The Twenty Taco Challenge

Notice there are only 17 wrappers!

Pride and arrogance have no place at the table. Hubris and over-confidence shouldn't make an appearance either; however, as I sat across from one of my high school students tonight, these were the traits he was relishing!

Last night after the purity dinner, Tyler Ward, Kosten, C.J. Spence, and I went to Taco Bell and Dairy Queen. As we were ordering, Tyler became enamored with the Grande Meal. Apparently he has never looked that closely at the menu. The Grande meal is a mix and match meal consisting of 10 items of either hard tacos; soft tacos; or bean burritos. Tyler wanted a meal like that.

I informed him that there was no way he could eat 10 of anything. In a brash reply, he told me that he could finish not one but two Grande Meals. For those of you keeping count that is 20 items. In a bet only to be surpassed by God and Satan of Job 1; I took his wager!

Tonight was the night where this would be tested. AFter youth group Ireland, C.J, Aaron Jones, Austin and I headed to Taco bell to see if Tyler could complete the Herculean task of twenty tacos in the course of one meal. The argument rose as to how long a meal lasted. Was it 45 minutes? an hour? hour and a half? How long was a meal? We gave him 45 minutes!

He started off well.

First couple tacos went down well. Then the T-Bell staff came out and let us know that should he complete the task he would get 5 free tacos. One night of abdomen problems apparently has a price of $3.50 in store credit? But now the stakes were raised. They were taken to a whole notta level!

Around 8 tacos in (15 minutes) I began to get worried. He was going well and had a good rythym going (in no large part to the coaching of Austin and CJ; and the ever present optimism from Ireland). Meanwhile Aaron Jones regaled us with tales of battles and fights from his childhood with a brief shout out to the "fire thumbs."

13 tacos in (32 minutes) he began to slow down. He had started too quickly. There is a feeling; a notion that only people who have been around sports can recognize: its the look in the eye of the athlete when they realize the loftiness of their dreams; and the pain it will take to get there. Tyler had been wounded with the 13th taco!

At 17 1/2 tacos the deal was done! He was finished! Like Paul in 2 Timothy, he had fought the good fight and had come to the end of his race; it just so happened that it came 2 and a half taco shells short of where he had previously envisioned the line.

It was a valiant effort. A stunning display. When coming off a loss like that you never really are the same man; gastro-intestinally for sure; but psychologically and mentally as well. I have seen men never come back from something like that.

A Life in the Spirit is gonna look a little bit peculiar!

There are times when the Spirit of God takes over and you have to ask the question: "You're gonna do what?"

Going through the Scriptures it happened to a lot of people:

Gideon with the narrowing down of his army from 32,000 men to 300 in order to fight the Midianites in Judges 7; a lot of people

would probably call him crazy.

Ananias in Acts 9 was called to go to the man who had persecuted and killed in order to share the gospel with him.

Peter in Acts 10 is following a vision to go to the Macedonians to proclaim the Gospel.

Our high schoolers made some renditions of some of the more interesting examples of people

who lived in the Spirit of God; speaking, acting, and showing people God!

This is Hosea and Gomer. The propehts (nevi'im) of God were God's spokesmen to the people.Not only did they carry the message of God; but often they were called to act out the very message that God had for his people. Hosea was called to marry an adulterous woman. Notice the fishnet stockings and strapless top; also there is an allusion to Nathanial Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter with the "A" emblazened on her corsett. The message of Hosea: No matter how many times we turn our backs on God and are unfaithful to him; he remains faithful to us and welcomes us back into relationship with him.

Ezekiel was another one of the prophets of God. He had a couple differnent instances where God told him to act out his message. In Ezekiel 24.15ff. Ezekile is told that his wife will die (God refers to her as "the delight of your eyes"). Ezekiel was not allowed to shed any tears about her death. He was not allowed to mourn the death of his wife. The point: Everything that they hold dear, the Temple ("the delight of their eyes") and their very relationship with God will be gone soon and they will do just as Ezekiel did and live without weeping our mourning it. Notice the use of the tombstone on the left. Apparently Ezekiel looked like Tommy Pickles from Rugrats with bling; an earring; and a Grease throwback jacket.

A second weird act from Ezekiel (mind you that is not an all

inclusive second act; there is a ton of weird stuff in Ezekiel so this is not all inclusive) is the action in Ezekiel 4. Ezekiel is told to draw the city of Jerusalem on a tablet; place an iron pan between his face and the tablet and lay siege to it. He was to lay on his left side for 390 days (one day for every year of Israel's sin) and 40 days on his right side (one day for every year of Judah's sin). The Point: You and the people will be deported for not to long because of your sin (Ezekiel 5.5-10). Nice use of the flaming catapult!

Jeremiah was another one of God's spokesmen. He had a couple cool object lessons in his book (the linen belt [13]; the Potter and the Clay [18]; the Broken Flask [19]; the Yoke [27-28]; the Scroll in the Euphrates [51]). This is a representation of the yoke that Jeremiah made and wore around Jerusalem. Throughout the book of Jeremiah (especially in chapter 28); Jeremiah was faced with men speaking words that made people feel good but were untrue. Jeremiah spoke for God; these men spoke for their own desires. Jeremiah made the yoke to tell God's people to submit to Babylon; or else face the punishment of Babylon. Tough words for a nation that had grown accustomed to doing what they want. I like the gigantic clock hanging from the yoke.

How does this apply to our series through the book of Acts? In Acts chapter 2 we see an interesting scene unfold. Men have the Spirit of God given to them; empowering them to speak God's message. Men who have no business being the mouth piece of God are now speaking not only different languages; but dialects (like boston english; and texas english)! Men with no formal training are speaking out about the love of God and the gospel. Acts 2.12 showed some men approved; Acts 2.13 showed some men made fun. "They are drunk!" was the theory they made. God instigated this by acting (pouring out his gift of the Holy Spirit) just as he did with the prophets earlier (he spoke). Now, once again, the men whom he communicated too are acting peculiar. If our lives are live in constant normality, the question must be posed as to whether we are living in the message of God? This is coming from a guy who has tried to fit in for most of my life; and if we have seen anything in our study of Acts and Scripture as a whole it is this: the message of God and the Spirit of God refuses to live within the rules and confines of our minds and our boundaries!

There is nothing like being convicted

Conviction has a weird way of coming and going.  Conviction is not universal.  It doesn't even happen every time that something that comes up.  You can be perfectly fine with something on Sunday, but convicted on Monday or vice versa. Tonight I was convicted.  Though I don't know whether my conviction is in regard to a sin or not, I guess it depends on whether you would call it a sin.

I am herby repenting of "hurry."  I had this same feeling a couple weeks ago (see here), but tonight's conviction was worse.

I have succumb to the idolatry of hurry.  I call it idolatry for lack of a better term.  The symbol could be a watch or something (we already have them in gold, so it would save us the time of making one: dang it I did it again).  Sure others might have it worse, or struggled with this type of idolatry longer, but I have now made a life of it.

We talked about hurry tonight at youth group.  John Ortberg in his book The Life You've Always Wanted says this: "Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day."  If there is one group that struggles with it more without noticing it, I think it is High School Students.  Trying to balance a social life (both friends and more-than-friends); athletics; work; family; and school; their life can turn into post-it-note calendars and be reduced to reheated meals.  Without noticing, my life had turned into this mockery, where I bowed to nothing but my calendar.  24 hours in a day just wasn't enough.  

My biggest problem was this: I didn't realize what it was doing to my relationship with God.  

After reading through some of Luke, I saw two stories back-to-back that can explain the effects of hurry.  In Luke 10.30ff. Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  I wonder about the Priest and the Levite.  Did they pass by because they were on their way somewhere and didn't want to be bothered?  Did they pass by to protect themselves?  Why did these men skip this guy?  It doesn't really matter, I guess.  They skipped him because to stop would have been to waste time.  They had better things to be doing.  The Samaritan; however, apparently had time to kill.  He came to the man (33); bandaged him up (34); poured oil and wine on his wounds (34); took him to an inn (34); apparently spent the night with him; came back the next day (35); and apparently came back one more time to see him because he said he would (35).  Serious time invested in this guy for no better than he new him.  I'd say he pretty much cleared his schedule to be with this guy.  Ortberg says: "Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don't have."  When you look at Jesus in the book of Luke, he is constantly interrupted by people.  I am not sure, but I can't think of a single time Jesus hurried.  Not once did he not have time for people, or rush through something.  Everything seemed to happen at his pace.

If the Samaritan had been me, my agenda would have come first, and that guy would still be lying there.  Hurry gets in the way of us loving people.

Second thing hurry does: takes our focus off of God.  The never next story is about Martha and Mary.  Martha is distracted by all the preparations that had to be made (40), but Mary is was sitting at Jesus feet (39).  A person hurrying is a person missing the presence of God.  Hurry makes us buzz through the blessings of God.  Hurry makes us miss the work of God.  Hurry preoccupies us from seeing God's movement, feeling God's heartbeat, and hearing God's words.

2 stories with remarkably similar people: some who were too hurried to see God and his work; some who sat aside their own agenda for his sake.

Sadly enough, I know which one(s) I am in these stories.  But in the words of Dan Aykroyd's character in Tommy Boy: "The first step is identifying it the second is washing it off."

Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate

"I am joy impaired." John Ortberg first said it, I live it. Sure enough my joy level is not what it should be. Augustine said the "Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot." I have a little celebration in my right pinkie but thats about it. As I have been preparing for our youth group lesson tonight, I found something interesting.

Any contact that you have with the trinity has as a byproduct: joy.

Luke 15 tells the story of the wayward son. When he reunites with his Father, joy leaps off the page.

John 15 has Jesus explaining the purpose of his statements. He told the disciples this so that his joy in them might be complete.

Galatians 5 lists the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is the second one mentioned.

This finding raises some questions in my own life?

Is my lack of joy due to the limited contact I experience with God? If joy is really a byproduct of that realtionship, what's wrong with my relationship?

Super Bowl Party!

The day of the Superbowl was only more busy for the men who suited up tonight. It is fitting that my last blog was on hurrying, because that is what I felt like I was doing all day. Did Kurt Warner have to build sub sandwhiches before church? Did Troy Palumalu pull his groin playing flag football?

This morning we as a youth group made 144 sub sandwiches in order to raise money for CIY and Jr. High Camp. I showed up later than I wanted, and did not have enough tomatoes. Stress level 8.5

I was counting money right after church, waiting for the last person to leave, so I could deliver the only 2 subs I sold. Stress level 6

I drove home (15 minutes) and dropped off two sandwiches (taking 3 minutes) and then drove back into town (15 minutes). Stress level 7

I stopped at Walmart to get a couple things for the party and to grab a football for our youth group superbowl football game. Stress level 3 (the people at Walmart get me)

Football went well; however, trying to spread the ball around to 12 people on your team is difficult. Stress level 2

The party was ok; we moved a couch into the balcony, since our seating is gone. We kicked empty two liter bottles at a make shift field goal assmbled on the stage. We tailgated in the balcony...it was awesome. There are times when I don't connect well with some of our kids. I don't know what to do about that. I want to do my job well, which stresses me out. Stress level 9

After most of the kids left, I was able to hang out with someone I have grown fond of. After talking to her, I felt alot better, plus it was much anticipated on my part. I needed that. Stress level 1

All in all it was a good day.

Advocacy: Who's side am I on?

I have always seen my job as a cultural go between, with the hope and ambition of working myself out of a job.

I understand that this is a mouthful, but as you break it down, it makes more sense. The way I see my job as youth pastor is not as a go between from parents and teenagers, but as a cultural bridge builder, whose purpose is to understand both cultures and teach both the methods and techniques to relate. The working myself out of job is my hope that as adults and youths learn how better to connect so that I will become unneeded.

Of course the other half of my job is leading kids to fall in love with Jesus, but for the time being I would like to focus on the previous statement.

Part of my job is to understand facebook, the social hierarchy of middle school, the appeal of halo, and exactly why punching is flirting in Jr. High.

Part of my is also spent informing parents on facebook, the struggles of high school, teenage relationships, and other things that their kids are dealing with.

So it begs the question: If the parents don't know these things, is it because the kids don't want them to know?

I am not talking about any particular circumstance at all, but the overall understanding that parents have of the teenage world. It is just like when your parents came to your grade school when you were a kid. For all you knew, they didn't have a clue what went on there; but suddenly the world where you can be your own person, smashes headfirst into the world where you will always be a mama's boy. See what I mean? The teenage world is very mysterious (and way overblown in movies) and I wonder if that is how the teens like it?

Last week, Jason Hildebrandt and I gave a workshop for parents about FaceBook (very few showed up, but that is a different article for a different time). I was reprimanded by a couple students for teaching their parents this teen-only tool.

Part of the teenage appeal, is that fact that parents will shake their head in frustration as they try to understand.

So who's side am I on?

I don't really know!

My Beat Down (redux)

In this egotistical, pride filled, and self-righteous society of ours it is very rare to find a man that admits his own short comings. I am not one of those men: I am weak. In my defense I have always been muscled-challenge. I knew it all along. In grade school they used to make us do chin ups in front of the whole class. I never did a chin up until my 7th grade year. Every year it was zero chin ups for me. In Jr. High we used to lift weights, I was unable to participate in the bench press because the bar was 45 pounds, which was way too heavy for a boy of my size. I didn't participate in the bench press until my sophomore year of high school. But it was then and there that I found me a sport that does not need any upper body strength at all: long distance running. Here were 100 other guys who could no more fill out their tank tops than I could. Sure enough I never had to lift a heavy object again. One summer I did get to the point where I could bench 120 lbs 10 times in a row, for 3 sets. I almost looked as if I had pecks, but soccer season came and I reverted back into my weakling stage. I was merely an ugly duckling in this mean swan filled world (the swans being muscular and strong).

Why do I bring this up you ask? Well it all hit the fan the other night.

A couple years ago, a couple friends and I were setting at Cheddars restaurant. We noticed this large, behemoth of a man setting at the table next to us. Lucas Littles told me to challenge him to an arm wrestling match. As previously established my upper body strength is not something that anyone would desire. The way I see it, there is just too much time involved to make myself look anywhere near a normal weight for someone my height (plus it is embarrassing when you are straining to bench press 80 lbs down in the gym, when surrounded by guys who have no purpose in life other than to lift heavy things that don’t really need to be lifted). This guy would have killed me. I decided that it would be advantageous for me to back down from the challenge. You can call it cowardice. You can call me a panzee. I don’t care, what am I going to do fight you? I backed down. Then the idea was purposed (I believe by Josh Brown, but can’t be quoted) that I should arm wrestle the waitress.

Any guy who has been in this situation knows that it is a no win situation at this point. There is no way to gracefully beat her; because if you do you will be labeled a jerk. However; if you let her win, the five guys surrounding me will never let it go. As it was, they had all of their cell phones out recording the grudge match. Behind our table there was a table of a couple guys who had been at the restaurant the entire time we had been there. I had lost count of the number of margarita's and beers that their table had consumed, but it was well over the amount that any self respecting adult should partake of in public. One of the guys at my table turned to them and informed them that I would be arm wrestling the waitress. The leader of the group (I deduced that he was the leader by the fact that he was the first to speak, the most drunk, and the most incoherent) began to speak to me in what sounded like a Cajun accent. Sure enough it could have been simply a southwest Missouri accent, but he was so inebriated that your guess is as good as mine. This man began threatening me with embarrassment should I lose. He threatened to hang me upside down from the rafters, like a piñata, if she was to beat me. This in fact would be where my nickname from him would come from. For the rest of the night he would refer to me as piñata.

The waitress made her way over to our table and promptly informed us that she was having a rough night. She was responsible for all of the tables on the patio, which judging from the quality of the people that I had observed there, seems to have been quite the ordeal. Upon setting at our table she let me know that she had a lot of pent up rage from the night. This posed a serious problem for me. (1) She was kind of scary. (2) The rage that she was carrying was apparently at this point allocated in my direction. At this point in time no clear cut solution presented itself, so I proceeded on with the match. We grabbed hands. Just as our hands met, moron #2 from the drunken table walked over and placed his hands on top of ours. He had appointed himself referee. Suddenly this has taken a turn for the serious. We got the paparazzi made up of all of my friend’s video taping with their cell phones. We have the hecklers, meaning the drunk guy that is affectionately calling me “piñata” at the top of his lungs. Servers and bus boys are taking breaks to watch, and I wasn’t sure, but I think I heard it announced over the intercom. Plus there is the referee, who now has my hand and her hand in a death grip. There was no backing out now. Why is it that we feel it necessary to maintain our pride in front of complete strangers?

I really felt good about my odds. That is until I heard the word “go.” At that point, as opposed to letting go of our hands and allowing us to fairly arm wrestle, he slams mine and her hand in the direction that she was aiming for and declared her the winner. It was over in less than a second. Now this story is completely true, but is currently lacking the video evidence. If you look really closely at the video tape, you can see glimpses of him helping her out. But the tape hides it quite well. I am not lying to you here. I was cheated. Now without any pride, and any dignity, I stand before a broken and dejected man. For I know that I was cheated and am unable to prove it. Part of me wants a rematch. Part of me wants to forget being beaten, even if it was cheating.

I guess this does save me the embarrassment of actually losing. But I still think I could have taken her.

Why do I tell the previous story; because the other night at youth group,

I WAS ONCE AGAIN BEATEN UP BY A GIRL!

Where as the waitress was in her twenties, I was dominated at youth group by a 15 year old girl who will never be in the position to have to lie about her weight. She might go 75 pounds on a good day. I was watching the Cowboys game in the fellowship hall when she snuck up on me. She approached me on my six; while I was unaware (I would like to let all people know that this was an unprovoked attack). Her next move was to strike me with a fun noodle in the back of my head. She did this twice. I grabbed the nearest fun noodle and went to pummeling her. During the course of this epic battle (which I was winning), I knocked her weapon out of her hand. It had landed behind her on the tile floor of the fellowship hall. Understanding that upon her retrieval she would once again use the noodle to attack me, I had to win the race for retrieval. Throwing caution to the wind, I threw myself, head first, at the motionless noodle. My hand graced the foam, just as my shoulder hit her calf, throwing her off balance and into a sitting position on my head. Her landing on my head drove my orbital into the tile floor, opening a nice gash above my left eye. Blood poured down both sides of my eye. The bleeding finally stopped. It could probably use a couple stitches, but I don’t really want to deal with the hospital to get them.

Earlier in my ministry one of my sponsors broke his nose on a kids shoulder while playing a game. At the hospital he was more concerned about how Jake felt, the owner of the shoulder that broke his nose. In that same position, I thought Ramsey was going to cry. I felt bad for her because it wasn’t her fault, but she was really concerned.

Here is what my eye looked like, post bloodshed.

In every party there is a party pooper!

The shepherds made it. So did the heavenly hosts. Mary and Joseph were there. And of course the guest of honor had arrived. He lay there in his feed box, minding his own business, soiling his own swaddling clothes. We don't know when Herod found out about this potential usurper (could have been 2 years later), but when he did he was distressed (Matt. 2.3). Herod was not a nice guy. When he was getting ready to die, he had many leaders of the people locked up in the hippodrome to be killed upon his death. Why? So that people would mourn his death vicariously through the death of their loved leaders.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is a tale that has survived through generations.

Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown
At the warm lighted windows below in their town.
For he knew every Who down in Who-ville beneath
Was busy now, hanging a mistletoe wreath.

"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer.
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his grinch fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"

I cannot speak to whether Suess had this story in mind when penning his words, but they definitely seem applicable. Herod hated everything about this time. He hated the fact that his kingdom was being challenged by this infant. He hated that he was duped by wise men. And he tried his hardest to keep Christmas from coming.

Without the intervention from God, he would have succeeded. Without the dream to Joseph, to go to Egypt, we would be in a world of hurt. Without the intervention of God, there would be no joy in who-ville.

What did Paul pray for?

What ever he prayed for, I can guarantee you that the prayer life he cultivated was far from the "God bless my family, keep me safe, and be with the starving children of Darfur." that has infiltrated my prayer life. As an American people, our recent prayers have been for the nation, the economy, for peace, and for prosperity. For along time, I have really wanted to study what it was that Paul devoted his prayer life too. If there was ever a guy who seemed to have the attention of God, it would have been Paul (second only to Jesus probably). So what was it that Paul prayed for?

Throughout the letters of Paul, he is constantly praying for the recipients of his letter. As I studied his prayers for the church, I couldn't help but notice that mine seem so shallow in comparison. Something, be it depth or outlook, seems strangely absent from my prayer life.

Two things that Paul prayed for seemed to come to the fore front yesterday. Two items seemed at this time of the year to shine brighter than the others.

1. Paul gave thanks for the people in his life. It is of no coincidence that many of Paul's prayers found themselves in the midst of his thanksgiving. Holidays are a stressful time. Tensions run higher, schedules are more hectic, and we find ourselves in close contact to the people around us. Paul takes his relationships with people to God, and gives thanks for them. A healthy habit for us to partake of near this time of year. That is what this holiday is about, giving thanks for the people around you.

2. Paul prayed for power and love in the recipients of the book. This weekend was Persecuted Church Sunday. Stacy talked about her friend in China and the way that Christians live over there. I talked a bit about my friends in North Africa. We talk constantly about missionaries who go to persecuted countries, but overlook the fact that their children go through the same things. We prayed for them. That their love may increase and that God's power will take them over. On Persecuted Church Sunday, we talked about Paul's continual prayer for the power and love of God to come upon people.

Do you now see how a prayer life like mine can pale in comparison? I offer up egotistical prayers for self preservation and blessings for those who wish to aid and abed me. As for praying for your enemies, not so much. Praying for others to know Christ, falls behind my own prayers for my own comfort and security.

I found myself greatly convicted by this study. As for the high schoolers that studied this as well, I cannot be sure what they were thinking. It is my hope that prayer lives have changed, as I know mine has.

Spagetti Dinner

I serve a church of about 300 people. There are 4 full time staff members and three part time. simply stated, a little over 1 percent of our congregation is full time staff and a little over 2 percent are any kind of staff at all.

Under these circumstances, it is simple to see that a church without the support and input from a volunteer contingent would suffocate itself to death.

Tonight, we celebrated our youth sponsors; the people who do all the little things to make this youth group go. The people who spend countless hours teaching, praying for, and leading our kids.

We cooked them spagetti and had a dinner in their honor. We talked about Acts 6 and the idea of those being set aside to do specific tasks. I find it no coincidence that one of the servants was the first to be killed for his faith. The Romans knew what subsists the church, the servants, the volunteers, is what keeps the Church afloat.

Tonight I hope they were honored.

Its been a while...

Sorry, I have been having some technical difficulties.

Pictures will come at a later date.

Last weekend, Dan Force led a combined youth group. He talked about how Jesus saves us from sin. The most important thing that Jesus saves us from is our own sin and aberrations. Dan did an excellent job. Essentially, he just shared the gospel; camped out in Romans; and explained our human position throughout the entire biblical narrative. It was really good. After youth group, we went to Trevor Keens house and swam for quite a while. Perhaps the best thing that took place that night was the fact that no one brought a guitar. It was good times.

Apparently, some of our girls attended a sleepover last week, in which they watched a number of Disney movies. It is safe to say that dreams and aspirations were on their minds as they desperately want to become part of their own fairy tale. This can be the only explanation for Ramsey and Rachel kissing a frog (technically it was a toad as I learned from an 8th grade biology project, but frog is what the fable proclaims). We got pictures, but I don't really know why? Apparently, Jr. High boys are not the only ones who occasionally don't think through their actions.





TUESDAY NIGHT
Chris and Aleesha got back, so now you can see pictures of Aleesha's room that the girls flipped while she was gone.

FRIDAY NIGHT
We took a bunch of the Jr. High boys camping. It was a good night. We played glow stick capture the flag in the pasture, which was really just an attempt to sprain every ankle out there. Jacob beat us to the point with his little stunt from the prior week, so he didn't get to play. Late that night, we played a game called: "Eat what Ed eats!" It is really a combination of "Fear Factor" and "Truth or Dare." That afternoon, I picked up a few of Ed's favorites: baby oysters, sardines, Vienna sausages, spam, whipped topping, and macaroni and cheese baby food. The last one was mine to pick up...I figured I liked Kraft mac and cheese, so this stuff couldn't be too bad. It taste like I licked a New York Statue after a pigeon infestation. If a couple kids, didn't want to eat what Ed eats, they had to share something personal. It ended up being an opportunity to eat a lot of nasty things. No one puked. I did, however, come awful close.

We sat around the campfire and drank root beer. You know, guy stuff. Jason H. and Aaron Jones came and helped out a lot. Aaron brought a potato gun. That was a lot of fun. They shot it across the pond to watch the potato skip. Good times. We had a blast hanging out with the guys, just doing life alongside them. They are a good group of kids. The fishing was pretty poor, but we did have guys on the canoe most of the time, making a lot of noise. Poor fishing was really to be expected.

It was a good night.

Jesus saves us from anonymity...

Zach Force...when you think the name, you think a lot of things?

He is a T-High grad, a great drummer, a good son, Eagle Scout, intern, friend...he hates musicals, has both ears pierced and desperately wants a Tatoo. I might have made that last one up...not sure.

But where does he find his identity?

Zach taught youth group tonight. It was good to have him back at CPCC for a night. He taught on Matthew 4, and Jesus calling the disciples. He showed how Jesus gives us and identity that saves us from being no one. It was really good. He connected well to the students and challenged them to get involved in ministry now, a point that I haven't impressed on the high schoolers like I have the jr. highers. Identity is the biggest problem that teens face. Who are they...where do they fit in? These are questions that haunt every aspect of their lives. Zach showed them where to look and who to go to in order to receive your identity! He did an excellent job.

A couple things were evident tonight:

1. Zach is a great teacher and a great guy...NCC should feel very lucky.

2. Sometimes the things you most dread turn out to be the best times. Both times I arrived at the church today, I spent 30 minutes working up the courage to come into the building. Part of the difficulty with working in a church, is when you begin to dread your workplace, where do you go. You can't avoid church. Each time that I forced myself in here, I became refreshed. These kids really make it fun to do my job.


The youth band started off the night with their rendition of "Take it all" a song done by Hillsong. It went well...they have really grown together as a group. It is a blessing not to have to lead worship...since I lack the ability and know how. The kids have also expressed the blessing of not having to hear me sing.

Side note:

Played some home run derby on Monday with some high school kids. I pitched a while, now my arm feels like its gonna fall off. Tyler Ward hit 12 out...I think his girlfriend beat him though.

Rodeo and Religion...

It has been a long and busy day.

I found myself with a predicament this morning. When I was in college, I was an active attender of Risen Ranch Cowboy Church in Carthage, Missouri. I started goin' cause Lucas Littles told me too, but once I got there it was a good time. While I was there I was able to meet a lot of good guys, that really shaped who I am now. One guy, Johnny Clem, really took time out to talk to me and discuss stuff. The guy trains horses for a living, but has one of the clearest outlooks on ministry that I have ever heard. This morning, as part of the State High School Finals Rodeo, they brought in a singer from Dallas. She was awesome. She sang and spoke from horseback. As she sang her last song, "I pledge of Allegiance to the Lamb", the great Ray Boltz song, she stood up on top of her saddle. It was great to see all the competitors there and their families. There were probably 200 cowboys there...then our 8 kids. I (and Tricia) took our Sunday school classes to Cowboy Church for Sunday school. I think that was the closest many of them had ever been to a horse.

After returning to Central Park, I headed back to the State Finals. This time I had a tag-along. Trey went with me. He had never been to a rodeo. He had three high points: 1) the bull riding 2) getting to talk to the state Runner up Team Roper: Ryan Domer...he was pretty impressed to be standing that close to a guy who was actually competing, 3) his rainbow snow cone that he got in the middle of the goat tying. Good stuff. I think he had a good time.

As for youth group...I led worship. Three songs, half heartedly sung well off key. Nuff said. Afterward we talked about how Jesus saves us from Isolation. We looked a David's isolation in Psalm 8 and 142. They took notes on the feelings that David expressed in these Psalms as I read them out loud. Now they have homework. Psalms has some really cool names for God. "Rescuer" "Provider" "Refuge" They are to find a verse that describes God that goes along with all the feelings they wrote down. We'll see.

We headed to Sonic to play some volleyball...the court was rained out. So we went to Target. Each pair of students was challenged to buy the weirdest thing they could find under 3 dollars. I stood at the front with my Church credit card as teams came up with their weird gifts: ties; medicines; band aides; microphones; baby food. It was interesting.

It was a good night. I was pretty happy with how it went, even though I spent the whole day/weekend at the Rodeo.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

CSI: Miami might be the worst TV show of all time. Does that guy ever say anything like it isn't earth shattering news.

Jayme Green starts his bike ride tomorrow: Pedal fast Jayme.

I really wished I was able to fight this weekend...

Boredom...thy name is Christianity?

How can the mundane become majestic?

Our summer series kicked off tonight. The overall theme sounds like it was stolen from a children's VBS; but it holds the summer together. Jesus: The Guardian.

There are so many things that Jesus saves us from...we will look at a couple things that his work of protection takes care of. Things like worry; isolation; boredom; doubt; and sin. Later on this summer Aaron Jones will teach us how Jesus saves us from worry, and Travis McKinley will teach us how Jesus saves us from ourselves.

We started the night by sharing the most boring times of our lives, and the best way we found to deal with that boredom. Our absentee member, Aleesha, posted a list that were some of her favorite ways to deal with it (you can see that here).

Tonight's lesson was on Jesus saving us from boredom. As Christians, there are times when our life reaches that point where it is meaningless ritual and common place habit. Church on Sunday, the 2 minute prayer before bed, the occasional chapter read: these are the things that makes up a life of faith.

I can't help but envy the life of the apostles. Miraculous things seemed to be a common place. Jesus hawking a loogie in a guys face in John 9, Paul's handkerchiefs healing people in Acts 19, Peter walking on water in Matthew 14; these are news worthy events that happened to the followers of Jesus, and made up their church bulletins and filled their doughnut talk time. How the mundane became majestic. What fills our time now? What makes news these days in the life of church goers?

Lack of parking spaces, luke warm coffee, catching up on the week. What has happened? I'm convinced that if we are bored, it is because we have not allowed ourselves to see whats happening. I challenged the students who felt bored in their faith to look at two things: Creation and others. Looking at creation will remind us of the power that God has and the majesty that he has. The second thing to look at is the lives around you. It is amazing to hear how God has worked and is working in those around. I am reminded of Phil and Elizabeth who are in North Africa as missionaries and the stories they tell. I recall my conversations with Dee Bowden these last couple weeks, and how God is working in a man that is already so close to him. I hear stories from our students at Jr. High Camp and how God is doing things in their life. In hearing these things I think back to the oral traditions of Israel and the campfire talks that Moses must have had about God's working, and I feel close to the life that I envy.

After youth group, we went to my house and watched "Enchanted." Most of you know of my infatuation with Carrie Underwood. Her song in that movie inspires me. In her music video she is actually animated as a Disney princess, thus combining two of my favorite things. Most of the guys played a nasty game of ultimate Frisbee in the mud hole that is my front yard. We came back filthy, but it was a great game.

Shootin' the breeze...part deux

Being as just over a month ago, I trusted a bunch of our middle schoolers with guns...I figured it was only fair to allow our High School guys to have a hand at shooting (plus Mykayla and Mrs. Force).

We met at the McKinley's at 4.00 on Sunday. I had brought my 20 gauge Remington 870 youth model as well as my 12 gauge Remington 870. Travis had a couple guns as well. We used Travis' thrower and Will Del Toro's thrower. I had a blast.

Throughout the night, Aaron Jones told me he had one of those what are we doing moments. He said it just kind of hit him that he was shooting shotguns at youth group. He thought that was pretty cool. I have to admit. I had so much fun. Part of me loves the idea that we can get together and do stuff like this, and another part of me is disappointed that we don't do it more often.

We had a couple guys shoot their first clays and a couple guys shoot for the first time. It was good stuff.

After the shooting the girls came and we had a bon fire for youth group. It was much needed since the long week had finally caught up with me. I have a lot of fun watching this group hang out. It was real good to have Tyler and Will there. I don't get an opportunity to hang out with those guys enough. They give a picture of the adage that "good men, raise good men." The kids played some ultimate frisbee and soccer until dark, then it became time to live out their dreams of urban ninja.

I have come to a realization...youth ministry is not really a stand alone career. Youth ministry is some sort of weird hodgpodge potpurri of various ability's, talents, and duties. As a youth minister, I dable in promotions (I read an interesting article on various minor league baseball promotions on ESPN.com at http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=2931344); part carpenter (see stage of Jr. High Camp), part psychologist, part babysitter, part father, part mechanic, and part teacher. This is the kind of things that they don't tell you about at Bible College.

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?

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.

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.

Shootin' the breeze...

This last weekend was filled with what guys do...blowin' up stuff and burning things. Saturday afternoon while the girls were playing games (see right) the jr. high boys and I made the journey north to the Johnson's house where we proceeded to shoot things. Two boxes of clay pigeons and a case of shells later; our arms were hurting as well as one of our egos. Last time I checked birds have brains and cunning, clay pigeons do not; but for some reason these clay pot rejects were unhittable. For the life of me, I could not hit a thing. Some of the boys had no problem. Tyler and Eli seemed to shoot fine. Jacob, Chris, and Trevor put holes in a bunch of them. A couple of the boys shot their first clay(Jake, Xavier, CJ). There was absolutely nothing falling down because of my shooting. It was embarrassing.

We had a pretty good time. Jim and Dan helped out a ton by giving the boys instruction (I was going to help but I had my own shooting problems to worry about) and throwing the clays all day. We drank IBC root beers; ate hot dogs; and played in the creek afterwards. You know: guy stuff. No one came out injured and I like to think that the sport of hunting was furthered by this little excursion.

One thing that I am learning about youth ministry is this: The idea that you have to plan things that they like is a farce; why spend time planning something that you know nothing about so that one or two kids will have fun. Instead plan things that you like to do and bring kids along. They like to do everything; involve them in what you do.

Sunday night we had a bon fire at Terry Barnes' house. It was a pretty good time. Town and Country came out as well. The high schoolers had a rousing game of Red Rover going on. All in all I was impressed with both youth groups. It was a pretty good time. After T&C left we were setting around the campfire being led in worship by Chris Maddock. I borrowed his guitar and played a couple diddy's. I felt somewhat convicted when I was asked to play a worship song. I know Greenday, Blink, Beyonce, Bon Jovi; but not a single worship song. That is pathetic. I leave you now to practice a worship song.

P.S. I can't wait to see how the High school girls do with shooting? Ireland and Aleesha with a gun: go ahead, picture it!

What is a youth minister to do...

As the events of the day transpired, I found myself feeling more and more helpless,
lest the fact that the previous day only proceeded to make me feel more and more inadequate to do this job. Burrito day seemed to point out my own understanding that I am not a planner. I prepared for 1350 burritos only to have Tim bale me out by going to get more stuff (about 2 times more stuff). Needless to say, I did not start this day with a high view of my abilities and gifting.

Sunday morning made this fact all the more true. I can remember not to long ago that my Sunday mornings were a very relaxing experience. It had gotten better, but today was just a reminder that I tend to overlook things, especially concerning Sunday School. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't as if an entire class was forgotten; however, I don't feel like every thing was covered up to the needs of the teachers.

After church I had a discussion about a student. Knowing this student and seeing them here this last couple weeks, I can't help but feel responsible as well as completely idiotic for not noticing the problems.

Finally, Sr. High youth group. It is no secret that I love doing Middle School Ministry. I think it is the fact that it things go down haphazardly, you have an escape alibi, sighting their age and immaturity for the reason that things did not go well (I'm sure this is not actually all of it; however, this is part of the appeal). The Sr. High group is mostly bucolically taught and solid kids. Meaning that my lessons need to be deeper; however, deepness is not my strong suit. So for another week, I feel as though my lesson was not up to the level it should have been.

Then the aforementioned game. Let us just say that it did not go particularly well. A nose was broken; not on a child, but a sponsor. It was an accident, a freak thing, but I still feel strangely responsible. I am blessed with great sponsors that do amazing things. He was just one of the many great teachers here. He is a great guy, who frankly just loves being here. He always participates and hangs out with the kids. It was a bad situation. Sorry man.

It is in these moments that I am thankful for the words of Revelation 5..."Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living elders." John is engrossed in heavenly worship...he is seeing what is going on in heaven. It is a wonderful sight. Four living creatures, bright lights, loud noises, it was perfect. But the Lamb that looked like it was slain. The place that is perfect has a couple imperfections: sadness v.4; fear of the scroll not being opened; and the lamb looking slain...how can this be?

The only imperfect one was the perfect one in life. The reason that this place exists, the very reason there are people there in the perfect place is the imperfect one. This mark is not a badge or a prideful scar, but a necessary one for the reason we are able to stand before him, the reason John can see him. It was three nails, a spear gash, thorn marks on the forehead; that he wears as a mark on him allowing the imperfect who have now been made perfect to stand in his presence.

Knowing my imperfections are laid on him for eternity, and that his perfection will be transferred to me, is the only reason a resignation letter has not been signed and a faith left behind.

Allow me now to apologize for my imperfections...