Organic Community

I just finished reading Organic Community by Joseph Myers.  Amazing book that covers a lot of the same stuff that A New Kind Of Youth Ministry talked about as far as making sure people don't have to follow your 5 step plan to find God, but designing a structure in which they can discover God in their own way.  It was a good read and I know it's shaped a lot of the ideas that our high school guy and college guy are implementing now, so I'm definitely glad I read it.  JM

First Time

This morning was my first time speaking to my new middle school group.  I think it went well.  All I did was talk about myself.  I covered my basic rules, what they need to know about me, and what I'm going to do for them.  They seemed to respond well.  Lots of laughs, which is what I was hoping for.  

Right now I'm just trying to get them to like me and trust me.  Then hopefully I can give them Biblical truth and they might actually try to implement it in their lives.  JM

Acts 10:17-23

It's tough to earn respect.  It's even tougher when people have prejudices going against them.  Whether they're fat, or dumb, or white, or whatever, it can be tough to overcome that and earn respect.  

One of the lame things about my job is that I know that some people will not respect me pretty much no matter what I do.  They are unhappy with something and so they will find something wrong with what I do.  Or don't do.  I guess it would be dumb to demand their respect.  Or wear myself out trying to earn it.  The best thing to do is probably just do what I know is right and let them do what they have to do.  Life's just easier that way.  JM

Logo Lounge

I love logos.  Really I love everything about marketing.  I stumbled across this site that talks about trends in logos from 2007.  Pretty interesting to see.  JM

Acts 10:9-18

A lot of the stuff that happens to us doesn't make a lot of sense, because we're not God.  We don't have the benefit of seeing time laid out before us from beginning to end.  We're concerned with the here and now.  With our own little piece of the world.  So when something bad happens to us, we ask God why.  When something really good happens to us, we wonder why.  That's kind of the whole point of faith, though, trusting that God has our best interest in mind.  Just think how screwed up life would be if I got everything I wanted.  JM

Done

I now partially own a 2007 Toyota 4Runner.  It's really a pretty cool car.  I can't wait to own it all 5 years from now.  JM

Acts 10:1-8

It's incredible to me how people in the Bible respond to God's directions.  Almost always they obey immediately.  They don't sit around and wait for confirmation, they go ahead and start doing what they need to do.  

I know some of those stories are different than how God usually speaks today, but people seem to never react the same way now.  When we feel like God has spoken to us, we sit around, we study, we pray, we talk to people, we make sure everything makes sense, and then we obey.  I bet God finds that pretty frustrating.  I love when I tell my son something once and he does exactly what I asked rather than having to explain why.  JM

I'm Dating Jesus

In student ministry you hear about a lot of break-ups that happen because someone has decided to "just date Jesus" for a while.  It always seemed weird to me.  I love this post (which is about that and so much more) by Prodigal Jon.  Here's my favorite lines:

Me: (Nervous and a little sweaty) “Hi, do you want to go to Outback Steakhouse? (At our college that was considered a 5 star date night)
Girl: “Thanks, but right now I’m dating God.”

I love that answer. Basically, it makes me feel as if instead of asking you to have a blooming onion appetizer I have in fact asked you to break up with God. The only thing standing between me and a possible date was the Alpha and Omega, the very creator of the universe was blocking me. No wonder I was sweaty.

JM

Shopping

This year we debated waking up early to go out shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.  After reading this post, I'm so glad that we didn't.  I never thought about how once I get in the store after waiting in line, I might have to wait an hour to actually pay for my item.  So not worth it.  JM

New Car

My wife and I are going to look at cars tomorrow.  We're going to check out some used Highlanders.  We really like them, but the bad thing about them is that they're not free.  Too bad, because that would work better in our budget.  Hopefully we can get something cheap and nice.  JM