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
Friday, November 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
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.”
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.”
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, August 23, 2010
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!”
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!”
Monday, July 26, 2010
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!
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!
Monday, April 12, 2010
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 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
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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
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
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