Mag report - GROUP (May-Jun 2009)

I really enjoy GROUP magazine and the may/jun09 one has some great ideas and thoughts in it:


What I liked: Doug Field's had another great interview - this time with Katie Edwards (who I've had a chance to meet a couple of times at different conferences - great gale). Katie shares about the importance of adult leaders in kid’s lives and how to keep them for the long haul of youth ministry. "I think recruiting and training are kind of one-moment things, but developing leaders is something that happens over time." Great thoughts and a great article - thx Katie and Doug

???: Interesting enough last report I shared a statement from Stephanie Caro in his article "Big Worship" that I really liked. This week in his short article "Your office image" he talks about cleaning it up - to be more presentable to adults we interact with. For most youth pastors I know their office is something between a storage room and janitor closet that they didn’t choose for themselves but was assigned to them. It's hard to have a good office image when you aren't allowed an office in the first place.

Key statement: Jeanne Mayo shared a great statement in her article "musings on the recession" - "But what teenagers remember most are gifts of time and the heart, not the wallet."

Something creative: I really liked Jessie Oliver's idea of a prayer photo calendar and plan on using that idea this coming 2009-2010 school year - thx Jessie

Simply Youth Ministry did what?

assail

Believe it or not Simply Youth Ministry decided to publish one of my articles. I know that sounds crazy from a C,D English student in high school and college. Thanks to my good friends Mark Forstrom and Kris Paulson you can click on the little icon in the left corner to read it. Mark & Kris are my editors who take my simple ideas and make them read well. Thanks Mark and Kris and thanks simply youth ministry for sharing these simple ideas.

Mag report - YOUTHWORKERS Journal May/Jun 2009

I usually get GROUP magazine in earlier than YOUTHWORKERS Journal but this time YOUTHWORKERS got to me first - so I’ve read through it. I have to say this was one of the best YOUTHWORKERS I’ve read yet. Here are some thoughts:

What I liked: I’ve been a big fan of Mark Oestreicher (Marko) for many years. He shares a passion I have for 11-14 year olds. His article “The Feedback Void” puts into words thoughts I’ve been wanting to express to my sponsors (our adult volunteers) here at NCBC. I’ll be using this article to help create a language we can use during our trainings – thx Marko.

???: I really like the info from Richard Flory and Donald E. Miller on Innovators, Appropriators, Resisters, and Reclaimers but I’m struggling to see much use in my ministry setting. I’m sure it is just me but after all the highlighting I did I really didn’t pull something from it and I really thought I would.

Key statement: “A video can’t take the place of a caring adult who knows the unique needs of the youth attending the study.” This was a great statement in the article “The curriculum challenge help in choosing the best tools for youth group” I’m glad YOUTHWORKER put it in there.

Something creative: As I said at the start of this post I really like the mar/apr journal & one big reason was the focus shared in many articles of creating questions for the kids to work through instead of just lecturing them. I’ve been trying to do some of that for a couple of years and now I have some more creative ideas that I’ve found in this magazine for me to try out.

Prayers and Review of April 09

As I said in my last prayer update post – I’ve been reading over some of my past journals to see what God has been doing in my life. Most of the prayers I have down are from that reading, but at the end of this prayer list I share some of my prayers from a different devo I’ve started. I’m going through GROUP's “Breathe – devotionals for the youth worker’s soul.” I haven’t done a book devo in almost 4 years and I’m curious and experimenting with this – time will tell what results will come from it.

Prayers from my personal prayer journal review:

Lord, may your refining begin soon.

Lord, may you never stop refining me – even when it hurts please do it.

Lord, I long for the day when you do the “great winnowing” but I pray that all those you have given me a chance to share life and your truth will be with me.

Lord, may I listen carefully and respond as my heart leads to you.

Lord – may my life be less and less about me and more and more about you.

Lord, thank you for helping me understand your word better – keep it up pls.

Lord, may I be ready always for you.

Lord, I need your guidance on balance between firm and humble – I don’t have a good one right now.

Lord, help me to see the difference between selfishness and honoring you.

Lord, to just think through and possible see how I have been transformed into your image more each day would be incredible.

Lord, it seems like no matter where I go people with power (even your people) get corrupted by it – don’t give me any power please.

Lord, help me see how to use your Word to discern life as Peter did.

Lord, I have so many questions and it seems every time I look for answers I get more questions than answers – is that ok?

Lord, may you keep getting stronger and may I keep humbly before you as this happens.

Lord, open my mind and my heart to your truth. Help me find the answers I’m searching for in your Word – Pls.

Lord, change me to be the best Mark Eades you want me to be.

Lord, open my eyes to your truth and may I not gainsay against it.


Prayers I’ve written based on the “Breathe” devo book:

LORD, you know how you made me and I want to be the Mark Eades you want me to be on this earth. May it be so – Amen!

Abby Father – you are my lord and savior – you have been molding my life into an instrument that can be maximized to impact others – but there is so much more to do – Lord keep molding me pls.

LORD, there are days that I feel warn out – help me to enjoy those days. There are days that I’m energized – may I use that energy up honoring you. Show me how to wear myself out for your glory.

LORD, thank you for making me – help me to see Mark Eades the way you see me and may I keep that image in my head so that I will think about the spiritual world more than the physical world.

LORD, help me to take the next step in my life – to honor you as a man, a husband, a father, and a middle school guy – show me the way LORD, pls.

Lord, I feel like I’m in a season of life that is so wonderful – I’m learning, growing, humbly coming before you asking nothing but for you to use me. May that be my prayer no matter how things change – you be glorified always.

Breadsticks

Something just for fun. I enjoy bread - in fact I love eating it and I love making it (you can go here and hear a message in Big Church that used a sifter in the message). I've been to Olive Garden a number of times and really enjoy their bread sticks & I have said it is the best bread sticks I've ever had - that is until today. I have found someone who makes bread sticks that are as good as Olive Garden's sticks. In the little town of Alburnett, IA is a little gas/convenient store named "Leftys" and they make these bread sticks that are warm, taste, and just as good as Olive Garden's. I'll be going back there again soon.