projects.

Projects.  They are important... especially to people in ministry.

I feel like I have so many projects going on right now... improvements to the youth room/lobby/stage... projects at my house, in the yard, painting, etc...

They are a little overwhelming. They are time consuming. They are tiring. But they are important.

Projects don't define how well I'm doing my job as a youth pastor. And they aren't something I brag about or show off to people to show that I am actually doing stuff and not being lazy. They don't make my wife love me more, and they don't necessarily bring my students closer to Christ, although they might help the environment be more comfortable. They aren't essential, but projects are important.

Projects are so important because you can measure progress. You can look at a wall you've just painted and think, "this wall looks great," or "yikes, I need to touch up on those edges quite a bit." You can see the result, whether good or bad. You can see a completed work, and that feels good to your soul.

Working in ministry (or even in trying to build a relationship with a spouse or a close friend), its hard to measure progress. I try to speak truth into a student's life. Sometimes, they make a decision and change their life. But a lot of times, results can't be seen immediately. And sometimes, they go unnoticed for years.  So, I try to find ways to look for progress... and thats hard.

Projects keep me sane... in a way. And they remind me of what it feels like to complete something. And it reminds me of how great it's going to be when I see my students in the future doing awesome things with their lives for God.

This came to my mind the other day. When I was a freshman in college, I was a youth intern at a church in PHX. one of the high school freshman is now interning at our church up here. That was 6 years ago... and now I get to enjoy his friendship and see the result of work that took place years ago. (not to say it was all me... he had some great mentors in his life).  Another example... we got to hang out with a college student who was a senior the year I started here. Again, same thing... solid person. This person also had other great influences and mentors, but its fulfilling to know I had a part in that too and that God is using me to do good things.

Students and relationships are my long term projects... but in the mean time, other projects will do for the short term.

Song of the Day: "Cannons" by Phil Wickham.

Aha Moment: This post kind of say it... again.