To Wait In Line.
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Friday, 29 June 07 - 11:47 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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When I was in High School and College, my friends and I would routinely choose to wait in lines for movies. We'd wait in line to get the first tickets, then we would wait in line to see the film at 12:01am the day it came out. I can remember waiting in line for the re-releases of the original Star Wars movies. We also stood in line for the horrendous Jar Jar Binks festival that was the disappointment we called "The Phantom Menace". We waited in line for a few others as well, and I must admit, that was a great time. Now a days my students wait in line for movies like Pirates of the Carribean, Harry Potter, LOTR, and even the new Transformers and Batman movies. I love the comic book movies, some of my favorite movies are the X-Men films and the new Batman movies are incredible...but. Im not standing in line for movies anymore.
I've come to realize, that I like sleep. And I can't really sleep in anymore. So I like to be in bed well before 2 and 3 am. I also have a wife, and in a few short months, a child at home (even less sleep). Also, I'm 31. Seriously, that's not old, but when I was 17, 18, 19 years old, I remember seeing the 31 year old guys in line and thinking..."Really? This was your best option?". I don't want to be that guy...
Having said that, come sometime next year, I will be standing in line. For this...
Yes. Indy. For this I will stand in line.
Really? Is that my best option? Yes. And I can't wait. I wonder how early the theaters will let you start lining up...
Change of Heart
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Monday, 14 May 07 - 11:14 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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If you care about how AIDS is affecting not only Africa, but this world, where God is working and what He is doing, then read this. Even if you aren't involved in what is happening, read about the situation and what God is doing, it will leave your heart tender, and open your eyes to the amazing God we serve, and how He uses us to make His glory known.
Beautiful Day
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Friday, 27 April 07 - 11:48 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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”It’s a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away"
As Bono and the rest of U2 ripped through this refrain on my iPod, I realized just what a beautiful day it was. I was out in the sunshine, working in my yard, with temporary dips in the pool, which is a cool 68 degrees. The flowers were bright, the sky blue, my grass seemed so green.
As I tended to flowers, cut the lawn, and swam through the water, I just thought how blessed I was, and how content I felt. Even now as I sit here with a sore back and sore legs, the soreness is evidence of hard work, hours in the sun, tending to my own personal "garden".
Later on my wife and I went out to dinner together, and then looked at all sorts of baby stuff for the upcoming arrival. I have to admit, I had a great time. Everything seemed oddly peaceful and just right. Cell phone off, enjoying just being with my family.
As I look back on the day, it seems weird that man could enjoy something so much that was part of the curse. Toiling, sweating, laboring, pulling weeds, is evidence of the hard work we were given over to when man first fell in the garden. But there's also a deeper connection there, the fact that we were placed in that garden and given the charge of caring for God's creation. There was originally a joy in taking care of the garden. God and man would walk together through the garden and converse, talk, and enjoy each others company. That's how I felt as I worked on my lawn and among the flowers and trees. I couldn't help but wonder if Adam, after looking over the garden, swam in the rivers and enjoyed the cool water. But moreover, it was in the middle of God's creation that man and God first communed.
This is why I feel I connect with God the most when I am in middle of the wonders of His creation. The deepest times of intimacy I have felt with God have been in the beauty of a sunset, standing before the power of the ocean, looking at the snow covered mountains, the rolling green hills of Ireland... these are the times I feel Him most deeply. It's within me; it's within all of us, the call, the spark, the longing of our heart to connect with God, to feel His presence, through the call of creation. God's word says in Romans 1:19-20 "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
We have within us the divine love of creation, and God continues to reveal himself to us through his creation, from a simple blade of grass to the miracle of birth. God is all around us. All we have to do is stop for a moment, be still, look around, and know that He is God.
Losing Sleep.
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Wednesday, 25 April 07 - 12:25 AM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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Heavy hearts create sleepless nights. That's why Im up. To many things are weighing on me at the moment, and, I stepped on a nail tonight, so my foot hurts. Plus, I got my last round of shots for Africa today, so I don't feel well. Now, don't you feel sorry for me?
I have come to fear that life in student ministry is begining to break me down. Carrying the burden of students you love is a heavy load, and not something I am able to do. Christ is the only one who can truly carry these burdens, so why do I even try, why can't I seem to leave them at His feet? Rather, I try to own them myself. I can't figure out how to lay their hurts, and their struggles down, much less my own.
Why do parents seem to fight you on the most ridiculous things? Here are just two of the harsh phone calls I have had the past week and a half; 1.) her - "I will not allow my son to talk to you." me - "Why?" her - "Because he says your the only person he trusts....." me - "........." her - "You see?" me - "No, not really" her - " (SCREAMING) He is not allowed to talk to you until he starts honoring me" me - "That's always the first thing I talk about, and strongly." her - "He won't listen to you" me - "......." her - "besides, you told him it wansn't a sin to date a non-christian." me - "Did he happen to mention the next 5 minutes of our conversation about honoring God with the decisions you make, the purpose of dating, God's standard for marraige, and the fact that you need to honor your parents when it comes to that?" her - "(Again, SCREAMING) He didn't have to, I already heard what I wanted to hear." me - "..... " her - CLICK. me - WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
2.) parent - "Kerry, Im concerned about what you're teaching our studnets" me - "Okay, what about?" parent - "Your spending too much time teaching them about the Bible" me - "Really? How does that concern you?" parent - "Well, my kids need to hear about why drinking/drugs and sex are wrong, cause their teenagers" me - "Don't you think the Bible talks about that stuff?" parent - "It's not relevant to todays teens and their culture" me - "....." parent - "I just know that me and the rest of the parents that are really involved think that its important that you equip them to stay away from those things" me - "Isn't that what God's word and the Holy Spirit do?" parent - "Thats part of it I guess" me - "Part of it? Part of it? That's pretty much the whole thing!" parent - "(Obviously irritated) What school did you go to?"
Im not even kidding.Then we had budget meeting. Enough said. If you're in ministry at all, you know how fun those are, and how encouraging they can be to Student Ministries Pastors.
Then to top it all off. I stepped on a finishing nail. It went in about 3/4 of an inch. It hurt. Now, I can't sleep. So Im up, venting on my own little corner of the internet to the 3 people who will actually take the time to read this whole thing.
I also miss San Diego. I miss my strong friendships that brought me encouragment and accountability. Something that AZ lacks, one of the many reasons life in the desert is hard for me.
Okay, seriously, I have to stop, or Ill write another whole rant on that....
Grateful.
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Monday, 26 March 07 - 04:12 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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I just wanted to say thanks to our friends for all of the encouraging emails and comments. You guys are really wonderful, and we are thankful for you all, and we wish there were more time to be with you guys. But know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Just another quick request: I (Kerry) will be leaving for Malawi, South Africa in May, to love on some orphans and see how God can use me. Ill also be attending some pretty important meetings with some really cool organizations, to see their ministry and how God is working through them. The purpose of this is because I am also the head of our Vision Africa missions program here at church. I could definately use your prayers, and If you'd like to join in praying for me, or supporting this, and you would like a support letter/card, please leave me a comment or send me an email letting me know. Thanks guys. Love ya.Kerry
P.S. If you haven't heard the Joyous news yet, Read the post below!
The Wonder Of It All...
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Friday, 23 March 07 - 05:22 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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Baby Snyder #1 -
And yet again, here he/she is....
We will be waiting to find out the sex of the baby, we want to be surprised by our gift, so you can hold that question. Robin is just about 14 weeks along, and feeling good. This moment was actually one of the most profound that I have ever been a part of. As I listened to my child's heartbeat and watched it beat, saw it's little hands and feet, saw it's spine and profile, the words of Psalm 139 were echoing in my mind, "I knit you together in your mother's womb... my eyes saw your unformed body." Amazing. Just wanted to let you all know, I've also posted more of the pics in the Photo Albums. Stay tuned for updates! - Kerry
Children and Imagination
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Monday, 12 March 07 - 04:52 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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One of the things that I absolutely love about kids, is their sense of wonder and imagination. I think that as adults we have lost our ability to imagine. Imagination is one of the most amazing gifts that God has given us, and it's a shame that as we "grow up" we begin to think that imagination isn't for us, it's for kids.
Now you know that I hate McDonalds. It's gross, c'mon. But this ad from Australia is one of the most inventive and innocent that I've ever seen. It really taps into that idea of a child's imagination. Plus it's really cool. I hope that when I have kids, I nurture their gift of imagination. You can view the ad by clicking here.
This deflating week.
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Friday, 23 February 07 - 12:06 AM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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This week has deflated any spiritual momentum that I feel i had left from my retreat a few weeks ago. Definately due to my lack of being able create space and silence in my day to day life. I have been sick with strep throat, my voice wouldn't even work come sunday morning, so I had to inform our band that it was all worship sunday. Amind all the complaining and whining they did a great Job.
Tried to work through my sickness (Im on a second round of anti-biotics, really, really, stong ones.) And was meet by waves and waves of frustration at church. Frustration with things not working, furstration with uncommitted students, who seem to have no interest in being involved in church or the community we are trying to build here. The first time I ACTUALLY Seriously, pondered what it would take to actually move to Denver or New England and just start over in a new church, or church plant.Sometimes Youth Ministry can be so frustrating and hurtful. What adds to the hurt, is may people decide that it's you job to deal with it, and they don't support you. Parents want what parents want, Kids are only interested with themselves and what they want. And God forbid you have a day off when a parent or student needs to get ahold of you...Ever play 699 questions about " why didn't you return my phone call" or hear another parent say "So and so said you never returned their call. What's up with that?' Where is support for pastors? From families? Where is the involvment and desire to build and participate in community ?
Wow, now that I sit back and read that, it was rough and short of me (see "sound of silence" post to figure out where my head is at). But, I guess Im needing to vent a little, and a little honesty and transparency is good.
Silence and Solitude
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Saturday, 27 January 07 - 04:02 PM (GMT -07:00) By Kerry Snyder in Life |
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I have not posted in a while, because I have been hiding a way in a Log Cabin in the Moutains of Colorado. I went away on a week long retreat of solitude and silence. It was me, my Bible, my journal, and a couple of good books. It was a great, week, and I hope to unpack more about it here on this blog in the coming week. Just wanted to put up a quick update about where I've been. Wherever you are, I hope God is speaking to your heart.
... More items are available in my News Archive
