Wednesday Night -- Injury

Tonight (Wednesday) was a very powerful night. Our theme for the day was injured. Essentially we explored the different hurts and pains that happen in our lives and learn ways to deal with those specific injuries.

Breakfast this morning was phenomenal. B’s and G’s (biscuits and gravy) are delectable.

We started bright and early this morning at 9:15 am with a rousing game of Ninja, cowboy, and bear (really just a complicated version of Paper, Rock, and Scissors). Nunnally and the band took over and led some awesome worship. Josh Woodard then opened up the day with a teaching on injury. He did not really expound on it, but challenged the students to face the pain in their lives. He said that you have two options…to deal with the pain or ignore it. Only in facing our pain can we allow God to work in our lives.

From there we went to encounter time. This time is a chance for the kids to spend time alone with God. They have a booklet that leads them through a study on a passage; which challenges them to really interact with the scriptures. D-group time followed that, but it was rather uneventful.

As usual during free time, the kids headed a ton of different directions; however, most of the sponsors went to take naps.

Some of the kids played disc golf with Josh and Nate. Ian scored a 15 over; which is apparently a record for him since he decided to share it (kudos Ian).

Some headed to the pond just up the trail…Austin caught 6 or 7 trout; but most of the rest were skunked.

I played some catch with the Cowsert kid and played some soccer with the Ward child. Since I am getting paid to be here, I felt I should do some work. So, during the last part of free time, Kosten helped me set up the auditorium.

Tonight’s main session was an emotional and contemplative one. The band started off the night with some great worship and great thoughts. Then Cody spoke about injury. He shared some of the different hurts and pains that have happened in his life. After this, he shared the story of Jesus raising Lazarus. He looked at both the pain that Mary and Martha had, as well as the tears that Jesus shed. It was a great message that our group mentioned during youth group time afterward. At the end of Cody’s message they students were challenged to write their pains on Plexiglas panels as a confession/giving them over to God moment. This was very moving for me, seeing these kids handing over ownership of their injuries. Often times we carry around our hurts and pains without realizing the effect that they are having on us.

The adults leading the camp were able to look over and pray over these panels after youth group time. There were some things written on there that as a 24 year old guy, I had not even dealt with. It was a very real and emotional time.

Then we beat each other with pillows on the hanging log…


On a side note...I walked into our boy's cabin and this is what I found. Through some scientific experimentation, our boys found out that their socks can stick to the ceiling. Smart kids we got!

The Beginning of Jr. High Camp has been awesome...

We have arrived. Technically we have been here. We arrived at Jr. High Camp today around 11.30 a.m. A quick bite of lunch and a short meeting and we were doing camp.


The bus trip was pretty long, but went along without incident. Everyone came out on the other side of it no worse off than it was in the beginning. I was on bus 5, along side some of the finest men that you will ever come into contact with (Josh Woodard and Zach Force). The kids weren't too bad either. We had to make a couple unscheduled potty breaks and took the long way around Colorado Springs, but we still arrived at the Church while the Pizza was hot.

Like I said earlier, we got to camp just before noon. On the menu was chicken fingers. They were alright. My free time was spent setting up the stage stuff; however, most of our kids took the opportunity to throw around the Frisbee on the disc golf course. Jordan won amongst the kids with an 8 over par. I think Nate put a whoopin' on most of them and taught them a thing or two. I realized today that if the kids ever figured out that they out number us adults, the inevitable end result will equal that of "Lord of the Flies." That is really what we brought Nate for: intimidation and power.

Tonight's main session was powerful...

John Nunnally and the band led a great set of worship. Cody spoke on Identity. Earlier in the day the kids were asked to make a mask that represented who they were. Some of the kids put feathers, flower stickers, glitter, and other symbols that was a representation of their personality and character. I am talking to Hope right now: she put on the multicolored feathers cause "she always wanted multi colored hair." They brought these masks to worship.

Cody spoke about the tendency that we have (especially Jr. highers) in putting on masks around certain people. For some the mask has become permanent and begins to take over their lives (like it did in the Mask a Jim Carrey film). Cody asked them to bring their masks forward and put them on the ground in front of the stage. He then opened the word for them to Matthew 16 and had them answer the question that Peter did: Who do you say I am?

The main thought of Cody's talk was: You will never know who you are until you know who Jesus is. We find our identity in what he did for us on the cross. After he said this, Zach Force came forward and begin to staple the masks on the black plywood on stage. After a couple minutes it began to take the shape of a hand. He then painted a giant red dot in the middle of the hand print...then he wrote identity in the red paint. Cody did phenomenal and so did the band.

There were few dry eyes amongst the girls.

Right now we are at the rec messing around...I got to go help the staff basketball team dominate.

Dispelling some rumors...

Since we didn't have youth group Wednesday night I have no idea what to write about here...so I have undertaken the responsibility of assuaging some of the rumors that have been circulating about me.

(1) I have shaved my legs once...it has not become a common occurrence or habit, however, one time it did happen. Flint Rasmussen shaves his, so I figured I should as well.

(2) Contrary to popular belief, I am not afraid of meaningful conversations...I understand that some people use sarcasm and witty rhetoric to distance themselves from awkward and serious conversations, but rest assured this is not who I am. Perhaps I am just so witty and charming that funny things spill out of me like a shaken up mountain dew.





(3) I am not in a relationship at this point...rumors have flown, but they are false. So if anyone has any good ones in mind let me know. My fall back plan currently is Carrie Underwood.



(4) The idea that I want to get a ranch to move away from everyone is completely true. (Especially you Ramsey)

(5) The understanding that my life up to this point has been wasted (a thought originated by Ireland and seconded by Aleesha), is a falsehood. Just because Johnny Kane can find meaning in standing behind some little camcorder, doesn't mean that is the way to happiness. For the record I think I could take Johnny Kane.

(6) The misconception that I am a picky eater is one that should also go by the wayside. I eat many different things. Spaghetti O's, Mac and Cheese, Frozen Pizza, thawed pizza, Taco Bell, and Little Cesar's are some of my favorite things to eat. I will mix and match them too, meaning I literally have 720 different arrangements (6!) for eating time. Mostly I will match them with Mountain Dew.


(7) The rumor that I do not like kids is completely true. Below the age of 10 is not my department.

(8) I do match my socks by letter and I do touch everything in my bathroom twice before leaving it in the morning or going to bed.


(9) Finally, contrary to popular belief, I do like my job. Some of the kids might not think so...frankly my life is getting so hectic that I have trouble showing them how much I like it. But I do love the chance to work with them.

Graduation's + preparation for Jr. High Camp = crappy lesson...

So, I feel like I have been running constantly for the last couple days. Putting up fence, going to Graduation parties, going to graduations, going to soccer games, going to baseball games, and sleeping, have really cut down on the amount of time that I put into the located aspect of located ministry.

To be completely honest, I wouldn't trade that stuff for a good lesson. I have been too:

Logan's 8th grade graduation
Logan's 9th grade graduation
Northern Hills 8th grade graduation
Northern Hills 9th grade graduation
Jeff West's graduation
Jeff West's 7th grade graduation

Andrea Broadbent's graduation party (they catered in El coyote burritos and rice "moi Bueno")
Tanner Barrand's graduation party (they catered in ribs that were phenomenal)
Megan Sells graduation party (my first ever cheese filled bratwurst will not be my last)
Chris Maddock's graduation party (I did a front flip on his trampoline for the first time in many years)
Gabe White's graduation party (good stuff)
C. J. Delfelder's graduation party (Good cake Aunt Cindy)

Brooklyn's soccer games (vs. Hayden and Highland park, not at the same time...only two teams can play at once)
Tyler Wards baseball games (Go river bats)

Austin's soccer game (FYI, his team, The Green Dragons, don't actually wear green, they wear blue in case you were looking for them)
Austin's ER visit (I almost fainted at this one)
Austin's surgury (didn't watch...heard it was cool though)

Karissa's softball game (see previous post about girls sports)

and finally to see the movie Made of Honor (any self respecting guy would not be caught dead at this movie)

I'm sure there is more...but I can't think of much more to say. I felt really unprepared for youth group but the kids showed up anyway (I really do like them). Last night I talked a little about risks. I challenged all the kids to step out of their comfort zones for this reason...As I set in church there are times when I feel regret. Regret about not giving enough: money, time, trust, risk to God.

I am a Christian, but most of the time I live like a secular humanist. I take on no risks that can only be accomplished through God. In my day to day life, if he does not show up...it will have been unnoticed by me. Why? Because my daily schedule has nothing in it that only God can accomplish. So we discussed the radical trust that needs to be put in him. I vow to do this better. Starting with youth group. My goals/dreams are now to the point where I myself am unable to attain them. If they are achieved, it will be through no accomplishment of my own, but only through his ability and power. Oh I wish I was better prepared, cause this stuff can be powerful.

When is the last time you asked him to do something bigger than you yourself could achieve?

The ability to get away from everyone would be real handy right now...

Tony Romo in hot pants...

I was watching softball today...seriously thinking how far girls sports have come.

Title IX was a law that was enacted several years back (1972) calling for the equality of women in the world of education and athletics in federally funded activities. Essentially it says, women can do more than just cheer. Cheer leading for many years has been thrashed by the mainstream media. From Varsity Blues promiscuous cheerleaders, to Bring it On's blond ditses; cheer leading has been under fire from every angle. From those who call for its heathenistic head, to those abdicating it as a vital cog in the world known as athletics.

How this fits into softball is this: a number of girls have been hoping to get away from the every girl should be a cheerleader. Softball (for that matter every single girls sporting event I have been to) has put themselves back into the cheerleader mentality while sacrificing the uniform. Sure, instead of holding pom-poms and wearing skirts, you are now wearing a leather mitt and a visor, but you are still yelling:

"Pump, pump, pump it up, pump that wildcat spirit up."
-technically this is just a reappearance of the basketball cheer that has been reincarnated by the softball girls, who were most likely the ones who would say they would never be caught dead being a cheerleader

The cheers from the bench during basketball games are really no better:

"d-up (echo d-up), d-up (echo d-up), etc."

Seriously if the basketball girls have any flaw, it is obviously the fact that the cheers they wanted to use were stolen by the girls who are wearing the skirts at the end of the court who have absolutely no idea what the score is. They aren't even facing the floor. (Perhaps this is the need for the basketball girls to cheer acting as a mediator between those upon the floor and those giving voice to the masses).

At no point in time during my athletic days (and trust me I had a lot of time to devote to it) did I ever really feel the need to place a teammates name in a cheer.

"Ryan, bo byan, banana fanna fo fyan, go ryan."

All I am really abdicating is the understanding that the cheerleaders-cheer and the players-play, and under no circumstances should the two be mixed. Essentially it comes to this...every little girl has been a cheerleader for Halloween; and at some point in time this girl decided she wanted to do something else with her life than choreographed arm movements and rhyming syllables upon which she became irritated and antagonistic by anyone asking her if she wanted to be a cheerleader (a perfectly normal and reasonable question to ask a 10 year old). Yet when she grows up and puts on a non-cheerleading uniform, what is it that she does: choreographed cheers and witty refrains.

I have been criticized in the past for not taking girls sports seriously...however, for me to take girls sports seriously the cheering has to come from outside the lines. The Dallas Cowboys play and the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders cheer because that is how it is supposed to be done. Not one person would take them seriously if Tony Romo broke out into sudden spastic arm movements and calling to the crowd:

"Up up on your feet, the Dallas Cowboys cant be beat."

Likewise to dress the cheerleaders in football pads would be a complete waste.

Beside: no one really wants to see Tony Romo in a hot pants with calf high white boots.

So please could we refrain fom staged cheers and dugout antics; if so, I will quit asking my soccer team if this is boys soccer or girls soccer.

Sunflowers and Shrooms'...

Last week, due to inclement weather (or the fear of inclement weather) we decided not to plant flowers during middle school youth group.

We did find time during guys d-group to landscape and beautify the grounds. Led by the Bastion of Begonia's, the Royalty of Roses, the king of Chrysanthemums, the Lord of Landscaping; Captian Awesome himself, Aaron Jones (call Creative Landscaping for all your landscaping needs 785-286-0015). Aaron brought his tools, his medium, and his prowess to the table and the guys brought man power.

Dan Force (the Bastion of Bushes) led the charge with the future hedge row on the south side of the property.

Nate and Jeremy (the dual princes of petunias) worked extensively on the rolling hills flanking the doorway.

Luke and Jason (the twin tulips of the garden) led the charge on planting greenery and mulching the mounds.

Daniel was the master of the mulch.

Eric and Trevor (still to be nicknamed) filled in much of the mulch and really went to work hacking their way into the hard packed Central Park soil.

All in all there was much accomplished. The mothers of these boys should feel very proud on this the day after mother's day.

After the flowers were planted, we went to the Schnelles house and fried up some mushrooms, fixed Macaroni and Cheese, grilled steaks, and drank Mountain Dew until we puked. All in all it was a good day.

De plane, de plane...

The night was filled with planes dipping and diving over the sanctuary. The sanctuary that is on Sunday morning, became the sight of one of the greatest rounds of airplane golf seen since the Wright brothers battled it out on the banks of North Carolina in 1903...

Three young men battled the harsh conditions by the high settings of the ceiling fans, the deep stairwells that ate up strokes, and the ever increasing presence of the baptistry water hazard. Number 12 (a long par 3 from the balcony to the baptistry) tested the meddle of Dawsyn, Tyler, and Ian. The second hardest hole placement of the day was the challenging 11th, with its imposing shot over the balcony, that allowed the players to decide how much of the hole they wanted to cut off. The safe play was to lay up; however a number of players went for the gusto, trying to play the hole in two.

There was one hole-in-one today, by young Dawsyn. The third hole was by far the easiest to play, and he made it look that way. Kudos to him.
All in all it was a good night for golf. Really it was a good night for dodge ball too. Mykala hit me in the face. That was kind of demoralizing; until her boyfriend hit me another place that promptly took my mind off of my face.

I really like our Jr. high group...they really have great attitudes and great hearts.


Be praying for our trip to camp coming up...

Without relaxation, we would all go nuts...

Being as I am a sub par speaker and completely lost in what to teach on next...we decided that the youth group could just hang out last night. We played some football, soccer, and kickball. Keeping with the tradition of someone breaking a face during youth group, Trevor took down Ireland with a tackle during the soccer game. I immediately reprimanded him. I told him next time, pick an uglier person to take down (like Nate or Chris). She was no worse for the wear however

I am really excited for our High School group. We got a bunch of kids graduating, a bunch of new kids coming (Paige, Kalen, Brooklyn, Jayna, Karissa, and others), and a bunch of cool kids coming up. It is amazing to me to see this youth group come together.

I grew up in a youth group that was randomly visited by guests. From my freshman year to my senior year, no one new came into our youth group (a move that the church is still suffering from). When I was in 7th grade I was poured into by Travis McKinley who was a 9th grader. He was being invested in by a guy named Jared Carlson who was a senior. Through my time there that chain was strengthened but never lengthened. That investment ended with me. I left a vacancy in that youth group when I graduated. I made a major mistake of leaving no one to carry on.

It is good to see this group of teens taking seriously their call to community, a call that will not leave this church a vacancy to fill when they graduate and move on.

Many people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win -- Bobby Knight

Fantassimo came back and he brought pictures this time. In order to get the students to understand the idea of focus and determination, I had to go to the only realm that I feel comfortable: Sports. Fantassimo returned bringing pictures of various things that he did as a young child in order to become the "Latino Heavyweight Champion of the World."

Fantassimo was born a regular child. Throwing up on nurses, filling his diaper, and regularly drooling; however, as a baby, he did don the mask that would later become his trademark. No one knows how he actually got it (legend has it, he knitted it himself from dental floss but we are not sure). One thing is sure; he bawled without it. Later, at the age of 4, he saved his father's life. Its hard to believe, but his father was actually trapped under this car (see below). Fantassimo rescued him. Upon realizing that Fantassimo had this kind of strength, this workout became a common place in his routine.

Later on in his life, Fantassimo took up ballet dancing for two reasons: (1) the amount of muscle that he had packed onto his frame was to great for him to even brush his teeth, so he needed to increase flexibility; (2) He wanted to get used to spandex. Fantassimo loved to dance in his tutu. He loved the way the soft beats from Chopin and Tchaikovsky would flutter in his head as he did countless amounts of pirouettes. He never did loose that quest for victory, that thirst for domination, or his allergy to polyester.

Fantassimo's life has been devoted to becoming the champion. From his birth, to his workouts, to his dancing, all of it has been devoted to his goal. Our goal is to glorify God which we do through worship. Simple enough. In Romans 12.1, Paul talks about worship: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship." All aspects of our lives are to be worshipful to him. Everything that we do, we should do it as worship (1 Cor. 10.31). In verse 2, Paul talks about being transformed by the renewing of your mind. How does this change takes place? Through worship.

I told the students this: WE WORSHIP IN HERE (in Church and in Youth Group) IN ORDER THAT WE MAY LEARN TO WORSHIP OUT THERE (in the world). That is how we are able to truly offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Getting together in Church and in Youth Group is how we are able to learn and grow so that we can apply it out there (when they read their bibles throughout the week, maybe they remember part of Tim's sermon; or during a prayer they remember a song they sung here). Before the lesson, they were each asked to share again what they do during the week that they feel God's presence in (what they do to worhsip him). It is my goal to help them, through youth group, make those experiences more worhsipful, and more numerous.

Church is not life...it is a time out of life. A chance to drop the act that we perfect outside; so that we can better worship outside. When I think back to Jr. High and High School, I think back to the charades that I played. Every thing was about impressing certain people: coaches, friends, parents, teachers, colleges. That can all get dropped at youth group where we like you no matter what. It is my hope that after lessons they are better prepared to live throughout the week in a worshipful manner. That is what Paul is talking about in 12.1. Living life continually worshiping.

Then we threw dodge balls at each others heads and ate brownies. Seems kind of hypocritical really.