The Facts on Stupidity

This next month our mid-week services are focusing on having wisdom in life.

To start us off, we looked at the opposite of wisdom, stupidity. So I compiled a brief list of facts on stupidity. Here they are.

1. People usually don’t intend to be stupid.
It's not like people put it on their daytime to do things they regret. Wisdom is about intentionality.
2. Stupidity is often wasteful.
Wisdom is about making the most of every moment.
3. Smart people can be stupid.
Wisdom is about action, not just knowledge.
4. Being stupid is easy.
All of us have been stupid. It's harder to be wise, to think through what we're going to do.
5. It’s easier to see stupidity in others.
It's not as easy to see stupidity in me. But if others can see it in me, it would be wise to take their advice.
6. Stupidity never “just happens”.
Ultimately it’s a decision to be stupid. Every moment presents a decision. A wise person identifies those moments.

I believe God is calling us to be people who think through our actions and who ask him for wisdom. He is the source of all wisdom.

We'll be talking about having wisdom in friendships and with our time. Should be fun.

Brothers Grimm

Saw Brother's Grimm with Joe and Chris yesterday. It was a good flic. Good mix of action, suspense, myster and laughter. A funny take on fairy tales too.

There was a point in the movie where Jake Grimm (magic beans guy) is talking to the Angelika about the mystery that surrounds the village.

And he says something like:

"All the stories before haven't been real. This one's real. It's alive. And we're in it."

Would love to get a clip of that. Made me think of our story as followers of Christ. It's the first real story. It's the first story ever. It's alive. It's real. And we're in it.

Thoughts from "How to be Good"

So I picked up another book...fun stuff...

Anyway, there were some interesting thoughts on cynicism and it's role in our society now.















“Cynicism is our shared common language, the Esperanto that actually caught on, and though I’m not fluent in it—I like too many things, and I am not envious of enough people—I know enough to get by. And in any case it is not possible to avoid cynicism and the sneer completely. Any conversation about, say, the London mayoral contest, or Demi Moore, or Posh and Becks and Brooklyn, and you are obliged to be sour, simply to prove that you are a fully functioning and reflective metropolitan person.” (163)

A common language...think about it. People are always downing something...even if it's small and inconsequential. Even yesterday, I was in the postoffice...and the lady was talking with a customer and for no reason at all said that certain postcards are stinky...

What if we walked around defying this common language?

Forwards

What's the deal with forwards?

I have some serious disdain for any message that includes in the subject line: FW.

And what about the FW: Fw: Re: FW? You have to open like 5 messages to get to the picture. Come on.

So, I was talking with one of my students the other day. And we decided to send out a forward to our friends that talked about how much we hate forwards. And the bottom part said, "if you hate forwards, then send this to 5 of your friends." For some reason, we haven't gotten any responses on that one.

The Apocalypse

Well, I have found another comic strip that I find hilarious. I don't usually get the paper, but I saw this in a paper when I was at preteen camp. I think it was the Gettysburg paper, but I'm not sure. But I am sure that I think this is funny. If you can't see it properly...just click on it.

Stupid Advertisements

Well, i thought that blogs were safe, but no...I got a comment the other day that directed me to a site that was advertising for some stinkin loans.

And then I got an ad for some logging industry. What the heck?

How do these guys get our info, and how do they figure that I'm interested in loans or logging?

The only logging I'm interested in is the daily logging I do during my trips to the WC.

Our New House

Here is our new house. We like it a lot.

Look how close it is to our neighbor. We can reach it from our window.

Saturday Morning at Staff

Well, this is us at staff meeting this morning...

Got to room with Freddy (our worship pastor) last night. Sat up and talked for a while. He's a quality fellow. It's always sweet to commune and laugh.



Last night we played Guesstures with the staff, which was incredibly funny. You should see Pastor Dianne's "plunger"...

Pastoral Staff Retreat

Well, our pastoral staff is out here at Rhodes Grove Campground. So, that means I get to do some of my favorite stuff...meetings...

Actually, I think it's going to be a great weekend. I think it will be good to connect with the other pastor's and to unite on our thoughts about where God is taking us as a church.

And there is going to be a round table discussion tonight. We were able to submit questions about pastoral theology and pastoral ministry. I'm looking forward to that section...

And I think it will give me lots of time to update this blog thing...

Grand Canyon

Here are some pic's from our trip to the Grand Canyon with our Sr. Hi Mission Team.
1. Escape from the Grand Canyon!
2. A general shot.
3. Me and Aubrey...
4. A picture with the Hull's, a great couple who loves God and our students.
5. The whole student team.

Online Prayer Labrynth

I have recently experienced a prayer labrynth, which is an experience that uses all the senses to guide a disciple through a prayer journey. I did it at camp this past year and was overwhelmed with a cool sense of God's presence.

Anyway, I was wandering around on www.rejesus.com, and found an online prayer labrynth. It's a really good way to get centered and to listen to what God has to say to us. It's put on by Youth For Christ in the UK. Check it out here. http://www.yfc.co.uk/labyrinth/labyrinthswf/map.html

Our Vacation in Maine

Well, Aubrey and I went on vacation last year...probably the best vacation ever. We went to South Harbor, Maine. Wow, what a relaxing time. We stayed at a bed and breakfast and went hiking and did all sorts of cool stuff. We also ate some serious lobster one night.

One of my favorite things is that it's warm during the day and then at night you can wear sweaters. I love sweater weather.

Anyway, here are some pictures from our time there...

Flurries

Well, today is a brief break in the madness. No work today. Yes (pulling my right arm with clenched fist beside my side in a quick motion)!

But it's hard not to work when there's always more to do. Perenial struggle of youth ministry, I guess.

Pre-teen camp was quick, hot, and pubescent. My cabin of guys was a godsend. Fun and spontaneous, but not unruly or unmanageable. (Those guys were in another cabin.) We played lots of mafia...lots of it. And we swam three times a day. It seemed that was all there was to do. Eat, swim, fish, play dodgeball, swim, go to chapel, swim, eat, and swim. And we had a blast.

I'd have to say that our ENC team there was probably the best ENC team I've had around in quite some time.

I don't know how to process those experiences regarding younger teens and spiritual advancement/development/formation. Should I expect deep conversations? Should I expect them to deal with the crap going on at home? Should I expect responses in chapel?

What I do expect is that they be around people who love them. I do expect that they get to see what it means to be around people who treat each other with respect and who work through disagreements when they arise and who talk well of others. My hope is that seeds are planted/nurtured/watered. Seeds of grace, seeds of the divine.

Live to Tell

Well, I am reading this book by Brad Kallenberg, and it's really helping me understand conversion and evangelism from the postmodern mindset.

he does a great job of dealing with the change in language and mindset that happens during a conversion experience (which he points out takes a much longer time than most expect). It's cool because he comes from a background where he used to try to get people saved by having quick conversations with them, giving them the gospel message, and then helping them pray Jesus into their lives. But he's recognizing that that doesn't work anymore. that sometimes conversion takes a few years.

He places a lot of emphasis on the community having a part in the conversion experience, about how being inundated with the faith community is the best way to bring someone into full hearted followship.

Anyway, I highly recommend this book...check it out!

PS...I'm at panera again...rock on Panera Bread Company

Oh yeah

I was just asked by Kevin to help coordinate NYC 2007 for our district. Have to wait for district approval, and if it comes through, I think it will be an awesome experience.

I was already excited that my friend, Brian Hull, is working hard to plan it for everybody, but now with the possibility of working with him and other people to make it the best experience yet, I'm even more excited. I might even wet myself...okay, I won't...

So, if it comes through district supervision, you'll be seeing a lot more info about NYC on here. I'll get to do some travelling to St. Louis and planning with other folks. I think it will be a great experience.

Camp 2005: Thursday

Well, camp's coming to a close tonight. this week has gone by faster than an ice cream cone in pheonix.

Dave Curtiss keeps ripping it up. He has developed a flow in his messages that has been stupendous. He started out telling a bit of his story, being a good kid, but not really being a follower of God. Then he talked about the difference b/w following Christ and believing in Him. Then he talked about the oneness of God, how He is complete and whole. Wholeness is who he is. And sin is the opposite of this wholeness, it is what destroys the wholeness. So, he let us wrestle last night with the brokeness of the world, with the pain in our own lives. And this morning he talked about how God brings shalom, which is restored wholeness, making things right. We'll see where he goes from here. I believe he is in the flow of God's heart in these things.

I was able to talk with several of my students last night and process with them some of their pain...and this morning I was able to walk through what it means to ask for God's wholeness (how most of the time it's not instantaneous). It's been great to see God breaking down some walls that people have held up.

And then there's the no talent show. It was stellar. Andy and Melissa did a great job hosting it. We had some good acts too. Got to dance with Caleb Pierce for the show. That was stellar.

And today we had a massive shaving cream war. Whoa...that was crazy. Had it in almost every crevice of my body...even after my shower.

One of my favorite things is watching students respond to each other.

Another favorite thing is hanging out with the youth workers and laughing with them.

Oh yeah, can't forget spoons. That's a sweet game.

Tonight, Nate Sawtelle and I are going to take our cabin (we got the jr. hi guys) on a midnight hike...maybe through the graveyard. Should be fun.

Now I'm going to play a little ultimate before staff meeting.

Tuesday At Camp

Well, we're here. The first day is almost over. I actually got sleep last night.

This week has been great so far. Dave Curtiss is our speaker this week, and he is really in the flow of what God wants to do in the lives of our students. The sermon tonight was about the difference b/w believing in Christ and following him. It was good, and I think the students recieved it well. People are still praying together as I type this...

We've had some crazy times on the slip and slide already. The pool has been great, as today was blazing hot. And we had a sweet cannon ball contest...and belly flop...that was wicked. One kid went about 10 feet in the air and flipped so that his back was down, and when he landed, I could have sworn he was landing on pavement. I'm hoping it will cool down, but it doesn't look like it will.

It's been good to hang with the youth worker friends we have here. Kevin Snow, Andrea and Nate, Brian, Hans, Robb, Kevin Simons, Ralph, Rick, Ben, Freddy, Shelly, Caleb (ENC guy)...We've got a great bunch of people here.

Anyway...we'll post...

Back from NC...off to camp

Well, Aubrey and I got back from NC on Saturday night. It was well worth it to make the long drive down there.

For one thing, I got to stop and see my good friends, Doug and Jon, for breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Chesterfield, VA, on my way down. That was great. Wonderful to dine together with old friends.

The second thing was that I got to see Aubrey after a whole week without. Whew, that was great!

The third thing was that the waves on the beach were great for NC. Mark (bro in law) and I had a blast riding the waves in on boogy boards and by body surfing.

The fourth thing was that it was great to be with Aubrey's family. They are a great bunch. We've been blessed with family who are really concerned with each other and with what God is doing.

And now we are hours from leaving for MAD teen camp. Whew, it should be great. Aubrey's coming this year, which I think will be great, b/c she's so awesome with the students (and I just like participating in ministry with her).

So, I'll post after a while...

Oh yeah, Rob Bell just came out with a new book...there are interesting debates over his book on Amazon. Check it out http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/031026345X/qid=1122912714/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-9366628-5800110?v=glance&s=books&n=507846