This weekend is the annual Missouri Christian Convention.  I’m here this weekend because I’m leading a workshop in the teen sessions.  I was given the topic of dating and relationships.  It works out pretty well, since we are currently in a series on dating, relationships and sex in our youth ministry.

The convention this year is at Tan-Tar-A Resort, in Osage Beach, Missouri.  Because I’m a workshop leader, I was given a room for free.  We have a very large, open room on the eighth floor with an excellent view of the Lake of the Ozarks from the patio.

My wife and kids came along.  They haven’t taken in much of the convention, due to several factors.  We’ve just used the opportunity to get away from home as a family and enjoy a resort room together.  The kids have loved the pool.

I love going to conventions like this one.  Let me give you a few reasons why.

• The preaching and worship
  This almost goes without saying, but one of the things I love is to listen to some great preaching and experience worship that is different that how we do it every Sunday at my own church. Don’t get me wrong; I love our church’s worship.  But once in a while, some variety helps me to experience God with a freshness that I enjoy.

• The networking
  There are so many people in various ministries from around the state that I don’t get to see as often as I’d like. It’s good to reconnect with some great friends.  And with so many people here, meeting new people and ministries is easy as well.  I have so many connections that I’ve made from conferences like this one.

• The eating
  I know this sounds kind of odd, but I love the opportunity to try new restaurants.  I love eating out.  It’s not something that we get to do as often as we’d like.  With a family of five kids, it’s started getting expensive to do that very often.  But at a convention like this one, the opportunity to enjoy a meal with friends, both new and old, is very enjoyable.

However, there are a couple of things that don’t really excite me.  I don’t mean to sound negative, but it’s true.  I have a hard time at a convention like this with a few things.

• The hotel bed
  It’s not comfortable.  It’s not my bed.  I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining, because I’m not.  I love this opportunity, but I miss my bed.  I sleep better at home.  Last night, I woke up  countless times.  I just don’t sleep well if I’m not in my own bed.  The one exception to this is when I’m camping.

• The hotel coffee
  Where in the world do they find coffee that bad?  It’s not that hard, nor expensive, to find coffee that tastes like… coffee.  I just don’t understand.  Enough said.

• The end
  I hate having to leave.  As much as I enjoy my own bed, and my own coffee, I still want to stay, because the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

One other thing, we make some great memories when we go as a family to an event like this.  My son Titus had a very memorable moment this weekend.  You can read all about it at the Randleman Family website.

What conventions to you attend?  What do you like best about them?  Share youth thoughts in the comments section.