That’s something you never want to experience in youth ministry. Wednesday night after our SWITCH experience we got a call from a student who was leaving. He said a kid got hit by a car on NW Expressway. Vince, my fellow youth pastor and I ran as fast as we could out to where we saw traffic backing up. My mind exploded: “No, oh Jesus NO!”

Before we knew it he was gone. Anthony Guzman an 8th grader from one of our main middle schools CAPPS in the Putnam City district.

That night set in motion a wave of grief that settled on our students and leaders from CAPPS. The next morning we were up at the school all day, sitting with students, holding them while they cried, listening to their questions of why and not able to really answer them.

We don’t know why.

I was so proud and blessed by the showing of our team of leaders. The whole CAPPS team was present along with others. A few of my fellow staff members from other campuses joined us to minister to the students who lost their friend. More than twenty-five adults stood in the lunch cafeteria that day holding hands to pray for the 8th grade class of CAPPS. God’s presence was there. He was comforting, healing and showing Himself to these students.

Losing a student is something no one ever wants to experience. But if you have to I would want to be surrounded by the people who showed up yesterday to give comfort. I would want to be a part of a community who I know is praying and reaching out any way they can. Our group will never be the same after this tragedy. But I think the change will be for the good. God is good even in circumstances like this.

A memorial fund has been set up in Anthony’s name. You can donate at any metro MidFirst Banks. Thank you for your prayers.

Hello everyone!

Forgive the absence from the blog. I’ve been super busy with so many exciting things happening.

Cody and I are working hard on starting a blog together. This will be mostly based around marriage, communication and our lives, with touches of each of our passions and thoughts on things like technology, overcoming insecurity, leadership, political views etc. We’re really excited about it and feel God calling us to start this together. It’s going to be a www.livelaughlight.com Here’s a little taste of our logo done by the beautiful Amy Sharp over at www.amyellacreative.com

Out of this blog I’ve also started a personal training/boot camp business called LiveLaughLight. Starting in January I will offer classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30pm $100 per person for four weeks. Send me an e-mail or DM if you’re interested!

I’ve been working hard on the first draft of a book that’s been stirring inside me for the last three years about overcoming insecurity. I have an end goal of December 15th for the first draft and will send it in to a friend to hopefully get some ideas for publishing! More to come on that one!

We’re wrapping up our semester for SWITCH and I’m just so excited for the Christmas holiday this year! I was just reading in Luke about when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to be dedicated. You can access a great reading plan at www.youverson.com it’s called Rediscovering the Christmas Season.

Today’s reading focused on two people who waited at the temple everyday for the coming of Jesus. Simone and Anna–two prophets who dedicated their lives to seeing the Christ arrive. I was encouraged and challenged when I read about how devout these two people were for the coming of Christ. In the reading plan it encouraged all of us to have that same excitement and expectation for the second coming of Christ–when He returns for us. I know I don’t always think about it, getting too caught up in the life I lead here on the earth, but it really made me think. I want to have the same excitement for the coming of Christ that I do for Christmas. I want to be so in love with Christ that I do what Anna the Prophetess does “She talked about Jesus to everyone.” Luke 2:37 and I want to encourage all of us to foster that same excitement. I think if we truly knew what that day was going to be like, there wouldn’t be anything that could keep us from being as excited as we possibly could.

So today, get excited! There are amazing things to come!

There’s a certain confidence that comes when you know your purpose in life. You have guidance, and an invisible arrow pointing you in the direction you know you’re supposed to be going.

However, simply knowing your purpose isn’t enough.

Living your purpose is where life really gets sweet.

When you take that step of obedience there is a greater confidence that comes along, like a companion on the journey of life, keeping you company as you trudge forward. There is something about living on the right side of obedience that gives you the keys to unlock the doors that used to be closed. A new realm opens up. You see things differently. You experience life more vibrantly and carry a new sense of purpose you’ve only ever heard about.

Are you living on the right side of obedience? What will it take for you to take that step of faith and start doing what it is you know God has called you to do?

I came across this video and it made me think: these guys–and girls are living life to the fullest, taking risk, and having a blast doing it! I’m not saying I want to jump on a bike and dive into a pond, but I am saying when I get to the end of my life I don’t want to look back and realize I lived a safe existence. I want to live, really LIVE! Hopefully you feel the same way! Check this out:

A friend of mine told me about this foam tube used for stretching muscles. She showed me how to use it at the gym and I haven’t been the same since. This small tube gets down into the deep tissue and even reduces cellulite in problem areas. You can use it anywhere: legs, inner thighs, back, arms, neck, head. Check out my deep tissue massaging moves!

I picked mine up at Target for $20.00 (actually it was a birthday gift from mom and dad! Thanks!) It’s amazing how good it feels to stretch tired muscles after a long run. I highly recommend getting one yourself!