Thursday, January 31, 2008

Words of Wisdom from Dove?

Ok, so I bought this bag of little Dove bite sized chocolate squares. You know ... the ones that are like fortune cookies ... you unwrap it, pop it in your mouth and read the words of wisdom on the wrapper. So, I was handing them out for fun, and ate the last two. Here were the words of wisdom that I think are so applicable to student minstry it is not even funny.

1. Celebrate family and friends. It reminded me of the importance of being authentic cheerleaders in the lives of the people, especially your leaders, around you. I will always remember Mark saying, "a smattering applause is a stench in the nostrils of God." I don't want to be the obnoxious one who has to get the last clap in, but I secretly desire to always be one of the loudest and longest clappers when someone is being celebrated.

2. A gentle touch speaks volumes. I love it. I'm not much of a touchy, feely, emotional kind of person. While I much better in this department than say a decade a go, you wouldn't rank me high in this category ... maybe a 6 out of 10 on comfort level. However, the thing that speaks volumes in my life, way more than a hug, is a gentle hand on my back at the appropriate time. The hand that says I believe in you, I see what you did, you matter to me, I'm so proud of you, you're more than employee/volunteer...you're a friend, etc.

Small Group Activity. A rabbit trail ... as I write this, I think of all the times I struggled for opening activities to small group discussions during our annual love/dating series we had in February. This activity, at least in my mind, is a great one to get people talking ... buy a bag of the Dove candies for each small group, have them each open one or two, read their wrappers out loud, then talk about the truth, if any, that can be found in the quotes (kind of like I did above). I always wanted to do activities with those coversational boxes of hearts, but couldn't because often times the words were a little on the raunchy side. I think Dove keeps it clean.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Most Hilarious Speaker Intro Video EVER!








Ok, so I don't know how to upload YouTube videos, but here is a hilarious video intro they did for Jeanne at the conference she was at in California last weekend. They said it took four days to shoot and edit.



Tuesday, January 29, 2008

MC Atlanta 2008-2009














Tomorrow is a big, big day at the Tabernacle. Nearly 100 potential students from across the nation will converge onto the campus to check out Master's Commission Altanta for next year. Our 95 current students and staff have been working hard to prepare for this two day event. Right now as I type, Sterling has 30 videos rendering in the que (whatever that means). All who apply will not make it. Between first, second and third year students, Jeanne's pretty committed to not letting it explode or implode. While not set in stone, over the next few years she thinks she will cap out at 150 per year. She's pretty bent on not letting anyone fall through the cracks. However, with the systems she has in place, I'm pretty confident that could never happen.

After living MC ATL for seven months, I stand in awe of what is offered here. Seriously, it's ministry training at its finest, but first and foremost the staff is dedicated to character development. I think that is what sets it apart from most training programs I've seen. They don't want their charisma to take them to a place their character can't keep them.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

What I do on the side

When you are apart of a smaller (1,000 compared to 5,000) and less affluent church (let's just say inner city Atlanta is no Granger, Indiana), each person wears a few more hats. So, in addition to doing junior high and Youth Leader's Coach (Cadre, developing product, website, editing resources, conferences, etc.), I oversee the technical arts and accounting departments. It's not hard, I just lend some of my management and leadership skills that way. However, I realized this week I wish I had a few more hours in the day. I kind of still like the accounting stuff.

I developed the budget and presented it to the board Thursday night, in addition to giving them some thoughts on how to cut 5% off expenditures (probably not a big deal up north, but a big, big deal down here). With the exception of Jeanne, all businessmen ... mostly in suits. I think a few of them might of been pleasantly surprised at what I picked up here and there back home, along with my years in auditing. I got a round of applause when I was done. That was awkward and cool at the same time. They were a great group of guys with a huge heart for the local church. Loved it!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Marriage

Just came off the Cadre Epic's Ladies Breakaway. In addition to doing two two-day Cadre Advances for youth pastors in the mentoring program each year, Jeanne does an additional two-day Cadre Breakaway for their wives (if the Cadre member is a male) and the female Cadre members.

It was a ton of fun, especially when we had a problem with the upstairs bathroom and water came down through the light fixtures into the kitchen ... it wasn't pretty water either if you know what I mean. But, the plumber came and all was good within an hour or two while we continued on. In the meantime, the Master's Commission students who were serving didn't skip a beat. They shut off the lights in the kitchen, moved the food and lit some candles. They are learning how to dance in the rain of adversity when difficulties come their way. It was quite the snapshot.

My main takeaway is that people need help navigating this thing called MARRIAGE. As a single person, most would think I would have been bored to tears during the Q & A where most of the questions centered around marriage. However, I wasn't bored, just PROUD. Proud that while throwing another two-day breakaway into the mix is quite the challenge, the benefits are HUGE. I am pretty convinced that she saved some marriages last night, at a minimum gave others a shot in the arm. She spoke candid, straight up truth on tough, tough questions (some would make you blush). The reality is marriages within the walls of the church are struggling everywhere. And since, in many respects, things flow from the top down ... if we can equip youth pastors and their wives on how to navigate the waters of marriage, then maybe it will ripple on downward.

It was a great couple of days. Master Commission Atlanta Experience (for 18-22 years interested in the MC ATL) is next week and Cadre Litmus and Prestige Ladies Breakaway the week after that ... with a weekend home in between, more great days ahead.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Great Quotes from One Night with the King

1. Scene: Esther being given necklace…
“Like you, its true treasure etched within.”


2. Scene: Vault where jewelry is stored and ladies get to pick.
“How is one to choose when they know not what impresses the king. Will you teach me?”


3. Scene: After she reads to him and tells the story of Jacob, he shows her the sculpture he is working on.
He says, “His arms will hold the bow, his arrows tipped with love.”
She says, “Some archer’s arrows are tipped with poison my lord.”
He says, “Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference, the symptoms are the same.”


4. Scene: Jesse wants her to leave, she refuses.
“Perhaps instead of asking questions of our trials, trials are meant to ask questions of ourselves.”


5. Scene: Esther’s time before the king.
“I was taught that when you visit a king rather than expect a gift, one should bring one to lay at his feet. (Gives necklace) This is my most valuable possession in the world. It is my past, present and future … and all of it is yours.”

“If it is for sale, it is not love.”

“The only gift I will accept is your heart.”


6. Scene: Talking to Jesse and Hagar at night in her bedroom, right before she goes to the king.
“Who knows whether you have come to the palace for such a time as this.”

“David’s victory came not because he fought well but because he believed well.”


7. Scene: Last one at the banquet.
(Regarding necklace) Very identity etched within me.

I saw the stars.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

I stopped counting at 600

It's 11:09 p.m., there is little snow on the ground. It's 31 degrees outside. My heart is heavy.

Over 600 churches have cancelled their services tomorrow, some big dawgs like North Point and Perimeter. It's actually a lot more, I just stopped counting at 600 ... but, hey Wal-Mart's still open. There's a sermon in there somewhere. I wonder what the heroes of the faith think about that. (I know, I know ... Atlanta doesn't have salt trucks ... blah, blah, blah)

More Weather

I know posts about weather get old, but I am totally getting a kick out of this. We are under a "Heavy Snow Warning." A warning mind you, not a watch. All the fuss ... there is a potential for 2-4 inches (whcih I do know why it's a big deal with not much in the way of snow removal equipment). Seriuosly, I wonder if there is a run on shovels, snow brushes, milk and bread. I better go bundle up, after all it's 37 degrees.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Winter Storm Watch

I think the city is expecting to shut down tomorrow, the meterologist is standing by...

"Metro Atlanta and the surrounding areas are preparing for another round of wintry weather tomorrow which could include snowfall from 1-4 inches. 11Alive News WeatherPlus and 11Alive.com are ready to keep you informed of all the details before they occur with special weathercasts...

The good news is that a couple of days at home sound fun (seriously, that's what happens here ... it snowed a 1/2 an inch on Wednesday and the schools shut down and the freeways were less jammed). If we get 4 inches, it will be total mayhem. The bad news is that we have Cadre coming in tomorrow night and all day Sunday ... ugh! So, while the days home sound fun, I'm praying for no snow. Meanwhile, Laurie is going to try and find Jeanne an earlier flight in.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Weird Sad Stories in the ATL

The wintry mix tonight, along with the cop killer on the loose, cut our numbers in half but it was not without the bizarre story. In our 02 Group, we had two new kids ... Moses from Nigeria and Nilton from Saudia Arabia. The boys are in the states for major surgery on their esophagus. Both of them, for unknown reasons, drank acid. One of them has had 26 surgeries in the last six months. So, the doctors are going to take part of their colon and graph it into their esophogas ... weird ... sad. Both are really cool kids, one is being adopted by the couple hosting them in the church.

Ohhhhhhh So Funny

Ok, I admit ... now the flakes are coming. Evidently, it's worthy of recording. Here are the closings in Atlanta right now because of the dusting of snow.


UPDATED WEDNESDAY, JAN 16 AT 6:40 PM
1st Baptist Ch of Atlanta: No evening activities
Am. Univ. of Biblical Studies: No evening classes
Appalachian Technical College: No evening classes
Beulah Heights University: No evening classes
Corinth Baptist/Gainesville: No evening activities
Eastridge Community Church: Closed Today
First Atlanta Baptist Church: No evening activities
Ga. Ins of Cosmetology/Buford: Closed Today
Georgia Christian University: Closed Today and Tomorrow; No evening classes
Hillcrest Church of Christ: Closed Today
Hope Church/Dallas: No evening activities
Hopewell Baptist/Gainesville: No evening activities
King of Glory Ch Worship: No evening activities
Lumpkin County Schools: Closed Tomorrow
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church: Services Cancelled
New Life Tabernacle COGIC: Closed Today
Salem Missionary Baptist: No evening activities
Sandy Springs Cadet Sq-Civil Air Patrol: Closed Today
Spread the Word Ch Ministries: No evening activities
St. Michael the Archangel: No evening classes
St. Thomas the Apostle Reg. Ed: No evening activities
Wildwood Baptist Church: Closed Today
Zion Baptist/Marietta: Services Cancelled
Zoe Christian Fellowship: Services Cancelled



Snowing in Atlanta ... If you call it that.

The sound of girls screeching could be heard from my office. I rushed out of my office thinking "what in the world," only to find some of them staring out the window while others outsdie danced in the ... SNOW! Only what they call snow, I'd call a flake or two. It was hilarious ... them southern girls. Jeanne told me I'd get a good laugh out of watching people flock to the window should it snow in Atlanta ... she was right.

Lockdown

Helicopters can be heard overhead and our church is in lockdown today. Early this morning, two Dekalb county officers lost their life in a senseless crime. Both are young with kids. Those committing the crime are thought to be in the area.

Grateful Injustice

So, Monday I paid my $135 illegal left hand turn ticket. I was going to fight it, but when they said I could pay $135 and have it reduced to an ordinance violation that resulted in no points, I consented. It's not that I didn't make the illegal left hand turn, it's just that the sign was on the wrong side of the road, to the point you don't see it until you half way into the illegal turn. Anyway, I'm over it! Ok, that is until last night. Mike, RC, Travis and I were going to 7:22 at Buckhead and we were late. Mike is speeding through traffic and moves over into the HOV (carpool) lane. However, he cuts a cop off on a motorcycle in the process. The cop pulls him over, asks for his license, then asks him if he realized he was going 85 in a 55 and that he just cut him off. Mike apologizes, the cop gives back his license and we drive off. No ticket, just a "slow it down." I'm grateful Mike didn't get a ticket, but still pretty ticked that I did. Maybe I should of pulled the "I'm going to church" card that Mike used when the cop asked where he was headed. It was the truth, I just can't believe the cop believed him. The crack in Mike's voice when he said it was priceless.

Monday, January 14, 2008

As of tomorrow I will be an "official" Gerogia resident

I make Georgia my "official" home tomorrow when I go to the DMV and get my Georgia drivers license and register to vote at the same time. I tried to do it last month and then again on Saturday. Long story short, I didn't have the right paperwork the first time, then there is this little word called "suspended" on my Indiana license. While I still have a valid drivers license, as evidence by the fact that they didn't haul me away to jail or charge me a ginormous extra fee when I got the two tickets in October a week apart, the CDL portion of my drivers licensed is suspended because I didn't send in the two year physical form due in August. Since I hate doctors and I don't need the CDL anymore, the plan was to just let it fall off my driver's license. However, on Saturday, the lady at the counter feared that when she went to change it over to Georgia, the whole thing would come back suspended (i.e. making me ineligible to hold a drivers license period). She suggested I come back Tuesday (they are closed on Monday) to make sure it gets done right. I'm starting to feel like Georgia doesn't want me ... they just don't know how persistent I can be.

One thing I do know is that Georgia knows how to make the bling. I went to the courthouse to pay the ticket I got back in October. The first court date I went to, I showed up just for them to tell me the court load was too backed up and I had been rescheduled. They had sent me a notice, but it arrived two days after the scheduled court day. Anyway, my appointment was at 2 p.m. today. So I, and 400-500 other people, showed up for 2 p.m. court. You think I am exaggerating, but I am not. The line to get in went out of the building, up the steps and around the sidewalk. My ticket was cheap ($136) compared to others. I figured if they average $200 per ticket times 500 people, that's about $100,000 an hour or two. Do that 3-4 times a day and that's a whole lot of bucks. All I can say is if you ever come through DeKalb County Georgia, you best be paying attention to the signs and your speedometer.

While grateful, both Indiana and Georgia feel a little corrupt in the way they handle traffic tickets. In Indiana, you can pay extra money and if you don't get another ticket in a year, you don't get any points on your license. If you do get another ticket, then both tickets count. However, as I found out, if you have a CDL (even a suspended one) you aren't eligible for the program. In Georgia, if you don't contest the ticket, but instead choose just to pay your fine, they will automatically knock 10 miles off of your speeding ticket or, if it was a different kind of moving violation like mine (I turned left on a no turn on left), it gets reduced to an ordinance violation and you just pay the fine and get no points. While I hate that I got two tickets back in October, it was probably a God thing. In recent days when I felt like putting my gas pedal through the floorboard, I remembered I couldn't afford the ticket or the points.

Top Four

Top four things I'm looking forward to over the next 30 days.
  • I'm going home the first weekend in February to celebrate my brother's birthday. This time I'm going straight from ATL to SBN via the friendly skies of Delta. The drive is nothing less than brutal.
  • The new store front is going up on youthleaderscoach.com
  • We've got some great product development ideas we should be able to get off the ground soon.
  • We have two ladies Cadre's over the next three weeks. They will be off the hook.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

A Night in the Trench

Last night I had my first overnighter with a bunch of my 02 middle school girls. Can I be honest? It didn't rank as the thing I was most looking forward to this week. Right beforehand I stared at the list of the 20 plus projects I'm navigating my way through thinking there is no time for this. Turns out, it was the highlight of my week and the MOST IMPORTANT thing I could do this week.

The realization came to me on my way into church this morning with a car load of girls how important it is to push your chair out from your desk and go jump in the trench. While good, in my opinion jumping into the trench is NOT giving a message, writing a discussion guide, creating some cool media or anthing else that involves you, your desk and no one else ... that's just work done in preparation for time in the trench. If you do all that and never actually jump into the trench, it's not all in vain but it falls short of the finish line.

Last night was when I first heard the story of Diana. Diana is from Cali (most of girls are from somewhere else and somehow landed in the ATL). Diana described herself as a "bad, bad girl" when she was in Cali. Her mom sent her to live with aunt in an attempt to keep her from tanking her life. While she finds the ATL boring, she longs to be in church on Wednesday night and admits she's doing much better here. Had I not stopped to just hang out, I probably would of never heard Diana's story and our conversations would never have a chance to move beyond the surface.

At our overnighter, all the girls were either black, Mexican, Puerto Rican or from some other country with cool accents. Honestly, the color of a person's skin makes no difference to me, but there are new things to learn, new challenges to overcome and new respect to be gained. All I know is that they are fun and funny, just like the white kids in Indiana. Desi, one of our leaders, keeps educating me on some things like "the weave." She says, "you'll learn, Judy, you'll learn."

Quote of the Day

My friend, Angie, had this cool quote from Greg Paul on her blog. I don't know who Greg is ... my nearest guess is an incredible author whom I should be reading.

“I am sometimes struck by thoughts of the hundreds of lepers Jesus did not heal, the thousands of people who died of ridiculous little infections during his lifetime, the blind or lame beggars who missed his passing by a few hundred yards or a few minutes. He healed so few! And I, who can heal no one, am reminded that being his presence does not mean fixing everything. Being among people means being in their midst, not outside. It means being with them, not being over them. It means not looking away from their agony or humiliation, but beholding it, and having the courage to be also wounded by their pain.” -Greg Paul

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Depression and Suicide

Some of you have asked me for a copy of what I said the other night at Oxygen. Here you go...

(Began my portion of the message by playing the part of the November 29 Cadre Conference Call where Jeanne is getting back on the line, after jumping off with me to hear the news)

I remember as if it were yesterday, I was standing in the entrance way of the door you came in tonight. My sister was on the other end of the cell phone trying to find the words to tell me that my niece had walked in and found my father had hanged himself. All I can remember is saying “I’m on my way home, I’m on my way home, I am on my way home” … which for me, home is 11 hours away in Indiana.

Jeanne wanted to put me on a plane, but I want to drive … I needed to drive … to cry, scream, beat the steering wheel, to be silent, to talk with Jesus. For most of the way, I had a Jars of Clay song on repeat called “Oh, my God” and that was pretty much my prayer, the cry of my heart, for in one two-minute call, my world had come crashing in on me.

During the drive home, like a bad tape recorder, I replayed the last few moments with my dad in my head over and over again. My dad had interjected some things into a conversation we were having that I missed, but I didn’t have the luxury of knowing what was about to transpire just five days later.

  • He talked about how he would have been ok if he died in the hospital a month earlier when his body became toxic from an adjustment in the medicine he was on. But when we talked about suicidal thoughts before, while he had them, he said “I would never ever do that.”
  • Later on, he repeated what he had said before, “I wish I would have never bought the house. I wish I would have moved in to an apartment. I wish your brother would have put me in a nursing home.”
  • He lived with me for awhile when he had depression before, he said “I enjoyed living together. We had a good thing going.”
  • Randomly he said, “Don’t buy me a Christmas present.”

Instead of listening between the lines, you know what I did, I coached him.

  • “Dad, that house was a great investment.” He loved to play the stock market and make a buck or two. He loved to know he beat the system.
  • “Too bad dad, I already bought you a Christmas present.” I knew he still didn’t feel well and just figured he didn’t feel much like celebrating the holidays.
  • “Dad, I promised we’ll get you to the doctor to get you on the right meds. But dad you’ve got to speak up … you can’t say you’re feeling fine when you aren’t. You can say you’re physically fine, but you’re not in your mind. Dad you’ve got to speak up.” Then we talked about other stuff, I hugged and kissed him, said “I love you dad,” then left.

“You’ve got to speak up dad” … those words echo in my mind today. I tell you all that, so that if you ever find yourself in a state of depression that’s lingered, get some help … as Jeanne already mentioned, sometimes it’s a biological thing. If the first person you tell doesn’t listen or fully grasp what you’re saying, tell someone else. Don’t make people have to guess. Don’t make them have to put the puzzle pieces together or figure out the clues you’re trying to send. Don’t buy into the lies the devil tries to sell you like “they’ll think I’m weak” or “I don’t want to burden them.”

But don’t say those words flippantly either. When I got back, I overheard some of the students, after a bad test or a tough day, say things like “I could just shoot myself” or “I just want to jump off a cliff right about now.” With a smile on my face, in a joking but at the same time serious way, I said, “enough with the suicide jokes.”

And don’t be a drama queen or king either by throwing those statements out there to get attention. If you’re down because you’ve just lost your girlfriend or boyfriend of two weeks or even two years, you’re smart enough to know that while it hurts like all get out now, in time it will get better. Get perspective. BUT if it’s lingering, speak up ... speak up.

At the same time, if you’re on the other end of conversation … listen. On the way home that day, I decided I wanted to officiate my dad funeral … I felt Jesus had some things He wanted me to say. In a nutshell, I talked about how we all wished we could get some do-overs in our life, but sometimes you can wish all you want, but a do-over is just not available. Instead, you just need to resolve to do better next time. My resolution was to love people better. After reflecting on my last conversation with my dad, one way I know to love better is by listening better … to lean in and listen, ask better questions, the questions that no one is asking that go beyond the surface chatter. Things like, “Dad, what do mean when you say that?” “Friend, normally when you talk your eyes dance, they aren’t dancing today, what’s up?”

I want to end tonight by saying this … ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and valleys are a part of life. You heard Jeanne earlier tonight talk about tests you can take to see how prone you are to depression. If I were to take that test, between the my dad’s unexpected tragic death, the holidays, a new job and living in a city hundreds of miles away from my family and friends … my susceptibility to depression score would be off-the-chart. But, I don’t have to take a test, because I can feel it here, inside of me, in my heart. I know I could easily dig myself into hole right now.

For example, it was good for me to drive home for my dad’s funeral, it wasn’t for me to drive home at Christmas. I was heading into a holiday of tradition where a significant member of the family wasn’t going to be there for the first time. I was battling a wave of could of … would of … should of guilt and really just wanted to drive off a cliff or put my gas pedal through the floor board. How many of you know that if I would have dwelled on those thoughts the entire 11 hour drive home, it would not have left me in a good place? While there are no cliffs in Indiana there are a lot of straight-aways to put the gas pedal through the floor board. I HAD THE OPTION TO DWELL OR STAY WELL. I chose not to dwell, but instead to call some friends and think through some product development ideas I have. I wish that was the one and only time I’d ever have to deal with it, but I was getting nailed with it Sunday night to the point I went home from church at 8 and was in bed by 9, when I’m normally just warming up. I laid there in bed, staring at the ceiling for a half hour. At that point, I once again was faced with the option TO DWELL OR STAY WELL I had made a new years resolution to read two books a month and I new if I knocked out a couple of chapters, I’d feel better. So, that’s what I did, I simply got up and read until I got to the point I could sleep. It’s ok for me to process some of my thoughts and feelings about the suicide, but I'm telling you if I park there for any length of time, I am in trouble. It’s in those moments I have to ... and you have to ... decide to DWELL OR STAY WELL. You have to choose to refocus. Even last night, Jenna text me, how’s work going because it was pretty late and I wasn’t home. I responded by telling her that I was working off a funk I was in.

DWELL OR STAY WELL, only you, and you alone, can decide where you are going to allow you head to go … your parents can’t decide for you, your friends can’t decide for you, even Jesus can’t decide … he can help, but he can’t decide for you … you and you alone.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Cadre - 29 States Down 21 To Go

The Cadre - Jeanne's mentoring program for youth pastors - is off the hook. I believe within the next three years, we will have every state represented. This year wasn't bad, the records show 116 youth pastors from 29 different states are represented. The surprise came from the show from California. While it's a largly populated state ... it's a gazillion miles away ... ok, maybe not a gazillion, but it feels that way when you sit in the middle seat on a sold out plane.

Oklahoma came in at number one with twelve. What in the world is in Oklahoma? I didn't know 12 people lived there ... but, oh wait, that's where the infamous Adam Barnett is from. Adam, you almost fell from favor today when you were late getting on the conference call ... but loved that you got on just in time. You are truly amazing and one of the coolest of the cool.

Oklahoma
12
Florida
11
Texas
9
California
9
Michigan
8
Georgia
8
Pennsylvania
6
New Jersey
5
Arizona
5
Arkansas
4
Washington
3
Tennessee
3
South Carolina
3
Montana
3
Missouri
3
Kansas
3
Colorado
3
Alabama
3
Ohio
2
North Carolina
2
Nebraska
2
Indiana
2
Illinois
1
Wyoming
1
Wisconsin
1
West Virginia
1
Nevada
1
Maryland
1
Kentucky
1

Total
116

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Dungeon of Depression

Last night at Oxygen Jeanne addressed the topic of depression and suicide. She nailed it with ways to conquer depression, while encouraging them to gain perspective on people and events that lead to depression. In addition to two great skits, she gave me part of the message time to talk about my dad and my life after a suicide. The response was huge.

One crazy sad story from last night when we were praying for kids was when Missy was talking with an 8th grade girl who was sobbing. Literally that morning, her parents had woke her up at 3 a.m. and told her that she was a mistake, they didn't love her or want her. They brought her down to Atlanta and dropped her off in the foster care system. She landed in the foster care home of one of our church members and the same day came to our youth ministry. Naturally, she was broken. Fortunately, we talk family a lot here and Missy told her, while her heart aches for her and it's a tragic situation, she's welcome here and we'd loved to have her be a part of our family. Words may or may not have felt cheap at that moment, but time will show our words match our actions. Pray for her and the numerous other foster kids in our ministry.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Now I Get It

Did you ever have one of those ah ha moments? Lately I felt like the ball in a ping pong match, bouncing and landing all over the table ... or maybe it's more like reaching new levels of ADD. I couldn't figure it out until I put down on paper everything going through my head at random times. Turns out I have 23 projects I am providing oversight on ... seriuos tweaking ahead.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Who Are You Going To Be Judy

Character is a big, big deal to me. There is always some area I'm trying to refine within myself. In some ways, it's a large part of what drives me. I do pretty well in that department, but am always asking Jesus to help me be the best me I can be. The question I privately ask myself is, "Who are you going to be Judy?" ... sometimes I word it ... "Where are you going to land?"
  • When I find myself in the middle of a conversation laced with gossip.
  • When it's easier to twist words in such a way that I look more favorable and the other person looks less.
  • When I have the opportunity to extend grace and mercy or cast judgement.
  • When I have the option to speak up or stay silent.
  • When I have the opportunity to shift blame or own up to my mistakes.
  • When I can give God the glory or take it for myself.

Even in areas like...

  • When I've wanted to blow money left and right (incidently, I'm doing really well in that department since the new year ... buying the mini-fridge and microwave for my office has already saved me over $50 the last seven days alone ... it hasn't paid off the appliances yet, but by the end of the month it will)
  • When I want to eat fast food/junk food (doing better, but still room for much improvement...mini-fridge and microwave are helping)
  • When I want to skip jumping on the treadmill (not doing great in this department)
  • When I want to be lazy and not read (I found that if I keep my current book and Bible next to me at all times, it helps alot)
There's some work to be done, but in time...

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Tent of Meeting

I enjoyed the nearly 70 degree weather, but Jeanne's teaching in Alliance today even more. It revolved around the Tent of Meeting found in Exodus 33:7-11.

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

The Tent of Meeting is your purposeful place of personal encounter with the Lord (ie your quiet time).

"I don't know shortcuts on anything that matters ... your walk with Christ, marriage, raising kids, losing weight, etc."

"I read the Word of God whether I want to or not ... with a pen in my hand. It's Oxygen to my soul."

In a nutshell, here are the six things that will happen WITHOUT the Tent of Meeting...
1. Ministry will become a chore and not a calling.
2. You'll talk about discipleship but in reality will be discipling no one. Moses taught Joshua ministry started and stopped in the Tent of Meeting.
3. Eventually you'll minister through a critical, judgemental spirit not through a heart of love.
4. You find yourself repeatively moving in man's wisdom and not in God's, but frightfully enough will still see results ... God honor his Word.
5. You'll often battle discouragement. We try to get security and happiness through others and things but it will never be the result of our circumstances ... it is an inside job.
6. You have a higher likelihood of giving into your Hell bait areas (ex. disease to please). There are not necessarily levels of sin, but some sin areas costs you more. Sin begins as a seed, prayer combats and aborts it before it takes root.

Friday, January 04, 2008

Another Great Jeanne Quote

I'm sure she stole it from somewhere, but I'm giving Jeanne the credit.

There's not much difference between your frineds and your enemies. Your friends choose to focus on the positve things about you, while your enemies focus on the negative.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

FREEZING!

My friends always get ticked when I write or text them about how wonderful the weather is in Atlanta. Ok, just so you know, it's stinkin' frigid right now ... I even saw snowflakes in the headlights last night. My car says it's 23 degrees. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. There is only one degree difference right now between the windchill factor in Atlanta vs. Granger ... there goes my bragging right.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

A Resource Every Youth Pastor Should Have On Their Shelf

I'm the last one to listen to Jeanne's monthly resource - "Source" and "Youth Leader's Coach"- before it goes to Piper Media for duplication (which if Josh and I have anything to do with it, will be downloadable in the next few months) and Midwest Mail Works for mailing. This month had some bumps so I've had to send it back to the guys for tweaking, which has required me to listen to it not once but four times. After listening to it for the fourth time, I've come to the conclusion that this is a resource that should be on every youth pastor's shelf ... in fact, they should have multiple copies to hand out to students.

The title of the "Source" this month is "Guy Meets Guy ... Girl Meets Girl" and it's on homosexuality. Latest stats tell us that 30% of students today will at one point in their teenage years question their sexual identity. That's a significant percentage. It doesn't mean that 30% will adopt a homosexual lifestyle, but 30% will at some point question their identity. With that in mind, this resource is invaluable. Not because of the high percentage though, but because of the content within. The approach Jeanne takes in the resource is non-offensive, yet some of the most straight talk on the topic that I've ever heard.

I've got a couple of friends whom I love dearly that live a homosexual lifestyle, so I listen and read things through a different filter. I listen and read things with them in mind ... considering what they might think, how they might interpret what was said, etc. Now, the reality is I know that if we actually sat down and discussed it, while it would be a great conversation, we probably wouldn't influence each others thoughts. Nevertheless, they matter to me. And, the kids questioning their sexual identity matter to me. This is a CD that they need to listen to ... especially the three tracks "Answering the Question, 'Does this mean I'm gay,'" "The Root Issue: Unmet Emotional Needs" and "Breaking Away from Emotional Dependency."

Resourcing the Church

Spent part of New Year's Eve dreaming youth ministry stuff with Josh and Monica ... and totally loved it. When Josh Mayo and I put our brains together it's a scary thing. We both have way too many ideas than we possibly have time to implement. However, we have landed on four that we're working on getting done before Jeanne goes to the Group Conference in February. I am totally stoked. Later on, after we rung in the new year, I was talking with Jeanne about what a geek I am on this stuff and how much I absolutely love it. She laughed, affirmed me and said "Judy, I love watching your eyes light up when you talk about resourcing the church." I can't wait to dive in. I think the stuff we've come up will help youth pastors around the nation to spend less time behind their desk and enable them to go out and love on their kids.

I think 2008 is going to be a life changing year.

New Year's Resolutions in Bite Size Chunks #2 and #3

I'm off to a good start on the second one. New Year's Resolution #2 is to get my finances in order and be strategic about them. Most people would tell me I've already got that nailed because, other than my rent and utilities, I have no debt ... credit cards are paid at the end of each month, car is paid off, etc. However, lately I've spent money like it's going out of style ... between grief shopping, going out to eat because I'm always in a mad dash hurry and impulse buying, I'm out of control.

So, I bought a small refrigerator and microwave for my office (you've got to spend money to make it ... right?) and I loaded it up with Diet Dew and bought some soup and stuff. So instead of running down to QT twice a day to buy a $1.50 bottle of Diet Dew, I'll drink my cans that cost me a quarter a piece. Instead of running to Wendy's and spending $5, I'll eat my PBJ and soup for $1.50. I'm feeling pretty good about this one, especially since I spent the Michigan game going through mounds of paperwork to make sure my I's are dotted and T's are crossed. In the process I found about $150 in different gift cards, so that was fun. The only other thing I have to get a handle on in this area is my retirement accounts, they are everywhere. I'm not sure how I'm going to resolve that one but I'll figure it out.

Resolution #3 is to eat better and exercise, pretty much the resolution everyone and their brother makes. Rather than to say I want to lose "X" pounds, I'm just going to keep it simple and say I'm going to make movements in the right direction when it comes to eating and exercising. I've got a plan that I will implement in bite size chuncks. It begins with slowing life down a notch ... not much (I actually enjoy Mach 2, just not Mach 3) ... just a little to help keep my priorities ... well, a priority.