Good Idea, Bad Idea: Driving the car around

Good idea: driving your car around to the basement of the church building to avoid walking on the snow/ice.

Bad idea: driving to the basement of the church and almost getting stuck on the way out because you tried to drive on the snow/ice on the "path" out.

Just because someone else made it through on the snow, does not mean you will make it through. And if you do not have 4x4, it is probably not a smart idea to even try.

Good Idea, Bad Idea: helping people out of debt when you don't have money

Good Idea: Helping people get out of debt.

Bad Idea: Trying to help people get out of debt, when you are in debt yourself.


Is anyone else concerned that the gov't, who owes a lot of money to others, is willing to bail out financial companies? I find that strange.

I'm sure I'll have more thoughts on it later, but I just wanted to put it out there and see what you guys think.

Good Idea, Bad Idea: Hand Sanitizer

Good Idea: Using hand sanitizer after eating lunch at the middle school.

Bad Idea: Using hand sanitizer, after eating lunch at the middle school, on the hand with two notes written on it you need to remember. (Let's just say it smears)

Good Idea, Bad Idea: mailing notes

Good Idea:
Connecting with students by sending notes and cards. You can send them for birthdays, to say hello, to let them know you're praying for them, inform them of upcoming events. No matter what the occasion, notes are a good way to communicate and stay connected. You can find cheap ones at the bookstore (8 little notecards for $.99), so they won't break your budget either.

Bad Idea:
Only putting a 26 cent postcard stamp on them. They will not get delivered.


lesson: pay more attention to which stamps you pick up when sending mail out. Or just be willing to face the "embarrassment" of having a stamp and the "post office" stamp on the same envelope showing you messed up.

Good Idea, Bad Idea: Message & Vocal Effects

Good Idea: Wanting to do something funny (which was suggested by a few of the students you have just met) at the beginning of the first message you'll give in the community after starting a new ministry.

Bad Idea: Listening to the students who think it will be funny to put the vocal effects pedal on "chipmunk" when you get up to speak.

When I spoke into the mic and I sounded like a chipmunk no one laughed. Well, out of 400 students and adults about 5 people chuckled. And I think some of them were out of pity for me. What makes it even better is that once I did switch mics it didn't help. I was being picked up through the original mic, so out of my 10 minute message I was fighting with the sound for over 1/2 the time.

The students still bring it up, though, which makes it a great memory. We laugh about it now, because it is hilarious. But then it was just awkward.

Good Idea, Bad Idea: DVD Usage

Good Idea: Using clips from shows or movies to help illustrate a point. Previewing the clip to check for any inappropriate content. Setting the clip before class, thus avoiding showing the inappropriate content during class.

Bad Idea: Using a DVD player, without knowing that it shuts off after a certain amount of time and when turned back on will actually go back a few seconds on the DVD. Also TV's do not stay on "mute" if you turn them off and on again. All of which results in some of the class hearing Homer use a bad word.

Good Idea, Bad Idea: funerals

Yesterday was the visitation for one of the students' grandma.

Good Idea: going to a visitation with your family. Holding your son during the wait in line, keeping him from getting bored.

Bad Idea: getting to the family and after a comment is made about your son getting heavy after holding him for 15 minutes, using the phrase "he's just dead weight" instead of just saying he's getting heavy.

Ouch. Man, did I put my foot in my mouth. The bad thing was I did not even think about it until the words hit my lips, and then it was too late.

Lesson: don't say stupid things like this.

They didn't say anything to me and I didn't bring it back up, but I am sure they heard it.