I don't get many comments...I've Noticed

So, I really don't get many comments left on my blog, this I have noticed. Maybe it's because I am a little Jedi like, maybe my blogs are not comment worthy or my posts really don't lend them selves to comments, well, I dont' know.

A couple of great friends

Not only two of my best friends, but my dad and my brother. I couldn't be more blessed to be so close to these guys, I love them. My dad was my youth pastor and my brother has been with me in ministry since the beginning. I couldn't of done much without him.

My Boys

I love my boys. They are so much and we have a blast. Tonight we went for a bike ride, and then a wagon ride, and then played basketball out front. How fun.

I am going to Battle Cry

I know, I promised I would never go, but my new church had made plans to attend, so I had to suck up the pride and I am going. Trying to nail down who is going with us, oh, the fun of sign up sheets. I wonder if Ron still has a mullet? I doubt it. Don't get me wrong, I very much so admire Ron Luce, but he had a mullet at the last acquire the fire event I went to. This is all surprising to me, because I love events. I do, it's in my blood, the bigger the better, go big or go home. So, I will definately enjoy it from an event's standpoint.

Why do I hate MySpace?

I do, I really do, I hate it. Maybe hate is a strong word, I have to be careful, because my friend Dave will pick up on this, and will never let me forget it, so...Maybe I just dislike MySpace, or maybe MySpace is not for me. I mean, I like the concept, heck, I have a blog, but I just don't like MySpace. I really don't know why, I think it can become a huge ministry tool, but it's just not for me. Now, I have a MySpace, I have had one for a year, I just haven't let anybody know.

I may dislike it because:

The half naked women, or maybe I like that part, but I shouldn't. I got a MySpace request the other and I so opened it and poof, there was one of those Naughty girl pictures and at just that moment a bunch of people walked into our church office, yeah, explaining to do I did.

It just seems people are a lot more vulgar on MySpace. Now, I have a little battle going on in my life with vulgarity. Maybe somewhere down deep, I really don't have much a problem with it, but I still haven't balanced that feeling with scripture, I am working on that. But, out of deep respect and love for my wonderful wife, I try to not be vulgar. She hates it, and actually loathes it, that may be the wrong word, but she doesn't understand it. Like, why do we need to be vulgar? I understand that, I really do. Typcially the only time I am vulgar or swear is when I am super mad or it helps my cause, so I don't know. It just seems that people are much more dirtier on MySpace. SIDE NOTE: I am a youth pastor, I also do a lot of speaking and if I was vulgar on my blog and students read that, is that being a good example? I know, just something I am wrestling with.

It's Addicting. My buddy Aaron actually wrote a blog about this on his MySpace and hit home this point. People become addicted to it, because of their friend lists and how large it is, and how many comments they get. It's almost like some people are getting their self worth from it.

My Mac hates it. Seriously, everytime I open it up, I get that darn little swirling ball. It hates it.

Ok, so I know none of these are good enough reasons to hate it, but maybe I just don't understand what all the fuss is about.

My favorite Lunch Place

Today I get to have lunch at my Favorite, and I mean my FAVORITE Lunch place in the entire WORLD. BD's Mongolian BBQ. OH MAN, I love this place.

I am having lunch with some folks from

Ideation

. They are a graphic design & signage company and they wanted to talk with me about church marketing and stuff like that. I love church marketing and I love talking and discussing how to reach and develop relationships with church's in order to help them. Can't wait for the lunch and our discussion.

April 12, Jr. High Youth Worker Training

I can't wait! This is one of the areas that I have been dreaming about Project311 being able to offer for local youth workers and next week we will. On April 12th, we get the honor of bringing in Scott Rubin, the Jr. high director at Willow Creek Community Church, to the Detroit area for a Jr. high youth worker training day. I can whole-heartedly say that Scott is one of my good friends and I am honored to get a chance to partner with him.

Exiting it will be! How about that Jedi talk.

Coffee Break

Project311 (e) newsletter

Huh, I figured it out, I am not as lame as I thought as I was. If you would like to receive our (e) newsletter, just enter your info at the handy dandy link and poof, you will get it.

Last Night Rocked

Do people still say that? It rocked? Well, anyways, last night went really well. The Mainstream meeting was held at Huron Hills Baptist Church in Ann Arbor and this church has this really cool lodge like building where their youth meet. Yeah, you read that right, a lodge. Complete with timbers, a fireplace and everything.

Well, they gave me about 20 minutes to share my heart on the need to connect with other youth workers. I was blown away by the response, it was just a lot of fun. I was kicking myself about 5 minutes after the night, because I should of brought a board member from Project311 to experience it as well, next time.

This group has three really amazing youth workers who have been living youth ministry for more than 25 years a piece, awesome.

Looking forward to Tonight

Tonight I get to go hang out with a bunch of youth workers from the Ann Arbor area. This area has a network called Mainstream and they meet pretty reguraly. It's headed up by some veteran youth workers and I mean veteran. I say it that way because each of them has been in ministry I bet for longer than 25 years a piece, so it's really cool just to sit and listen to them and ask questions.

The really cool part is they asked me to share a little about the power of connecting with other youth workers, which is one of my passion areas. Can't wait.

Elevate went well last night

Last night went well. I am trying to figure out how I am measuring that by though, what are my measures of success?

Numbers? I don't want these to be one, but I think they have to be, or do they? I am not sure. Our numbers were down from the last two, so does that lower the night's overall success?

Environment? We get to use this huge honkin gym, and we set up the band over in one corner. The environmnt needs work, I will tell you that.

Adults? We have 4 adults interested in becoming leaders and starting cell groups, so that seems like a success measure. Our other adult leaders are awesome...Jess, Steve, Sarah, Michelle, JB.

Worship? Led by JB himself, he didn't use a drummer and wrote drum tracks on his Mac, it was sweet. Students were engaged. And two students, a bass player and a guitar player helped him out, it was very nice.

Talk? Not so good. I didn't put in the time I needed, students were engaged, but that's not the hard part.

Excited Level? I now have students telling me that are excited about Elevate, is that a success measure?

Well, lot's of work to do.

Still trying to figure it out

Way back in 2001, we hosted an event called the 12 Hour Blitz. It was your basic lock-in on steroids. 1 year of planning, months of prep work, lot's of apologetic training, lot's of encouraging students to bring their friends, lot's of work to get a team of over 300 adults (the church was only 500 people) , lot's of work raising money, taking events into the local public schools, totally turning the church building into a pimp zone and did I mention lot's of work. Well, we planned for 800 students and we shut down registration at 2100 students only an hour and an half into the event. We turned away over a hundred cars and traffic was backed up for at least three quarters of a mile.

We literally built a coffeehouse and a maze inside the building. We removed every ceiling tile in the place and put black lights frickin everywhere, it was cool back then. We just went crazy. We spent so much time just walking around the building and trying to figure out how to make it appealing to a kid who has never stepped inside a church building. We brought in a great speaker, had over 20 bands all night long and of course we put out the standard challenge to our kids about sharing their story withe a friend. All of this work for the sake of the gospel.

Well, we were overwhelmed. This building was not that big and 2100 kids sure does fill the place up. We ended up having to do 3 programs instead of one and something like 345 kids made a decision to follow Christ that night. I think about those 70 hour work weeks the 6 weeks prior to the event and all the energy we spent and it just makes me tired to think about it. I wonder and question what happened to those 345 kids. That's probably because I have been struggling with the old school altar call and all that the last couple of years.

I don't know, I am in a really weird place. Because for years this event gave me validation for why I did ministry, because I was so proud that we could make a huge impact like that. But 5 years later, I am still trying to figure out if it was worth it. I think about trying to do it again and I can't even fathom it. I do think God showed up in a major way, I do think the hundreds of workers and students who poured their time, money and sweat was great for building leaders, I do no think we made an impact in the community, I do think our kids held their heads high at their schools and I do think God was honored. But, now that I am trying to build a student ministry from the groud up, I am questioning everything that I used to do. That it itself is wild for me, because I don't do much questioning, I just do.

Wondering what the point was...

A healthy, Relational Ministry is the Goal

Tonight is Elevate. That's what we call our gathering of jr./sr. high students. Right now we meet twice a month and everybody's combined. We get to use this workout gym for our meeting place, so it's cool to have a lot of space.

I have been at 2|42 for a month now and I in my own opinion I haven't done anything real earth shattering. I have just been trying to concentrate on relationships. I have known one way of doing ministry for 11 years and I am questioning that way big time right now. My natural mind set is to slip into "growth" mode. What do I mean by that? Well, "growth" mode to me is easy. It's natural. It's filled with a lot of goals, building teams, hype, and challenges. I think all that has a place, but I am trying to lay a very relational foundation.

I want every kid who comes to be known. That's why I spend a great deal of energy learning every one's names and trying to connect with each kid.

Anyway, I can't wait.

It is so Cool How God Provides

I have been invited the last couple of years to an extremely beneficial and very cool conference or summit or forum of sorts. I think it's techinally put on by

Marko

, but I think it was started by Eric Venable (An awesome guy and a cool friend) and Marko, but I am not sure about that. It was started to draft a letter to the "Church" about the importance of Jr. High Ministry. So, a gathering of incredible Jr. high ministry leaders from around the country assembled and laid it out. Sweet, yeah I know. So, anyway, I was invited a couple of years ago and I was like, what? Who me? But, I got together the funds (my church wouldn't pay for it, I still have a hard time letting that one go, but that's for another post) and headed out to San Diego. I remember walking into the room that first day sort of being "ministry star" struck. There is typically only about 20 leaders there and it's a great time. Great experience, great discussion, great relationship building and great learning.

So, I got the official invite this year and I can't wait. The only hitch was I didn't know how to pay for it. Money is tighter than tight and it just doesn't exist for something like this. So, anyways, I get a phone call today from a former board member of Project311 and he was like you going? I was like, well...and he was like, let's get your plane ticket right now. And he bought it for me right then and there. Man, how awesome is that. It amazes me how God provides. Believe it or not, the same thing happened last year and Marko totally blessed me by helping me get out there. This last year has been tough and it's been tough having to learn to put out the ask. I am bad with it, but I am learning.

Look out Martha, here comes Tracie

My wife is so creative. Her parents anniversary is coming, so she went and bought a clock, took it apart, printed a bunch of pictures of our kids and our nephews. Then she painted a saying, I am not remembering it right now, on the clock. Then pasted the pictures over the numbers and put it all back together. It is so cool. It is a great grand parent gift. Look out Martha...

One of my Best Friends

You have ever have a hard time writing down what someone means to you? Well, it is that way for me when it comes Tom Rundel. Man, this guy is probably one of my best friends and is one the greatest friends someone could ever have. I have known Tom for probably 11 or 12 years and we have been through a lot of life together. We met at Mountain Jacks, a prime rib restaurant we both worked at, way back when. He was a dish washer, I was a cook, and I was told to train him. It wasn't long before Tom was 4 times the cook I was. Well, long story short he got really involved at my first church and we lived ministry together 8 years. Any "success" I have had in ministry is because of Tom. When you talk about being supportive, he could write a book on it. When it comes to being a servant, his life is a great example. When it comes to 1 Cor. 13, Tom is it. He is patient, he is kind, he is so incredibly loving, it's amazing. He's a great husband, and he's a great dad. He's a stinking great youth pastor and an awesome son.

So, if you haven't noticed, I love this guy with everything I am. Tom and his Kara have had their share of crappy life moments these past two years and I wish I could of taken all of the pain away from them. They have gone through more in 2 years than most do in a lifetime and I so wish God would of allowed me to suffer and not them. Their son Isaac has had numerous surgeries and extensive hospital stays. And in the spring they lost a son, Elijah. Have you ever been so close to someone that you can feel their pain? Well, it's sort of like that with Tom. Now, I know I have never come close to feeling their pain like they have, but my heart has ached with them.

One of the things I love most about Tom, is our ability to just talk forever. I know, we sound like a bunch of girls, but I love talking with him. We talk pretty reguraly, even though he lives a couple of hours away from me. These pictures are from our rock star days. Tom by the way is excellent guitar player. How could he not be with his foot long fingers.

Anyways, I love him and I ask God to bless him, make His face shine upon him, give HIm peace, take away his burdens, ease up life, financially bless (they have racked up about $20K in medical debt because insurance companies suck) and wrap His arms around his family.

US it is

I saw this over on Marko's blog and I wondered where the majority of my blog readers come from. Well, US it is. Early on I had some visitors from Finland, Russia and Japan, but no more. But, I have one from an unknown county, yeah.

My family does make me Happy

I read an interesting article in the Detroit News yesterday about a survey from Ohio University that researched peoples happiness. They asked, "Generally speaking, how happy would you say you are: very happy, fairly happy or not too happy?" 52% answered "very happy". Here are the othe results:

Men 48%
Women 54%

Single 41%
Married 60%

Single Men 37% (Huh)
Single Women 45% (Huh)

Married Men 57%
Married Women 62%

Has kids 56%
Never had kids 45%

Attended Church Recently 60%
Not attended Church lately 46%

Protestant 56%
Catholic 48%
Jewish 71%
No religious preference 44% (Huh, imagine that)

The Power of the Guest Speaker

It's no lie, I love to teach. I love it and for some reason God has opened some cool doors for me to teach all over the place. I really love teaching my youth group and I really love getting a chance to be the guest speaker on retreats, and what not.

I have always felt an infinity to speakers and teachers. I have spent years studying them, studying communication and being mentored by them. I struggle with it though. I struggle with the affect a speaker has with a group of students they don't know and may never see again. I know the affect is much smaller, much less than the relationships they have with their adults. I have spent a great deal of time as a speaker on mission trips with Adventures in Mission, so I have experienced all this first hand. Now these trips are different than the normal retreats or a one night deal that a speaker comes in and goes out. With a mission trip, I am there all week. Some what of a relationship is built, but at the end of the week everyone still goes home. Then, I really don't feel it's my place to stay in contact because I am not there youth pastor. While on the trip I always point them towards their youth pastor and leaders. Even when they want to have a serious heart to heart, I always try to point them back to their leaders, they do do life with them.

So, the affect. Now, I understand this may sound as arrogant as all get out, but I have spent the latter part of the last 10 years shying away from the gifts God has given me. And it has taken me a long time to actually realize and to come to grips with that fact, God has given me some gifts with communication. So, all that being said. I think there is some great affect and I think there is also little affect that takes place. I think one of the big ones is that a guest speaker can say things that the youth pastor has said a hundred times and finally it hits home because the speaker validates it to the students. I also think there's a whole lot of power in communication. Especially when gifts are being used, humbleness is represented and the Holy Spirit takes over. The affect can be huge. I have seen and watched students as they have "ah hah" moments where everything seems to come together in their mind, heart and soul. I also think another affect is Laughter. The most common response I get when I ask someone about a talk or message is..."it was boring". Man, when someone thinks a talk or message is boring they check out and check out big time. So, a guest teacher who has a gift of bringing forth laughter from every ounce of someone's being can have a profound affect on them.

Some of the pros. Will think about the negative affects.

The first Blitzfest

Blitzfest 01 held at the good old 1st Baptist of Pontiac was a dandy. Sanctus Real, John Rueben, Buck, Squad 5-0, and Relient K. It turned out pretty well. The nice part was having the financial backing of 4 churches, that was NICE.

Blitzfest came from a lock in that we were doing at Shepherd called the 12 hour blitz. This was a crazy deal and we basically outgrew our church so I went to some area churches and said let's do it together. The Blitzfest was born.