The coffee war is in high gear;
Just last month Mc D’s was giving it away…gotta admit it’s pretty decent!
Now an official Canandian poll – which coffee do you prefer Tim Horton’s or Starbucks (it says a great deal about Canadians)
What about you? Tims or Sbucks? and why?
Check out the latest findings: http://bit.ly/DKtDh
My passion = family and serving other families…
Appears to be fairly simple when you read that statement…but their are a ton of underlying implications.
I am convinced that my #1purpose/passion on this planet is to serve/love/lead my family. For me there is no greater calling…but it certainly does not come easy! You see, I admit that I am a selfish person…there is so much within me that says, “live your life the way you want to live it…it’s your life after all…you are the center of your universe.” What a lie!!
When you marry the one you love…you are actually vowing to love the one you marry…in the good and in the bad. When you bring children into this world you are committing to loving/nurturing/guiding and disciplining them for the rest of your life. Children are not a part time hobby…or something you invest in for a few years…it’ a life time commitment!
What has happened in our society that the divorce rate is over 50% and many couples who are still together live together but do not love each other? Why are there so many children today in our world who feel unworthy, unaccepted and unloved?
When our lives are boiled down to one simple purpose…the only thing that really matters is “relationships”. Our culture tells us we need to fit into a certain mold…to chase after success, power, money, sex…where does that leave us?
EMPTY and ALONE…
Living and working within my passion…changes everything! Sure I’d like to acquire the latest gadgets and travel around the world..and maybe someday get a “real job”. But I’m not going down that road! I’d rather leave a legacy in the lives of my family members and the people I’ve had the chance to influence.
This is why I’m so stoked about my transition in ministry! Starting in July I will be specializing in family ministry…I can’t wait to see how God will choose to use me and my family to make a difference in our community and the families within my sphere of influence.
I have already had comments from some people saying…”So you are giving up on youth ministry…you don’t want to hang out with kids anymore”? That’s so not true…the fact is this; when it comes to influence who has the greatest opportunity in a childs life to influence? Any youth pastor out there who thinks they are the greatest influence in a kids life needs a large dose of reality! The greatest influence in a kids life will always be mom and dad (no matter what the home situation looks like).
I am so looking forward to a new adventure living and working within my passion to love on my family and serve families within my sphere of influence!
I’m not a betting man (good thing since I’m broke)…but I’d be willing to bet that the majority of individuals I rub shoulders with on a daily basis would do almost anything to live and work within their passion. It’s what I have been referring to lately as a person’s SWEET SPOT.
How do you define the SWEET SPOT? Answers.com defines the SWEET SPOT in many applicable terms…these are my personal favourites;
How about you? Are you living and working within yours?
I’ll have more to share about mine tomorrow…
From http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/
As Christian parents, we rejoice when our kids believe the simple message of the gospel, placing their faith in Jesus for the salvation of their sins. As they grow, we can help them get a deeper understanding for what that…
Read More:
http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/article/what_it_means_to_be_saved/
*Save 20% off the retail price of “The Wisdom Deck” when you use Coupon Code RWPN104 and order by 5/30/09.
http://www.realworldparents.com/store/item/the_wisdom_deck/
DRIB = Text-message usage, short for “Don’t Read If Busy”
Life Password = The password that you use for every website, email account, Facebook, Twitter, everything.
The first “Night at the Museum” movie was a big hit with families back in 2006, and we’d expect this madcap, silly misadventure to do…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/night_at_the_museum_battle_of_the_smithsonian/ As you might suspect with a movie called “Salvation” set in a time after “Judgment Day,” the “Terminator” worldview is built on biblical themes in…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/terminator_salvation/
New study finds teen girls regret having sex earlier [Insciences]
http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=5101
Adolescent Awkwardness or Serious Problem? [Saint Louis University]
http://www.slu.edu/x30509.xml
The Religion Decision [Boston.com]
http://www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/child_caring/2009/05/the_religion_decision.html
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
- Harry S. Truman
Packed with ideas for conversation starters and wisdom that will help with school, sports, dating, money, and college. Dive into deeper, wiser discussions with The Wisdom Deck. Lean more about The Wisdom Deck at http://www.theWisdomDeck.com!
Tonight on Global TV stations across Canada…8PM here in Calgary Hip to be Holy…looks interesting
Just came across this blog by Marko…been feeling and thinking about this for a long time; what do you think?
“Having a highly reproducible Youth ministry model = healthy youth ministry. Right?
I argue that the best youth ministry models are the models that aren’t reproducible. I think a youth ministry doesn’t have to subscribe to a corporatized youth ministry model and can still have a very sustainable youth ministry.
I wish some youth ministries and youth pastors would be more focused about being cultural missionaries and architects than trying to follow a youth ministry model which has a clear 2-D chart on how to build a healthy youth ministry.
There needs to be more of a focus on being missional, intellectual, and transformational. Youth pastors needs to get out of their office and go outside of the church to do youth ministry.
The problem is….(I am assuming here) that about 75% of American Evangelical youth pastors don’t have a clue how to 1) contextualize a youth ministry philosophy/model that reflects their current ministry and 2) think theologically. Youth pastors look to the mega-church youth pastors/mega youth ministry organizations to do this for them. We heavily rely on the youth ministry super-heros to do the work for us.
Why do you think so many youth pastors are completely confused and frustrated about Marko’s thesis in Youth Ministry 3.0? Marko didn’t give any acronyms or charts, which as a result left youth pastors dumbfounded and clueless. Marko in a very prophetic tone is deliberately challenging American Evangelicalism youth pastors to start thinking theologically and contextually about how to do youth ministry in the 21st century. Every youth pastor should be creating their own youth ministry model.
Let’s be honest…..American youth ministry has tried the highly reproducible-mecca youth ministry model and looks where it has gotten us?
Some denominations estimate that over 50% of their youth group graduates fall away from either their faith or their faith communities upon entering college.
DANGERS of A HIGHLY Reproducible Youth Ministry Model:
* Reproducible youth ministries inherently produce manufactured products of Jesus.
* Reproducible youth ministries come off as gimmicky and surfacey.
* Reproducible youth ministries become spiritually monotonous.
* Reproducible youth ministries are all about their youth room and youth program. Their model is very “inside” Christian bubble way of doing youth ministry. They expect all the non-church kids to come to their church event.
*Reproducible youth ministries are spiritual safety programs for church kids. It becomes more about sin management than it does about being the Kingdom of God to the world.
* Reproducible youth ministries are driven by results. Models some times equate results with numbers and the size of the group. Repoducible YM model seek after multiplication. The implication is….that multiplication is a huge priority along with transformation.
* Reproducible youth ministries build a youth ministry machine which needs to be managed or else it will destroy the youth pastor. It is called burn out. The saying of: If you will build, they will come…is so true….. But there is a high cost to pay for it….which is the youth pastor’s sanity.
* Youth ministry models rarely considers how to get students into BIG CHURCH. Youth ministry models are typically all about the youth ministry and the youth pastor. Look at the mega church across the nation….they have seperate youth ministry services on Sunday.
I strongly believe that in 10 years we will not see any reproducible youth ministry models. Youth pastors will need to get better at thinking, observing, assessing, and implementing according to their context instead of stressing out about how to import a pre-packaged-non-contextual youth ministry model into their youth ministry.
I get it….bigger youth ministries need some type of structure and systematic way to organize their youth ministry beast, and models greatly help with that.
However smaller youth ministries (less than 70 kids) don’t need to be messing around with a highly producible model. I say if you are a smaller youth ministry figure out what you do well, and do it.
Highly reproducible youth ministry models will become obsolete. You can quote me there. What we will see more of, is more contextual youth ministries telling their story to the general youth ministry public about what they are doing and how they did it. Youth pastors can learn from other youth pastors youth ministry narratives and extrapolate themes and ideas, and not a structured model.
I think highly reproducible youth ministry models have robbed youth pastors of their creativity and theological ability. Highly reproducible youth ministry models have contributed to making many youth ministries across the nation all a like. I would like to see a lot of different youth ministries doing a lot of different things rather than doing everything the same.
Youth pastors need to learn how to think about youth ministry, rather than always concern with how to do youth ministry. There is a difference. Ideals and context shape practice. We need to focus on ideas and context, rather than always being concerned about practice.”
It’s been a weird week!
A few weeks back I talked to our junior highers about the importance of friendship….here is so more great FRIEND ADVICE;.
1) Put your friends on your list.
Our friends are often the first thing we brush off when life gets hectic. I do this constantly. I’ve told some of my friends up front “I’m a bad friend”. Because I know myself, I realize I’m going to need to warn them of my sudden disappearance from their lives and then sudden reappearances on facebook and myspace. Facebook is great but face time is even better. I learned this with my sister last week when she was visiting from Ohio. Face time is always better.
2) Be there during rough stuff.
When your friends lives stink and you’ve got no reason to want to be a part of it, hang with her (or him). Just be there. Think of small things to show support. Our pastor said it best a few weeks ago in a sermon. “Lift others up because you just never know when you’re going to need to lean on them.”
3) Don’t give too much advice.
This is a hard one, especially for us pastoral types. Sometimes our friends just need us to listen. And we know that there are times when we need to be heard as well. Wait for your friends to ask for your advice before you give it. Listen for things like, “what do you think I should do?” or “how would you feel if you were in my situation?”
4) Accept your friends as they are.
Wouldn’t it be great if all of our friends were just like us? No way! You can never expect any one person to be all things for you and you probably wouldn’t want that expectation placed on you either. See when your friends fail, take notes even to avoid the same mistakes, but try not to judge. Love them as they are and be patient.
5) Think about their feelings and circumstances.
If you know your friend is tight on money or going through a hard time, think about them when making plans. Opt for a less expensive night out, instead of spending your time talking about your parents (hers could be going through a divorce), talk about your goals or hopes for the future. Do something active outside that doesn’t cost a dime and relieve some stress their wallets and yours.
6) Look out your friends when you’re on your own.
No ones wants an unflattering picture tagged on facebook or a comment thread that’s poking fun at them. Think of other when you are shopping, messaging, talking, playing. Chances are you’ll be that friend that you always wanted.
Check out the newest craze…move over TWITTER ….it’s called FLUTTER!!
Anybody who think we live in a boring…predictable… mundane world obviously hasn’t seen these headlines!!
I can’t imagine my 8 year old doing what this 7 year old did!
If you’ve eaten a Chic-fil-A you will fully appreciate this parody…if not..sucks to be you!
Alfie (a 12 year old boy) is not the youngest father after-all http://bit.ly/l8Use
Another reason I am so grateful that I live in Calgary and not Edmonton…sorry all you Oiler fans! http://bit.ly/SvJ9E
Slimy nasty! The things people will do to get noticed! http://bit.ly/YoDfc
and finally…. the “cheesiest” thing of all time http://bit.ly/2bQKy
Well the long weekend has now come and gone and tomorrow it’s back to work; before I sit down to watch the season finale of CSI: Miami I wanted to post some of the interesting things that I came across this weekend:
Question: How do I select and sustain motivation for ongoing service ministry at home? interesting thoughts….http://bitly.com/KC7w
Love this appreciation video for leaders!
With the graduation season upon us…check out the “15 Best Graduation Falls” http://bit.ly/16yg2t
Even though Canada came 2nd in the World’s and there are no longer any Canadian teams left in the chase for the Stanley Cup – Canada still has some serious talent!! Feast your eyes on Julia Dales…beatbox extroardinaire!
The end of American Idol ?? http://bit.ly/YdoMM
From http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/
Right now, millions of teens are looking at the same “Top Songs” list on iTunes and wondering about which songs to add to their playlists. This week we’re encouraging you to make a much older song the entry to a…
Read More:
http://www.realworldparents.com/starters/article/from_gods_playlist/
*Save 20% off the retail price of “The Wisdom Deck” when you use Coupon Code RWPN104 and order by 5/30/09.
Packed with ideas for conversation starters and wisdom that will help with school, sports, dating, money, and college. Dive into deeper, wiser discussions with The Wisdom Deck. Lean more about The Wisdom Deck at http://www.theWisdomDeck.com!
http://www.realworldparents.com/store/item/the_wisdom_deck/NGL = short for “not going to lie”
youtuber = One who spends so much time browsing YouTube videos.
“Star Trek” creator Gene Rodenberry’s overtly humanistic and evolutionary worldview perspectives get very little mention in this well-reviewed reboot of the franchise. Instead, director J.J.…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/star_trek/
The first big blockbuster of the “summer” borrows from “The Dark Knight” in its violent tone, killing off innocent and major characters one after another…
Read Review:
http://www.realworldparents.com/movies/review/x-men_origins_wolverine/
Mamas in Ministry Part 1
http://www.youthspecialties.com/blog/2009/mamas-in-ministry-part-1/
White House may seek funding for abstinence-only education [CNN]
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/12/white-house-may-seek-funding-for-abstinence-only-education/
10 Things You Must Tell Your Teenage Daughter [Guardian UK]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/may/13/teenage-girl-essential-information
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy.
- Spanish Proverb
