Blogelemy

TXT MSGS

I'm one who usually gets pretty geeked out by technology. Most people who know me know that my favorite store is Best Buy! I love using technology in youth ministry. I enjoy this probably more than I should.

Knowing the Text Messages are the way teenagers are communicating most these days, we just launched a Beta test for Text Messaging our Students, Parents and Leaders. We are hoping to use yet another method to get the word out about upcoming events, last minuted details and the occasional encouragement. They can subscribe to the text blasts and we can send them out through one very affordable web portal. We only have 31 signed up right now. I'll let you know how it goes.

TTYL

Labels: youth ministry

Quality Time

I'm one who believes strongly in the "5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. The ideas behind the book have greatly improved my relationships with family, co-workers and friends. So, one of my most important relationships is my relationship with my wife. Her love language like most woman is "Quality Time". So tonight, in light of her birthday, I am forfeiting my desire to be at the midweek program to spend important quality time with the one I love. I write this not so that I can be regarded as a hero but as a reminder to myself and others that I need to be carving out this time on a regular basis so that I don't need to create emergency quality times with my wife.

Labels: Family

TitanTic

So this past Sunday night during D-groups we kicked off our L.S.D. series. This isn't a series on drugs. Rather it is on Love, Sex and Dating. I taught for a few minutes on the differences between men and woman and at one point in my talk I shared the difference between guy movies and girl movies. My wife has a theory that tests to be true most of the time. She feels that if more than one person dies, then the movie is a guy movie. I shared with the students that this is true most of the time except for movies like "TitanTic" Yeah, I added the extra 'T' in there. Which was funny in and of itself. What was probably funnier to those listening (all three of them) was that I kept going like I had said it correctly! I didn't even catch it. I am glad that God has given me the humility to laugh at myself and move on. I can remember a time when that would've completely humiliated me and I would've wanted to slither off the stage.

Labels: youth ministry

You might live in Minnesota if...

We were walking through the skyway's in downtown Duluth and we walked up to live Curling. I couldn't believe it. I think that I could have watched for hours...

Labels: Activities, observations

Flexiblity

So I'm on a retreat with 85 people learning a lot about being flexible. Like the above sign on our meeting room. This retreat felt much more like a Mission trip than a retreat. Not because of the level of service that we were doing but because of the number of changes and fixes that we had to make on the fly. It is a good thing to have to fully rely on God to take care of the unexpected. After a few phone calls we found that the Encounter in downtown Duluth could accommodate our loud group for the meeting times that we had scheduled.

Labels: youth ministry

Jason is...

Yesterday morning I logged on to my Facebook account and updated my profile to share with the world that "Jason is... looking forward to a relaxing day". I wrote this because before my day really started I anticipated a much easier Sunday than most Sundays according to my schedule. That couldn't have been further from the truth! Sunday morning I met with an elder and a couple who were freshly facing the hardest thing they could ever experience as a couple. I also had an intense meeting with a family who is at their whits end with one of their kids. Those two meetings alone wore me out!

So, I went home and as I was reflecting through my day in my brain tivo, I realized that it is nearly impossible to predict how a day is going to go until it happens. I am grateful that God is in control and nothing surprises Him.

Labels: Family

Video games

Here is my wife shopping for a new wii video game. Never thought I would see that!

Labels: Family

Praying for an "Explosion"?

The other day I was meeting with the Children's Director (Julie) and Junior High Pastor (Travis) at the Dunn Bros. down the street and we were praying and dreaming about ministry opportunities for the future.  As we were praying, I got the word "explosion" in my mind and I haven't been able to shake it.  I strongly believe that we are seeking God for a ministry explosion.  Not the kind of explosion that leaves people in disarray with all kinds of shrapnel. Rather, the kind that impacts waves of people.  Not the kind of explosion that just brings in drones of people, but the kind that transforms generations.  As is usually the case, this life transformation has to start at the top.  I've got to be willing to trust God with this ministry and not try to set the dynamite myself.

Labels: youth ministry

Swim lessons

I'm 'mobile blogging' from my son's swim lessons. He is currently in a swim class that is extremely easy for him. He has some perfectionism in his personality so he doesn't mind being able to do everything the instructor asks.

As the only 'soccer dad' I have observed how private everyone is. I'm watching mom's sitting an arms length away from other moms but none of them are talking to each other. Most are on their cell phones, some are looking at magazines or making lists. Its amazing to me how much it takes for people to open up and strike up a conversation. I should talk, here I am mobile blogging. Its definitely easier and safer to seem busy and preoccupied than to vulnerable and open to stangers. But is it worth it? Probably not! Here comes a soccer dad, I'm going to give it a try.

Labels: Ramblings

Just Say "No"

I did something yesterday that is very hard for me to do.  I said 'no' to something.  I don't know if it is my people pleaser personality or my desire to be high capacity, but for some reason it is hard to say 'no' to people's requests.  In this case I said no to someone that I deeply respect to a request that wasn't unbearable.  However, as things have started to pile up there are a number of casualties to accepting everyone's requests.  Two major casualties come to mind:  First, my family pays by not having dad at home for just another meeting or practice.  Second, I cheat myself out of having the margin necessary to do the things that I do with joy and excellence.  If I am spread too thin then I cheat the preparation, prayer and follow through. 

One of my favorite books, The Next Generation Leader, by Andy Stanley has a principle in it that says, "Only do what only you can do".  This has been by far one of the hardest things to apply but I think that it is profitable for it to remain a goal.

Labels: youth ministry