It's just my junk

We all have junk in our heads. This is mine.

Archive for the month “April, 2014”

28 Apr 2014

Hump day

hump dayWednesday.. or as of late better known as Hump Day… the day that marks the middle of the week for school and work, unless you are a youth minister or work for a church… then it is just Wednesday… However, most of the Youth Ministries I know host activities on Wednesday night and we do as well… for a total of 24 weeks during the school year. Our small group ministry happens in full force during the 24 weeks and we end it with a see you next year for smalls, don’t forget to attend xyz…But what do we do when those days are completed?  I have a few suggestions and ideas:

1. Send a text to them to encourage them during the day.. many text service out there allow you to create them to send at preset times and days.. this is an easy tool to use and manage.

2. Have an Instagram challenge day. Post the worst lunch item on Wednesday and win a free lunch or maybe gift card to a restaurant of your liking.

3. Group forum or Discussion group, create a social group where you can throw out a topic and chat about.. Be careful to be safe in this area. No need to get in trouble with your Child protection Guidelines

4. Ice Cream Challenge: take a few weeks over the month to visit different local ice cream places, have the students judge which they like best. Once the winner is chosen send them a card thanking them for their great ice cream. It will make their day and might  possibly offer you some discount or future support that might come in handy. We have a place to gives us discount ice cream every time we come in. They are awesome.

5. Movie night. Maybe this gap can be used to hang out, watch a cool movie and have a discussion on it.

 

I know there are many more ways to connect with students in new and unique ways that really are not budget busters and still can provide some awesome contact time. Whatever you choose to do, do something.  Connecting is important outside of the normal routines in life.

 

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23 Apr 2014

Teaming up to leave a legacy.. but not yours!

What if you were given a job, an opportunity or a gift? What would you do? Would you react immediately and take it? Would you think about it for a few minutes then decide?
What if the giver mentioned the importance of this gift and how it will impact those coming behind you?
I am sure this has you thinking….. maybe about presents or gifts or the ideal job or opportunity but you would be wrong.
I am talking about leaving a legacy…
For this post I want to talk about leaving a legacy in sports. I have the privilege of supporting our local high school’s girl’s basketball teams. Well to be honest it is all about supporting the coaches and coming along side them to help with their legacy.
I feel this is something God has placed in my path and I readily embrace it with great importance and focus. Allow me to explain and then challenge you:
The explanation…
1. God allowed me to be relational.
2. God put me in the path of the coaching staff.. actually the Head Coach.
3. Coach and I met over the idea of encouraging the players as athletes, students and future world changers
4. I offered to support the coach in anyway I could
5. Several seasons later… and still encouraging
6. I am excited to see the fruit of the coaches efforts and see the future being bright.
The Challenge:
1. What gifts did God give you that might help others be a legacy maker?
2. Who in your community…. yeah not the church or your office but the community?
3. What is their dream and how can you help them in the venture to accomplish it?
4. Okay, throw out a pitch….
you need to do your part to be prepared and ready. God will use you in mighty ways to minister to a whole population of people.
I will close with this comment…
I am not about any hidden agenda. I am focused on building a relationship with the coaching staff and their goals. Playing my part to help them leave a legacy.
Okay.. So, get on with it already!

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07 Apr 2014

Perspective… even for the Prom

We just experienced our annual school event. It happens once a year in most high schools across America. The Prom!
Yes, that event where girls spend an entire day getting the nails done, getting an up dew.. (though I don’t understand the idea of an up dew.. paying money for someone to put your hair up with bobby pins). The up dew does look awesome though. Girls spending weeks finding the right dress and then getting it tailored to fit just right.
Guys seem to be a different machine in this one.. They rent at tux, get a flower for the girl and get ready about 20 minutes prior to meeting for pictures….
The pictures are an event along with dinner and the actual prom, which lasts about 3 hours. Our community is smart and hosts an after prom which runs from 11:30PM to about 4AM.
I find the whole process interesting, then I became a dad of a Junior in High School who attended the prom with a friend.. The pictures and story changed quickly. I brought her to get the up dew, it took 2-3 hours, and turned out awesome. She went to a friends to get ready . Mom and I drove over for pictures and they were off… to the prom.
I must admit to a brief moment of fear… concern and the reality that my baby is no longer a baby but a beautiful, gifted, special and awesome young lady. She is a special girl. Someone who I am very proud of and know she will be an impact player in her future.

Take a minute to think about perspective! How do things seem different when you are looking at them from a different perspective… for example:
you go to the hospital to visit a friend… compared to you being visited
you have a friends who’s child with special needs… compared to you having one
your friend has both parents die … compared to when your mom or dad passes away
your spouse is a product of divorce… and your not or vas versa..
you attend a friends child funeral . compared to finding out your child has terminal cancer…
I am a firm believer perspective matters… I am thankful for the times in life when I have experienced tragedy in my life. It has shaped me into a deeper compassionate person and God uses me in a different way as a result of them.
How about you? How has your life experience shaped you? How has it changed how you do life?
Please know I am walking the journey of raising teenagers with you, studying for exams, trying to get the work done before vacation starts, being a dad that has no clue how to do it, and walking in a marriage that has its share of perspective built within in..
May you know the journey is as important as the destination.

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01 Apr 2014

Tune your ear in

Are you among the hoard of people who only listen to, follow or are led by people you like?
Are you a person who is willing to be stretched by people you don’t like as much?
I have been in communications for a long long time. I have experienced seasons of life where certain people rubbed me wrong so I didn’t listen to them… Joyce Meyer, anyone from Ohio State (lol), certain teachers at Fruitport High School, Muskegon Community College and way to many in the work force.. The reason I didn’t want to listen to them often was what they said, sometimes how they said it but usually it came down to who they were….
I have grown in my understanding of this in my life and praying and stretching myself to be a whole learner, not just I like this person learner.
I feel this is an issue that crosses denominational boundaries, secular boundaries and within the average home and workplace.
We do not have enough space to write down all the examples I have to share but a few are simple…
church… I don’t like that speaker.. so I skip
Work.. He or she is the boss.. so I ignore
School… well they are only doing it for the money… so I skip
Home.. she or he doesn’t give me what I want or listens to me the way I want … so I disengage.
Community… well that cop is crooked… so I speed

I am not sure where you are on the subject but I know it is an on going fight for me to find growth through every communication I have. I can no longer throw a fit and tantrum when I don’t get what I want or hear what I want to hear.
I challenge each reader to expand yourself, maybe not throw all those you like away but to add one you don’t. Maybe take a brief moment to hear them before you zombie out?
I don’t know about you, but I am done not learning through people I need to learn from.

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