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  1. Thank you #symc

    March 9, 2012 by Andy Disher

    So.. I’ve been home for a few days now.  I’m still trying to catch up, find my feet.. and also find time to reflect on the past week.

    This year, the Simply Youth Ministry Conference was.. phenomenal.  incredible. outstanding.. (yah.. I could go on and on.. )

    I wanted to do my bit and just say thanks to a few people…

    First of all.. to the Simply Youth Ministry Staff: I stand an applaude you. For your countless hours of hard work, frustrating emails and phone calls and everything else… Job well done.

    Phil Bell: First of…. your “Air Time” was.. awesome.  Secondly.. thank you for being a friend that I can call on at any time for any reason.  Thirdly.. one of these days, the Commonwealth with take over our Yankee friends… one day.

    Matty McCage: Your honesty, transparency and … well.. “realness” is like a breathe of fresh air.  ok.. sometimes, it’s like standing in a wind tunnel.. but still.. it’s good.  More importantly, I truly value your friendship, your wisdom and accountability.  Thank you!

    Brit Windel: Our Skype conversations, your overwhelmingly incredible wisdom, your human-ness (yes people.. he is human. I know.. it’s hard to believe), and our lunch time conversation at “The Pub” are all things I am thankful for… Thank you for being .. you.

    Andy Brazelton: First of all.. I’m glad you didn’t call me your “wife.”  (bullet.. dodged.) Secondly, over the last few years of being volun-told to work with you.. I wouldn’t change it for the world.  I have learned so much from you and I know there is still so much more to learn (like… really.. how BIG is your wing …er.. earspan?)  In all sincerity.. your heart for youth ministry and youth workers around the globe is very clear and evident.. and I am honored to be able to call you friend.

    Jake Rutenbar, Josh Griffin and Chris Wohlers – you guys were incredibly this past year.  Your creativity, professionalism and .. well… thinking “outside the box” challenges me every year.  Oh.. that and the last minute “we need _________.”  Thank you for allowing me in your world for a few moments.

    Terrace Crawford and Kerensa Huffman – we got to lead a Peer Panel this year.. “Singles in Youth Ministry.”  .. All I can say is .. “Wow!”  What a great time.  It was a pleasure to help lead, guide and discuss with our group the issues that rise up as a “single in ministry.”  I look forward to working with you two again!!

    Ben Halsch and Tony Clyde – Roomies!  .. hehehe.  Not only roommates .. but friends.  Thank you for opening up your hearts and lives to me over the past weekend.  Thank you for not smelling up the bathroom (too bad..) .. for snoring.. (.. oh.. I apologize if I snored).. and for being more than just a roommate, and co-volunteer.. but for being a friend.

    Geoff Stewart - to my fellow Canadian.. it was great to have you at SYMC this year.  While you were there last year, it was awesome to have you this year as a fellow volunteer/leader/worker.  I’m excited for what the future has in store for SYM and Canada!

    Man.. I could go on and on.. there are SO many people that I want to say thanks… etc, etc..

    To my SYM Family (.. both old.. and new) .. we have come so far. Together, we have gone through the good, the bad.. and the ugly.  Together.  Not alone.  Not … stranded.  But as a family.. as a team.  All this goes to show that.. we are not alone. No matter where in the world you are.. you are not alone.

    2013.. is gonna be amazing!

     

     

    Twitt

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  2. just…. breathe

    March 8, 2012 by Andy Disher

    2012.
    A year of.. renewal. A year of .. starting fresh.  A year of breathing.

    … for me anyways.

    If you’ve been keeping up with this blog, than you know what the last year has been like…

    As I was gearing up for the Simply Youth Ministry Conference.. I was anticipating a lot of different things.

    The “rushing around,” the “connecting with old friends” and making new ones, the “late night meals, “the large consumption of Red Bull“.

    But for me.. there was more.

    You see, as of March 1st, my divorce was final.  My marriage was officially and legally over.  And on March 1st.. I was in Louisville, KY – attending a conference where the theme of the weekend was… “breathe.”

    How appropriate.. how.. ironic.

    Throughout the weekend, I learned… many things.

    As I stood on the banks of the Ohio River that warm night on March 1st,  I reflected on my last year, my last 3 years, and even 5 years… and as we had a conversation (God and I) … I learned to exhale..

    I learned... in life.. exhaling is necessary.  Because, if I don’t release the toxins inside of my body… I die.
    I learned that sometimes … letting go of the past (circumstances, events, people) is necessary.

    Exhaling the old, and breathing in the new..

    In a personal, quiet ceremony.. I exhaled my past.  Feelings, emotions, thoughts, words, actions… I released them.  And symbolically threw it all into the Ohio River.  They, along with my wedding band… now sit at the bottom of that river.

    I also learned… that it is necessary to find the time to stop.. and breathe.  Working as a volunteer at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference (and working alongside some of the coolest people in the world!!) is a busy time.  Add on top of that overseeing a portion of the weekend – it can get stressful at moments.

    But taking that “sabbath” time .. is a must.  A few minutes here or there.. a meal with someone, a walk around to clear my head…

    … just stopping to breathe… is a must.  And so.. I bring that  back with me.

    Yes, scheduling a full on day of “sabbath rest” is … really.. mandatory.  But (if I may encourage you..) find time during each day to take some time to breathe.

    And lastly..

    We need help to breathe sometimes.

    And the coolest things that I love/adore/respect about the Simply Youth Ministry Conference is that there is a network, a group.. nay.. a family that I can turn to, call on, and journey with in ministry.  A family that when all hell is breaking loose and I can’t breathe…. they are there with me and for me… placing the oxygen mask on my face, holding my hand, and walking alongside as I learn to breathe again.

     

    Twitt

    Category Personal, Simply Youth Ministry | Tags: | 3 Comments

  3. Why I didn’t post from #SYMC

    March 6, 2012 by Andy Disher

    I had all the right intentions.  I just never had the time.

    I arrived in Louisville, KY on Wednesday morning.  As the city slept – (3 am) – I found myself staggering into the hotel room.. disturbing the sleep of my two roommates.

    After sleeping for a few hours, the next 6 days were a blur…

    taking time to stop.. write.. and reflect (I soon came to realize) was not going to happen.

    But now.. it can.

    Stay tuned for a few posts of my experience at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference

    Twitt

    Category Simply Youth Ministry | Tags: | No Comments

  4. Gearing up.. #SYMC

    February 27, 2012 by Andy Disher

    The Simply Youth Ministry Conference..

    So much to say about it.. and yet… I feel like there isn’t enough space to say it all.

    It has been an event that I have had the privilege to attend for the last 4 year (this is year #5 for me..). And over the years, I’ve seen it transform, be refined.. and grow.

    By attending this Conference.. I’ve grown in my life… and in many ways. Spiritually, Emotionally, Socially. And not only have I grown in my personal life, but also in my professional life – in my “ministry” life.

    While the Conference is a “weekend thing..” .. it’s also turned into more than that.  It’s a daily thing.  For me.. it’s the relationships.. the AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS that have been formed over the years.

    The friends that contact you anytime.. to say hi.. to pray with you.. to ask for prayer.

    The community that has grown out of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference is .. irreplaceable.

    And when I get in my car tomorrow night to start the drive down.. I’m not only going to for the teaching, training, late night snacks and ample supply of Starbucks… I’m also going down to visit… family.

    Stay tuned for more posts/updates and (hopefully) videos of my experience at the Simply Youth Ministry Conference.

     

     

    Twitt

    Category Simply Youth Ministry | Tags: | No Comments

  5. More Than Meets The Eye..

    January 28, 2012 by Andy Disher

    Call this a rant, a vent.. whichever..

    … as I reflect on my last few posts.. and look at the “life lessons” I have been learning over the last 12 months, one word continues to hound me.

    Transformation.

    What is this .. “transformation?”

    I can’t help but think about “The Transformers.” yup.. that’s right. Auto-bots and Decepticons. Optimus Prime and Megatron. Robots that transformed from one thing to another.

    But when you stop and think about it.. it wasn’t a lasting change.  (don’t get me wrong.. I’m a fan of The Transformers.  Grew up with them.. went to see the more modern blockbuster hits…)

    As Christ followers though.. we are called to be transformed.  To be changed.  And for that change to last.

    (Before I continue on.. my prayer.. my hope is that what I have been writing about the last few days will be a lasting change.  For me.. it has to be…)

    The change that takes place (.. and there should be change.  in our hearts, our minds, our behaviour, actions, habits, thoughts, …everything) should be on two levels.

    Sure, there’s the outward change.  A change that people can see.  But.. there is “more than meets the eye.”

    Paul writes in Galatians and says this.. (again… I share this because this is something that has become a HUGE revelation for me over the last little while..)

    “Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others.  They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save…..they only want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.

    It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not.  What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.  May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God.” – Galations 6:12 – 16

    Our outward transformation should be a result of the transformation of our heart.  Of our spirit.
    By the “renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2) should people be able to see the difference.

    Paul says that we can do everything we can on the outside to “look changed..” .. but until we have been transformed into a new creation.. all the stuff on the outside that we try and do doesn’t matter.

    The reality is.. we can’t change ourselves.  Heck..  we can’t change anyone.  Only God can. period.

    The minute we try and change people, we’re in the wrong.  Because, usually.. 9 times out of 10..  we are trying to “change” people so that we can “boast about it…”

    How dare we.

    So.. before we look at others and point out how they need to be transformed.. maybe we need to look at ourselves.. Maybe we need to look at ourselves and be transformed by God.  Correction: Allow (it’s a choice) God to transform us.

    “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

    Don’t copy.
    Let God transform you…
    Then you will know God’s will.

    Those are some powerful words. Powerful words that I have heard over and over and over again growing up.
    Powerful words that have finally … changed me.

     

     

     

     

    Twitt

    Category Personal | Tags: | No Comments

  6. Am I ok..? Really?

    January 27, 2012 by Andy Disher

    Being a “people pleaser” sucks..

    the incessant need to make sure people are happy…
    the false sense of responsibility when people aren’t happy…

    it’s a curse.  It’s a curse that I wish I didn’t have.  It’s a curse that I am working on getting rid of.

    Over the last little while.. (and following my last two posts “Losing Hope?” and “Worrywart”) I thought I’d take some time and share with you.. yet another “life lesson” that I have experienced.

    As I reflect on my two previous posts… there hasn’t been one easy lesson in all of this.  (I actually tweeted out a few days ago.. “This lesson God is teaching me.. is an easy one. I’m just trying to learn it my way.. and that doesn’t work..“) It’s because of my own stubbornness, my own pride and my desire to “do it my way” (stupid Frank Sinatra) that these lessons are astronomically harder than they should be…

    However, in comparison.. this lesson has been, by far, the hardest.

    Learning that…I’m not perfect.
    Learning that … I’m not the answer to everyone’s problem.  (and .. actually… not just that I’m not the answer.. but I don’t have it or know it either..)
    Learning that … I’m going to upset people sometimes. .. and learning that it’s ok if I do.  (Obviously, it’s not ok if I intentionally hurt or upset people…)

    But as I sit and reflect.. (and as “the mighty rio grande” by This Will Destroy You plays in the background…) I’ve come to learn that it’s more than just that.

    I’ve learned.. that.. at the end of the day.. at the root of it all.. lies a dirty secret.  A hidden garbage pile.  A revelation that (in my mind) could stop the world if it ever got out…

    The realization that… I’m insecure.

    Now, I understand that some of you are like.. “um.. yah we know..”
    Others might be like.. “GASP! really?!?!”

    Regardless… my sharing this is more for me… because.. for me to admit that reality.. has been the hardest thing I have ever done.

    I’ve always felt the need to present myself in a manner that hides the flaws, hides the scars and hides the hurt.
    In my mind, I had calculated this terrible equation… that.. looking back, makes no sense.

    (Happy people) + (me) = perfect world
    (unhappy people) + (me) = end of the world.

    No matter what, I had always put myself in the equation.. (whether I was there in reality or not..)

    and that is just…  ridiculous.

    I’ve come to learn that .. there are (and will be) times that I have no control over people’s circumstances, lives, or situations.
    I’ve come to learn that.. I need to trust more.  Trust that people will tell me when I’ve wronged them.  (especially when they have looked at me and said “I will tell you..”)
    I’ve come to learn that… I can’t please everyone.. and more importantly – that’s ok.

    Far beyond that.. I’ve come to re-learn who I am.

    I am:
    human
    marred
    messed up
    sinful
    distracted
    …. a work in progress
    …. not perfect, but trying.
    …. God’s child.
    …. called.
    …. chosen.
    …. designed for a purpose.
    …. secure in Him who has called me.

    That’s an interesting word… “secure.”

    Secure: Free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe.
    Secure: dependable; firm.
    Secure: affording safety.
    Secure: free from care; without anxiety: emotionally secure.

    Secure. In who I am.. in Christ.
    Secure. In who I am.. and what I know I can be.
    Secure.  not insecure.

     

     

    Twitt

    Category Personal | Tags: | No Comments

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