Friday 5: I'm Better Because of...

5 people at NMC that make me look good on a daily basis:

1. Janelle Prenkert - I often want to say, "We are the Senior High Pastors at NMC" in reference to Janelle and I. Through the years, she has been the co-leader on missions trips, my administrative assistant, the youth pastor to the gals, and all around queen of the ministry. When Dave Engbrecht sat me down in 1999 and talked to me about coming on full time, he wanted to make sure my intentions were to marry Janelle. He wasn't that interested in getting just me, the package deal was a lot sweeter. I wholeheartedly agree.
   
   
2. Kristy Mikel - Kristy is our main administrative assistant in Student Ministries. I can't tell you how many things Kristy has served as the hands and feet in accomplishing our mission. Mailings, brochures, slides, notes, decoration, announcements, creative elements... they all run through her at some point. Kristy is a former student, a some-day overseas world-changer, and for now a key part of our team.
   
   
3. Cindi Lantz - Cindi serves as a our Small Group Leader Coordinator. Our Small Groups are, by far, the healthiest weekly program we have running right now. Cindi is a major reason why. She leads, trains, and cares for our Senior High Small Group Leaders in a relational manner that is contagious and effective. Her efforts and gifts allow me to be freed up in so many ways it's ridiculous.
   
   
   
4. Jason Thompson - Middle School Pastor currently focused on our Preteen program, Jason is yin to my yang. We've served together at NMC for 8 years now (I think he's been here that long). He's an awesome strategic mind that thinks through details and ditches that I desperately need. He can find something that's not working, and figure out how to fix it. Most importantly, he's been a great friend in all of this. I love knowing that my office is next door to his. (not Jason's actual hair in photo)
   
   
   
5. Chris Lehane - Our Junior High Pastor is the "new kid on the block." But I'd say 3 years is enough for him to call this home. Chris is leading our Senior High PhillyGO trip this Summer. Chris has taken the full reigns of our Junior High Program. I have little need to micromanage Chris because of his vision and leadership. Chris is a relational animal and musical whiz on top of it all.

I love being a part of a team. The cool part about this post is that I have to give you 5 more people next week in order to be fair and mention all who are so key!

Friday 5: Learned/ Am Learning

Wednesday Night was week 5 of 6 in our "You Fill in the _________" series. The topic chosen for the night was "Stress and Depression". There was some great questions asked about how a Christian should view and respond to stress and depression. Due to the obvious ties between loss, grief, stress, and depression, I took a little different approach to the night, and shared from my own life over the past 3 weeks...

ER's Final Season

Don't know if you caught it (read, don't know if you have completely avoided NBC this season), but ER is in it's last season. Every time one of the ads come on stating this fact, Janelle and I will make some comment. Below is a sampling of some of those comments...

"Finally."
"Yes."
"Is ER still on?"
"Only about 14 seasons too late (the show deserved a one season chance)."
"Who still watches that show?"
"I'm pretty sure none of the original cast is on that show. I wouldn't know since I don't now or ever have watched the show."
"I can barely handle the commercials..."
"Worst. Show. EVER!"

Thanks Facebook Updates!

Janelle worked Monday instead of today, leaving the whole family home for a Thursday. We hatched a plan to head over to wanawaves in Shipshewana only to discover they aren't open during the week in February. So, last night we found ourselves trying to figure out something to do on a February Thursday with a 15 month old.

Enter Twitter and Facebook Updates. I pulled out my cell phone and sent this message to my Twitter account (which was immediately forwarded over to my Facebook Updates)...

I need some ideas on where to take a 15 month girl old for some fun on a thursday in february.

This morning, I discovered 11 comments all containing ideas. There were a couple oddities (Wendy's and the woods didn't really get me too excited). In all, we had some great thoughts thrown our way.

We settled on heading into downtown South Bend to check out the South Bend Chocolate Cafe right next to the College Football Hall of Fame. There's a great playland there. We ate lunch, played in the little AND bigger playland, and had some chocolate treats. It was a great time together for the three of us.

Youtubesday on Wednesday: A Good Laugh

If you aren't one of the 12 million who've viewed this, enjoy! If you have seen it, watch again as David deals with the effects of anesthesia...

Something I heard last night

I'm far from a fan of polarizing politics. In fact, as you read through my blog posts, you may note a generally neutral party feel concerning American Politics. I've been raised in a very right leaning community and family. I have several friends and acquaintances who love Jesus and consistently vote democrat. I have passions and political views that span from left to right. As stated before, my hope and belief is not in a kingdom of this world, but in the ultimate Kingdom of God, and that is where my party allegiance rests (I guess I kind of am a fan of polarizing politics in the end).

So, all that to say that my short rant to follow is not about party lines. There were several things I heard from Barack Obama last night that I agreed with and was encouraged by.
BUT, there was one statement that made me stop and say, "Whaa...?" (picture such a confused face that I can't finish the word with the "t" it needs).

It was a simple sentence.

The flow of credit is the lifeblood of our economy.

Really? That's our lifeblood.? Is credit not a more soft word for debt?

Now, I'm not one to say all debt is wrong all the time. To say that, I really shouldn't be a home owner right now, there's no way I could have gone to college, and I couldn't have ever owned any cars.
Yet, it's the lifeblood of our economy? Well, maybe it is, but maybe that's also why our economy is so screwed up!

Misconceptions

We're pretty excited about have Walt Mueller from the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU) here March 27-28 for our Understanding Today's Youth Culture Conference (read more about it here).
As a prart of the promotion, we are highlighting the event in our upcoming church newsletter. Several of us are answering questions to help explain why the value of the event.

My Question was: What are some of the biggest misconceptions adults make about today's youth culture?

My Response Was:

Speaking from personal experience and interaction, three misconceptions come to mind...
1. Today's youth culture is does not value older generations. More than ever, I hear today's youth express a deep value in their relationship with their parents or grandparents. There are definite tensions, but students are quick to point to parents as the most influential individuals in their life.
2. Today's Youth Culture has no desire to be influential. I'm seeing a generation that wants to change the world, and truly believes they can. Many have no idea how they can accomplish this, but they are hungry to make an impact.
3. There is no spiritual hunger or interest in today's youth. Quite to the contrary. I believe this generation has more interest in spiritual things than ever. The greatest need is not addressing spiritual indifference, but instead giving spiritual direction toward the Way, the Truth and the Life.

At the core of all these misconceptions is a cultural change between generations. Each generation will tend to look at the current youth culture and say, "That's not the way it was when I was a teen." If we look at these differences only based on externals, we may misunderstand what's really going on. We need to look deeper at the soul of the youth culture. That is exactly what will happen March 27-28 at "Understanding Today's Youth Culture."

Growth

These past few weeks have reminded me that real growth happens in the valleys over on the mountain tops.

I can't even begin to wrap my mound around all that is going on inside me, what I'm learning, and how this is all shaping me for "what's next"... frankly, I don't think it's time for me to try to wrap my mind around it all. But I know it's there, and it's happening.

I don't want pain, suffering and loss in my life. I'm not one to seek it out. But today, I'm reminded that it doesn't help to run from it when it's there. I'm leaning in, and it's good.

Not fun.
Not safe.
Not what I wanted.
But it's good. He's good.

Funeral Online

There were many out of town who were unable to make it to my dad's funeral. Thanks to the Rodney at NMC and my sister-in-law's nephew, we've been able to put the video up online.
For some reason, a gray box appears in the center of the video if you use Firefox. To get rid of it, just click on the video twice to go to full screen.

Go here to view it.

New Polls

A few new polls for this week on the side bar. Vote Away!