Youtubesday: NMC Summer Theme Song?

This one is getting a lot of "airplay" at NMC this Summer. It was huge at PhillyGO, Chris introduced it at Connection this past weekend, and it will make an appearance at Summer Camp. Powerful song.



FYI, it will be on David Crowder's upcoming album as well.

Great Quote

Prepping our Devotionals and Notebooks for Summer Camp, I ran across this great quote ...

“Before my conversion I worked toward the cross, but since then I have worked from the cross; then I worked to be saved, now I work because I am saved.”

-DL Moody

1200 Emails: Opening up packages

Opened the first of 350 packages.
It was a bigger box from Indiana Tech.
There are...
10 mouse pads
10 t shirts
5 logo bags
5 key chains
36 pens
5 pennants
5 caribenars
2 admissions packets!

Thanks Indiana Tech.

She likes my hat

"DA-DI HAT!"

Thoughts on Missions Trips, Leadership & Life-Change

1999 - SEMP Chicago/ IMPACT Peru (Lima)
2000 - SEMP Toronto/ IMPACT Honduras
2001 - SEMP Toronto/ IMPACT Peru (Huallanca & Huarles)
2002 - SEMP Toronto/ IMPACT Ecuador
2003 - NYGO/ IMPACT Peru/ IMPACT Honduras
2004 - SEMP Toronto/ IMPACT Dominican
2005 - SEMP Toronto/ IMPACT Peru (Pucallpa & Lima)
2006 - Merge Toronto/ IMPACT Dominican
2007 - NYGO / IMPACT Mexico
2008 - DCGO / IMPACT Mexico
2009 - PhillyGO/ IMPACT Dominican

Above is the list of "Missions Trip Experiences" we have done since I came on Full-time at NMC. There are two types of trips we do. (Those in Bold are the ones I've led).

GO Trips: (this includes SEMP, Merge, and those trips with "Go" in them) We consider this an "entry level" missions experience. The name has dual meaning... GO as in the key word to the Great Commission, and also an acronym for "Gospel Outreach". The trip is centered on Evangelism Training and application. It is normally run stateside (or in Canada). Experience is marked with evangelism training (Conversation style), service projects, and getting on the streets to strike up conversations with people. Students are required to attend a GO Trip before being a part of an IMPACT team.

IMPACT: Again, dual meaning. IMPACT as in what we are seeking to do in the World for the sake of Christ. Also and acronym for Individuals Making People Aware of Christ's Teaching. The trip is always to a foreign country (to this point, we've stuck to the South, but continually dream of heading East). The focus is on coming alongside local churches and ministries in order to partner in whatever way possible.

In both situations, here are the key elements we see necesarry:

• Application Process: Students need to go through a process where they understand the commitment they are making. We do not turn down any student willing to make the commitment to a GO Trip. For IMPACT, however, students are required to go through an interview process where their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual readiness is taken into account.
  
• Pre-trip training: We do not see these these as simply trips, but as opportunities for discipleship. GO trips include 3 months pre-trip training with an Overnighter, and IMPACT trips have 6 months training with a 3 day retreat. Training includes pre-trip readings, scripture memory, testimony preperation, ministry assignments, and heavy accountability.
• Leadership: This is most often the difference between a good and great experience. The right adults need to be there. They need to be individuals with a high level of trust in the primary leader. They also need to be at a spot where they understand that they are primarily there to invest in the students, yet they must also be able to dive into the trip for their own experience and growth.
• Debrief: I call it the there/here principle. We head "there" to serve and advance God's Kingdom, but we feel like we fail if students are not able to bring some element of "there" back "here", meaning that this experience brings a transformative element to their everyday life. Ample time is spent nightly on the trips to allow students to process through what God is doing in them and through them. At the close of the trip, we block out a length of time for students to sumarize their experience as well as walk through next steps.
• Partnerships: Those we partner with need to be aware of what our purpose and goals are, and we theirs. If we aren't on the same page, someone is going to be disappointed. When someone is disappointed in these situations, usually both sides end up disappointed. We haven't batted a thousand on this one. God has always done great things on these trips, but poor partnerships have caused for major frustration and confusion, as well put a ceiling on the opportunity for major breakthrough and growth.
• Support: These experiences are expensive (GO trips average $600, IMPACT $1100). These trips are incredibly intense physically, emotionally, and spiritually. As a part of the "Missions Experience", students raise financial and prayer support to make the trip happen. The financial support is an awesome faith lesson, as well as an opportunity for the ownership of the experience to be broadened.

I would say that these trips pay ENORMOUS Spiritual Dividends. Here's just a few.

1. Discipleship: It is incredibly hard to accomplish strategic discipleship in students. This is due to finding the students who are ready and available. Many who are available aren't ready, and some who are ready have trouble being available. The commitment to go on the trip allows for accountability for students to be commited to those elements connected to the trip. There are elements in the training that may have very little to do with the upcoming trip, but much to do in the spiritual maturing of a student.
2. Blown Up Boxes: It happens nearly every time. Our students in the cornfield are exposed to poverty, a worldview, or a move of God in a way they will not experience at home. They come to grips with how holy and huge the Almighty God we serve is.
   
3. Long-term Change: As I look through th lists of those who have been on a GO trip, I'm encouraged to see where the majority of those students are at in life. As I look through the IMPACT students from years past, the amount of spiritual crash and burns are very small (I came up with just over 10 out of nearly 200). Not only that, as I look at those students who are agressively serving the Lord in both the marketplace and the church, the shining examples were on IMPACT trips.
4. Ministry Fire: I can't tell you how many times we have seen our Ministry set ablaze over what God has done through our IMPACT and GO trips. I will often make it a point to get together with leadership from both trips in order to see what "Megathemes" are present as we head into our Summer Camp. Many of our "What If?" moments have their roots in these experiences.

1200 E-mails: 3 centuries

We have passed the 300 mark on packages received from various colleges. We'll begin the opening and sorting next week if time allots.

Firday 5/ Micheal Jackson Memories

1. First Grade. Ryan Hartman (2nd Grade) brought a boom box to school. During recess, the entire 1st through 3rd grade gathered around him as he hit "play" on his tape recorder. The voice coming from the speakers was, I thought, pretty cool. "Who is she", I asked my friend. "That's not a she," he said. "It's Michael Jackson... You know, Thriller?"
2. Friday Night. I'm not sure what year it was, but I was spending the night at Chad Metzger's house. None of us had cable. We stayed up late to watch "Friday Night Videos". We watched the "Bad" Video that night. I think it was my first music video.
3. Hard Rocker. I really got into collecting music in High School. My tape collection started off with Rap, but quickly became uninteresting. Soon, my collection was marked by the rockers of the late 80s and early 90s... Aerosmith, Scorpions, Firehouse, Def Leppard, John Mellencamp, Nelson, Extreme (getting the picture?) Michael Jackson's Dangerous made it through on this collection somehow, and spent much of my Sophomore year in the car stereo.
4. Oprah. Oprah's 1993 interview with Michael was when I realized there was something really "off" about the Pop icon. Unfortunately, the majority of my memories of Michael are marked by these oddities.
5. Text Message. On the way home from Detroit yesterday, I got a text message from Janelle with 4 simple words that made me stop and think of the previously mentioned memories... "Michael Jackson is dead."
   

Cubs/ Tigers at Comerica Park

Our seats. Just to the foul side of LF foul pole. Great seats.

What's Up in Rwanda?

Caleb and Dustin are in the home stretch of their time in Rwanda. I and many others have been praying that we'd see a major spiritual harvest. Here are several of Caleb's Facebook Updates, starting from their arrival in Rwanda...

Caleb Bislow is in RwandaJune 17 at 1:28pm

Caleb Bislow The Rwandan Exodus Conference is going AMAZING. Dustin and I got to speak to many radical Christ followers today and it is appearing that this Exodus could go BIG. Teams head out to the bush tomorrow. Keep praying...

June 17 at 2:14pm

Caleb Bislowand Dustin are headed to the Rawadan/DR Congo bush tomorrow. We will be working with the Pygmies tommorow night...then head to a refugee camp in a couple days...then to some villages in/near the Congo. On our last day here we will be videoing some key genocide sites to capture a greater burden & depth of the history of this area. ....gone to the bush (no WIFI).June 18 at 1:22pm

Caleb Bislow 's schedule for prayer team. Dates/place of ministry: 19th,20th- Pygmy villages. 21st 22nd- DRC refugee camp. 22nd-Villages on border of Congo 23rd-villages in Gorilla Mountains. 24th-back to Kigali ,25th 26th genocide sites, 27th fly to Kenya, 28th speak to Maasai, 29th fly back to USJune 18 at 2:51pm


Caleb Bislow and Dustin are dirty, smelly, and running themselves ragged in Rwanda however all is well with us and God continues to exceed our expectations. We head back to the bush in an hour.

Yesterday at 7:27am

Coming Sunday...

Capes.
Crayons.
Questions.
Kids.

The title, "Jesus on... Being a Kid"

1200 Emails Update

We only received 8 packages today... 2 were boxes. The post office said the volume was unusually low across the board. I wonder if we were able to log-jam the whole system into Nappanee?

John & Kate Exasperate

I'm really mad.

In 5 seasons, I'd never watched a single episode of John & Kate Plus 8. To be honest, the show wasn't even on my radar until last March. I'm fairly certain your aware of the show unless this blog is the only technology you allow in your house. Strained marriage & potential affairs have been filling the headlines for a couple of months.

Well, all last week TLC pulled out the hype machine letting everyone know a huge announcement was coming on last night's show. I'd read and heard from multiple trusted voices that the unfolding train wreck was both maddening and saddening.

So I watched 50 minutes of last night's big episode. I watched right up until the screen went black, and read, "On June 22, John and Kate filed for a legal separation." I turned the TV over to WWE and watched Donald Trump slap Vince McMahon, and I actually felt less dirty inside.

I'm really mad.

They say that this is the best move for the kids. Kate says that the show, the paparazzi, the fame, living out their lives on screen for millions to see had nothing to do with this. It's all about providing for their kids. It looks like TLC is going to continue to document this train wreck for the world to gawk at.

I'm really mad.

Here's the thing, though. I'm not mad at John and Kate. I'm not mad at TLC. I'm mad at myself. I could justifiably go on and on about my disgust for the choice the couple has made, or my theories of how they've taken a short cut, or how fame has beat out common sense, blah blah blah.

I made a horrible choice last night.
I turned to the show.
Despite my stomach churning, I kept watching.
I let TLC, the media-hype machine suck me in.
I took part in what I think might be the saddest and darkest moment in Reality Television.
And, probably when the ratings come out, I lent my viewing to an episode that will tell TV execs that "divorce sells".

John & Kate, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have watched, and I don't want to watch this unfold.
Gosselin kids, I'm incredibly sorry. You aren't on this earth for my entertainment. I hope there can be a space found where you can simply be children.
TLC, I'm sorry. I'm the reason you're keeping this show on the air.

I'm sorry, and I want to do something about it.

I slept pretty horribly last night because I was so bothered. This morning, I was grabbing some breakfast at Martin's, and I saw the Gosselin family plastered on the screen for CNN's morning news. I decided there that I'm going to fight back in a way. I've been doing this with Britney Spears for a while. Every time I see John & Kate hit the screen, I'm simply going to pray for them. I'm going to pray that God will work a miracle.

I watched my first and last episode of John & Kate Plus 8 last night, and I'm really mad about it.

Father's Day Reflection

Last year's Father's Day was a first and a last. It was my first to celebrate as a father, and the last I would celebrate having my father alive. Here's the catch. I was in Mexico on a Missions trip and did not celebrate with either my dad or my daughter. I'd be lying if this reality didn't add to the already mixed emotions of a different kind of first Father's Day to celebrate going into this Sunday... my first Father's Day since dad's death.

All said and done, though, a great day for multiple reasons.

1. I remembered dad. Again, such great memories and such a fantastic father figure that I can't get too frustrated over the 32 years of his earthly presence in my life.
2. I got the coolest gift. Katylynn picked out a ridiculous M&Ms shirt for me. I wore it proudly all afternoon.
3. I got to be a dad. We spent the afternoon at my aunt's swimming.
4. I was supported. Whether it was text messages, phone calls, or cards, a lot of people just let me know they were thinking of me on this day. That really goes a long way.

So, back to last year. The negative was that my first Father's Day was spent apart from my dad and daughter. The positive was that they spent that day together while I was in Mexico.

Thank God for this thing called family. Thank you God for the family I've been blessed with.

1200 Emails: Monday Morning Results

116 packages from Saturday and this morning putting the grand total up to 218. We're going to wait till next week to open and sort.

Video Testimonies from Philly

These are compliments of Adventures In Missions, who helped coordinate our Philly trip.

AIM Philly Mission Trip - Monday 6/15 from Adventures In Missions on Vimeo.

Adam talks about his AIM Philly trip from Adventures In Missions on Vimeo.

Ashley talks about her experience in Philly from Adventures In Missions on Vimeo.

Mallory shares about her time in Philly from Adventures In Missions on Vimeo.

1200 Emails: Truck?

The post office just called the church. "Do you have a truck? You may need to bring one to pick up all the packages."

I'm so happy!

IMPACT TIME!

Our PhillyGO team returned late last Friday night. Talking to several guys, it didn't take long for me to see and sense some major transformation that took place. I've seen many teams come back from our GO trips with a fire in them, but there is something unique in this crew that has just returned. Now, I'm praying they will allow that which God has done in them to be spread throughout our ministry for long-term change!

Last night, at 3:30 a.m. I stood with many family and friends in a large circle in the parking lot as we sent out our IMPACT Dominican Team. Kory Lantz and Alison Gingrich, along with 3 other adults, are leading 19 students on an adventure for the sake of Christ in the Dominican Repuplic. They will be partnering with multiple churches, loving, serving, listening, and sharing. My prayer is simple... "Wreck them God. For you and for others, wreck them so there's nothing more important."

You can follow along with the teams journey and keep updated how to pray on the teams twitter page (www.twitter.com/nmc_impact) and on Kory's blog (www.korylantz.blogspot.com).

Lot's of Lumber

There's another pile about half that size on the other side of the drive. almost all of it was on the roof or against the house.

There was a hole (more like a crack in the roof) and a bent gutter, but the damage is very minimal considering. Thanking God the limbs fell where they did.

1200 Emails: More packages

68 more packages today. That's now 102! Lot's of colleges I've never heard of.

1200 Emails Update

The packages strarted coming in yesterday. At the end of the day, 34 total.

Friday 5: This Week in Twitter

I'm slowly getting sucked into Twitter world. I got it last year to use for our Missions Trip and Summer Camp. In January, I synced up Twitter and Facebook, and added twitpic. This month, I caved and set a few (only three at this point) users to send updates to my cell phone.

I love it for the way we're using it with our trips. I also love it when individuals post a great one liner, or a profound that that makes me go "hmmmm."

I don't like the narcissistic feel to it all (but hey, I've got a blog where I post my thoughts for the world to see, as if my thoughts are that important).

Anyway, here's my five favorite Tweets I read this past week.

1. carriebad Told 1st grades about the stormy boat in Scripture, little boy walks up, really serious, and says...."That was frickin awesome! I love you!
   (Carrie is working with our NMC 1-4th Grade kids camps this week)
   
   
2. NMC_GO Wow! Major Move last night of Holy Spirit! New blogpost to tell some about it Make sure you send your word of encouragement by 3:00PM today!
   (The move of the Holy Spirit part is what pumped me up!)
   
   
3. janelleprenkert Active day with Derry and Katylynn. Bike ride, sprinkler, sandbox, bath, then softball game. I LOVE THURSDAYS!!
   
   
4. scottengbrecht If they had to choose, I'd rather have people go to a community-based event over a church event. It's missional living.
   (This tweet sparked a little discussion between Scott & I, which was cool as I found someone wrestling and processing through some similar angst)
   
   
5. mynameiscorey "diarrhea from unclean water is the No. 1 killer for African children under age 5." U can still donate, details at www.mynameiscorey.com
   (Corey's in the midst of an effort to raise support for blood/water mission, which provides clean water and other support in Africa)
   

Ah Crud!

It wasn't a tornado, but around 5 am we heard the wind whipping through. The house shook. We heard a loud crash. It was done so quick we just went back to sleep.
Once we got around this is what we saw. Three branches (think medium tree trunk size) across the house. The power line is mangled in there somehow. We have no idea how we still have power.

Upcoming...

June 22 - 3:30 a.m. Say goodbye to the IMPACT Dominican team.
June 26 - Cubs v. Detroit Tiger in Detroit
June 27 - "Monkey See, Monkey Do" Seminar at CDYC Youth Conference
June 28 - In the box at NMC "Jesus on... Being Childish"
July 1-5 - (leave after work) Head to Ludington with family.
July 5 - ONE at NMC. (I won't be there, but it get's me incredibly excited)
July 6 - Send out the Junior High Campers
July 7-8 - Visit to Junior High Camp
July 10-14 - Senior High Camp

Good stuff! Lot's to get excited about.

1200 E-mails

Dear Admissions Office,

I am a minister at a church that works with approximately 500 Middle and High School Students. We meet and work with these students in a variety of settings. A hot topic among our students is often concerning where to go to college. At the same time, we will often have activities (games, challenges, crowd breakers) where we will give out prizes as incentives for participation. As we've thought about these two seemingly disconnected aspects of our group, we were struck with an idea.

I would love to make our students aware of your school if you'd be willing to send us any kind of "swag" that has your school on it. This could include t-shirts (any sizes Small to X-Large), hats, pens, pencils, penants, or gloves. These items will serve as the incentives during our various meetings. As we give them out, we will make a point to promote your school by name and location.

I'd also love to get an admissions packet that we could place on file that we can show to any kids interested.

These can be sent to:

Nappanee Missionary Church

c/o Derry Prenkert

70417 SR 19 N

P.O. Box 110

Nappanee, IN 46550

If you'd like to check out our church, our website is www.nmconline.net

Thanks for your time, and I hope you're having a wonderful Summer!

Derry Prenkert
Senior High Pastor
Nappanee Missionary Church
www.derryprenkert.com (blog)

My friend Michael (who is a school teacher) has done this a couple of times. He Sent a request to every 4 year college and University he was able to track down. He said the response was crazy!

Monday and Tuesday we sent out nearly 1200 E-mails. A couple hundred didn't go through. Many have responded back already. Just got a text today letting me know we received 4 packages today. Now we wait and see what else we get!

Google Searches

Here's some of the more popular Google searches that have led here recently:

• Spelling Bee Mustache
• Sham Wow song
• Kip Prenkert
• Name Yourself Day
• Vanuatu Kory Lantz
• A season of time book
• amway jason borne
• twilight book one
• Does bella ever become a vampire?
• first generation christians
• grieving a month later
• internships for the twilight saga movie eclipse

Tonight at FYBY

It's been fun letting the students run wit our Wednesday Night Gathering.

Tonight, with our PhillyGO team out and our IMPACT team doing our final meeting, we'll be looking at a smaller group. 3 of our students have been putting together a plan that will involve some fun and laughter, as well as create an opportunity for deeper conversation and interaction.

They're doing a GREAT job. I'm really proud of them!

Great Reports from Philly

I loved reading this post from our PhillyGO team last night.

Also, they are looking to shower the team with encouragement tonight. Go here and leave a comment if you want to participate.

Summer A-Z

HAVEN'T DONE THIS FOR A WHILE:

A - Air Conditiong
B - Bare feet
C - Cookout
D - Daddy/ Daughter Time
E - Elastic (it seems like I wear a lot more clothes with it)
F - Flip-Flops
G - GI Joe
H - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
I - Ice Cream
J - Jet Skis
K - Khaki Shorts
L - Ludington, Michigan (mom & dad's cottage)
M - Ministry (lots of unique opportunities)
N - Nuptuals (plenty of weddings to head to)
O - Open Houses (Graduation; lot's of them)
P - Pool
Q - Quiet (Don't know why, but life seems less noisy during Summer)
R - Rocks (love to skip them across the lake)
S - Sun
T - Tubing
U - UV Protection
V - Vermilion, OH (home of Sumer Camp)
W - Watermelon
X - Xebec (a special three-masted sailing ship used in the Mediterranean)
Y - Yard (trying to grow a new stretch of ours)
Z - Zebras (we plan to go to the zoo quite a bit)

She Does Get Grumpy Sometimes

Pictoral proof. Just picture her saying, "Noooooooo!"

Youtubesday - Jesus is a Friend of Mine

This video has made it's way around blog world a while ago, but when I got in my car this morning, I realized my friend Corey Mann is bringing it back. Corey, the Pulse FM morning DJ, was playing the song on the radio! I guess Sonseed just re-released the song on I-tunes. Enjoy... and cringe.

Great pic By Janelle

Kinda scared. will she brave out into a new adventure?

Where in the World is NMC Student Ministries

(click on image for larger view)

This map gets me pretty pumped up! It highlights those with close ties to NMC Student Ministries who are currently or will be doing summer missions work.

Who and where are they?

A - Our PhillyGO team; currently in Philadelphia. Check out their blog and twitter page.
B - Our IMPACT Dominican Team; leaving Monday, July 22. You'll be able to follow them on their twitter page.
C - Taylor Lincoln; in her 6th of 8 months with Dayspring Ministry's DMT program. Check out her blog.
D - The NLF IMPACT Nicaragua team; Currently in the final days of their trip. Check out their blog.
E. Katie Lengacher; Leaving Friday for one month in the Jungles of Peru.
F. Dustin Eby & Caleb Bislow; the Rwanda Exodus Conference kicks off Wednesday. See the conference info on Caleb's blog.
G. Joslynn Focht; In the midst of a 2 month medical missions trip in Kenya.
H. Kalyn Lantz; currently in Nepal working with Tiny Hands International till the end of the month. Check out her blog.
J. Kory Lantz & Caleb Bislow; returned from a May trip to the Vanuatu Islands. If you haven't seen the 3-part video from their experience, I'd encourage you to go here and watch it right now.

This gets me absolutely floored for multiple reasons.

1. In our mission to see students moving from religion to relationship to spiritually reproducing, this kind of activity is a key benchmark we look to as evidence of truly "passing the baton" of faith to others.
2. I'm passionate about students gaining a heart for the nations.
   
3. One prayer I often pray is that the sun would never set on the effects of our student ministry. I love how true this is for the Summer!

Friday 5: Pray

5 people/groups with ties to NMC Senior High you should be praying for:

1. Kalyn Lantz - She's currently in Nepal working with Tiny Hands international, a ministry that reaches out to those who orphans, street children, and the victims of the sex-trafficking industry. Kalyn is an NMC graduate, and I believe God wants to use her over the month she's there, as well as prepare her for even more ministry like this.
2. Taylor Lincoln - Taylor has been in Mexico for the past 4 months with Dayspring Ministries. She had been in a remote area of Mexico (sleeping in a hammock, 110 degree heat) doing ministry. She is currently in Texas recovering from getting really sick. Pray for healthy recovery for Taylor so she can get back on the field!
3. Dustin Eby and Caleb Bislow - a.k.a the Rwanda Exodus Conference. These two are flying out today for Rwanda. They'll be working with Joseph Karsanyi, a Rwandan pastor who has gathered together 25 teams of church planters and evangelists who will go out to the remote and unreached areas of the country in an effor to start a disciple-making movement. Read more about how to pray here.
4. Katie Lengacher - Katie, a Senior at NorthWood, will be leaving in a few short days for the jungles of Peru, where she will be working with Adventures in Missions for one month. While there, she will be partnering with some very remote churches to share Christ's love in the villages and jungle area. She will be there a full month.
   
5. PhillyGO - This team of 22 students and 6 leaders will be traveling to Philadelphia, PA. They will be coming alongside various churches and minsitries in that city and developing relationships with the hopes of sharing Christ's love. They leave tonight. Follow along and keep updated on how to pray at the PhillyGO twitter page.

I love the fact that Nepal, Rwanda, Peru, and Philadelphia will all be touched for the Kingdom of God through NMC Student Ministries in this next week alone!

Summer Goals

By the end of August, I hope to:

Personal:

• Read at least two novels.
• Read at least two non-fiction books.
• Watch at least 10 "Summer Blockbusters" in the theater (5 already down, Wolverine, Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation, Land of the Lost, Angels & Demons).
• Eat the equivalent of 2 whole watermelons.
• Write 50 pages of "Un-named Project".
• Fall asleep on a hammock at least once (no idea when or where, but I must find a way).

Ministry:

• Take 20 students out to a one-on-one or two-on-one lunch.
• Pray daily for any students while they are on a trip.
• See at least 20 testimonies shared from students and leaders during our Sunday and Wednesday programs.
  
• Give all I've got to see Summer Camp be a powerful encounter with God.
• Breathe. A lot.

Home:

• See a fully green back yard.
• Get Barnabas's new dog fence up.
• Start in on Bathroom remodeling.

Family:

• At least 4 trips to the zoo.
• Read 60 books to Katylynn (Janelle and I will team up).
• Completely read through Katylynn's Children's Bible Story Book.
  
• Make as many toddler story times at the library as possible.
• At least 5 dates with my lovely wife (1 is already done).
  
• Sit around a camp fire together and look at the stars at least once (I hate DST for this, otherwise it would be a LOT more).
• Spend outdoor time every Thursday with Katylynn.

Live From FYBY

Samantha is sharing her testimony at FYBY. It's a great story of religion to relationship. I love hearing stories like hers.

She Calls her "Ninnie"

Janelle just sent me this pic with this message...

"Think we've brain washed Our daughter?"

Was today consumed with...

... meetings?
... crisis management?
... e-mails?
... phone calls?
... texts?
... monotony?
... anticipation?
... enjoyment?
... disappointment?
... worry?
... rejoicing?
... laundry?
... crying, diaper changing, and feeding?
... doubt?
... questions?
... emptiness?
... hurt?

How about...
... some of the above?
... all of the above?
... none of the above?

Was any of today consumed with God?
When it gets down to it, don't we have the oppotunity to let it all be consumed by God?

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31

A Summer Without Interns

We don't have SOAR interns this Summer. For the past 9 years, there have been college students who come in for our Summer internship program. They run the Wednesday Night Youth and Sunday Morning Youth Class Program.

Their absence is a part of us taking a break and re-imagining how we do internships at NMC. A good thing. For our Summer Program, it was a scary thing. Classically, our Student Ministries staff dives full-in to our Summer Trips (GO trips, IMPACT, Summer Camps) as well as takes a little time to breathe from the weekly programs. So, we had to come up with some ways to do Wednesdays and Sundays a little different than we've ever done before.

Enter FYBY and AWAKE.

FYBY stands for "For You, By You" and is a completely student led gathering. I and the other adults are only there to serve as encouragers. There is a group of 10 students who have taken ownership to see the nights happen. In discussion with them, they felt like the best way to spend our summer would be in building strong connectedness and worshipping outside the box. So that's what we're doing. Some weeks are all interactive games. Some weeks, students will share their life stories (a.k.a testimonies). Some weeks will be spent in prayer, worshipping to CDs, in silence, reading scripture. Based off the first week, I'm encouraged with what we're doing.


AWAKE is kind of a joke name. Sunday Morning Youth Programming is ridiculously tough. One of the main reason is that no students are awake. So, we thought it would be fun to give it the name for what is not happening. Yet, I really believe we've found something that students will wake up for, and truly benefit from. Each week, one of our veteran key Senior High Adult Leadership Team members will be sharing an extended version of his/her testimony. The testimony is then followed by an interview time from me, as well as questions from the crowd. I love what this accomplishes as it allows our students to become familiar with some of the coolest people around. Also, nothing "preaches" better than someone's personal experience walking with Jesus Christ.
My wife, Janelle, started us off yesterday, and it was awesome. I could see kids somewhat shocked to hear that the pastor's wife is a human being who has faced failure and trials, and is seeking to live in a way that honors God with both the beauty and the scars that are her life.
I was pumped to overhear a student talking to another... "Hey, we should make sure we get the other girls here. This is going to be good this Summer!" It's every Sunday morning at 9:30 in the Fieldhouse!

When is the last time you...

... sat out by yourself and looked at the stars ?
... went out driving with no specific destination in mind?
... cranked your car stereo up and sang along at the top of your lungs?
... ate something you've never tasted before?
... jumped into a body of water with all your "regular clothes" on?
... jumped in a body of water with none of your clothes on?
... sat around a camp fire and reminisced about... anything?
... played a practical joke on someone?

Has it been days?
Months?
Years?

If you haven't done any of these things for months or years (meaning your 0-8), maybe it's time to grow up and realize it's okay to be a kid!

Awesome. Just Awesome.

My friend, Caleb Bislow believes in going to the 13th Floor.

He explains that most buildings in America don't have a 13th Floor due to the superstitions surrounding it. To Christians, he explains the "13th Floor" as a location that is run from. Caleb wants to run to the places many Christian run from.

In 2004, while Caleb was watching the reality show Survivor, he sensed God speaking to him. It was the location the "game" was taking place... the South Pacific Vanuatu Islands. Five years later Caleb stepped foot on the islands. Especially exciting to me is the fact that one our NMC's own, Kory Lantz was with him. Caleb's telling the stories about their experience over at his blog, but these two videos show the amazing things that can happen when someone is willing to go to the 13th Floor...

She Loves Books

She's been flipping through her kid's bible for the past 20 minutes.

She Loves Her Shoes

I'm in the family room and she walks into the kitchen.
It get's real quiet.
I walk around the island.
She looks at me and yells SHOE!
Note, the pink one is on the wrong foot, and the white one is different from the other.

Very Cool Kristy

My wife's birthday is today.
I'm very fond of her.
Kristy Mikel honored Janelle on her blog today.
Very Cool stuff.
Read it here.

Facebook Conversation

A simple post on Facebook updates via Twitter last night, and some enjoyable responses...

Derry Prenkert Watching the sandlot with some of the guys on my softball team. YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS. What's you're favorite scene or line?

Justin Lincoln at 8:00pm June 2

"The Babe" - Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong.

Brian Bussard at 8:02pm June 2

This is smores stuff. First you take the graham. You stick the chocolate on the graham. Then, you roast the mallow. When the mallows flaming, you stick it on the chocolate and cover it with the other end. Then, you scarf.

Audrey Grace Speicher at 8:03pm June 2

"First, you take the mallow..."

Brian Bussard at 8:04pm June 2

Ham Porter: You call that pitching? This is baseball! Not tennis!

Mark Davidhizar at 8:06pm June 2 via Facebook Mobile

Forrreeeeverrrrr, forrreeeverrrrr

Aaron Morey at 8:07pm June 2

ForeVER, ForeEVER

Jennifer Newcomer at 8:11pm June 2

fake drowning for Wendy Pefercorn (sp)

Tyler Miller at 8:20pm June 2

YOU PLAY LIKE A GIRL!

Alicia 'Trump' Linse at 8:33pm June 2 via Facebook Mobile

"YOU'RE KILLIN' ME SMALLS!" And the constant chewing and smaking of huge wads of bubble gum. Good movie!

Marah Jean Traub at 8:50pm June 2

"Wendy Peffercorn!"

Dustin Geyer at 9:03pm June 2

"you take the mallow and put it on the gram"

Andrew Kelley at 9:19pm June 2

FOR-E-VER!

Todd Owens at 9:45pm June 2

HAM: Hey, Smalls, you wanna s'more?
SMALLS: Some more of what?

You play ball like a giiirrrrrrrrl!
... Read More
HAM: Is that your sister out there in left field, naked? She's naked?
RANDOM KID: SHUT UP PORTER!
HAM: Hey, hey, hey, I'm just trying to start a friendly conversation, come on. [two seconds later] Think she'll go out with me?

Aaron Zehr at 9:53pm June 2

Yea, yea you were! You're tongue was hanging out of your head!

Andrew Kelley at 10:17pm June 2

CHA!!!!

Joel Kratzer at 10:52pm June 2

I like the part where his wonderboy bat gives hin powers

Stephanie Cook at 12:40am June 3

Smalls: Ohhhh The Great Bambino! I thought you said the great.... Bambi.
Ham: That wimpy dear!?!?

Dogs and Crying

3 Questions:

1. Are you a dog lover?
2. Have you seen Marley & Me?
3. Did you cry like a little girl when you watched it?

I answer triple-yes. Many people told me I needed to watch this movie, and I finally got around to it last night. I LOVED it. Marley is known by her owners as the "World's worst Dog." Janelle and I often refer to our dog, Barnabas, as "The World's Dumbest Dog."

Janelle gave me Barnabas as a college graduation present... right at the same time we were engaged. He has been there with us through it all. So many significant moments over the past 10 years include Barnabas being around to just sit with his head on my knees or my lap.

Great movie. Sentimental for anyone who has enjoyed a family dog!

Yard Work, Idealism, and Switchfoot

I hate yard work.
If I had to choose between watching figure skating and doing yard work, I'd choose a root canal.

Yet, we're doing some major work in our back yard to get the house in better shape. I've found that there are about three major bands I will listen to while mowing, tilling, breaking cement, pulling fence posts, and raking (that's it, I just threw up in my mouth a little from writing about these tasks).

Anyway, those three groups are my three favorite bands... U2, Coldplay, and Switchfoot.

I've noticed something about my playlist... it's full of idealism. I think it keeps me dreaming while doing something I dread. More times that not, I land on Switchfoot. Yesterday, it was the song American Dream. I was struck deeply by the lyrics.

Watch it...


Read it...

When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line
When success is equated with excess

If you're time ain't be nothing for money
I start to feel really bad for you honey
Maybe honey put you're money where your mouth's been running
If you're time ain't be nothing but money

I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom

(chorus)
This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things
I'm tired of fighting for just me
This ain't my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we're fighting for the beamer, the lexus
As the heart and soul breathing the company goals
Where success is equated with excess

I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom

(chorus)

Cause baby's always talkin 'bout a ring
And talk has always been the cheapest thing
Is it true would you do what I want you to
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we've been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain't my America,
That ain't my American dream

(chorus)

The Twilight Saga Finished:

I read the first book in the Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga the first week of May. This past Saturday, I finished the fourth and final. I wrote about the first book (and a little about the first Movie) here.

Here's some my concluding thoughts, and likely the last time I will mention the books or movies on this blog.


Book #2 - New Moon.
summary - Edward Cullen (vampire) makes the decision to leave his true love Bella (human) in an effort to protect her. Bella seeks to navigate through the "loss of her heart" and finds comfort in a friendship with her Native American Friend, Jacob Black, a guy with his own set of "non-human" issues.

• Meyer's writing takes a step up from Book 1 to Book 2 (and by book 4, it's pretty impressive).
  
• The character development continued to improve.
  
• The Edward/ Bella "break-up" is an intriguing and heart-wrenching depiction of teenage love gone awry. We often tell our students, "Until I am complete and content in my relationship with Christ, all relationships are a hopeless attempt to fill that void."
  Bella refers to a "hole in her chest" that is created through Edward's absence. I like where this conversation can lead with young gals.
• There is a great conversation that could happen concerning guy/gal relationships. The Jacob/Bella v. Edward/Bella relationship has some stark differences. This is where I actually found myself emotionally involved with the book. I wanted Bella to choose Jacob (the friend) over Edward (the "one")... a thought that does not make me popular with many of the gals I've talked to.

Book #3 - Eclipse

Summary - The Cullens (vampires) are back around. Jacob Black and his "pack" of friends are in a tense relationship with the Cullens over the status of their "treaty". This all gets foggy when another dark force of vampires look to come after Bella, and Bella pushes for herself to become a vampire.

• This is the classic "in the middle" of the saga books. Lot's of deepening plotlines and character development.
• The above-mentioned "battle" between Edward and Jacob over Bella continues. There's little hints of control in both male characters that is a little romanticized and unfortunate.
• Both male characters also possess some very admirable qualities of loyalty, service, and selflessness.
  
• The vampire/ werewolf genre takes a step up. There is more supernatural elements introduced as you understand the whole backstory. It's a little darker, but not unreasonable.
  
• The Sexual Content takes a significant leap. Bella (a virgin) is all but throwing herself at Edward, and he is the one telling her "no, not till we're married". Again, this would be a great conversation point concerning standards, sexuality, etc.
  
• At the conclusion of this book, I grew in my concern over the amount of young High School and Junior High gals reading.

Book #4 - Breaking Dawn

Summary - Bella and Edward are married, and through a strange twist of events, the Volturi (kind of the Vampire Royalty) prepare to face off against the Cullens, bringing the Quilete werewolves and Cullens together to protect their people, region, and a new edition to the world.

• Some great writing by Meyer. A large section of this book leaves the mind of Bella, and has Jacob as the narrator.
• There is not graphic explanations of sex, but there is a plenty of sexual content. As a positive, it is all happening inside of marriage. On the negative, it's a fairly distorted view of it all.
• As a lover of fantasy books/ movies, I was really disappointed in the ending of the book. It had incredible build, and was extremely anticlimactic. It would have been a fine ending if this wasn't the final book (and I wonder if she wasn't leaving the window open for more).
  Yet, I have not heard a similar disappointment from the teenage lady crowd concerning the ending. So, once again, maybe Meyer nailed her target audience.

All said and done, the central focus to all the books, and as far as I can tell the ultimate attraction by its fans is Mr. Edward Cullen... the perfect man for every girl that just happens to be a vampire.

I have had some great conversations with gals about the books. I have a mental list of questions I run through with them. Based off the coming movies and results of last night's MTV movie awards, I don't think the Twilight saga will be going away real soon. If you aren't aware, it's time to become aware. As one of my facebook friends stated, I'm not saying "beware". I'm saying "Be aware."