Oh Christmas Troy - a late Christmas video

I wanted to post this yesterday for Christmas, but I forgot (because I was enjoying time with my family - like you should have been).

So, here it is, "Oh Christmas Troy," from the end of the last Community episode.

Learned from Twitter: week ending June 6, 2009

Like most weeks, there was a lot to learn from Twitter this week. Here is just a sample of the goodness I took away...


1. uthministerman (Jasper Rains) reminded us of the importance of rest.

"And God said, "Let there be Sunday Naps," and there were Sunday Naps and they were good."

2. MarkMatlock (Mark Matlock) thinks if you use personal illustrations in your messages, make sure they are true - all the time. Don't use someone else's or make one up just to prove a point. A reminder to any of us who communicate. Be authentic.

"a pastor saying "true story" after an illustration implies some are not true. It's like a magician saying "i have an ordinary deck of cards""

3. crowderband (Davide Crowder*Band) is going to be on tour, pick up your tickets.

"be the first to get your fall crowder tour tickets, available NOW @ http://www.sixstepstickets...."

4. YMTV (Dennis Poulette) offers this link to a few tips for youth workers. If you are in youth ministry or know someone who is, you need to take a look at this list.

"Reading 45 tips for youth workers - http://bit.ly/94O7N"

5. DougFields (Doug Fields) offers a link to a video he thinks you all need to watch.

"Somehow this video seems fake, but I know the editor & it's real--real AMAZING. Guys will love it: http://tinyurl.com/nqf89r"

6. rainnwilson (Rainn Wilson) linked to an interesting discussion on SoulPancake about explaining God in less than 10 words.

"What God IS or ISN'T in 10 Words or less. http://tinyurl.com/qdyqph"

And then he followed it up with this retweet:

"Nice! RT @giannajessen Faithful, Savior of a girl who limps, comic, mysterious, Lord."

7. 3DGomers (Third Day Gomers) let us know about a photo contest over on the forums. Follow the link to find out more info - some really cool prizes for the winners (if you are a Third Day fan, which you should be, btw)

"Photography Contest - Win art prints by @JasonMitchener! Grand prize: Third Day Retro Pack! All can enter! More here: http://www.Gomers.net"

What did you learn from Twitter this week?

YM Resource: 12seconds.tv

Recently, thanks to some twitter friends and tweetdeck, I have been exposed to a new little website called 12seconds. 12seconds.tv is like twitter, in video form. As in, you only have a small amount of space (12 seconds, duh) in which to express a thought or idea. You really only have enough time to focus on one topic. You can also respond to other people's videos with your own video response.

As a youth worker, I think 12 seconds has many possibilities for use within youth ministry. Keep in mind (and I am well aware of this fact) that the video quality is not going to be HD quality when you make these videos. But I think the amount of time it will take you to use this resource will outweigh that slight negative.


10 Ways to use 12seconds.tv in youth ministry:

1. Quick announcements
2. Daily/weekly devo
3. Goofy videos of the students
4. Student of the week - maybe they can give their acceptance speech (make sure to spread the love and get everyone on video)
5. Ask the youth worker - answer the students questions on a regular basis
6. Ask the student - you ask a question you want answered
7. Event/Class Teaser - Promote an upcoming event with a short teaser about what they can expect (maybe even "cut yourself off" at the end right when you were going to reveal the big secret)
8. Meet the youth coaches - have the youth coaches (other adults who help) share a little about themselves
9. Recap of last lesson/message - you would be forced to really narrow down your focus, because you only have 12 seconds
10. Tip of the week - it could be a parent tip, youth worker tip, teenager tip or a tip for any other group you can think of (ie. 1 tip on how to contact a student during the week - for the youth coaches)

There are lots of other ways you could use 12seconds.tv in your youth ministry. I'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment with your thoughts. Or better yet, make a 12 second video with your thoughts (just put the link to the video or your profile in the comments so we can see the video).


12seconds.tv is free, but you have to be invited. If you want an invite just email me or leave a comment with your email address and I will send you an invite.

Here is an example of a quick video I did with my kids.


hi everybody on 12seconds.tv



*update*
Here is a 12second video of the 10 ways to use 12seconds.tv in youth ministry

10 Ways to Use 12seconds.tv in youth ministry on 12seconds.tv

Discussion Starter: Video on regrets - Spoons

I saw this over at YS sometime and thought it was pretty good.



You can use this clip to talk about regrets or your past. What do you regret? How does it affect your everyday actions? Have you told others? What can you do to make up for it or change it? How do you get past your regrets?

If you don't want to use this video to spark discussion on regrets, then use it just because its funny.

Adding a "wow" factor to an event

I just got done watching the latest mission from Improv Everywhere. This one was called, "best game ever." They basically took a little league game and turned it into a major league event. At first, I thought - man that is cool. But, at the end, I started thinking about what it would take to pull off something like that in my youth ministry. What could we do to turn an "ordinary" event into something extraordinary? What would it take?

Watch the video and then we'll continue this discussion...



I think everyone in youth ministry would agree that doing something like this would be awesome. Talk about memory makers. But how do you pull it off and which students do you include? How could you do something like this and include all your students?

I don't think many of our ministries could afford to do a jumbotron or even the mascots. Maybe it could be something you do for the seniors each year, or the freshmen. I'm pretty short of ideas - I was just really impressed and wanted to start some conversation/thinking.

(read about what it took to pull of, as well as a nice recap of what happened, here on their site.)

Do you have any ideas of what a youth ministry could do to add this "wow" factor to an event?

Technology & Your Teen: A parent seminar

I'm teaching a seminar on technology tonight. Its a seminar for any and all parents of teenagers in the congregation. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I'm hoping enough parents are concerned about the subject and want to learn more. I've found a lot of good material and really want to get it into some parents' hands.

If you get a chance, pray for it. thanks.

Here's the promo I used for it. (there is no sound)

YM Resource: Invisible Bookshelf

Looking for a place to put those Bibles in the classroom? Or those information packets? Or that collection of cd's from the 80's? Look no further. Here is a fun idea for storing some of your stuff on the wall. It will also make a good project to work on with one or two of the students in the ministry, as well.



I want to do this, but I have to find the right place to put it first. I'll post pictures if/when I do it.

Frozen Grand Central Station & Mobile Desktop

two fun videos from improv everywhere.

YM Resource: hulu: watch shows and movies

Apparently hulu.com has gone public. I've been using it in the beta version for some time (a few months) and have really enjoyed the variety of material. And they have added more movies to the site, now that it is public.

My biggest complaint would have to be the lack of full episodes for some of the newer shows. Some have many clips, but no episodes. Besides that, there is a bunch to find on the site. I would recommend taking a look at it. The biggest plus is the ability to watch a show when I want to, not necessarily when it is on TV.

I've even found a few clips from older shows that I am planning on using in ministry (whether it be a promo for an event or part of a lesson)

Uniterian Universalism: Open Source Faith

While doing some research for a small group study on Uniterian Universalism, I came across this video. Its a message given by Rev. Christine Robinson of the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque.



Does this mean that if you like Open Source Software, you should be a Uniterian Universalist? If so, I'm going to rethink my liking of Open Source. :)

SNL clip with one great piece of money management advice

Watch this clip. It has some good advice. Don't buy stuff you can't afford.

Howcast: a collection of how-to videos

Check out Howcast.

What is it? Here is an explanation from the site:

Founded by veterans of Google and YouTube, Howcast brings together the personality of user-generated content with the quality of a professional video studio to create engaging, informative, and free how-to videos for consumers. It also offers emerging filmmakers an opportunity to gain experience, exposure, and income. With high quality, compelling video content, Howcast opens new opportunities for viewers, video producers, content distributors, and advertisers.

There is quite a variety of videos on this site. You can find anything from cars, first aid (might be handy for the youth worker), gardening, house, kids, pets, holidays, and so many more. Here is one example: How to decorate your locker.




Some of the videos you may not want your students to watch. Like "How to sneak out of your house after curfew." "How to fake being sick."

Others are fun, "How to clean your braces." "How to shave your face." "How to house train your dog."

Watch this recap video from Granger CC

Tim Stevens posted this video on his blog yesterday. It is worth the watch (4:49). This is the type of recap video I'd like to do for some youth ministry stuff. Here's a link to his post on it.

First GodTube, now ChristianTube

The difference between GodTube and ChristianTube is that GodTube is up and running - and is actually a pretty decent site.

ChristianTube is not even up and they are asking for developers to help them get the site up and running. (would have thought this would have been taken care of before you bought the domain name)

We'll have to wait and see what happens. I'm not going to hold my breath.

Everything by Lifehouse: Drama Format

I was told about this video over a month ago by a parent of one of the high schoolers. Its a good visual to show our struggle to let go of the world and hold onto Jesus.

Here is the version via GodTube...



or for those none GodTube users, here is the YouTube version...



They look (about) the same to me. :)

Prince Caspian: New Trailer

Here is the first trailer for the next installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series: Prince Caspian. It will be in theaters May 16, 2008.

American Gladiators: They are back!

It looks like American Gladiator is back. On one side, I think its pretty cool. I remember quite a few afternoons watching the original (see videos below) with my brother. But on the other side, its never gonna be as good as I remember it. Anyway, I figure it'll come up sooner or later with the students you work with. So you should at least be aware its coming back.

Here are two clips from the original...





The new official American Gladiator website.

New promo video on nbc.com

Sweep the Leg - by No More Kings

I heard this while listening to a Relevant Podcast. Brings back some great movie memories. You can watch it here or go check out RelevantTV for this and other great videos.

Discussion Starter or Sign of the Times: Mr. Deity

I just found out about Mr. Deity recently through one of my professor's blogs. Here is what he had to say. Take a look at his thoughts.

Allow me to say these things about Mr. Deity:

1. It is not written from or meant to be a "Christian" video
2. There is a little language in a couple of the clips (see #1)
3. It does bring up many questions about Christianity - though no answers are given
4. It "proves" that Lucifer is a woman and her name is Lucy
5. It has the potential to (and probably will) offend a good number of Christians who would see it
6. Mr Deity and Lucy have a relationship (which is very anti-biblical)

I used episode 2 (Mr Deity and the Really Big Favor) to start a class on "What we believe about Jesus Christ." The clip brings up many points about the relationship between Jesus and God. And Jesus' role in salvation.

Here is episode 2 - Mr Deity and the Really Big Favor...



What do you think? discussion starter or sign of the times?

The Wuzzles - 13 episode cartoon from the 80's

The Wuzzles

I had never even seen The Wuzzles when I was growing up. But Amy (my wife) has a thermos she kept from when she was a kid. The other day, I decided to use it to take a drink to work. I was intrigued. So I did some investigating online. The Wuzzles is a show about these animals who are a combination of two animals. In fact the whole "land of Wuz" is a combination of two things. For instance, they have flants, which are a combination of ants and flies.

I'd love to find an entire episode online, but I've only found snippets. Here is one. Enjoy.



Did you ever watch the Wuzzles? What cartoon did you like growing up?