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Showing posts from June, 2010

10 Great Blogs for Youth Ministers

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10 Great Blogs for Youth Ministers was a list I came across.  After I was sent this message about this post - I noticed I was already following 9 out of the 10 of them on my reader. Any others to add to the list?

Vacation Bible School. Thoughts after 2 days.

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Let me just say WOW!!! We finished our kickoff. who knew a rocket can go that far? We're having almost as many children come out as we have attend our services regularly. We've had a blast so far with Galactic Blast. We've had new friends, old friends, and all the inbetween helping out. Cora, Teri and Sam have been doing a great job. The Preschool Team is just too cute. And that female Recreation director is too cute ... I think I might go on a date with her. (BTW it is my wife, Valerie). My goal for VBS is the children to learn to love God and love others. They'll be lessons, snacks, experiments (Dr.Malpractice and #13 having been up to it again), games and crafts. If you haven't been to a VBS this year - you need to.

New Ban on Wireless Mics. for Churches.

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So I got word on the new Ban by the FCC. Interesting stuff I've been reading About Odd is how few people have I seen on this. My Sound person informed me of it this past Sunday. Looks like none of our equipment is affected. (I checked and we can recheck with our Sound Company. Listed Here BTW I wonder how many churches this affects ...and how many don't know about the ban? Should be interesting for sure.

Ode to Yellow

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Yellow Damper Fess. Died: June 18, 2010. The kids and I were having a Water gun fight outside (Think Steve Martin with the water guns on the roof in the movie Parenthood) when I got the weird.  So the kids all drew pictures, said their good-byes and we had a funeral. Yellow was placed in a shoebox and we buried him. Kendra said the eulogy. Brian prayed. Nicole Cried. And I was just stunned and buried our 2nd pet. Our cat, Pepe, we had for over 9yrs we had to give away due to our move to Maryland. Yellow was a good rodent. Right now the house is quiet. The wheel has stopped turning and the good thing is my son now is trying to raise Tadpoles.

Jesus' Plan and Prayer for You. A Sermon from John 16 & 17.

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Preview of Smurfs Trailer

Top Ten Signs of a Healthy Youth Ministry

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1. Are becoming Disciples of Christ 2. Love God (see #1) 3. Because they love God, they love their neighbor. (see #2) 4. Because they love their neighbor, they are willing to share what they have(Do missions, cup of cold water, feed the hungry) 5. Because they share what they have - they will share who they know because of their love for God and love for others. (Aka evangelism) (see #1) 6. Because of they are fulfilling the Greatest Commandment - they will also try to fulfill the great commission (see #5) 7. Because they are becoming disciples; they will be a part of the Christian community as a whole; thus a part of the Family of God and not going to church; but rather being the church. 8. Because they are being the church they will also Worship the One who died for the Church and is the Groom of the Bride. 9. Remain faithful. 10. Love, and have hope for the future. Eternity is longed for. These signs are not easily measured but visionary expected!

The Christian Minister by Sam Stone

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 So I just finished Sam E. Stone's book - A Practical Approach to the Preaching Ministry. The copy I have probably needs to be revised and updated as well since its last revision was in 1991. (19yrs ago) and before that was in 1980. A very practical book which I would suggest everyone entering the ministry get a copy. It was good to be reminded about the role, calling and challenges that lie ahead and currently as one in the ministry.

Books I'm about to READ.

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The Leadership book is for my Fusion Group and discussion this Fall. The other book, I met the author this past weekend in Harpers' Ferry, WVA and about his walking the A.T. So what is on your bookshelf to read?

The Silly Bandz Craze

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Seems Silly Bands have been banned at some schools Article here I didn't even know about Silly Bands until the last week of School? Comments from my own children - they were told if you didn't have any silly bands - you were too poor. So what did I do? Got them silly bandz . (I know I didn't want my child being an outcast and well probably as a parent should of explained the whole US vs. Them concept but I'm also a softie) So what do I think of this latest fad? Just that a fad. Though it is weird they have different numbers, shapes, and teams. They have music ones and now even "Religion" ones. (Which I picked up) What do you think?

Hawks, the NHL and looking ahead ....

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I give Chicago their due. For me I'm pretty consistent. I've been a Leafs fan for yrs and lived near some NHL teams (CANES) and currently CAPS .... and consider myself very fortunate to have seen the CUP. Been to the Finals ... and even seen Ovechkin drafted. The problem with the casual fan or even "Bandwagoner" is the lack of history, knowledge and appreciation for the game. Some would say - see that another US team wins the CUP ...how is it Canada's game? (Forgetting how many Canadians are on their team) or as I heard someone mention isn't Tim Horton's just a donuts place? (Almost took that person out) What makes the CUP special is the history. These playoffs were special. The Flyers making History for the 3rd time only to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win their series. The Stanley Cup Finals having one of the highest ratings since 1974. Definitely worth it. Now all we can do is wait for the Draft, The Free Agency signings starting Canada Day and

Top 20 Youth Ministry Twitter Accounts of 2010

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Influenced by Adam McLane's Top 20 Bloggers of 2010 Here is a List of people who are on twitter - who have a passion for youth ministry that you should be following. Their tweeting in small status messages bring about thought provoking messages for the youth ministry world as a whole. This list is subject to change, and is only based upon my own opinion. 1. @mclanea - He's the Social Media Guru at Youth Specialties. 2. @MatthewMcNutt - Currently in the trenches of Youth Ministry. Also appeared on the Biggest Loser and one who has a wealth of knowledge on youth ministry. 3. @adamwc - Adam has been on the radar of YM for some time. Short and simple. 4. @studentpastor - Joe Donahue's story of redemption and inspiration and how God is currently using him in ministry is great. 5. @brooklynlindsey - A view from a female youthworker, parent, and friend of God. 6. @rethinkingyouth - great insights 7. @tashmcgill - Tash definitely knows her tweets. 8. @gregstier -

Big Red Ball Purpose Driven Youth Ministry

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It all started out as a discussion on what it means to be purpose driven and ministering to those in the post-modern era about 12 years ago. Online there wasn't message boards or forums as much as listservs. Email lists and debates and discussions. Youth Specialties had this one listserv started by Mike A of Mikey's Funnies. (Later would become YMExchange) So as the discussion came about, one person suggest all we need is a Big Red Ball. A Big Red ball? Yeah, Big Red Ball Purpose Driven Youth Ministry. It wasn't so much the tool but on the relationship. Bouncing the ball back and forth and asking the students how they were. Genuinely interested. Actively listening and then bounce, bounce. It was more of a tool, and a way to say "All the gimmicks of the world aren't worth it unless you are willing to love God and love those students." Sometimes as I reflect back ... I think we need a BRBPDC - Big Red Ball Purpose Driven Church. A Church that activ

WOW – What a Sunday!

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This past Sunday – we had the Children sing – (A preview of our VBS songs) and then 2 of our church own children sing solos. We also had Baby Dedication and Grad Sunday. Then in my sermon – I literally washed my own children’s Feet on stage. (Passage was on John 13) Needless to say the day was full. (WE were even having lunch for the church afterwards) And in the midst of all that …one of our young people – decided to be baptized. Her grandfather got to baptize her. How cool is that? (I even got tears in my eyes due to the fact of this young lady’s story and her being the same age as my oldest daughter) I’m still recovering from Sunday. Pictures to come soon! As Phil. 4:4 reminds us – Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

Beautiful Feet

NYWC 2010 Promo

A Daring Rescue, A Chapel, and a Trail.

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Sunday afternoon, I had to call 9-1-1 ...concerned for one of our elderly - but to find that she was safe and sound at home. Praise goes to the Lord. My family had a good time on Monday Visiting  The Chapel , the Antietam Battlefield and even getting to go on Appalachian Trail over I-70.  Been a busy week. How about you? what recent adventure have you had?

A New Sanctuary Dedication.

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So I saw this "New Sanctuary Dedication" poster for a local "Baptist Temple" and got thinking ... Umm why do we call the facility in which the Church meets in the Sanctuary? Afterall, aren't our bodies a living sanctuary - where the Holy Spirit dwells in? In the Old Testament it was the tabernacle, then the Temple  .... And then Jesus dwelled among us. 1 Corinthians 6 talks about our bodies being a temple of the Holy Spirit. (19-20) In Hebrews 9 it talks about Christ did not come to enter a man-made sanctuary. Christ lives in us. So in reality this church isn't dedicating a "New Sanctuary" - they are dedicating a new facility in which they meet in and gather to worship. A new Sanctuary dedication is one of 2 things. 1. Where Parents Dedicate to Raise their new infant in the Lord. 2. Where a person has just accepted Christ, and been baptized into Him. Thus Parents trying to raise their child so he or she can follow Jesus or when fi

Molder of Dreams

Recently saw this video on Wednesday nites. Very good.  An older film based on the life of the 1986 Teacher of the Year. Good stuff.