Reflections:

In 2015 I...

...went to Disneyworld twice.  

...saw significant broadened ministry opportunities through camp/conference speaking and DYM authorship. 

...experienced one of the more powerful cross-generational moments of my life at Brown City Camp. 

...found myself in major moments of insecurities, uncertainty, and angst. 

...experienced the hardest season of ministry in my life from Winter through Spring. 

...sent all my kids to school in the Fall (the youngest just twice a week and in the mornings). 

...sensed clarity from God on a very tough and heartbreaking decision. 

...sensed the whisper of God leading me to anither adoption adventure. 

... saw the move of God as he brought our 4th child into our home. 

...watched as the people of God came behind the calling of God for our adoption through prayer support and resources. 

...experienced my 20th re-birthday in my relationship with Jesus. 

...fell more in love with my wife than ever before. 

...fell more in love with Jesus than ever before. 

LOVE - A Christmas Eve Advent Service Reading

I shared this tonight as a part of our Christmas Eve Services at NMC...

Love… It’s one of the most powerful forces this world has ever seen.  In fact, in 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul makes the bold statement that “Love conquers all.”

Really? In a giant grudge match against every virtue and vice this world has to offer, LOVE walks away with the Championship belt? According to scripture… YES.

But, what exactly is love?
We use the word a lot… maybe too much and to the point that the love that Paul is talking about gets lost in our culture. I mean, in one breath I can say, “I love my wife and children.” and yet in another breath I would say, “I love donuts?”

One exercise I’ll often do with students is ask them to choose which statement (and they can only choose one) is most accurate.
Statement 1: Love is a feeling.
Statement 2: Love is a choice.
Statement 3: Love is an action.

More times than not, the most popular choice is statement 1: Love is a feeling. It makes sense, right? I mean, an emotionally driven, hormonally hopped up teenager who lives in a culture that has made billions of dollars on the concept of “love at first sight” has to go with love as a feeling.

Yet, any of us who have gotten married need only about 30 days (or maybe even 30 hours) to know that love has to run deeper than a feeling for it to last and reach its full potential.

So which is the more accurate statement?
Is it Statement 2: Love is a choice?
Or Statement 3: Love is an action?

Honestly, it’s a trick question. I don’t think we can fully understand love until we put all three together.

 42 days ago, I was standing in a hospital in another state, holding my newborn son for the first time. It had been a whirlwind 24 hours… actually; it had been a whirlwind 5 months leading to the point where we were going to adopt this little guy. In that moment, I knew this to be true…

A deep FEELING we couldn’t shake had driven Janelle and me to this point.
We were making the CHOICE to adopt.
We took ACTION by going to great lengths to unite with and bring him home.
It was all driven in LOVE.
I think that’s a great love story.

BUT, I think the Advent Story… the story of the coming of Christ, is an even greater love story marked by a FEELING, a CHOICE, and an ACTION.

Our creator,
FEELING great love for His creation,
Made the loving CHOICE to take on human form,
Then, in love, he took ACTION for you and I by carrying our sin on the cross.

That’s the kind of love story that does more than make billions of dollars. 

It’s actually the kind of love story that conquers ALL.

Message from 12/6

I had the opportunity to preach in our main services Sunday, December 6.  It was a part of our "Anchored" series, where we are taking a look at four angelic statements made in the Christmas Story.  I took week 2: "The Lord is with you."

I had the opportunity to share our most recent adoption story, rewrite and sing a song, do a little happy dance, and talk about the difference between hearing and owning the promises of God.  Good times.

Photography That Funds Adoptions

 

Parents with athletes (of all ages),

Here's an incredible opportunity to get some great action photos of your student athlete AND help us in funding our adoption!

In mid-October, Judd Johnson contacted us with an opportunity to be one of his sponsored families through Leverage Photography. It's a crazy family connection as Judd's father was the Pastor who dedicated me as a child. I love what Judd does. He leverages his passion and gift for sports photography to help families in their adoption efforts.

Here's how it works. You contact Judd to come and take photos of a sporting event. You get really fantastic photos of your kid (check the website and page out), and your payment goes directly to Lifesong for Orphans into our (other the other Leverage families... your choice) account.

I LOVE WHAT JUDD DOES! He lives out a message I regularly preach to see people gain awareness of the greatest opportunities/needs in the world then give sacrificially of your time, talents and treasures to address those needs. We are so humbled and honored to have him working with us and investing in our son!

Although High School sports tends to be the primary clientele, he can do other sports teams (Upward, Middle School, etc.) as well. If interested, check out Leverage's facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/leveragephotography) or the website (http://www.leveragephotography.com) for information and to contact Judd.

One special note, we just received word this week from Lifesong for Orphans that they are giving us a $3000 matching grant. This means they match every dollar given into our account up to $3000. So, if you were a pay $40 for your kid with a "team shoot," it will equal $80 for our adoption!

Again, contact Judd for more info and feel free to share this with those you know who have student athletes in the Michiana/Warsaw/Fort Wayne area! 

What's In A Name?

With each of our kids we have made it a point for either a first or middle name to have some level of connection to the people who have walked in and through our life and left a profound impact.  The other name tie into their story in some way.


Katylynn: Named after 5 different Kate-style named friends and students who are very dear to us.
Ivy: The name her birth mom gave her.

Moses: Obvious correlations to OT Moses story.
Andrew: 4 different Drews/Andrews who are dear to us.

Keiralee: Aboriginal for miracle baby
Joy: Middle name of Kristy Mikel, one of Janelle's best friends and a major support to our journey.

So, what is the story behind our newest addition?
The birth mother made it clear to us that she would like us to name the baby. To be completely honest, we hadn't had a lot of conversation to that point.  We found out we had a boy early morning.  As we talked it through, the name just rang true... Malachi Davis.

Malachi is Hebrew for messenger of God... We are taking a little translation freedom (forgive me Dr Carpenter) over the fact we received a crazy message that showed up on our phones that on our phone giving us about 8 hours notice of his birth. We also loved the thought of having 2 boys with an biblical "M" name.
Davis:  When I started at NMC in an internship my Sophomore year, I walked timidly into a room full of 8th Grade guys.  One of those guys was quick to introduce himself.  "I'm Dave."  The kid was sharp... a clear leader.  David Cramer was the first middle school guy and eventually high school guy I had the privilege of investing in.  Somewhere along the way I started calling him Davis Cravis.  I ended up really liking the name Davis as a nod to Mr Cramer.  Also, David is the name of Janelle's father.



I pray this little messenger of God will grow to be the man of depth and character that is present in his grandfather and an student I now call friend.

Insignificant Places That Now Have Significance

Some of the biggest milestones in my life have taken place in very odd places.  For example, I proposed to Janelle in a hotel parking lot just outside Denver, CO.  I had a different spot picked out.  It was a nice park in the evening, but after a sprinkler system scared us off, I had to improvise.

All last week I dreamed up what it would be like to walk Malachi through the doors of our house to introduce him to the other three kids.  We would walk him in his car seat into the middle of the family room.  Janelle would pull him out as their awestruck eyes would lock in on his tiny frame.  Introductions would be made as we all huddled in and Janelle's dad or some other bystander would snap photos.

It didn't quite work out that way.  Because we were given permission to leave the state Malachi was born in but not allowed to enter Indiana, we decided to rent a car and make the drive to the Ohio/Indiana border.  Once near the border, our options were limited, so we decided a McDonald's (free wifi)  would be the best spot for Janelle and Malachi to camp out and wait while I drove into Fort Wayne to meet up with the kids and pick up our van from my in-laws.  To add to the drama, the snow started heavily kicking in just as I left for Indiana.

The excitement of my kids on the drive into Ohio included them changing the lyrics to the songs we were listening ("I gotta feeling, that we are going to to meet Malachi" to the tunes of the Black  Eyed Peas).   It took me about 3x longer than planned to do the trip.  In my white-knuckled driving (nearly went off the road twice with the kids in the back seat) I completely forgot to give Janelle the heads up to let her know we had arrived.

The reunion was not the picturesque scene I had in my head, but it was no less perfect. 

In the end I'm reminded it is not the place that carries the weight to the most significant moments in life but the people and purpose of the moment.  In fact, the place could be extremely insignificant, but suddenly, because of what has happened in that place, it is forever significant to you and your story.  It is then the type of place where every time you see it, you are catapulted back to that significant moment  in time and flooded with the best of memories... like a seemingly insignificant McDonald's in Van Wert, OH will be to the Prenkert 6 from this day forward.

A 4th Miracle Story - Baby Malachi

In July, we sensed a stirring from God that there was room in our family for another miracle story.
In August, we began to do some research on domestic adoption options.
In early September, we began the steps with an organization.
On November 5, our adoption profile went live.
A part of why we went with this organization was due to the speed they are able to match adoptive families with newborn orphans.  Still, we had been told the average wait time would be 4-13 months.

WELL...
Wednesday Night, November 11, after putting our kids down for bed, we received a call from our client liaison. "I have a birth mother who has selected you... and she is in labor right now... How soon can you get to __________?"*

After minutes of prayer (yes, minutes... we didn't have time for more than that) and seeking some wise counsel, we took to a step of faith like we feel this journey has been marked by all along.

On one hour of sleep we set off on a whirlwind trip of flights and car rides.  We walked into the hospital at approximately 3 pm Thursday, November 12 to meet the birth mom and our BABY BOY!

How do you sum up the moment where you walk into the room to see the child you are to call your son and the brave woman who is making one of, if not the, toughest choices in her life?
It is impossible. 
So, it happened.

After some shared time together, the birth mom asked if we had a name selected.  We informed her, Malachi Davis Prenkert.  She loved it.

Malachi Davis Prenkert. Born 11/12/15

About an hour later, we were handed baby and guided to another hospital room to begin care.  We did not have legal custodial rights, but birth mom wanted us to take over in care asap to begin the bonding process.

In that room, we were able to FaceTime back home to the kids and introduce them to their baby brother.  Feeding, burping and diaper changes began as we spent the first night of our son's life in the hospital with him.

Friday, November 13 was marked by meetings with social worker, birth mom, and lawyers to sign over custodial rights. By Friday evening we had full custodial rights and were discharged from the hospital.

Friday Night, November 13 was spent in a Holiday Inn near the hospital with our son. Due to interstate adoption law, we had to go through a waiting period until governmental consent for him to leave the state as well as consent from our homestate (Indiana) to enter is granted.  We were told this process could take 7-14 days.

As only God could design, there were several unique factors that allowed for a meaningful and comfortable wait over the week to follow.

1. My mom and the amazing Kristy Mikel arranged a care structure for our three kids back home.  Regular FaceTime appointments allowed for us to interact with them and they with us/their baby brother. 
2. We had family connections inside the state that allowed for lots of good connections and a place to stay Saturday-Sunday (Nov. 14-15).
3. Janelle's parents were vacationing nearby.  They were able to meet their 2-day old grandson and spend a couple days with us.
4. A family friend made a completely furnished home available to us while we waited and bonded with our little dude.
5. Still other significant acts of support and generosity that are either not my place to share or not quite ready to share.

 We received word Friday, November 20 that we could leave Malachi's birth state, but did not have permission to enter Indiana yet.  We wouldn't until after the weekend.  Itching to unite our entire family, we made the decision to rent a car and started the drive home that evening. 

On Saturday, November 21, I dropped Janelle off at just outside the Indian border, drove into Fort Wayne (in some pretty nasty snow), dropped off our rental car at the airport, and picked up our van (from my in-laws) with the kids in it! We, very carefully (almost went of the road twice) made our way into Ohio where the 6 of us were united together.

Our 1st "Family of 6" Photo

Currently, we are hanging out in a hotel... a complete family of 6 containing 4 unique and amazing miracle stories that can call me Daddy.

**UPDATE: We received permission Monday 11/23 to return to Indiana and are now home.****

We invite you to rejoice with us that a brave birth mom chose life and chose us. Pray for the health of baby Malachi and the bonding process with us. Pray for the other three kids as they get acclimated to a new addition.  Pray for the continued adoptive process.

It has been a whirlwind. 

It has contained God's fingerprints all over it.  

We deserve none of it.

We praise God for every aspect of it.

We continue to walk by faith.

*We are still leaving the state where Malachi was born off any public spaces of the internet in order to respect the continued process involved. Also, to be clear, the timing of this process (from time of application to match to bringing baby home and being selected by a birth mom on the evening of her going into labor) is far from normal. Then again, it is very hard to explain a "normal" adoptive process.  Every one is filled with it's own twists and turns... both positive and negative.

The Story Behind the Shirt

In an effort to raise funds for the adoption of our 4th Child, we are selling T-shirts that tell our story. 
This t-shirt is my design and it tells my portion of the story.

 
I was on an airplane somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean October 2006 when I wrote the phrase for the first time. Janelle and I had (along with Caleb 'Biz' Bislow) just finished up speaking at a Youth Camp outside Calcutta India. I was processing through the incredible opportunities God had granted me and wrestling with the enormous needs present in the world. I wanted to do something, but this time it was different.

This time I felt so insignificant in it all. In that feeling, I was also able to come to grips with that fact that so much of my life to that point had been caught up in meaning and significance... or to put it more clearly, I was convinced that my meaning would come when I was seen as someone significant. If I could become some kind of Christian All-star then I would know I had arrived with God.

On that airplane, a very subtle but significant change of focus began. What if, rather than getting caught up in my significance, I would get caught up in giving my life toward the things that God saw as significant? I wrote it out in a simple declaration:

WHO CARES IF I'M SIGNIFICANT?

I JUST WANT TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT.

This became a somewhat of a life mission for me from that point forward. I'm not that special (in fact I'm kind of a big tool), but I believe God has allowed me to be a part of some pretty significant things for the sake of His Kingdom with my life. The opportunity to be an adoptive father ranks near the top.

You can purchase this shirt and others in Janelle's etsy store YippaDeeSkip or you can connect in person with us to make a purchase: www.etsy.com/shop/YippaDeeSkip

Isaiah 1:17 and the Prenkert Family

In our Student Ministries, the hope is for the 2015-16 school year is to be marked by this verse (Isaiah 1:17).  As our staff prayed for direction and we began to run the concept of a school year where we declare to the the oppressed, orphans and widows can find peace in the statement "You Are Not Alone," we became convinced God was in it.  At Summer Camp, Tim and I presented the vision for the year and then gave the specific challenge to everyone in the tent, "What if you took Isaiah 1:17 personal?  What would it look like for you in the next year?"

As we sat in that tent and a stream of students came up to the mic to declare their personal "What if's" (and, wow, were there some powerful ones), I got a text from Janelle, who was sitting in the tent, that pretty much confirmed what I already knew God was leading us toward...

To back up a little, I had been wrestling with the personal application of the challenge all day.  There was nothing specific jumping out at me.  I've had some amazing opportunities to live out the call to SEEK JUSTICE with all three groups (oppressed, orphan, widow) mentioned in Isaiah 1:17.  Janelle and I daily look into the eyes of two amazing kids who remind us why it is worth "taking up the cause of the orphan."  In fact, as I meditated on the scripture and asked the Lord where he was leading me, I jokingly said, "God, I think I'm pretty much up to my neck when it comes to that!"  Janelle and my conversations had us to the point where we felt our family was "complete" (aka... "I'm not sure we can handle another one.")  So, my mind jumped to the other categories.  In what specific and radical way was God calling me to help the oppressed or fight for the rights of the widow.  And as I prayed and sought the Lord... nothing.

Back to the text from Janelle in the middle of that tent with 250 of my HSM friends.  I look down at my screen and read the words Janelle wrote and knew the reason I was being met with silence was because I had been focusing on the wrong category.

Janelle's text: "What if we adopt again?"

I snuck away from the front of the tent and we talked and prayed.  The same stirring was there with me but our recent conversations had led so far from that thought that.  We were so done with diapers.  The shift from 1 to 3 kids in under a year nearly killed us (and I'm almost talking litterally).  I was ready to get my kids in school and get my Thursdays (day off) back to myself.
I think I was dismissing the initial thoughts of another adoption as hype or maybe (more likely) I was afraid.  Either way, we prayed returned from camp committed to continued prayer and starting the exploratory process.  Through a series of events and conversations, God has made it clear... there's a fourth miracle story to be told with the Prenkert family.

We are pursuing a newborn domestic adoption.  

Yup, we know it sounds crazy, but God has made it so clear that we'll accept the crazy that it is. Here's some basic info we feel comfortable sharing at this point.

• We are working with a group based in California who has connections with adoption agencies all over the continental U.S. This baby may be born in Indiana, Michigan, Texas, Mississippi, California, or 40 other potential states.
• We've been given a timeline of 4-13 month from beginning the process to bringing a child home. We are approximately a month into that process at this point.
• The baby will share the same skin color as his/her big brother (something Moses is incredibly excited about).
• We are very excited, but it is a different kind of excitement than that of our previous 3 kids.  The only way I can explain it is (and I'm not convinced it's the perfect way to explain it) it's a much less selfish excitement than with the adoption of Katylynn and Moses and the birth of Keiralee. 
• The costs are substantial and do involve a step of faith.  God has always proven faithful, and we are trusting he will continue to provide as we steward wisely and take sacrificial and creative steps.  At some point in the near future we will begin to roll some opportunities for those who desire to partner financially with us in the journey.
• We told the kids the news about a month ago. They are "in."
  Kiki - She's pumped and won't shut up about it.  She's told far too many people that she was not supposed to, "We're adoteeing a baby brudder or seester."
  Moses - As mentioned, he's ecstatic.  Maybe my greatest highlight in this entire process was the night we told the kids over a family dinner.  The initial excitement had worn off and we were on to other points of conversation.  I looked at Moses and he was just sitting there, staring out the window with bright eyes and a smirk.  I asked him what was up and he just said... "Awesome!" Right on buddy.  Awesome.
  Katylynn - Upon hearing the news, she did her patented fist pump while yelling three times, "YES! YES! YES!"  Last week, she helped us prep a prayer room that we've set up at NMC in correlation with a current series on prayer.  In the room there is a spot for kids where you can draw something you're praying for.  This was my daughter's drawing:
   
    

Would you join Katylynn (and the rest of the Prenkert 5) in prayer as we take this step by step faith journey to become the Prenkert 6?

WDW Reflection: Primary Principles

Here are 5 principles you will find me returning to again and again when sharing opinions, tips and experiences concerning a Walt Disney World Vacation.  You will see me return to them again and again.

1. FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.
   Any destination guidebook to any location will push the value of doing your research and having a plan to make the most of your visit, but when it comes to a WDW vacation planning is essential.  I'm not one to say you HAVE to every single detail planned and mapped out complete with spreadsheets.  In fact, I think uber-planning has a significant downside as it can be a major setup for disappointment when things don't play out as planned.  Of course, it is possible  to show up to Disney with no tickets, no reservations and no game plan and have a good time, but it is highly unlikely while ensuring missed opportunities and higher expenses. 
   Disney's recent move My Magic Plus and Fastpass+ has ushered in a new age when it comes to planning.  I personally plan much more than I think the average vacationer needs to, but that's part of the joy for me.
    
2. YOU WILL NOT FIND "CHEAP," BUT YOU CAN FIND "CHEAPER."Let's be clear, you're going to spend a lot of money at Walt Disney World.  Unless you win a free trip, you won't find yourself on low-budget WDW vacation.  There are definitely ways to save money though, and I spend a lot of time and posts walking through options to do so.
    
3. TIME = MoneyThis simple "equation" is an essential cost/benefit tool when making your choices on your WDW vacation.  It's not always true, but often time saving opportunities and tactics will have a price tag attached to it.
    
4. YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL. People are so baffled on how I could take so many trips over the years and spend so many days in the parks each trip.  The truth is that we do multiple new things every time we go. There is SO MUCH to do that you will have to make choices.  There will be a few times where the options will come down to a good choice/bad choice.  More times than not, it's the question of good choice/great choice.  The key is to enjoy all that you get to do, and let go of the things you couldn't do "this time" (that's how they get you back!)
5. THE MAGIC IS A MOVING TARGET. "Disney Magic" is a phrase you'll hear a lot in correlation to a trip.  It's that "thing" that makes the vacation special.
   What would make a Disney Vacation magical for you?  I could easily ask 10 different people that question and get 10 different answers.  Some of this has to do with goals.  Meeting characters, escaping life back home, making the most of your $$, creating family memories... they all will play a role in this.  Even when I personally look at this, each trip has contained it's own "magical moments" and they had a lot to do with the timing and goals of that specific trip.

WDW Reflections: An Anthology of Prenkert Trips

Jan 2001
Location: Westgate Town Center
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  First visit.  2 days at the parks.  Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios and EPCOT in one day, Magic Kingdom the other.

December 2003
Location: Knights Inn
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  3 full days in parks before heading to Fort Lauderdale for 2 weeks.

November 2004
Location:  Westgate Town Center
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  2 days at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, 1 day at EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, and MGM. La Nouba. 

November 2005
Location: Offsite Vacation Rental Home & 1 extra night at Holiday Inn
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights: Thanksgiving Day in the parks, Monday Night Football at ESPN Club (Colts beat Steelers).  Disney Quest

January 2007
Location:  1 Day Visit to Disneyland
Participants:  Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  Matterhorn, Mr. Toad, California Screamin'... basically any ride unique to California.

October 2007
Location: Port Orleans Riverside
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights:  1st time staying On-site, 1st Time on Dining Plan, 3 weeks before adoption of our 1st child.

December 2008
Location: Coronado Springs Resort
Participants:  Derry, Janelle and Katylynn
Highlights:  1st trip with child. Very Merry Christmas Party.

May 2009
Location: Marriot Grande Vista (Universal Studios)
Participants: Derry and Janelle
Highlights: Universal

February 2010
Location Animal Kingdom Lodge
Participants: Derry, Janelle and Katylynn
Highlights:  Dining Plan, Janelle Parasailing, Princess Dinner Akershus

November 2010
Location: Saratoga Springs Resort
Participants: Derry, Janelle and Katylynn
Highlights: DVC point rental.  Katylynn's 3rd B-day Surprise.  Walking to Downtown Disney. 

November 2011
Location: Westgate Town Center & Sheraton Vistana Resort
Participants: Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, and Moses
Highlights:  Moses 1st trip. 7 total Days in Parks.  Found out Janelle was pregnant

February 2013
Location: Sheraton Vistana Resort
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, Kiki, Dave & Pat Lister.
Highlights:  Trip with the Grandparents.  New Fantasyland Open.  Derry and Janelle go to Universal and Harry Potterland.

November 2013
Location:  Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani & Sheraton Vistana Resort
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, and Kiki
Highlights:  Kids ride waterslides for the 1st time.  DVC Point Rental. Hit 3 parks in one day. First try at FP+.

March 2014
Location: Youth Pastor Conference; Evening visit to Boardwalk
Participants:  Derry, Colin and Chris.
Highlights:  A day at Universal.  Supper at Cape May.

May 2014
Location:  1 day visit from Daytona
Participants:  Derry and Janelle.
Highlights:  3 parks. Flower and Garden Festival.

October 2014
Location: Art of Animation and Liki Tiki Village
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, and Kiki
Highlights:  Free trip, dining and tix. 

April 2015
Location: Dolphin
Participants:  Derry, Janelle, Katylynn, Moses, and Kiki.
Highlights:  Surprised the kids.  Blizzard Beach Waterpark.  Crazy Crowds.  Two days at parks till midnight.
______________________________________________________________________

Here's the takeaways from this list:

• We have been to Walt Disney World and the Orlando Area far too many times.
• We have experienced a wide variety when it comes to trip length, lodging, activities, group sizes, and times of the year.
• I have learned  a lot over the years and trips.  It is out of these experiences I will be sharing my reviews, tips and opinions.

WDW Reflections

It's no secret the Prenkert family has a special place in their heart for Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.  Some may call it an obsession, addiction, waste of money, or something else.  Ultimately, I really don't care what others may call it.  The reality is I have come to know A LOT about traveling to and visiting the Parks, Hotels, Shops, Activities, and many other aspects connected to the WDW region.

I often get asked for advice or opinions on all kinds of different aspects connected my Disney travels.  I have decided to let this blog be a landing spot for a series of posts to highlight some of the more common things I've been asked about.  In WDW Reflections, I hope to share stories, ideas, tips, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.  On the blog I previously didn't a stretch of posts called Disney Thursdays where I did a little bit of this, but my experience and knowledge has grown significantly over the years and the general Disney experience has changed significantly.  I hope you, the reader, will benefit from reading whether just casually checking or in the midst of major research and preparation for a trip.

Top 50 - TV Shows

In this ongoing series of posts, I'm ranking out the top 50 of various categories.  Each list is obviously slanted to my personal preference and opinion.


50.  Live: With Regis &Kelly  Regularly watched during my early youth ministry/no-kids, start my work day at 10 a.m. years.
49.  E:60  - I'm a sucker for the story behind the sports story.
48.  The A-Team - Lots of shooting and nobody dead.  I mainly remember Mr. T and the Van.
47.  Criminal Minds - Very dark at times, but very intriguing at times as well.
46.  Knight Rider - 80s nostalgia
45.  Law & Order - Love me some Cop Drama.  A few too many character changes through the years for me to give it a higher ranking.
44.  Pardon the Interruption - I'm a sports junky and during certain times of the year, it's nearly a daily stop for me.
43.  Storage Wars - It's a binge-watching show for me.
42.  Fresh Prince of Bell Air - Theme song alone makes it worthy of a ranking.
41.  Total Request Live - Kind of represents the 90s MTV as a whole for me... back when MTV actually showed music videos.
40.  Different Strokes - Even as a grade schooler, I found the way they ended each episode ridiculous, but I just couldn't stop watching.
39.  Who's the Boss - Alyssa Milano was my first celebrity crush.  At one point I was convinced she would fall in love with me if she just met me.
38.  Law & Order: SVU  - Some episodes have left me speechless.
37.  Full House - "Have Mercy."
36.  Tonight Show w/ Johnny Carson - This would rank higher had Johnny been going while I was a teen.  I vividly remember watching the last week of shows.
35.  Late Night w/ Conan O'Brien - This was Conan at his best.  Weird characters, off-beat bits and awkward humor.
34.  The Colbert Report - Colbert is a great character.  The sarcasm was a crack-up.  Intrigued to see what he does when he takes over for Letterman.
33.  Dukes of Hazard - Yeeee Hawww!
32.  Happy Days - The one show I remember watching with my dad.
31.  Shark Tank - If I could get on one Reality show, it wouldn't be this one... but if I could get on two, this would be one.
30.  Home Improvement - Reminds me of the 90s about as much as any show.
29.  Boy Meets World - Cory and Topanga summed up the fake High School relationships.
28.  The Amazing Race - If I could get on one reality show, it would be this one.
27.  24 - The first 3 seasons were fantastic.  Jack Bauer was a great hero.  From there. ehh.
26.  Once Upon a Time - Might be too high of a rank.  But the Disney nerd in me has been a sucker for this one.
25.  The Office - Might be too low of a rank, but once Michael Scott left it lost its "must-watch" status.
24.  Duck Dynasty - Best Fake Reality TV Show out there.  A few episodes are absolute gems.
23.  Quantum Leap - Loved the premise of the show.  Vividly remember multiple episodes even though I watched as a Middle Schooler.
22.  Star Trek: Next Generation - It could turn a rainy/cold afternoon into perfection during my teen years.
21.  Behind the Music - There was a season where I wouldn't miss an episode... even if I hated the artist highlighted.
20.  The Late Show With David Letterman - This show was the 90s for me.  I stopped watching 2005ish and didn't pick up again until the last three weeks. 
19.  Parks and Recreation - Hated it at the start, but man they won me over by the end.
18.  Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon - Fallon is making a name for himself by unique bits and programming.  Love his creativity and tone.
17.  The Goldbergs - Funny.  Smart. Recapturing a lot of my childhood.
16.  Saved By the Bell - Terrible acting.  Over the top "drama."  Yet, somehow awesome!
15.  Big Bang Theory - Hilarious characters (I'm a sucker for Raj)
14.  The Cosby Show - Brilliant Comedy.  Poignant and significant in what it did culturally for the African American presence on television.
13.  Chuck - Loved the premise.  Great and fun action.  Hilarious moments.
12.  Ducktales - My favorite cartoon.  Came home from school every day to watch it.
11.  Prison Break - First show I truly binge-watched.  Season 1 and 2 in

10.  Sunday Night Football - This pulls up higher on the ranks for me as I'm going to let it represent all NFL programming.  It's the best crew running it.  Football is the best TV-sport there is.
9.  Blue Bloods - I love the approach, acting, plotlines, family, and faith elements interwoven to the show.  Multiple times at the end of an episode, my wife or I will exclaim, "Man, that's a good show!"  I love the tension it creates and the somewhat conservative social commentary.
8.  Freaks and Geeks - Only one season, but man it was good.  It caught so much of the angst of High School life while capturing the grungy/geeky side of the 80s.  Crazy how much this showed launched the careers of multiple male characters (Franco, Rogan, Segel) and the producer (Judd Apatow).
7.  MacGyver - So many memories are attached to this show.  the dude could get out of anything with a toothpick, duct tape and his swiss army knife.  I played MacGyver all the time in my back yard.  The recurring character of Murdoc was great. 
6.  The Simpsons - It's been an amazing run with this show.  The deveopment of Homer as the main character is, I think, the key to this show being able to laugh.  The way they have been able to develop characters thanks to the animation has also been a big help.  The social commentary and satire take it to next level for me.
5.  The Walking Dead - The Zombie genre is a guilty pleasure for me, but what really carries this show are the characters and themes.  The most recent season may have been it's best yet.  Who are the heroes?  Who are the villains? 
4.  The Wonder Years - Just brilliant story-telling and family drama.  Kevin, Paul, Wayne, and Winnie's journey through life completely captured me.  
3.    Breaking Bad - I could only take this show in small doses, but the character development and storyline were some of TVs best storytelling.  Someone encouraged me to ask myself as I watched, "Who are you pulling for?"  Loved Jessie's story arc over all the others in the end
2.    Seinfeld - It's probably the one show where I will gladly re-watch any episode.  It does suprisingly well as transcending time despite it's commentary on society.  Quotes and themes from the show make their way into so many conversations.  The oddities of Kramer.  The pathetic neruosis of George.  The almost but not quite attractive nature of Elaine.  The sarcastic slant of Jerry.  It's really hard to not make this the #1 show, and had I typed this a different day, it may be #1.
1.    LOST - Say what you want about how it all ended.  I can't say I was fully satisfied by the finale, but I can say I was more than satisfied with the show in it's entirety.  The amazing character development of season 1 locked me in.  The twists and turns of Seasons 2-4 had me addicted.  I loved the little hints and deep layers of Easter Eggs and hints.  It was a regular "watch twice" show for me.  I watched each episode the 1st time to just enjoy, and then a 2nd time to study in perpetration for the shows to come.

Memorial Sunday Night Reflections

Some random thoughts running through my head this evening:

- I crashed hard this afternoon after preaching.  I once heard someone say preaching a message is equal in energy to running a marathon.  I think that is a load of hooey, but I will say that preaching three messages in a row brings on a unique level of exhaustion.

- I'm looking forward to grilling some bbq pork tomorrow.  

- With Graduation Open Houses and Summer Camps, this is my final "free weekend" where there is nothing pulling me away from family/home until July 17-19.  This is the final weekend I will basically lounge at home until August 14-16.  Suummers be crazy!

- As I watched the Class of '15 being honored in each service, I experienced an extremely vast amount of thoughts and emotions.  I'd love to say I'm confident in the spiritual state of this class as a whole.  I can't.  There are several individuals I believe are in a great spot and will thrive in the next season of life. As a whole, I find myself praying they will learn through their struggles, doubts and failures in the next phase. 

- Memorial Day is clearly a time dedicated to remembering those who have served and even given their lives for our country.  I am forever grateful for them.  At the same time, I have found myself remembering my Dad this weekend... A LOT.  For his life and investment in me, I am forever grateful.

- Highlights from this weekend included a lot of laughs and time with my son. I am so glad God brought us on a journey to have him part of our lives.

- I am currently watching a movie... and it is a reboot.  Robocop.  Reboots, adaptations and sequals.  Just summed up 90% of hollywood's releases.  This is probaly why I'm really looking forward to watching Tomorrowland.

- Tuesday 5 individuals start working with us for the Summer. 4 are NMC grads.  The 5th is a SOAR alum. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this Summer.

New DYM Resource: The Senior Superpack

For the last 4 years we have been trying to really step up our focus on the transition time for our from the Senior year through the first year post-graduation.  It's a part of something we've dubbed our Sticky Faith Initiative* We've had some things go really well, some things not go really well, and a lot of things we've built and tweaked over time.

Last year around this time I started taking some of the various games, devotionals, experiences, and other resources I've developed over the years, adapted them to make them less NMC-specific and make them available to other ministries through the super-awesome, ridiculously affordable folks at Download Youth Ministry (downloadyouthministry.com).

As I was working on what we call our "Senior Sundays" this Spring, it dawned on me that there are many of my youth ministry friends who are in the same predicament as I was 4 years ago...

Flashback to 4 years ago...

It was really settling in.  I was preparing to graduate out my 12th Senior Class since going on fulltime at NMC.  12 Classes, average (on the low end) of 50 students each class who call NMC home... that's a lot of kids through our doors, which is truly awesome and humbling to be a part of.
At the same time, there were two burdens eating away at me:

1. The statistics on the amount of active youth groups kids that were choosing to be spiritual dropouts during the college years, and more specifically the actual names and faces of students who I could identify fitting in with those statistics.
2. The seeming impossibility of adequately walking with and ministering to students after graduation.  Just stop and think about it... with every graduating class there is a new class of students stepping into the Student Ministries.  I was living with 14 years of awkward conversations with former students (having trouble remembering names or details of what was going on his/her life), hurt feelings (more than one student contacted me to let me know how hurt they were by the lack of continued care/communication after graduation) and good old-fashioned youth pastor guilt (I'm not doing enough, I'm failing, I have to find a solve).I was also living with 14 years worth of realization that I could only do so much.  Ultimately, I felt it was time to find a way for that "so much" to include a better approach toward the post grad years.

So, in a lunch meeting with some Senior leadership in the church, I bore my soul over these burdens and the wheels started turning.  3 months later with the blessing and resourcing of some amazing church leadership, we had made some adjustements in staffing and focus to move ahead with a significant focus on creating a better bridge from the youth group years to life after.

Back to this Spring...
 So I'm sitting there reflecting on the 4 years worth of experiences and programs we implemented, it dawned on me, "Why not let others benefit from this stuff?"  I contacted my friends at DYM and pitched the idea of putting together a set of resources all centered around working with grads, and they loved it!

After 2 months of late nights and off-hour work to deeply edit and turn the materials from NMC-specific to ministry-neutral and adaptable products, I submitted 9 different resources to be considered.

This past Monday, DYM released all 9 products for individual purchase, but also made them available in one purchase (at about 50% less) called The Senior Superpack.

As I scrolled through the product description late Monday Night, something really settled in with me... this stuff has the potential to be a game changer for youth groups, and ultimately individual students.  So humbling, and so exciting!

If you're a youthmin person, I'd encourage you to go check out the Superpack.  Take the stuff and make it work for you in your context. 


*Inspired by the fantastic book and research by the folks at Fuller Youth Insititute:  check out stickyfaith.org

38 Reflections For 38 Years

On this  the eve of the 38th anniversary of my entrance into the world, here are 38 thoughts, opinions, reflections, or memories from the time tread on this Earth:

1. When coming up to multiple choices of lines, always go left.

2. There are two types of people in this world... Those who love country music and the rest of us.

3. The two most overrated events in my High School career were commencement and prom. 

4. Until I'm content that I'm complete In my relationship with Christ, all other relationships are a hopeless attempt to fill that void.

5. I am a product of some amazing heritage on both sides of my extended family.  If you see something of deep character In me, it likely has something to do with the Prenkerts and Wislers.

6. I thought I had parenting all figured out... then I became one.

7. If you are wanting to go into youth ministry for the long haul, you have to be ready to do more than just spend time with teens.

8.  There is nobody on this earth that has a sweeter jump shot than my oldest brother.

9.  U2 has been and always will be the greatest musical influence on my life. 

10. In the first month after his death, not an hour would go by without me thinking about my dad. For the first year, not a day.  In the years following, it was sometimes a week, but never more.  I thought of him three times today and all three involved my kids.

11.  I am not a big spender, but I'd be willing to go into debt for the sake of a family vacation.

12. I have less faith in politics solving world issues than I do in getting a meal at the Nappanee KFC/TacoBell drivethru in under 10 minutes on a Sunday.

13. I've been in a lot of dark places, but nothing has rocked me to the core to the level of the genocide memorials of Rwanda were I stared at tens of thousands of skulls of victims in a completely senseless "war."

14. I believe Jesus is more than a church answer.

15. Soemtimes, people need to just shut up on social media.... And I am a member of "people."

16. Instead of being offended by sin, I want to be provoked to do something.

17.  My salvation was not merely meant for myself.

18.  Adoption is the most beautiful, most mysterious, most confusing, most faith-building, most frustrating, most rewarding process I have ever walked through.

19.  Every year I want to look back and say, "I wish I would have spent more time at work" over saying,  "I wish I had spent more time with my family."   I can't say I've succeeded, but I can say I'm striving.

20.  Sometimes we have to say no to the good things in order to say yes to the God things.

21. Seinfeld is the one show I could watch episodes over and over again and not be bored.

22.  Christians need to stop expecting nonChristians to act like Christians, but should start holding other Christians accountable to live more like Christ.

23.  I am blessed to call NMC my church.

24. I'm even more blessed to call Janelle my wife.

25. Disneyworld and Ludington, Michigan are two places that immediately make me think of and value my family.

26.  Terry Bley looked at me as a scrawny 7th grader and saw something. Because of this, I'm constantly asking,"Who do I see something in?"

27. I consider the Kids in Need initiative to be the most significant ministry accomplishment I have been a part of. 

28.  Whenever I hear someone talk up a former NMC student or intern, I light up inside like a proud Dad.

29. There's times Moses looks up at me and smiles, and I'm completely blown away by the transforming power of a loving mom and dad.  If you only knew...

30.  Absent, aloof and stoic Dads will set their daughters up to struggle with their identity during their teen years.

31. The Pizza Puff may be the most valuable thing the convenience store has offered the world (or maybe the Slurpee).

32.  The more I think I know, the less I know I know.

33. There is always room for ice cream.

34. If you're having trouble sleeping,  close your eyes and try to name every NFL starting Quarterback... Works every time for me. 

35.  "Busy" may be the most relative concept and lamest excuses in the world. 

36.  If you have the hiccups, try to swallow three times while holding your breath.

37.  Life is a series of events that prepare you for the next event.

38.  Jesus. Simply Jesus.

Tonight at NMC

I shared a message tonight that has been brewing in me for many years.  Here's some of the biggest thoughts from it...

• Have you ever felt used in a relationship? I know I have.   I had my license early in my Sophomore year, and it was amazing how many people became friends with me at that point. We can run a risk of doing this with God. When our main reason for following God is out of a desire to get something from him… heaven, feelings, a supernatural move (miracles, gifts, etc.)… we are missing the point. 
• The reason we follow God because He is God. 
• Tonight, we did not sing "You are here for us".... we sang, "We are here for you."  BUT, which version are we singing in our everyday life?
•  The idea of seeking God over God’s move is laced throughout scripture... 
• In Amos the people were seeking the places of worship over God.  He had some harsh words to say to them in Amos 5:4-6.
• We love the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 (For I know the plans I have for you) but that promise is incomplete without Jeremiah 29:12-13 (You will seek me and find me when you seek ME with all your heart).
• Philippians 4:13 is grossly misquoted.  Check out Philippians 4:11-12 sometime.

•  Some of you may be saying, “Wait a minute? So I shouldn’t want to see God move? I shouldn’t want to get to heaven? Is it bad to want to feel God’s presence?” No, I’m not saying that. What I’m trying to get at is this… 
• Let’s be careful that we are seeking the Creator and not his creation. 
• Let’s worship the Doer and not the things he’s done. 
• Let’s place our trust in the Giver and not in His gifts.

New Resource on DYM: What Happened? What's Next?

As mentioned in a previous post, I have some resources that are going up on Download Youth Ministry, a site dedicated to provided resources to Youth Workers at an affordable price.  My first non-game went up on the site today.  What Happens?  What's Next? is a missions trip debrief packet.  I am incredibly proud of this resource due to the major role it has played in my ministry context.  We place a high value on debriefing the short term missions experience.  On more than one occasion, I have had students come to me and say thank you for walking through our debrief experience.  The reality is that a lot of youth groups do short term missions very poorly and it results in more harm than good on the place visited and the students visiting.  We have learned a lot of key elements to ensuring this does not happen through our IMPACT experiences.
 What Happened? What's Next? has been our key tool in making sure the short term missions experience is more than a moment for the student participating.  Here's the opening statement from the packet:

 It’s likely going to happen within an hour of your return home. Someone who knows you’ve been gone is going to approach you and say, “So, tell me about your trip.” 

What do you say, where do you begin, how do you explain everything that you have seen/heard/experienced, and how do you even know what or how much info the person is looking for? 

Because of these questions, you might be tempted to go with a response like these… 

RESPONSE 1 – “It was good/great/awesome/life-changing (or some other adjective).” 
RESPONSE 2 – “I can’t even explain it. You just had to be there.” 

Response 1 gives no justice to our experience. Response 2 is almost insulting to the person who is inquiring about your trip. So, where do you begin? How could you respond? What if you could find a way to sum up your experience in one simple but descriptive sentence? 

In the following pages, you are going to recount your experiences and eventually narrow them down to one clear, concise sentence that describes your experience. More importantly, in the process you are going to be able to see the major themes, lessons and experiences God has allowed you through this trip. 

To get there, let me ask you to do a few things… 

1. Give this your best focus and effort. This whole packet is going to help you take what God has done on this trip and see how you are going to take it home. 
2. Don’t jump ahead. You may be tempted to just jump to the top 3 and sentence. If you do, you will likely miss out on some lessons God taught you that you didn’t even realize. 
3. Take your time. We have given you plenty of time to work through this. 
4. If you get stuck, talk to a leader. We want you to make this your personal exercise, so allow your other teammates to work through their debrief materials. 

So, here we go. Let’s take time to see “What Happened” and what God has taught us! 

Check out the resource here.  Check out my other resources on the site here.

Sow Seeds. Sow Lots of Seeds.

The Benediction I shared at the close of NMCs August 31 Message out of Luke 8:4-15

NMC, let’s sow seeds.
Let’s sow lots of seeds.
In our homes.
At the dinner table.
In the family room.
In our conversations.
Sow seeds.

In the cubicle.
On the production floor.
In the boardroom.
In the break room.
And in the bathroom.
Sow seeds.

In the classroom.
In the Hallways.
At the Lunch Table.
In the locker room.
On the field.
And yes, fans, in the stands.
 Sow seeds.
Sow lots of seeds.

In the produce aisle.
In the checkout line.
On our phone.
On Facebook.
In our tweets, our TBT’s and texts.
Let’s sow seeds.

To the masses
And to the one.

When everyone is looking
And no one at all.

With our actions
And with our words.

With our families,
With our friends
And even our enemies.



To a world that is LOST.
YOU are the one God is calling to
SOW SEEDS.
SOW LOTS OF SEEDS.

18 Lessons Learned in 18 Years of Student Ministry

This week marks 18 years that I've been a part of the Student Ministries Staff at NMC.  I have now been involved in Student Ministry for as many years as I have not been involved in Student Ministry!

 In the Fall of 1996, I came on as a very part-time (5-10 hrs a week) Junior High Intern.  At that time, I was excited to get my feet wet in Youth Ministry at a healthy and growing church while getting my degree at Bethel College.  I would have never guessed that internship would turn into a full time position after college.  I'm blown away at the fact that God has allowed me to stay at this same place for these past 18 years.  Just think about that... the students who will be graduating High School this year were born the year I started in.

A lot has changed personally and professionally over those years and a lot has stayed the same.  As I was driving in to the church and walking into my office (which is the seventh office space I've had since starting here), I found myself reflecting on some of the more significant things I've learned over these past 18 years.  With it being year 18, here's 18 lessons I've learned:

1. Students have blown me away.  They are naive and willing enough to take the Bible at it's word and step out in faith.
2. Students have broken my heart.  I've watched destructive decisions as well as just downright hurtful things said or done to me.  If anyone goes in this hoping to see everything go perfectly and everyone like you, be prepared for disappointment.  There are a lot of painful pit stops along this 18 year road.  
3. I can't fix people.  If I were to be honest, I think I initially stepped into ministry with this being the motivation.  I was going to fix the world's problems due to the calling God had placed on my life.  I can't fix people.  That's God's job, and sometimes, he doesn't even want to fix the things I think He should fix. 
   
4. Fruit can't be judged on my feelings. I've had moments I've walked off a stage and whispered "Nailed It!" under my breath only to realize students weren't tracking at all.  I've had other moments I felt like everything was a mess and even wondered if I committed heresy only to have a student (or even multiple students) share how much they were challenged or how God used my words.
5. Ministry is full of seasons... I have to embrace the season I'm in. 
   I started  as an older friend then moved to big brother.  Now I play a bit of a Dad role. 
   I was hands on with students, then hands on with volunteers. Now I'm hands on with Staff. 
   I was Junior High, then High School.  Now I'm a little College and a little Middle and still a decent amount of High School.   
   I could go on and on.  Each season had it's major bonuses as well as it's shortfalls and trials.  The biggest shortfalls were when I found myself longing for a different season instead of leaning in to the season I was in.
6. Teenagers can lead the charge for the entire church. I've personally seen student movments in worship, evangelism and justice set a tone that the entire church body has joined in on.
7. There is always more I can do. There's always one more call, one more project and one more student slipping through the cracks.  Sabbath is key.  You have to say no.
8. Youth Ministers will be misunderstood... Deal with it. You will get labeled disorganized, lazy and/or immature. Student Ministry does not fully fit inside a nice tidy box.  You can only plan ahead so much with teenagers.  Organization has to be thrown out the door at times.  It takes a little bit of crazy to stick with Middle and High School students.  Some people won't "get it" when it comes to what you're doing.  Keep moving forward.
9. The role of the pastor's spouse is under-appreciated, overlooked and invaluable.  I'm dead meat without her.  She always has my back.  She has more to do with what's going on than anyone realizes.
10. There is no such thing as balance in the immediate.  Ministry is no doubt a marathon, but it is not one that is run at one even pace.  It's sprint, rest, sprint, jog, walk, sprint, rest big time, sprint, sprint some more, walk, sprint again, rest...
11. The Senior Leadership/Youth Pastor relationship is the key to longevity.  I am very blessed to be under the leadership structure I am under.  I'm loved, encouraged, resourced and empowered by a Senior Pastoral team (namely Dave, Joe and Terry) and an amazing Church Board.  I've seen far too many youth ministry casualties in my SM friends along the way due to unhealthy relationships between the Senior Pastor, Church Elder, Direct Supervisor, etc. and the Youth Pastor.
12. Overnighters are from hell. Enough said.
13. Occupational Ministry is one of the loneliest professions out there. I am so blessed to be a part of a church where there is multiple staff.  Still, the fences have to be high at times on who you "let in."  Satan also loves to beat the crud out of you and convince you that you are alone in the journey.
14. The longer I do this, the more I realize how little I know. 
15. There is no profession tougher than parenting.  I used to get so ticked at how I saw parents handling situations with their kids... then I became the parent of 3. 
16. I am broken.  I have so little to offer left to myself.  He (the one who is in me) has more to offer than anyone could ask or imagine.  This is the reason my ministry cry is the same as John the Baptist, "Less of me, God.  More of You."
17. Methodology is way overrated.  I'm all about excellence in programming and relevance. The message must be packaged in a way that it can truly take root (read the parable of the Sower).  However, we spend far to much time in the church world debating large v small, attractional v missional, progressive v traditional.  Kind of makes me want to puke writing it.  Jesus.  Simply Jesus.
    
18. The Holy Spirit is way underrated.That moment when the Spirit of God breaks through.  When light overtakes darkness.  When chains are broken.  When life overtakes death.  When hope is restored.  When a Middle School student "gets it" for the first time.  When a High School girl leads her best friend to Christ.  When a student returns 10 years later and shares what God is unfolding in his life.  When you see what's happening and you all you can say is, "No way... only God could do that!"  That's what I long for.  That's what keeps me going.

I'm praising God for the privilege and responsibility he's allowed me over these past 18 years.  I'm looking forward to my August 2054 post, "58 Lessons Learned in 58 Years of Student Ministry."