Theatrical Camp 2007 - Round 2

I thought I would put the pictures from the show up here. Just click on the picture to see a slide show.

Book Report – Your first two years of youth Ministry by Doug Fields

I have recommend this book for over three years, gave it as a gift to our interns, and read different parts of it for research but I have never sat down and read the whole thing cover-to-cover. I made myself read it cover-to-cover because of a small group of new youth leaders (all have been in youth ministry less than 2 years) in our community have been looking for a way to get better at being youth leaders. I started a small book group that is going through this book together with a few of these youth leaders. It has a been a delight to spend time with these great leaders.

A lot of what is said in this book reinforced in me (been in youth ministry almost 10 years) many of the purpose and reasons why I do or don’t do the different parts of the ministry. I did find a couple new thoughts from this book I wish to share:

There was a section on “encourage parents on their journey” that had an excellent list of was to validate parents:
“1. Learn parents names and who their children are.
2. While attending students’ events, visit with parents.
3. Compliment parents on their parenting.
4. Send parents a note following a conversation with them.
5. Listen to parents.
6. Express your feelings about the importance of the family.
7. Acknowledge that parents love, care for, and do more for their children you will ever do.
8. Organize a parent appreciation dinner once a year.
9. Encourage kids to sit with their parents during the church service.
10. Respect parents’ time.”

We have done a lot of this and have included the parents in many areas of our ministry (both ideas and as well as involvement) but there is always room for doing it just that much better so that we can be a useful tool in parents hands.

Another thought that really isn’t new but it certainly was refreshing and made me think much more. I believe in prayer (I was give the privilage to preach a message in NCBC's big church time on prayer) but the way Doug presented prayer made me think again of how important prayer really is. “It’s crucial to be before God listening and praying. Too often we go to a seminar or read a book and get ambitious about change without consulting God…” I personally need to be in prayer and Doug has encouraged me to keep it up.

I really enjoyed reading through this book completely and reading it cover-to-cover has made it an even more useful tool in ministry.

Theatrical Camp 2007

Each year NCBC elementary and Middle School Ministry do a theatrical camp. It is two weeks long and they learn a lot of the basic elements of a theatrical camp. I've placed some pictures from the practices today here (my wonderful wife is directing the elementary camp and she took these pictures). Enjoy.

Prayers this month - May 07

My times alone with God and His word have been powerful and the prayers that He has allowed me to type up have been amazing to read & pray again. Here is another group of short prayers:

Lord, help me to see my wrong and being ok w/what I need to be punished with to correct and learn from that. But also help me to be ok to be "punished" when I haven't done anything wrong but was doing what You want me to do.

Lord, how I want to be doing good for you and not giving evil a second change. Help me to do good in all the things I'm called to do. Pls!

Lord, no matter what happens I want to be a tool in your hand to bring you maximum glory, use me Lord, grow me, remove my sins, thx God.

Lord help me to learn from my past not to let it control me but to use it to shape the rest of my time here on this earth. I just want to be a useful tool in your hand. Use me Lord for all that I'm worth - THX

Thank you Lord for helping me and creating for a me lists to grow with.

Lord, pls don't let me become like these men/women (II Pt 2:1) - totally focused on self and please only themselves at any cost. Help me to stay humble and focused on You and You alone, Pls.

Thank you Lord for being everywhere, including right now with me - You are amazing.

Holy Spirit teach me and use me to understand these Words of Gods.

Lord help me to move in your timing so that you might get maximum glory.

Lord make me a smart and hard worker for your kingdom and to model it correctly to others.

Lord help me guard my family and myself from focusing on stuff for happiness and instead focus on you who brings eternal happiness.

Lord, often our forefathers talk like Nehemiah, asking you to remember them and what they have done, help me to understand why they do this and how I need to look at them and You.

May this be my simple prayer as often as I can say it - "Give me Strength - Lord!"

Father, the people of Israel "got it" (Neh 8:12) - I want to get it more - help me to be more in you and less in me, to be about your business (which isn't about doing but being) in this short life you have given me.

God thank you for having a "bottomless compassion" tank for all of us who are sinners and keep on sinning. My we learn, grow, and stop sinning so that you might work in our lives daily.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to help youth "get it." Help me to always be learning - a useful tool in your hand to share your truth and love.

Father we want what is best for our neighbors. Help Lord, Lisa and I want to connect with this new family and be a part of connecting them to You - use us, Pls.

Lord help me to use this verse (I Jn 5:13) to encourage the kids in their faith.

Lord, show me how to be hospitable and help me to show and teach that to other as well.