Youth Workers

I know that I do not have a huge following on my blog, but there are a few. I have been thinking about something recently that I would like some of your opinions on.

I have been here in Lafayette about 3 years. I have been doing youth ministry for about 2 years (in March.) We as churches always claim that we are all "on the same team" just trying to help people form a closer relationship with Christ. If this is true, and we are truly all pulling for the same thing, then why do I not know any other youth workers in the area? Why can I not name the youth workers at the 2 churches that are within 2 miles of our church. I want to be sure that it is known that I am not blaming others for this lack of connection. I am just thinking through this. Here are the questions that I have.

How would a local partnership between area youth workers benefit them?

In what ways could this be used to bring area youth workers closer together?

Recently

So the question was posed to me:

How have you changed recently?

I think that it's good every so often to re-evaluate where you are in your life. Lets start with my home life. Things are crazy at home. It feels like we are in a whirlwind of excitement. After we lost the first pregnancy, I wasn't sure how long it was going to be before we "tried" again. I am glad that we didn't wait long. This is exciting. Along with the excitement comes a concern for every 'little' thing that happens with the baby. "Pain is normal" out of one side of the doctors mouth, while "If you are hurting give us a call" comes out the other side. I think this might be the hardest part of dealing with a miscarriage. Through this entire process, Kimber and I have grown much closer. It's awesome. Throughout this past year I have grown to love Kimber more and more each day.

At work things are awesome. I am still a secretary, but that is my full-time job that pays for the bills so I can do what God has called me to do. I am happy to be working with the people that I work with. I am in a huge learning process. It's cool to be in a place where the people around you are understanding and patient. I am learning, and that makes be feel more competent. As cheesy and old as the saying is, I am reminded that God doesn't call the the equipped, he equips the called. I pray that God will continue to show me what he wants in my life and the lives of those I impact at church. I have become more comfortable with my position at church and am thankful for God's peace in those areas.

As most of you know, I have a lot of trouble focusing on one thing. I hope that this makes sense. I am writing it while watching Monday Night Football.

Like, really?!?!?!?!?!?

Recently I have become annoyed. When something "rubs me wrong" I usually make a big deal out of it. Here we go...

We are a culture that likes the "trendy" and "fashionable." Yet, I think that we are selling ourselves short in one area, our language. We tend to use the same phrases for years. It actually makes me tired to try and think of all the phrases that I use on a daily basis. I think it would be a lot more modern if, instead of using overused words, we came up with our own words to exclaim at certain points in conversation.

I am going to show a few lists that people have come up of words that are overused....

Askmen.com

10. "Love/Hate" - Totally agree with this one. I love and hate everything.

9. "Literally" - I use this word all the time....literally.

8. "Ridiculous" - The onlytime this word is acceptable is when radio announcer for the Bears says it. "Devin Hester, you are ri-diculous."

7. "Awesome" - Kind of like "love/hate" for me... I use it A LOT.

6. "Whatever" - I don't use this one. So, whatever.

5. "_ _ _ _ _" - Female Dog. And now you all looked back and counted the letters just to make sure it was the right word...

4. "Seriously" -

3. "Gay" - Gay use to be "jovial or in good spirits." Now it doesn't mean that. It's way overused, seriously.

2. "Nice" - Not a big user of "nice," so it's ranked a little too high for me...

1. "Like" - I, like, say this word, like, alot. Like, you know what I, like, mean?

Here are some words that I would like to add to this list of annoying words. If you see a word you use a lot, chances are it wasn't you that annoyed me with it. But then again, maybe it, like, was.

"Sweet" - That is sooooooooo sweet, man.

"haha/lol/hehe" - I am so tired of laughing like this, but I don't know how to express my feelings in another way.

"shenanigans" - David Hatten is a walking shenanigan. <--- I wanted to use it in singular form.

"dude" - Everybody is a dude. I called my landlords secretary "dude" the other day. I immediately apologized. :)

"hot" - Everything is "hot." "Those sunglasses look so hot on you!" What?

Ok, I am so tired of thinking about this. What are some words that you hear that are way overused?

Steve Jobs

Ok, so I have a question if anyone still reads this.

Can anyone name all of the jobs that you have had? I'll try to list mine in order...

Also, what are some normal jobs that you would like to have if they could pay the bills?

1. With my dad's A/C company

2. Walmart - my aunt worked there

3. Bob Evans - my best friend at the time worked there

4. Residental Assistant

5. Public Safety at Olivet

6. Lowes - a man from the church was a manager there and got me hired

7. Lafayette First Church of the Nazarene - I was hired from an internship

1. I think that it would be cool to go back to cooking at Bob Evans. I would have to work with my friends though. It sucks to work there with people you don't know.

2. I also think it would be fun to work at a theme park as one of the people that load you into the rollercoaster rides.

3. I have also always wanted to own my own business. I haven't decided what I would sell yet, but it would be something I love. Actually, I think it would be owning a golf course. But it would have to be given to me. Cause normal people don't have enough money to buy a nice golf course.

Need To Get Away

Recently I confessed something to my teens. I don't usually do that because then it appears to them that I am not perfect (which I am.) Here is the confession.

I have learned a lot while working here at LFCN. I have learned a lot about church and a lot about myself. Something that I have discovered about myself is that I am very good at providing times for them to get together and have fun. I can plan a party like it's my job. (wait a minute......) What I seem to struggle with is what I promised myself I was not going to do. I get so wrapped up in entertaining them that I forget that we are not there for entertainment. I confessed that I am failing them by not providing sufficient avenues for deep spiritual growth.

I have decided that I am going to plan a Spiritual Retreat.

Here is my problem. I have never done this before. I would like to get some input on cool places you've been, activities you have done, speakers that were there , etc.... Mostly the first two...unless you know some speakers that you think would be amazing. Please feel free to mention anything. I can't promise I'll use all of the ideas, but I love to hear my different options....

Truth

Ok, so I play church league softball. It's very interesting. So last night there were a couple calls that were questionable. If I am playing catcher and a guy comes sliding into home, he is called out, but I know he was really safe should I say that he was safe?

Is it my responsibility to be as honest as possible at all times?

Let me know what you think, peeps.

UFC

What are your thoughts on UFC?
Do you like it or not? Why?

Mike Tyson

I have asked myself this questions in the past. I am not sure my answer has changed.

"Would you take an unblocked punch from Mike Tyson for $1,000,000?"

I will post my answer later.

Nukes

Why should the USA be able to regulate who can have nukes and who can't?

Music - Maybe It's Just Me

So, I am sitting in my office listening to Dave Matthews. I was asked a question yesterday that I didn't have an answer for.

"My dad says that I shouldn't listen to Christian Rock music because it is trying to be too much like the world. He says its possible for the actual music itself, not the lyrics, to be evil. What do you think?"

I have mixed feelings...

So, what do you think?

25 Will Stretch You

So, I have noticed over the past couple of weeks/months that there have been a lot of posts on my friends blogs about things that they are thankful for. It is probably a sad thing to say, but I am too busy to notice those things. I don't just happen to notice how thankful I am for random things throughout the day. So, this morning, I decided to spend some time thinking about things that I am thankful for. As you can imagine, there are some things that are on my list that will not make sense to anyone else, but I don't care, because it's my list.

25 Noticeable things that I am thankful for right now. (not in any order besides how I think of them.)

1. I am thankful that the NBA Playoffs are on right now. I love them.
2. I am thankful that things are calming down in the Bosses household.
3. I am thankful that summer is almost here.
4. I am thankful that softball is finally here.
5. I am thankful for friends that have been there for me and Kimber in this interesting part of our lives.
6. I am thankful that in this economy, I still have a job.
7. I am thankful for Lenny Farlee and the entire ERC group.
8. I am thankful for people that choose to serve on the church board and are willing to serve.
9. I am thankful for people that are giving much of their time to the youth program at the church.
10. I am thankful that we have a Senior Pastor. This past week without him reminded me of what it was like the year before Troy arrived, and I am happy he is here.
11. I am thankful that God has blessed us with nice things to entertain people.
12. I am thankful that I found a wife that is her own person and she is willing to stand up to me if she disagrees.
13. I am thankful for a family that is awesome.
14. I am thankful for the teens that are here at LFCN
15. I am thankful for some very cool people that have started coming to church here since I started coming here.
16. I am thankful for the experiences that I have had since I have been in charge of the youth.
17. I am thankful for the people in my life that challenge me to think about what I really believe on some major Xian issues.
18. I am thankful that my wife is amazing with kids. It should make things easy for me.
19. I am thankful that when my time was done at Olivet, that I did not stick around there and stay living inside the bubble.
20. I am thankful for the heritage that my parents raised me in. I don't always represent it well, but I know that it formed who I am.
21. I am thankful that God has came and visited us on Sundays.
22. I am thankful that there are people here in Lafayette that keep my theological mind going.
23. I am thankful that I was able to get my car going again. I will never, ever want to buy a different car.
24. I am thankful that Kimber has a job that is awesome and is doing what she wants to be doing.
25. I am thankful that the Chicago Bears have a legit QB. Now lets play some games.

Finding 25 is hard for me:)

Top 5

This is not in any order...

Dave Matthews Band Songs
Crush
Gravedigger
Jimi Thing (Central Park)
Dancing Nancies
Cortez, the Killer



NFL Teams
Arizona Cardinals
Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers
NY Giants
Chicago Bears



TV Shows
24
House
Hells Kitchen
American Idol
Hogan's Heroes




NBA Teams
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
LA Lakers
Golden State Warriors
Miami Heat



Nascar Drivers
Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Mark Martin
Carl Edwards



Movies
Enemy at the Gates
Billy Madison
Braveheart
Lord of the Rings
Hannibal Series



XBOX 360 Games
CoD 4
Forza 2
GRAW2
Madden
Rockband 2

Winter Retreat '09

God is Amazing.



For the first time in several months I really feel like I am where I need to be. I feel like God has placed me in a position that I am loving more and more each week. I love the teens that I am working with. The volunteers that are helping me out are phenomenal. Thank you God for affirming what I am doing.



Now to this past weekend.



We had a wonderful trip to Gull Lake Retreat Center . We took 22 teens (15 guys and 7 girls) with us to Hickory Corners, MI. You can look at the accommodations that we had by going to "retreats" and then to "accommodations." The guys were in the "Galatians" condo, and the girls were in the "Ben Gordon" condo. They were nice.

This year they had several things available for us. They had sledding which I hear was awesome, they had movies, board games, a game room with foosball, ping pong, pool, air hockey,and many other fun things. Friday night they had a trip to the YMCA (which we didn't go to because we ran out of gas on the way there.)

I had a really good time this past weekend but I am super excited about the trip next year. They are adding an on-site gym, bowling alley,etc... it is going to be awesome.

Thanks again Tina and Steve for going with us. We couldn't do it without you.

It's Really a Bathroom Break

Ok, I know that this may get me in trouble but I am going to say it anyways. I have been extremely dissapointed with the recent trend at the Superbowl halftime shows. In the past 5 years there has been nothing but "old fart" male performers. First off, I want you to realize that I just called; Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band old farts. I called them that because they are. I understand that at one time they were all very relevant and very entertaining.
The obvious reason for this testosterone party is the exposure that JJ received 6 years ago at the expense of JT. I totally agree that what happened on stage was inappropriate, but was it bad enough to torture all viewers under the age of 40?
Look at the list of performers the 5 years previous to the malfunction.

1999 - Stevie Wonder, Gloria Estefan, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Savion Glover

2000 - Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Toni Braxton, 80-person choir, Edward James Olmos

2001 - Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Aerosmith, 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Nelly

2002 - U2 (Tribute to 9/11 victims)

2003 - Shania Twain, No Doubt, Sting

Notice every year besides 2002 contained at least one female. 4/5 pre-pasty, 0/5 post-pasty. Even more importantly they contained artists that were relevant to the time. I feel like instead of making the halftime show entertaining they have turned it into History 101.

I am making a concious decision to stop going on about this.

Here are my two questions.

1) If you could go back and watch any halftime show live from a seat on stage, who would it be?

2) Who would be a couple of people that you would like to see do the halftime show next year?

Water

Fantasies

***Quick note: Sometimes when I write out words they don't "look right." So, sometimes I use the convenient Google search bar located on the browser to search a word and see if it corrects my spelling of it. Don't ever search "Fantasies."***

Ok, now about my fantasies.

Every year near the end of August people around the country and world get together to compile a team that can beat their friends teams throughout a friendly season of fantasy football.

Well, that time has come to a close. I am feeling the loneliness that continues to set in year after year in December. (The loneliness would be deferred to February if the Bears could ever decide to show up and play.)

So after looking at my options...(Fantasy NASCAR, or Fantasy Baseball) I have decided to start a Fantasy NASCAR league.

Who's with me?