What's rattling around in my head....

Sheduling....sigh!

2009-02-25T10:37:00.002-05:00

Well, I planned on bloggin on a consistent basis and....nope didn't happen! Between work, school stuff...and life in general, it has gotten pushed to the back burner. But I hope to move it up front again soon! My grad project will soon be done (really it will) and that means I can have some time to do stuff like.....bloggin!

Sort of Random Thoughts

2008-12-19T17:16:00.002-05:00

I was thinkin the other day...(strange event, but it happens) and this was what I was pondering.
In a recent conversation people were talking about our security in Christ. It is interesting that we often think in terms of a contract, we have a 'legal' status with God...and for some this can change and for others, it can't (a deals a deal). Some look at in the context of love. That Jesus loves me, so I have security. The problem is that he loves us BEFORE we are saved, so that doesn't provide security.
So how do I respond, I think of relationship. I really believe that much of what my faith is based on my understanding that what God wants is a relationship with me...salvation is a means to that end...He offers it to have relationship with me. If viewed in that context, security is now placed in relational terms. I have a great deal of security in my relationship with Beth (thank goodness), this means I don't worry if we have a struggle or I hurt her. But I also realize that there are issues and things that can happen that will devastate and even destroy our relationship. In that context there is a incredible desire for God to continue to work and repair our relationship, but we can destroy it...but we walk away and leave the relationship.

God DOESN'T give up one the relationship, but we can. It is amazing to me that God wants me sometimes more than I want Him. I guess my pray should always be..God help me to want you more.

Grad Project

2008-12-11T17:19:00.002-05:00

Well, it am working on my grad capstone project and to be honest I have very little motivation and this point...I want to get it done, but I am not getting very far. I think that I need to cocoon myself in my office and get things done..but instead I end up on the internet (doing stuff like posting on my blog....haha). I will get this done though, and it will be done on time!

New Phone!

2008-12-07T22:57:00.003-05:00

Well I got a new phone. It is a at&t Tilt. It has been a pain getting to know windows mobile. I do miss my old Palm Treo, but I am learning to like the Tilt. It is very customizable and loaded with features. It have....a slide out keyboard, WiFi, and GPS. So it is very geeky...and maybe that is what I like. In fact I have already moded it big time (custom roms and setups....means nothing to those who are not geeks)
While I miss the Palm's simplicaty...it is fun to make this thing my own and make it work the way I want!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

2008-11-28T13:53:00.002-05:00

Well, I do have a ton to be thankful for! Wonderful wife and kids..great job...everything that I need...and a lot that I don't need!
Thanksgiving day was good! My sisters and nieces joined us and there was lots of food! It was the only time i get to see the Lions play. I am a Lions fan...although I am beginning to look at other teams (don't know what that makes me). I was an ugly games...I expected a loss, but please! I guess I am glad now that I don't get to see them very often...if they always look like that it would be really depressing....football has been rough this year...Lion and UofM have/setting new records for being bad! I hop that he Red Wings don't catch the losing bug too. I guess I do have it good if the thing that I complain about is sports!

Oh well happy Thanksgiving!

PS - NOW it is OK to play Christmas music...it is AFTER Thanksgiving!

Sad

2008-11-25T16:07:00.002-05:00

I came across the story the other day about a young man (19 years old) who committed suicide and did it live online. I wondered if I should comment on it, I don't want to draw attention, even in a small way, to this and in anyway encourage anyone to repeat it to get attention. But I read the note he left behind... I just wanted to share it...

To Whom It May Concern,
I am going to leave this for whoever stumbles across my bookmarks later on.
I hate myself and I hate living. I think that if someone who knows me
reads this they will know who I am. So I will leave this unsigned. I am
an a@#hole. I have let everyone down and I feel as though I will never
change or never improve. I am in love with a girl and I know that I am
not good enough for her. I have come
to believe that my life has all been meaningless. I keep trying and I
keep failing. I have thought about and attempted suicide many times in
the past. I used to think of my failure as some mystical way of telling
me that I was really meant for something meaningful. The only thing I
dread, besides the pain, is the way my family will suffer. I do not want
my mother or father to think that it was anything they did that lead me
to kill myself. I never really had any plans of leaving a note. I
thought that I would not be able to describe why I want to do this and I
am right. There is no way to tell you or anyone else why I dread every
new day. My father had such high expectations for me and tried to give
me every opportunity to improve upon myself. I let him down. I think
that I am a major disappointment to him. I have a job but I?m always broke
and I am in college but barely, I show up to class but that?s about it.
I want my life to end. I am tired of f@#$ing up everything. I
am tired of people always telling me that they do not like me. I am
tired of trying to be decent. I hope that someone finds this post and I
hope that my parents know that I f@#$ed up not them. It is my fault I
screwed up my own life.
The hate that rages within me, rages not for those I love so dearly or
those who have crossed my path.
This hate rages full force towards me and only me.
I have long forgiven those who've hurt me, but I have not and cannot
come to terms to forgive myself for the things I have done to myself, and
the things I've done to hurt those in my life.
You have all touched my life in one way or another,
especially those whom I call family.
I cannot tell you how sorry I am for ending my life the way I did. I
hope that you can all find it in your heart to see it as way for me not
suffering anymore and that I am finally at rest with myself, for being at
rest with the guilt that constantly ate at me for so long.
Please forgive me all for taking my own life so early. I tried so hard
to fight against this strong battle. I have reached out for help so many
times, and yet I believe, I was turned away because of the things I did,
that it is a punishment I am willing to take, for I know that being who I am
has only brought myself and others pain.
I love you all and will forever live within the memories we created.
Forgive me.
Love always and forever,
As for my signature I will leave you with a quote so that if anyone
reads this they will know it's me, "Can?t feel pain if your dead? Just Saying"

As a youth pastor, my heart broke when I read this. I wish I could have talked to the guy and share that life does have meaning, there is freedom from guilt. It makes me more dedicated to what we do, because there are studetns who need to here, know and experience...hope. The reality is that real hope comes only in a relationship with Jesus. That doesn't magically fix everything, but it does give us something to hold on to and HOPE to carry on.

Youthtracker.net Review

2008-11-25T12:22:00.005-05:00

I have been using youthtracker.net for a few months to keep track of youth ministry stuff and...I like it. this
Some of things that I like are....

It web based! I am not tied to one computer and can allow my youth staff access to the information.
The check in feature... we setup a laptop for students to check in and it really helps me keep track of attendance. The Middle Schoolers do great...the Sr. High...well still working on them.
Reports...especially the contact report. This lets me see in a glance the last time we contacted a student. This is often a good motivator to contact someone! I am still working on recording contacts that I make and encouraging my staff to do the same!
Being able to see all the students that go to a certain school (easily)
Price... it is not crazy expensive. For $20 a month, one area works great for us. Someday we might need two (more money), one for high school and one for middle school.
Sevice...every question I have had, answer quickly and the seem interested in my input about the future...that is nice!

Things I don't like....

I would like to be able to spice up the check in page
Online event registration is possible (including payments), but not robust enough to make it practical. (yet)
I would like a sync option to Outlook (which syncs with my phone) I struggle with having the right number (especially cell numbers)
The groups function is weak (although I haven't been using it so I guess it is no big deal)

This that I think I will use...just haven't yet...

Mentor field...to be able to assign students to adults. I think this is important, we just haven't been able to get it moving YET!

What I am hoping for...

An option for youth to log in and edit their profiles.. use the picture they want, correct numbers, etc. This may be in the works, I don't really know!

Overall I am glad I have moved the direction of youthtracker.net...there are still some features that I miss, but nothing that is curcial. I would encourage youth pastors to take a look and see at this one.

Sensless Online Fun

2008-11-25T12:16:00.003-05:00

Stumbled onto this online flash game site...pretty nice!

Check it out here..http://www.rocksolidarcade.com/

Interesting Interview

2008-11-24T21:26:00.002-05:00

I ran across this video at YouthPastorChurch.
It was an interesting interview. I think that first of all, that Obama is not a Muslim. That in fact was less interesting to me than the exchange about the comment that all path lead to the same thing. This is an comment that we hear alot...as a Christian who believes the Bible...I can not be OK with this concept. It is contrary to the Bible. The guy in the interview stated that clearly...I don't care who says different. The idea that all path lead to the same God/place ..doesn't make sense becuase the truth claims of different religions conflit and opposite thing can not both be true. I find it sad that we often place religious leaders words about God's word...about GOD. Seems to be there is a verse about people teaching what others would like to hear. (2 Tim 4:2-4)

The other thing that was interesting is that misquote/misrepesentation of seperation of church and sate. In fact the Thomas Jefferson letter was more about keeping government out of church that keeping church leaders and values out of government. I wonder if we struggle as a nation becuase we have not only keep church out of government, but it seems that we have also keep values.

Interesting things to think about.

Senior Adult Hip Hop

2008-11-19T10:13:00.002-05:00

Found this somewhat disturbing and funny video on Josh's blog. Funny...and a bit creepy!

Sad...but true

2008-11-18T13:35:00.003-05:00

I saw this today on the Youth Specialties Blog. I wish that I could say I was totally surprised...but I am not. Take a second and watch this...

I am reminded of driving uptown on the night of the block party and telling Beth how sad it was that so many girls seemed to need to sell themselves (judging from how they were dressed) to find meaning and fulfillment. It is soo sad that these girls will trade their body thinking that it will get them what the want and need...when it doesn't. It breaks my heart, but tells me that what I do is incredibly important!

Pacifism...loving my neighbor....thoughts

2008-11-18T11:49:00.004-05:00

I saw bumper sticker the other day that said "Loving your neighbor probably doesn't mean shooting them with a gun!" Now I had too reactions... first was "stupid liberal Athens person". Granted that is not the most generous or loving thought and I do feel bad about that. Second and on a deeper level... I wonder where that line is...how do we reconcile loving our neighbor and things like war? If I am to take following Christ seriously and honestly, how do I deal with these thoughts?
I don't have the answers..in fact I usually have more questions than answers...but in thinking about it I have come to this conclusion. (Maybe right or wrong or stupid...but it is at least mine) When we begin to talk about loving our neighbor...we ask who is our neighbor and come up with the answer...everyone! If that is true, how can we then let one neighbor kill another... if we love them both...what do we do. I think that is the flaw in a simple statement like that on the bumper sticker. If they are both our neighbors, how can we stand by and let one die? This I guess is where I think that force becomes ok... measured and restrained but force. Maybe this is what makes a war or violence 'just'.
SO I guess I am not a pacifist becuase of that but I hope I can still (with God help) love my neighbor (all of them)!

I wonder sometimes....

2008-11-17T14:56:00.004-05:00

I was thinking the other day and wondering if some of the state of where Christianity finds itself is due to poor theology. I am amazed at how often I see and hear the concept that we are sinners so we sin and there is nothing that we can do about it. This may be my holiness roots showing, but I think that is a terrible distortion of what God expects from His children. If we read the New Testament the majority is moving us toward change and living a different life, not promoting the fact that because we are human and sinful by nature there nothing we can do. In fact it seems to me as I read that it is pointing toward the opposite, that God wants to change and transform us into the likeness of His Son.
Why are we as Christians so hesitant to proclaim the fact that God is big enough, strong enough and able to help us live in victory above sin? I know that some will say "In my experience, I haven't seen that!" Since when is OUR experience more important than what the Word tells us? If God grace is great enough to save us....shouldn't that mean that it is big enough to transform us to live as He wants us to? Can God not work with our nature? Is His work not big enough?
I know my theology moves this post, but I wonder if we are where we are because we have put God in the box of not being able to transform us but only save us. I believe that God can not only save me but change me (fundamentally even!) so that I can please Him. (please note this is God working in me...not me fixing me)

Web Work

2008-11-14T19:07:00.004-05:00

I spent some time redoing my lovey wife website today.... I love Wordpress! It is easy to use and configurable. Maybe I shouldn't note that since I am using blogger...but if I was hosting my own site you can be sure that is what I would use...

anyways check it out at Free to Be (and yes the beautiful woman in the picture IS my wife!)

Feeling SICKLY!!

2008-11-14T14:15:00.004-05:00

Being sick sucks! I hate that fact that when you are sick...everything stinks, even things that should make you smile...don't. It makes you wonder how connected everything else in your life is too. If when I am sick...everything seems to stink...does that mean that the better I feel physically the better I will feel in every area of my life. I don't know...maybe I need to think about it...later I feel lousy now!

Maybe I actually will do this

2008-11-11T16:07:00.002-05:00

Well it has been forever since I tried this and I don't know why I am writing..but I feel like it is time for me to actually write on my blog. I guess maybe I have things that are in my head that need a place to float around and maybe get noticed (or not). So....I am going to try it again!

Thought I Should Blog Something

2007-04-12T00:47:00.000-04:00

While it's been a long time since I've actually blogged anything, but since my wife is now blogging (check out her blog here) I figured I should write at least something. I'm more than halfway through my second Masters class and that's been keeping me pretty busy with the free time that I would've used to blog.
It's interesting in Ministry and sometimes when you look around you wonder how effective you actually are. It is been one of those seasons for me, I still love what I do, and truly love to use that I work with, but there are days when I wonder how much impact the ministry is having on their lives. I want nothing more than for the youth I work with to be passionately in love with Christ. If I could somehow inspire them, encourage them or even begged them to love Christ I believe that many of the other things they struggle with would begin to pale in the light of his glory. I know that when my love for him begins to wane, temptations become bigger and problems become enormous. But when the love I feel for Christ dominates me, nothing else seems to matter, everything fits in proper perspective.
Oh to love Him more may that be my constant prayer.

Masters Program

2007-01-12T13:58:00.000-05:00

Well, I started on my masters program! I am excited about it,but also a bit overwhelmed. Because of that post will probably be slow and infrequent.

It's Been a Little While

2007-01-06T19:58:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything, life got busy over the holidays. I just got back from Florida, I was at a pastors conference. Although it wasn't bad, there was nothing youth specific so although I enjoyed it, not a lot of practical information for me.

On Monday night I leave for it IWU to start my masters degree. I'm kind of excited, but also little concerned about whether I'll have time and energy to do this. I won't know until I try, and it's always good to be stretched.

A Good Sports Story

2006-12-20T16:37:00.001-05:00

With all the bad stuff in sports, the recent NBA brawl and T. O. spitting incident, it's nice to know there are some athletes who are making a difference in a positive way. Not just by being a good example but by also sharing Christ. Check this article out...

FIRST PERSON: Changing the world, one man at a time

Alexander has a group of teenage boys and young
men across the country that he disciples on a regular basis. Maybe he
befriends them at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp. Maybe he
meets them at church events where he speaks.

Whatever the case,
Alexander’s goal is to help his “little brothers,” as
he calls them, grow into mature, devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

“Many young males today have not had good
examples to show them how to become successful men,” Alexander
wrote in his book, “Touchdown Alexander.” “They want
– and need – role models, and they’re just not there.
Their primary role models, of course, should have been their fathers,
but too often the dads just didn’t fulfill their roles. I call
that the Great Curse – the Fatherless Plague.”

Phaonmneal Pweor of the Hmuan Mnid

2006-12-20T12:07:00.000-05:00

Don't give up on this just because it looks weird. Believe it or not, you can read
it.

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid; Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr teh ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht tehe frist and lsat ltteer be in teh rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae
the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

Another Simple Thing

2006-12-13T15:46:00.001-05:00

Just found this, and kind of like it kind of fun to play with.

Line rider

Import Web Tools

2006-12-13T12:57:00.001-05:00

Just thought I would share a few websites that I use ALL the time.

The first is an online calendar AirSet this does a number of things including sync with my Palm, allow access from anywhere, and subscription to ical calendars. It also allows you to share with other people, both publicly and privately. This means that Beth can check my calendar, and when she keeps hers up-to-date I can check hers.

The other website is Highschoolsports.net which has the schedules of the local junior and high school sports. It's nice to be a will check this stuff online and see what's coming up and who has games. The other cool thing is that you can subscribe to each schools calendar in the ical format, which means I can use AirSet to view these calendars.

Just a couple websites that I use everyday, thought I would share.

Happy Feet Revenge!!

2006-12-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

I ran across this fun little game. Not much to it, but somewhat addicting! I just love hitting penguins!!

Here it is!

C&E Christians gear up for holiday season

2006-12-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

Lark News makes me laugh. Because all good humor has a gain of truth in it.

LarkNews.com

The Burnett family and thousands of other Christmas-and-Easter — or C&E — Christians are gearing up for "the Season" which runs from roughly Thanksgiving to Easter. C&E Christians relish church holiday services, or feel duty bound to attend, but refuse to show up the rest of the year. But as churches grow more aggressive about courting new members, C&E Christians are devising more complex strategies for navigating their church visits.

Silly STRING!!!!!

2006-12-08T11:13:00.001-05:00

As a Youth Pastor I knew silly string was important...but not this important!

Silly stuff in the States, lifesavers in Iraq
Silly stuff in the States, lifesavers in Iraq Soldier's mom seeks cans of aerosol string Tuesday, December 05, 2006 BY BRAD PARKS Star-Ledger Staff It's getting hard to believe this whole thing with Marcelle Shriver's collection campaign began with just one phone call. It was a conversation with her son, Todd, a soldier in Iraq. Ever the obliging mother, Marcelle was asking Todd whether he needed anything specific in his care package. His answer surprised her: Advertisement "Mom, I could use a couple cans of Silly String." Yes, the brightly colored plastic goo that comes shooting out of pressurized cans in long strands.

They use it to find trip wires in buildings... if the string hits the floor it is all good!
I guess simple things can make a huge difference...(mmmm....probably a sermon there somewhere)

Funny....

2006-12-04T21:11:00.001-05:00

Saw this article on LarkNews, though it was funny cuz' there is a little too much truth there...

Hip youth pastor now completely unintelligible

AUSTIN — After immersing himself in popular slang phrases,
youth leader Dave Jackson has become completely unintelligible to members of
his church, even the youth.

"We stopped understanding him about a month ago,"
says Tanya Gooden, 17, of his youth group. "It was a slow process. Now when
he preaches we have to assume a lot of things by his tone, not his words."

Jackson, tracked down at his church office, told a reporter,
"Fo shizzle, my nizzle, it's the big mack tizzle, you trackin'? The get-down
was off the hook, bra. Big-time ace. Dey scened until the old folk rolled in and
the crew got dot gone. Good Sunday, bra." read the rest

Odd News?

2006-11-26T07:30:00.001-05:00

Heard this story on the radio and it made me chuckle... so i looked it up online and found this article talk about getting the horse before the cart.

No animals are harmed in the making of Anchorage First Free Methodist Church's nativity display.
In fact, animals aren't even used. People?Sure. Dressed as the usual suspects -- Mary, Joseph, wise men, etc. --the volunteers stand shivering at a manger on the church lawn at Sixth Avenue and Pine Street, a silent tribute to Christmas. Calves, camels and sheep need not apply.

I think sometimes people look for something to be upset about!

Another Thanksgiving, another loss for the Lions

2006-11-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

I like Thanksgiving, the turkey (especially turkey sandwiches later) and watching football. As a Lions fan, I always hope that maybe, just maybe, they will win. Today I hoped that maybe they could win, didn't happen, I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. The sad thing is the only time I ever get to see them on TV is on Thanksgiving day. They have been so bad for so long that they never get to be on TV and because I don't live in Michigan I don't get to watch them.
Oh well, the turkey was good, watched a movie that was okay, and I do have a lot to be thankful for.
A great wife, great kids, great family, a great job that I love, so I guess that having a winning football team isn't that important (but it would be nice).

A Few More Games!!

2006-11-15T12:16:00.000-05:00

Orbit.... Cool games once you get the hang of it!!

Samurai Training .... reminds me of and old school Atari game

Bugs .... Kind of annoying music, but strangely compelling to play.

A few more games for you to click on and maybe get around the filter at school... maybe!

And just because..... Check out this and this

I really need a life

Interesting Article on Youth Culture

2006-11-14T10:16:00.000-05:00

This article about a presentation that Chap Clark did reminds me of the desperate need that our youth have. I often wonder if as adults that we remember the 'good old days' and forget how incredibly difficult is to be a teenager and that many feel like they are all alone in figuring it out.

Here is a little from the article..

In one of his most recent books, Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers, Clark details the results from a year-long study of a wide demographic of high school youth across the country. He found his conversations with high school students were a wake-up call.

“The results were riveting,” Clark said. “Some of our focus groups revealed that the words ‘faith’ and ‘God’ never came up in conversations with students, even those known to be Christians.”

Clark’s research also revealed the under layers of teen culture and illuminated the depths of angst, pressure and loneliness they feel because parents are either too busy or have encouraged a too stressful and busy life for their children.

“We’re raising kids in a MySpace world,” he said. “What you hear from today’s 6th and 7th graders is mesmerizing in what it tells us about today’s adolescents and teenagers. Things have changed drastically.”

Youth today walk a tightrope of adolescence from child to adult, but they spend an extended time in mid-adolescence—a phenomenon never seen before in history, he noted.

Clark believes youth have no reason to celebrate life as they struggle through the often painful, lonely battles of growing up.

Couple of Amusing Things

2006-11-12T09:20:00.000-05:00

Here are a few things to kill time.... just in case you need to!

Fun games with a funnel!

Your new Etch A Sketch

Late Night

2006-11-12T01:27:00.000-05:00

Well, it is late, but I just finished up some computer stuff (I'm such a geek). We had some OLD computers here at the church that we are donating to the district to give to other churchs that might be able to use them. I wiped them clean and reinstalled windows 98 on them. I forgot what a pain that is, not to mention time consuming. I got two done....one still to go...sigh.... not sure what the problem is, yet. It will have to wait for another time and day!

It is 1:30am and I guess that means I need to go home SOON!

Youth Ministry Works!

2006-11-08T11:01:00.000-05:00

Just ran across this artical on ysmarko blog and it seems that we in church youth ministry are doing many things right... YEAH!

Public release date: 1-Nov-2006
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Faith-based youth groups stand out in fostering teens’ growth experiences

Of all the organized activities teens participate in, faith-based youth groups provide the highest rates of personal and interpersonal growth experiences, according to a new University of Illinois study published in the September issue of Developmental Psychology.

Religious youth groups also stand out from the classroom, part-time jobs, and hanging out with friends as contexts in which such growth occurs, the study of over 2,000 eleventh graders reported.

“Faith-based youth groups give teens rich opportunities for identity development, learning to regulate their emotions, and developing positive relationships with peers and meaningful connections with adults,” said Reed W. Larson, the Pampered Chef, Ltd., Endowed Chair of Family Resiliency at the U of I.

The teens in the study rated faith-based youth groups higher than sports, performance and fine arts groups, academic clubs, service groups, and community-oriented activities such as scouting, said the researcher.

“Youth reported frequent personal and social growth experiences across these activities, but they reported them most often in religious youth groups,” he said.

For example, in the study, 66 percent of students in faith-based activities reported “This activity got me to thinking about who I am,” compared to 33 percent in other organized activities, he said.

Forty percent of students in faith-based groups said they “got to know people in the community,” compared to 20 percent of students in other organized activities. And 46 percent of teens in faith-based groups reported “This activity improved my relationship with my parents” versus 21 percent of students in other activities, he said.

Why are growth experiences so frequent in faith-based youth groups? “We think it is because these groups–whether at church, synagogue, or mosque–provide a positive belief system that addresses the issues that teens struggle with.

“Faith-based groups give teens the opportunity for self-exploration, discussing values, and figuring out where they fit in the world. This doesn’t happen as often in other settings,” he said.

The belief system provided by such groups acts as a “glue” that connects teens to their peers and adults in a positive way, said Larson.

“Although scholars tend to ignore the spiritual dimension of teenagers’ lives, research suggests that religion is an important part of teens’ experiences,” he added.

The statistics come from Larson’s survey of 2,280 eleventh graders in 19 diverse schools, in which Larson and collaborator David M. Hansen used laptop computers to ask the teens about their learning experiences in extracurricular activities. The study also asked teens how often they had such experiences in the classroom, at part-time jobs, and while hanging out with friends.

The six types of growth experiences surveyed were identity work, initiative development, emotional regulation, teamwork and social skills, positive relationships with peers, and positive relationships with adults.

Negative experiences, such as stress, inappropriate adult behavior, peer pressure and influence, social exclusion, and negative group dynamics, were also assessed.

“Other types of activities had high rankings in some of the personal and interpersonal skill categories but not across as broad a spectrum as faith-based activities,” Hansen said.

For example, students in organized sports reported high rates of initiative experiences; 61 percent said that they had “learned to push myself” compared to 36 percent in other activities. These students also reported high rates of learning about regulating their emotions. But youth in sports also reported higher levels of stress.

Performance and fine arts groups ranked high in initiative development, while academic clubs and organizations scored significantly lower than other activities in four of the six categories.

All types of organized activities ranked higher in the growth experiences surveyed than the youths’ school classes.

“Schools have to place so much emphasis now on developing cognitive skills that they’re less able to provide some of these other types of learning experiences,” Larson said.

“But these types of personal and interpersonal growth are very important to raising a family and being a contributing member of the community. Having emotional intelligence, being able to work in a team, and being able to manage your emotions in a group setting are skills that employers are looking for,” he said.

Yet even working part-time didn’t provide these experiences as much as faith-based activities, and 21 percent of working students said their jobs “stressed them out.”

“Hanging out with friends” also provided learning experiences across the spectrum, but it too was associated with more negative experiences,” said Larson. “For example, 18 percent of teens reported of their time with friends: ‘Youth in this activity got me into drinking alcohol or using drugs.’”

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Larson and Hansen from the Family Resiliency Center at the University of Illinois and Giovanni Moneta of London Metropolitan University co-authored the article. The study was funded by the William T. Grant Foundation.

Vehicle Issues

2006-11-07T21:05:00.000-05:00

Today I stopped by the house to pick up my stuff to go to the gym. And when I pulled into the garage I notice my truck was leaking radiator fluid. It looks like the water pump may be gone. So, now I have no truck and my motorcycle is still in pieces. Hopefully tomorrow I will find out what's wrong with the truck and get it fixed. My motorcycle still needs work on the brakes, very important part of the bike. I hope that this Thursday I can get it working. And I will get the trunk and saddlebags back from the painter. It is been raining the past couple days so I probably couldn't ridden the bike anyway. I will put pictures up of the bike when it's finally done, which I hope to soon.

Church Growth In a Different Light

2006-11-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

This article from Lark News puts a whole new light on what church growth really means.
LarkNews.com: "Church measures attendance by weight

BRAINERD — Grace Valley Baptist church has been losing a dozen members per year. But according to a recent measure, the church is expanding 7 percent annually.
The reason: They now measure attendance by weight rather than per person.
'We may be shrinking numerically, but in sheer mass we're growing fast,' says pastor Sam Winter."

Book Review

2006-11-07T20:53:00.000-05:00

What Matters Most

just finished the book What Matters Most by Doug Fields and thought I would share my thoughts on it. It is a short book, probably only took me an hour or so to read, but it was a hour well spent. The book is really about saying No. Often in ministry our schedules seem to get out of control, quickly! This book gives encouragement to not allow that to happen. It is not a time management book, although there are a few time management concepts. This is not really a book on how to determine what matters most, although there are some tips to help you do that. It really helps you evaluate why you don't say no, and the things that stand in the way of making the decision to say no. One of the things I found helpful, was taking the time to look at the consequences of not say say no, and the consequences of actually saying it. We often worry about what happens if we say no, and never think about what happens if we say yes.
Like many of Doug Fields books, is written in a very conversational tone and reads like one friend giving advice and encouragement to another.
I enjoyed this book, and although there were no new and amazing concepts and it, it was a great encouragement to actually follow through and prioritize my schedule in the way I know it should be. I think most youth ministers should take the time to read this one.

A Smaller Me

2006-11-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

Well, today went back to the gym, I guess it's time for me to get back in shape. It has been such a long time since I've been in shape I'm not even sure what shape I will be. I just hope that it's not as round and flabby as the shape I have now. I don't really have any weight loss goals, my only goal, is to be at the gym consistently four or five days a week. Actually added time to my schedule, so if I don't go I will feel bad looking at my schedule all day.
This afternoon, I can already feel my legs being sore. We will see what happens, I will try to keep posting about my progress to a new, smaller, me.

interesting video

2006-11-06T14:39:00.000-05:00

When I first watched this video, I wondered what did they meanand where arethey going with this? I have to agree that follwing Christ is so much different than what being a "Christian" has come to mean. Interesting!

HT to Josh Griffin

Congratulations to the Lady Spartians!!!

2006-11-04T23:21:00.000-05:00

Today the Lady Spartans volleyball team won, and moved on to state. Awesome job! I'm so proud of these girls, and excited for them. I'm looking for to watching them in the final four this coming Friday.
It's awesome that they excel on the court, but many of them also are serving Christ. As a youth pastor I am pleased that they live out their faith by doing their best in every area of their life, including volleyball.
Go Spartans!!!

Google Video

2006-11-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

I do alot of video clip for the youth ministry, and look all over for them. I like google video for a number of reasons...easy searching, fairly clean, etc. BUT I always had a problem converting them so I could editthem OR play them in MediaShout. So after messing around this morning I found this blog post which gave me the info and links to the tools I need. I downloaded and used GVidfix and it works great.

Technology on Crack: Everything About Google Video: "Everything About Google Video
(I gotta put this: This article details a very small timeline of changes, which the author has investigated to the best of his ability. Though none of the facts documented have been embelleshed in the subject matter, the opinion of the author is controversial, and therefore he invites you to draw your own conclusions. And no, this is not about how aliens landed and told Google how to compete with YouTube, that's going to be a separate article. I just don't want any bitching in case I got some small detail wrong, but would appreciate corrections.)"

first post

2006-10-31T17:13:00.000-05:00

not sure why I'm doing this. I don't know that anybody is actually to read this, but to humor myself I'll try. I will try to update it on a consistent basis not making any promises. But hey, not many people's blogs are updated regularly. Not sure if anyone cares or is interested in my musings on life, but just in case, I'll post them here.
Stay tuned for updates as I figure this whole thing out.