Ever do dumb stuff? Say dumb things? It’s kinda my thing. I’m getting better at not doing it as much, but I think sometimes God lets me do it to keep me humble. A few weeks ago at church I was doing the announcements (which is pretty much the youth pastor’s sermon (lol)). I decided to use a line from a movie which I find very funny, but which makes no sense and confuses people who have no reference point – which pertaining to this movie, in our church is probably almost everybody. I forgot to consider that second part, and when I said the line hardly anyone laughed and I got some glazed and dazed looks. I just finished my announcements, prayed for the offering, and went off to my class. I was hoping it wouldn’t come up again and just tried to move on putting it behind me. Over a week passed and nobody mentioned it, so I thought I was good. But in staff meeting today I made another one of those funny-in-my-own-mind statements and it triggered a reminder in my pastor’s head who said, “That’s kinda like that thing you said in church last week. Where were you going with that?” Crap! I didn’t bother trying to explain it, leaving it at the fact that it was funny to me but I probably should have just kept it to myself. Oh well. I think of a statement I heard somewhere recently: Bringing up the past only muddies your future. Just moving on. Trying to live and learn. Thank You Jesus for your grace through which I can continue on.
Diaper Drive!!!
We are collecting diapers this Wednesday to bless a 25 year old mother in our community who has a 1 year-old daughter and is fighting leukemia. Pamper Cruisers (for girl) 5-6. (You can also provide new toys for a 1-year old girl if you would like. Her birthday is in October.) Also collecting for The Care Center – all sizes, especially 4-5 for boys and girls. We want to fill our stage Wednesday night. So, buy at least one package, and tell your friends to bring a package as well. Let’s show people God’s love in this tangible way!
Alive With Purpose!
Hi Guys! Check out this video written, produced, and based on our family friend Ryan who worked with me during my first year of youth ministry. He is also the voice singing on the video. An amazing talent spared from abortion, given hope and love through adoption.
Treadmill at Work
If I didn’t sweat so much I would totally do this!
Come Follow Me
http://www.zshare.net/audio/1905932391d1e501/ This is a message I preached a few months ago. Giving credit to my source, the list of characteristics I talk through and a few of the points came from Duffy Robbin’s book The Ministry of Nurture. I gave credit on the slide that was projected during my talk, but I want to be sure to give credit here as well.
FINALLY!
This morning Adriana took her oath to become a United States citizen! 15 years after first coming here as a student, 12 years after our wedding, it has finally happened! We have long awaited this day and we are very excited for her. Now onto Social Security, DMV and to get a US passport. Yeah! lol
Small Youth Group
Check out this website designed for youth groups of 20 people or less: http://smallyouthgroup.com/?page_id=4
Stolen Idea Works Like A Charm … Thanks Josh Griffin!
A few weeks ago on the PDYM podcast Josh mentioned that he was going to try a guided parent tour of the youth ministry at Saddleback as a fresh way to try to reach out to and connect with parents. Motivated, I instantly jumped on the idea and ran with it. Within a couple of days postcards were mailed out to parents inviting them to attend. We told them to bring the postcard with them to the event. During the next two weeks students came to my office and prepared displays for various aspects of our ministry – small groups, mid-week, missions trips, leadership, retreats, etc. On the night of the event I shared a few things with the group of parents and then we had different leaders serving as tour guides take small groups of parents around to the stations. At the stations the parents were able to interact with adult leaders and student leaders who answered questions and shared about their particular area – how it serves our purposes and how their lives have been impacted. The parents then had their postcards stamped verifying that they had visited the station. We told them that if their students brought the fully-stamped postcard to our kickoff service the following week they would get $10 off of their winter retreat registration. We also had deserts and coffee available. My favorite thing was how the parents lingered and mingled with my volunteers and student leaders, as well as with each other. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry to get their cards stamped and hit the road. Oh yeah, and the $10 thing … worked like a charm! We had by far the best turn out of parents to anything I have ever tried! Thanks Josh! lol
The Joy of Serving
These words by Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) in Devotional Classics (Foster & Smith) caught my attention this evening:
“In all the ordinary forms of Christian life, service is apt to have more or less of bondage in it; that is, it is done purely as a matter of duty, and often as a trial and a cross. Certain things, which at first may have been a joy and a delight, become after a while weary tasks, performed faithfully, perhaps, but with much secret disinclination, and many confessed or unconfessed wishes that they need not be done at all, or at least that they need not be done so often. The soul finds itself saying, instead of the “May I?” of love, the “Must I?” of duty.”
“I am ashamed to think that any Christian should ever put on a long face and shed tears over doing a thing for Christ which a worldly person would be only too glad to do for money.”
Excerpts from The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life
Selah.
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