Lessons from an Interim Youth Director

1. Taking Sabbath time is probably the hardest part of the job.
2. You will quickly become attached.
3. You will know things... things that can only be spoken over PB&J.
4. Politics is just as operative in Jr. High as in international negotiations.
5. Youth need pastors just as much as grown ups do.
6. Everyone needs a buddy.
7. Email really can eat up a work day.
8. Recruiting help is dependent on calendars that you do not have access to.
9. There will be "history" that you will not be aware of.
10. Birthdays are big deals.
11. Today's youth are busy, busy, busy... but also starving for real relationships.
12. Pictures are important.
13. Maybe 20% of youth actually read their emails.
14. Everything is a matter of hurry up and wait.
15. Planning requires presence.
16. It is wonderful to see youth participate in all aspects of worship.
17. Budgets are only as good as your latest printout.
18. Never sit down.
19. Karaoke machines have too many instructions.
20. Guest speakers need a firm time limit... an exact stopping time.
21. Eating is often the main activity, no matter the program.
22. If there is not enough activity, clumping will occur.
23. The Holy Spirit really is involved... thank God!
24. Someone will always need to show up late or leave early.
25. It is always easy to get a volunteer when you ask face to face.
26. Making a list helps.
27. The mailing list is your friend.
28. You will never figure out where all the supplies are hidden.
29. The parents will have your cell phone number programed into their phones.
30. Your phone will therefore be viewed as community property.
--maybe more tomorrow

Sold...

We're expecting!

Baby number two is due Mid-April. Leigh has been having a rough first trimester. Celia can say "baby" and point to mommy's tummy. More later...

Doctor, doctor... give me some news, I've got a bad case of ...

Cervical Whiplash!

On Tuesday I, while I was out running some errands, a man rear-ended my car. I had been stopped at a light for about a minute when... BAM! I got out of the car and spoke with the driver. He had a lap full of cell phone and Ipod... and said he had been looking down at his phone. He followed me into a parking lot and I took down his information. About an hour later, I started feeling sore in my shoulder area. Two days later, I feel like someone hit me in the back with a baseball bat. I went to the doctor today. He said that I will be sore for a week or so and then I can see a chiropractor and massage therapist. Hopefully, I will not have any long-lasting symptoms. The moral of this story is... whiplash is real and it is not at all pleasant.

Does the body of Christ have a soul?

I spent the weekend at John Knox ranch, at the Main Event for Youth. We talked about community and being the body of Christ. Reflecting on that theme, I think we are all suffering from a poor self image or (at least) placing too much emphasis on what our body "looks like". So, what is the soul? The goal? The thing that illuminates us? This spark of life that comes from somewhere else?

You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. -C.S. Lewis

Grieving

Dreams will not let me sleep tonight...
It has been eight years since my brother died.
The death of my father-in-law has brought some of that more distant loss to the surface... to mix with new loss.
I miss my brother's voice. I miss his warmth. I miss his hugs. I don't ever want those dreams I have, where I see him, to end.
I don't know what to do with his comic book collection. (Funny... but this has been an unresolved issue for way too long.)
Anyway, here is tonight's dream...

It's time to move. This isn't a change of domiciles in the manner that I am accustomed to. This is an abrupt, life preserving and strategic move... over the golden bridge.

Running full speed. Carrying nothing. There is danger on my heels. I know this place--know its contours and rhythm. It is much greener now than I remembered. My family will come later... after the area is secured and there may be a safe passage. Out of breath I turn the final corner and there is my brother. Bow in hand, he aims back toward the path I have just run. (I think: Don't shoot, my girls are back there! Then I realize that they are out of range anyway.) Practice points. Always practice points... signs of immaturity (I think) and then he lets the arrow fly.

The snake doesn't move. It was already dead and this shot is the fifth arrow to pierce that thin line in the grass. My brother has become a marksman, better than any I have ever seen. Practice points... but I can see he has put them to good use as I look back down the path.

I enter the house. It is in bad shape, neglected for too long. The floor has gaps that let in the cold. I bend down to survey the scene. Rats. I hate rats... and in an energized fury... the rat killing begins. I pick up a board and those maggot infested vermin and their filthy friends fly at the bite of my swing. The coast is clear (my yard is in order) and I begin preparing the new homestead. Where is my bro... Awake.

The Death of Drink

When did the word fall

From drink to dip

From sup this cup

To barbaric rip?

No more to share

The bounty there

at table o’ the King

instead to rip and dip

slip, trip, quip.

New Computer

So, my motherboard died. :(

I called Dell and they walked me through the process of removing cd drive, memory, hard drive, modem, wireless card, etc. The tech said... "sorry, the only thing left is the motherboard". To replace the motherboard for my inspiron 9100 would cost $150 for parts and about 500 in labor... add taxes, diagnostics, etc. and you can see how it quickly becomes a lost cause.

On Friday, I bought a new laptop (not a Dell) for about half the price I paid for the Dell. So far I am loving it. I am turning my old hard-drive into a 60 gig USB Drive.

Let the good times scroll

FYI

First aid for teeth that have been knocked out...

Find the tooth.
Put it in a glass of milk... really... a glass of milk!
If no milk is available, have the "owner" of the tooth spit in a cup and put the tooth in the spit.
Get the individual to the dentist/ER within an hour.

Teeth can be re-attached, but sometimes (like with my friend here) they will fall out again.

Chugga chugga choo chooooo!

I think I can, I think I can...

In my first two weeks as a youth and children's director I have...
sent out 60 emails
received 180 emails
attended 4 committee meetings
received first aid and CPR training
organized and attended two picnics
supervised the making and selling of 200 breakfast tacos
consumed 3 large, cold breakfast tacos
been given the "name test" (where a youth gives you a serious look and asks "Do you know my name?")
passed the "name test"
battled the printer, learned how to use a new printer
recruited Sunday School teachers
recruited Youth Advisors (aka Seminary Students)
prayed for youth undergoing surgery
coordinated a presbytery wide youth event with other Youth Directors
hung pictures, bulletin boards, etc.
moved furniture
mourned the loss of my laptop (motherboard failure)
signed up youth for a retreat, mailed in regestration
read Sunday School curriculums
organized a "first communion" class
scheduled childcare workers
learned some new games
been given a nickname by the youth (Big D)

I like what I am doing but look forward to more personal contact and less administrative work. Have I mentioned that I am supposed to be working part-time? Ha ha ha...

Gearing up...

This week I began my position at University Presbyterian Church as the Interim Director of Youth and Children's ministries. I am having a good time. I like the work.

Tuesday we watched this video entitled "Everyday Creativity". I recommend it.

Key Learning Points:

• Creativity is a matter of perspective.
• There's always more than one right answer.
• Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
• Learn to break the pattern.
• Reframe problems into opportunities.
• Train your technique.

In fond memory of Bob

My father-in-law passed away this morning. I really liked Bob and I am going to miss him. Life is short. Enjoy it.

Thank you God...
for time to play
for time to work
for time to read, learn, and inwardly digest
thank you for smiles
for dreams
for family
for friends
thank you for life
for love
and for laughter.

Invitation to Christ

I just ordered 100 free copies of this guide on the PCUSA website. The study has been available for some time but it has been flying under the radar. If you know Stan, you will see his work on every page. If you want a preview in PDF, click here.

I simpsonized myself

Want to try it? Click here.

What I have been doing for the past 2 months...

Packing
Moving
Painting
Unpacking
More Painting
Moving Friends
Swimming
Reading
Moving more stuff from storage
Cleaning
Reading
Shopping for a new (used) car
Going to the movies
Grilling in the backyard
Painting
Painting
Moving Friends
Saying Goodbye
Swimming
Reading
Playing with the Pink Princess
Eating ice cream
Playing in the rain
Temp Work
Temp Work
Cleaning
Eating
Sleeping
Starting to look at CIFs again
Planning for the fall (I will be interim director of youth and children's ministies at UPC)
Doing laundry
Doing Dishes
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.

May 20, 2007 Austin Seminary Graduation

I have my "Master of Divinity" degree. Here is the footage...

No longer living on campus

We moved. I'm tired. Finally have space to breathe. :)

Snow at the farm, day before Easter

We are staying here

At least now we know. Our plan is to stay here for (at least) the next six months. I have to start finding a new place to live.

Done!

I am finished! Done with all of my work. I am going to proofread tomorrow... but for all intents and purposes, I am done with all of my schoolwork.