preconvention

Wow.

what a first day of critical concerns. Since I'm in the store, we've been going for a few days now. Busy setting up the convention and making sure its ready to receive all the youth workers and minister to them. But the fun has really begun now - the youth workers are arriving.

I've already had an opportunity to connect with a few great youth workers. I met the only 2 full time youth pastors in China. (now tell me that doesn't happen all the time).

Even the security guy has been cool. He actually is taking classes at CCU (where I graduated from), so I've got to connect with him.

Volunteering with my wife has been a blessing too. A whole new perspective and I prefer serving alongside her and watching her get to experience the convention from this side.

Can't wait for the full convention to start today

ps. We walked around and prayed for all the spaces. I must say the prayer chapel looks like it is going to be a great place to go and get away and spend some quality time with God.

new members lunch

yesterday was a new members lunch at our church. We got to be a part of it in two different ways. We were apart, because I am on staff. But we were also invited as new members :)

I've never been to a new members lunch before. Our last church didn't do it when we got there and I was 6 when we joined the church before that.

It was a nice meal, but rather quick for us. We headed out of town right after the lunch. We are at my parents' house dropping off the boys today. They will stay here for a week while we are at the convention. Today we leave to drive down to Cincy and get ready to start tomorrow.

Getting excited, but also going to miss the boys :( BUT I am even more excited that my wife will be with me at the convention this year. Its so hard to express to her what happens and what it is like. So, I'm glad I don't have to this year.

100th post

Yeah, I know its nothing. Most people are well beyond this point. I am beyond this point on our family blog we keep. But since I have been out of ministry for a time (I know I missed a lot of blogging time).

So, on my 100th post I just have one thing to say...


Amy I love you!

4 days til...

my wife and I start volunteering at the NYWC in Cincy. Its a few days earlier than the rest of the attendees, hence the volunteering and thus setting up stuff. :)

This is my third time to help out and one of the things I like is that I get to spend two extra days at the convention. Even though the convention doesn't officially start until Thursday I feel like just being there with other volunteers and the YS staff is better than anything. It is a great way to spend a few days and a great feeling to be there with friends and fellow youth workers.

If you're going to the convention - see you on Thursday.

Stop by the bookstore and say Hi. I'll help you find the resource you need and I'd love to talk about ministry, life and God.

parents meeting

The parents meeting on Saturday went rather well. Not as many parents as I would have hoped, but it was my first one. A better "attitude/vibe" in the room this time around. It was pretty cool, because while talking about some upcoming events that were not finalized we actually finalized the details in the meeting. The parents want to help and want to be a part of the process and I want to help them by being a resource not a "babysitter"

So good meeting. And I've talked with a few other parents who were asking about the meeting and will be a part of future ones.

In the end - encouraging!

new elders, ministry team leaders

last sunday, our church had our annual meeting to elect the ministry team leaders for next year and any elders that were up for election. As I(someone on staff) would hope, all of the nominees were elected. We have one elder not returning next year and one new elder joining the "team."

We have an elder's meeting Thursday night that will be pretty long (I bet). Since we have to bring this new elder up to speed. One of the biggest issues to bring up is the building campaign we are in the tail end of getting off the ground. We have plans all done and are now ready to get some bits on the building.

on a sidenote - It is really nice to come into a new ministry and have this sort of thing going. The ministry I left was "in process" of building, but I never felt it was a healthy thing. This one is needed and is really exciting to be a part of. Now I just have to make sure I don't get wrapped up in the idea that the building expansion will be a "end all" for the ministry.

So, anyway, there are lots of changes coming and I am looking forward to the next year.

ps. our girls' volleyball team is going to state!! Pretty exciting. They won last night against last year's state champs. A pretty impressive show of support from the community was rather encouraging from my perspective

first parent meeting at new church

Tomorrow I am having my first parent meeting at the new ministry. I am a little excited and nervous. At my last ministry, I tried to have these meetings a few times and didn't get too much "positive" response, so I'm trying to go at it from a different angle this time.

I hope this is the first of many meetings. I pray this can help me as I try to work with the parents and minsiter alongside them. (also hoping to put some faces with names, I haven't been able to meet all the parents yet)

photo friday

last weekend, my youngest turned 1. Here he is at the party. Doesn't he look spiffy in his birthday clothes.


Here is the last picture we will ever have of our boxes! Some of these boxes have been full of our stuff for over a year. We are a little excited to say we are finally done with them! Goodbye and good riddance.


Here is a great picture of me and my oldest enjoying some quality "nap time" together. I just love moments like this as a dad. (notice that one of my dogs thought it was a good idea, too)

NYWC coming up

Less than 2 weeks til the convention, in cincy. Its been 2 years since I've been. I couldn't go last year b/c I was inbetween ministries and our second son was due at the beg. on Nov. I opted for being a good dad/husband and being in town when the time came to go to the hospital. I think I made the right choice. But now I am ready to go back to NYWC, this time with my wife (who has gone once before, before we had kids).

myspace last year?

I found this article thanks to the YS newsletter. Apparently they are saying that myspace is last year in a teen's world.

I am not so sold on this idea. Yeah, Myspace is probably going to lose its appeal to a certain group of people. My first thought is that those who were overwhelmed with it (ie. spent way too much time on it too often) then the appeal is gone. This group has done "all it can" with the site. The honeymoon period is over for them.

But for the rest of the users (those who don't make it a huge part of their day) I think it will remain a viable way to stay in contact. Its like email, but way cooler to see pictures and music videos. I think this group, the average user, will continue to use it.

Myspace like other networking sites is "cool" and the "hot thing" for awhile and then it fades into just "average" in the world of the net. Just look at classmates.com. It was huge when it first came out and probably doesn't have nearly as much traffic now, but it is still going and probably still getting new additions daily. For people who only want the "hottest" then that will only last a short time.

One thing I did like about the article came at the end. It is mentioned that teens will likely become more willing to have actual social interaction. Wow! what an amazing concept, actually talking to someone in person or on the phone. Now wouldn't that change the world :)

1st birthday

On Sunday, my youngest son turned 1. What a great weekend.

This birthday is a crazy reminder for me. It was a month before he was born that we left our last church. So this first year of his life has been pretty crazy for our family. Yesterday was a good reminder of the faithfulness and love of God. I think it is probably good he won't remember all the craziness that was his first year of life. But you better believe his mom and dad will remind him of it. We want him to know how great God was and faithful to provide for us throughout the tough times.

I am thankful to have two healthy boys and a wonderful congregation in which I get to minsiter.

Be thankful today for the little things, like food on the table and people who love you.

Homilophobia...

the reason some people don't come to church.

So, what is homilophobia? The fear of sermons.

Are there really that many people afraid of sermons?

anyone have your name?

I just ran across this post and thought it would be fun to try myself. I always had a thought that there was no one else like me and now I have proof. Here is my results

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

A little more refreshed today

Last night I spent some extra time alone with God. I read from the Message - a few Psalms and 1/2 Ecc. Reading through Ecc. was good for me right now. Sometimes it is not what we do, but what we remember. I was reminded last night of just how much my actions matter. On earth my actions will be soon forgotten. But if I am doing something that has eternal significance (sharing the Gospel, showing love, being a light for God in a dark world) then my actions will also be soon forgotten on earth - but in Heaven they will be soon celebrated. I am not supposed to live for myself.

Another cool thing happened last night when I was spending time with God. As I was sitting praying, one of my dogs came up to me and wanted to sit on my lap. (this is the dog pictures in my profile pic) At first I was a little annoyed because I wanted to not have that "distraction." But that thought was soon replaced with a comparison between my dog and me and me and God. Last night I just felt like I wanted/needed to curl up in God's lap and feel His loving touch. I just needed to be reassured of His love for me; not based on what I do or what others think about me. His loved based on who I am (His child) and a love that overcomes.

God is refreshing!

Tough week

This has been a tough week for me. We've just moved into a new house. So this means each evening is pretty well spent trying to put stuff away - thus realizing we have too much stuff and no place to put it. Also, this Sunday is my littlest boys 1st birthday. This means a party, thus the crazy cleaning so we can have the party at our house. My sr. minister's wife is sick with pneumonia this week, so that leaves me "in charge." (although this doesn't mean too much - at least yet) YOuth Sunday is this week. And not very many youth want to help (well, those that would are all gone on a soccer trip) so I feel torn with doing another one. I'm not a huge fan of them, I tend to think that the youth can be integrated into the regular services with the adults and they do not need their own "special" service. (and we have 4 a year) Also, in two weeks I am launching a Kids Worship (3-6 grade) and still need some adults to help.

Also, this week, one of my former students "ran" away from home. He was gone for a few days. I got an email from his mom this morning and he is back home. Praise God!

On top of all of this, I feel like I need a kickstart or boost or something. I just do not feel like doing much of the needed stuff this week. Maybe I need to just spend some time in prayer and Bible study tonight.


If you have any thoughts or ideas on how to get out of this groove or on the situation with the high schooler wanting to stay in the middle school class, please post a comment.

no talk

Earlier I commented on a recent interaction b/w a Sunday School teacher and myself. Well, all last week this person was at the church helping to prepare for a wedding. Not a single time did this person come to my office, directly across the hall from where they were, or stop me to talk about hte situation.

Knowing this person and how confrontational they are, I'm not sure what to think. Was it really nothing, since the elders were not immediately on their side? Was it nothing when they heard what I had really said? Or was it really just a little fit? Or should I still wait for a confrontation?

I don't think it will come. But we'll see what happens this Sunday when the student is back and see what class they go to. I have not been able to get together to talk with this student about the situation yet (was even mostly avoided by this student at a fifth quarter this past Friday).

all the foundational stuff

I've spent a good bit of my time trying to focus on foundational parts of ministry. I've tried to develop relationships, try to understand the big picture, learn how things are working or not working, plan and vision, and plant seeds.

When does this foundational stuff ever end? Does it? Can I ever stop laying a foundation? Which parts are only done once and which parts need to be reinforced on a regular basis?

SYATP

Today was the See You At The Pole. I ended up showing up a little late. I was told the wrong start time. But that is ok, I was still able to be there and get to meet a few new people. I have to say, one of the joys of only having one high school represented in the youth ministry is not having to decide which event to go to. I only had one option this morning :)

I was a little surprised who was there and who wasn't there. Though I should not be because when I asked a couple students if they were going they didn't even know what I was talking about.

I did meet the teacher who lets the FCA use his classroom for meetings. And he invited me to join them each week before school for their meetings. I am actually looking forward to getting to go and interact on this level at the school.

"Be Still"
(or as I prefer, the NASB "Cease Striving")

Promise Keepers

This year's promise keepers was a lot different than last year. Last year when I went I knew I was going to be leaving my church, but hadn't told the congregation yet. We had just a handful of men on that trip and one of them was an elder. So it was an awkward trip to say the least. This year I am at a new ministry and a whole lot better environment for me.

I think, though, that this difference took away from what I took away. Last year I remember taking a lot of "nuggets of truth" from the messages. This year I didn't get as much, if much at all, from the messages. This year I was able to really build on some relationships and get to know some men better (and for the first time). So I am glad I went.

I just thought it was interesting the difference a year makes.

budget time

Around my church it is budget time again. I've not been here for an entire year and now I get to figure out how to budget for next year. I guess, if I am even thinking about doing something next year - so much to start, I better add it into the budget.

I don't like doing these :) :-P

Off to number crunching...