Nathan Neighbors
Follower of Christ, Husband, Father, & Youth Pastor
Yesterday we celebrated Anderson’s 4th birthday in grand style with a Halloween themed party in our backyard. We had junk food, great birthday cake, a bounce house, Halloween decorations, and even had a pumpkin shaped pinata full of candy. All the makings of a great birthday party – right? Tons of Anderson’s friends and family came and had a great time and played their hearts out. But in the midst of it all, Ellis got a black eye and Anderson fractured his left leg. Nothing like a visit to the ER to top off a good party. I’m just glad social service hasn’t shown up at our door yet. These are a few of our favorite pictures from the day. We dressed up as the 
Scooby Doo characters (Anderson’s was Scooby, Ellis was Shaggy, Ashley was Daphne, I was Freddie, and their Aunt Deanna was Velma). Anderson is going back to the doctor tomorrow to either get a cast or a splint on his leg. He’s taking it all very well – but having to be carried everywhere he goes. Pray for him and his recovery, and also pray for Ashley while she’s at home taking the lion’s share of the care for he and his brother. We’ll update you all after we see the orthopedist tomorrow.
Yesterday at church I had an interesting conversation with one of our students. We’re in the middle of a discipleship series called “Experiencing God,” so I asked her how her Bible study was going. She told me, “not so good.” Well at least she was honest. As I began to talk to her about it, she told me that she has so many people trying to take first place in her life. Each teacher at school wants that particular subject to be her first priority. Her coach wants her athletics to be first priority, her music teacher wants her musical instrument practice to be her first priority, and her parents want church to be first priority. As I sat there considering what to say to her, I told her that it didn’t matter what her teachers, her coach, her band director, her parents, or even what I thought should be first in her life. I told her that God already claims first place in her life. He tells us in His Word in Matthew 6:33 to, “seek first his kingdom…” I told her to never let school, athletics, music, or even her church activities come before her relationship with God. Ironically, that’s the exact topic of this week’s discipleship lessons in Experiencing God. This past week we’ve been reminded by Henry Blackaby that God is seeking a love relationship with us – so much so that He runs after us…He pursues us.
This one encounter with this one student isn’t isolated. Yesterday as I looked out across our students in Sunday School, I could almost see the weight that they are carrying. The load of school projects, tests, sports, arts, and so much more that they are dealing with and trying to prioritize. It’s a lot for someone to handle.
Students, take courage and don’t loose heart. Though you have much to deal with in your daily living, never loose sight of putting God first. Don’t hear me say put the church and the youth ministry first – no, put God and your relationship with him as your first priority!
Today was great at Spartan High’s See You at the Pole. I hope that you were at your pole, wherever you go to school. Our church fed about 125 students some great chick-fil-a chicken biscuits and “hot and now” Krispy Kreme donuts. It was awesome seeing students gather early this morning to talk to their Savior about their school, community, and country. God loves hearing His children cry out to him and sing his praises. See You at the Pole today was also a great reminder for me of the lessons that we’re studying this week from Experiencing God. God wants a deep love relationship with us. I pray that you are keeping up with your study.
Nathan Neighbors 