05/15/22 I LOVED MY VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AS A YOUTH

05/15/22 I LOVED MY VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AS A YOUTH

Daddy's Health Studio
When I was about 13 years old, my dad owned and operated a health studio. Of course, I worked out and actually helped daddy with equipment and even instructed some of his clients. I was small (about 125#) but since I loved working out and helping at the studio, I enjoyed some success in my own weight training. I loved hanging around, even when I wasn't working out or helping out. I loved studying about physical development and various exercise movements.

Morehead Waterfront
As a very young teen I hung around the Morehead waterfront, talking with Cap'ns, mates, tourists, and reporting most of the daily catches as a helper to Bob Simpson for his media Fishing Reports. For a while, I worked as a busboy in a popular waterfront, seafood restaurant. Sometimes ate breakfast at a cafe and lunch or supper at one of the other restaurants. I loved the waterfront atmosphere, the people, the work.

Fishing Boats
I eventually worked as a mate aboard various charter boats during my high school and college years. I could not get enough of that life. I was a boy, doing what grown men did for a living, but without the responsibilities of a family.

Church and Ministry
When opportunities opened up for me to help in youth work or chores or Bible studies, I served my home church and my Sub-District and my Conference youth ministry. I loved visiting and leading youth meetings and visiting homes and holding Bible study meetings and I loved handing out tracks and engaging folks on the waterfront in a Gospel presentation.

Enjoyed Life on the Water
I also enjoyed the recreational life of a beach boy. I fished, sailed, swam, motor boated, surfed, skim boarded and was always sharing the Gospel.

I loved my life. I couldn't get enough of the activities I enjoyed. I never had to be begged or cajoled to do any of those things, BECAUSE I LOVED THOSE THINGS. In fact, I was always looking for things to do in these various activities. I slept very little, because I was busy with living life.

I think everyone and especially young people, should be as caught up in life. I think they should be excited about the really important things of life. I think they should be "chomping at the bit" and spend themselves in more than just playing or working. I think they should be eager beavers that do not need to be constantly motivated or constantly directed or instructed. I think that they should be driven with a love for their opportunities.

This is especially true concerning the work of ministry. There is all kinds of work to be done. And it needs to be done with desire for excellence. It needs to be done as a service of love for God and for other people.