I’ve been that ‘crappy speaker’ way too many times. Although I hope my recent attempt was a bit more relevant to the listeners. Sunday night I returned from speaking at a weekend for young people in Kinsale, County Cork. It was draining and invigorating all the same. What a privilege to present Christ (as best we can) to younger generations. I am humbled that God has allowed me the opportunity to see a desire coming to fruition. That desire is to be a part of Ireland reconnecting with it’s past as the land of Saints, Scholars (& Artists) and reclaiming that title. I think I see it happening. Woo Hoo!
Marko, God’s been up to a lot in your life this past week. The fires of toil & trouble are giving rise to the opportunity for a greater depth of spiritual formation. We all have these opportunities but rarely do we choose to actively, persistently engage in that process - we miss God for the muck. Being in the middle of a difficult formative period is an ‘unpleasant’ kind of knowing on one level, and a superbly divine intercourse (used loosely) on the other. You are blessed brother. Keep in the thick of it! On a side note, I am very encouraged and excited to see that YS has a spiritual director (or Anam Cara - Irish for ‘Soul Friend’) on staff. I’d love to see this becoming the norm for Christians - a more intentional engagement with others in the life-long pursuit of the One who pursues us.
Every blessing . . .

Your blog is so cool to read because of your honesty and humility in writing it.

I felt this way at Aquire the Fire this year.

Thanks, Mark…when I read your blog, it inspires me to look for God in all things in my life and to search more for what He has for me in even the most frustrating parts of life. Maybe spiritual direction has helped you with this and I’m hoping it will for me, too. Anyways,…thanks!

thanks tony and lori.

Once I confronted a big name speaker on his integrity. He shared an “icebreaker” story (i.e. it’s supposed to make kids like him and thin he’s cool for an old guy) as though it happened the night before. That was great the first time my kids heard him… I actually believed it, too. Flash foward 6 months later and my kids and I were hearing him speak again… using the same story… as though it happened the night before.

His topic? “Integrity.”

I was ticked… my kids totally checked out of that session. Afterwards I prayed up a healthy spirit and I went to talk with him. Even though I shared some honest frustrations, I felt I was able to actually be gentle about it.

Man… the guy flipped! He said, “That’s just comedy! Everyone knows that! Don’t give me that crud.” After a few more heated statements, he left me.

Like you, I wondered… “My kids are damaged!”

Then I realized… they aren’t “my” kids to begin with. I know Whose kids they are…

and He’s the One with the band-aids.

[…] roy crowne is the exec director of british YFC, and we’ve had a partnership of one sort or another with them for most of my years at ys. so roy and i have intersected and interacted dozens of times over the years. i’m looking forward to skipping the one speaker i can’t stand to go to a pub with roy tonite. […]

Once about 10 yrs ago, you spoke at a Jr High Camp at Forest Home (plot point: I was there too). You used many many toilet and vomit illustrations and I thought, “how crappy.”

Of course later, I began to see how effective toilets and vomit are in discussing the Gospel, so I owe you an apology. And for the years that I used the God is Like a…books I shared my confession a gajillion times.

So sorry for the good ol’ fashioned Christian slandering and well, thanks for the um…fluid illustrations, fantastic resources and wicked cool blog as well! Have a wonderful rest of your trip.