Introducing…

My friend and fellow youth pastor, Richard, is blogging.  I worked along side of Richard when we were both working with a church plant in Hickory, NC.  He is a great guy, and you should definitely take some time to check out his blog and leave him a comment!

Friday Fun…

Top 10 Worst Selling Youth Ministry Books

by Scott Firestone (Group Magazine)

10. Time Shares and Texas Hold ‘Em: Creative Fundraising Ideas
9. No Halos for Halo: Why Jesus Hates Video Games and Video Gamers
8. The Gaithers: Rockers for Jesus or the Devil’s Marionettes
7. The Care Bears: Leading Teens Down the Dark Road of the Occult
6. SUPERGOOD Life Lessons From SUPERBAD - Includes CD with Video Clips!
5. Budget and Salaries: Youth Ministry on $1 a Day!
4. Defensive Driving Tips for Your 15-Passenger Metal Box of Death On Wheels
3. 101 Flannelgraph Bible Lessons for Teenagers
2. Chubby Bunny: How an Addiction to Marshmellows Ruined My Ministry
1. Junior High Bible Studies: Song of Solomon

 

HT to DJ

Countdown to M-Fuge pt. 5

Here is the last rule that we need to remember as we head off to camp next week.  In case you missed the other 4 rules you can check them out here, here, here, and here.

Rule #5:

Get some sleep!!!  You can stay up late talking, playing games and having fun, but try to get some sleep.

 

You don’t want to fall asleep out on your ministry site.

Countdown to M-Fuge pt. 4

If you haven’t read the other rules yet read them here, here, and here.

Rule #4:

Be on time to everything!!!  Be where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there!

This scary guy might come and get you if you are late.  I think he takes being on time seriously.

Check it out…

Since I began blogging back in October I have been a frequent reader of a lot of other blogs.  I thought I would take a moment today to direct you to a couple of posts that I have read the past few days that I found very interesting.

• Five Stages of dealing with failure
• Old is the new NEW
• Perry Noble Rocks Your Calling
• Everything is the Message
• Pastor is Selling Himself on Ebay

Countdown to M-Fuge pt. 3

Check out our first two rules here and here. 

Here is rule #3:

No matter what the circumstance always have a good attitude and smile!

 

 

Back to Normal

I began a new position at a church on June 1st and since that time nothing has been normal.  There is the usual stress of beginning a new job, getting to know new church members, and planning that needs to be done within the student ministry.  But, my life has been full of stress for about 5 weeks now. 

On June 8th Wendi began to have kidney problems that caused her to be in the hospital for two days.  This was all going on the same week as our VBS at church (Wendi and I were to teach one of the 3rd and 4th grade classes).  The next week Wendi was put on bed rest because she was beginning to go into labor 8 weeks early.  A week later she gave birth to our son Noah.  Because Noah was so early he had to spend time in the NICU getting all kinds of tests run to make sure that he was healthy and would continue to grow stronger each day.  For over a week I was driving back and forth (over an hour) from our house to the hospital.  I was trying to divide my time between spending time with Rayna at home, and Wendi and Noah at the hospital.  We finally we brought Noah home from the hospital today after a LONG 13 days.

Now I know that everything will not be back to normal or the way things used to be.  I understand that having a new baby in the house will take some getting used to by the whole family.  But, I hope that we will all be able to stay healthy and stay home for awhile. 

Pray for our lives to become a little more normal!

Faith developed in the middle of the storm stands strong in the end!

Countdown to M-Fuge pt. 2

I started last week with our countdown by starting off with the importance of sunscreen.  So today we will continue with our countdown with

rule #2:

While on your ministry sites remember that you are there to serve.  So, no horseplaying!

While on your ministry sites have fun, but remember that you are there to serve God and others!

They Should Expect You to Ask…Follow Up

A few months ago I wrote here about a friend of mine who was moving away from God and the church.  I was sharing how people expect us to ask them about their relationship with God because we care for them as a minister and friend. 

Anyway, I wanted to write about this today because I have talked to this friend a few other times over the past few months, and have continued to ask, “How’s your relationship with God.”  I got a call the other night from my friend saying that he had repented from trying to do things his own way, and began turning back to God and the church.  I don’t say this to pat myself on the back because I realize that it is God through the Holy Spiritwho turned his heart back to God not me or my words.  I do say this because I want to CELEBRATE what God has done in my friends life!

So…Who do you need to ask and keep asking?

Countdown to M-Fuge

It is July 1st and we leave for our M-Fuge experience in only 14 days!!!  In an effort to help us be prepared I thought I would give everyone some necessary advice.

When applying sunscreen make sure that you make fun designs to enjoy later on.