Star Trek - 05/08/09

I've always been a Star Trek fan and I'm really excited that a new Star Trek movie is coming out in May09. I've been watching all the old movies with my son and now I can't wait to see if we can watch this movie together soon. Here is a little taste of what this movie is about from their main web site: "a new version of the greatest space adventure of all times, new crew adventuring bodly where no one has gone before." Check it all out on the web at: http://www.startrekmovie.com/ or click on the pic.

Book report - Green Eggs & Ham

My daughter Lindsey has written a couple of book reports for this blog (you can read them here and here) and now my son Nathaniel is doing one. I've asked him to give me a qick review of Dr. Seuss's great classic "Green Eggs & Ham." So here is a 1st grader's review of this book:

The man who Sam wanted to eat Green Eggs & Ham really liked them and would eat them at all the different places that Sam talked about. Sam had a hand machine that I thought was cool. The most funny part to me was when he started to eat green eggs & ham with a goat.

SOS fun stuff

We tried a new ad for supporting the SOS (Serve Our School) event. So here it is - have fun laughing at us:

Simply Youth Minstry Podcast

Hey all you great Simply Youth Ministry podcast listeners. If you came to my little piece of the web because of the podcast please do me a favor and make a comment here that you did. I would enjoy getting back to the guys at the podcast about how many hits come from one mention of a web site on their podcast. - Thx and Thx for listening!

Mag Report - simply jr hi newsletter from Group - Jan09

For some reason I deleted the email or didn't get emailed the new Simply junior high newsletter from Group for the month of Jan but I was able to find it by doing some searches on Group's web site. I hope that I get the Feb one soon. Here are some of my thoughts about last month's newsletter:

What I liked: I really resonated with Christopher Tafalla's The Veteran's Voice. We have a number of different opportunities for middle school youth to get involved in ministry here at NCBC and that is what Mr. Tafalla seams to be saying.

I think this might be just my setting but I don't really think many middle school kids (especially the boys) would like the idea of holding hands while praying together. That is why I don't think Sarah Lanier's prayer idea "Squeeze & Pass" would work. But her "Pair up" idea was excellent and one I will be suggesting to my prayer leaders to break down their groups more efffectively.

Key statement: Christopher Tafalla asked this great question: "Is there anything adults are doing in your ministry that junior highers could do instead?"

Something creative: Vanessa Miles "Icebreaker: Funny Pics" is a great idea but I think I would try doing the same idea live in front of the group. - thx Vanessa

Book Report – Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus

Our small group that my wife and I have the privilege of hosting decided to go through the Chasing Daylight video series that BluefishTV.com put out and I decided to read the book, "Chasing Daylight" that drives this series. What a great read but also a very challenging one for me. As always I’m putting down two key thoughts that stood out to me:

1) In Mr. McManus’ chapter on Uncertainty he writes, “the certainty that God has called you and the confidence that he will work his victory out in your life are not guarantees of a safe and secure journey.” This really hit me and prompted me to as two question to my small group: Can we live with less in our life? And should we live that way? It was very interesting the reaction I had from the group. At the first question the small group were all agreeing with me and said yes we can do it. But as soon as I asked the second question the hesitation started to creep in. That hesitation hit me hard because I was hesitating as well. I often say that I want to do whatever it takes to honor and point people to God and yet when I’m confronted with uncertainty I pull back. This whole chapter has challenged me to move ahead even if I’m uncertain of what will happen.

2) In the second to last chapter, Movement, Mr. McManus’ makes this statement, “This is one reason it is critical to seize every divine moment. You can never know at the onset all that God intends to do through your simple act of obedience.” This made me think about our purpose statement for our middle school ministry here at NCBC, “Where every middle school youth is given opportunities to take spiritual steps forward.” We have such a limited time with these wonderful kids and I want our group to help them take these steps forward. Mr. McManus seems to confirm this idea that each of these steps are divine moments that we cannot let slip by. I’ll be sharing this with my adult leaders the next time we meet to keep encouraging them to seize these divine moments.

Overall I enjoyed this book and feel that I’ve got a few good ideas from it to apply to my personal life as well as to the lives of those who I humbly have the chance to minister to and with.

Simple Thoughts

I haven't done a "Simple Thoughts" since April last year (click here to read it). I do this off and on because of a thought our Assoc. Pastor Kim Pagel shared with the staff over a year ago. He had us think through unexpected events that happened the past year in our life. Since then I try to put down different random thoughts that I think about or think will happen in my life.

1) I've become a Coffeesmiths addict. I really enjoy the atmosphere and their white chocolate mocha is awesome.
2) I have a chance to write an article for simplyyouthministry. I'm thinking about writing on expectations with middle school youth and/or tangible goals in middle school ministry.
3) Marko (who I respect highly) from Youth Specialties wrote a book called YM3.0 and I really want to read it but I'm also hesitant to read it - it is a strange reaction that I've never had before.
4) I'm really looking forward to spring break this year and getting away with my family. We are planning on going to Dubuque, IA and go to Grand Harbor Resort.
5) My good friend and mentor Mark Forstrom has agreed to edit this little blog of mine so that it is easier for people to read - thx old friend.

prayers these last few months - Feb 09

It has been a long time since I spent some focused time looking over my quite time journal. I started over 2 years ago (thx to a great book by Scott McKnight - to see my post about that click here) with a new way for me to have quite times and I've really enjoy and have been impacted by this. I've been posting my prayers that come from this quiet time here in my blog. Here is another group of prayers that really had me thinking about God's Word:

Lord, keep me from temptation.

Lord, my I let those who need to know your truth know it in your timing and way.

Lord, thank you for coming as a willing servant teaching us to follow you.

Lord, may you grant me peace and wisdom so that I might be there for Jessica's family.

Lord, open my eyes to see where I must plow and not look back - I want to honor you and you alone.

Lord, make me GO!

Lord, may I praise you always.

Lord, may I serve each person you put before me today for your glory no matter what the condition they are in.

Lord, may I be bold in my friendships.

Lord, may I share your truth of how to avoid a divided kingdom to young people.

Lord, may I be always thinking of ways to understand You better so that I might honor You better.

Lord, may you see a searching and open heart to you in me.

Lord, I want to be full of your truth so that when the Holy Spirit wishes to use me I'm complete.

Lord, when the time of the wedding banquet is over and you return may you find my door open and ready for you.

Lord, may I do all that you have placed me here to do and may I be content with that.

Lord, may I bear fruit all the time for your kingdom.

Lord you know all things before they ever happen - thx for knowing all things.

Lord, may I be about helping all around me come to your kingdom.

Lord, I'm confused sometimes - how do I give generously and still help people get on their own feet - I need your wisdom.

Lord, I don't want to be like the complaining son or the lost son - help me to be a “non-complaining - always there son.”

Lord, open my eyes so that I might be shrewd with all that you place before me.

Lord, may you find me enjoying the things you enjoy and hating the things you hate.

Lord, may I be known as a humble man who tried to honor You with all.

Lord, you are in my heart - you are who I am not - everything in my life belongs to you - may you receive all the glory.

Lord, I want to understand how to come to you? How to stand before you and honor you with the life you have given me? May you find me always looking for you.

Lord, I want to be a little child in your kingdom - pls open my eyes to see you.

Lord, may I come to you with my heart open, my mind ready for new information, and through it all may I honor you.

Lord, as I look at your word I want nothing more than to understand it more. Help me to dive in more than I have and may your truth stand out to me.

Lord, may my eyes be open to all that you are doing around me so I might glorify you & not miss it.

Lord, there are things in your Word that I don't understand - help to understand what I need to and be ok with what I don't.

Lord, may I look to you and only you.

Lord, I want to understand, help me - pls!

Thank you Lord for choosing me to one who will communicate your words of wisdom – may it always be about you and not me.

Lord, your word is endless may I treat it as such.

Lord, you are greater than all and I need you to help me be ok with that.

Mag Report - GROUP (Jan-Feb 2009)

Got GROUP magazine a couple weeks ago but didn't get a chance to really read it because of being sick until this week. Here are a couple of my thoughts:

What I liked: Each issue there is a section in the back called "the rip" and I really like those short and current ideas that come up. I usually don't remember all of them but now that I'm using Evernote I don't have to because I put them there for me to recall when I need them.

???: One thing I did when I first joined NCBC was to meet with two very important people - the money guy and the janitor. I wanted to make sure that I started a relationship with them and I've worked hard to keep those relationships strong ever since. I laughed at "the incite" top 10 excuses for the custodian but it also made me think of how many youth guys/gals out there don't take the time to connect with the janitor before we have to give these "excuses" to them.

Key statement: Doug Fields article on "the fix" about volunteers had this that really stood out to me, "Don't make important decisions in isolation." I've had to learn this the hard way but it is really important.

Something creative: I really liked and will use Jessica McKee's "click a pic" idea she shared. Really creative - thx Jessica.

Family Values

I send out a weekly email update to all my parents and adult leaders what I call "Mark's Tips." It can be about anything that deals with middle school youth, raising them, spiritual thoughts, parenting, etc. My last tip was for them to read this article "A debate over Family values" from Los Angeles Times about the new ABC family shows that are out there. I'm forming an opinion on this but wanted to hear from my parents and adults leaders first before I say any more. So here is where I ask any of you to post your comments and let me know what you think. I'm looking forward to dialoging with all of you on this.

the end of no blogging - Winter Retreat 2009

After a long month and no blogging I'm back on and running strong. To start with click here to see the winter retreat in slide show. There is a lot of them so it is a long show. Or you could click on the picture to go to the show.