Tigers, alligators, and buffalos

This was just to interesting and wild not to post it. I found it over at Josh(ua) Treece blog and couldn't pass up putting it here. It's long (8 1/2 min) and it doesn't get really interesting until the 4 1/2 minutes but then it is really kewl.

When the cats away...

Our "sr staff" wasn't around today so for our 5th Tuesday Staff fun day we had some fun (we have fun like this eve if the "sr staff" is around). A number of the ladies put together a great meal from BBQ This and Mark Forstrom our sr hi Pastor (and my good friend) put the games together. You can see we did a fun game of tug of war (click the picture to see a slide show), graduated rock-paper-scissors, and a fun getting to know you clock game. Thanks to all for putting this together what fun the mice will have when the cats are away (or even if the cats are here we still have fun).

Simple Thoughts

After two very busy weeks that I normally don't have around this time of year I wanted to put down some of my thoughts.

1) I'm twittering now and I find myself enjoy it. If you want to know more go here .
2) The chance to help run "big church" was a blast and the best part was doing it with my sponsors and the middle school youth
3) I'm really looking forward to the new movie Prince Caspian
4) Got things lined up to take my wife to a wonderful place for our 15 wedding aniversary. Now I just have to find someone to take care of our 3 wonderful kids for 3 days 2 nights.
5) I'm kinda glad about the whole Miley Cyrus with Vanity Fair photo thing as it has my wife and daughter talking about idolizing people.

Truth - part 3 - the message is done

As I said in Truth - part 1 post New Covenant spotlights each of the ministries in it at a main or as we call it "big church." The Middle School spotlight happened last April 20 & 27, 2008 (we have two campuses and so we were at each one of them). As I worked on this message and thought of the youth that we had in our group I moved away from teaching on just Truth and moved to Phil 4:8 (see Truth - part 2 post). Now here on part 3 I want to finish off these posts.

If you would like to hear the message please go here. I had three 8th graders help me do the message and they were awesome. We also had our whole unleashed team up leading everyone in worship and they did an awesome job. My wonderful wife Lisa took some great pictures and if you click here or on the picture you can go to a slide show of those pictures.

I really enjoyed preparing this message and working with these great middle schoolers. I have a lot of "mind fodder" to work with after doing this study and I can see a lot more coming from this than just a message.

O how we Christians can be so silly and couterproductive

Tomorrow (April 25) is the "Day of Silence" that has been talked about a lot around here. I want to say that many Christians (even well known ones that I respect) are coming at this thing completely wrong. My two good friends (Tye & Mark) have blog posts about this and I encourage anyone to go and read their blog posts (Tye's here & Mark's here) to get their thoughts on all of this. I completely and totally agree with their approach. I would be open to any discussion about this but let's show Jesus' love to those who don't know Him in a personal way. Open your eyes to Him my Christian brothers and sisters.

Here are a few statements I pulled from my friends blogs:

Mark's

- Despite what these Christian organizations infer as to the purpose of the event, I believe we must base our response on their stated purpose, not our assumptions or interpolations. To do otherwise makes us look like fear-mongering, paranoid, extremists, who don’t understand plain English.

- My opinion is that this AFA/Mission America boycott is just plain silly and counterproductive

Tye's

- I am writing today because I have never believed that we will get anywhere with those we disagree with by carrying banners, protest marches, petition drives and the like. We are called to love those with whom we disagree. This is called grace and I would rather be known for what I am for rather than what I am against.

Book Report – Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I allow myself to have one “fun read” a year to just enjoy reading for reading sake (last year is was Flags of Our Fathers – click here if you want to see my little report). This year, after seeing the movie, I decided to read Eragon by Christopher Paolini. It was a fun read and I really liked the fact Mr Paolini is a young man himself and he wrote and illustrated this book. I enjoy science fiction and this book took me to a new mid-evil fantasy world that was fun to be at, had a great plot to follow, and enjoyable main characters. I really liked how Eragon (the main character) was developed throughout the book instead of being a super character right at the beginning of the book. Also, Saphira (Eragon’s dragon) also went through a development throughout the book. She wasn’t instantly a big powerful beast that all the bad guys stayed away from. I’m looking forward to having my next “fun read” next year and picking up the next book of this series (Eldest).

4th 8th grade night

Lesson Topic: 8th grade Panel
Attendance: Average
'Fun Factor': Average
Volunteer Involvement: Average
Music: Above Average (they were playing the worship that will be used for Middle School spotlight this Sunday in "Big Church")
Lesson Quality: Average
Length of Lesson: 20 min
Student Response: Excellent. the group really did a great job of answering some good questions.
Favorite statement of the night: Prayer has become something much more to me than a boring thing we had to do in church.

Another great night by the 8th graders and the sponsors. One of the sponsor put together a great group of questions (something I need to say for future use) that the 8th graders enjoyed answering and the rest of the kids enjoyed hearing. I can see this becoming a part of our yearly 8th grade nights.

Mag Report - simply jr hi newsletter from Group

Group partnered with Kurt Johnston and Scot Rubin to put together a newsletter for jr hi/middle school guys/gals like me and I just finished reading through the first one. I wanted to comment like I did groups last magazine (click here to read my report of that magazine).

What I liked: There was a lot I liked but I'll put down one key thing that really stood out to me. Alan Mercer wrote a wonderful article of encouragement on jr hi small groups. Small groups work for middle schooler but not the way we plan them is the essence of this article. "Maybe the lesson needs to take a back seat to helping kids find a safe, comfortable, and accepting environment where they can just be junior high boys." I really like the idea of setting our "agenda" aside and focus on the kids to make lasting impact.

???: The stats'n stuff really didn't click for me as to what use they might have in a middle school ministry. This could just be me but I'm not sure where I would use or say, "Rice is great if you're hungry and want 2000 of something." by Mitch Hedberg. Again this could just be me.

Key statement: Douglas Rose - Handling conflicts in the partnering with parents section says this, "...your partnership with parents can be one of the most successful partnerships of your ministry."

Something creative: Here is a section called plug 'n play that shares "great stuff you can do with your junior highers." I thought the game: Hula Hoopdy by Chad Swanzy is very creative and something I'll try in my group some day. If you want to know more about Hulat Hoopdy or anything about this newsletter click here to find out more info.

I really like the idea of having something out there that focuses on middle school ministry thanks group and simply jr hi.

Truth - part 2

Things have changed some from the original thought of what will be shared this Sunday (Apr 20) at New Covenant. I originally thought I would talk through the idea of what is truth (see this blog post to read about part 1). But as I thought about it my mind wouldn't stop thinking about Phil 4:8 and how some of my middle school kids could be included in the message. After some prayer we have moved the message back to Phil 4:8. We are going to share that Paul spells out in detail the things we ought to think about as Christians - a filter if you will. I've asked 3 of our 8th graders to help with this message and they all have graciously excepted. It is going to be great and I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to do through them.

Willow Creek Shift Experence 2008 - part 6 (final)

Well it is a day later and I'm eating meatballs with my boys. Mom has been gone all day (she is doing creative memories) and Lindsey is with an improve group that is doing a show later tonight practicing. So I thought it would be good to make some final thoughts about the shift experience. Kara Powell and Dan Kimball were excellent.

Kara laid out some clear guidelines and practical ideas to impact kids here and now. Kara gave four great questions to think about:
What gospel am I feeding kids?
Are students’ doubts welcome at our table?
How can our kids take their place at God’s diverse kingdom table?
How can I train students to feed themselves after graduation?

I think for the ministry I’m in all four questions are very useful. To fulfill the last question middle school ministry really need to think of them as the starting ground to getting students to feed themselves.

Dan Kimball was my favorite of the whole group of speakers. Here is some of the thoughts I put down from him:

The good news that is going on:
There is a growing interest in Jesus in our emerging culture

The bad news that is going on:
There is a growing disinterest in “Christianity” and “church”

The rest of the good news:
Most churches and Christians are not what the perceptions are

Well I’m about to leave with the kids for a great time at improve. The shift experience was one that I won’t forget any time soon as it made me think differently than every before.

Willow Creek Shift Experence 2008 - part 5

Well after Breakout C I was having some interesting things going on.

Here is a break down:
Breakout D
Instead of evaluation call it a check-in timeAnother good idea – relay night – relationship time – just hang out timeMiddle school life folder – an encouragement folder that has notes throughout the 3 years and then give that to 8th graders at 8th grade nightHow about an info packet for the parents about the team groupsFor parents night try a sponsor hot seat to let the parents and kids ask questions to the sponsors

As I was spending some time before the different experiences I found out the Cedar Rapids was in a tornado warning. I txted Lisa and she said they were about to get hit by the main part of the storm and then I called her. Things were fine but it is hard to be setting in a place that I can't do anything or be with the family during times like that.

After that I got a chance to enjoy the new Nooma 20 video, which was one I liked.

Then it was often to Scot Rubens home to hang out with a bunch of middle school/hr hi guys/gals. This was the best part of the whole shift experience for me besides the concentrated time with Mark F. that is always the best and I love do conference with Mark.

Now I'm about to watch the last two main speakers and then off to home.

Book report - the dip

Seth Godin’s book, “the dip” was an interesting and short read. Usually when I get a recommended good short book I usually get a good idea or two and go from there. With Mr. Godin’s book I also got a couple good ideas but I also got one thing I didn’t agree with.

Good things first – I really like the way he explains the key of the book (the dip). “The Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery.” He goes on to share that this dip can be quite long. That in life we have dips & we need to make it through them. Because if we make it through them (the dips) we pull way ahead. As Mr. Godin says, “The fact that it’s difficult and unpredictable works to your advantage.”

The other good thing was some questions he recommends using before quitting anything:
“Am I panicking?”
“Who am I trying to influence?”
“What sort of measurable progress am I making?”
I like the idea of evaluating anything that you are going to quit. This gives me a list to do just that.

Now the thing I completely disagree with. He suggests in the quitting section that there is a time to quit things. Along in this section he says that dead-in relationships will never come around which I totally disagree. I might be wrong in his attention but here is what is written, “…when was the last time you heard about someone who stuck with a dead-end job or a dead-end relationship or a dead-end sales prospect until suddenly, one day, the person at the other end said, ‘Wow, I really admire your persistence; let’s change our relationship for the better?’ It doesn’t happen.” I’m open to other thoughts on this but I totally believe (in relationships) people can have a dead-in relationship revise. There are many examples of this in the Bible and in particular the fact that we are all in a dead-end relationship with God because of our sins. It is only because Jesus never gave up on us and died for us that we can be with God again – a dead-end relationship restored.

Willow Creek Shift Experence 2008 - part 4

Just finished session C. Here some thoughts I got:

pray at the start (pray, pray, pray)
Bring back the story that you used throughout the lesson

there was a lot more but i need more time to really put it inot quick statments

This was my favorite one of the three

one more session and then off to big group

Willow Creek Shift Experence 2008 - part 3

I just finished session B. Here are a few more "Mind fodder"s to chew on:


Put music on line for the kids to get (in order of what it will be played!)
We need to protect the integrity of the stage
Key idea to try – give them other ways to worship (worship centers: music, art, video, open-mic sharing, interactive experiences, serving experiences, silence)
Another key idea to try - what if we do a music retreat and create a new song?

Willow Creek Shift Experence 2008 - part 2

I just finished session A. It was very interesting and I came up with a few thougths to chew on (Mind fodder). Here are some thoughts:

What are things you need to keep to do and what are things that you have to let go
Evaluate your yes(s) and your no(s) – why did I say yes? Why did I say no?
Be willing to give away real responsibility
What would our students/parents/other leaders of the church would say about IMPACT?

Willow Creek Shift Experence 2008 - part 1

Well I'm here at Willow and have been a part of the first two speakers. Brian McLaren shared an overview of where things are at (in his perspective) in the church realm. I really have some concerns of the ideas that he shared. Mark and I talked it through some but I hope we can spend some more time on it. Mark Yaconelli was the second speaker and I really enjoyed his talk much more than Mr. McLaren. A lot of what he shared was in his book "Contemplative Youth Ministry." That is still one of the most impactful books I have ever read (both personally and ministry). The conference is already fulfilling my three goals for going.
1) concentrated time with Mark - last time we did something like this was back in March of 2006
2) Networking with other middle school/jr hi guys - I've ran into a number of middle school guys already
3) Take away at least two thoughts to chew on - I've got a lot of mind fodder for me to chew on

Spring Break 2008 - more fun with the family

Another awesome spring break has come and gone. It was simply a wonderful time with the family as we got to do some of the things we love to do together. We went geocaching again, enjoyed time with Becca our friend from across the street, and went to Wasserbahn Waterpark resort. We went there last year (click here to see that post) and it was even more fun this year since Daniel was able to enjoy the big water slides, Lisa tried and enjoyed the fastest waterslide, and we had Becca with us. We took some pictures and if you click on the picture you can see a short slide show of our time together.

Prayers this last month - Mar 08

This is the longest post I have ever put on here. I'm not for long post because I don't believe they really get read. The two main reasons I'm making this post are: One, to have a place for me to go back to and read my own thoughts. Two, for the 3 or 4 people who have said they enjoy reading my "Prayers this last month" posts.

Last month I finished Phillip Yancey's book on “Prayer" (click here to see my report). In his book he suggested that his readers re-write psalms in their own words. Below is my first attempt to do that. I took Psalms 1-16 and rewrote it in my own words. This is my paraphrase and I used Eugene Peterson's paraphrase "The Message" Bible, so it is a paraphrase of a paraphrase. I understand that this is nothing more than my thoughts and ideas. But this has been a great exercise for me not only because it has me reading the Bible but also it has me studying and sometimes applying (in a personal way) the truths I've read.

March 7, 2008 LORD, my I be a man that will not be with wicked men, or be around sinners, or spend time with bad mouths. Instead my I think about your truths all the time, may they be my delight. I want to be a useful servant of yours, LORD. May you find me strong and fruitful for you. The wicked are useless and just blow away. They cannot be judges of righteous. LORD, I know you will see all that is right and remove all that is wicked, in my life - may it be so.

March 8, 2008 So many world leaders and their people want to go against God. Why are they doing this - Lord? They believe they can remove you from their lives. You laugh and then you respond - "I make the rulers and I remove the rulers."

March 11, 2008 O LORD you will celebrate with me, like a Birthday. Willing to give anything and allowing me to do anything with your gifts. WOW!! So, I must use my head and learn my lessons. I need to embrace GOD in worship and celebration. O God you are calling me to honor you or my life is in danger. I will run to God and will not regret doing that.

March 12, 2008 Lord, there are so many bad guys around me who say "Your God can't help you, you are ours!" But You are all around me, you strengthen and ground me, I call on you and you answer - with thunder. Because You have strengthened me I am able to rest (fully rested - like after a good night sleep) and I'm ready for what the bad guys have planned. Here they come Lord, get them with your hands. You are my help, my real help. You cover me with your blessings just like clothes cover people.

March 13, 2008 Lord, I'm in trouble again. Help me as you did before, PLS! Bad guys - what are you thinking. Will you ever stop your lies and fake living? The Lord hears me and responds to me when I call - quickly. You can whine all you want but do it inside not out. Put together your plan and then wait on God for His response. You guys always asking for more stuff but God has given His grace to us and that is much more than anything you can get. Thank you Lord that I might rest in you and in that Godly rest you put me back together.

March 14, 2008 Lord, I need you. I'm crying out for you pls listen to me. It's early Lord and here I am again sharing my life with you. You don't listen to anyone who is wicked, evil, full of themselves, or people who cause problems for others.

March 16, 2008 My God, you wipe out speakers of lies; you can't stand people who manipulate the truth. As your guest (WOW! I'm a guest of God) of your home I lay before you waiting for instructions to get through all those manipulators of the truth. For they really have changed the truth, those evil minded self seekers hurt anyone. Remove them Lord, let their own words destroy them. Oh Father, you have welcomed us with open arms and protect us through your party. You, who are famous, brought us in and decked us out for your delight.

March 17, 2008 Lord, I've not heard you yell or clearly rebuke me before - do I need that? Lord, I'm scared of these verses where David talks about you no letting up and him being black and blue from you. Help me understand if that is what you want from me but I'm scared. Lord, get me to where you want me to be and help me to be secure in you there. Am I any good to you dead or alive, buried deep can I sing to you?

March 18, 2008 My tear filled prayers that have socked everything of mine have finally been heard from my LORD now the evil one's crew will fly from me. LORD, you have heard and granted all my prayers and my enemies have turned into cowards and have run away, thank you LORD.

March 19, 2008 Lord, sometimes I feel like I'm being attacked from so many different sides from so many different people and situations. Please LORD come to me and save me from all this stuff. But Lord, if what they say is true than don't do anything to me. Let all the attacks from all the sides hit me all at once and my I be left for nothing.

March 20, 2008 LORD, their everywhere and they are ready to judge me. Now is Your time to show them who is the real Judge. Let the court be open, may You decide, take care of all the false stuff and my I be innocent in Your eyes. Take care of evil, God, and make it clear Your guidelines for everyone. You are pruning us and making us ready for a real life. Because of this I'm ready because of You; I'm safe and sound in Your hands.

Mar 23, 2008 - Easter (the earliest Easter I will ever experience in my life time)
LORD, you don't let anything get past you. You are able to so what is right always with a confidence that cannot be moved. You are ready for anything. Your sword and bow & arrow are ready for battle. Two different kinds of people - one consumed by limitless sex and lying, the other is so focused on himself that his pit is deep and he has fallen in. They will only receive kickback for all of the evil they are producing. Lord, my I never be that way. You alone God has made things right in my life and in all who honors and focuses on You. I will sing with all my voice to you - famous One.

March 24, 2008 Your name my God is wonderful and splendid. You are glory itself and You place Your glory above all. I, as Your child, will praise You always and with this praise You have done away the evil of many enemies. Lord, I walk outside at night and see how big the earth is compared to me and then I think of how small the earth compared to the universe is and I wonder? What am I to You, I am nothing, not even a nate in comparison to You? Yet you care for me! You create all men, including me, to be just below Your angels and with You in me You choice to send Your glory through me. You have made me a leader, a servant leader, to guide those around me. All that is around me are for me to use to bring You glory. Everything from animal, plants, water, earth, etc. You name my God is wonderful and splendid.

March 26, 2008 Most awesome God - You are worthy of praise and glory. You have filled my heart with such joy that I can't stop praising you in many different ways. My problems are falling apart because of You. They stumble into nothingness. You have always been around and I feel that. You are in power of all and that gives me such courage and hope. The sports game has been cleaned up in a way it has never been before. All the dirty, low down, evil, back stabbing, bad guys are gone from the game. The game is fun to watch & play and it is all because of You.

March 27, 2008 God see's all and even though the world is all messed up He makes it right. He sets everyone right - everyone will get what they deserve. The hard pressed can go to Him and have a place to relax. I can relax and not worry about anything. A song I would sing about God. It tells of His story of finding evil ones but yet keeping a steady eye on all of us, even me. That song will be declared everywhere, and I will lead it. Hallelujah to You my LORD, You take care of me after a long and hard day of being beat up.

Mar 28, 2008 Those who focus on other things are trapped and unable to move because their own feet are in their traps. They have made a choice to work against God's plan and that has caused them to be trapped and heading to endless separation from their creator. The poor will be known and the humble will be seen. Those trapped will be exposed for who they really are, and we will see how silly their "reality" really is.

Mar 30, 2008 Lord, I need You and it seems like You are staying away from me - help! There is so much evil and evil people around me, they are doing anything and everything that is against the poor and the true. Lord, they are saying you are dead or that You don't exist at all. They wait to destroy all who oppose them.

Mar 31, 2008 What can be done LORD, You feel so far - as if you have left us hanging on a limb. The poor and truth honorers are looking for You to move. The ask, "is God going to let them get away with all their evil?" But I know Your answer - the poor and truth honoerers will understand that You will deal with every evil out there. It will be as if You break their limbs and destroy everything evil. The poor, the orphan, the homeless, the needed will no longer suffer - but the evil one's will suffer constantly and their rule will be over.

April 1, 2008 I'm confused sometimes. I feel like I'm so tight with God that it's like I've ran with all my might right into His arms. But then I feel like I need to run away because of all the evil that is hitting me from all sides. But God still is holding me - He hasn't left. When I feel like all this evil is on me - I need to know that God is still watching carefully everything that is going on. He is watching both the good & the bad and knows what anyone (including me) is doing. He will give us test and see if we can make it. If we can't -- watch out -- it's not good. But God really wants to straighten us up, to stand firm and confident in Him. And once we are firm we can be with Him completely.

April 2, 2008 Lies are storming in from everywhere LORD and the last good man and friend is gone. God, please take care of those liars, be extreme about it. LORD, I'm tired of all the lies. I really really am. LORD, Your words are the right words that I so need to hear, let me hear them in a way that they stick to me like super glue. God, keep the liars away from me, there are so many and there are so many lies. The lies are becoming like truth, may it not be for me.

April 3, 2008 - family to the water park today and tomorrow My LORD, how long will I wait to really hear and find You in my life? I'm so looking for You but I can't seem to find You. I'm so tired, tired to death. LORD, there are those around me who say they have taken You out - that You are no more. Help me LORD! I know the truth, the truth that You are always around; in my heart You are my salvation. I will sing to You, for you are good to me.

April 4, 2008 There are so many who say, "there is no God." You O LORD look for someone who doesn't say that and find no one. They are all corrupt. Lord, may you find in me one who is calling on you always. All these people come down on people like me and devour me like they would be eating bread. But God is with the righteous, those that they devour, and He will be with them always. Just like Jacob and Israel who rejoiced in the LORD, so will those who are poor and are the devoured will be able to rejoice in the LORD and be glad!

April 5, 2008 Lord, I want to join you at your dinner table how do I do that? "Stay true in all you do, take care of others, don't like evil things, & be honest in all your dealings." "Do this and you can come?"

April 6, 2008 I'm so glad that I've ran to you with all I got. I am nothing without You. Because of You I have wonderful friends. You are it. There are so many others gods out there that say, "I’m it" but they are nothing. I choice You and no other. I'm Your son and heir to all that You want for me. Thank You LORD! God, You are my wise counsel and I know this because day and night you stick with me. I know I'm on the right path and staying with You keeps me going towards Your wonderful light. My path is a path away from hell and towards Your radianances. You took me in and I am on the right road.

Book Report – Getting students to show up

Reading through Jonathan McKee’s book, “Getting Students to Show Up” was a great affirmation to me and also a confirmation that when I went to college at Liberty U. many many years ago what I was taught is still very useful. Usually I put down two key thoughts or ideas that I get from a book. This one has a few key statements that I want to type here for me to recall when the need arise (and I’m sure the need will). Here they are:

“Our actions often point to Jesus more effectively than our words do.”

“People need to notice something different about us.”

“…it’s much more about conversation than presentation.”

And these are my favorites and the ones I think I could use most often:
“Sometimes we blame the Holy Spirit for our laziness.”

“The Holy Spirit will lead you when you plan.” - I really needed to read this!

“…the Holy Spirit won’t lead you to break your word or break a contract.”

Mr. McKee’s thoughts are helpful for many but I think new youth pastors will gain the most out of this book. It should be book #2 after getting and reading “Your First Two Years of Youth Ministry” by Doug Fields (you can read my little write up about that book here).

Truth - part 1

Each year New Covenant tries spotlight each of the ministries in it. The Middle School spotlight is coming up April 20 & 27 (we have two campuses and so we will be at each one of them). I get the chance to preach in "big church" for this spotlight. A lot of different thoughts have been coming towards me and I wanted to put some of my thoughts and places I've been going to out there for my few readers to see and get thoughts from them and prayer support.

The title of this post "Truth - part 1" is where I hope to go on this message. Where it started was when I was looking over our current 8th grader’s verse. They choices Phil 4:8 mostly because it has the words "Whatever is..." in it and it made a nice catchy phrase for them to put on t-shirts. I supported because it came from the kids. I digress.

I read this verse in 12 different translations, I read the verse many times, and out of all the whatevers came the word truth. So I went looking for that word in the NIV translation and found a bunch of truth statements. One of the key ones that Jesus said 83 times is, "I tell you the truth..." This really stands out to me. I also noticed a number of verses that says this:
- "I am the way, the truth, and the life" Jn 14:6
- "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." Jn 17:17
- "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." Jn 7:18

And the list goes on and on. What I wish is for people to walk out of the sanctuary is with an understanding of what the Word says truth is and not something that Mark Eades says.

Some other resources I've been using are:
- Josh McDowell's old book "Right from Wrong"
- some http://www.sermonspice.com/ video's on the prodigal son
- an article from the recent "Plugged In" magazine that has the title, "The moment of Truth"
- Group put together a huge resource called IT and I'm looking at some of their ideas.
- I've been looking at "The Truth Project" that looks great and I would love to spend a lot more time in it.
- I'm looking at some stuff from George Pennington
- and I’ll probably get in trouble for this but I’m also look at - emergentvillage.com in particular some articles from Steve Sherwood & Dr. Marty Folsom.
- An article called "Learning to Lie" from the New York mag

One of my biggest fears is this - "Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20:30. Lord, my I not distort Your truth while I pursue a way to communicate what Your truth is.

Book Report – Kurt & Scott’s Junior High Adventure by Kurt Johnston & Scott Rubin

I picked up this little book because I love middle school kids and anyone who talks about and works with them is worth reading. Scott and Kurt have been working with young adolescents for a long time and their book, “Kurt & Scott's Junior High Adventure” has some insights into their life as jr hi guys. This is a quick book to read with articles that Kurt wrote for Group Magazine and Scott’s puts in his 2 cents throughout the book. The two key ideas that I came away from reading this book are:
1) Kurt & Scott ask some great questions that I want to remember for evaluation and thought. Here they are:
a. “How do I remind parents that they are the number one spiritual influence (positive… and negative) in their kids’ lives?”
b. “How do I encourage parents to play that role?”
c. “What do we want students to know?”
d. “What do we want students to do?”

2) Ministering to young adolescents is hard work and can tap anyone’s strength after time. Kurt & Scott share the importance to keep ourselves balanced when we do ministry to kids.

- We need know about our kids world but not to be all caught up in it. “There is more important things in youth ministry than knowing the latest trends in youth culture.”

- To keep God the main thing in our lives because the Devil is working hard to break us down. Being ethical is a critical part of our lives but if we aren’t careful we can fail. A lot of times this ethical failure is not something that happens over night but a slow break down. As Scott says, “it seems like most often people slowly slide into ethical problems rather than jump into them.”

- And the last key balance idea that I picked up was the need for us to wait on God. “Our heavenly Father is waiting for us to slow down long enough to allow him to re-energize, redirect, remotivate, and refresh our souls,” is how Kurt put it.

I always enjoy reading about ministering to middle school students. Kurt & Scott’s adventure book is excellent to read and encouraging to anyone who spends time with young adolescents.