Just is a dangerous word. It is a word that can minimize and marginalize. In a conversation last week at the Orange Conference with Kristi McInnes, our Children’s Director, she related to me how she hates to hear that word “just” in the context of kids. When Kristi and Dan are vision casting or trying to pull out all the stops, they will occasionally hear “they’re just kids” from a well-meaning volunteer. YIKES! They are not nor will they ever be “just” kids.

They are our kids! They are our future. They are kids that Jesus died for. They are kids that the enemy is chasing hard. They aren’t just the future of the church…they ARE the church.

They deserve our best. They deserve our resources. Our kids ministry should be second to none (including our own ministries). Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Today, I want to thank you to Kristi, Dan, and Ryan, and the many of you who dedicate your time, treasure, and talent to build bridges to kids that Jesus loves!

I worked most of the day mapping out my new series, “Religiously Transmitted Diseases.” There is a book out with the RTD title that I picked up but it went a different direction than I had in mind. I have been thinking about this series for almost a year now and now it is time to bring it on. I might write more about it later this week, but let me ask you this question? Can you name a religiously transmitted disease? I would love to hear your feedback on this one.

I finally made Jean’s famous salsa today. Alli and I killed it. Not sure how much salsa is safe to ingest but maybe some of you MD’s out there can give me some advice. Maybe I will post the recipe on my blog soon - but in the Cremeans family tradition, I would have to remove a key ingredient so yours wont taste as good. (my West Virginia roots really practice that stuff!)

My 12 year-old son blessed our family with some amazing chocolate chip cookies tonight. Not sure they mix great with the salsa. Bailey is a great cook. I made him a deal. I would do his chore of washing the dishes if he would bust out his culinary skills. The boy has mad cookie skills!

So, I go in to get me another cookie and I see Bailey putting some foil over a plate of cookies with some guy named Ryan written on them! What is up with that Bailey. They were for Ryan Geiger, our student pastor. Hope he isn’t counting on me to deliver…they will be great for breakfast. Seriously though, how cool is it that Bailey is thinking of his pastor during the week? He is practicing hospitality and he is being mentored. Ryan is pouring into his life. Ryan - there is no other person I would want pastoring my son!

One last shout out to Michelle’s Dad, Steve, and his wife Sandy. I heard through the family grapevine that they are keeping up with my blog. Glad to have some representation from Arkansas.

I spent some time checking out our website for our Student Ministry today. You should check it out. I was especially impressed with the stuff Ryan has for parents. I have 2 kids in Middle school and one in high school so there was a lot of stuff that caught my attention. I am getting old! I read a quote on the parent page that jumped out at me…

“If you’re over 25, you can’t understand what it means to be a teenager today…You can’t understand it because they can’t either. No boundaries. No families. No innocence. No truth. No time to be a kid.”

I’m scared for our students…for my kids. It is such a crazy time to grow up in. I’m glad we have Ryan and Jessica investing into their lives…I’m thankful for the incredible Youth Staff that serve on their team…and I’m glad we are redefining church and student ministry in the Delaware Valley.