NYWC '08: Anticipation (1 of 2)

In just over a week, I'll be in Nashville, TN starting to help set up for the National Youth Workers Convention (NYWC) put on by Youth Specialties (YS). With each convention I go to, there are always things I anticipate and I thought I might share those with you. This is part 1 (1-5) of my anticipations...



Reasons I'm looking forward to the NYWC: (in no particular order)
1. Zaxby's
This has nothing to do with the actual convention, but its been 2 years since I've had Zaxby's and I really like it. The route I'll be taking from here to Nashville is the same route we took from GA to here for visits and to move - so I know exactly where one is along the way. Let's just say I'll be stopping by on the way down and the way home. Unfortunately, there are no locations in Nashville.

If you get a chance to stop by and enjoy Zaxby's, might I recommend the Big Zax Snak Meal (chicken fingers, texas toast, fries, and zax sauce).

2. Connecting with old friends
One of the great things about a conference like NYWC is the ability to connect with friends who do not live close. In the past, I've been able to see friends from college and catch up. Being able to hear what happened after graduation is encouraging. I've also been able to connect with people I met at an earlier convention. The NYWC is like a reunion of sorts.

The other group I am excited to see again are the friends I have at YS and the other returning volunteers. It is always a highlight to get to spend long hours "working" during the week to just laugh, think, grow, and share. For me, these friendships are better than those camp friendships you made at summer camp over the years. I know I'll have a blast just hanging out.

3. Meeting "online" friends
I have youth ministry friends whom I have never met in person and this week will be a chance to meet a few of them. There are friends from twitter (some people would call them tweeps). There are Facebook friends. There are YMX friends (though some of these friends have migrated to other areas of online friendship). And there are those people I have met through this blog or other youth ministry blogs.

Last year, I got to meet a few online friends at the St. Louis convention, which was pretty cool. I don't know what to expect this year, but I have been more intentional about trying to connect at the convention. I must admit, I think its pretty awesome that the youth ministry world is so much "smaller" thanks to the internet.

4. Hearing stories from youth workers about what God is doing.
I love listening to other people share their stories. Hearing the stories of God transforming students. Hearing about how God is stretching and challenging youth workers. This is part of the week that I can never fully anticipate. No matter how much I "expect" to hear some great stories, I am always blown away with the extent of what God is doing.

5. Being challenged by general session speakers.
The general sessions are like church services; filled with announcements, videos, drama, mini concerts, praise & worship, speakers, prayer and some greeting. These 7 sessions are the only times most of the attendees are all together in the same place, doing the same thing. It is at times overwhelming.

I'm looking forward to speakers like Francis Chan, Mike Pilavachi, Andrew Marin, and Marko (we'll see if we get an all new message this time).


I can't wait to see what God has in store for this week. And if you are going to the NYWC in Nashville, I'd love to connect. Leave a comment or find me elsewhere online and let me know.

Photo Friday: Mortie & Ferdie Mouse

This picture is in honor of one of the recent trivia questions. Before I saw this book, I had never known Mickey Mouse's nephews. I don't think I even realized he had nephews.

a bike ride and a lesson on trust

I went on a bike ride with my oldest son (4 yo) the other day. It was just him and I. We started out the same way we usually go, but at our first turn I asked him if he wanted to go right instead of left. He thought that would be good, so we went right. It was a fun ride with him, and he was doing great. He was doing most of the peddling himself, I only helped push him a few times.

As we made our next turn, Nathan was telling me that he was scared to ride down this street because it had a rather big hill. He does not like hills very much on his bike, which I understand completely. I was trying to reassure him that I was going to be there with him the whole time and I would stop his bike if I needed to. As we continued to ride closer to the hill, he started to get anxious about what was going to happen. I started to remind him that I was going to be there the whole time with him, when he interrupted me and said something that completely shocked me (and made me start to cry).

He said, "Dad, I know you are watching over me and you'll protect me, but I'm still scared."

He had just stated to me the same feelings I have been having toward God lately. My son's words were honest and real. He has heard me tell him over and over that I'm going to be there for him. He has heard me tell him that he can trust me. And over and over, I have been there
for him. I have picked him up when he's fallen or caught him before he did. Yet, as he is growing up and learning to do more things independently he still has fears. He is experiencing life in new and unfamiliar ways and knowing I'll be there for him helps, but it does not take away his fear.

I loved the honesty with which he uttered the sentence. It was not something he had practiced. It was not something he had even thought about. It was an honest response to his dad, in a particular situation he found himself in. I sometimes wish I was that honest with God.

I believe that sentence is the very sentence I need to be saying to God every day. Right now, my life is rather unpredictable. I do not know what tomorrow will bring. I do not know how things will work out financially. I do not know when I'll get that phone call I've been waiting for. But there is one thing I do know for sure - God is faithful.

God, I know You are watching over me and will protect me, but I'm still scared.


(even as I type this post I am tearing up)

Free PDF Book: 13 Ways to Ruin Your Life by Jarrod Jones

Looking for another book that is geared toward teenage guys? Jarrod Jones has just released on with that audience in mind - 13 Ways to Ruin Your Life. It deals with sexual temptation and offers advice on how to deal with it.

Go to this website to download a free copy of the book in PDF - 13 Ways to Ruin Your Life

Trivia Wednesday #94: desert animals

answer #93 - Green Bay Packers. (SBI - 35-10 over the Chiefs, SBII - 33-14 over the Raiders)

question #94 - Which animal is known as the "Ship of the Desert"?

to quote someone else: Lynne Ellis (preparing students)

"How might God be preparing your students to be world Christians after they graduate?"

taken from Mission Trips: From Start to Finish by Lynne Ellis, with Doug Fields


As youth workers, I think this is a question we need to be asking ourselves on a regular basis.

As you plan your year - ask this question.
As you think about the incoming freshmen - ask this question.
As you plan your lessons - ask this question.
As you put together your next retreat - ask this question.

What do you see God doing in the lives of your students today to prepare them for their future?

Photo Friday: Cubs Pumpkin

Today is Halloween, so I had to repost this picture of our Cubs pumpkin.


I posted pictures of it from start to finish a few weeks ago, go here to see the progression from pumpkin to awesome Jack-O-Lantern.


And here is a picture of what it looked like last night. The poor pumpkin didn't even make it to Halloween (got tossed in the trash this morning). I like to say it had more to do with the freezes than the fact that it was a Cubs pumpkin.

Presidental Campaign TV Ad Spending Baffles Me

As I was skimming some online articles last night, I came across this graphic on the left. I'm just baffled by the numbers on the left of the chart.

Did both Presidential campaigns really spend over $275 million on TV ads alone? What kind of money was spent on print ads, stickers, buttons, signs, billboards....?

I think it is sad that this is what it means to run for a government office. If you can raise more money then the odds are that you will get more votes. Not to mention the fact that this money could have been used to do so much more for America than fill our commercial breaks with attack ads (and this is just for President).

What would happen if at least some of the campaign money was spent on something useful? What if it went to help rebuild homes, feed the hungry, increase teachers salaries, support local community programs?

But that will never happen. We, as Americans, are too stuck on ourselves to really help out others. At least, not with our own money.

I hope that someday this might change. I hope that someday Americans will realize there is enough "wealth" in this country to allow each person to have a decent life. We don't need to "borrow" (or print more) money do what needs to be done.

I don't normally write about politics, but this just always bothers me. What do you think? Am I way off here? Could this ever change?

Trivia Wednesday #93: Super Bowl 1 & 2

answer #92 - Mortie & Ferdie

question #93 -Which team won both Super Bowl I and II?

Going unnoticed by your spouse

With that title, you would think this was going to be a post about how our marriages can slowly split apart or how one spouse feels neglected and under appreciated. But that is not the direction I am going with this one. I'm talking about serving your spouse on a daily basis without drawing attention to it.

Marriage is a wonderful institution.
A good marriage takes both spouses giving 100%.
A good marriage is not always easy.
A good marriage takes sacrifice.
A good marriage takes effort.
A good marriage takes going unnoticed.

Going unnoticed is about doing things for your spouse without expecting to be seen or acknowledged. This is a valuable part of a good marriage. Yet, it something that can be very difficult to accomplish. Like other areas of your life, you probably like to receive a little praise when you do something good. Everyone likes a "pat on the back" recognition for their behavior, even when it is not above and beyond what is expected.

Stop for a minute and think over the last week. How many times have you done something and waited for some form of affirmation from your spouse. Maybe it was taking the trash out, clearing your spot at the table, helping put the kids to bed, driving your kids around to sporting events or just being home on time. None of these tasks are extra special - most people would say they are regularly expected in a marriage. But if you are like me, there are times you do these tasks and want your spouse to notice. It's not that you wouldn't do them without recognition, its just nice to receive.

But I want to argue that it is far better to strive to go unnoticed. When you strive to go unnoticed by your spouse, you are taking a step toward being more like Christ. When Jesus healed, He did not heal for recognition. He was not serving the people, so that He could get a pat on the back or a thank you note. Ultimately, He served people because He loved them and wanted to meet a need.

What can you do in your marriage to go unnoticed? I've got 10 ideas to get you started.

10 Ways to Serve Your Spouse & Go Unnoticed:
1. Clean up the table after a meal.
2. Take the trash outside.
3. Clean up the bathroom sink after you brush your teeth.
4. Keep the toilet seat down (men) or up (women).
5. Wash the dishes.
6. Do a load of laundry, including folding and putting away.
7. Vacuum the floors.
8. Fix those little household projects without letting them build up.
9. Keep the finances up to date (pay the bills on time, keep track of your budget).
10. Be thankful for the things he/she does for you

You may read that list and think if you did any of them you would most certainly get noticed by your spouse. Well, here is the secret (in my opinion) to doing these things and going unnoticed by your spouse. You need to do them regularly and without drawing attention to them. At first, it may be a big attention getter, but the more you do it the more it goes unnoticed. And ultimately, that is the key - to love your spouse enough to serve him/her on a daily basis. There may be weeks that go by without hearing anything from your spouse about your actions. I think you want these actions to become normal and expected. You do not need extra praise or acknowledgment, because that is not the reason you do it in the first place.

Next time you do something for your spouse - don't do it to get noticed.

Help! I'm a Frustrated Youth Worker, NYWC, and me

So, recently I was looking through the YS catalog and was surprised by one of the books coming out in early 2009. I'm not surprised YS is publishing the book or the content of the book - I think it is a much needed resource. I am surprised by the title/author combination and my connection to it.

A couple years ago, while setting up at the NYWC in Atlanta, I got to talk a little bit with Steve Case. He was helping us set up the bookstore before the convention. While we were working together one day, talking about some of the books. I made a comment about how they needed to add a book to the "Help!" line about how to deal with all the frustration/junk that youth ministers go through. I probably said something along the lines of how I thought Steve should write it. We spent some time coming up with titles for the book - most of which were not going to make it to the final version.

Fast forward to today. There is now such a book and Steve is the author. Maybe I'll get some mention in the forward or something. Or just maybe this post will be the only mention of my connection to this book. Either way, I'll probably pick it up and read it.

You have written a much needed book Steve Case, I just wish I would have actually done the writing of it first - like I wanted to. :)

Photo Friday: Birthday Cake With Candles

This was my birthday cake from last week. Notice that most of the candles are lit (I think at one point all of them were actually lit) and some of the candles were melting wax onto the cake.

Free Taco - A Must for Youth Workers

You may not think of this as a youth ministry related post, but it is. Here is the deal:




Thanks to a stolen base last night in game 1 of the World Series, Taco Bell is giving everyone in America a free taco next Tuesday (10/28) from 2-6pm (local time). So if you go to Taco Bell, you can get a free taco. I know its not a full meal, but its free and its "Mexican" food.

How to use the free taco in a youth ministry-type way:
1. Use the free taco giveaway as an excuse to take a student to Taco Bell to talk.
2. Take some students to Taco Bell, then take the free tacos and give them away to some person/people who could use some free food.
3. When you order, tell the cashier to give your free taco to the person behind you.
4. Call your local Taco Bell and ask if there is anything your youth ministry can do to help them during that time (ie. clean the tables, take the trash out, make some tacos)
5. Move your small group to Tuesday night, sometime after school til 6pm. Everyone gets a free taco and a new atmosphere for small group.


bonus - go to Taco Bell, order a water with your free taco. Then sit down and use Taco Bell's free wifi for a few hours to "work".

Trivia Wednesday #92: Mickey Mouse's nephews

answer #91 - Chicago, IL (Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, Cubs) - New York City, NY* (Giants, Jets, Yankees, Mets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Devils, Islanders) - San Francisco, CA* (49ers, Raiders, A's, Giants, Warriors, Sharks)

question #92 - What are the names of Mickey Mouse's two nephews?

Cubs Jack-O-Lantern: Start to Finish

Last night, we carved our first pumpkin as a family. We decided to do a double-sided pumpkin. One side was the Cubs logo and the other side was a face (designed by my oldest son). I did the photography and videography, so all of the carving was done by my wife - and she did a great job.

I thought I would share our Jack-O-Lantern, in pictures, from start to finish

"Tribes" by Seth Godin - for under a $1

Seth Godin's new book, "Tribes" is available for download on iTunes for $.95.

It is also available other places and other formats at different prices. Check out Seth's own blog for more info.

I'm a Cubs fan, but this is too far...

a Cubs cemetery.

I saw this a few months ago and thought it was a bit strange. Recently ran across the information again and found a few more things that just seem odd. Once I die, I'm gonna be in Heaven so I don't really care if my body is resting in a Cubs casket or in a Cubs cemetery. I will be enjoying the afterlife.

Its interesting, nonetheless. I wonder if there are other teams doing the same thing. I know you can get team-themed everything, but I've never heard of the cemetery before.


Read more about the cemetery here or at cbschicago or listen here from NPR.

Not only can you be buried in a Cubs-themed cemetery, you can have a Cubs-themed urn or casket. Read this article "Talk About A Die-Hard Fan"


What do you think?

A Shared Birthday Party

Today was my youngest son's birthday party (he turns 3 on the 29th). We had planned a few fun things to do in our backyard and had a few of his friends over, with their families. We had a blast.

I got a surprise, too. My wife had wanted to do a cake for me as a surprise, but didn't know when she would be able to since I'm home a lot more these days. So a friend offered to bake it and bring it to the party. So my son got a tractor cake and I got a red velvet cake, complete with all 30 candles. :)

It was a great addition to be able to "share" the party with my son. I thought I might share a couple of the pictures from the festivities; unfortunately I don't have a video of me accidentally blowing out most of the candles. I was trying to "shoe" a bee away from the cakes and forgot that the candles were lit. It must be that old age settling in.

My birthday cake in all its glory.








The birthday boys. :)








Wes' birthday cake. My wife made it (without a mold) and a friend decorated it.








My birthday mask. Even the adults participated in the events/games.







Part of the obstacle course.








Just how many people does it take to light 30 candles?

Photo Friday: Ric Flair, really?

I am not a WWE fan or anything, but I'm thinking this was a little mistake by Quality Control. I remember Ric Flair from when I saw back when wrestling was on the WWF and I have to say that cannot possibly be him. I have no idea who it is. I just thought it was funny that this made it through the factory.

Note to quality control workers: you should have caught this one, even if you don't watch wrestling.

5 Qualities I'm Looking For in the Next President

I am not a big fan of politics and the whole political season. But as I am getting older, I am starting to take a new interest in politics. There are a few things I am looking for in a president. And to be honest, I have a hard time finding these five things in most politicians. I thought I would share my top 5 qualities that I look for in a president.


5 Qualities I look for in the next president:
1. Experience - I want someone who has an idea what it is like to be in that position. Obviously, I am not looking for someone who has necessarily been president. I want to know this person knows how to handle pressure, make big decisions, and juggle a lot of issues at the same time.
2. Honesty - I want the president to be a person I can trust; therefore, he needs to do what he says and say what he means. I do not need someone to tell me what they think I want to hear, just to get my vote. I want to trust you and believe what you say - I can't do that with most politicians. I think Scripture says it best, "Let your yes be yes and your no, no"
3. Clarity - I want to be able to understand what you are saying and doing. Do not try to "talk around" me or avoid giving me details. I want a president who will talk straight and honest with the American public.
4. Family Values - I have strong family values and would love to have a president who has strong family values, too. Family is the backbone of America, and if the president does not value the family that will hurt the nation.
5. Humility - This is a biggie to me. Being president carries with it a lot of responsibility (that kinda goes without saying) and power. I want a president who does not consider himself the best person to ever walk the White House floor. If a presidential candidate showed some signs of humility, he would be the type of leader most people would want to follow. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this quality will be one I will never see in a president, though I will always carry hope.

bonus quality - integrity would be pretty helpful, too.


What qualities do you look for in the next president?

Trivia Wednesday #91: Multiple Sport Cities

answer #90 - True

question #91 -Name one of the US cities which has more than 4 sports teams (MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL) in their city?

October - Pastor Appreciation Month

October is pastor appreciation month.

How do you appreciate someone who gives so much to minister to you throughout the year? How do you give back to someone who pours themselves into their "job"? It can be hard to know what to say or do for the minister who has helped you through a difficult time or shared in a special day (wedding, graduation...). As a minister, I thought I might be able to offer some help or ideas.

How to appreciate your Sr. Minister/Music Minister/Youth Minister/Discipleship Minister (and so forth)...

1. Give him/her an extra week off
2. Provide money for training or growth seminars
3. Gift cards are always appreciated
4. Pray for him/her, and tell them
5. Write notes of encouragement, telling about how you have been blessed/ministered to. Do this throughout the year, not just in Oct.
6. Stop by the office and offer to take them out to lunch (your treat)
7. Buy them new tires for their car, since they drive around a lot doing ministry stuff
8. Is there any software or hardware that would help them improve their ministry? Find a way to help them get it.
9. Talk highly about them.
10. Put together a "memory book" or CD with pictures of them doing ministry.
11. Get them a new pillow so they can sleep better at night.

bonus: check out this list on how to appreciate the youth minister or this "big ticket" gift idea (southwest gift card)

NO matter what you think about this list - do something to appreciate your ministers.

Reflections on: turning 30

Today I turn 30. As I transition from being a young 20-something into a wiser 30-something, I have been looking back over my first 30 years and reflecting. I thought I might share some of those reflections with you...

Random Reflections:
1. I'm actually having trouble remembering what life was like when I turned 20.
2. When I was in high school, I thought it would take forever to get to 30.
3. I have friends who I've known over half my life. Wow!
4. I wonder what my parents are feeling, as their baby turns 30.
5. I still wear some of the same shirts I did when I was in college. (that was tough to admit)
6. How fast can my hair really recede?
7. I still have my baseball card collection from childhood and I haven't looked at any of them in years.
8. There are some special memories that only grow stronger with time.
9. You know you are getting old when you start using phrases like, "When I was in high school..."
10. When I was in high school, I only used the computer for playing games and writing papers.
11. When I was in high school, none of my friends had email or a cell phone.

Reflections on Parenting/Marriage:
12. When I was in high school, I started dating my wife. (never have figured out why she went out with me in the first place)
13. I have 3 kids already - Wow!
14. Though I do not feel much smarter this year, I like to think I'm a little wiser.
15. I have a huge responsibility to teach my boys to be godly men.
16. My daughter needs a dad who is a great example of a godly man, too.
17. I love my wife more today than when we got married (in '01). And back then I did not think that was possible.
18. As a husband, I continue to make some of the same mistakes over and over. Will I learn?
19. I see a lot of myself in my kids. Some good and some bad. I need to be mindful of those actions/attitudes I want to model for them.
20. I have passed on to my boys an ability to live through pain and disappointment - they are Cubs fans.
21. I love to capture "life moments" with my camera. I'm hoping that I don't mess up my kids by taking their picture all the time.
22. I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world.

lessons I've learned:
23. After 7 years in youth ministry, I still love it.
24. Being a father has changed the way I minister to students, at least on some level.
25. As my family grows, I have had to adjust how I do ministry. Especially as I do not get to minister alongside my wife as much as I used to.
26. People tend to respect you when you are older (for no other reason than you are older).
27. Be wise with your money when you first get married, even if it is just the two of you and you both are working. I am thankful for the financial decisions we made at the beginning of our marriage, they have truly affected our financial situation today.
28. I have a lot to learn from other people and if I ignore the advice I will only hurt myself.
29. I believe humility is just as important in my life today as it was when I was a young punk. ("young punk" - if that doesn't make me sound old I don't know what will)
30. No matter what my age, I need to trust and rely on God.
31. God is always faithful. I have learned this lesson in some big ways. No matter how big the negative situation seems, God has (and is) always been bigger and able to bring me through.

I could not stop at 30, it just seemed too cheesy to me.

I hoping that I can learn a whole bunch more over the next 30 years.

Poll Results: Have you ever had one of those days?

The last poll was a rather general question about life. Have you ever had "one of those days" you would like to forget?

It turns out that all of us have had a day like that.

100% (8 people) said they have had "one of those days"
0% (no one) said no

Be encouraged that you are not the only one who has had a bad day. We all have bad days. We all have days we do not want to remember. Even Jesus had days like that.

Remember that God loves you and will never leave you. If you need to, take some time to sit in His lap today and take comfort knowing He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Artcle: Youth Ministry Lessons From A Retail Store

Have you ever walked through a retail store and been frustrated at what you saw or experienced? I have more than a few times. I took one of those experiences and wrote an article about what youth workers can learn from retail stores.

I'd love if you took some time to check it out.
Let me know what you think. Add your own thoughts.

Youth Ministry Lessons From A Retail Store

I can become so engrossed in "last minute" details that I run people over. I treat people like they are in my way and I just need to get stuff ready. Because if I get stuff ready, the very people I ran over will be able to learn about God. How foolish.

Lessons from The Office: Business Ethics

The Office was back on Thursday (10/9/08) after taking a week off due to the vice-presidential debate.

This week's episode was entitled: Business Ethics

A few thoughts & lessons from Business Ethics:

1. It can be difficult to share personal information with your coworkers.
2. Ethics is not an issue a lot of people like to talk about, because a lot of people do not live an ethical life.
3. Training your staff does not always lend itself to a "fun" meeting. And you should not force it to be.
4. It is a smart idea to start tracking your time, before someone else starts tracking it for you. Most people do not really know where their time is spent and are surprised to find out how much time is wasted.
5. Being a positive voice for ethics (or morals) in the workplace can lead to being disliked. People do not like being told they are wrong, even if they know they are wrong.
6. Despite what backlash you receive for being a moral compass, do not give up. Do not stop trying to help people be more ethical/moral.
7. A lot of the people you see everyday are struggling and hurting. Most are drifting into areas they do not want to go. What are you going to do to help them?

Photo Friday: Bubble on Screen Door

Summer is over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop enjoying bubbles outside. Just don't let them through the screen door.

Trivia Wednesday #90: Milk Allergy

answer #89 - a boxer (prizefighter)

question #90 - T or F If you are allergic to milk you cannot eat hot dogs.

Typically Busy Youth Ministry Weekend

Recently, I had a busy weekend. This type of busy weekend is normal for a youth worker. And it used to be normal for me, too. Being away from full-time youth ministry for a couple months now, my normal weekend has really changed. Now it is more of a lot of time around the house with my family. I have really been able to cherish this time, but honestly I have missed the time in ministry "busymode" that seems to happen so often.

Here are the highlights from the weekend:

1st - I had a hard conversation with a college student. This started as an accidental conversation, as we connected while on a walk with my family. Talked about some tough stuff going on in their life and what they want to do about it. I felt like it was a good conversation from both sides.

2nd - I helped out at 5th Quarter. This one was a Saturday evening, since it was a Saturday afternoon game this week. I got to run one of the games, helped set up and tear down, and did some "security" to make sure teens weren't leaving randomly. It was a great event. Good times.

3rd - After 5th Quarter, I headed straight to a Displace Me '08 overnighter. I got called earlier that day to see if I could come help (a few of the other adults had to back out at the last minute). This was really a good chance to see some students I hadn't seen in a few months and meet a few more for the first time. Lots of laughs, sore muscles and lack of sleep were the three main outcomes from this night. I only stayed til around 12:30 or so.
Displace Me is part of Schools4Schools, which is a program out of invisible children. Find out more about each by clicking the following links...
Displace Me '08 - schools for schools - invisible children

4th - I taught Jr. High Class on Sunday night. This was the first time I had taught in a few months and I was ready to get back to it. It was fun to prepare the lesson. My only problem was that I had too much stuff, due to some adjustments to the overall evening that night, and I didn't watch the clock. I wasn't really paying attention to the time and ran out before we got to the end. It wasn't a total waste of a lesson, but I wish we could have gotten to the ending.

What a great weekend of youth ministry.

What about you? Do you love these types of weekends? Do you feel energized after something like this or do you feel drained?

Photo Friday: Old (stale?) popcorn

This is a bag of popcorn that we just ate from this week. It was best by May 2007 (only a year and a half old). It really was pretty good popcorn. Makes me wonder what it would have tasted like at its "best."

Kinda makes me think about some of the "old" stuff in youth ministry. You know, those games or lessons or media or methods that are out-dated. Is there still a use for them? Or should they be tossed aside forever?

Trivia Wednesday #89: Sparring partner

answer #88 - Copper

question #89 - Which athlete uses a sparring partner?

New Poll: Have you ever had a day you would like to foget?

Youth Ministry is not always fun and games.

Have you ever had "one of those days" you would like to forget?

Yes
No

Vote on the poll (on the right sidebar) and then leave a comment sharing a little about that day. I know that doesn't help you forget about it, but it might make someone else feel a little better about their day.

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.

Getting Students to Show Up Contest Winner

Congratulations to Ben. He was randomly selected to win the free copy of Getting Students to Show Up by Jonathan McKee. Thanks to everyone who stopped by during the contest. I'll have another giveaway sometime, maybe you'll get that one. :)

Photo Friday: Internet no access

This is a picture of what happened when you tried to go to a "off limits" site at the hospital. Sites like Facebook, yahoo mail (unless you went to yahoo first), or myspace. But it never showed up for Twitter or YouTube (which I found odd).

5 Lessons from The Office: Weight Loss

Thursday, Sept. 25, was the premiere of season 5 of The Office. They kicked off the season with an hour-long episode entitled "Weight Loss" You can watch it here or here


Here are 5 lessons from Weight Loss:
1. Being the new "guy" at work can be tough. (but funny...)
2. Sometimes going the extra mile to show someone you care about them makes a big difference.
3. When you love someone, you will do some crazy things.
4. People work harder at something when they desire to do it and are not "forced" to participate.
5. Discussing certain topics (homosexuality or mental illness) with people you just met can lead to awkwardness.


Some things I didn't expect:
1. The "Fat Elvis" picture Michael put up on the wall for "Body Image Celebration"
2. Was Angela really starting to like Andy?
3. Jim proposing at the gas station.
4. Ryan back in the office, as a temp.

to quote someone else: Francis Chan (serving God)

"When Jeremiah voices his hesitation and fear, God - the God of the galaxies - reaches out and touches his mouth. It's a gentle and affectionate gesture, something a loving parent would do. through this illustration I realized that I don't have to worry about not meeting His expectations. God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine."

taken from Crazy Love by Francis Chan (emphasis mine)

When you serve God, do you place certain expectations on your own ability to get things done well?
Do you place the weight of "your success" on what you can do or do you trust God to do what He can do?

Trivia Wednesday #88: Metal

answer #87 - Golden Girls

question #88 - Which soft, reddish metal is widely used because of its ability to conduct electricity?

Free Book Download: Essential Church by Thom Rainer

For a limited time (not sure how long that is) you can download Essential Church by Thom Rainer and Sam Rainer III for free. Go here to download. You will have to enter your email address (thus being added to an email list). It may take awhile to download, but hey its a free book.

Or you can go here to buy the hardcover version.

Prayer for my daughter

This morning at 8:30am, my daughter is going in for hernia surgery. She is only 8 weeks old and weighs 8lbs. I would appreciate your prayers for her during this surgery. Thank you.

*updated*
The surgery went well and she is recovering well.

Photo Friday: Candle burning

I thought you might need a moment of quiet. So, take a minute or two and look at this burning candle while you think about how big God is.

Book Giveaway: Getting Students to Show Up

My YMX review of Getting Students to Show Up by Jonathan McKee just got published recently over at YMX and I posted it here, too. And I have an extra copy of the book. What can I do with that extra copy? I'll tell you what I'm going to do with it. I am giving it away to the person who wins my little book giveaway contest.

As much as I would love for this contest to involve lots of sugar (soda) or slime, it won't. It will be a pretty simple contest. If you don't have this book, I encourage you to enter and try to win it here.




Contest Rules:

1. You must be a youth worker (full-time, part-time, volunteer), know someone who is, or want to be one someday.
2. Leave a comment on this post sharing your biggest "oops" moment at an outreach event.
3. Or, better yet, write a post on your blog about the biggest "oops" moment (mention/link to this contest if you want) and post the link in the comments (this way you can include video and pictures, if you have any)
   
4. The best moment, as decided by a random drawing of those who enter, will win the book.
5. Available only to those within the US, sorry I can't pay for that much postage - I am a youth worker after all.
   
6. The contest ends 9/25/08 at 11:59pm Central
7. Feel free to enter more than once, if you have more than one great moment to share.
   

I look forward to hearing your fun stories. When the contest is over, I might just put your stories together in a future post (with your permission, of course).

Trivia Wednesday #87: Classic Television

answer #86 - Pool

question #87 - Which TV show was nicknamed "Miami Nice"?

Discussion Starter: How much is virginity worth?

I saw this article about a girl auctioning off her virginity over on The Source 4 YM's blog. I'm still not sure what to say about this whole situation. Obviously, it makes me sad. Sad for this young woman and sad for any "man" who would be a part of this auction. It just shows that they have a strong lack of respect for women.

I think that this story can be a powerful discussion starter with your students. Here are a few thoughts on what topics you could use this story with...

- sex
- self worth
- virginity
- morals
- appropriate behavior
- greed
- college
- growing up
- decision making
- love
- value


In the end, I hope this young lady finds the love of God and learns that she doesn't have to sell her virginity to anyone.


You can also check out Marko's thoughts.

(gracias a Jonathan)

Christmas, Consumerism, and Missing the Moment

Recently, as I walked through a few of my favorite stores I began to see a change taking place. A lot of stores are already gearing up for Christmas. Some are getting ready for Halloween or Thanksgiving, but they are all putting the Christmas product out.

Do I like Christmas? Sure do. I love spending Christmas with my family.
Do I like Christmas consumerism? No! I very much dislike all the spending of money unnecessarily.

I think our culture (or rather the economic culture) has allowed us to miss the moment. Due to the manner in which retail stores function, we do not get to enjoy the moment. You don't buy shorts in the summer, you buy them in the spring. Winter jackets are showing up in the stores at the end of August. Each holiday or season is marketed months before it arrives and then "forgotten" when it arrives. When one holiday approaches it is already time to start thinking about the next one.

This process "forces" some shoppers to miss the enjoyment of celebrating. Think about the Day after Thanksgiving sales. I mean, you have to get up at 3am to get anything. Getting up this early means you have to go to bed early. Going to bed early means you miss spending time with the family on Thanksgiving Day.


Just like everyone else, I think youth workers can fall into this trap within our ministries. We become so focused on promoting an event that we lose sight of the moment. For example, we spend months preparing for and promoting an outreach event. When the event arrives, we spend time promoting our weekly event or the "next big thing." We can become consumed with getting to the next thing that we forget to enjoy (make the most of) the moment.

It doesn't have to be this way. No matter how hard the economic culture tries to grab your attention and get you to be on their time table, you can resist. You can enjoy the moment. Take time and enjoy Thanksgiving without reading the "sale papers" or thinking about how hard its going to be to find that prized Christmas present. Do not allow yourself to get caught up into the consumerism of our culture.

What do you do to combat consumerism? How do you enjoy the moment?

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

One month and I'm 30

When today is over, I will be within my last month of being 20something. Next month I turn 30. It seems like a big deal right now. I know 30 is not old, but I never thought I'd get here. In reality, I never knew what my life would look like at 30. Even if I had tried to imagine what life would be like I don't think I ever could have imagined this. :)

What do I need to do this last month? Is there anything that I need to do before I turn 30? Leave a comment and let me know.

More free episodes from NBC on iTunes

The free episode of The Office that you can download from iTunes is not the only freebie NBC is offering. Here is the complete list of shows that NBC is offering one free episode for your enjoyment. You can get them in HD and regular. Unless you have a large amount of storage or really like the HD (ie, you have a way of playing the HD) I would recommend the regular versions. Enjoy.


(gracias a TV addict)

Book Review: getting students to show up by Jonathan McKee

Do you want students to show up to your event or class? So does Jonathan McKee, that's why he wrote this book. McKee draws from his many years of in-the-trenches planning events as well as his many years of speaking at events in order to provide a very valuable resource for youth workers. You will read about successes, failures and the planning process that can help a failure become a success.

For most youth workers, there is not a week that goes by without thinking about a youth event. This part of youth ministry can be difficult and time-consuming. But it doesn't have to be any longer. McKee knows how to organize and implement a good outreach event and after reading this book you will too. What stands out in Getting Students to Show Up is that it is very practical. Each step of the process is covered, from the initial thought to the timing of the final moment.

Do you struggle with budgeting for an event? You will find a great example and some helpful tips in chapter 5. Do your events always seem to run long or do you struggle to fill the time? Chapter 6 helps you think through the entire night, including 25 questions to ask as you plan. Does your weekly outreach event seem to be becoming routine? In chapter 8, McKee helps you think through some unique elements and remember to keep the basics intact every week. In chapters 10 and 11, you will find some excellent advice on how to find the right speaker or band. If that is not enough, the last chapter is filled with 10 outreach programs and events that work.

So, whether you want to reach 10 or 10,000, this book can help you reach that goal. Getting Students to Show Up is a great addition to any youth worker's library. Next time you are planning an outreach event, make sure you have a copy nearby. I believe this is a book any youth worker (full-time, part-time, paid, or volunteer) can use to help benefit their ministry.


My advice (rating) – buy more than one and give out copies (5 out of 5)

(you can also find this review over at YMX)

Photo Friday: Obama Children's Book Covers

While looking for a book for my son, I came across these two books sitting on the shelf next to each other. They do not seem to have anything in common. But, as I looked closer I saw one similarity. Doesn't that middle kid in the "Worst Case Scenario" book look a little like Obama? Compare the smile if you have doubts.

That weird similarity was not the only reason I took the picture. I find it strange that there is a biography of Obama written for young adults. You know that part of the America public that will not be able to vote for at least 6 years. Its strange to me.

Sunday School Musical??

I saw this post over at Ryan's site the other day. You have to go check it out.

Sunday School Musical


2 Comments:
1. I can't say I'm too surprised at this.
2. Really?

What do you think?

(gracias a Ryan)

Free episode of The Office on iTunes

For the next week or so (not sure exactly when the end date is), you can get the first episode of season 4 of The Office (Fun Run) for free from iTunes. Yeah, you read that correctly. You can download Fun Run (an hour long episode) for free off iTunes. In fact you can get the regular or HD version. So if you are a fan of The Office or just like free show downloads, head over to iTunes and grab it before its gone. (Well, not gone, but $1.99)


(gracias a OfficeTally for the heads up)

Reflections on: Visiting a church

On Sunday, the family went to visit a church and listen to one of my friends from high school preach. (He's a music minister, so this does not happen often) I came away with a few thoughts on visiting and a few observations from the service itself.

Visitor Observations:
1. Friendly faces greeting you at the door can make all the difference.
2. There is a big difference between someone greeting you and someone "smothering" you.
3. As a visitor, I appreciate a few simple questions or statements - when the person is genuine.
4. Signs showing me what is where are very helpful and appreciated.
5. Knowing how much time I have before the service starts is great (via a countdown on screens in the hallway).
6. As a visiting parent, I like being able to go back with my child(ren) and see their room.
7. Knowing my children are safe is important. Thanks for making safety a priority.
8. I like to know I'm not an inconvenience when I ask questions.

Observations on the service:
1. Standing during the songs can be contagious. For some people, all they need is to not be the first one to stand.
2. Watching someone use sign language during a worship song is simply beautiful. There really isn't anything else like it.
3. Even if you have already had one service, there is still potential for a mistake in the second service.
4. Mistakes during the service do not equal a bad service.
5. It was nice to worship with Amy for a good bit of the service (something we haven't been able to do much over the last month or so).

I am really glad we decided to make the trip to visit. It was a blessing to be a part of the service on this particular Sunday.

Trivia Wednesday #86: Games

answer #85 - Leviticus

question #86 - Snookers is a variety of which game?

Alltop, Christianity, & Me

If you are seeing this from a RSS feed, you probably have not noticed that this blog has a new little badge on the right side. What badge is it, you are wondering? Well, Reflections is now a part of the Alltop list of sites on their Christianity page. You can go to the Christian page on Alltop site and see the latest 5 posts from a number of blogs. Don't know what Alltop is, go here to find more.

The Office: Season 4 DVD & More

Yesterday, I was with my family in a nearby town (an hour away). We had driven over to see a friend preach. He did awesome, by the way (more on the service later). While we were there, we went ahead and did some shopping.

The Office: Season 4 DVD came out last Tuesday (meaning Sunday was day 6 of it being on the store shelves). A few stores had limited editions or special editions you could get if you were fast enough. Even the online side of things was running out of the special editions before the release day on Tuesday. And I kept reading online how people tried going to "X" number of stores and still did not go home with the one they wanted. So, while we were shopping for other stuff, I thought I would look and see what was left.

At Target, there were only 2 copies of the Ultimate Package (seasons 1-4) left. The shelves were bare where the regular season 4 was supposed to go and where their limited edition was. So, Target was typical of what I had been hearing.

At Best Buy, it started to look the same way. I looked on their new releases shelf and not a sign of The Office anywhere. I had resolved myself to not finding a single copy when I spotted the floor display. That had to be a good sign, right? When I got to the display one side was completely empty, so I walked around. On this side of the display there were a handful of the regular season 4 packages and 4 copies of their "Fun Run Kit" special editions. I was floored. I'm not sure if that means there are not that many Office fans in the area or there are not as many fans willing to pay for the extra bonus items.

With the season 4 DVD on the shelf (either store or home), that means one thing - season 5 starts soon. September 25th is the premiere: its called Weight Loss.

Should be an interesting season. :)

YMX Review of Getting Students to Show Up

My review of Getting Students to Show up by Jonathan McKee is posted at YMX. Check it out here. Let me know what you think.

Have you read the book? What did you think?

10 Ways to Appreciate Youth Workers

Tomorrow (9/6/08) is Youth Worker Appreciation Day (thanks YS). I thought I would share a few thoughts on how you might appreciate that special youth worker. Trust me, you are not going to find a "YWAD" card at Hallmark, so try one of these methods...

10 Ways to Appreciate Youth Workers:

1. Write a note/card/letter sharing what they have meant to you or your family
2. Make a video montage of all the "good times" you have shared in the youth ministry
3. Write a song about them and make a music video of it
   
4. Pray for them (and ask for anything specific that you can pray about)
5. Tell them "thank you" at least 25 times over the next year...and mean it
6. Babysit the children, so they can have a quiet/relaxing evening (or weekend)
7. Buy them a CD/DVD/Book (one they will enjoy, of course)
8. Take them out to eat, and let them pick the restaurant (not pizza)
9. Be a cheerleader for the youth ministry (this means talk positively about it)
   
10. Hold a Youth Room/Youth Ministry "shower" (kinda like a baby shower, but without the silly games) to provide resources that are needed

and a bonus #11. Give them a $100 Southwest gift card to get away on vacation. The one I found and posted about was found at Wal-Mart.

What have you done to appreciate your favorite youth worker? What has someone done to show you appreciation? Let's hear from you...

Photo Friday: Southwest gift card

Not sure what to get that constant traveler as a birthday present. Try a southwest gift card. For $100 you can help get that special someone from point A to point B (and back, if you want them to return).

Maybe you know a youth worker who needs a vacation or a couple who needs to get away. This would be a great gift to those who need some time away, but can't afford to fly. It is Youth Worker Appreciation Day tomorrow (9/6/08), you know. Or maybe you want to get your youth coaches something special to say "thanks" for a year of hard work - if the budget has money, why not get them a gift card and let them pick their destination.

Youth Worker Appreciation Day: 9/6/08

As a youth worker and a friend to many youth workers, I am excited about what Youth Specialties has put together. Youth Worker Appreciation Day. And the best thing about the day is that you don't have to take any time off work to celebrate your favorite youth worker, because its on a Saturday. This Saturday, September 6, 2008.

You can go here to see a list of Christian bookstores who are participating. If you are a youth worker and you go to one of these stores, you'll get "something" from them to show you their appreciation for what you do.

They even has a section of ideas for church leaders to celebrate youth workers on Sunday.

If you are a fulltime youth worker, take this opportunity to celebrate all the hard work those youth coaches put into the youth ministry.

Come back tomorrow (Photo Friday) and see another gift option I think you need to get for your favorite youth worker.

Third Day on the third day: Third Day live

(that sure is a lot of "third days" in that title)

Over at Third Day's blog, there is a little "contest" going on. So, I thought I would write about my favorite live experience.

I have two shows I remember very clearly (out of the many I've been to).

The funnest show was an outdoor show I went to in Atlanta back in '02 (I believe). Sitting on the grass, enjoying the weather and listening to Third Day was awesome. They also played my favorite song: Thief. Though they skipped a verse. :) Which was just hilarious. Ah, good times.

My favorite show was April 23, 2004 in Augusta, GA. This was the Live Wire Tour. The show was awesome and the band sounded great. But my favorite part was that it was just 2 days before my first son was born. And he "loved" the show, too. The entire concert, my wife kept saying he was moving around and "dancing". This is also the day we started sponsoring a child from World Vision (Beza).

Other show highlights:
The state fair show was fun, in the rain.
Then there was the Come Together & Worship Tour - that was awesome.

What is your favorite band to see live? Or better yet, do you have any funny stories about taking a group to a concert? (Come on, somebody has probably left a kid at the venue)

Trivia Wednesday #85: Jewish dietary laws

answer #84 - Michael J. Fox

question #85 - Which Old Testament book contains Jewish dietary laws - Deuteronomy, Judges or Leviticus?

Photo Friday: Outlaw for Atari 2600

I found this picture when I was going through "organizing" all of the pictures on the computer. I love my atari 2600, especially on the old, tiny black-n-white TV. And there is nothing like an old-fashioned shootout for a Friday morning.

Youth Ministry Blogs Worth Reading

Last week, I wrote about some aspects I look for in a good youth ministry blog. I said I would share a few blogs I thought were worth a follow, so here are a handful...

YMIMexico.org
Shore Youth Ministry.com
Adam Mclane.com
Patti Gibbons.com
fusionlife.org
CoffeeWithChris.com

Before you get mad, I know that is six and a hand only has 5 fingers. You're just jealous because I can fit six blogs in my hand and you can only get five.

I tried to pick a few that showed aspects of each of the 9 signs I wrote about. Together, these blogs do a good job at being good examples of what makes a good youth ministry blog. I also tried to pick some I thought you might not know about. Are there other great ym blogs, you bet. And you can bet you'll see them show up in my series of posts reviewing youth ministry blogs.

Feel free to add a blog you would like to be reviewed. Just leave a comment and I'll add it to the list.

Until then, Enjoy what these youth workers have to say.

Trivia Wednesday #84: Back to the Future

answer #83 - three

question #84 - Which Family Ties cast member starred in the Back to the Future films?

to quote someone else: Mike King (conflict)

"giving up because of conflict and moving on only results in needing to take the test over again."

taken from Presence-Centered Youth Ministry by Mike King


I think youth workers struggle a lot with conflict (all ministers do). We seem to always run into someone who doesn't like what we are doing, our methods, or the fact that we are changing things. You will never be at a ministry which does not have conflict. If you are, then I would guess you are not doing much to change or improve the ministry.

When conflict arises and it gets tough:
- don't give up.
- rely on God for strength.
- listen to those around you.
- work on resolving the issue.

3 Ways to Read a Blog

A little while ago, I wrote 3 reasons to read a blog. So, I thought I should follow that up with a post on 3 ways to read a blog.


1. Visit the blog
The original way to read a blog is to just visit it regularly. Basically you visit the blog anytime you want to. You can go to the site every day and only get 2 or 3 new posts a week. If this happens, you waste a lot of time looking at the same material over and over again. Unless you want to look at the same posts over and over. Or you can go the other route and only visit a blog once a week (to avoid reading the same stuff over and over) and miss out on some time sensitive material.

In comparison to renting videos, this is going to the video store every day to see if the movie you want is there. You can check very often and still come up empty. You waste a lot of time and gas searching for a movie you may never get to rent.

2. Get updates via E-mail
This method of reading a blog is one step removed from just visiting. With this method you sign up to receive updates in your email inbox whenever there is a new post. The advantage to this method is that you don't have to go to another website to see if a blog has updated. You normally get your email at the end of the day or morning of the following day. This means you may not very time sensitive material. The disadvantage is that you can only get one blog update per email. So if you like reading 5 blogs (a rather small number to follow), you will get a separate email for each of the 5 blogs. This can start to clutter up your inbox.

In terms of renting a movie, it is like becoming a member of a video store. You are notified (aware) of new releases, but there can still be a wait period to watch the video.

This is a better method, as far as time saving, than just visiting a blog. Yet, it is not the best option available (in my opinion).

You can follow this blog's email feed by signing up on the right side of this page.

3. Subscribe to a RSS feed
The easiest way to read a blog is through a RSS feed. This is when you subscribe to the blog's feed and receive a notice when a blog is updated with new posts. So far, it sounds a lot like email updates, but it goes farther. Instead of getting an email with updates, you go to your reader and see all of the new posts for all of the blogs you are subscribed to. You will save a lot of time with this method of reading blogs.

In terms of renting a movie, it is like getting videos from Netflix. You only get the videos when they are available. When you use RSS, you only get notified when there is a new post.

A couple options for RSS readers: bloglines, newsgator, google reader, or search Google for other options.

You can follow this blog's feed here.


In the end it doesn't matter which method you use. Unless you want to save some time, that is. Once you find a method that works for you, go find some blogs to read. Search the net, ask some friends, look for topics of interest, follow links to other blogs.


Later this week, I'm going to share some youth ministry blogs I think are worth following. Maybe you will learn from them, like I have.

A few posts worth reading

Recently, there have been a few posts that I have read which caught my attention. Maybe it made me think, or laugh, or just said something I thought needed to be said. I thought I would share some of these posts with you.


5 posts worth reading:
1. Kent shares some results about How kids live in 2008 - a good read for anyone in youth ministry.

2. Listed under the "are you serious?" label, Jonathan shares with us what the good people at Disney didn't realize was going to be an issue. High School Musical product pulled from shelves

3. Despite the fact that Ben links back to my blog, I think this post is a great read. Ben shares his reasons for not blogging so much lately. Are you playing the "game?"

4. Dennis shares 25 characteristics of a successful youth ministry. Read the list and see what you think. How does your youth ministry compare?

5. Mike wonders how we can get a Josiah Generation among our students. Some really good thoughts for youth workers.

Enjoy.

Photo Friday: Moving Truck Overload

There seems to be a lot of youth workers moving to new ministries lately. Moving is one of those ministry frustrations that few people like. These two pictures are to remind you that no matter how bad you felt your move was or how much you despise moving, I bet your move was better than this.



That trailer is so packed it just doesn't seem right. And the couch on top - wow. One thing you can't see in these pictures is that the SUV pulling it is equally full. There is just enough room for the guy driving.

Signs of a Good Youth Ministry Blog

Over at 43 Folders Merlin Mann recently posted about what makes a good blog. After reading his thoughts, I got to thinking about what makes a good youth ministry blog. Why do I read some and not others? Why do some people read this blog? What makes a youth ministry blog worth your time?

Here are a few of my thoughts:

1. The author has a heart for youth ministry. This is a tough one to know without knowing the person. But, I think you can get a good feel from the person's posts how they feel about youth ministry. And lets be honest, no one is going to start a blog about youth ministry to earn money from ads. You have to have a heart for it or you wouldn't take the time to blog about it.
2. The blog is a source of encouragement. Whether it is through the stories being told, pictures being shared, or insights being discussed, a good youth ministry blog encourages others youth workers. You may not get this feeling from just one post alone. Encouragement will be an ongoing affect of reading the blog.
   
3. The blog provides resources for ministry. I am not talking necessarily about a new lesson or outline each week (although who wouldn't love that). A good youth ministry blog links to resources, shares what materials are worthwhile, occasionally provides a new resource from their ministry, and makes connections between events/news stories and the Bible.
   
4. The posts are thought provoking. A good youth ministry blog has posts which cause me to think. I may not agree with the author about a certain topic of theology, but I am forced to think about the issue. All youth workers need to think about and wrestle with theology, priorities, purposes and all other items related to working with youth. Youth workers need to be challenged and finding a youth ministry blog that challenges you is a great way to stay mentally sharp.
   
5. The posts make me laugh. There are days in youth ministry that are just rough. A youth worker needs to be able to unwind and laugh a little. If I can relax and laugh while reading your blog, I'll read your blog. (This may seem to be the exact opposite of #4, but I think both are important). Some of the best youth ministry posts are videos, cartoon, or funny ministry stories.
   
6. The blog allows you to catch a glimpse of the author's ministry. You can follow along in their ministry journey. You get to read about the ups and downs. This can encourage you and remind you of the fact that you are not the only one going through it.
   
7. The tone is positive. Even when the subject of the post is negative or frustrating, the tone of the post is not negative. Its okay to vent about an issue, but trust me a blog is not the place to do it. If you want to write about the experience, keep it informative and constructive.
8. The blog is updated regularly. Now, this does not mean daily. It may not even mean weekly. There are times of the year where a youth minister's life is completely crazy and expecting a regular post is out of the picture. There are a couple blogs I subscribe to that haven't posted in a long time and honestly I forget I subscribe to them. If one day the author writes a new post, then I'll know. But I'm not going to keep checking.
9. The blog leads to connection. The best part of a good youth ministry blog is the connection made between you and the author. You can connect via a social networking site, email, Instant Messaging, phone conversations or even at a national youth ministry event. A good youth ministry blog allows you to share life with other youth workers.
   

What qualifications do you use in determining which youth ministry blogs to read/follow?

In the next few days, I'll share some of the youth ministry blogs I think are worth following.

Trivia Wednesday #83: Cooking Measurements

answer #82 - with cheese

question #83 - How many teaspoons are there in a tablespoon?