Youtubesday: Yo Yo

One more amazing video for this Youtubesday. The 2010 world Yo-Yo Champ.



Link love to marko

Youtubesday - Emmys

Jimmy Fallon was fantastic on the Emmys Sunday Night. This could go down as an all time classic musical sketch...

A GREAT Grandpa

I lost my Grandpa Wisler today. He had 7 children, and enough Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren to fill an NFL roster.

At this point, I'm at a loss for words.

I pulled up his Facebook page today, and took a look at his profile pic.
That's Great Grandpa holding his Great Granddaughter, Katylynn. She was a week old in that pic I think. He often referenced her as the miracle Great Grandbaby to me.

Legacy is a crazy thing. Robert Wisler has an epic legacy.
He will be missed, but he's with the Savior he lived for and loved greatly.

Two More Sundays...

So, it's two more weeks until my 20 favorite Sundays happen. Here's my predictions for this year in the NFL.

Bold are Division Champs.
Italics are Wildcard Teams

AFC EAST: Sometimes I wish the Colts were in this Division, mainly because I really don't like the Patriots or the Jets. Take that back, I don't mind the Jets, I just can't stand Rex Ryan's attitude and coaching style. It's a division that's getting tons of hype (probably 2nd to the NFC North) with the Dolphins being treated as a bit of a sleeper team. I say the Jets come out on top in the tiebreaker due to a sweep of wins over New England, but New England is in on the Wildcard.

New York Jets 11-5
New England Patriots 11 -5
Buffalo Bills 8-8
Miami Dolphins 7-9

AFC NORTH: Here's the deal. The Steelers would normally be my champs in a second, but I think Big Ben's troubles are going to really mess with the team dynamics. I think Palmer's very healthy, and the Terrel Owens experiment may just work opposite OchoCinco (two wrongs may actually make a right here). I LOVE Joe Flacco and Jon Harbaugh and have a feeling the added offensive ammunition here will win out.

Baltimore Ravens 12-4
Cincinnati Bengals 10-6
Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7
Cleveland Browns 4-12

AFC SOUTH: The Colts have more or less owned this division. When they haven't they've made it in as a Wild Card team. I just don't see much different. The real question in my mind, who gets 2nd and will they make wildcard. I say the Texans are on their way to becoming true contenders and the Jaguars are going downward. The Titans and Vince Young's multiple personalities are the big factor.

Indianapolis Colts 13-3
Houston Texans 10-6
Tennessee Titans 8-8
Jacksonville Jaguars 5-11


AFC WEST: I see this as the weak division this year. Tons of attitudes and contract holdouts are going to mess them up, I think. They still win the division, but only because they are the one team with an actual winning record.

San Diego Chargers 10-6
Kansas City Chargers 8-8
Denver Broncos 7-9
Oakland Raiders 7-9


NFC EAST: The Press loves this division with 4 "major market teams" involved. I find their games to be the most boring and uninteresting of all. I say the Cowboys and Giants lack of moves plays to their advantage and the Kevin Kolb experiment is a colossal failure.

New York Giants 11-5
Dallas Cowboys 10-6
Washington Redskins 8-8
Philadelphia Eagles 6-10


NFC NORTH: Oh the drama! Favre is in, out, in... actually he's just old. Rodgers is predicted to be the QB stud of the NFL, Mike Martz is going to turn Cutler into a superhero, and this is bound to Detroit's year to turn it around. I say Favre's magic run was last year, Green Bay is legit, and the Bears O-line will be their demise.

Green Bay 13-3
Chicago Bears 9-7
Minnesota Vikings 8-8
Detroit Lions 7-9


NFC SOUTH: Saints are legit. Matt Ryan is a stud. Carolina has no legit QB. Tampa Bay is pathetic.

New Orleans Saints 13-3
Atlanta Falcons 11-6
Carolina Panthers 8-8
Tampa Bay Bucs 2-14


NFC WEST: My sleeper team (okay their getting hyped w/out me) is the 49ers. The rest of the division is in trouble

San Francisco 49ers 12-4
Seattle Seahawks 9-7
Arizona Cardinals 8-8
St Louis Rams 5-11

My Superbowl Matchup: Indianapolis Colts v. Green Bay Packers

Champs: Indianapolis Colts

Dancing in the Family Room

I knew being a dad would be awesome, I just had no idea how awesome it would be. There are two beautiful ladies who are the loves of my life... one I call wife, and one I call daughter.

About a month ago, we popped on some "Daddy music" (as Katylynn calls it) to see if she wanted to dance. I decided to start with David Crowder Oh Happiness. She screamed "NO NO NO NO NO! ANOTHER ONE!" So, I then flipped through my I pod and thought, "Maybe she'll like this?"

The next thing through the speakers were a horn section, and my little girl smiled big. Janelle and I were launched back to our dating days when we would skank (see the link if you're nervous). Katylynn absolutely loves Five Iron Frenzy. We have spent a lot of evenings in the Family room dancing away. Her favorite song is also one of my all-time favorites. I love the message in the song, and I love the picture of Janelle, Katylynn and I dancing together to Dandelions.

Danelions

Music and lyrics by Five Iron Frenzy

In a field of yellow flowers,
underneath the sun,
bluest eyes that spark with lightning,
boy with shoes undone.
He is young, so full of hope,
reveling in tiny dreams,
filling up, his arms with flowers,
right for giving any queen.

Running to her beaming bright,
while cradling his prize.
A flickering of yellow light,
within his mother's eyes.
She holds them to her heart,
keeping them where they'll be safe,
clasped within her very marrow,
dandelions in a vase.

She sees love, where anyone else would see weeds.
all hope is found.
Here is everything he needs.

Fathomless your endless mercy,
weight I could not lift.
Where do I fit in this puzzle,
what good are these gifts?
Not a martyr, or a saint,
scarcely can I struggle through.
All that I have ever wanted,
was to give my best to you.

Lord, search my heart,
create in me something clean.
Dandelions
you see flowers in these weeds.

Gently lifting hands to heaven,
softened by the sweetest hush,
a Father sings over his children,
loving them so very much.
More than words could warrant,
deeper than the darkest blue,
more than sacrifice could merit,
Lord, I give my heart to yo

School Lunches are Tough

Geoff Cocanower has been on a journey with us at NMC we are unofficially calling a "Transition 2 Ministry." He was an intern with our Junior High his Senior year at Bethel College and graduated in '09. We've kept him on in for the "T2M" as a 2 year process, investing in him and allowing him to get acclimated to life in full time ministry while benefiting greatly from his investment in our Senior High Ministry. For all practical purposes, he is running our Senior High Ministry this school year. He is a fantastic Youth Pastor now, and is going to make a church very happy as their Youth Pastor somewhere next year!

In his recent blog post I Almost Chickened Out, I greatly appreciated his candor in the reality that is approaching students on "their turf". If your a youth minister, read and know your not alone in those anxieties. If you are a parent, read and be grateful there are those out there willing to swallow pride and take risks to show your students' Christ's love. Go here and read.

Now, since I bragged on Geoff, I'll do my part to keep him humble. My daughter believes Geoff bears a striking resemblance to a certain Playhouse Disney character. This is why, to Katylynn, Geoff is known as "Special Agent Oso." What do you think?

Understanding Doesn't Make it Right

Being a Youth Pastor brings it's share of confusing/frustrating statements that you can hear multiple times from multiple sources. Three that rise to the top for me...

• So when do you think you'll become a "real pastor"? It's actually rarely asked in this exact form. It usually takes the form, "Do you ever see yourself as a Senior Pastor?" or "When do you think you'll move on from being a youth pastor?" Obviously, the way I interpret is shows where my confusion/frustration comes from... is there something wrong with the thought that I would love to go to the grave as a youth pastor? I firmly believe God has called me, along with a select group of others to life of raising up generations that will take over the church.
  
  
• What are we going to do about ____________? Insert blank with some issue surrounding the youth in the church... texting during worship services, students who were caught at a party over the weekend, a student who is struggling to connect in the youth ministry, immodest dress at a church program, a sudden onslaught of students getting non-ear piercings and Twilight themed tattoos. The confusion/frustration can be in one of two forms.
  
  1. What exactly to you mean by we? Are you sure you don't mean you? Now, don't get me wrong, there are the rare times where someone comes to me with an issue and they are authentically looking for a team approach, but most often, someone's irritated with something "those youth" are doing, but in no way desires to do anything about it. Are you bothered by the disruption being caused by a group of students in a Worship Service? Let them know!
  2. Do we really need to do anything about ____________? There are moments where the issue brought to me is a concern, and I'm actually really excited about it! Take the moment one of our leaders came to me and said, "What are we going to do about all these girls showing up in such skimpy outfits?" I asked her to discreetly point out a couple of examples out. She did so. The leader had room for concern... the shorts and shirts were probably better fitting on a 2nd Grader than a High School students. and I smiled (no, not because of that! Get your mind out of the gutter). I smiled because I was aware of both gals stories.
     One was completely unchurched and had come with a friend who had been loving, praying and encouraging her for months to come. This "immodest" gal had been coming for several weeks and was really seeking to understand what it meant to know Christ.
     The second was from a very religious home where her parents had recently gone through a divorce where an affair was involved. She was deeply hurt to see her "Christian" dad abandon her family for someone other than her mom.
     I smiled, because I thought to myself, "I'm so glad these two gals are here so we can share our hearts and hopefully see Christ touch there hearts (inside). Yes, there was room to address the appropriateness of the dress, and I affirmed the leader's desire for us to be a ministry that models and encourages modesty. I also said it would be best for us to do nothing about the dress with these two gals right now. Rather, let's just love them where they are at, and introduce (or remind them) of a Savior who wants to love them right where they are at. We'll get the clothes sent to the Children's Ministry department in due time!
     
     
• You'll understand when you become a parent. Now that I am a parent, it's become, "You'll understand when you become a parent of a teenager." Now, I'll give latitude on this one. There have been many times already since becoming a parent that I see where this statement made to me pre-parenting was absolutely correct. When parents talk to me about the angst of seeing their child off for camp or a missions trip, I get it. I don understand much better now. When parents describe their utter confusion on how to be the best parent possible, hoping to find a nice 5-12 step process to walk through situations, I get it. When it's done in a way to simply say, we're struggling and we don't know how to best put into words that struggle, I get it.
  But here's what I don't get. A mom is walking through how while her daughter hits the party scene and decide it would be best to put her on birth control "just in case." A mom/dad have decided that their son's High School athletic career is so important that there will be no room for any church related activities (camps, retreats, non-Sunday morning programming) because that's the only way he'll make the starting lineup. In both of these situations, the "You'll understand when you become a parent" line is almost used to justify wrong actions. The parents are right, I may not understand. At the same time, I may understand, and even if I understand, that doesn't make an action right.
  One of my regular prayers is for courageous parents who will empathize with their students, show compassion toward their struggles, but stand strong in their principles and faith.

By no means do I have this thing figured out. I'm sure I've made many cliche statements and asked my share of completely insulting questions to those around me. I only share this little rant to remind myself and others that the world of Youth Ministry is.

1. A calling, not a stepping stone.
2. A tricky balance between action and seeing deeper into what's really going on.
3. A battle for truth and living a radical life where understanding will never trump what's right.

New to the Blog - Disney Thursdays

(The Prenkerts at Magic Kingdom, February 2010)

A major part of my blog break this Summer was to evaluate and rediscover my passion for blogging. Sure, it was a busy Summer, but I had found myself really struggling what to write about whenever I'd come to the blog. I decided it's time to get back to some of the roots from when I started blogging...

1. Write what's on my heart.
2. Invite, Inform, Instruct, and Inspire (read my philosophy of blogging series here.)
3. Have fun.
4. Write on my passions.

As a part of category 4, I would like to introduce a new weekly appearance for the next while. Disney Thursdays.

In the interest of full disclosure, this series title is a blatant rip off from the gals who work in our office... every Thursday when the rest of the staff is off, they enjoy popular Disney tunes while doing their work. However, this series will be focusing on travel to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

By no means do I consider myself a WDW expert. I do, however, consider myself a WDW addict. Since marriage, Janelle and I have made trips to Disney World or Disneyland 8 times (going on 9) and our 2 1/2 year old has been there twice (going on 3 by her 3rd birthday). So, every Thursday, I'll be posting thoughts, tips, memories, and opinions on "The Happiest Place on Earth." This will include, but not be limited to:

• Why do I (we) love Disney?
• When is the best time to Go?
• To Hop or not to Hop?
• On-site or Off-site?
• Is there really a need for more than one trip?
  
• Best Park/Worst Park.
• Best Disney Websites.
  
• Best Food (Counter and Table Service)
• Meeting Characters.
• Hidden Gems.
• Fondest Disney Memories.
• Disney $$ savers.
• Disney as a Follower of Christ.
  

There is a high potential for multiple posts on some Thursdays in order to share all I get excited about with Disney.

I would love Disney Thursdays to have an interactive element to it. If you are a fellow addict, jump in to the conversation with your own thoughts, tips, memories, or opinions. If you haven't drank the Kook-aid, but are interested in joining the cult, throw out your own questions. If you are a hater, say why.

So, next Thursday, let the Disney Fun begin.

Are there any particular Walt Disney World Resort specific questions or topics you would like to see addressed through Disney Thursdays?

Katylynn and her cousin Sydney decided they need to take a nap together.

5 Events I'm very excited about

1. Tomorrow Night's Fall Kickoff at NMC: The Preteens are going to have a ton of fun. Jr and Sr High are going to be rocked by a fantastic film. Our Wednesday Night programming kicks into full gear!
2. Feed My Starving Children: We are going to be taking a weekend to prepare 300,000 meals that will go out to those starving in the nearly 70 countries the ministry supports.
3. NFL Kickoff: I love the NFL. The Colts and Fantasy Football are the main reason, but I also love Sunday afternoons watching the game. Tough to beat.
4. Fantasy Baseball Playoffs: I've played Fantasy Football and Baseball for 8 years now, and I've never won a championship in a league I truly care about. This may be my year in Baseball. I have a stellar lineup. Some key injuries (Dustin Pedroia and Justin Morneau) need to get off the DL to really cinch up the team, but there's hope!
5. November 1-11: Katylynn will be celebrating her 3rd birthday with Mickey! Through a sweet deal, we've been able to put together a vacation in Florida that we didn't expect to do. We figured last February's romp would be the last for a while with the upcoming adoption.
   

5 Confessions

1. I haven't read a book cover to cover since April.
2. I googled my name last week.
3. I have averaged 9 hours of sleep per night over the past 3 weeks.
4. I'm addicted to Disney World.
5. I love my wife and daughter more than ever.
   

5 Katylynnisms I'm loving

1. "I'm throwing blueberries at you." One day she decided to throw imaginary blueberries our way, which we then catch in our mouths. It's good for a few minutes of entertainment every day.
2. "I'm struggling a little bit." She's become quite the little daredevil on the playground or on our furniture at home. This little quote comes out when she finds herself in a precarious position that will require assistance.
3. "Hewwwooo." Said to strangers passing by. Everybody is her friend.
4. "That's ridiculous." Only said once... it was last night as we drove home from Wakarusa. She was opening up cd's I had gift-wrapped in the back seat. She opened two, and as she looked around she said, "There's no more. That's ridiculous!"
5. "I love you bery, bery much." Said randomly is when this is best. I'm pretty sure she picked this up from a collection of books she received from our youth staff at the time of my dad's death. On the inside cover of each book is a sticker with the picture of her Granpda reading to her. It says, "In memory of Grandpa Kip, who loved you so much."
   

Jumbled in my mind

• Am I supposed to be capitalizing on my strengths, developing my weaknesses, or both? Both seems right but it get's really exhausting.
• How many mentoring/accountability/investing & being invested in relationships can I honestly take on at once?
• 25 years from now... What will my daughter be doing? Where will she be living? Wow will she be living?
• Why can't there be some level of aerobic value to Mario Kart Wii?
• To what level is the responsibility in ministry to be making people aware of their problems v. helping people with their problems v. loving people despite their problems? Or when do I should just remove the v.'s and just embrace the mess?
• How much prejudice is present in my life, and what can I do to become more aware?
• Do the Colts have it in them to get back to the Super Bowl and win it this year?
• Do other dads, husbands, youth pastors, and/or guys seeking to follow Christ feel as "in over their heads" as I feel?
• Do I really believe that "he who began a good work in me will carry it into completion.."
• Why do I sometimes struggle to fully accept that "His grace is sufficient for me" and that "in my weakness He's made stronger"?
  

Sir Links-a-Lot

Some very enjoyable posts as I did some blog browsing this a.m.

• Terry Linhart reflects on the joys of taking our hands off the roller coaster in a story of one of his children at Summer Camp here.
• Adam and David Cramer share their reflections of a great man of God who went to be with him two weeks ago... Adam's here and David's here.
• My Nephew Calvin shares his "mad ups" here.
• It's been a month, but Dan Weiss shared about our Kid's In Need Initiative's lasting effects on him here.

Happy reading!

Baptism - A Celebration and Living Different

(Picture taken by Rene Wise)

I love the way we close out our Summer Ministry Calendar at NMC. The Baptism Celebration at Heritage Hill is a point of marking the transformational life stories that are unfolding in our presence. We baptized many 5th-12th Grade Students. Of those, there were a few words/phrases that jumped out in the testimonies that were shared.

• Religion/Relationship
• Summer Camp
• DIFFERENT
• ChicaGO
• I'm ready to make a Difference.

These words/phrases were encouraging to hear as peers, staff, and family members (a.k.a. the body of Christ) celebrated together. God has clearly moved in the hearts of students this Summer as they have moved toward Him.

Greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done...

The view from the first tee of Beast Disc Golf Course at Mason County Park, Ludington, MI.

In Ludington for the next few days. A picture doesn't do it justice, but we just arrived to an absolutely beautiful sunset.

To Save A Life: Fall Kickoff

We're really excited about this Fall's Junior and Senior High Kickoff. Last Fall, our Student Ministries Staff sat in the Fieldhouse and watched a film that had been written by a Youth Pastor. It was going to be released in theaters in January. We were all blown away at the quality of the film, and more importantly by the powerful message to teens, both Christian and non-Christian. Unfortunately the film never received wide-spread release, but after theatrical release, we were given the opportunity to legally show the film in a church setting. The film has a significant theme that, I believe may have similar implications to us that our "Kids In Need" initiative had.

On Wednesday, August 25, we will be showing the full PG-13 release to our High School students in the Fieldhouse and an edited "Church-Friendly" version to our Junior High Students in the Connection Gym.

So Long Summer: Reflections and Exhaustion

In a lot of ways, this is the day a majority of the people in the NMC circle will take their last breaths of Summer Vacation. Although some have already started, many of the schools kick in to the 2010-11 year tomorrow. As I reflect on this Summer for NMC Student Ministries, it has been jam-packed:

• 5 fantastic SOAR interns who dove into the ministry & our students, and were dove into by our students.
• Seeing off a great Class of 2010 through a barrage of Open Houses and other celebrations.
  
• 50+ students and leaders whose hearts and minds were transformed for the lost through our ChicaGO trip.
• 16 students and leaders who stepped into action overseas as a part of our IMPACT Haiti team.
• I filled out more recommendations for longer term missions trips (6 months to 1 year) and Christian Colleges (for individuals going into missions and ministry majors) than any other Summer.
• 3 fantastic camps where God challenged us to think, act, and live DIFFERENT.
• Multiple stories of students taking advantage of their "relaxed" summers to dive into spiritual conversations with friends, family, and strangers... & significant fruit from those conversations.
• A load of PT, JH, and SH students making the decision to follow God through the act of baptism (this coming Sunday).

It's been an awesome Summer of ministry at NMC Student Ministries. Personally, I've been invested in the majority of these events/activities, and I have been grateful to see God in action. Add in Chris Lehane and my journey to take part in the Missionary Church's Central District Youth Conference, a significant transition in Jason Thompson's move from Youth to Adult Ministry, and the many other trappings of day to day ministry, and I'd be less than honest if I didn't mention that this has been a physically and emotionally exhausting Summer.

As many take their last steps of Summer, I find myself on the eve of what, in a lot of ways, feels like my first Summer Break. Tuesday afternoon, Janelle, Katylynn and I head up to Ludington, Michigan for several days of uninterrupted and focused nothingness... I mean nothing but the three of us, the sun, the lake, and an awesome Creator God. It's been a great Summer. God has great things in store, but I'm very excited for a last big breath before kicking into the Fall.

Sound check. Gonna a sweet one!

Weekly Blog Update

Again, look for me to be back in full blogging mode at the end of August. For now, here's some quick hits on what's been going down.

• Preteen Camp - It was fantastic. Awesome kids and awesome leaders. The SOAR Interns did a great job at organizing and putting everything together.
• Jason Joined the Dark Side - Jason Thompson has officially made his departure from Student Ministries world. He's still my office neighbor, but Jason has moved into the Adult Ministries world with his responsibilities. He will continue with his UPWARD responsibilities.
• Preteen Ministry - With Jason's departure, we're in the process of addressing our vacancies in Preteen Ministry. I'm excited about the new teammates we'll be having soon as a part of this.
• SOAR Retreat - Our SOAR Interns are currently on retreat as they close up their time with us. The Student Ministries interns have been on a whirlwind of experience, discipleship, and ministry responsibility. I'm excited to see where God has refined their calling and what is next for them in ministry.
• Josh Wilson - I'm excited that Josh is joining us for a special Kids In Need Concert this Sunday Night. He heard about what we have done with Kids In Need and is putting on an unplugged show for us. We'll be taking an offering where all $$ will go to benefit Kids In Need.
• Kickoff Coming - We are gearing up for our Fall Kickoffs. One thing is certain, there are some great things going down.
• Some Time away - Next Tuesday, Janelle, Katylynn and I head up to Ludington for a little uninterrupted family time. It's been one of the most cluttered and whirlwinded (word?) Summers to date, and we're looking forward to getting away and just being together!
  

Preteen Camp

I will be at Preteen Camp August 4-6 and will be blogging from there. You can read the posts at our Preteen Camp Blog here