While you're never sure what comes out of his mouth...be certain his heart is pure. A fast-paced, funny show that is safe for the whole family.
Show me the money!
I spent last weekend in Chicago tagging along with Dave Rahn for the “Simply Youth Ministry Conference”. It’s a gathering of youth leaders from around North America who have come to be taught, refreshed and renewed. Not only professionally but spiritually, as well.
It has been a joy to run into youth workers that I have known for years or even had the privilege of speaking to their teens. The “thread” which weaves all of them together is their passion for seeing teenagers meet Jesus. As a friend told me years ago,”Show them the way, point them to the way and then for heavens sake, get out of the way.” And they are doing this job because God has called them to do so.
It can’t be for the money…it has to be a calling.
Paul wrote to Timothy: “A devout life does bring wealth, but its the rich simplicity of being yourself before God.” 1 Timothy 6:6. Cuba Gooding Jr coined the phrase “Show me the money!” in the movie Jerry Maguire. This weekend, my heart skips knowing that today’s youth leaders are not in this job for the money; they’re in it for the eternal rewards.
Be sure to thank a youth leader in your community today.
Podcast of my talks here at Miracle Camp
One of the many cool features Miracle Camp offers is the chance to download each talk a speaker gives while at their winter retreats. I was there Feb. 11-13 and spoke to around 270 senior high students and their leaders that weekend using their theme “Re-fuel”.
I only speak to teenagers about 10-12 times a year anymore but I truly enjoy it. Youth was my target audience for many years but as I grew older..I think I may have lost that “cool” element that some feel is necessary in order to relate to teens. Not that I have ever HAD that trait! Now, it seems like I’m bringing more of a parental factor when I speak to youth. My wife and I have a 20yr old son serving in Iraq and a daughter who is a junior in high school…so in many regards, a retreat feels like the living room in our home on weekends. I feel very comfortable talking to teens…like I’m giving the same spiritual advice that I would give to my own kids.
Feel free to download all four of my talks on iTunes that I gave that weekend. The link is at the top of this story. Share them with your own kids, or teenagers, if you’d like. I would love to get some feedback from you. laugh@davidpdean.com.
David
“We laughed so hard…you are the funniest person I’ve ever heard!!”
If I had a dime for every time I heard that comment, I would have 40 cents.
For 20 plus years, I’ve had the luxury of making people laugh through life observations, family stories, audience interaction and my life as a teenager. And time after time, more people tell me after a show how much of what I said related to their OWN life. And also touched their heart.
The best part of what I do? It’s squeaky clean. Hard hitting, never miss a beat comedy that comes at ya’ full speed…but clean. A safe night for the whole family. My theory is why bring the house down but not share something that may change a person’s life?
In the late 80’s, I spent 3 years performing at the famous Second City, an improvisational comedy center in Chicago. Over the years, I’ve blended that spontaneous comedy training with stories that touch the soul. I want people to walk away from a show not only saying they laughed…but they were moved.
This platform called “comedy” has allowed me to speak at conventions, camps, banquets, schools…the list goes on and on. And I’m praying it goes on for another 20 plus years.
David and his best friend/wife Betsy, are the parents of Alex, 19, who is in the Army stationed in Karbala, Iraq and Hannah 16. They live in Huntington, Indiana
Praise God. Finally made it here to New Orleans. Waiting for a bag at baggage claim then a quick taxi ride to the convention center for a noon show. Been told to expect 3-4000 people per show. Yikes!
