That was fun

So tonight (well last night since its 1:30 am) I got to go back to my high school youth group to play and hang out like old times (it was supposed to be a reunion night). I had a really fun time getting to play with my good friend Taylor again, along with Brad and getting to play with a new guy (well I've played with him before and he certainly isn't new to the music business... but anyway i digress).  It was a blast and everything went really well.  I also got to bust out my drumset which is always a fun occasion.

Anyway as Taylor and I were off playing ping pong and then waiting for the service to start we noticed that the room was absolutely packed which was something we were not expecting at all.  I'm guessing there was probably between 60 and 70 people there, and maybe even 80.  For comparison when Taylor and I left this summer we were averaging about 30-40 on a good night.  I'm really happy that my youth group is growing again.

So part of the reason that I was so surprised to have discovered the large number of people there was that I honestly thought that the youth group needed to be restarted.  It had gone through an immense amount of change in the last two years, numbers where declining and the last vestige of what was once the core of the youth group was graduating.  I honestly could not see the youth group surviving the way that it was going but somehow it did.

I think that somehow is Adam Flora.   This is probably news to Adam but I've never really gotten along with him.  Its not that I didn't like him or think he was a great person, its just that he rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.  I guess our personalities didn't mix well.  However, after seeing what he has done with the youth group in the short time taylor and i have been away (along with the really surprising organization which is partially thanks to Andy) and a very nice conversation between myself, taylor, adam and jeff, i feel like  things have changed drastically and so has Adam.

Perhaps the best indicator that Adam has changed is the way he was talking about leadership and about his own past mistakes.  To me this wasn't Adam, however when he started talking about service leadership and how he had been trying to apply it in his own life my perception changed.  I never used to enjoy talking to him, again i'm not entirely sure why, but this conversation was actually really good.  (It was still tough to get a word in but hey, not everyone is perfect ;)  

Once again I'm really happy for what has happened to my youth group and for how much Adam has matured into a good leader and a good youth pastor.  This is something that i didn't expect happening for at least another year however I am very happy it has happened a lot sooner.

P.S.  I've learned that writing at 1:30am doesn't always make sense, however the general jist of this is a compliment to Adam so if anything seems contradictory to that it just because i'm tired while i'm writing this.