In Remembrance of Me

So I'm not a professional photographer and I'm hardly even a hobbyist yet. However, my wife and I just got our first DSLR camera and this was the first photo I took that really spoke of something impacting to me. Sure, I've taken a few that could tell a story if I made it up, but this one captures a moment of a story already told. In fact, it's the number one best selling story ever! Yes, the Bible!

If I were to title this pic, I would call it "In Remembrance of Me". Why? Well sure, I could be that mystifying artist who doesn't explain his photos but allows the imagination to explore it's deeper meaning, but I want people to know what I see in the picture because what I see is the greatest love story ever!

I see a hand made in God's image. I see the red wine, the fruit of the vine, the symbol of Jesus' blood represented in the holy sacrament of communion with our Lord and Savior. I see the ripple within the wine that flows outward from a dark point, the point in time and space at which the nail pierced our Savior's hand. The ripple of Jesus' blood, likewise, has spread to all corners of the world. I see that though the red lies within the hand, it doesn't stain, just as though we come to Christ with stained hands, he washes them away through his blood. I see my own hand in the reflection of the cup. A hand that Jesus saw when he poured out his blood. That's what I see.

What do you see? I hope that you see this and remember the cup of the new covenant. I hope and pray that you see the blood of Christ that takes away the sins of the world. I hope you remember your Lord and Savior that gave his life for yours.

In His love,
Brent

The Little Drummer Boy

Out of all the overplayed and most-common Christmas songs, I think “The Little Drummer Boy” has got to be the closest to the heart of the season. Consider the idea that a boy who seemingly has nothing gives what he can for the newborn king. He has no money, no riches or wealth, no ability to buy Jesus a gift, much less wrap it with shiny paper and a bow. Still, the boy cannot let Jesus’ birthday go unnoticed! He must give something back to the One has given him life! The boy re-gifts! OMG! (This means “Oh My Gosh” in non-heretic peer-to-peer texting of the contemporary teenager.) How could someone re-gift to Jesus. The most amazing thing is not that the boy re-gifts but that he re-gifts to the original giver. It’s kind of like if Gracy Lou Freebush bought you a snuggy and you decided that you would re-gift it the next year back to Gracy Lou Freebush. This is considered a huge faux pas (meaning a sort of social mistake in upper class non-teenage language).

So what can we do if God is the giver of all things? How do we give something back to Him without making the mistake of re-gifting? The truth is we can’t!

God gives all things, from a nice house to each breath of air. There is nothing we can give that He didn’t give us first. I always thought that the greatest gifts were things that you always dreamed of having, whether you expressed it or not. Socks were never things I dreamt of, though useful. The goofy sweater that Grandma knitted you was sweet and thoughtful but not dreamt about (unless it was a nightmare). So what does God dream about?

Scripture tells us that “we must die. But that is not what God desires” (2 Samuel 14:14). God desires for us to be in community with Him now and eternally. So what better gift to give our Lord than what He desires most? This is what the Drummer Boy gave. He gave of his own God-given talents in order that he might please his Lord and be in community with him. Now, while I don’t remember scripture talking about the three wise men traveling with a little drummer boy, I still feel that the song portrays what we are to give our Lord in celebration of His coming. God’s desire from us is to be in community with us, to devote ourselves and the gifts He has given us to Him. As you give to others this Christmas season know that the Lord says, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40).

What a Blessed Life I Have!

In all honesty, it is a rare thing that we truly take enough time to appreciate the blessings in our lives. In the last week and a half, I got to throw a Halloween Party and hang out with an amazing group of teenagers, where I was told the only imperfection with the party was that it was too short! What a blessing!

The next day, I got to spend about an hour with a couple of our Godly Guys. I am increasingly impressed with their spiritual growth and maturity. Not only are they learning about our Lord and Savior, but they are actually putting their knowledge into effect to change the world around them. What a blessing!

On Thursday, I met with about a dozen of my fellow youth ministers from around the Kerrville district. It is so wonderful to hear about the adventures of ministry. As I hear about some of the struggles that my peers face with their congregations, I am so grateful to have an uplifting and encouraging congregation, staff, and pastor. What a blessing!

On Saturday, I went with my lovely wife up to Spring Branch, TX to spend some time at our conferences first ever 24 hour “Tent Revival.” I watched and worshipped as about 150 other youth and adults spent time in the presence of our God! To spend even a moment in the Lord’s presence is a blessing in itself, but a whole day? What a blessing!

To finish the week (or maybe kick-start the next week) I played some music and lead a little worship with many of you from our church to wrap up Faith In Action. I heard the testimonies of those who were touched by the hands and feet of Christ. I got to see the effects of the holy body of Christ at work. What a blessing!

What blessed lives we have! How blessed are we who dwell in the presence of our Lord! What is more is that we have everlasting life to enjoy the blessings of the Almighty!

Blessed in Christ,

Brent Phillips

The Church of Old, Today, and Tomorrow…

I don’t read much. Reading has never been my passion. Moving pictures seem to engage my mind a little more than a book. However, words seem to captivate me. Not paragraphs, but each individual word. I feel that each word has the potential for so much. So much power lies within each word. For example, think of the magnitude within these words individually: God, Love, Church, Ecclesia, His. When used in context these words tend to lose their impact, but alone, they can be recognized for what they really are and can be.

I was skimming through a book the other day, which means a lot since I don’t like to read normally, and the book contained writings of the early church; we’re talking 170 A.D. early. The interesting thing is that when we look at what the church spoke about back then, we see so many similarities between the church of old and the church of today. I was reading the First Epistle of the Clement to the Corinthians. It was written shortly after the letters we know as 1 and 2 Corinthians and to the same church. The interesting thing about the letter was that they were facing the same issues that today’s church faces. Like it has always been, we, the church, the ecclesia, are being called to step up, to be an active voice in the world, to be a face of righteousness, to be constant and faithful.

God is calling our youth and adults, the church of today, to step up, to be the change in Uvalde, the change in Texas, the U.S.A., and the world. He is calling us to be constant and faithful, relentless in the pursuit of righteousness. Let us hear that call! No more can we sit idly by watching His creation suffer at the hands of the wicked. God has armed and equipped us to be lights in the darkness of our community and our world. Let us hear that call!

But we may say, “What is one little town on the map? Much less, who am I, one person? How can I do something of that magnitude?”

What is one word among many? It is lost in the multitude. But hear this, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Now how can we say, “What is one word? How can one person change the world?” God is calling. “He who has ears, let him hear.”

What's the word?

As one of my youth says, “There’s a word… but I can only think of the first half. What’s the word?” That kid makes me laugh.

Today, as I was thinking of what to write, I came across an old hymn that I had put a new melody and chorus to. As a contemporary worship leader, I did what so many of my kind do; when we can’t think of any new songs to write, we just look through the old hymnals and put new music to old, but inspiring, lyrics. Needless to say, this particular hymn inspired me today.

“Let us turn in the hymnal to hymn number 195, number 1-9-5, ‘Send Your Word’.” The first line seems to ring true recently… “Send your Word, O Lord, like the rain.” While we have been in times of extreme heat, wondering when the merciless sun will cease for a moment of cool relaxation, the Lord sends the rain. God watches over the delicate balance of the weather, the careful science of sun, heat, rain, humidity, ozone, cold fronts, plant oxidation, etc. So often, we forget about the seemingly trivial responsibilities of God. So often, we go days, weeks, months, years, and near lifetimes without acknowledging the seemingly little things our God does for us. But what about the times of drought, heat exhaustion, flood, blizzard, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc? It is then that we realize the need for our Savior. Why wait so long? Why must we wait until the times of desperation to call upon God? As the last line of the first verse says, “We would all be lost in the dark without Your guiding light.” So, let us “seek [His] endless grace…seek [His] wondrous powers…seek [His] endless love.” Let us call upon the name of God at all times in all circumstances. For we know that when the heat is too much to bear, He sends the rain and sends the Word. Amen.

Glory to God For Everything

There is a song by Steve Fee titled “Glory to God Forever”. It has been resonating in my heart for several weeks now. The song captures some of the most amazing facets of our God and sends out a proclamation shouting, “Glory to God Forever.”

Here’s what I’m alluding to… Over the last weeks, with all my efforts and plans, I come to realize every day that God has his own plans, and He plans to make them happen. Last weekend, we successfully kidnapped (and returned) all the incoming youth. They had a great time and things went, for the most part, according to my plan. I guess God had a different one that worked a little bit better. Last night, I came to the church to pick up some music equipment. I was stopped in my quest and asked to play basketball. I agreed, and within two minutes, a youth’s parent was outside asking to talk to me. (Mind you, I’ve only come to basketball once before, and my plan was not to come but something entirely different.) The parent asked me, “What did you do to my kids?”

I asked, “Well what happened to them?”

The parent said something like, “They love the youth group now. You must have done something ‘cause now they really wanna come and be a part of this group, and before, they didn’t even want to show up.” The parent thanked me, but all I could do was give glory to god for what He had done.

We don’t know what God’s plan is. Maybe we think we’re just going to run an errand, but God plans to set us up in a meeting that will change our outlook on the day. Maybe we think we’re just taking some youth on a trip, but God plans to change the lives of youth that day in a way that none of us could have ever hoped for.

I am just so thankful that things happen that I could never take credit for. I am so joyful that youth’s lives are being turned upside down. I am so relieved that we have a God who has His own plans. For all these things I say, “Glory to God forever. Glory to God for everything!”

Successful Ministry

The following is an excerpt from an article I wrote for the FUMC Newsletter this month...

How do you measure the success of your youth ministry?

Over the last few months, I have been doing a lot with the youth. Not only in programming, fellowshipping, and worshipping, but so much more. I don’t say that to prove that I am a worthy Dir. Of Youth Ministries, and I’m not looking for a raise. What I am talking about is the thought, the prayer, and the purpose that God has been putting into me.

I knew from the beginning that numbers are not how we are to measure the success of a youth ministry, or any other ministry for that matter. But if we don’t measure it by number growth, how should we calculate it? Do we just say that it’s a success if “it keeps our kids off the street and out of trouble”? No. Prison and school can do those things. So how do we measure successful ministry? Here are a few questions I ask…
Are the youth growing in their knowledge of Jesus Christ? Are the youth growing in their personal relationships with Christ and with their peers? Are the youth coming to an understanding of where God is calling them to go and what God is calling them to do for His kingdom? If any of these answers is “yes”, then we are on our way to success.

How can you find out if we are on our way to success? Get involved. Talk to our youth. Ask them the big questions. Invest in our youth, because not only are they the church of tomorrow, they are the church of today!

A New Season series- Episode 5.43

I know, I've missed a week again. As a youth director and worship leader, let me just tell you that some of us have very busy Easter seasons!

A few cool things happened over that last couple weeks. I performed as Bartholomew in FUMC Uvalde's Song of the Shadows musical/play. It depicted the story of Jesus from Christ's entrance into the city on Palm Sunday, to his death. Being in the play, you get used to the story, but I was glad to play, even a small part, in something that did affect people. I know it brought a few people to tears and scared a few parents and kids to see Judas hanging from a tree. (Yes he was real, yes he had a noose around his neck, and no, he wasn't really dead; he had a tree stand under his feet and the rope wasn't tied to the tree, just thrown over a branch.)

Easter was great, of course, because Jesus conquered the grave! Plus, some friends / youth sponsors invited Shadia and me out to their house to hang out for dinner and check out the ranch they help manage. Thank God for friends!

On that note, it does get repetitive, down here. I need to find some stuff to do. I can't wait 'til my (soon to be) wife gets here!

In youth, we're going over the Triune God! It's pretty cool. It's even more exciting to hear God speak to me, as the speaker, while I'm speaking! (Did that confuse you too?)

The Crossroads (contemporary service) band has finally played a Sunday morning since my arrival. We had 2 acoustics, a bass, and drums! I hope that it will eventually develop into a set group with acoustic, electric, bass, keys, and drums. I'm looking forward to seeing it progress.

Well that's all I feel like sharing for now.

Until the next episode,

Brent

A New Season series- Episode 4.5

Well I missed a week, but I was pretty busy, so I'm excusing myself. As the one who holds me accountable on this, I get that privilege.

Some neat things are happening on this weeks episode. I went to a Youth Leaders lunch"eon" for the Kerrville District. The bummer was that I had to drive to Llano. The plus was that I was out of the office all day. Another bummer was that my allergies have have horrendous, causing the drive to Llano to be terribly painful and frightening when my eyes could hardly stay open most of the drive.

Last weekend I also got to buy part of Shadia's wedding bands and scope out mine. I now know who is going to officiate my wedding and just need to hash out the details of vows and order of the ceremony. I'm pretty excited to do that soon. I'm most excited to just be married already. I want a wife in this house, 'cause I want it to be a home. Plus, communicating plans for a wedding over phone and driving to San Antonio/San Marcos every weekend is highly overrated (and I don't think it's highly rated to start with).

Anyway, I have to go help the Hand Wringers chime choir now. They're desperate for help and I'm musically knowledgeable, so off I go.

Until next week. Hopefully, that episode will be more entertaining. This one almost put ME to sleep just telling it. Sorry.

Brent

A New Season series- Episode 3

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

So does anyone out there actually know who St. Patrick is?!?! He's known as the patron saint of Ireland and pretty awesome! He was from Britain, captured as a slave, and taken to Ireland. When he escaped, he fled back to Britain and joined the church. Soon after, he was called by God to return to Ireland and spread the gospel to the country that had previously enslaved him! What a baller Christian!!!

Anyway, I am SO thankful that I was never enslaved, in spite of being told what to do as a little kid. Although, I probably told my little brother what to do more than anyone...I was kind of a lame big brother. I'm getting better. Anyway, I bought my little brother (who is red-headed, yes, we are Irish) a giant green leprechaun hat over the Christmas break. It's pretty darn awesome. I hope he wears it today.

So apparently, "Be Thou My Vision" is an 8th century Irish hymn and a beautiful one at that. Now, I am a Youth Director and a Worship Leader who sings contemporary music, but there's just something so timelessly beautiful, peaceful, and majestic about that hymn.

Anyway, my prayer today is that among the many activities of this week (office, centerfuge, ultimate frisbee, worship practice, etc.) , I would do as St. Patrick and spread the gospel to those who need to hear it the most, whether friend or foe.

Praise God,

Brent

A New Season series- Episode 2

Well, I haven't actually had any episodes (or incidents) yet, so praise God for that!

Anyway, instead of just telling you what's going on in my life in the form of a chronological progression of events, I think I'll share what's been on my heart and stayed there.

Last Wednesday (my first as a Youth Director) God moved in my heart in the worship time with the youth. As I began to share MY story, I began to long to be a part of theirs. I began to earnestly desire to share God's love with them in a REAL way. I don't want only to share the message with them in words but through action in everyday life. God put a bit of His love for them into my heart, and I was stunned!!!

Today a funeral for a man named Brian is taking place. He died at too young an age (as we feel most people do). However, I was so thankful for the response a man made after Brian's death. In sight of this sudden loss of life, a friend of Brian, who is quite a bit older, came to church and asked how to be saved. Well, on Sunday, he proclaimed his belief in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and was BAPTIZED! How much more could we ask than through death, a life be saved?!?! Praise God for He SO loved the world that he gave his ONLY begotten Son that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not die but have ETERNAL LIFE! Praise the Father, Praise the Son.

On a side note, my beautiful fiance is coming to visit me in Uvalde today. I love her so much!

God bless you today,

Brent

A New Season

It's coming to the end of day 2 at my new job. Yesterday I started as the Director of Youth Ministries at FUMC Uvalde, TX. Once the library moved out of my space, I found my office. Although, I'm a little sad now because for a little bit I was reminded of the days when I built forts from cardboard boxes and couch cushions. Now I have nothing to hide behind when the pastor comes to find me. Just kidding.

I'm really excited about it. So far, the people have been very welcoming and have said they are SO glad that I'm here. Hopefully, they'll be as excited when I tell them we can use a hand. I have faith in this congregation though. They've been very encouraging to me and Shadia and have seemed to be very supportive of the youth and their involvement in the church.

At any rate, it's the beginning of a new season. I'm starting a new job in a new town with new responsibilities. I am finally out from under my dad's paycheck and paying my own bills and rent. I'll be married before I know it and can't wait to see what else the season brings.

Until next week, I hope. (I'm gonna try to do this thing weekly now.)

Brent

Change Your Subscription

So I realized today when my neighbor's internet went out (which I was pigging backing off of) that I am too connected to this world. My only excuse is that internet also is my form of connection to the people of God. I realized that my need for internet is unhealthy when I found myself bored and somewhat useless without it.

What I plan on doing is fasting from the internet a bit. I want to get on ONLY to check emails, etc. Other than that, NO INTERNET!

Instead, I plan on applying my plethora of free time to God's word and song writing. After all, I was dying to find the time to do it when I was in school. Now that I've graduated, I will put all my efforts into finding a job, planning a wedding, and most importantly, pursuing Christ in a new way that is unrelenting.

I want to encourage you to do the same...well maybe not necessarily finding a job or planning a wedding but at least try to fast from the things of the world and replace them with things of the LORD.

I'll let you know how that works out. I have faith that if I can keep this up, my life will turn out surprisingly well. Even if life is difficult, I have faith that God will enrich my life with His Spirit.

Yours in Christ,
Brent