CIY Winter Retreat Planning Video

Youth Group 101 - Winter Retreat Math from CIY Move on Vimeo.

Why is it that everything takes priority over Youth Ministry Activities/Events, Youth Group, church, etc... things that have the potential for transformational and even eternal life change? Why can coaches and schools dictate family time, but when Pastors and churches ask for a commitment..."it's just too much?" Why does this generation feel that the church is not essential.

President's inauguration Invocation by Dr Rick Warren

President Obama's Inauguration Speech

Part 1

Part 2

The Obama Inauguration: Lego-Style

The SF Weekly just posted a Lego intensive slide-show of the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. The display opens to the public tomorrow, Jan. 16, and will stay on through Memorial Day.

Check out Rick Warren seated on the left! Love the hair!

Photos by Christopher Victorio.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid 3

The Diary of A Wimpy Kid 3 comes out today. This series is a must read for Jr. High Pastors. It will take you back to your own middle school days and help you resonate with the struggles students face. It might even bring back some uncomfortable emotions that have been repressed.

Kinney blogs, "In book 3, Greg's dad decides that the only way to shape up his son is to send him off to military school. So Greg has to use his wits to get out of a very sticky situation."

Pick up a copy today!

GOSPEL Paintball with Greg Stier

How far are you willing to go to share the GOSPEL?

Baptizing an Ogre

One of the more memorable experience as a Youth Pastor occurred while baptizing, not an Ogre, but the Ogre. As the name might imply, Ogre was a 6’5” muscular wrestler that accepted Christ as Savior following an International Wrestling Tour that ended in Turkey. Ogre’s shoulders were as wide as the baptismal, and his height stretched longer than the space provided. I was fine until, “I baptize you brother in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” where Ogre hit his head on the end wall after I dropped him. The matter got worse when I vocalized a deep “Ugh” sound, and portrayed a red-faced strain during “buried in likeness and raised in newness of life.” The experience ended with congregational gasps and laughs, as Ogre splashed water over the front wall while standing to his feet and holding his head. I praise the Lord I am living today to tell of this joyous celebration!

Most Memorable Moment in Youth Ministry

One of the most memorable, but awkward moments as a Youth Pastor, occurred while trying to explain to an inquisitive camp owner and an intrigued camper from a public camp grounds why I had a student run through the grounds from the shower house to the campsite wearing only a hand towel and shaving cream. Let’s just say that, unlike the campers, the student was very forgetful!

Getting Mobile in 2oo9

Lately my wife has accused me of being addicted to my Blackberry and I have caught several "ribbings" from friends as being a "Twitter-holic." However, I realize that in today's information age, the church must utilize every avenue to get the Gospel out to a lost world. Bobby Gruenewald from Lifechurch.tv just posted an article on his blog that is worth your time to view and to follow, as he lays out some innovative ways to utilize today's mobile phone craze as an avenue to share Jesus Christ and minister to the needs of the sheep God has placed in your fold and area of influence.

Bobby states, "At the start of last year, 3.3 billion people were mobile phone users. This is a global phenomenon and contrary to what many believe, “global” actually includes the US :) 13-17-year-olds in the US send/receive an average of 1,742 sms messages each month. EVERY populated area on Earth is affected by the growth of mobile usage. So mobile is really both global and local. I believe the Church must communicate with and engage people where they are at (not just spiritually, but geographically)."

To read more:
http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2009/01/05/2009-the-year-the-church-better-get-mobile/

So, if you are being teased about your mobile usage (SMS's, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, etc.), be sure to let them know that you are "just spreading the Good News of Jesus' Saving Grace" and ministering in an effective, cultural relavent way.

Become a Doer of the Word

We’re all part of a story, and if the words of the Bible are supposed to have so much meaning, then there’s got to be something more than simply memorizing some verses or increasing our knowledge of what it is about. It is my goal to experience God's transforming truth by walking in the light of His truth. I don’t want my knowledge of the Bible--the words of God Himself—to just be interesting information. I want the Bible to affect my life. I desire to be a doer of the word.

I want the Bible to provide guidance when I need direction.

I want the Bible to provide comfort when I feel alone.

I want the Bible to provide hope when I feel hopeless.

I even want the Bible to convict me when I’m not walking in the Light.

If you want the Bible to affect your life, join me in reading God's Word daily at:

Essential Model for Youth Ministry

Based on Thom and Sam Rainer's book, Essential Church, there are four essential phases for churches and youth ministries to become essential and effective in the lives of individuals and the community... Essential to move from death to life... Essential to reclaim a generation of church and youth group dropouts. These phases can serve as a spring-board for an evaluation of our youth ministries and churches alike by asking some very simple questions.

How are we doing with...?

Simplify—the ministry develops a clear structure and process for making disciples.

Deepen—the ministry provides strong biblical teaching and preaching.

Expect—the ministry has an attitude that communicates to its members that they must be committed to the ministry.

Multiply—the ministry has an outward focus, driving to reach people for Christ and starting
new churches.

What can we do to align the ministry to reflect these basic essentials?

What can we expect by aligning with the essentials?

CELEBRATE GOD WITH US

We celebrate Christmas for the miracle that in Jesus, God is with us.

How has your life changed because God is with us? What hope does knowing that God is with us bring to your life?

3,2,1...Jump, Score, It's a World Record!!!

Checkout this amazing feat that is now a World Record!!! WOW!

12 Days of Christmas Down in Africa... Toto What?

Great tune to give you a holiday laugh. Sit back with a hot cup of cocoa and enjoy! Thanks for this one @shawnw!

Revelation Song

May you grasp the real meaning of this season as you watch this amazing video that needs no explanation. May God be glorified and hearts transformed... today is the day for salvation!

May the Force Be With You

May the Force be with you as you brave the lines at the local shopping centers looking for that perfect gift for that someone in your life. I will just pray that God will protect you from all the squirrels that are fighting over the last Wii game system and talking/dancing/do-the-dishes Elmo while I stay home drinking hot coffee and reading a the Gospel According to Jesus.

Don't Forget the Batteries!!!

Don't Mess with Granny

My friend Marybeth Stockdale posted this on her Facebook recently. I felt I needed to share some laughter with you today. Enjoy. God Bless!

No Glasses, Hats, Scarves — and even Smiles

MUNSTER, Ind. — The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles is restricting glasses, hats, scarves — and even smiles — in driver's license photographs.

The new rules imposed last month are needed so that facial recognition software can spot fraudulent license applications, BMV officials told The Times of Northwest Indiana.

The software compares applicants' new photographs with old photographs on file to protect them from identity fraud, said BMV commissioner Ron Stiver.

"We take very seriously our responsibility to help protect the personal identity of Hoosiers, and the employment of this innovative technology is yet another important step forward in doing just that," Stiver said.

The new technology represents an advancement of what the BMV already was doing, agency spokesman Dennis Rosebrough said. BMV employees always have looked at the old photo of a person to see if it looked like the person seeking a new license.

Indiana is one of about 20 states using the facial recognition technology, he said, and other states have similar restrictions on driver's license photographs.


"We believe it's our responsibility to assure all Hoosiers the credentials we issue ... are as accurate as possible," Rosebrough said.

BMV officials want driver's license photographs to accurately show people's permanent facial features, Rosebrough said. That means glasses need to be removed. And if a person has hair hanging their face, it should be swept aside. Smiling can distort facial features measured by the software, Rosebrough said, so that is also restricted.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,463708,00.html

My First Mobile Blog

It is official. I have turned the tech corner by blogging with my Blackberry. Totally amazed by the versitility of all the technology available to bloggers today. May God be glorified by the use of such tools. Stay tuned to all future posts.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry