Thoughts on Camp Get Louder

I spent the last week at Lion's Camp Crescendo for Cumberland Presbytery's Senior Camp. All in all I had a blast and learned quite a few things:

#1 It is good to go back. I spent my youth years at camp crescendo as a camper. Many of my favorite memories happened in the cabins, pool, student center, cafeteria, and animal room. I even went as a counselor and built even more memories then, coming back after 4 years was in some ways weird because I did not know many of the students and even staff but it was great to be back. It felt good and right and to some degree like I hadn't missed a beat. This was probably because some of my best friends in the world work the camp as well but it felt good to be back.

#2 Being Counselor is way better. There is only one thing to say here, I never had to walk up the hill. That's right I was lazy and or hurt the whole week and never once went you know what a good idea is walking up a big hill. No golf carts and being a counselor = amazing! But in all honesty the best part of being a counselor is the relationship you get to build with the kids and to see how the week progresses and moves. From Sunday night until Friday morning it went from 106 different students to one family. Learning love, grace, and worship from students is one of the highlights of the job.

#3 Worship is different....and that's ok. Too often we get caught up in whether people worship in contemporary or traditional, liturgical or not. Do you robe up or is it come as you are for pastors. In the end it doesn't matter. We had conga lines, fist pumps, jumping up and down and we had people on their knees in front of the cross praying. Songs and preaching were not the point it was the movement of the Spirit so know matter how the Spirit moves, catch it and go.

#4 There is never enough time. I added up that I spent 97 waking hours at camp with students...97 (Just so you know that is almost twice how long we spend in Sunday School a year). Even with 97 hours I still wish I had more time with them to worship, study, and laugh. Camp is an amazing experience and one where you can get 4 hours of sleep and still be going the next day and you just don't care.

#5 Golf Balls and Water Balloon Launchers don't Mix!!!! I really don't want to go into this but just know that it leads to a huge bruise on your hand and the inability to not punch your friend in the forearm.

Overall camp was a great week Camp Crescendo is a special place to me and to many others. I am so thankful that God led our presbytery there and that Kevin and Billy have worked so hard to maintain an amazing place. Also to Leslie, Matt, Phill, and Vicki you all are awesome and amazing great job on a great week. Until next time.....

Thoughts on Watching the Winter Olympics

So the Winter Olympics are upon us and as I spend an inordinate amount of time watching sports and events that I would not normally watch things just keep running through my head that I just had to let out.

#1 Curling is Amazing! I mean seriously why was I not made aware of this sport when I was choosing my athletic track? I could have been a pretty rocking curler. Think about it, I have curly hair, I can curl my tongue, I like curler doughnuts, it would have been a match made in heaven! Would it not be more interesting though if they had to use real brooms, like the real big janitor ones? That would add a whole new dimension to this great sport. Also the Norwegians have the absolute most amazing pants in the history of pants. Seriously however I believe I enjoy curling more than just about anything at the Winter Olympics.

#2 The two man luge has to be the most awkward looking sport I have ever seen. And a good bit of the teams are brothers. So in my head this is the conversation goes, Brother 1, "Hey brother I got an idea." Brother 2, "What is that?" Brother 1, "How about we get a sled and you let me lay on top of you while we go down ice going over 80 mph and you trust me with your life?" Brother 2, "Sounds like a plan." I don't get it.

#3 Figure skating has zero appeal to me. For all of you that like it, rock on but I've got nothing.

#4 Short track speed skating=good times. They push, pull, and tug on each other, it's constant action and there is a sense that judges can cheat people out of stuff at any time, sign me up.

And things that are going on around me while I watch the Olympics:
I do believe that Pampered Chef has exploded in my house. Nicole has become a consultant and just got her kit to do her shows so we have Pampered Chef materials and products everywhere. Also if you are interested in hosting a show give us a holler, you will be helping us get out of debt and start the savings for whenever we decide to have Baby Hayes.

Youth Sunday is this sunday! This is one of my favorite days of the church year. I can not wait to see what our youth will do and put together to lead our church in worship. If you aren't going to another church and are in the Millington area please come and worship with us.

I am finishing up reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, if you have not read it I would recommend that you go out right now and by it, seriously this very second.

Anyways back to curling...

3 AM is Not a Fun Time to Wake Up

So living in the manse for the last 3 1/2 years has definitely had it's ups and downs. It's really nice to not have to drive to work everyday or to be able to be home super quick when church is over with rather than having to drive home. West Union has been great about not always asking us to do things at the church just because we are at the manse. We live in relative peace for the most part. There are moments when we would love to have our own place where we could have some more options with things we would like to do inside the house but overall living in the manse has been great.
Last night we went and hung out with Cory, Peggy, Marcus, and Jennifer. We got home kind of late and I was really, really tired. I was sleeping super hard but at 3 this morning Nicole woke me up because Lily and Daisy were going nuts and there was a guy banging and screaming at our front door! Let me reiterate that it was 3 AM. After I got some pants and a shirt on, which Nicole said was hilarious seeing me try to figure out where all that stuff was I went outside to talk with this guy. He was wet, bloody, and muddy and was telling about how his mom's boyfriend was driving around drunk and was trying to "teach him a lesson" and he had jumped out of a moving car. We spent the better part of the next hour calling the police, cleaning up his injuries and trying to calm him down.
So honest Drew talk here. I really don't think any pastor likes these situations. Most people do not like being woken up at 3 in the morning. My human side was scared about what I was going to encounter when I opened the door, I was scared because I have a wife and my dogs inside the house who I want to protect and keep from these situations, and I wanted to sleep. Sleep is good. But I opened the door and went out to talk to this guy not because I wanted to or because he chose the manse to go to but because something deeper. I have been up most of the night trying to figure out why we went out there.
I am not sure why we went out there but I am glad we did. We took him over to the church and cleaned up his wounds, got him some water, a blanket, and let him call his mom. I got to talk to him about what was going on and not as someone who is judging him for being in a car with a drunk or being drunk himself but someone who was concerned for him. Nicole did a great job talking with the police and relaying all the information in a calm manner. I would love to have that night's sleep back but you know in the end maybe this is the reason we live in the manse. He knew this was a safe place he could go to, he went past 10 houses to get to ours and we got to care for someone who needed to be loved on. So I live in a manse and get woken up super early and it is scary at times, And I wouldn't have it any other way.