned to give himself unselfishly for the cause
of Christ." I can't wait to go and see and join him at the throne and say
"Thank you." To embrace and tell him of How much God has brought me
through. There will be others That I will want to join. To see those that
have been faithful and have set the path before me. There will be the
Denominational Leaders, The Historians, the theologians, The Disciples,
the Martyrs, and of course there will be rejoicing because I will want to
see and join Jesus at His throne.

I know it says there will be no more tears, but as in a mere moment I
know I will shed mine only to be sorry for the things I left undone. To
be sad over my own family that chose to deny Christ, my own father who
chose his own path, rather than God's. My own friends, who I know I was
too cowardly to witness to. The ones maybe I passed by in a restaurant,
in a store, in the mall, and yet said or did nothing to point them or
tell them of the greatest love ever. That is why the "Join you or see you
at the throne" will be a heartache. I know it hurts God's heart as well.
For He doesn't want any to perish, but all to come to the knowledge of
Him.
So do I have any regrets - sure. But I'm working them out day by day
going the path God would have me. See you at the throne has a deeper
passionate mission for me to love people and to love God.

Now is it easy? Nope. So often I question myself, why am I doing this?
Then I remember why! Because God has done so much for me. That I am not
even worthy to be at the throne. Who is? For me no matter what. The issue
is not a matter of joining at the throne, but celebrating at the throne.
Who is going to be there? God. People just have to one this one thing.
They have an eternal home. Everyone does. Sinner or forgiven sinner. It
is just a matter of where your tent is going to be. For me I'd prefer a
small cot just catching a glimpse of the throne, and not a cot by some
lake of fire; that's for sure. How about you?


Gerrard R. Fess

This list is compiled by Gerrard Fess, Associate Pastor of Liberty Christian Church Mechanicsville, Virginia, 9-year youth ministry veteran and bookmeister with 500+ books in his library.

Top 10 Youth Ministry Philosophy Books

1. The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry And Its Radical Impact on the Church. Mark Senter III. SP Publications. Inc., (Victor Books) Wheaton, Ill.1992.

2. Family Based Youth Ministry. Mark DeVries. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., 1994.

3. The Godbearing Life. The Art of SoulTending For Youth Ministry. Kendra Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. Upper Room Books, Nashville, 1998.

4. Starting Right Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry. Edited by Kendra Creasy Dean, Chap Clark, and Dave Rahn. Zondervan, Grand Rapids. 2001.

5. Student Ministry for the 21st Century. Bo Boshers with Kim Anderson. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1997.

6. Nurturing the Soul of the Youth Worker. Tim Smith. Group, Loveland, CO. 1999.

7. New Directions for Youth Ministry by Wayne Rice, Chap Clark and others. Group, Loveland, Co. 1998.

8. The Youth Worker's Handbook to Family Ministry. Chap Clark Zondervan, Grand Rapids. 1997.

9. A Comprehensive Guide to Youth Ministry. Reaching A Generation For Christ. Richard R. Dunn and Mark H. Senter III. General Editors. Moody Press, Chicago. 1997.

10. Postmodern Youth Ministry. Tony Jones. Youth Specialities, (Zondervan) Grand Rapids. 2001.

Top 10 Youth Ministry Resource Books

1. Youth Ministry Management Tools. Ginny Olson, Diane Elliot And Mike Work. Youth Specialties. 2001. Includes CD-Rom and everything you need to manage your ministry.

2. Better Safe Than Sued. Jack Crabtree Group, Loveland, CO

3. Josh McDowell's Youth Ministry Handbook. Compiled by Sean McDowell and Ray Willey. Word. Nashville, 2000.

4. Organizing Your Youth Ministry. Paul Borthwick. Youth Specialties, 1988.

5. Parent's Guide to The Spiritual Mentoring of Teens. Joe White, Jim Weidmann General Editors. Focus on the Family Tyndale House Wheaton, Ill. 2001.

6. Josh McDowell's Handbook on Counseling Youth. Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler. Word, Dallas. 1996.

7. Things They Never Taught You About Youth Ministry That You Really Need to Know. Todd Clark, College Press, Joplin, Mo. 1996.

8. The Youth Minister's Survival Guide. Len Kageler Youth Specialities, 1992.

9.No More Us & Them. 100 Ways to Bring Your Youth & Church Together. Group, Loveland, CO 1999.

10. Youth Ministry Nuts And Bolts. Duffy Robbins. Youth Specialties, 1990.

Honorable Mention

What's The Big Deal about Sex. Loving God's Way by Jim Burgen
The Magnet Effect. Designing Out Reach Events That Draw Kids to Christ by Barry St. Clair with Jim Burns, Paul Fleischmann & Bo Boshers
130 Ways to Involve Parents in Youth Ministry. Group Publishing, Loveland CO
The Ministry of Nurture by Duffy Robbins
Managing Youth Ministry Chaos by Mike Woodruff
Dangerous Wonder The Adventure of Childlike Faith by Mike Yaconelli
8 Habits of an Effective Youth Worker by Tim Smith
So That's Why I keep Doing This by Glenn Propcopio
Back to the Heart of Youth Work by Dewey M. Bertolini.
Youth Ministry Its Renewal in the Local Church by Lawrence o. Richards






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This list is compiled by Gerrard Fess, Associate Pastor of Liberty Christian Church Mechanicsville, Virginia, 9-year youth ministry veteran and bookmeister with 500+ books in his library.

Top 10 Youth Ministry Philosophy Books

1. The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry And Its Radical Impact on the Church. Mark Senter III. SP Publications. Inc., (Victor Books) Wheaton, Ill.1992.

2. Family Based Youth Ministry. Mark DeVries. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Ill., 1994.

3. The Godbearing Life. The Art of SoulTending For Youth Ministry. Kendra Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. Upper Room Books, Nashville, 1998.

4. Starting Right Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry. Edited by Kendra Creasy Dean, Chap Clark, and Dave Rahn. Zondervan, Grand Rapids. 2001.

5. Student Ministry for the 21st Century. Bo Boshers with Kim Anderson. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1997.

6. Nurturing the Soul of the Youth Worker. Tim Smith. Group, Loveland, CO. 1999.

7. New Directions for Youth Ministry by Wayne Rice, Chap Clark and others. Group, Loveland, Co. 1998.

8. The Youth Worker's Handbook to Family Ministry. Chap Clark Zondervan, Grand Rapids. 1997.

9. A Comprehensive Guide to Youth Ministry. Reaching A Generation For Christ. Richard R. Dunn and Mark H. Senter III. General Editors. Moody Press, Chicago. 1997.

10. Postmodern Youth Ministry. Tony Jones. Youth Specialities, (Zondervan) Grand Rapids. 2001.

Top 10 Youth Ministry Resource Books

1. Youth Ministry Management Tools. Ginny Olson, Diane Elliot And Mike Work. Youth Specialties. 2001. Includes CD-Rom and everything you need to manage your ministry.

2. Better Safe Than Sued. Jack Crabtree Group, Loveland, CO

3. Josh McDowell's Youth Ministry Handbook. Compiled by Sean McDowell and Ray Willey. Word. Nashville, 2000.

4. Organizing Your Youth Ministry. Paul Borthwick. Youth Specialties, 1988.

5. Parent's Guide to The Spiritual Mentoring of Teens. Joe White, Jim Weidmann General Editors. Focus on the Family Tyndale House Wheaton, Ill. 2001.

6. Josh McDowell's Handbook on Counseling Youth. Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler. Word, Dallas. 1996.

7. Things They Never Taught You About Youth Ministry That You Really Need to Know. Todd Clark, College Press, Joplin, Mo. 1996.

8. The Youth Minister's Survival Guide. Len Kageler Youth Specialities, 1992.

9.No More Us & Them. 100 Ways to Bring Your Youth & Church Together. Group, Loveland, CO 1999.

10. Youth Ministry Nuts And Bolts. Duffy Robbins. Youth Specialties, 1990.

Honorable Mention

What's The Big Deal about Sex. Loving God's Way by Jim Burgen
The Magnet Effect. Designing Out Reach Events That Draw Kids to Christ by Barry St. Clair with Jim Burns, Paul Fleischmann & Bo Boshers
130 Ways to Involve Parents in Youth Ministry. Group Publishing, Loveland CO
The Ministry of Nurture by Duffy Robbins
Managing Youth Ministry Chaos by Mike Woodruff
Dangerous Wonder The Adventure of Childlike Faith by Mike Yaconelli
8 Habits of an Effective Youth Worker by Tim Smith
So That's Why I keep Doing This by Glenn Propcopio
Back to the Heart of Youth Work by Dewey M. Bertolini.
Youth Ministry Its Renewal in the Local Church by Lawrence o. Richards

Dare to Dance with a Cat

Yesterday I did it. I danced with my cat. His name is Pepe. It was a fast song ...by some group named the Supertones. Anyways, I picked him up and we danced. Not really good and not really too fast. But do know know what happens when you dance with a cat?
Yesterday, I found out quick. It wasn't the pain, nor the clawing that got me. It was the shock. Here I had a peaceful loving pet; and suddenly ...without warning I was toast or rather a scratching post. Will I do it again? Probably not for some time. But some of us would dare to.

Now I got thinking that is how it is with us in our lives. Something looks good, but actually is bad for us. We dance with it; thinking it. (Let's call it by its name ....now Sin). would not harm us. But soon there is the shock, the pain, and the wanting to do it again. So easy to dance with sin than it is with God isn't it? Sometimes in the midst of my own sinfulness I forget.

Dancing with a cat, how silly is that? Its as silly as dancing with sin, but a lot of people are doing that too.

Well it happened. It is known to happen in the years of being in Youth
Ministry. It happened. Now you are asking yourself? What happened? Who,
how? Well in the midst of boring budget meetings; a barely raise (Due to
rising Health Insurace costs), in the midst of wanting to say "I give up
..." It happened. The two powerful words that I don't hear that often,
yet it happens. The words "Thank You!" This time it was not only from
some parents, but also from a youthworker I know who just lost his mother
on Thursday. "Thank You" Such powerful words.

For some strange reason I heard it a lot this past weekend. From a
funeral, to people thanking us for our Daughter (She celebrated her 1st
Birthday Party) to parents saying thanks. Weird? I even had some parents
sit in on our Teen Church Sunday night. This doesn't happen. So I'm
thinking what is going on? No, its not October, Clergy Appreciation Month
is too far away. Maybe they can read my mind or something. Lately I've
been struggling ...ok Budget crunch time, my wife is going to stay home,
and be a stay at home mother eith our two kids. (Girls at that); and I
just being the typical Youthworker am wondering on my salary? But that's
Ok. God will provide, but there's always that little voice ....You could
make more; you could be a better provider. Doesn't God have you take care
of your relationship with Him, your family and then Ministry? Why bother?

That's when it hits me. The "It Happened." The thank yous. I'm not known
to be a bragger; and I know I won't win the best Youth Pastor of the Year
award? (IS there such a thing? There must be because my student @
Milligan College told me they gave away one; and he thought I deserved it
more then in his words "This jerk, that relates only to the guys, and
ministry especially youth ministry isn't just for guys.) So it happened
to me. I was told thank you. A rare thing in youth ministry something
I'll treasurer. So when was the last time you were told thank you? If it
hasn't been lately ..I say "Thank You." So that you may have it happen to
you.


Gman :o)
"One does not improve through argument but through examples ....
Be what you wish to make others become. Make yourself, not your words,
a sermon." - Henri Freferic Amiel

________________________________________________________________

Well it snowed last nite. Usually we don't get a lot of snow in Central
Virginia. As I got up this morning I saw it. My daughter and I were
playing and excited about a morning of time together. So we both together
watched it snow. Not that I never seen snow before. I grew up with it.
Along the shores of the Great Lakes, I knew as a child that each winter
brought excitement of getting my little brother with a snowball or
pushing some girl head first in the snow.

But some how this was different. Special. Not the snow itslef, but the
moment. What was it? Ah, my daughter's first Big Snowfall. It was amazing
to see her glee and just at one year's of age seeing someone so pure and
innocent. Then I reflected more. The snow. White as snow. What was the
date? Ah, what was so important about Jan. 16-17? Think. Think - Gman.
Oh. Several decades ago I remember now. It's all coming back like it was
yesterday. I went to my pastor and told him, I had a problem. He said;
"Oh, What is it?" To which I replied: Sin..." It was then, he had
explained to me salvation and I had accepted Christ. Hmm, a birthday; how
could I have forgotten?

Sometimes we forget the special moments in our lives. A daughter's first
snow, a time when you accepted Christ. Cherish them I say. As for the
snow it was clean; but overtime I noticed the snow on the road had turned
more black than anything. That's when it came to me. Sometimes our lives,
our ministries, and even the listserv is like that snow. We have good
times, the first clean snow; but sometimes (For me in my life it seems a
lot lately) there is that blackness that keeps coming back. That sin. So
how does one deal with it?

I continued to watch the road. And noticed as the sun came out and the
cars ran over the snow it slowly turned from black to a pavement, only to
have freshly new snow appear again. So what does that say about us? That
we are to be refined, shaped; the blackness to fade away; and a clean
slate starts. Maybe that is where God is working on us. Molding, shaping
us. As a Father with his daughter lost in the moment; maybe too God is
lost in a moment with us as we are His children. We just need to be
delightful and be lost in the moment too.

When was the last time you got lost in a moment, or as one person has
said ...when was your last "Ah, moment ...." That is definitely God at
work. For me it was a little snow this morning and a delightful little
girl.

Gman
"One does not improve through argument but through examples ....
Be what you wish to make others become. Make yourself, not your words,
a sermon." - Henri Freferic Amiel

_______________