One Busy Weekend!

I don't think I've ever looked more forward to a Monday than I am tonight. It has been one busy week/weekend. As always, big things take big prep and as usually I had multiple big things happening on the same days.

I started prepping for our LTC fundraiser called the "Concert of Stars" on Thursday night. It was an all day Friday set up and rehearsals as lip sync acts practiced their dance moves as we set up the lights and sound for Saturday night. It was one fun night, I must tell you - even though they had me on stage "Hangin' Tough" as one of the New Kids On The Block! I then retreated back to the sound/light booth.

Of course my Saturday started out much earlier as I took a group of K-3rd Graders up for a Day Camp I was leading at a Christian camp some two hours away. It was a beautiful day to be out in the mountains (okay, hills). The weather was great, the kids were excited and we only came across one rattle snake! After the four hour session, we hopped back into the vans and finished the last leg of our Saturday road trip back to the church building about two hours before the Concert of Stars kicked off! I'd have never made it without the two dads & two Jr High boys who came along for the trip! Thanks guys!

My night wrapped up around 12:30 am after putting all the sound gear back together in my children's church, finishing up some last minute sets and shooting a couple of quick videos for the children's church puppet skits - (don't ever put off today what you can do tomorrow - unless you really do have time to do it tomorrow!)


Of course, there's no better feeling than to be completely exhausted and content with all the great things God is letting you be a part of! Now I'm going to bed. :)

Think Outside the Flannelgraph

I recently surveyed 14 preteens involved in my preteen ministry on the media they have access too. Some of the results were that more than half used instant messaging to communicate with others, fewer had their own email address. All but one had internet access in the home. A majority had CD players and televisions in their rooms while a smaller number had VCRs or DVD players. Some had computers and most had some kind of game system in their room.

This really got me thinking about all the ways preteens gather information, and the ways they process that information. Whether it's checking baseball scores each morning online or listening to music from CDs or the radio, preteens are bombarded with information.

I guess my thoughts are slowly focusing on the one thought, "How do we communicate God's Word in a way that fits the way they process information, using the means they are being trained to gather information, which they have in their own rooms?"

It makes me take a longer look at video games like GraceWorks' The Interactive Parables, and other quality made Christian videos, music, and websites. Not necessarily for the times when they are at church (though we need to be using media in our teaching) but as resources for families to use in the home. If parents are the primary spiritual leaders in a child's life (at least that's what God said) then the more resources we have for them and their families the better.

So, how about a children's ministry Podcast? Why not video your children's church message and get it on your website for kids to watch again, or show others? How about online devotionals for families to download that correspond with that week's lesson? I know there are companies like 3rd Day Games which produces Bible based video games that correspond with certain curriculums in which kids play through the stories they learned about on Sunday. Why not let your kids act out Bible stories and create your own DVDs for kids to watch at home and show friends? The possibilities are limitless.

I can think of no better reason to be media-savvy than to be able to find better ways to share with kids the greatest information they'll ever need to know. So, get on your knees and ask God for creative ideas, wisdom and a couple of techno-geek volunteers hiding out in the sound booth.

Let your Faith be more than a Profile choice.

My heart hurts reading the blogs of kids I’ve spent years of my life with. Though they usually quit hanging with me when they move up into the youth group, they have left a permanent mark on the time line of my life.

I fear that many are moving into adulthood and when trials come the depth of their faith shows up only as a selection on a profile list along with their astrological sign or whether they like bacon on their cheeseburger.

What do I wish I could tell them? Deep in my soul I hunger for them to know that they are loved. Not a human love that is ripped away with an email or phone call that says “we’re finished,” but a love we can’t even understand. A love that doesn’t make sense. A no matter what you say or do or think, I’m gonna love you kind of love. A love that heals that sick-at-your-stomach, my heart has been ripped out and stepped on hurt.

Yes, they are loved by an all-knowing, all-present God who sent his son to earth for them. He lived and experienced every hurt, temptation and pain they are going through, and then he died. He died for them. He died for me. He died for us.

He’s not distant. He’s not imaginary. He’s real and He’s there, wherever they are. Wherever I am. Wherever we are.

If you haven’t met him yet, come see me. I’ll introduce you, because he spends a lot of time helping me. Forgiving me of my stupid sins and loving me no matter what dumb thing I’ve done….again.

Coming to an End

Well, tonight wraps up my Kansas City Experience. I will be heading out in the morning on my way back to Texas. It’s been fun. I loved walking through Union Station. One of the stats said that half of the soldiers in WWII (I think) came through this station. There is a ton of history in it. Like standing under the big clock.



Or gazing up at the incredible ceiling.

Today, I also hiked up to the War Memorial that is across from Union Station and my hotel.

I’ve enjoyed seeing the sights – though I never ventured far from the hotel this year. I enjoyed the evening challenge of trying to find something to eat. Most things close at like 5:00 PM. Thursday and Friday they’re open til like 8PM. For a night owl, that was tough. Like tonight, I’ve spent most nights around 10:30 down in a public area of the entertainment are connected to my hotel using their free WIFI.

I am ready to be home. They say the weather’s been incredible while I was gone. It was 98 F on Monday. Who ever heard of 90 degree weather in February? Of course, it’s perfect motorcycle riding weather! Up here in KC, MO its been about 42 F the last three days and a bit rainy today. Well, guess I shall head up to the 14th floor and start packing up. One good thing about this trip, it’s really got me into the blogging mood!

Here's a shot of me up on the war memorial with Union Station in the background.

What Kind of Impact are You Making?

This is my second year to come to this conference in Kansas City. It was in Dallas for three years. There are two hotels connected together with an inclosed walk way. In the hotel I'm in, there is also a three level center full of stores, restaurants, two theaters, etc. In the other hotel there is a nice cafe that looks up about four levels with walkways all around it. In the stores in this entertainment center, workers were buttons welcoming all the children's ministers to the center and their stores. I know it might not sound like much, but there are workers through out this center recognizing those who lift up Christ in the lives of Children. Someone made an Impact.

In the other hotel, in this large open air lobby, stands a nude, female statue. However, just like last year - someone has created a table cloth dress for our nude beauty. I guess they figured a thousand children's ministers would frown on their "artwork." Someone has made an impact on this hotel. (Of course, to my frustration, I've over heard children's workers complaining - "I don't know why they have to do that. It's art!" I pray they kept their mouth shut and let this hotel honor the Godly vertue of modesty.)

Tonight we heard a speaker who has lived his 52 years with cerebal palsy. He lost both of his parents at an early age. He spoke of how he had lost all hope and often prayed to just die. His sister, who didn't go to church, kept telling him he needed to go to church. He finally did, and though he'd been in church through out his earlier childhood, finally learned that God loved him and had great plans for his life. His entire attitude changed. It changed so much, that the teachers at his school noticed. He was happy. He was walking tall. Everyone wanted to know what had happened. So, at this large public school, they called an assemble and invited him to tell the entire student body what had made this change in him. He walked up on the stage and told of how he had gone to church and learned God loved him and had a plan for him. Did I mention this was a public school? And though he walks with a limp and has difficulty speaking he graduated collage, and is a preacher. He has a beautiful wife and four children. His message, if God can use me - just think what he can do with you! God takes our weaknesses and makes us strong. He truely was an inspiration. He kept the entire audience glued to his every word.

I pray you let the Lord use you to make an Impact in the lives of others. Even if it's just making a table cloth dress for a nude statue in the middle of a hotel full of Christians.

Sometimes Ignorance is Bliss

I was sitting in my hotel room about 30 minutes ago when a friend who's at the same conference as I am called. His hotel is actually connected to mine by an enclosed walkway. Our conference workshops are scattered between the two. He called to say he was watching a special on the National Geographic Channel about design disasters. They were talking about a tragedy at a hotel where some of the skywalks - or hallways had previously been built wrong and collapsed killing some people. In the midst of the show, he realized that he was actually staying in this same hotel. We had walked under these new walkways to get to our general sessions several times this week. What an erie thought!

I told him if they said anything about my hotel...don't call me. Sometimes ignorance is bliss! I hope the Lord has blessed you today!