Over the weekend my son Logan found an old VHS video of my days as a youth pastor in Ligonier, Indiana. The video was of our Grand Opening to the all new XTREME Youth Center, back in 2002.
The weeks prior to the Grand Opening, I had challenged the group of 115 teenagers, that if they were to have 200 students in attendance at our Grand Opening, I would dye my hair blond and pink and keep it that way for a month. That night 205 students showed up. I've never been so happy to look like a complete idiot.
As the video scrolled thru the crowd I saw Cody Whitesell, Marie Acasta, Emily Lietch, Eric Richardson, Ruben Cevantes, Aaron Dixon, Darin Coy, Bekka Nimtz and so many other incredible teenagers that Veronica and I shared life with almost 10 years ago. It was so moving to go back in time and relive not only an amazing night, but an amazing season in our lives.
The verse in the bible that says "life is but a vapor" is so very true. The days I had with those teenagers went by almost as fast as they arrived. Although, my family and I have walked further down God's path for us and we've not seen those teenagers for several years. I will never forget what God did in that little town, and I hope they don't either.
