William: "Hey Jeff, you know I love my youth group right?"

Jeff: "Yeh, what happened?"

William: "Well, the recent conversations with my Sr. high youth group have taken my slightly mis-shapened heart and caused it to be remolded into a new piece of art."

            I can't help but to start off with this short conversation I had with a friend, another youth pastor from the other side of town. The dialect that was to follow was surely from the heart, and began to unveil the background of a painted youth group.

            Tonight, my youth and I, along with their leaders found themselves gathered in a small but cozy corridor of the local Soda Fountain. It's an old school ice-cream shop that is home of the "Spruce Goose", a giant bowl of ice-cream filled with one scoop of every 30 some flavors they have available, and on top of that is hot fudge, brownies, nuts, cherries, whipped cream and God knows what else.

            There, in that tight hallway as we mowed down this Spruce Goose with 10 spoons, we began to discuss success, both the worlds' views, and what true "Christian" success would be. Stemming from the words of Paul as he found himself bound in chains rotting in a prison; there in the book of Philippians chapter 1 we found what true success was.  I sometimes wonder, "When God is going to start speaking to my youth, rather than to me?"

            As Paul sat in prison he spoke these words,

                        Phil 1:12-14: "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

            How do we define success? Forget typical worldly views. Cars, houses, white picket fences and a dog; they mean crap, and I think we can all agree that it is obvious they do not define "Success". Here on the Christian level we define it a bit differently. "How big is my church?" "How many people did I pray for today?" "Did my message make people laugh, or even cry?" "How many kids come to my youth group?"

            I highlight that last one, as that too often is how I rate my success as a youth minister. As the middle school has grown to almost triple where it was when I began just 6 months ago, I have watched my senor high climb then drop; from 13 to 24 (for 2 weeks), and now down to 7 tonight... So often I wonder what I have done wrong, is it me or is it the youth or what? What did I do? I begin to set my "success" in a number, rather than the goals for which the youth ministry stands.

            Numbers matter, but my goal isn't a good time on Wednesday nights with 50 some kids. No, my goal is that the youth in this city would have an invested interest in the God who has invested so much interest in them. Invested to the point of death.

            You see, Paul never measured success by where he was in life, or who his company was. Heck he is rotting in a prison and wants to keep on preaching. It wasn't about a program that looks good, or a big old church. He measured success in the idea that NOTHING else mattered but to follow Jesus and do his best to reach out to those around him.

            Tonight, as I redefine success, I find myself recognizing that the youth I have in my little youth group, "get it". They know God, and this is where they come to be fed, recharged, encouraged, and tonight they come to get some ice-cream. So am I a success? HA, this "write" is not about me looking at something that is far from perfect and trying to justify failure or placidity.  No, this is not about me trying to tell you that because I have a good heart I am successful.

Im not.  

Not yet, but perhaps one day when I get my heart truly in the right place and my focus is wholly and simply the heart of God will I dare to say that I have succeeded at anything.

Truth is, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain".  Not numbers, not programs, not a darn thing, just lives...

How do you define success?

The price is right!

            I was recently turned onto pool skating. I have never been interested in riding a short board, that is until a good friend of mine, Robby Kohnen set up a deck for me and took me to the skate park in Englewood. I began skating around on a short board and soon learned how to drop into a pool. I began to feel like I was surfing a wave. A big, 6ft concrete wave. I was LOVING it. I started to feel the pumps, and pick up speed. I was getting higher and higher on the turns as centripetal force kept me pressed tightly to the 6ft concrete walls. It felt amazing...

            Then, I ran out of speed. I fell off the wall, tumbling to the bottom of the pool. I found myself in agonizing pain. I reached for my ankle. Robby from the top of the pool says, "Oh man, I'm watching your ankle swell up." Within moments my ankle looked like a squishy, puffy tomato, and I.. I was wondering just how I was going to get out of the pool...

I think Mr. Bob Barker hit the nail on the head when he said, "The price is right". There are some things that you just look at and know that the price you pay is worth the cost.  I'd skate that pool again, because the price of pain it was worth the cost of this newfound passion.

            In Matthew 11:18-19, Jesus says,

                        "For John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners" ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

             Jesus, our savior, from the very beginning of creation new the "worth" of relationships; in fact that is why He created us. Then He gave man the blessing of women so we too would not have to be alone. God counted those relationships of so much worth that he sent Christ to die for our sins when we had turned our backs on Him. God looked at "you" and said, "The price is right."

            We are born and bred for relationships, friends, family, wives/husbands, God, it is how we survive.

            Sometimes, there is a cost to relationships. Jesus himself was looked down upon because he wanted to love the unlovables. He counted them all of worth.

When was the last time we took time to love those that we normally would not love? To say that the price of my 5-10 minutes of saying hello is worth the impact that it could have on someone's day, or even life?

The strange ones, the loners, the goths, the dweebs, the "too cool for school" guys and gals, the unwed mothers, the cripple, the handicapped, the ugly one from work, their life... It's worth the cost.

Your life, it's worth the cost.

You are loved and it is "our" job to love. Will you join me and say,

"The Price is Right"?

Criss Cross Applesauce...

            "Criss, cross, applesauce", I say to myself as I tie the black laces of my 3 year old blue and white Vans skate shoes. I feel the pressure pushing up into the arches of my feet where my sandals normally lack support. I stand up from the futon, wiggle my toes in the tips of my shoes, feeling strong, ready to take on the world.

            A smile comes to my face as I begin to think about what the day will look like.  Church, lunch with Leslie, baking cookies with my mid-high girls, and walking the streets of Venice passing said cookies out with a hug and a simple, "God loves you". It's the start of a new day...

            God has done so much lately that it is overwhelming. Tears fill my eyes even now as I type this and think back on the love that He is pouring out in this city. Just 1 week ago, I found myself sitting in my red beach chair that my parents blessed me with, reading a book called "Weird" by Craig Groeschel, and dreaming up what to do with the mid high youth group. I watched in my head as God poured out this vision on the discipleship walk, the life of a "Fisher of man"

            Mark 1:17-18 says, "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

            Something is brewing here. Something good. I watched as God unfolded this concept more and more. He never called us to be prepared. No, He called us to walk. He called us to tie our shoes, and walk down the road, through the dirt, and into the storms. He called us to walk the straight and narrow; a road that is marked with suffering; filled with pain, filled with persecutions, rejections, and a life of servant hood. He called us to be last. He has called us to a life of loving our enemies, and bending low as we lift others up. It is a weird life in which we have been called too.

            So why do it? Simon and Andrew didn't know what they were signing up for. They had no clue. They heard His words, His heart, saw him teaching the thousands, and feeding the hungry, these were nice things, but not worth what was to come. Something weird started happening. He healed the sick, He walked on the water, and He raised the dead. Suddenly there is power behind the words. They watched Jesus get taken in the garden, and heard that he was going to prepare a place for them. They watched him hang on a cross, and then saw the empty tomb.

            It was power, it was truth, it was hope, it was joy, it was filling, it was weird, it was promise, it was grace, it was LOVE that pushed the disciples on and into the heart of God.

            So why do I do it? Because it IS power, it IS truth, it IS hope, it IS joy, it IS filling, it is weird, it is promise, it is grace, it is LOVE!

He is! He is the "I AM", and we are not called to sit around. We are called to walk. We are called to take up our cross, to die to ourselves, to tie our shoes, and not just read, but walk and experience first hand the power, truth, hope, joy, promise, and love of Christ Jesus.  If only we are willing to stand up and take on the world...

            And so, the vision grows still, and the walk goes deeper. The next few weeks, the youth and I will dive into the depths, the heart, and the walk, as we become "fishers of men."

Treasure Found, Venice Fl, Nov. 9^th 2011

                The senor high youth at Grace United Methodist Church set out on a mission this past Wednesday. A mission that would take them to a realm they had never expected.

6:15pm: Some youth show up early and begin praying, asking God;

                                "Where should we go? What should we do? To whom shall we talk?"

7:00pm: We set out broken into two teams in search of the things we heard from God.

                My team was in search of a woman wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans, and sandals. We envisioned her having a child. The term "Heartbreak" burdened our hearts.

                The other team went in search of a Mary or Joanne, wearing a purple floral dress, somewhere near the Publix and Ross.

After a while of searching and not finding my team is about to give up when suddenly Elizabeth Hayley say, "That lady has a kid!" Not only did she have a child, but she was wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans and sandals!

                We run over to meet her, her child and her friend. All went well. Both we excited, although we talked more with her friend than her. Toward the end of the conversation we finally ask, "This may be too personal, but has there been any heart break in your life recently?"

                She responds with, "Yes, my husband was just sentenced to 30 years in prison!"

                                God showed up in her life that night!

The other team? Well, they had headed out to that Publix. No luck there, they began heading for the Ross, walking distance away. About midway they remember/notice that there is a Joannes fabric shop right in the middle of the two stores. They begin wondering if Joannes is a place and not a name??

                Glancing in the windows of Joannes, they see her! A woman in a purple floral dress! They rush to meet her, asking her if her name is Mary...

                "No, its not... but my middle name is!"

BAM!! Did God just send a bunch of high schoolers out into the city with a Person, Place, Description, and NAME?? Yes, yes He did.

They prayed for her Parkinson's, and that ended the night.

Treasure found, mission over.....   Right?

WRONG! The next morning I am sitting in my office, when Trina, the secretary at the church comes in. She sits down and tells me...

"I just got off the phone with a woman who wanted to be introduced as the 'Woman in the purple floral dress'. She said she woke up in the middle of the night, went to the restroom, and was able to clean up the restroom TOTALLY pain free. This morning, she said she woke up remaining pain free..."

God just rocked some peoples worlds this last Wednesday. Be bold, be courageous, and step out!

AMEN!

I get the privilege of writing about Grace United Methodist's youth group, "Summit". We are a group that is dedicated to reaching out to the teens and young adults from grades 6 to 12. Through worship, Bible Study, fellowship and outreach, we grow closer together and closer to Christ.

The youth groups are exciting to me. I am watching young middle school youth reach out to peers, bringing them to the feet of the cross, laughing, learning and growing.

This month is an exciting month to me and for the youth group. Both the senor high youth and mid high group is rising up to something new. We have just finished a 6 week study on Romans 12: 1-9, "Living sacrifices and one body", and we are now putting our studies into action. The group is dividing up into different body parts, one of fellowship, one of worship, one of outreach and one of teaching.

                This is a dream come true for me. Literally! When I came to this position just a few months back, this was the dream/vision I came with; "To grow the group to place of not just receivers, but givers." I felt the call to bring this group into a place where they were intentionally recognizing their gifts and talents (Romans 12:6), and putting them to Kingdom use (Romans 12:1). Some of our youth are so gifted in fellowship, bringing people together, welcoming them, and extending that so needed brotherly love, or "Philia" (greek word for a type of "Brotherly love"). Others are gifted teachers, and others have a heart for outreach. I am excited as they are beginning to step into those gifting and callings.

                It brings me joy to say that this coming Wednesday, Nov. 9^th, we will be stepping up and stepping out into our first outreach since I have taken this position. Much of the time we have spent over the last few months has been building up to this, and I am beside myself with energy as we begin this next step in our walk of faith. We will be going into the streets of Venice and taking on a "Treasure Hunt". A treasure Hunt is asking God for visions, words, scripture, direction and guidance. We close our eyes and mouths, and open our ears. If one closes their eyes to see a girl in a pink shirt, blue jeans and a bow in her hair; while another feels a burden to go to a certain place within the city, then we pack up, move out and head that way with our eyes open and in search of the girl. When we find her, one or two of us will then find an opportunity to share the message God has laid upon our hearts for her. (True story from a mission trip to Belleglade, Fl, 2009)

                It is a bit crazy, a bit awkward, and a lot bit stretching. It is a step of faith in which we surrender our reputation and our comfort in order to pursue the heart of God. In Romans 12:1, we are called to die to ourselves, and offer our bodies as living sacrifices. In that same verse we are called to be "holy" or "set apart", and so this is the body that we are trying to join. It is a body that is not afraid to teach the word, to reach out in love, listen to the burning bush or whispering wind, and worship with all of our hearts.

                This is an exciting time, both in my heart and in our youth group. I know that God is going to do and is already doing some amazing things within the walls of this church and within the hearts of our youth. Be excited with us, be in prayer with us, intercede for our youth and encourage them when you see them. Don't be shy. Ask them about this week to come and what God is doing in their lives. They each have a story to tell and a lot to look forward too. These are this churches future, these are your sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren, but more importantly despite age, they are your brothers and sisters in Christ, growing learning, seeking, hungry, passionate, reaching out, stepping out, asking, teaching, waiting, listening, and living right beside you. Love your brothers and sisters, and teach us how to love as well.

In Christ,

William Diefenbach 

I questioned once,

"What write would whine, would clarify words written from within?"

And responded in truth saying,

"Simply none, not one could even begin.."

Tonight as I sit in a dark room, windows open, heavens tears fall to earth,

I can't help but reminisce the day I gave those words their birth.

It was a quest, an invite to search this being to the deepest depths

And find the truth of what's behind this chest.

A heart that beats, that's come alive,

That's more than words, more than lies.

As rain burrows down to aquifers below,

In each of us too, there is more to know.

Walk through the crowd, look into their eyes,

Know that there is a longing heart and an aching soul,

One in desperation and in silence still cries

"Take my hand, and know my whole"

 ~William Diefenbach   

The Human Pyramid,

            The "Human Pyramid", it is something that has been done since before cheerleaders cheered, before the Swiss found cheese, since before time...  

Ok, so perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, but the fact is, they have been around for quite some time.  The "complexities" of the infamous Human Pyramid are few, 3-4 people across the bottom, 3 in the middle, 2 above that leadi to just a single male or female, standing atop the pile of gigglers below. Simple...

            Tonight, a freshman in high school, Evan Kranz, who helps me lead the mid-high youth group on Sunday nights, stepped out in faith and led a Bible study for the first time. His heart, his confidence, and the gift that God has so lovingly given him blew me away.

            He shared from Job 36:22-24

God is exalted on his power. Who is a teacher like Him? Who has prescribed his ways for him or said to him, 'you have done wrong'? Remember to extol His work, which men have praised in song. All mankind has seen it, though only from a distance, How great is God- beyond our understanding!

            Highlighting the last part of this, we are called to reach out. "Mankind has seen 'His glory/power', though only from a distance".

            We can't beat Him, can't tell God that He is wrong, He is exalted on His power, ALL have seen this, though only from afar!

It is unmistakable. It is impossible to miss the glory and the power of God. Look west to the setting sun, or even better feast your eyes upon the suns daily rise upon the eastern horizons. Look to the mountains, to the seas, to the animals, to the trees. Look around and you are sure to see it. We all have, but what frightens me is that we have only seen it "from afar".

            How is it that we understand the body, how is it that we understand the oceans? How is it that we learn? We get up close and personal.

            "The "complexities" of the infamous Human Pyramid are few", but the picture of it is easy. Examine closer, and see the muscles working to balance, see the patience of the bottom row, see the people who stand on the side and reach out a hand to make sure the top row does not fall.

We are to be those supports to the world. We need to reach out our hands, and bring people into the balance of Christ, into the close up one on one relationship with our God. We are to be the ones who reach out and bring them from "afar" into the arms of Christ.

Reach out, keep this world from falling...

Do you really want the cookie?

            Here I am, 25 years old, walking through the Publix grocery store with a 5 year old and a 3 year old in a racecar-shopping cart. They are not mine, but for the moment I get to take them along for the ride. As I wander about the store with my list of foods to get, I glance into the cart and notice candies, cereals, and other assorted items that are both not on my list nor that I placed in the cart.

            "Stop putting stuff in the cart if you want your free cookie from the bakery!" I tell the two children as I stuff the unwanted items behind a few loaves of bread.

 A hissy fit breaks out...

Oh.. If only the two of them knew. If they only knew that I had planned on getting them a cookie, and that this whole ordeal would have been over a lot faster if they hadn't brought their own list of things to buy! Why do children make it so much more difficult than it needs to be!

Romans 12:1-2    

Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Last week we talked about what it meant to be a "living sacrifice". This week, as we dig into verse 2, we begin to understand why.

God is calling us out, asking us if we really want that free cookie. He is telling us to open our eyes to the big picture, the picture of His "Good, pleasing, and perfect will."

If I could only have put into words for those 2 children the thoughts I had, if only their little minds were truly able to comprehend what the big picture was, they would have stopped, put on their big kid pants and enjoyed the ride and a free cookie.     

If God was to speak to you through this, I think He would say this...

"I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper, not to harm. Put aside your grocery list, put aside your will, your desires, die to them, be a sacrifice for me and see the big picture. Eternity is waiting, waiting for you to stop holding up my will, my desires, my heart, my plans, my vision, and my world with your small minded, little selfish picture of a plan. Just STOP! Die to yourself and know that what I have in store for you is far better than anything you can add to the cart. What I have in store for you is not eaten, not worn away, not consumed, not effected by time. It is "everlasting to everlasting" Now be mine, be my beloved living sacrifices and help me accomplish the goal at hand. I promise, it will be worth the cost..."