Kenya Team & Africa Trip Here We Go

Tomorrow I board a plane.
I board that plane with the 13 other individuals pictured above.

10 of those pictured are High School students who decided the best way they could spend their Spring Break is Giving Sacrificially of their time for Kids In Need as we head to Kenya. Jamie & Jolinda Lengacher will join Janell and I as we lead this team. While there April 1-11, our team will be spending a lot of time with orphans in both Nairobi and at the AGC Baby Center. We will also be connecting with a ministry to prostitutes, worshipping on Easter Sunday with the AGC Church, and experiencing an exciting uniting of those connected to the Maasai Project.

On April 10, I will get the team on a plane back to the states, then connect with Caleb Bislow. April 11, Caleb and I will board a plane to Rwanda. We will be spending 7 days in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo encouraging and ministering alongside several of Caleb's contacts. I return to the states April 19.

WE NEED YOUR PRAYER SUPPORT!

I have several PRAYER POSTS set to post on this blog that will give you specific ways to pray for this journey. Keeping in mind a 7 hour difference (Kenya is 7 hours ahead of here), PRAYER POSTS will come up in the evening and give you a little insight on the day ahead and how to specifically pray.

Some other tools to help you in prayer...
Join the Facebook Prayer Group - HERE
The Baby Center Twitter account - HERE
Baby Center Blog - HERE
I will be trying to post regular updates from Kenya on this blog as well.

Redemptive Dodgeball

I love what took place this last weekend with our K.I.N. dodgeball tournament. Friday, it was Preteens, Junior High, & leaders. Saturday it was High School & Adult teams. Every person paid a $5 entry fee. Games lasted 8 minutes. For the first 6 minutes of the game, you could buy back in for $1 if you got out. Every last cent on the night went to help the basketball court project with KPTransformation. All said and done, $3,062.30 was given to assist a ministry that is seeking to break the cycle of poverty among kids in a community full of potential for Christ. For that, I say BOO YA!

Spiritual Highs and Crashes

Are you a Youth Worker who worries over the constant roller coaster of spiritual growth you've seen in students?

Are you a follower of Christ who has battled through your own roller coaster and feel like a spiritual failure?

My message last Sunday Morning at NMC was geared for you. Listen here.

I Need Desperate Times In My Life

Sunday, I worshiped God with an intensity, focus, and freshness I haven't experienced in a while.
In the past two weeks, I have found myself turning the radio off in my car so I can pray and listen for His still small voice.
This morning, the scriptures jumped from the page of my Bible to my heart. They resonated deep within.
I have been very conscientious of surrounding myself with prayer warriors.

In about 48 hours I board a bus for 11 days with a team of students heading to Kenya, followed by 8 days of ministry with Caleb Bislow in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the midst of the details, the opportunities, and the reality of what I'm stepping into... I'm desperate.

I'm desperate to see God direct.
I'm desperate to see God move.
I'm desperate for strength and energy.
I'm desperate because I know I can't do this on my own.

I wish I could say I was always this desperate. I mean if you really look at those 4 sentences above, what isn't true of any and every moment of my life? Yet, I'm grateful for seasons like this one in my life where I just can't escape it. It's too unfamiliar and too obvious that I need Him for me to turn anywhere else.

When is the last time you found yourself in desperation for God?
Is it time to see that happen?

K.I.N. Shoe Drive Load-In

560 pairs of shoes heading to Kenya. Praying they will all fit in the luggage we have.

Do's and Don'ts of Adoption

As a part of our adoption class, I read a great and simple article on some do's and don'ts for grown-ups when it comes to cross-cultural adoption. If you're interested in reading it, go here. One statement was just fantastic. I pass on to any reader to keep in mind on the unintentional hurtful statements that can be made toward adoptive parents.

Don't tell us we're sure to have "our own" now. She is our own. Those parents who choose adoption because of infertility do not secretly harbor lifelong yearnings for a biological child. Having "our own" is now irrelevant; the child we have is the one we want and it is inconceivable that we could love or want any child more. Like all parents, we have the best.

Friday 5: Female Faith Stories

1. The Sophomore Girls Small Groups: Last Wednesday I walked past Tonya's Sophomore Girls Small Group room. She was laying out bright yellow t-shirts with no print on them. I asked her what they were for and she let me know that Stacy and her group had all been doing research on trafficking in the United States. That night they were going to each design their own shirts by writing facts and statistics they had learned. They were then all going to wear their shirts to school on the same day in an effort to spread awareness. BOO YA!
2. Kristen heads to Kenya with me as a part of our Kids In Need focused IMPACT team. Kristen is a fantastic artist who decided to do something unique for her Senior art project that showed me how she has grasped the heart of Kids In Need. Check out this article on how a student who may be labeled "the least of these" made a profound impact on Kristen here. BOO YA!
   
3. Brittany is a part of the same IMPACT team heading to broke her fibula 4 weeks ago when she slipped on the ice. In the emergency room, the doctor explained the surgery that was going to happen and how she was going to be completely off that foot for 8 weeks. Brittany is in a spring Soccer league and was looking to run track. Her parents told me she held up fine until the Doc left the room and then she lost it. Worried that she was upset about missing on the sports, they were surprised to hear Brittany ask through the tears, "Does this mean I won't be able to go to Kenya?" Well, not only is Brittany going to navigate Kenya between a wheelchair and crutches, she has figured a way to perform her part in the evangelistic drama we do while hopping on one leg. BOO YA!
4. Katherine: Moved by the challenge of Karl Black to live with a heart of generosity toward the marginalized, Katherine and a friend sought to reach out to the lonely at her school. Through trial and error, they came up with an idea to bless those who are investing in them at the school. It's an awesome story worth reading from her perspective here. BOOOO YAAA!
5. Mackensey is a grade schooler whose big brother is heading to Mexico this Summer on an IMPACT trip. Along with her friend Hannah, they are wanting to organize a garage sale and give all the money they make to help pay the expenses for his brother's team. That's right, I said grade school. BOOOOOOOOO YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
   

What's Keeping Me Up at Night?

• In 6 days Janelle and I board a plane to Kenya with 10 other students and 2 adults. Are we ready? Can we really be ready for this?
• After 24 hours of travel, we get a night's sleep then put on a carnival for 200 orphans who will be bussed out of the slums for one day. 200 orphans. Will we be able to offer anything worth while?
• On Easter Sunday (April 4), we drive into the AGC Baby Center, drop off our luggage, then head over to worship our risen savior at the Afica Gospel Church in Ngata. I will be preaching through a Swahili translator that morning. Preaching in the heart of Africa. Who am I? What words do I have to offer to a people I've never met in a town I've never been but 30 minutes before I get up to talk?
• Monday-Thursday (April 5-8) I will be with the team at the Baby Center loving on 36 abandoned babies, painting walls and digging ditches, and encouraging the workers at the Baby Center (the real heroes). What will God be revealing to us during this time? How might he wish to use us?
• On Friday (April 9) we drive into a Maasai village to meet with pastors we have invested much prayer and finances in to see a disciple-making movement take place throughout all Maasai land. We will share our dramas with them and worship together. No major questions over this one, but a lot of anticipation.
  
• On Saturday (April 10) I say goodbye to the team (and more importantly my wife) and connect with Caleb Bislow for leg two of my Africa adventure. How exhausted will I be?
• On Sunday (April 11) we hop on a plane to Kigali, Rwanda.
• Sunday-Tuesday (April 11-13) we tour through Rwanda and reconnect with some of the churches that were planted through the Rwanda Exodus Conference our students funded through Rwanda Night. Will these churches be thriving or struggling?
  
• Wednesday-Friday (April 14-16) we head into an area and work with pastors and Pygmies that are a part of what many have labeled as the most significant and overlooked humanitarian crisis going on right now. Safety? Role? Health? Will I let my faith win out over my fear? Who am I?
• Saturday (April 17) we tour the sites of the greatest humanitarian crisis of the 90s... the Rwandan Genocide.
• Sunday (April 18) I begin the long journey home. Kigali -> Nairobi -> Amsterdam -> Chicago -> my daughter in my arms and my wife by my side.

So yes, in all honesty, I'm overwhelmed. I'm nervous. I'm scared. It's all about a faith journey that's being battled by fear. It's questions on whether or not I'm the man for the job. Fears all the way from anxiety over speaking to a thought in the back of my mind that I'll leave my wife a widow and my daughter fatherless (no I'm not saying i really believe I'm going to die on this trip... I'm saying there's fear there).

I know HE is in control. I see how my life has led up to this point and these opportunities. I know there is purpose in my participation in this adventure. I know I'm not that significant, but I am a part of something significant. I know that the promise from God's word that my awesome wife gave me Wednesday is exactly what I need to hold on to...

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

I want to see the Church Part 3 (6-10)

1. I want to see the Church led by the Holy Spirit.
   
   It's so tempting to listen to the people. There's a temptation to run the church as a democracy where the majority rules. In John 3 Jesus taught, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." The majority rules mentality sure seems to run a high risk of flesh giving birth to flesh.
   
   
2. I want to see the Church empowered by the Holy Spirit.
   I believe Jesus Christ intended for us to be a force to be reckoned with. In the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus said we would receive POWER (read Acts 1), and we read of powerful and miraculous displays of the Holy Spirit through the disciples in the early church (read the rest of Acts). I almost titled this point "I want to see the church practicing the spiritual gifts," but I'm afraid much of us have bought into what I might call "charisphobia" where we've seen abuse of the the gifts. If that's you, please refer back to point one. I want to see us LED BY the Holy Spirit. In any abuse of the gifts I have witnessed, it boils down to a person seeking to lead the Holy Spirit (impose His move) rather than being LED BY (respond to His move).
   I once heard a prominent youth pastor say to a large gathering of youth pastors, "Teach on the Spiritual gifts. I know some of you are from denominations or backgrounds that would say otherwise, but the spiritual gifts are biblical... of course, that may be why some of you aren't teaching the gifts!"
   
   
3. I want to see the Church as ONE.
   Jesus wanted it. In fact he prayed for it... "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. " (John 17:20-21)
   Sometimes I wonder if doctrine is the biggest obstacle getting in the way of truly seeing a major outbreak of revival. We must be one in Jesus Christ. Is that not enough? I think it can be when the Holy Spirit is in charge.
   
   
4. I want to see the Church emphasize sin holistically.
   We love to emphasize the ten commandments in the church, and we should. But did you ever notice how the majority of the commandments are "Do Nots". In fact 8 of the 10 commandments tells us not to do something. 2 (honor the sabbath and honor your father and mother) are "do" commandments.
   About 2 years ago, I was introduced to the thought of sins of commission and sins of omission.
   Sins of commission would be those things we "do" where God's challenge is "do not."
   Sins of ommission would be those things we "do not" do where God has challenged us to "do."
   In fact, if you really consider the 10 commandments, they are all rooted in the greatest commandment that Jesus laid out in Matthew 22:37-40 (Love God, Love your neighbor), which is a challenge against sins of omission. I want to see us challenging each other toward both what we ought to be doing as well as what we ought not to be doing.
   
   
5. I want to see the Church known for what we're for as well as what we're against.
   This ties right in with my thought above, but wouldn't it be great if a nonbeliever were to look at the Church and say, "Oh ya, you're those people that value love, grace and forgiveness. You're the ones who believe it is important to look after orphans and widows."
   At the same time, I want it to be known that the church stands against pornography, abortion , and homosexuality. Yet, we're against pornography because we are for valuing people and having a healthy view of sex. We're against abortion because we are for life. We're disagree with homosexuality because we are for God's design for relationships.
   
   
   

A Benediction for the Mountaintops and Valleys

This morning at NMC, I closed the message with a benediction. Several asked if we could have asked if they could have it. I told them I would post it on my blog.

Here it is:

As you journey on the path of becoming a Fully Committed Disciple,
may you embrace both the mountain tops and the valleys.

When you find yourself on the mountaintop of blessing or insight,
may you see the perspective God has for you.
may you hear His word, and
may you prepare to do what that word says.

When you walk through into the valley of trials and temptation also known as life,
may you find joy in the journey that God has allowed,
may you put into practice the perspective that you’ve gained in the mountaintop, and
may you see the growth that is taking place in you.

I Want to See the Church Part 2 (1-5)

Here we go. I'll take about 5 at a time. Again, to review what I'm going for here, read this post.

1. I want to see the Church compelled by love.
   
   I want holiness. I want truth. I want sound doctrine. I want reverence. Above all I want to see us driven by love. I don't mean love in its limited definition we often give. I mean love as God defines it (see I Corinthians 13, I John 4:7-21, I John 3:16) . In fact, as you look at those aspects mentioned above that I'd like to see (holiness, truth, sound doctrine, reverence), I don't think they can exist correctly unless compelled by love.
   
   
2. I want to see the Church existing as much, if not more, for it's nonmembers as it is for it's members.
   
   It's an endless conversation I read about in articles, books and blogs. Does the church exist for it's constituency or those it's trying to reach. Especially clouding the discussion is the more recent house church movement and other reactions against the seeker sensitive movement of the 80s and 90s on the purpose of the Worship Service. I really don't care. In fact, I just want the church caring for each other while understanding that we are Christ's Ambassadors seeking to help reconcile the world toward God.
   
   
3. I want to see the Church integrated.
   This is not a multicultural statement (although that will likely come at some point). I'm talking about a the root word of integrity. This means that we would...
   

   • The beliefs of those claiming Christ are being integrated into our every day life.
     
   • We follow Jesus in public when many are looking and in private when nobody is looking.
   • Monday-Saturday are just as much an act of worship as Sunday.
   • We become the noncompartmentalized (my spell checker tells me I just made up a word) people that those outside the Church are hoping exist.
     
     
4. I want to see the Church repent well.
   To follow up on integrity. I don't want to see us perfect. In fact, I'm fairly convinced a faulty notion among the church is that the cure to hypocrisy is our perfection. There's one problem with that... we are not nor will we ever be perfect this side of heaven. I believe the cure to hypocrisy is that church owning up to it's hypocrisy when we see it.
   Again, I believe those outside the Church are not needing more examples of people who pretend like they've got it all together. I believe they are looking for examples of people who somehow can find peace, purpose and wholeness in Christ while still knowing they don't have it together.
   
   
5. I want to see the Church wrecked by Jesus.
   In John 6, after some tough teaching , Jesus turns to the 12 disciples and asks them if they're going to leave. I LOVE PETER'S RESPONSE..."Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
   Is the Derry paraphrase, "Jesus, I'm screwed. You've wrecked my life. I now have no choice but to follow you."
   Paul considered everything else "rubbish" (he actually uses a Greek term for excrement) compared to knowing Jesus Christ.
   I want to see the Church so bent toward pursuing after Christ that anything and everything else leaves an emptiness. Where, even if the desire is there to abandon our faith, we know we can't, because we know that we know that HE is the only answer. What would the world look like if all those who currently claim the name Christian were to truly take on this attitude? These are the questions that start to mess with me (in a good way)
   

Tonight's thoughts flow out of my time of meditation and personal reflection over 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.

Quick Hits

• Last Saturday Janelle and I met with Jamie and Jolinda Lengacher to talk details on our upcoming IMPACT trip to Kenya. We will be working with orphans, reaching out to share God's unconditional love with prostitutes, worshipping with Kenyans on Easter Sunday, encouraging those who are working daily with "the least of these", and connecting with the Maasai Project church planters we have been partnering with since 2007.
  
• Met with the one and only Caleb Bislow yesterday to talk about the second leg of my Africa trip in April. God's thrown a few curves our way, and I'm excited about a potential adventure into the Kenyan bush as well as an additional country or two in our stops.
  
• Tonight, we start a 3 week series called I.D. It's all about who we are in Christ. Cindi Lantz is taking the first to weeks to talk Labels, Lies, and Liberating Truths. It's top-shelf stuff that and I'm pumped to see how God uses it.
• Tomorrow, Janelle and I get our Yellow Fever Shots for Kenya then spend some time with Kory and Alison Lantz. Love what God's doing in and through the Transformation.
• Speaking of the Transformation, our Dodge Ball Tournament to raise money for the Basketball Project at Keller Park Church is next weekend. Teams need to be registered by Wednesday, March 24 (more info on dodgeball here).
• This Sunday I'm in the box. Message Title - "This is not Growth". We're going to draw pictures of mountains and stick figures. Pretty pumped.

I Want to See The Church: Part 1

On Wednesday Night of our Fanning the Flame series (3/10/10), Karl Black did a message entitled, "We the Church." It was a challenge to us as believers to embrace the reality that...

The Church is God's vehicle to changing the world.
We, as believers are the Church (newsflash, the Church is not a building).
THEREFORE - We are God's plan to change the world.

I have been wrestling with this one for the past few days, considering the Church (big "C"). As a product, this has gotten me into both prescriptive and descriptive mode on what I see in the church. Let me explain more simply...

Prescriptive Mode: How I think things should be in the church.
Descriptive Mode: How I see things are in the church.

In several posts that will follow, I will be highlighting what I want to see the Church doing. As I list, a few things to keep in mind...

• I'm going to stick to prescriptive mode.
• As I do so, I will do my best to stay away from descriptive mode.
  
• As I stick to prescriptive mode, I will not be speaking of A church specifically but THE CHURCH as a whole.
• As a pastor in A church, you could be tempted to read into my thoughts as a desire to make a statement for or against my church. Please do not. There will be aspects highlighted that are strong, aspects that are weak, and aspects that are non-existent in the list I share. I will be seeking to avoid any mention or examples of how this is being fleshed out in the specific fellowship I'm connected to.
  
• It will not be an exhaustive list.
  
• It will not be a "programmatic" list (I want to see drums on the stage, a strong Children's Ministry, etc.)

Tomorrow we get rolling. Enjoy!

Youtubesday: Ghosting

I spent yesterday with a group of youth workers helping brainstorm for CDYC (Central District Youth Conference) that I will be speaking at this Summer. Much of the time was spent talking creative elements and session layout. One of the more enjoyable aspects is looking to popular Youtube videos or those that are just hilarious.

There I was introduced to Hamish and Andy, and their new sport ghosting. Both videos take about 3 minutes worth of setup before actually showing the sport, but they are well worth the setup.

Youthministryism Monday: Safety first, just don't stop there

Make a safe place for dangerous things to happen.

Students are looking for a place where they can feel loved, appreciated, accepted... safe.
Students are looking for a place where they can be a part of something bigger than themselves. In finding something bigger, we are seeking to point them toward Christ. And when it comes to following Christ, there's just something not safe about that.

It seems to be a tricky balance, but it really may not be all that tricky.

A key is to create a SAFE place where students can...
... be themselves.
... share their struggles, questions, and/or doubts.
... share their deepest darkest secret with an adult and have a leader look back at them with the same love they had before anything was shared.
... take steps (or even leaps of faith) with people cheering them on.

Option 4, S.I.D. & Other Realities - An Adoption Update

It's been a while since I've done a little adoption update.

Our home study is complete and accepted by the organization we are doing our international adoption through. The home study is where we are put under the microscope by a social worker to determine if we are fit to be parents.

This crucial step allows us to move forward on preparing the dossier. The dossier is the comprehensive set of documents and information required by the country where we will be adopting.

We are still in a bit of a holding pattern when it comes to determining which country we will be adopting from. Without getting into full details, the country Janelle and I have felt a strong pull toward may or may not have a future with the organization we are adopting through. We continue to trust God.

As a product of this holding pattern, we are also holding on the preparation of our dossier, as each country has a different set of requirements and documents needed.

We are also in the midst of an 8 hour online course on International (or as they call it, intercountry) adoption. So far, I would label the class with one word... REALITY.

• We are the 4th option: With the child, the first hope is that natural parents to take up their role. The 2nd preference would be one of the relatives. The 3rd preference would be someone from the country where the adoption is taking place. If these options are not possible, then we are being considered.
• Skin Color: As much as we walk into this color blind, and our child will be our child no matter what, there will be obstacles to face with becoming a "mixed-race family".
• New Health Words: We have been introduced to words and phrases like Microcephaly, Sensory Integration Disorder(S.I.D.), and Institutionalization.
  

With these REALITIES we do not find ourselves in any way hesitant with our decision. Don't get me wrong. We will often look at each other and say, "What are we getting into?" BUT, it is not a question of doubt. It's a question filled with anxiety and excitement... fear and faith.

The journey continues...

Friday 5: K.I.N. Films

Gaining awareness has been a big deal as we are taking an entire school year to seriously address Kids In Need. I have spent a lot of time reading, listening and watching in an effort to become more cognizant of what human rights issues are taking place around the world. There are various films/documentaries/ film series that have been very valuable for me. I share my top 5 (in no particular order).

1. Slumdog Millionaire: It's a Hollywood Movie with a goal for entertainment, but man this film messed with me. Seeing the lives of 3 children living the streets of India was a real catalyst for me to begin diving deeper to separate fact from fiction.
   
2. Invisible Children: Rough Cut: Three friends set out to find a story in Africa after graduating from college. What they came upon was an untold story with the Ugandan Civil War that is now being told on high school and college campuses all over the nation.
   
   tons more information about Invisible Children here.
   
   
3. Baht: The story of Sophea, a Thai teenage girl trying to put the pieces of her life back together after she was trafficked to Cambodia and forced into prostitution.
   (purchase movie here)
   
   
4. Glue Boys: Just watched this one today. It's a documentary on street kids in Kenya who have become addicted to sniffing glue in order to ease the hunger pangs and find some comfort in their life. It's also the story of how this glue gets to the kids. Our IMPACT Baby Center team will be watching this before we head to Kenya.
   
   Buy the movie here
   
   
5. Invisible Children Bracelet Videos: What makes these videos so powerful is that they connect an American to a Ugandan Child. You hear and see 5 different Ugandan kids' stories through the mouths and eyes of 5 different Americans who travel to meet them. It humanizes all involved and inspires me to do something not because I see a "project", but because I see a "person."
   
   
   

I'm With Coco in Chicago

I've been a Conan O'Brien fan for about 10 years. His self deprecating humor and comic bits (If they Mated, In the Year 2000/3000, Triumph) are totally my style. We've actually taken some of his bits and recreated them as crowd breakers or Wednesday night openers.
I caught on Conan's Twitter Account today that he's doing a 33 City tour April-June. His site bills it as A NIGHT OF MUSIC, COMEDY, HUGGING, AND THE OCCASIONAL AWKWARD SILENCE.

Well, Janelle and I will be heading to Chicago Thursday, May 21 to sit in the back row of the balcony and enjoy the show at the Chicago Theater!

Thursday Randomness

• Janelle and I leave with 10 students for Kenya 3 weeks from today. I'll be going on to Rwanda after our time in Kenya. I will be gone a total of 19 days.
• I have to get me taxes done before I leave. I don't like doing my taxes. I do like getting money back when I'm done. If I have to pay more money, I want to throw things.
• It's absolutely amazing what sunshine and warmer weather can do for our souls.
• It's really enjoyable to give stuff away to people. It's really hard for me to get to the point where I'm willing to give though. I want to recapture a heart that is quick to be generous.
• Did Glenn Beck just call me a communist? -sigh-
• Normally, I have some reason to buy into the belief the Cubs have done something to make this "the year." I don't feel that way this year. Probably means they're going to have a great year.
• I have much respect for Trace Rorie as a person and worship leader after working with him for 4 days.
• My Camry has 208,000 miles on it and the engine sounds great. I can't open the driver's side door from my side. It really needs to be cleaned. That's all. Just a few facts.
• Preaching next Sunday, and I have about 10 ideas on where to head. Praying God will direct me to the 1.
• I love my wife and daughter. I'm continually blessed by both.
• I think Hurley or Jack will be the chosen one. I also think Sawyer is going to con Locke (or Black Smoke Monster) before the season is over. I love LOST.
  
• This week's episode of Chuck was hilarious and touching. I really like that show.
• And, that's a wrap.
  

Help Kory and Alison

I love Kory and Alison Lantz. What they are doing in Keller Park with The Transformation ministry is awesome. They have been a key partnership in our Kids In Need initiative. In a recent post, they outlined 10 things that could help their ministry right now...

1. Ranch Dressing.
2. A big van (preferably denoted to Keller Park Church)
3. Cross Word Puzzles.
4. Frozen Meals. Unfrozen drinks.
5. Prayer.
6. A.D.D. Medicine.
7. TV (that works).
8. Plastic cups.
9. Pencils.
10. Jesus.

I pass this on to you blog reader to prayerfully consider what that might mean to you. If interested in helping them out, check out their blog to get in contact with them.

Generosity is Different

Last night Karl laid down some seriously impacting biblical insight when it comes to the heart of God and Generosity. He moved us past simply doing charity work, giving money, or giving leftovers. He pushed us worldwide and reminded us of the opportunities right at home. He shot to the heart behind it all. He also directed us toward the people whom Jesus displayed his generosity toward. The word Karl used was "the marginalized." It tied us all back into the heart behind why we decided to take a year to seriously address "Kids In Need". It was insightful, convicting, and inspiring.

We are recording all our FTF sessions. This is one I will be listening to again.
Check out Geoff's notes from the night here.

The Pause Button

I find one of the most valuable elements to Fanning the Flame at NMC is that it presents the opportunity for us to push the pause button. It's actually a little taxing to give up 4 consecutive nights to be at the church, so it may seem weird that I see it as an opportunity to push pause.

I see 2 different ways we can push the "pause" button in our life that is healthy for us.

1. Pushing Pause and filling it with nothing - There are moments where there is too much going on, too many plates being juggled, too many events to get to, not enough sleep. In the midst of these times it may be best to just stop and sit and stare out a window for an hour or sleep in. Basically, the goal is to create space and fill it with nothing so your soul can catch up to your body. I find this to be more rare of a need in our lives. We probably do it less than we should though.
   
2. Pushing Pause on many things to focus in on one thing - These are the times where we know we need to put a stop to many things going on in order to focus on What Matter's Most at the time. For me, the two places where I most need to allow this to happen is with God and with family.

I believe that over the years Fanning the Flame has allowed and is again allowing many to push pause on many things to focus in on one thing... and that one thing is the main thing. I once heard someone (okay many times heard many different people) say "It's important to keep the main thing the main thing." We need rhythms to keep us doing this. I'm grateful for the yearly rhythm that is Fanning the Flame.

Youtubesday: 46 Million Views

I find it ridiculous that this video has nearly 47 Million views, putting it in the top 50 all-time viewed videos on Youtube, but then again, if Katylynn were able to browse the web, she would be personally responsible for 1 million views...

Youthministryism Monday - Saying Something

Make sure aren't just saying something. Make sure you have something to say.

It's so tempting to get caught up in preparing the lesson without internalizing the message.
It's easy to fill the Small Group time with discussion without seeking any depth.
We often forget that students may be looking for someone who will listen and love over anything else.

A question I'll often ask before getting up to speak, "Do I feel like I have to say something, or do I have something to say?"

In the end, the only way I'll have something to say is by listening and leaning on the Holy Spirit.

Fanning the Flame 2010 is underway. Trace and the band just rocked it in an opening worship set. I believe those present are hungry and ready to dive in. I'm praying that Jesus will come alive during this time.

Fanning the Flame - Here We Come

We're hitting the pause button on a lot of stuff around NMC in order to take 4 nights to focus in on our walk with Christ. I'm excited about what Karl Black and Trace Rorie are bringing to the Senior High & Doug Holliday and Chris Lehane to Middle School. I believe we will be encouraged, stretched and challenged during our time together.

Friday 5s

Current 5 favorite TV Shows:

1. LOST
2. Community
3. The Office
4. Chuck
5. Around the Horn

5 current favorite Websites:

1. facebook.com
2. cbssportsline.com/fantasy
3. youversion.com
4. helpingkidsinneed.com
5. derryprenkert.com (what can I say, I'm a narcissist)

5 current favorite Words:

1. Affinity
2. Legacy
3. Volunteer
4. Inductive
5. Excrement (just makes me laugh)

5 Current favorite foods:

1. Wheat Thins
2. Cherry Coke Zero
3. McDonalds Cherry Pies
4. Orville Redenbacker's Movie Theater Butter Popcorn
5. Ice Cream (My slogan: "There's always room for Ice Cream")

5 Current Great things about Katylynn:

1. She is making herself laugh.
2. When she cries, she makes a really cute face.
3. She gets so excited she screams, and it's actually a nice scream (if that's possible).
4. She has shown compassion on several occassions.
5. She can quote her Curious George book.

1 Not-so Great thing: The extremely smelly diaper she has as she plays beside me.


5 Current Great things about my Wife:

1. Her continual pursuit of her emotional, physical and spiritual health.
2. Her unbelievable patience with her daughter and husband.
3. Her amazingly unselfish love and support of NMC students.
4. Her ability to laugh at herself.
5. She's pretty stinkin' hot, gorgeous, good-looking, beautiful (you name the attractive word, she's got it).
   

Summer Camp is going to be DIFFERENT

Really excited about Summer Camp. All our promo went out earlier this week. We're in initial brainstorming, and it's pretty clear God has some good stuff in store for us. Loving the logo work the one and only Dan Weiss has done for us.

By the way, if you're a youth worker out there looking for some ideas for a retreat or camp theme, we'd love to make our past logo work and other resources (camp journal, message notes, Devoltional Experiences) available to you. We have a good crop from our last 4 camps... Jump, ONE, Seek, and Brace Yourself. Just drop me an email at derryprenkert@nmc1dotcom.

YouThurbsday - A Special edition

This is floating around blog world (Terry Linhart and Rob Henschen to name 2). OKGO has done it again. The makers of my personal favorite Youtube video (Here it Goes Again music video... almost 50 million views), OK GO has their newest music video up... a nonstop shot of the biggest, baddest rube goldberg machine ever created.

K.I.N. - 2 Opportunities

All proceeds will go to help build a basketball court for Keller Park Church's Transformation ministry. ADULT TEAMS WILL PLAY SENIOR HIGH TEAMS!
Check out here for registration info.

Our IMPACT Baby Center will be taking as many shoes as we possibly can with us to Kenya that will be given out in the Slums and IDP (internally displaced people) camps. For info on what kind of shoes we're looking for and where to drop them off, check out here.

My Book Board

I've been on a decent break from nonfiction. Outside of 3 books, all my reading for the past 18 months has been fiction. It was a good break to get my creative juices flowing. Also, I find I will often learn more concrete and applicable lessons from fiction than non. I'm weird like that.
Coming off of the Simply Youth Ministry Conference, it's quite clear I need to dive into a season of educating or refreshing myself in certain areas where some nonfiction reading could be beneficial for me.
I get nervous about putting up books I'm looking to read, because it's highly likely some will not get read. Either they don't grip me in the first chapter and I give up, or something even more enjoyable comes along.
At any rate, I will go ahead and throw up some of the books that are currently on my radar:

Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley. I'm halfway through this one. Weird that I've never read this before. It's good stuff for someone who has been teaching/preaching/communicating for a while.

I just ordered these three books today off of recommendations from very trusted sources:

When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting Ourselves by Brian Fikkert. This is a hot button issue in my life right now. As our Student Ministries have gained a deep burden for "the least of these", I'm battling to make sure our assistance can lead to freedom, empowerment, and advancement of the Gospel!

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Danial Tatum. As we prepare for an adoption of an African baby, I want to go in with eyes wide open.

Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith by Shane Hipps. When it comes to the philosophical look at technology, I'm very intrigued.

Youtubesday: Fight the Stereotypes

At the SYMC Conference, this music video was revealed. A painfully honest (and really funny) commentary on youth ministers.



Confession: I need to go clean my car. I'm definitely feeding stereotype #1.

SYMC Tidbits: Day 3

• A good breakfast really boost the energy.
• A word from God for me in the Morning Session: "Humble yourself, and I will lift you up."
• Duffy Robbins Communication Workshop was such a good refresher. Very practical in both preparation and delivery.
• Sat in on a Q&A with the Penners, Muellers, and Rich Van Pelt on parenting. Greatly appreciated their vulnerability, insight and sage advice.
  
• Got to have a short, but very valuable conversation with Rich Van Pelt on adoption.
• Evening session with the Skit Guys... only confirmed my theory mentioned in Day 1 tidbits.
• Chris picked up some great resources and websites at the tech Q&A.
• I saw DC Talk in concert several times during the 90s. Watching Toby Mac in concert was a a trip. He still has it... and by "it" I mean a heart for ministry and an awesome stage presence.
• All four of us Watched a 30 minute documentary on sex-trafficking called "BahT". Although we've all been researching and learning about this human rights crisis, it challenged us big time. The discussion following was both visionary and introspective.
• I fell asleep at about 1:30 a.m. One of the biggest highlights has been meal time and night time conversations with the guys.
• My heart is with those flying solo in youth ministry. I'm ridiculously blessed to do this with a team, and a freakishly awesome team at that.