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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

There Are Still Good People Around

If you have high speed Internet (and I know some of you don't, sorry), and if you haven't already seen this, you need to. What a great story about sportsmanship. I am, admittedly, a softy, but this made me cry a little.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Tom Tom: A Great Gift

I just wanted you to know again how much I loved the "Tom Tom" GPS system my wife bought for me for my birthday (January). Although we have used it around Central PA, this week was the first real test as we used it while in California at the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Conference. We used it everyday which made everything so much easier. I loved it!! I felt like we could travel on any road and whenever we needed to get back, the Tom Tom showed us the way. I think there is a spiritual lesson there?!? Anyway, if you are so lucky, I would suggest you purchase a GPS for yourself.

P.S. I get no money for this - although I wish I did.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

New (Humble) Friends

One of the great things about a conference like this is getting to meet people from all across the US and the World. Jana and I have been able to make some new friends from out of this country - two from Trinidad and one from the Cayman Islands. They are staying at the same hotel as we are and we "taxiing" them to the conference. Last night was especially fun as we talked and laughed all the way home. This is just an added benefit to the teaching/encouragement at the PDYM conference.

On a side note . . . it seems to me as if the people who run this conference and the people who come to this conference are some of the most humble people I have met in youth ministry. Not that I don't know a bunch of humble youth pastors. It just seems like almost everyone is so genuine and willing to help or to be helped. You rarely hear people talking about numbers or how big their church is. Doug Fields constantly is telling us to steal whatever we can or that his way isn't the only way and not to go back and try to be like Saddleback. Maybe I haven't talked to enough people, but I have really appreciated the sincere desire to learn and serve!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Relationships Rule

I can hardly get it out of my mind. I have heard it so many times over the past 6 months and I heard it again tonight: Ministry is all about relationships!! We need to constantly spend time building relationships so we can impart our life with Christ to others. Thanks to everyone at PDYM for reminding me once again!!!

Being Newlyweds Has Its Perks



Jana and I won this tonight at the PDYM Conference for being the couple married the shortest amount of time!
I thought I would model part of the gift, shown below.


Pretty nice, huh?

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Ready to Begin the PDYM Conference

After touring the Refinery at Saddleback yesterday and the State Mentor meeting this afternoon, I am really looking forward to the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Conference (PDYM). It was a long way to come and a rental car, flight, hotel and conference set us back a bit but I think it will be worth it in the end. I am really looking forward to connecting with a bunch of youth leaders from PA and across the US. Come back as I blog throughout the week.

Monday, March 23, 2009

PA 2 CA

Jana and I flew to California today to attend the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Conference at Saddleback Church. We are both looking forward to the week. I recently became a PDYM state Mentor for PA and hope to learn more about what all that entails this week. I have my first official meeting tomorrow. I am looking forward to this responsibility. I love helping others and I love to talk about youth/youth ministry with others. Tonight we are going to eat supper with Glen, a fellow youth director from Central PA and then tomorrow we start the conference.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Musical Season

Jana and I went to two different high school musical productions over the weekend. We saw the "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and the "Once Upon a Mattress". Both were very enjoyable. I love this time of year, when the schools put on their productions. For the most part, they are fairly well done, and an inexpensive night out. This week I will be involved at a local production, running sound for the "Sound of Music" on Friday and Saturday night. Later in the year, some of my youth group kids are involved at another school production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". I hope to possibly get to a few more.

Monday, March 9, 2009

IMPACT 09 Is In The Books


IMPACT 09 is over. I thought everything was really good. I heard a bunch of good comments about the text polls and everyone seemed to really enjoy Taylor, Darren and the Band, "Mike's Chair". Planning for IMPACT '10 has already begun. You can get more information at the new IMPACT web site: www.paimpact.com

Saturday, March 7, 2009

IMPACT 09 - A Great Start!

We had a really good night at Impact last night. I really think it is the first, first night we have had without anything going wrong. We had a bunch of good help yesterday getting ready, which ALWAYS makes things go well. Mike's Chair is really easy to work with as is Taylor Mason and Darren Whithead. Darren's talk last night was right on and he really seemed to connect with the audience. If you read this blog on the weekends, pray for us as we minister in Harrisburg, PA. Look for pics soon!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Winning The Segway Olympics at NYMC

On Friday night our group from RMC got picked to play the "Segway Olypics" at the NYMC. We all learned to ride the segways before the program and then Aaron, Jana, Jon and Justin got to ride them again during the game in which they filled their mouths with water, rode to me, and spit the water in a container. . . which was on MY head!! We played against Spencer Sweeting's church. The conference people had no way of knowing but we all knew each other, which made it even more fun! The best part was. . . we WON!

Below is the opening video and some pics of the game!







My team doing what they do best!

Above: Jon


Above: Justin



Above: My Great Wife, Jana


Above: Aaron


Me after we had won the game!!



NYMC Announcement Videos

These are so crazy! Here are the announcement videos from the National Youth Ministry Conference (Next year's name: Simply Youth Ministry Conference). This is painfully fun!



A Quick Post During a Technology Time Out

I have been blogging from my iphone about the Nation Youth Ministry Conference but just noticed that some aren't going through! :( The conference has been great so far. Having five of us from the church is great and we even won a "segway" contest on Friday night! I will have some pictures for you when I get the camera from Jana. Speaking of Jana, she has been doing great with her affinity Group. I don't know for sure, but it looks like it is one of the bigger groups here. I hope they all check out her blog and website.

The guys and I have been able to spend time together hearing what we have learned and brainstorming some of the concepts and ideas the we and others have had. We also found this great place to eat across the street. They have the BEST wings! I will tell you more later.

I have a few minutes to post here as the "tech" workshop I was going to go to this afternoon was slowed due to a "Technical" problem. It isn't good when you are going to talk about Internet applications and the Internet goes down!

Check back soon for more.

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