The Heath Mullikin Project

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?”

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.

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.

When the Red Sox signed Manny Ramirez to an 8 year $160 million contract they had three goals in mind.

1.  Break the curse of the Bambino.

2.  Break the Yankees.

3.  Break the bank at the box office.

In his almost 8 years in Boston, Manny helped the Sox accomplish all three.  That’s why I say, it was all worth it and shame on any Red Sox fan who would bad mouth Manny.  Did his act grow tired?  Yes.  Was it time to move him?  Yes.  But that doesn’t change the fact that he did something no other big money player($18 mill or more a year) has ever done:  he earned every penny.  We didn’t pay him to hustle.  We paid him to lift our franchise out of 80+ years of futility.  A tall order indeed and Manny did it not once, but twice earning MVP honors in 2004.  We have also seen the hated yankees(I refuse to capitalize their name) fall into disarray all the while the Red Sox have become America’s team.  If you don’t believe me, go to any Red Sox road game(if you can call it that).  So, I wish Manny the best.  I’m not happy with the way things ended, but I would do it all over again.  They should retire his jersey tomorrow and go ahead and line up an artist for his statue on Yawkey Way.  And Manny, that had better be a B on your hat on your Hall of Fame plaque.

Now, is Jason Bay going to come even close to replacing Manny’s production and sheer presence in the lineup.  No, but he will free up about $10 mill for us to shore up some other needs.  And one thing we should have learned in these last 8 years…Trust Theo.

Well, after coughing and hacking for four months I finally broke down and went to the doctor today.  The guy we want to be our regular doctor couldn’t get me in, but they suggested an urgent care walk in place.  Here’s how the day went:

9:57-check in and fill out the paperwork

10:20-my name is called to fill out the paperwork that is already right in front of the lady

11:00-my name is called to go back, temp and blood pressure taken

11:30-Nurse comes to tell me, Mr. McKenzie, that it’s time for my lab work and asks if my x-ray has been taken then realizes that I am not Mr. McKenzie

11:35-Doc checks me out and orders a chest x-ray

11:55-Chest x-ray is taken

12:10-finally leave the x-ray room(hey, if the tech person has to stand behind a blast wall, is it really safe for me to be over here unprotected?)

12:25-Doc orders a breathing therapy

1:10-Finish Breathing therapy

1:15-Doc tells me that they’ll let me know about the x-ray and gives me 3 prescriptions

1:25 pm-pay my bill(to a lady that walked straight out the 80’s with heavy makeup and femullet) and leave

1:27-Resume coughing in my car which suddenly lost it’s ability to cool air

2:30-prescriptions filled(I requested that the nasty tasting medicine be flavored watermelon for $3)

On a side note, why is it we can put a man on the moon, but can’t make cough syrup that doesn’t make you convulse from the taste?

4:00-MLB trade deadline passes with Manny Ramirez’ Red Sox future in the air.

4:01-after taking medication, my future as a wide awake husband and father is in the air

Now, let me start off by saying that I was raised in the Baptist church, most of my family is still Baptist, and I love Baptists.  My biggest frustration with the whole Baptist/Wesleyan, once saved always saved/lose your salvation discussion is the misconceptions between the two groups.  As someone who has spent a significant time in both camps, let me try to explain.  My goal is to help us all grow stronger in our faith and stronger as the church of Christ.

1.  When a Wesleyan hears “once saved always saved” they make the assumption that Baptists believe someone can get saved, sin the rest of their life, and still go to heaven.  Baptists do not believe this.  By “once saved always saved”, Baptists mean that someone who has had a heartwarming conversion(for all you John Wesley historians out there) is able to walk in faith for the rest of their life by the grace of God.  They believe that someone who has had a true conversion would never turn away from the faith.  Someone who does, it is believed, was never a Christian to begin with.

2.  When a Baptist hears “lose your salvation” they think that Wesleyans live in fear that they would somehow do something that would remove them from God’s grace and hand.  I can state no more clearly than this:  Wesleyan do not believe you can LOSE your salvation.  Losing is something you do despite your best efforts.  I lose my keys everyday(sometimes my son Drake has put them somewhere else).  Wesleyan do believe that any person, no matter how long they’ve been a believer, has the choice and free will to WALK AWAY from the faith.  We do not believe that God forces us to remain saved if we don’t want to be.

Now, let me throw a few more thoughts at you.  If someone has a salvation experience when they are 15 and at age 22 decide to leave the church and the faith to live like the world then a Baptist would look at them and say,”They weren’t really saved to begin with.”  A Wesleyan would look at them and say,”They walked away from the faith.”  Both would agree that this person is now lost and in need of Jesus.  There may be a disagreement on how a person got to their current state, but there is no question on either side that this person needs to be shown the love of Christ for the hope of salvation.

There are just a lot more things we agree on than we disagree on.  The issue I will tackle later is “if Baptists believe in Eternal Security then why are so many of them insecure?”