Here’s the dealio…

1.  The medicine that is supposed to make me sleepy has actually kept me up 3 of the 4 nights I’ve taken it, but I haven’t felt tired or anything and my cough is slowly getting better.

2.  We had two amazing services yesterday.  God is moving.  He is already working.  The New Orleans team shared a bit and challenged people that since God is already moving the time for waiting is over!  We want to make Jesus famous in Denton.

3.  Got to catch up with Steve and Carolyn Saunders(pastors at Burlington) and also with the Schmutz’s on Saturday.  I love me some Schmutz’s.  Mrs. Schmutz bought us ice cream and I found out Dr. Schmutz will be hanging up his lab coat at the end of the year.  It was a great and encouraging visit.

4.  Had to buy a push mower and I determined that cutting my grass is at least a three hour project.  Thank the Lord for holding off the rain Saturday and for Ipod playlists that make chores much easier.

5.  Charis and Milena got tested at school today so they are just about set to start school in 3 Weeks!  Somebody pinch me.  I am going to cry like a baby.  I did get to hang with the Drake this morning.  If he’s on the bed with me he stands up and does this thing where he acts like he’s not paying attention and “stalls out” before laughing and falling on me.  Video to come.

6.  I am in full Fantasy Football mode after a disappointing year in all my leagues last year.  My baseball team this year is inconsistent and mediocre.

7.  Superman for all Seasons is slowing moving up my list of all time favorite graphic novels.

8.  One of my good friend’s is having a baby this week and another amazing opportunity he and his family are considering.  Pray for them.

9.  Still figuring out how to make this blog better(some would say start by getting a new writer).

10.  Give me your thoughts on this article on “Jesus and the Case for War”.  Not saying I agree with everything in it, but it did make me think.

Have a blessed week.

1.  Well, I am getting ready for youth tonight.  We are doing a series on Acts and looking at what our youth group needs to be like to reach our schools and community for Christ.  I’ve got all my messages mapped out thru Christmas and now I’m trying to get all the worship stuff mapped out for Sunday mornings.  I’m just trying to keep up with God and the wind blowing by my face is exhilarating.

2.  Speaking of…about 11 of us are going to Carowinds tomorrow.  I just found out that Paramount no longer controls it so the Borg ride is now something else.  As a life long Six Flags attendee, I am anxious to see how Carowinds compares.  It is a whole lot closer than Six Flags ever was.  I gotta get the fam to Emerald Point too.

3.  Some great comics are coming out today.  Final Crisis #3 and the next chapter in the Batman RIP saga.  I just hope the store has them in today.  Not sure what their schedule is.

4.  My cough is getting better everyday.  However, now I’m battling a head cold/sinus infection.  Karen thinks we need new pillows.  I may not disagree with her at this point.  I’m willing to try anything.

5.  I had some amazing Italian food at Elizabeth’s Pizza in Thomasville.  One of the best Italian places I’ve ever eaten at.  All of the cooks were Hispanic, but good cuisine knows no borders.  If you live in the area, you’ve got to eat at this place.

6.  I pre-ordered Madden 09.  Now I just have to decide if I’m going to pick it up at midnight Monday.  That’s probably going to be a no because I like to sleep.  Do you know how hard it is to play video games with a toddler around?  I’m gonna give Drake an old controller to play with and destroy so I can lead the Cowboys to the Super Bowl.  I can’t wait till that boy is old enough for me to get him a PS6 or whatever is out at the time.

7.  I haven’t weighed in on this Brett Farve thing yet.  I think everyone was finally honest yesterday.  He realized that him being on the Packers was bad for everyone and Coach McArthy admitted it was time to move on.  We may never know the truth of what happened between March and June, but Brett Farve in a Tampa Bay uniform=blemished legacy.  I just cannot picture him in any other uniform.  I do think this will be a lesson to any other great player who has a change of heart about retiring.  Just don’t do it.

8.  Karen was reading through Leviticus 15 while I was eating breakfast.  That is not a very good discussion to have around food.  A couple things I want to research.  In Leviticus it says that a woman that has a son must take him to be circumcised on the 8th day.  We read where Mary and Joseph did this.  Then a woman who has a son must remain at home for 33 days(66 days if she had a girl).  What I want to know is when the flight to Egypt took place and try to make a time line for Jesus first few years based on Jewish customs, travel time, and the Magi.  Anyone have any ideas or answers?

Hope all my fellow youth ministers have awesome services tonight.  Preach the word boldy.

First a review:

1.  Carowinds was great.  The rides made me feel very unsafe.  Now, that’s either because the rides are actually unsafe or that they did a good job of creating that illusion.  Either way, all of the rides were adrenaline pumpers.  Also, it was SC Baptist Youth Day at Carowinds with Mercy Me.  It’s called the Big Thing.  Well, I went to the first one with NewSong at the Carolina Coliseum back in the 80’s.  Anybody else remember the 4 guy NewSong that sang with tracks?

2.  Tim, Rico, and Travis visited last weekend.  Great to see those guys.  Wish we could’ve worked out a viewing of Clone Wars.  Anybody seen it yet.

3.  Sadly, I didn’t watch the first few nights of the Olympics and missed Michael Phelps first few races including the amazing comeback relay.  I did catch up and saw the rest though.  The Olympics always have controversy(age of Chinese gymnasts, steroids in 1988, US track team acting like thugs(2004)), a shining star(Phelps, Mary Lou Retton, Kerri Shrug, Marion Jones(oops), Dream Team), and disappointed athletes(Tyson Gay, Paul Hamm, Roy Jones, Jr.).  My only complaint is that the Olympics has too many events and most of the time America seems to add events that favor them(beach volleyball, BMX?).  Anything I can do in my backyard(badmitton) should not be an Olympic sport.

Now onto some other stuff…

As a Youth Pastor for 11 years I have seen many teen relationships come and go.  The other night I was thinking about some of the ones I have seen so I hope this is helpful to some of my collegues.

1.  The Serial Dater-this is the person in your youth group who has dated or has tried to date everyone of the opposite sex in your youth group.  Beware of them, talk to them, and do not tolerate this.  At one point, half of my guys first kiss had been with the same girl.  That’s not good for:  their health, her reputation, their friendships, or the rest of the group.

2.  The Visitor-this is the girl/boyfriend who doesn’t go to another church but comes to church with their new squeeze who is in your youth group.  Most of the time, they have a weak(if any) relationship with Christ and are coming simply to be with their girl/boyfriend.  The danger in this is that this person is history as soon as they break up and that can often leave a poor impression on someone who needs Jesus.  There have been cases where the person is a Christian but their church doesn’t have a good youth group and they do join your group for the long haul even after the breakup.  Know this, sooner or later, every couple is gonna break up(except in very rare cases) and you’ve got to somehow minister to the kid who has been in your group for years and also to the one that you’ve only known a short time.  Yes, it’s tricky.

3.  The Rookie-this is the kid who is getting into their first serious relationship(to the teen, they’re all serious) in their sophmore year or later and doesn’t know how to handle certain things.  There’s also the danger that this kid who has never had a boy/girlfriend is gonna soon be a PDA Champion.  How do you help them sort through these new emotions while maintaining their purity and reputation?

Finally, there are all sorts of theories and feelings about teen dating.  Can it be dangerous?  Yes.  Should it be avoided at all costs?  No.  I think our problem is we submit ourselves to the world’s standards and categories when it comes to relationships.  We feel like we have to go steady and make it official for some odd reason.  Kids should get to know as many members of the opposite sex they can as friends.  Friendship should never be “exclusive.”  Group outings should be encouraged and one on one dates should be limited.  Teens have enough pressure as it is.  One view I had that has changed is my view on kissing.  I think I used to put pressure on kids who had never kissed anyone and I’m sorry for that.  I think I put forth the idea that it was something that needed to be done sooner rather than later.  Now, I take the angle that we only get so many kisses and it’s not a bad thing to save em for the right person.  Also, teens should know that with every flirt, hand hold, kiss, hug, or whatever they give a piece of themselves and their heart to that person.  They should know the costs and be enouraged to ask themselves, “Is it worth it?”

Enjoyed Cody’s post on the Daniel Fast.  Gonna talk to Karen about it and try to start it soon.

Put the Saddleback Presidential Forum on DVD.  Enjoyed it and thought there was a definite contrast in the worldviews of the two candidates.  Been thinking and praying a lot about this election.  I am currently “unaffiliated” as my NC Voters Registration card says.  I just think that if a guy who had only had a job for a few years(and had spent most of that time trying to get another job and missing lots of work) all of sudden wanted to run the company that he would be laughed at in the business world.  Do politicians do anything but talk?  Think about it:  they give speeches, debate the issues, ask questions during congressional hearings and committee meetings, talk to potential voters, discuss strategy with their advisers, and vote on bills after explaining why they voted the way they did.  With that in mind, is it any wonder that a politician who doesn’t speak well, George W. Bush, is vilified by many while a politician who speaks very well(when a teleprompter or notes are umm…uhh…handy), Barack Obama is hailed as the agent of change our country is desperate for?

I’m sorry to hear that Bigfoot was a fake.  Clark Camp once told me,”There ain’t but one Sasquatch…”

Madden 09 is not a lot different from Madden 08.  Pastor Mike used to enjoy blowing me out everyday with the Panthers.  Nothing beats playing Madden after a staff meeting.

Looks like I need to find our copies of “Bringing Up Boys” and “Dare to Discipline” because the Drake is going through quite a phase here.  But any 18 month old son who says “Bye” and “Five(for a high five)” when I leave is hard to do anything to but tickle and watch sports with.

Preaching on the Holy Spirit tonight…be in prayer and also for the Lock-In(which I’m waiting for word from Doug Fields that they’ve been banned) this Friday night!

Well, today is mine and Karen’s 9th anniversary.  It has been an amazing journey.  9 years ago to the minute I was sitting in the First Wesleyan Church library wondering where my fiance was.  Knowing that her friends and bridesmaids had taken her to see “Runaway Bride” the night before did not bode well in my mind.  Well, she finally arrived and the rest is history.  More on that and an amazing video of Drake later today…or tomorrow.

Hey, just wanted to catch up real quick…

1.  We had 55 kids at our lock-in Friday night.  Got to meet a lot of new teens and was pleased with how many of the new 6th graders attended.  It’s the first time I’ve ever run out of soda at a lock-in, but we did have leftover donuts(well, they’re gone now too).  We tried to do a video log every hour to show the effects of no sleep.  Some are posted on youtube now.

2.  While posting these on youtube Friday night/Saturday morning I noticed that Barack Obama named Joe Biden as his running mate at 3 am.  This should’ve been expected because most campaigns make this announcement during waking hours.  Barack is the candidate of change so they must’ve decided to do it differently this time.  Biden was our Senator for a few months while we lived in Delaware.  I think he passed our old neighborhood while I watched his motorcade yesterday.

3.  I mentioned Cody’s post on fasting and our church will be starting the Daniel Fast on Sept. 1.  Pastor Charlie was feeling lead in the same direction at the same time so God is going to do amazing things in our community.

4.  Fantasy Football season kicks off today with my first(of 3) drafts over the next 2 weeks.  Know this, I will not be drafting Larry Johnson, Steve Young, or Steven Jackson( of the KC Chiefs).

Nap Time

The girls go today for their first meeting with their teacher.  One at 1:15 and the other at 1:30.  I haven’t gotten emotional yet.  I’m sure that will come tomorrow when they go a full day.  Then they are off Wednesday and Thursday before returning Friday.  Then, Monday is Labor Day so we won’t really get into full swing until next Tuesday.  For the next 17 years our schedule will revolve around the school calendar.  I will be 50 when Drake graduates.  No more overnight trips on a whim or staying an extra day at grandma’s.  It’s spelling, math, science and history from now on.  Well, at least my kids will be the best in their class at playing 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

I don’t know if you heard about this story.  Now here is part two.  I agree with Dustin’s thoughts on the situation.

Drudge is where I get all my news info.  Great for during the political conventions which no one seems to be watching.

Finally, have you ever wondered,”What happened to the guy that wrote Basic Instinct?”  Here’s the amazing answer.

I find it odd that there’s not more news about the war in Iraq.  When things were going poorly, the mainstream media couldn’t get enough of it.  Now that a deal has been reached for all combat troops to be out by 2011 and no troops in Iraqi cities by next summer, you hardly hear a peep about it on the news.  I think there is one big reason for this.

1.  This deal signals that we have won the war.  The fighting may not be over, but the outcome is clear.  Countries don’t sign deals like this if the major objectives have not been met.  The surge worked and those who gave their lives and health(physical and emotional scars that will never fully heal) did not do so in vain.  I’m not just talking about US troops either.  The Iraqi’s have suffered through Saddam’s regime and now a brutal war.  If you are a politician that has been critical of the war since the start, how do you respond to this?  If you ran to end the war and bring the troops home then what do you run on now?  Though you may disagree with the reasons we went to war and how it was initially handled, shouldn’t you celebrate that now, in fact, it’s “Mission Accomplished?”  When the next president takes office, the wheels will already be in motion to bring all the troops home.  Now, I believe that the war ending and the troops coming home is fantastic news.  Some networks don’t even think it’s news.  I’m interested to see how much Obama mentions it in his speech Thursday night because so far the war hasn’t been discussed much at the DNC.

Just once, I want to hear a convention speech with details instead of cliches.  I want someone to say, we will pay for Universal Health Care by raising taxes on everyone making over X amount of dollars and by cutting spending in these areas.  During the primaries, Ron Paul was always very specific in what he would do and although I rarely agreed with him I appreciated his honesty and passion.  Now, we hear that the candidates have energy plans to invest in alternative fuels and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.  Ok, but how are you planning to do that?  The big knock against drilling now is that we won’t see results for ten years.  By that logic, all cancer and AIDS research should be ended because a cure hasn’t been found yet.  Or, we shouldn’t try to pay off the national debt because we won’t see results for 10 years.  I have signed the drill here drill now petition, I know that alone is not going to be enough, but like both candidates, I don’t have a clear, concise plan either.

Finally, Michelle Obama told the inspiring story of how her father overcame MS and gave his children a better life.  At no point in the story did she mention the government programs that bailed him out, made decisions for him, and got him out of bed an hour early everyday so he could dress himself.  To me, what her father did is not just the American dream, but everyone’s dream:  To have the strength to overcome our obstacles and take care of those around us.  Her and Barack both overcame a lot to reach the place where they are at.  Whether they know it or not, they’re the poster children for conservatism.  Look what people can do when they work hard and set their minds to something.  They didn’t need the government coddling them along the way.  They just needed a chance.  Too many times, big government is more of a stumbling block than a stepping stone.  Of course, if the church were truly doing it’s job, the government could do it’s job instead of trying to do ours.  More on that tomorrow.