1.  Well, it’s true.  Let the West Virginia jokes roll.

2.  There’s been a lot of talk about Barack Obama’s work as a community organizer.  To find out more check this out.

3.  Here’s a good article on teen pregnancies.

4.  By now, I’m sure you’ve heard about the remarks made by the host of MTV’s VMA’s.  Three questions-does anyone watch this awards show anymore?  Does anyone even care about MTV anymore?  Does Britney Spears have 9 showbiz lives or what?

5.  With the average Wesleyan church size being between 60 and 80, most churches can’t afford multiple(if any) full-time staff.  This is a harsh reality for young students who graduate expecting to find a full-time staff position.  Older students with familes(27+) tend to plug in with churches either as senior pastors or volunteer staff.  They go to school, work a “secular” job, and minister in a local church while raising a family.  The churches they take aren’t the easiest ones to work at.  Giving is low, growth is slow, and the people are old.  I think the younger students look at their situations and think, “Not for me dude!”  What’s happening is the younger people are looking outside the denomination for work while the older graduates are serving at churches that are in decline.  Our denomination’s problem isn’t a lack of gifted ministers, but how to best utilize the talented ministers we have.  I don’t have THE solution but here are four things I think would get us started:  1.  Close churches that are having no impact in their community.  2.  Better prepare ministerial students for the reality of bi-vocational ministry. 3.  Pair younger and older students as church planting teams to replace the closed churches.  4.  Every minister committing themselves to excellence and integrity because the Lord has to work in us before he can work through us.  Your thoughts?