King of Glory Youth and Family Blog

Suicide Prevention

2011-07-27T10:19:00.002-06:00

Last night Olympic Athlete and Boise native Jeret "Speedy" Peterson took his life. Like many people he struggled with depression. It is an unfortunate reality in our lives. Some people have an illness that causes their brains to produce improper chemical balances. It is these imbalances that can cause one to be deprhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifessed, even to the point of suicide. Because of the imbalances those affected do not realize that suicide is not truly a solution. Yes it may end your life and you will never have to experience those powerful negative feelings, but it also leaves those who love you with great amounts of pain. It is difficult to convey this to someone suffering from severe depression, but that doesn't mean we cannot help. If you know someone who is suffering with depression don't keep it a secret, find a trusted person such as their parent and let them know. Yes they may get angry that you told their secret, but they will be less angry when they get the help they need. If someone is suicidal, also be sure to get them help right away. It can also help to provide a number they can call when they struggle. I recommend the National Suicide Hotline (1-800-273-8255). No person is too small to make a difference in the life of someone who suffers from depression.

Arizona Update #3

2011-06-30T17:22:00.003-06:00

After a day off of posting (except the one I had scheduled) I am back.

Yesterday we switched work assignments and we were at Kids Club. After running around with lots of energetic kids we headed over to Gallup, NM to watch some traditional Navajo dances and a chance to eat Navajo Fry Bread.

Not a whole lot to report other than Brian is celebrating his birthday and Adrienne had hers on Tuesday.

Tomorrow we head off to Salt Lake City and then we will be gunning for Boise. I will be sure to give you a recap of our trip after I get back.

Touching Story

2011-06-29T09:03:00.001-06:00

Sometimes you just need to hear a feel good story.

Arizona Update #2

2011-06-28T17:09:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday to Adrienne! She turned 17 today and we have some surprises up our sleeves for her.

Our work projects were in full force today we almost finished one of the houses we were working on, finished scraping and painted half of another house and finished painting part of the building we use. After finishing the room that work group moved on to making new paint colors by mixing paint while the rest of the group peeled dried paint out of paint buckets. Teen Club crew continued to have a great week with another successful day with number of youth participants tripling.

Last night we hiked Window Rock, a local natural landmark. It is a beautiful natural formation but we were attacked by a swarm of gnats making it a little less enjoyable, but all in all it was a good night.

Tonight we are going to hear a local woman share about the Navajo Reservation and she will also be selling Native American jewelry (moms and sisters, you might be getting some presents!).

It looks like rain is rolling in and the temperatures will probably drop (seriously, it is looking exactly like Boise last week!) but we are surviving the heat with lots of water and Gatorade.

Arizona Update #1

2011-06-27T17:04:00.002-06:00

We made it and just finished Work Day #1 is done and we are getting ready for dinner right now.

We were broken into 4 crews: Don't Worry, Single, Life/Death, and Free.

3 are working on various work projects (painting houses, painting at the mission, exterior home maintenance) while the fourth is working at a Teen Club. The group at Teen Club is doing activities for youth on the Reservation who are too old for Kids Club. I have heard nothing but positives from the youth and adults and we are making great friends from New Mexico, California, and Oklahoma.

We have been working hard at fighting dehydration and fighting those who don't think they need to drink water. A big thanks to all who donated Gatorade/Water.

I will try to update this every day during the adult leaders meeting.

God's blessings!

Dear 16 Year Old Me

2011-06-15T09:06:00.000-06:00

Do you ever wish you could go back in time and give yourself some advice. In an effort to fight cancer this video was released on that exact premise. (Warning: There is one naughty word relating to the rear-end in it)

New Resource Page

2011-06-08T14:40:00.002-06:00

I'm back after a brief vacation part of last week.

Faith in the home is a huge goal here at King of Glory. I am constantly trying to think of ways for people to be able have resources in their home that wihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifll help make faith an integral part of family identity. Recently I was made aware of a site that allows one to easily make a resource page. So I sat down and have made one for King of Glory. Feel free to explore it and be sure to check it often as there is still more things that will be added to it.

http://kogyouthandfamily.weebly.com/index.html

Helping Out

2011-05-25T13:08:00.003-06:00

In the last few months there have been several devastating natural disasters. From the earthquake and tsunami in Japan to the tornadoes in South and Midwest, there are all kinds of people that need help right now. Below are some reputable organizations that you can contact for ways to help.

Red Cross is accepting a variety of donations especially money and blood. Visit their website for more information. You can also send a text message with the text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.

Lutheran Disaster Response is an organization that brings together the generosity of Lutherans and the helping hand of disaster relief. You can make donations and also get on a mailing list to know how you can help each time there is a disaster.

Catholic Charities USA is like LDR but it is Catholic based. Fortunately, we know that the Catholics and Lutherans work quite well together.

It is important to research "charitable" organizations before giving. Often during great tragedies people will create scams that look like they are helping when, in fact, they are pocketing money and not providing relief. The 3 organizations above are all great, reputable, and have been around for a significant amount of time. All three were the first ones to Louisiana following Katrina and the last to leave.

The Rapture

2011-05-18T13:53:00.002-06:00

According to one source, the "Rapture" is going to happen on Saturday, roughly 6pm local time.

It has been quite humorous to me all the publicity it has gotten. It is not that I take the end of the world lightly, it is just that if one were to read the Bible it is mentioned that people will not know when the end of times comes until it has happened. This fact alone has led me to believe that at 6pm on Saturday I will be listening to Confirmation Faith Stories and NOT being taken up to Heaven or left behind to suffer through the tribulation.

The problem that arises when we take the Bible literally is that we miss the fact that part of our Christian tradition is storytelling. Just because Revelation says horsemen are going to come out of the ground doesn't mean that we will actually have people bursting out of the ground to end the world.

As Lutherans we are called to think critically about the text in the Bible. We are called to ask questions. Is this text talking to all people or just one group of people? Is this story a story that is based in fact or is it an allegory used to help us understand God better? These are the things we need to think about as we read the Bible. But I could be wrong.

I guess we will find out Saturday.

Summer is a coming!

2011-05-12T10:39:00.000-06:00

This week is a light post. We just wanted to let you know that summer is almost here and the summer calendar will be out next week. Lots of family events and plenty of fun to be had!

Give us the joy of sharing our faith...

2011-05-05T09:52:00.003-06:00

We come to the final week of our series based on banners I saw in St. Mark's.

Give us the joy of sharing our faith. Working with confirmation youth I know that this isn't always a joy. Some times it is scary as can be. Why is it so scary to share our faith? I was just at a conference on studying the Bible and heard plenty of stories about how reading the Bible and sharing faith stories has taken even the toughest of people and turned them in to scaredy cats. (I have never seen that spelled out, it looks so weird.)

Despite our fears God calls us to share our faith, "to make disciples of all nations." As much as we may not like it, it is what we are called to do. So how do we make it less daunting? By practicing. Let's start tonight.

At your dinner table ask the following questions:
What is your favorite story from the Bible?
Why do you like that story?
Who is someone at church that you admire?
Why do you admire them?

4 simple questions that will get you talking about the Bible and your faith. And the best part about this exercise is there is no right or wrong answer. When I was younger 2 Kings 2:23-25 was my favorite passage from the Bible. Why? Bears killed people. It wasn't a holy reason, but it did have me reading the Bible to find more stories like it and it had me memorize Bible verses.

Practice sharing your story with your family and they with you, it will make a world of difference and you will soon find the joy in sharing your faith!

Give us light to this uncertain path...

2011-04-27T11:13:00.003-06:00

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
-Robert Frost, 1916

I have done a fair share of hiking in my life. There is one undeniable fact when it comes to me hiking: If I am comfortable with my surroundings I will blaze my own trail; if I am not, I will stay on trail.

I was hiking in the Gila National Wilderness about 8.5 years ago and I knew that there were no poisonous snakes and the only real threat to my life was bears. Considering that the terrain was pretty open, I knew I would be able to see a bear at a distance. So we blazed our own trail at times and hiked on trail as we got through more rugged terrain. Another time I was out hiking and was warned of rattlesnakes, poisonous spiders, and scorpions. Needless to say, I stayed on trail and kept a watchful eye.

Likewise, when we are going through times in our life when things seem difficult or unsure we turn to God asking to guide us, to give us light. When I worked at camp as a senior high coordinator, I used to make the senior high youth walk from the main camp through the woods to the senior high area without the aid of flashlights. The nights we had a full moon, the leader was usually confident. But on those nights where the moon was blocked by clouds or there was no moon in the sky, we would wander and trip over stumps, get hit in the face with tree branches, get spooked by squirrels and other animals in the woods. One night a girl who was not particularly keen on this activity to begin with was to lead us. She was excited because it was supposed to be a full moon. When we began our walk back, clouds rolled in and the moon disappeared. I distinctly remember her shouting to the sky, "God, I am totally freaked out right now and could use a little help!" The clouds rolled away and she brought us safely to the meadow where we paused and marveled at the giant moon and shining stars.

There are lots of things that bring uncertainty to our path so we pray, "God, give us light to this uncertain path."

Easter Bunny vs Santa Clause

2011-04-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

A little humor for your Holy Week. Holy Week Batman!

Help us to see your image in all people...

2011-04-13T14:21:00.003-06:00

This week we continue our challenges of Lent with "Help us to see your image in all people." If it was "Help us to see your image in other people" it was be much easier, but it says all people. That person that cut you off while driving? See God's image in them. That person that bullies you at school? See God in them. That elected official that you can't stand? See God in them. This list goes on and on. It is not an easy challenge, but we have to acknowledge that God made all of us in God's image. It is right there in Genesis:

So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
~Genesis 1:27 NRSV

We all were created by God. We all are made in God's image. Even though we don't like certain people, we are called to see God in them.

Teach us to give and not count the cost...

2011-04-06T14:15:00.003-06:00

Teach Us to Give and Not Count The Cost

Talk about a challenge. Hey, give and don't think about it. "But, that $5 could have bought me a coffee and a muffin!" When we give we are taking from ourselves. That is how some people think of it. But another way to look at it is this: we are avoiding the temptation of excess.

When we give we don't have the money that would tempt you to trade your iPhone3 for an iPhone4 and therefore are able to focus on helping those less fortunate than ourselves and there are lots of people that are less fortunate than us. You don't believe me. Go here: http://www.globalrichlist.com/. You will be amazed at how wealthy you are in the world.

When we give selflessly, we truly are imitating Christ. He didn't get on the cross and say, "God I will die only if people are really good." or "I am only forgiving the sins of those that really, really like me." No, Jesus forgave us all, regardless of how good or poor of a person we are.

Think of these stats:

$8 could buy you 15 organic apples OR 25 fruit trees for farmers in Honduras to grow and sell fruit at their local market.

$30 could buy you two DVDs OR a First Aid kit for a village in Haiti.

$73 could buy you a new mobile phone OR a new mobile health clinic to care for AIDS orphans in Uganda.

$2400 could buy you a 64" High Definition TV OR schooling for an entire generation of school children in an Angolan village.

Money is often wasted on luxury. But often we don't think of luxury as luxury, instead we think of it as necessity. We don't need a cell phone, but we convince ourselves we do. We don't need a 64" TV (HD or not), but we convince ourselves that we have to have it. We don't need an iPod or iPad, but we convince ourselves we do. Now that is not to say that you can't enjoy a luxury, but think about whether or not it is worth it. I read in the news the other day that thousands of people bought an iPhone when Verizon released it. Now they are all planning on getting the new one due out in November. Do they need it? No. But they convince themselves they do. And we saw above what that money could have been used for.

Give and don't count the cost.

Where There Is Hatred Let Me Sow Love,

2011-03-31T13:10:00.003-06:00

Today we focus on words taken from the Prayer of St. Francis, "Where there is hatred, let me sow love." These words ring especially true today. Negativity and distrust run rampant and people are often using hate speech to describe people they disagree with. Violence and natural disasters are bringing destruction and dominating the headlines. I decided to take a look at the top headlines today at several different news sources, some local some national and here is what I found:

-GOP, Dems testiness continues in Idaho House
-Idaho 21 still closed between Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit because of avalanche danger
-New Medicare rules rile some home health agencies
-Train hits dump truck at Idaho crossing, 1 dead
-Low levels of radiation found in West Coast milk
-Police: Trailer intentionally set on fire
-THE UPSIDE-DOWN RECOVERY
-Mom left dead in septic tank
-Two days, two assassination attempts
-Is violence imminent in Syria?
-Violence before Nigerian election

Based on these headlines you would think that the world was going to end tomorrow. In the midst of all the negativity, the hatred, we are called to sow love. We are called to put aside our differences and serve our neighbors. We are called to serve our neighbors in the global sense of the word. We are called to serve those in need. Nowhere does Jesus say, "Serve your neighbor, but only if they believe in me. If they don't believe in me, let them starve, freeze, thirst or even die. That'll teach them." No, Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. That is a tall order. When someone demeans you usually the last thing you want to do is pray for them. But that is what we are called to do.

Where there is hatred - the world. Let us sow love. Sow love in this world.

Confirm My Will To Yours

2011-03-23T13:57:00.005-06:00

Today I was at St. Mark's for the mid-week Lenten Worship service and soup luncheon. As I sat in this massive space surrounded by people and silence I began admiring the space. I looked at the stained glass, the high ceiling, and at the banners hanging in the front. As I looked at these banners I was moved by them and decided that I was going to blog about what each one said. For the next several weeks we will reflect on each banner.

This week we look at Confirm My Will To Yours.

What does this mean? Let's break it down by word.

Confirm

When I did and image search on Google for the word confirm, I was given lots of images like this one:

The dictionary defines confirm as: to establish the truth, accuracy, validity, or genuineness of; corroborate; verify. But it also means: to make firm or more firm; add strength to; settle or establish firmly.

With the second definition this phrase begins to make more sense. Strengthen my will to yours.

Will

Ok, so Google Images just gave me lots of pictures of Will Smith when I searched for Will. But what does will mean? Let's head back to the dictionary. Again, we get several definitions so let's look at two: wish or desire; purpose or determination, often hearty or stubborn determination; willfulness.

Using what we have so far: Strengthen My Purpose (for you) to Yours.

Was ist das? (What is this?)

In the early to mid 2000s lots was made of Rick Warren's book "Purpose Driven Life". The way we were created followed by the introduction of sin has left us to try to determine what is the purpose God has for our lives. Because of this many people turned to Warren's book hoping for answers. For some it helped them discover what it was God was calling them to do. For others it just added to the confusion.

God has a purpose for all of us. That purpose takes many shapes throughout our lives and leads us on a journey through the various things we are called to do. Sometimes we are living multiple calls at the same time; we are called to be parents and children and employee and volunteer, etc. Through this God asks us not to be perfect but to do those things to the best of our ability. God knows we will make mistakes, God knows we will not always get everything done perfectly, but God also knows that we will do our best (usually) and regardless of how we do, God is there with grace abounding.

This Lenten season Confirm God's Will to Yours.

Follow Your Heart

2011-03-10T10:21:00.002-07:00

It is easy to let the voices of others dictate what we can and cannot do. Too often if people tell us we can't do something we believe it. However, there are always people that are poor listeners and usually it is to their benefit.

Zach Anner lives with Cerebral Palsy (the sexiest of palsies as he claims) and though he is confined to a wheel chair, he does not let that stop him from following his dream. There are two things I love about Zach: 1) his quirky sense of humor. A man after my own heart. 2) his no holds barred attitude.

Zach entered a contest to become the next host of a show on the Oprah Winfrey Network (is she the only person with an entire network named after him or her?). After a long process, he won a show on the network. Here is his audition tape:

Zach has shot a few pieces that have been released on the internet. He has followed his dream to success. Here is his trip to Niagra Falls:

Likewise, we as people of faith need to push aside the barriers people set up as there is nothing that can keep us from living out the calling God has for us. A few youth ignored comments about how hard it would be to make a community garden. Now it is a reality. I encourage you now to focus on what it is you feel God calling you to do and make it a reality, regardless of how difficult or impossible others may say it is.

iConfess

2011-02-09T19:29:00.005-07:00

Apparently the Pope has passed on his blessing for this new iPhone app that allows you to keep track of your sins and gives you guidance as to what you should do next (this week you only committed a few sins that can easily be forgiven in worship; you sinned quite a bit, better head to confession; etc.).

I have mixed feelings on the app (which sells for $1.99). I think it is great for people to be aware of the decisions they are making and to understand exactly how sinful we can be. But on the other side of that, I fear it would turn some into people that become consumed by their shortcomings and begin to lose their mind in one way or another.

I'm pretty indifferent, I don't have an iPhone or iPod so probably won't be buying it. If I did have one, I probably still would go without a purchase as I don't like paying for applications.

But it did get me thinking about grace. We all know how amazing it is, we sing about it all the time. But do we really think about how great this grace that we receive is? We are not bound and pinned down by our sins, but we are able to be forgiven and to let our past wrongdoings not be constantly haunting us. We are freed to live lives of service and praise to God.

Here is the news story mentioned above.

Dream Big, Do Big

2011-02-02T10:53:00.003-07:00

I try to encourage people to dream big. That said, I also encourage them to then, Do Big. Dreaming is wonderful, making dreams a reality is even more awesome. Take a look at this video:

Our community garden started as a big dream of a few people. They put in the effort to make this dream a reality. And it is an awesome reality. Another group of people thought of feeding the community. Great dream! Even better? They made it happen! Get your dreams going. And then make them happen!

Thinking about faith

2011-01-26T10:32:00.002-07:00

It is easy to get caught up in what we believe and what is right and what is wrong. A friend sent me a video yesterday of a guy that believed you shouldn't be allowed to vote if you weren't a conservative Christian. The person in the video's rationale was that only those that held the same beliefs about gay marriage, abortion, and God as he did truly understood God. It reminded me of the book I read by an agnostic name A.J. Jacobs. He decided to live according to the laws of the Bible for 1 year. And he did, as best he could. Below is a talk he gave regarding the experience. What saddens me is that someone who claims to not really have faith actually understands what it means to truly have faith than someone who claims to have faith (confusing sentence, I know). Take a look:

Who is to blame?

2011-01-19T14:27:00.002-07:00

In the wake of the shooting of an elected official and several bystanders TV, internet, and radio were abuzz with fingers being pointed in every direction. "It is Person A's fault because they did this." "No it is Person B's fault because they did that." And so on and so forth. At our bi-weekly gathering of youth directors in the area, we talked about this for a while. How do you talk about the event? What do you say? How do you handle the rabid obsession with pinning blame?

The overarching answer that we all seemed to see is that apart from it being inappropriate to pass the blame, it really comes down to sin. The gunman was overtaken by sin and performed an action that could not be taken back. The bullets could not be unshot and the lives could not be unchanged. If that makes any sense.

We are sinful beings and every day we need to ask God for forgiveness, we need to realize the grasp that sin can have on our lives and we need to take that awareness and turn from sin and turn back to God.

Who is to blame? Sin.

Home

2011-01-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been addicted to the song "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The song talks about how home is wherever the co-singer is (or anything that reminds the singer of the co-singer is) that is where home is. Living 1500 miles from my parents, this song hits home with me. While there are times that it is difficult being away from my family, I have plenty of things that remind me that they are here with me and that I am home, even when I am 1500 miles from home. Here is a cute version of a father and daughter singing the song:

College students have begun returning to school after spending the holidays with their families and with a few of them I had conversations about home and this song kept running through my head.

What are the things that make home for you?

A Great Story

2011-01-05T14:14:00.003-07:00

I'm back from Vacation and have a great post to start 2011!

First here is the video:

This man, Ted Williams, made some poor choices in his life and fell on hard times. Fortunately, a reporter was interested in getting Williams' story. So he stopped and talked with him and shared the story. The video went viral in just a short time. Williams has now been on the Early Show, the Today show and is guaranteed a job as he has had several hundred offers including one from the NFL and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This week I learned of the passing of an older gentleman from the last church I worked at. He was a great man and the best things that I ever did with him was to ask him to tell me his story. He shared his life story over coffee and doughnut holes in bits and pieces over the course of a few months. He lived an amazing life and he lit up that someone actually wanted to hear his story. This week I encourage you to find someone significantly older than you (more than a decade) and ask them to tell you about their life. You might be impressed to learn what they have experienced. I found out after 20 years of knowing him that one of my great-uncles attended Martin Luther King's funeral.

If Jesus were born today...

2010-12-20T13:59:00.003-07:00

I am going on vacation, so posted this early so you would have something to enjoy right before Christmas!

A Lesson on Giving

2010-12-15T10:00:00.003-07:00

From CNN Heroes:

It always amazes me how much I learn from people in places where they have far less.

Advent is upon us...

2010-12-08T13:04:00.002-07:00

Can you believe that we are already almost half way through Advent? It is a time of much anticipation. Just as Mary and Joseph were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, the Son of God, we too wait. We wait with much anticipation for the one who is to forgive the sins and wrongdoings of all of humankind. With Jesus birth we begin a celebration of the life of Jesus that ultimately ends in tragedy. But as with most tragedies, there is something positive in the midst of it. In the midst of the pain and suffering of the loss of Jesus, we have the Father there with us. Comforting us, lifting us up. And so as we proceed through Advent to Christmas, we too lift up and rejoice the greatest gift we ever will receive. We praise the birth of the Forgiver.

World AIDS Day 2010

2010-12-01T09:00:00.005-07:00

Today is World AIDS Day, below are some videos and places you can help!

World-wide Organizations where you can help:
http://www.joinred.com/word_aids_day/index.html

http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/

To volunteer here in Boise:
http://www.alphaidaho.org/

The Advent Conspiracy 2010

2010-11-23T11:45:00.003-07:00

The following was written by a youth director (and friend of mine for full disclosure) in Minnesota regarding commercialism at Christmas. Readers of this blog know that we have shared The Advent Conspiracy on here before and I am sure we will again in the future. It is important to understand that The Advent Conspiracy doesn't suggest giving up presents as a whole, but to reduce the number of presents. Honestly, I am amazed at how much stuff I box up and give to charity each year that I don't wear or use any more. It is a fact that we all have too much stuff and we keep getting more stuff. Now I turn you over to the article written by Kimberly Sturtz which is then followed by a video of the song she quotes in the article.

“Hark! how the bells, sweet silver bells. All seem to say, "Throw cares away." Christmas is here bringing good cheer to young and old,meek and the bold. Oh how they pound, raising the sound, over hill and dale, telling their tale.,,,Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas. Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas. On, on they send, on without end, their joyful tone to ev'ry home.” -Carol of the Bells

This beautiful Christmas Carol is my favorite holiday song. It was written by a Ukrainian man named Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych in 1916. This Ukranian folk song is about a sparrow and the bountiful year that awaits a family. It is also, based on an old Slavic legend that every bell in the world rang in honor of Jesus on the night of his birth.

I think of the sparrow often and the story in the book of Matthew that Jesus speaks of God watching over the sparrow so why wouldn’t God watch over you as well. Also Jesus tells us not about how much you have, or what tomorrow will bring, because tomorrow will take care of itself and God will look after you no matter what.

Which brings me to Christmas, and this crazy need for “Stuff.” What material stuff is going to cause you to live a happier life? What material items are going to make you feel Happy about the birth of Christ? What material items will make you think about the man, woman, or child that will be with out a home, food, or clean water?

A couple years ago, a non-profit agency created a group called The Advent Conspiracy. A video was presented to many churches showing statistical information that America on average spends $450,000,000,000 on Christmas gifts every year. Last year with the economic recession Americans on average cut that spending down to a little but not a whole lot.

This year’s pageant at my church is a clear cry our to remember what Christmas is truly for, relational love and kindness for one and all. Jesus came to teach us to give to each other, be more relational, to worship in community, and again, not to worry about so many possessions. We have Innkeepers who are too worried about their Christmas Shopping and perfect dinners to care that the baby Jesus was born in their own stable. We have wise men who are having a conference on: Celestial Signs That Will Indicate the Birth of the Forth Coming Messiah: Theoretical and Technical Aspects, and they end up missing it because they were too focused on something else. Sometimes we all get confused what this special holiday is about. We really need to put the focus back on being more relational and kind towards one another.

Instead, you can give a gift of money to your local food shelf, church, or homeless shelter. You could also give globally to mission work. With the advent conspiracy, people gave money to help build clean water holds for villages to cut down on water contamination and illness. Hefer International gives you the opportunity to give money in various increments that will help a family in a third world country with farming. You can seriously give a family: chickens, goats, water buffalos, to help feed their families and sustain farming life style to get money for a living. Donations can even be made to help with medical needs too in different countries including our own.

Taking smalls steps with big hearts away from consumerism to help another in need, remembering that Jesus is the true reason for Christmas, and His message speaks louder than any gift we could ever receive. Hark hear the bells, on they send without end, their joyful tone, to every home.

Find the The Advent Conspiracy online at:

www.adventconspiracy.org or

On youtube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

To buy an animal for a family or medical help, here are a few sites you can do so:

Heifer International

http://www.heifer.org/

ELCA Good Gifts

http://community.elca.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=469

United Church of Christ Gifts

http://www.ucc.org/make-a-gift

The Story of Jonah!

2010-11-18T10:49:00.001-07:00

Here is a fun, interesting and cute retelling of the story of Jonah:

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Marty!

2010-11-10T11:00:00.003-07:00

Today is Martin Luther's birthday! Today he would be 527 if he were still alive. Still a long way away from Moses (that dude was OLD).

Here is a scene from the movie Luther:

Make a Difference

2010-11-03T13:17:00.003-06:00

November 14th is World Diabetes Day. You can make a difference by clicking on the video below and watching it on YouTube. Every view results in a donation to help fight diabetes. After the video is a link to the website if you would like to find other ways to help.

http://www.bigbluetest.org/

How to Forgive

2010-10-27T13:57:00.002-06:00

I stumbled across this video on YouTube:

Apart from the fact that they guy in the video gives me the creeps, I have a huge issue with this video. He seems to assume that we are the sole source of forgiveness. What he neglects to realize is that true forgiveness comes from the forgiveness we all receive through Christ's death on the cross.

While we may like to think that we are able to forgive on our own, it truly is only possible because of the forgiveness WE have received. When we offer forgiveness to someone, it is us sharing a gift that we have received with another.

Bullying

2010-10-20T10:18:00.003-06:00

I have been meaning to post about this topic for a while now, but haven't. Now I can't imagine a better time to do so. With recent suicides do to bullying by young people in this country I feel it is time we stop pretending it doesn't exist.

When I was in junior high and early high school, there were a group of people that teased me mercilessly. They teased me because of an acne problem, because I was hairy, because of the way my body looked, because I wasn't good at most sports, because I studied. They always found a reason to put me down. It took a toll on me. There were nights I would lie in bed just hoping I would die in my sleep. I never truly wanted to kill myself, but I did hope that occasionally I would die that day of some sort of weird natural causes. Fortunately for me, I began develop some close friendships. It was because of these friends caring for me and going out of their way to stand up for me that I was able to get through it. It was because my parents were there when I was at my lowest to tell me that they loved me that I was able to get through it. It was because people in my church valued me and talked to me and encouraged me that I was able to get through it.

You never realize the power of your words and the power of your actions. What are you going to do? Are you going to be the person who pushes another past their breaking point? Like in this sad story:

Or will you be strong and be the person that lifts another out of their funk like in this video:

We need to stop the bullying. But we also need to let the bullied know that it gets better. Dan Savage (author, columnist, activist) started a project letting people know that it gets better. Here is an example of a person inspired by the project sharing their touching story:

How will you be remembered?

No Obstacle is Too Great

2010-10-13T15:31:00.002-06:00

We often place limitations on ourselves. "I can't" becomes a recurring statement. Here is one young man who proves that you CAN do something if you truly set your mind to it.

No Fear

2010-10-06T14:16:00.002-06:00

In Joshua 1:9b we hear:

Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

I don't think this is quite what Joshua was talking about:

I have faith in God, I trust in God, but there is NO WAY you are getting me to even go up in the elevator of that thing. But it does make me wish I could interview one of these workers and ask them how they are able to do this job and how they trust they will not fall off the tower. If only we had this kind of faith regularly when it comes to the stuff God wants us to do. Could you imagine?

Text Messaging While Driving

2010-09-29T11:49:00.003-06:00

Texting while driving has become a major talking point in recent months. The number of people that are sending text messages while driving is continually increasing, despite the inherent dangers. Take a look at the story below:

As you can see, it becomes an addiction. They can't stop, despite having been in a horrific accident. With more an more youth from out church getting drivers licenses each year, it is important to address things that are going to be factors in their life.

Let's look at this from a different angle. Would you read a book while driving? Would you use a laptop while driving? If you answered yes to either of these questions, please give me your license and the keys to your car. I don't want you on the road. Text messaging while driving is the same thing. Earlier this year I looked in my rear view mirror at a girl texting while driving. The problem was, I was stopped at a red light. As I braced for impact she realized I wasn't moving, slammed on her brakes and stopped just inches short of my car.

When I lived in Minnesota, I attended the funeral of a young woman who died because she was texting while driving. It was a death that could easily have been prevented, but it was a death that happened anyway and we can use it as a learning tool.

The accident caused by sending texts while you are driving could kill you, your friends, or complete strangers. Think about these things before you drive.

The following are two pieces of a larger Public Service Announcement (PSA) in England. Because of the graphic nature of Part One, I have linked to both of them instead of embedding them. Part One. Part Two.

Welcome to Autumn!

2010-09-22T10:25:00.003-06:00

Today is the first official day of autumn! However, I would like to go back to the last day of summer. Yesterday was the International Day of Peace.

So I ask you, what are you going to do to be a peacemaker?

Simple Thoughts

2010-09-15T14:19:00.002-06:00

Sometimes we get caught up in thinking about how to solve a problem that we miss a simple explanation. Watch this:

Likewise, when we listen for God's voice or what it is that God is calling us to do, we expect burning bushes and great storms. Many times what God is calling us to do is as simple as the voice of a friend, family member, or even a stranger.

What do Christians really believe?

2010-09-08T15:16:00.002-06:00

Terry Jones, no not the guy from Monty Python, has decided to wage a war (Read about it here). But there are lots of things wrong with this idea of his. Let's work through them.

1) Safety. He claims he is doing this to show that "Christians" will not be intimidated by Muslims, who he believes are the work of the devil. However, he is apparently ignoring requests by the military and government leaders saying that his idea will fuel the radicals in the faith of Islam and put troops and even civilians in harms way. I, personally, feel like it is also dangerous to our brothers and sisters in the Muslim faith. Whether or not you agree with Muslims is not the point. Just reverse roles and imagine that there was a Muslim leader who decided it would be a good idea to get together and burn a giant pile of Bibles.

2) Grace. There once was a guy named Jesus who talked about forgiveness and love. It is interesting, I remember Jesus talking an awful lot about loving your neighbors and even your ENEMIES! And praying for them. Like I said above, I'm not asking people to agree with everything that Islam believes, but as Christians we are called to respect them and reach out for them. 9 years ago, after the attacks on September 11th, a group of Christians joined Muslims in Boise to encircle the Islamic Center out of fear of backlash from people who can't separate extremists from average folks. Which leads to my next point:

3) Christian. We, as Christians, are not called to a life of condemnation as is often thought by people claiming to be Christians. Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations. Somehow we have interpreted that as attack others for their beliefs. Jesus never told us to be extreme and to burn the sacred books of other faiths. I am a Christian but I, in no way, want to be associated with Terry Jones and his whackadoo belief system. I am a Christian, Jesus died to forgive. I am a Christian, God is love. Hate is not a word that is associated with spreading the word of God.

Just Do It!

2010-08-26T13:13:00.003-06:00

Some call it "paying it forward", "karma", or "random acts of kindness". It is something really simple and could lead to the world being a greater place, but often we start with good intentions but eventually are brought down by the rude or mean actions of others. But it is interesting what happens when we really do stick to it and don't let people get us down. There are many instances that still stick in my memory of complete strangers doing something for me that was unnecessary and unexpected. What will you do?

Here is a commercial to drive home the point. (no, KoG is not affiliated with Liberty Mutual)

One Simple Lesson as School Starts

2010-08-18T10:36:00.000-06:00

School is about to start and I think we could learn a lot from this young man.

Taking Another Look

2010-08-04T13:11:00.005-06:00

Do you ever re-read something and it is suddenly different? Have you ever been to a place and gone at a different time of year or perhaps different time of day and it is like another world? Or how about hearing a song and suddenly it takes on a whole new meaning. Scrubs has done that to me several times (Scrubs is a TV show for those that don't know). They did it with Hey Ya! by Outkast and even more powerful was hearing a rendition of the Sesame Street Theme as done by Joshua Radin. Take a listen:

What are some things that have changed by hearing them or reading them or seeing them in a different way?
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Here is where I originally saw it. It is a really powerful scene as well. I hope you enjoy!

Oh and to lighten the mood, here is Hey Ya!

Value

2010-07-28T14:50:00.002-06:00

Saturday afternoon is the trade deadline in Major League Baseball. It has always been a fascinating time for me. Will my team get better, are they doing so bad that they unload players?

Today I got to thinking about the trade deadline. I wonder what it is like being one of those players. Some executive decides what you are worth. Are you a player who the team is willing to pay millions of dollars to get rid of? Are you a player who brings in several up-and-coming players? Are you traded for someone almost identical to yourself?

It would cause me to have weird feelings about value. What am I worth? Imagine if companies could trade you! You open up the paper and it there is a headline, "King of Glory trades Youth and Family Ministry Director to St. Luke's for Chaplain and a turkey sandwich", it would be weird!

But think about this: Every day you wake up and God tells you, "You are valuable to me, you are precious to me." God isn't willing to trade you, you are the person that the team is being built around. And it is true for each one of us! God has given us all amazing gifts and we are going to do amazing things. We may not all work together on one project, but we are going to work with others and accomplish so much. All because God loves us and won't trade us.

Greetings from the Mountains!

2010-07-21T15:17:00.002-06:00

It has been an amazing week so far at Sr. High camp! My only complaint has been these vicious mosquitos. We have had lots of time to reacquaint ourselves with old friends, make new friends, and we have had some pretty good worship services. Luther Heights has put together one heck of a staff and everyone is having a good time at camp, as far as I can tell. We hope you all are enjoying your time in Boise or where ever you are!

Chris and the Campers

Hypocrite

2010-07-15T14:36:00.000-06:00

The week we are getting personal.

Name 3 ways you are a hypocrite.

More or Less

2010-07-08T16:01:00.002-06:00

Sorry this is a day late, a holiday weekend after a Mission Trip will kill your ability to tell what day of the week it is.

Last week on the trip, we were faced with the theme "More or Less". Which led to these two questions:

What could you use more of?

What could you use less of?

You may tweak these to address More and Less. Leave a comment with your answers (you may do so anonymously)

Howdy Y'all!

2010-07-01T15:37:00.002-06:00

There was no Wi-Fi on site so it was a bit hard to post a blog this week with details about our trip. Now that we are about 30 hours away from being home, I thought I would give you an update from a McDonald's.

Our trip out was smooth and we saw buffalo and pronghorn in Yellowstone at lunch at Old Faithful and watched it erupt. After a stop at the Lake in Yellowstone we drove one of the most beautiful drives I have ever seen. The night in Cody was great and we had fun at worship along the way. We made friends with the group from Redmond, Washington and arrived in Lander with great enthusiasm.

We were split into 4 work crews and went to work doing a day camp for kids and painting houses. Our crews have bonded well and we have made many new friends from Maple Grove, Colorado Springs, and Redmond. Ironically, Chris had some sort of connection to each of the Youthworks staff (colleges, hometowns, etc.).

We have had a great time immersing our group in the culture of Lander and the Wind River Reservation. We visited Sacajawea's grave, saw Native American dancing, and visited Sinks Canyon. At the Native American dance last night we celebrated Brian's 50th birthday with him winning a dancing competition. Don't worry, there is plenty of video footage.

We are sad to leave but are looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow night!

Jumping Pigs!

2010-06-24T13:56:00.002-06:00

This past week we heard about demons getting cast out of a naked nut job into pigs and then the pigs jump off a cliff and drown. What is your favorite weird Bible story?

Keep or Throw

2010-06-16T13:29:00.003-06:00

It is easy to create sentimental reasons to keep things. We all have things we need, things we think we need, and things we don't need. This week I want you to think about the stuff in your room/housein this manner:

"What would I keep if I had to pay $30 per month to keep it?"

Look at the things you own and throw out everything that you wouldn't pay to keep (or give it to someone who actually, you know, needs it). Share your disposal list here.

Taken from Soul Pancake

Five Words/Your Family

2010-06-09T14:08:00.003-06:00

There is a website that I visit as sort of a weekly continuing education piece. Part of the website involves "Life's Little Lists". In this section authors post a question or statement for readers to create a list in response. This has been quite enjoyable for me and I thought it would a great summer blog activity. So here is what we are looking for this week:

Use 5 Words to Describe Your Family
Here are mine:
Unique
Loving
Humorous
Unorthodox
Giving

What are your 5? Post them here as a comment (you may do so anonymously).

For a friend

2010-06-02T12:20:00.000-06:00

The following is a story that should inspire and touch us all.

http://www.sj-r.com/carousel/x1107441003/One-sick-child-two-teachers-and-a-selfless-act?img=2

60 seconds

2010-05-26T11:51:00.004-06:00

What can happen in 60 seconds? Let's take a look:

What are you going to do with your 60 seconds?

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If this doesn't make you smile on this rainy day, I am concerned...

something bigger

2010-05-20T10:49:00.006-06:00

It can be really easy to make ourselves into the most important part of the universe. We do it in a variety of ways; we puff our chests out and talk about all the things that we do, we will put down others, we will turn all the focus on ourselves and try to highlight that what we are doing is THE most important thing going on.

We are caught in a paradox when it comes to our role in creation. We are all unique and special creations of God who can do big things, who should do big things. But we are also just a speck in all of creation. So while we are doing these big things, we need to remember that we are but a smaller piece of something bigger. If we grasp onto this we will be able to do whatever it is that God is calling us to do while remaining humble.

Jack Johnson is not a "Christian" musician (he may be a Christian, I don't know. His music is not Christian themed) but he was interviewed as part of a program that encourages life long learning. He uses a great line to remind us that we are part of something bigger and that we are part of this creation and are no bigger than those around us. That line is, "gravity has a hold on all of us." I love that line. Here is a video of that interview (with a little music):

Go do what it is that God is calling you to do, but do so with a humble heart and mind. Don't puff yourself up or put others down, but go let your actions speak for you.

Understanding Kindness

2010-05-12T14:01:00.002-06:00

It is really easy for us to think that if we do good things we will always have good things happen to us in return. It is as if we believe in some sort of kindness deal with God. Some seem to believe that if we do good, God directly rewards us with good and vice versa. Now I am not saying don't do good things for others, what I AM saying is that we should do kind deeds for others because it is what God calls us to do. Maybe this video will make it clearer my issue with the first belief I mentioned.

Impressions

2010-05-05T15:40:00.000-06:00

I came across this story yesterday, even though it is a few years old, it is still worth noting. Acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell played several complicated pieces in a Washington D.C. train station. A few evenings before he was playing to a sold out ($100 per ticket) show and now he was able to pull together $32 because people assumed he was a homeless street musician. It is all a matter of perception. Here is the article.

And here is the video:

Did I mention he was playing a $3.5 million dollar violin?

Bullying

2010-04-28T14:00:00.003-06:00

Bullying. It used to be something big guys did to little guys on the playground or in the hallway. But like so many other things, with time it has evolved. Bullying is now done by girls, it is done online, it is done via text message. It has become an increasingly bigger problem amongst the teen and tween age groups.

It affects lots of people, including youth in our own congregation. The hottest spot for it right now is on Facebook. And it is a sad and disturbing trend. Foul language, impulsive and angry replies, rumors, and on and on. This is something that parents need to be aware of and need to nip in the bud.

I will get to tips in a moment. First, I need to address those that don't believe bullying can have serious repercussions. Follow these links to see what I am talking about:
Teen's suicide prompts schools to take on bullying
Phoebe Prince "Suicide by Bullying": Teen's Death Angers Town Asking Why Bullies Roam the Halls
School shocked by a suicide drafts tough policy on bullies
Phoebe Prince's Final Days: Bullied Girl Suffered "Intolerable" Abuse Before Suicide, Say Court Docs

Now that you are aware of how serious it can be, let's look at what can be done about it.

First, I recommend this site for help with informing kids about bullying it also has a section for parents about bullying. I strongly recommend it as a first stop.

Next, I move to a hypothetical. Would you let your young child spend time alone with a kids you didn't know without talking to the parents of that kid? My parents wouldn't have. Well the same is true for texting and social networking. Parents need to be aware of what their child is doing and who they are talking to. With Facebook (and MySpace and all the other networking sites) young people are able to communicate with anyone they want essentially, regardless of whether or not they know them. Parents of younger children (younger than High School and maybe even into High School) should be aware of what their kid is doing on Facebook. If your child won't let you know, that is when you sit with them while they delete their profile and then you take away computer privileges. Don't forget, you are the parent.

A few years ago, a friend of mine was curious about Facebook because two of her daughters wanted to join. Because I was the youth director of the oldest daughter who was in college, I showed her what you could do on Facebook. So I showed her the college daughters Facebook. This led to a revelation that the daughter was out partying and posting less that appropriate things on her page. The mother talked with her husband and they sat the daughter down and talked about why they disapproved of the content of the page. The daughter understood that her professors and her future employers could see her page and it could dramatically affect her future. So the mother created her own Facebook profile and the rule was set that the other two could have a Facebook profile under the condition that mom was required to be a "Friend" and she was able to see everything on their profile.

It is through the investment of this mother that her kids are able to be safe and have things that will not jeopardize their future. Likewise, if your child is receiving or participating in bullying, you will know. This will allow you to intervene quickly.

Next, set rules about who can and cannot be "Friends" with your child on Facebook. Uncle Harry, Aunt Jane, and their cousins from Boston - acceptable. Friend who used to live 3 doors down and now lives in Seattle - acceptable. The boyfriend of your friend's ex-boyfriends girlfriend - not acceptable. The kid who only uses profane language and inappropriate or suggestive comments - not acceptable. You can lay out the rules together. They can lobby for certain people and you can discuss why or why not people can be friends. Again, remember you are the parent. Also, it is important to remember, especially with younger kids, that most of their Facebook friends can be seen by walking down the block or at school. Encourage them to get off the computer and get outside. The average teen in America will spend 7 hours a day in front of some sort of electronic device. Get outside, breathe fresh air, move.

The key through all of this is to be open, to have dialogue, and to set boundaries. Otherwise, you never know what will happen.

LWR and Malaria

2010-04-21T10:40:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I struggle to think of what to blog about, other times it comes to me, and still there are other times I think that there is divine inspiration. This blog post is one of those divinely inspired times.

This week I have received an Lutheran World Relief (LWR) mailing about malaria, a friend sent me information about malaria, and another friend posted a video about malaria on her Facebook page. I think I should post about malaria.

First, here is the video:

Next we have facts from the World Health Organization (WHO):

* Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
* A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.
* There were 247 million cases of malaria in 2006, causing nearly one million deaths, mostly among African children.
* Malaria is preventable and curable.
* Approximately half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in lower-income countries.
* Travellers from malaria-free areas to disease "hot spots" are especially vulnerable to the disease.
* Malaria takes an economic toll - cutting economic growth rates by as much as 1.3% in countries with high disease rates.

Finally here is a devotional by Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler:

Devotional
A Christian devotion
from Lutheran World Relief
By the Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler

“Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” (John 12:21)

Who are the fastest growing group of Lutherans in America? It’s not the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) or The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) or even the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod(WELS). It is a group of people who identify themselves as Lutheran, but we rarely see them in any of our pews.

Like the Greeks in John 12, these Lutherans “would like to see Jesus.” But they have not found him in so many of the churchgoers whom they know. Moreover, as far they are concerned, there simply isn’t enough reason to start looking in churches that aren’t actively doing God’s work outside of the Sunday service.

Jesus came into view for me recently in the African nation of Tanzania. Here Lutheran World Relief is partnering with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) to combat malaria, one of the world’s most deadly diseases. LWR’s program aims to reach 1.6 million people in 12 of 20 ELCT dioceses by sharing pertinent information about this disease, helping families obtain and use bed nets for their children, and enabling pregnant women to receive timely and appropriate treatment. The emphasis on training parish pastors, who in turn train others in their sub-parishes, Sunday schools, youth groups and choirs, has resulted in the mobilization of an army of “malaria missionaries” in each of their communities.

“Why are you interested in malaria?” we asked. In their responses, Lutheran leaders in Tanzania clearly understand that the mission of God — that his Son, Jesus Christ, has commissioned us to carry on — involves the entirety of everybody’s life, the body as much as the soul. “Holistic redemption” is what one of them called it.

The Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI) is a much larger, worldwide effort to fight malaria, in which LWR is playing a key role. LMI will not only create a unique opportunity for all U.S. Lutherans to join the battle, I believe it will hold up the Jesus that so many are yearning to see.

Prayer : O God, there are people around me who want to see Jesus. To this end, help me to find a way to give support and encouragement to LMI.
Amen.

Jon Diefenthaler is President of the Southeastern District, LCMS, and a member of LWR’s board of directors.

Bringing out the best...

2010-04-15T10:41:00.002-06:00

Sorry this is a day late, but the fundraiser has used up a bit of my time. I have featured this teacher and the choir on the blog before for a different reason, but I am bringing them back because I love them.

PS22 (Public School 22) in New York has a phenomenal teacher. He brings out the talents of the kids so well. He has the ability to make these kids find their strengths and use those strengths for something amazing. I wish I could be a student of his or if I had children I would gladly send them his way. It also gets me thinking about teachers. We talked about them last night in confirmation. I believe that we are all teachers at some point in our lives and in a variety of capacities. Parents teach their children right from wrong, how to tie their shoes, how to ride a bike, and so on. Role models teach us how to carry ourselves (hopefully), school teachers teach us information that is helpful throughout our lives, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes we are teaching and don't even realize it.

I will show you a video below but just a bit of info going into it. The scraggly looking guy in the gray sweatshirt is Matisyahu. Matisyahu is a Hasidic Jewish Reggae/Hip-Hop artist. Personally, I enjoy his music. Hopefully you do to, especially when it is done by young children.

Looking back at Easter

2010-04-07T16:24:00.001-06:00

Easter was a few days ago, but I want to look back. Watch this video and reflect on the hope that is in Easter...

Holy Week Batman!

2010-03-31T15:02:00.003-06:00

It is Holy Week! We have Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday ahead of us!

Here are a couple of Holy answers to questions I have been asked recently:
Q: What does the Maundy in Maundy Thursday mean?
A: Maundy comes from Middle English, Old French, and Latin words meaning Mandate. This is because on Holy Thursday we remember Jesus washing the disciples feet and him saying:

I give you a new commandment (mandate), that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. (John 13:34; NRSV)

Q: Where did the tradition of Easter Eggs come from?
A: There are lots of theories as to how Easter Eggs came into being. I believe it is the combining of several prior religious and cultural traditions. In Judaism, a hard boiled egg is used as part of the Seder meal. One of the symbols that the egg carries in the Seder meal is that of sacrifice. This is a very logical carry over to Christianity (don't forget we are another branch of Judaism) and for thinking of Christ's death and resurrection. Eggs were also associated in many cultures with spring time and rebirth. Many birds in temperate climates hatch eggs in the spring and produce the new life of their offspring. The dying of Easter Eggs is a little more tricky. But some claim that it came about as part of symbolism, red for Christ's blood, blue for water, green for new growth, etc. This is very logical to me, but I don't know for certain. Now it is more or less something fun to do as a family. And who can argue with that?

Now I ask you: What is being Lutheran without a little humor? Here is what Holy Week may have looked like if Jesus had Facebook:

http://canter.s437.sureserver.com/fbp/facebookpassion.pdf

Here is a humorous video for you this Easter:

John Daker Wishes you a Happy Easter!

Why Go Out?

2010-03-24T13:46:00.002-06:00

My good friend Chuck wrote a newsletter article for his church newsletter answering a question that was asked of him several times. It is essentially a question every youth director gets asked when they take kids on service trips. Chuck's article is great and I want to share it with you all now, but I want to ask you to read it all before jumping to any conclusions as there are parts that seem really challenging until you continue on. Here is what Chuck wrote:

Why Mexico?

The question has been raised: Why are we going to Tijuana when there are plenty of poor people we could help right here in the U.S.? this is a good question and deserves an answer. Too often we do things merely because we have always done it or because it feels right or because it brings us pleasure. Strangely enough, I would like to begin by exploring the wrong reasons for going to Mexico.

The first thing we have to get beyond is believe that by serving the poor we are being good Christians. Putting the word "good" and "Christian" in the same sentence is an oxymoron. A Christian is someone who knows they are a poor miserable sinner, who hates the fact they repeatedly sin, who perversely makes excuses for their own sins but critically condemns the sins of others, who has tried to be good but just can't measure up, who therefore throw themselves on the mercy of Jesus, relying on His God-ness, His goodness, His sacrifice and His triumphant resurrection. The problem is this can be a tough sell as well as being hard on the ego. It's easier to define our faith with outward acts of love than than with such mysterious spiritual notions as: the old Adam, sin, redemption, incarnation, grace, the Trinity, faith, eternity or even to participate in such counter intuitive acts as baptism and holy communion. Therefore we are not Christian because we serve; otherwise we would believe the absurd idea that the atheist who spends 5 nights a week serving food in a soup kitchen is more of a Christian than the believer who serves soup once a year. We are Christian because we put our faith in Jesus Christ.

We also have to get rid of the notion that we serve to make the world a better place. This may seem a shocking statement, but let's think a minute about what it would imply if it were true. If we could, by our acts, make the world better, that is, to work toward creating a heaven on earth, we would no longer need God. Wait a minute, you protest, it is with God's power and help that we make the world a better place. Then throw out Jesus, because if the supreme sacrifice would be a waste of time. We only have to look at history to know that if we truly believed we could fix the world then that glorious end would justify whatever means we thought was necessary to achieve it. Consider the brutal carnage of Hitler or the Soviet Union, both justified their insane methods with utopian ideals. Our own faith has fallen into the same trap when it decided it could purify the world; the result was such horrors as the Spanish Inquisition. No, we best not think we can make the world a better place or we will end up devils or disappointed and disillusioned. Either way we abandon our faith.

If we don't become good and our world doesn't become better when we serve then why bother doing anything, whether here or in Mexico? Oddly enough it is in the very exasperation expressed in that question that we find the answer. why should we serve when there is no benefit to us? Because there is no benefit to us. The Father did not create us because he was lonely and needed us. Jesus did not sacrifice himself for us because he needed our eternal thankfulness. The Holy Spirit does not fill our lives because he has nothing else to do. God helps us in countless ways because he loves us. This love contains no self interest, in other words it is perfect and completely sacrificial. Herein lies the pattern for our own acts of love however imperfect; we are to serve others because they exist, because they are children of God, because they have needs. This sacrificial love then does not consider nationality, race, sex, age, religion, our convenience or even whether they are all that lovable. A godly sacrificial love considers only the need of the other person.

Maybe you are thinking I've stumbled around in a circle and contradicted myself that our faith really is fulfilled by serving others. Our religious lives are filled with choices that fall in to the good, better and best categories. We must always remember that God fills the best category and our first obligation is to direct our whole love toward him both in communal worship and private devotion. Only by focusing our love on what is spiritual, that is, things above and outside of ourselves will we be the least bit effective in showing love to those in need.

Driving 2,000 miles to help a family in Tijuana does not take away from our ability to help those close to home; rather it ignites it! I don't know about you but I have a tendency to take for granted what is common and close, to get in a rut, and back in my own busyness. But going to Mexico takes me out of the familiar and puts me in a place where I can do nothing but serve total strangers, strangers whose need is great. I would be a liar if I claimed that I receive no benefits from going on this mission trip. The benefits are indeed great but God help me if those benefits become my motivating reason for going. The Mexico mission focuses my heart on the needs of others and gives me a chance, in a microscopic way, to pass on the sacrificial love God has shown me. Sometimes we need to leave home to remind us what it is about home that makes it so homey. Sometimes we have to serve in a far off place to remind us to serve in an everyday place. Besides, the trip is only nine days long, that leaves 356 days to serve those who live close to home. -Chuck Roberts

Prodigal Daughter

2010-03-17T12:34:00.001-06:00

Sunday we heard the Parable of the Prodigal Son or the Parable of the Man and his Two Sons (depending on who you ask). I came across this video via a friend and it is a very touching way to think of the story. This time we have a prodigal daughter instead of a prodigal son. Enjoy!

Bold Women

2010-03-10T13:35:00.004-07:00

A couple Sundays ago, the WELCA group led worship. They did a sermon highlighting Bold Women of the Bible. I always enjoy hearing the stories of the Bible come to life. That Sunday got me to thinking about bold women I have encountered in my life. Here are a few of the bold women I know or have known and why:

Mary Cooley or Mama Cooley. Mary is the mother of my friends Carrie, Ben, Sarah, and Chris. I met the family through my work at camp. There are too many things about Mary to list concerning her boldness. But the two that stand out for me are Mary's strength and warmth. Mary was welcoming of so many people. She has treated me like one of her children and I have seen her shower so many people with love. Her Christmas letter is one of my favorite things every year. But even more so is Mary's strength. Mary's son Chris was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was in his 20s. I was blessed to be Chris's mentor at camp, despite him being older than me. Through this relationship I was able to get to know Mary even better. When Chris passed away on the first day of my senior year of college, it was the strength of Mary that got me through it. It was her words that helped me to carry on and it was her words that helped me to continue keeping Chris's spirit alive.

Betty Bolling or as I called her, Grandma. My grandma gave 100% of herself to others. She made quilts to be shipped around the world to those in need. She made meals to fill those that were hungry. She listened more than she talked. She was gentle and embodied the word love. When she passed away, I was crushed. The hardest part for me was that my children would never get to experience the love of my grandma.

Lucille Wagener aka Nana. My other grandma. She has been through so much in her life. She has battled with Polio, the Great Depression, the death of a child at childbirth, the death of my grandpa and yet she is strong and faithful. She sings hymns and faithfully attends church. She gives more to charity than she probably should. She is a beacon of strength, I only hope I can make it somewhere near her years in life. She is going strong into her 90s.

Ann Jorstad Huber. Ann was always a tough cookie. But she became an even tougher cookie when she found out the love of her life had ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). She could have thrown in the towel and called it quits. But she cared for her husband as his health began to fail while continuing to work a full-time job. She was there with him when their car was hit by a drunk driver, she stayed with him through the end. All before turning 30. I always consider Ann a prime example of how we often have more strength than we think.

My list could go on and on, but these are a few of the people who have inspired me. And now, here is a video of Maya Angelou reading Sojourner Truth.

Love and Old Age

2010-03-03T12:00:00.001-07:00

My grandparents were married for 62 (almost 63) years before my grandpa died of a series of strokes. I have always admired the love they had for each other, through thick and thin, through highs and lows. They loved their children, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and their friends. They would swim and canoe together despite my grandma beginning to feel the effects of almost 90 years of life, a life that included a bout with polio. I came across this video the other and it reminded me of my grandparents and the love they had for each other and the zest for life they had. I can only hope that people are fortunate and find someone that brings out the best in them, just as these two do for each other and as my grandparents did for each other. The first video is the video that caught my attention, the second is a video of the couple explaining the story behind the first video. Enjoy!

Javaluia!

2010-02-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

One of the things that we Youth Directors (Youth and Family, Youth and Education, etc.) do here in the Treasure Valley is getting together as a group. We meet twice a month and have conversation around an article, a book, or whatever catches our eyes. We also share ideas and analyze our programs together. Recently we have begun talking about what it is that the church is doing (as a whole) and whether it is helping the church or hindering the church and how that relates to the ministry with young people.

In a recent email exchange I was reminded of a video I saw a while ago and had forgotten about. Take a look:

It is interesting when you think of how the church would look if the way it functioned was placed on to something completely different. How do we keep ourselves from being a club and how do we do things that are beneficial to those around us?

Olympics

2010-02-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

There many reasons that I love the Winter Olympics; the amazing abilities of the athletes, sports that I could never do, wipe outs, etc. But one more thing that I love about the Winter Games is the story lines. There are so many impressive stories surrounding athletes at the Olympics. One that I really enjoyed this past weekend was the story of the Canadian Gold Medalist in the Men's Moguls, Alex Bilodeau and his older brother. If you are not familiar with the story, you can read it here.

There are so many athletes that inspire us, but one thing I love about these inspiring stories is that they remind me of so many people that inspire me in my everyday life. Parents that raise children with disabilities, children who have lost a parent, parents struggling to make ends meet so they can raise their children and giving everything that they have to make sure their child can have the best life possible, these are the stories that inspire me every day.

Who will you inspire?

Research

2010-02-10T15:00:00.002-07:00

It is unfortunate that the earthquake in Haiti happened. I remember for days afterward looking at the newspaper and the news on my TV and wishing there was some way I could help. I wanted to hop on a plane and physically do something. But I knew the time wasn't right. That there were other ways that I could help and that right now was not the time for me to be down there.

Unfortunately, there was a group of people from the Boise area (and a few other places) that put their trust in the hands of an individual who said that she had everything worked out. If you have watched the news or read the paper, you know that something went wrong. I am not going to point fingers at anybody (although I know I kind of did already) but this is just helps us see the importance of researching the volunteer opportunities that we under take.

A congregation member was planning on heading to Africa to do some work, I encouraged this person to research the organization leading the project. I told them to check how long the organization had been around, how long they had been in that village, see if they had any complaints from people. Just as I researched YouthWorks before ever sending a group on a trip with them. It is important to make sure that your group is heading to a place that is safe, that it is a place that is upstanding and will not get you into trouble.

Unfortunately, there are always people who will try to fleece the church. Just as we encounter people coming into the office asking for help with rent, utilities, gas money, food, etc., we have to be cautious but we also have to help. Some times our help is referring people to others, sometimes it is giving a few cans of food. So when you go out and help, be sure you know what you are getting into, for your own safety.

Be Still...

2010-02-03T13:37:00.004-07:00

Today in our staff meeting devotion we took time to slow down, quiet ourselves, and listen to God. The leader of the devotion was right on when she said that we sometimes get so consumed in our everyday lives that we fail to take time for peace and silence and use them as an opportunity to hear God talking to us.

As much as I hate getting bent like a pretzel during yoga, I recently added it to my weekly routine. There is something about being in a quiet room with the lights off focusing on my mind and my body that allows me to make a connection with God. During the breathing time and the meditation time I am able to relax my mind and connect with God, which is well worth being contorted in to strange positions.

Unfortunately for us, God doesn't flash big bright signs at us to get our attention. How nice would it be if God did something like this?

While God may not put up road signs to get our attention, God is always speaking to us. I am reminded of both Psalm 46:10 which says, "Be still and know that I am God!" and the passage from 1 Kings 19:11-13a in which God comes to Elijah not in an earthquake, a fire, nor a wind but God comes to Elijah in the "sound of sheer silence".

Challenge for the week:
Take 5 minutes every day without music, TV, or any other distractions and sit in silence. Take deep breaths in and out and focus on relaxing. As you relax listen for God's voice in the silence.

Amidst Tragedy...

2010-01-27T15:01:00.003-07:00

Amidst tragedy, there is hope and there is joy. While there is much sorrow following the devastating earthquake in Haiti there are also stories of great joy and great hope.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A friend of several of my friends and soon-to-be Lutheran Pastor passed away when he was trapped inside an orphanage when the building collapsed. Thousands of Haitians passed away. And while we mourn the loss of all of these lives, we are reminded of the joy and hope that comes from these tragedies. The joy of those that were able to survive and those that were recovered brings hope that more will be found and that Haiti will be able to recover and rebuild. I have witnessed first hand the generosity of people around the world reaching out to help those in need. At TV LYFE we were able to raise almost $400 when Thrivent Matched our funds $1 for every $2 donated. At LHBC night at the Steelheads, the crowd gave over $2000 to the Red Cross. The Lutheran Church committed a significant amount of money to LWR and their work in Haiti. Celebrities hosted a telethon that raised over $61 million (yes I said MILLION) to help those in Haiti.

It is often difficult to know where God is in the midst of tragedy, but if you look carefully, you will find God. Working through the hands of those God created. And, to me, there is no greater sign of hope.

Journey

2010-01-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this video:

Off the Shelf from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.

What is a journey you have taken? Did it go exactly as planned? How did you adapt to the changes along the way? In the end did you end up where you were supposed to be?

Comfort

2010-01-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday in worship and in youth group we talked about comfort. We discussed what things give us comfort, things that cause us to need comfort, and so on. I decided to type comfort in the search menu of Youtube. After tons of music videos of songs involving comfort I came across one that was looking promising but turns into a guy talking about cereal in his underwear. Finally, on the fifth page I came across this video:

Again I ask:
What gives you comfort?
What unsettles you into needing comfort?
What are the things that you can overcome quickly when comforted?
What takes more time and more comforting?

Quick to Judge

2010-01-06T11:40:00.001-07:00

Monday night I had the pleasure of gathering with some friends to watch the Fiesta Bowl. During the half time show the camera was panning as Boise State's Blue Thunder Marching Band was performing. The came across a gentleman playing cymbal and a young lady playing cowbell. The group I was with and I laughed at the total lack of emotion coming from the cowbell. And sure enough, before I went to bed, there was video on the Internet. Take a look:

Now, as the old radio host Paul Harvey would say, here is the REST OF THE STORY. Quickly sports blogs and everyone and their friends were making wise-cracks about how dumb she was and how dumb people from Boise State are because of a young woman playing cowbell. Then the bomb dropped. The cowbell player is blind. And not the, I have really bad vision so I am legally blind. So now all these places that have joked about her and her lack of emotion and the news comes out that she is blind and only 1 place I have seen has apologized for their comments.

But this leads to a greater problem facing our world today. We are increasingly judging people based upon their appearance or little facts that we have. We no longer give people a chance to prove themselves. Whether it is in politics, sports, or just our every day life, we are guilty of making rash judgments based on appearances. I know that I am guilty, just on New Year's Day I made a crack about the way a guy was dressed at a restaurant I was eating at. He could have been a genius, but because I saw his ratty attire, "weird" haircut, neck tattoos, and multiple piercings, I made a judgment about him. And I should know better.

Instead of mocking this young lady playing cowbell, how do we celebrate her overcoming an obstacle to be a part of the Blue Thunder? How do we lift up the director for not turning her away? How can we move away from judging people and begin to give people an opportunity to prove themselves?

That's Not Cool

2009-12-30T14:04:00.001-07:00

It is not uncommon for friends to be rude to you or to pressure you via social media. It is also not uncommon for boyfriends or girlfriends to pressure you or stalk you via social media. The website thatsnotcool.com is providing free ways of letting people know that they are harassing you. It also includes a section to talk about how you feel or to seek advice with people harassing you online. It is also a place where you can give advice to others based on your own experience. It is a great site for parents and youth. I strongly recommend checking it out.

Go to the website here.

Merry Christmas to All

2009-12-23T11:23:00.002-07:00

It is Christmas and I don't have anything all that insightful to say other than, "May you be blessed with the love of your friends and family this holiday season and may you be a blessing unto them. O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord!"

Here are some Christmas music videos for you to enjoy!

This one is dedicated to Renata, Joanna, Marissa, and Rachael:

This one features a camel that looks like a Shriner (it is from A California Raisin's Christmas from when I was a kid):

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas:

Linus:

A little overlap from the previous one:

This is from Christmas in Christ Chapel at Gustavus Adolphus College (the Alma Mater of Pastor Hammer and myself) and has a mash together of 1 song and then the finale. The finale is O Come All Ye Faithful, which is my favorite Christmas hymn. I hope you enjoy (the last verse gets me to tears every time):

Forgiveness

2009-12-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Forgiveness is never an easy thing. I know I have my struggles with it. Forgiveness is also ironic. We all receive forgiveness freely from God and yet we keep it from others. Perhaps this is why we are humans and not God. Check out this video:

We all need to forgive as well as be forgiven. Who are you going to forgive today?

Advent/Christmas Shopping

2009-12-09T14:19:00.000-07:00

Last year I shared the video of the Advent Conspiracy in an attempt to take the focus off of consumerism and put the focus on worship and charity. Well it is that time of year again...

While I am not asking you to completely give up giving gifts, what about giving up 1 gift and making a donation to charity instead? What if instead of 1 more hour of shopping you gave one hour to serve somebody? We could change the world, that is what. Need help? Take a look to the links on the blog, lots of places to make a difference.

We're all in this together.

2009-12-02T14:01:00.004-07:00

This speaks for itself:

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The KOG Youth and Family Ministry Blog is 100 Posts old now! Let's celebrate!

World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T14:58:00.002-07:00

Today is World AIDS Day. You can make a difference.

Give Thanks

2009-11-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

It is easy to grumble about what we don't have. But if we sit down and truly think of all that we have, there is much to be thankful for. Here is a list of a few things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving (in no particular order):

1. Having a Job
2. Being able to eat what I want, when I want
3. Family
4. Friends
5. Supportive Congregation Members
6. Housing
7. Clean Water
8. A comfortable bed
9. TV and lots of stations to watch
10. You

Here is a video about being thankful:

I read in a newsletter of a family tradition of putting 1 candy corn on every plate before the Thanksgiving meal and every person has to say one thing they are thankful for that year. Once everyone has named what they are thankful for they pray and then eat. What a great tradition!

What are you thankful for?

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As a bonus, here is a list of 12 Ways to Give Thanks (video produced by students at Cardinal Stritch University. Great video (just a bit too long for focusing the blog).

BONUS VIDEO!

2009-11-18T15:08:00.000-07:00

Here is an extra video for you to enjoy this week!

Fun

2009-11-18T14:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was having a conversation with Pastor Keith about service work. Sometimes we get into the mindset that service work has to be hard, grueling, and down right awful. But I don't think that is the case. Yes there are tasks that can be tough and not the most enjoyable (picking rocks) but even those can be made fun. I remember a dad starting a competition to see who could get the biggest rock or the biggest chunk of asphalt when we were prepping the community garden. It got people excited about something that wasn't that fun to do, but was a necessary task in order to get our community garden off the ground.

Volkswagen decided to put fun to the test. Here is one of the videos that they made:

There are many ways to do service that are, in fact, fun. Below are some steps that I have found helpful when seeking service activities:
1) Think about what types of things you enjoy doing. (i.e. baking)
2) Begin researching places that have service opportunities in your interest areas.
3) Contact one of the service organizations.
4) Serve.

-or-

1) Think about an issue/cause that you are passionate about. (i.e. fighting cancer)
2) Find organizations that work with the issue/cause.
3) Volunteer

It seems pretty simple. I remember one of my favorite service activities back when I was living in Minneapolis was to go to a site that made meals for delivery to people with HIV/AIDS, Breast Cancer, MS, and ALS. It was not only a cause I was active in (my grandmother died of ALS) but I got to bake cookies, cakes, and bars. To me, I spent 3 hours on a Saturday making large batches of desserts. To those receiving the meal, I was helping them get meals every day. It was an example of being able to have fun and still be able to serve and make a difference in the world. How will you serve?

Remembering...

2009-11-11T12:01:00.004-07:00

Today is Veteran's Day and so I would like to take a quick moment to say a few words. Yesterday during lunch I watched a Public Television special on the Graveyards of WWI and WWII. It was a really moving piece for a variety of reasons. First, for some reason I tend to forget that most soldiers are younger than 25 (many are a decade younger than I). Second, it reminded me of the pride people took in their freedom. I heard the stories of Olympic athletes who died fighting for the U.S., a Japanese American who was fighting while his siblings and parents were in an internment camp in the U.S., and many more. Finally, there were stories of communities in Europe that would "adopt" soldier's graves and bring flowers regularly as a way of thanking them for dieing that they may have freedom and live the life they now have. It was really touching.

It gets me to thinking about someone who died so that we may free. Jesus. Often we forget the price Christ paid for us. But even when we forget it does not change how valuable a gift it was. As we are reminded in John 15:13, "No one has greater love than this, to lay one's life for one's friends." Not surprisingly, this is a verse often used in memorials to veterans, at military funerals of those killed in combat, and it is often on the tombstones of those that died in war.

World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam were all fought before I was born and so I have no memory of them. But I cannot deny that all four have impacted my life. From my grandfather making shell casings during the war to congregation members telling me their experiences in war. It is important to remember the sacrifice that was made so we could live our life. Likewise, even though Christ was crucified long, long before we were born, it is important to remember that his sacrifice has allowed us to live the life that we enjoy today.

Finally, here is a song my friend Tim sent me today to remember the day. I hope you enjoy.

If you see a Veteran today, thank them. It might just make their day.

Breaking the Rules

2009-11-04T14:09:00.002-07:00

I was at one of the youth ministry blogs that I regularly check in with and today they shared something from a website called Soul Pancake. The article is about breaking the rules.

I found it perfectly timed as I am begging to prepare for Session 2 of Confirmation which focuses on the Commandments. The author recounts a challenge he gave a tennis student, break a rule. Smartly the author tells the student to not break a rule that will get them in trouble with the law. What we learn in the article is that if we let down our guard, break our routine and open our minds to doing something in a different way we put ourselves at risk. But it is a good risk. We risk growing and learning things about ourselves.

Here is my challenge for you this week. Break a personal rule. Again, don't break the law, but break a personal rule. Something that is so routine that you do not waver on it. You can leave comments on this post (even anonymously) sharing with us about your experience breaking a rule.

This Land is OUR Land...

2009-10-28T15:01:00.000-06:00

Lately I have been hearing on TV and on the comment sections of newspapers about all the people that should be removed from the country and sent somewhere else. The list includes: Democrats, Republicans, Homosexuals, Christians, Atheists, Murders, People who pretend their child is in a Mylar balloon soaring over Colorado, etc. So I am often discouraged by the hate and vitriol that people spew about their fellow country men and women. But every now and then a story comes along that puts differences aside and warms your hear. This is one of those stories. (Click for the link)

I found this on two different blogs (written by friends) and it made me happy. Because it doesn't matter what political party you belong to, what your faith is, what your socio-economic status is, you cannot deny that the men and women who put their lives on the line for our country (regardless of whether we or they are for or against the conflict they are engaged in) deserve to get kind words from home. They deserve to feel loved and supported. Just as we all need.

As people of faith we must remember to put down the language of hate and to not use Jesus as a weapon. Instead we are called to a life of love and servitude. "No servant is greater than their master." - Jesus. So when we have those moments when we want to attack or demean another group we must remember what it is that God calls us to. It can be difficult, but it is what we are called to do.

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On a lighter note, here is a fun thing you can do for a Halloween dinner:
Scary Meatloaf
Thanks to my friend Tim for the link.

What have we to offer, what have we to give...

2009-10-21T13:17:00.000-06:00

At some point in our lives we have a dream of what we would do if we won the lottery or come into a large sum of money. A friend of mine sent me a link to a story about how long it takes some professional athletes to make $100,000. This link can be found here. Some friends and I had guys night a couple weeks ago and we were talking about what we would do if we won $1,000,000. All of us talked about paying down debt, getting a more environmentally friendly vehicle, or making a down payment on a house. But the pleasant surprise was the fact that all of us planned on giving a large chunk of our winnings to charity. Many of us even had our charities planned.

This got me to thinking about a story from the Gospel of Luke. In chapter 21 we hear:

[Jesus] looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on." (Luke 21: 1-4)

It is easy to get caught up in thinking about what we would do if we had lots of money. But Jesus reminds us that it is when we give from our heart, we are truly giving to God. There are times when money is tight and yet we still find something to give to the Church. Maybe we give money, perhaps we give the gift of time. Serving others through the various outreach opportunities is a great way to offer ourselves to God. It costs us nothing financially, but we are able to use the gifts that God has given us to help those around us.

While on our Mission Trips to Grand Junction and Milwaukee, we have been blessed to see that when you serve others, often we received greatly from the service. I love hearing the youth share the story of the woman from Mobile Home Park that they helped by painting and working in her yard. They served her by doing projects for her, but she served them by showing them great love. Out of what little she had she gave to these youth, just as the widow gave what she had in the story from Luke.

Review of Where The Wild Things Are

2009-10-19T14:20:00.005-06:00

Last night after finishing up with youth activities I decided to finally go and check out Where The Wild Things Are. I loved the book as a child and decided to watch. Below I will give you a review of it. But first a couple bits of information before you go rushing out to see it.

While I believe it is an excellent movie, I would be careful about taking younger children to see the movie. I could see this movie being quite scary at times to youth younger than 4th grade and still being a little scary for youth in 4th and 5th grade.

Now on to the review. You may be wondering why all of a sudden I would write a review of a movie that is not a "Christian movie" when I haven't reviewed other movies. The reason I decided to review it for the blog is because some theological themes jumped out at me as I watched it.

Director Spike Jonze does a very good job of taking each of the Wild Thing characters and giving them one characteristic of our main character, Max. Carol, the main Wild Thing displays Max's quick temper, especially when he doesn't get what he wants. Yet Carol still has a really sweet, caring side to him, just like Max. Alexander feels ignored and left out, just as Max does in his family. Judith is an attention seeker who will pick on people but get upset when people pick on her. Ira is the personification of Max's desire for everyone to live in harmony. Who Max really tries to be between is fits. The Bull is the quiet reflective side of Max. In the early part of the movie we see Max alone in his room being quiet, just as the Bull is quiet the entire movie until the very end. Douglas will always do what is right, just as Max does after he realizes he does something wrong, he is also a hard worker. And KW is a personification of Max's mother. This relationship is carried out in the interaction between KW and Carol. KW deeply cares for Carol, but Carol gets mad that KW has other friends that take away time from Carol. Just as Max gets upset that his mother has a boyfriend who takes time away from him. KW/Mom deeply loves Carol/Max but can only handle so many outbursts before losing her wits.

But what I enjoyed most about the movie was its ability to speak about love and forgiveness and how complicated they can be. There are people who are going to hurt us and let us down and there are people we are going to hurt and let down, but we continue to love one another. And we see that forgiveness is not always an easy task. We see the struggles amongst Max and the Wild Things concerning the various things they do to one another and how they struggle with forgiveness. And yet, we see how love can make forgiveness really easy (at times) when we see Max and his mother at the end of the movie.

I really enjoyed this movie, I liked how much the characters looked like the ones out of the book. I thought former Boise native Max Records did a great job as Max. The soundtrack enhanced the movie so much. And just like the book, I had such a strong response to Max in the beginning it took me back 20 years to when I heard the story as a child and would have the same response. Spike Jonze was an excellent choice for director and he and his co-writers did a great job of turning a short children's book into an 80 minute movie.

Finally, I do believe boys will enjoy this movie far more than girls, but I believe there are also girls who will find this to be an amazing movie. What do you think about the movie? Feel free to comment!

Halloween for Charity

2009-10-07T12:13:00.000-06:00

Keeping it simple this week. You can help charity by clicking here. Buy a Halloween costume and 100% of the proceeds go to charity.

From Downtown!

2009-09-30T11:30:00.000-06:00

Sometimes in our lives there are people that inspire us when we least expect it. The following story is an example of one that got me.

Here we have a young man who enjoys playing basketball and being around it. He dedicated himself to helping his high school team with their practices and being the water and towel boy during the games. Because of this dedication the coach rewarded him by having the young man suit up for the game. The team had a big lead with the game near its end so the coach put him in. What happened next was surprising to many. The young man put up 20 points and ended the game as the team's high scorer.

But at the same time it is not surprising. He was put on the court to play basketball. AND HE DID! Just better than expected. The young man scoring is not surprising to me, but putting up 20 points in less than 5 minutes is amazing, even in the NBA.

Seeing this young man go and do what he loves and to be passionate about it reminds me that we too need to be passionate while doing the things we love. Whether that is gardening, mentoring, serving, playing sports, we need to show the passion we have for it and to be thankful that God has blessed us with the gifts that we have.

What if...

2009-09-23T13:32:00.003-06:00

What if worship were like an NBA game?

Worship is one of the focal points when people look at churches. How long is the sermon? Do they use drums and guitar? Do they do altar calls? Do they wear gowns? Do they write a sermon and preach it? Is it geared towards me?

These are all questions I have heard people ask in regards to worship (or the opposite of the question may have been asked). I also have heard people complain about not "getting anything out of worship".

Because worship is such a focal point it is always analyzed. Thankfully, not like an NBA game. One thing that always scares me with worship is when it becomes focused on me or I. Now I don't me personally, but rather when worship becomes focused on the individual rather than the community worshipping together. When we forget that worship is about the whole community and not just ourselves, we are setting a course for disappointment more often than not.

What are your favorite parts of the community of worship? How does worship make you feel closer to those you are worshipping with?

Table Time

2009-09-16T15:15:00.002-06:00

If one were to say that family dinner time is identical or very similar to family dinner time 20 years ago I would either call them delusional or a liar. Now I admit that I have seen some families from King of Glory do a very good job of modeling family dinner time. But it is still very different from what was the norm 20 years ago. We have become more "plugged in" and our schedules are far more full than they were when I was a child.

I remember as a child that no matter how busy everyone was, we sat as a family and had dinner. Yes there would be the occasional dinner that a member would miss but we were very intentional about having family time around the dinner table. And as I got older and was involved in extra curricular activities and had a job and was not around at dinner time as much, we would still make sure that Saturday breakfast and Sunday dinner were a family time.

There is a movement to get back to this sort of commitment. Celebrity Chef Mario Batali has offered his resources to Share the Table. You can make a promise to have at least one meal per week as a family and Barilla Pasta will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels. There are recipes from famous chefs, tips from celebrities, and advice from experts on the site that are intended to help you have a productive family time.

Table conversation can often be the most difficult part of the meal. "How was school?" "Good." "What did you learn?" "Nothing." If you can talk to your children/parents when you are eating food, how are you going to do it when you have something important? The following are some great resources to get the conversation started and eventually you will have excellent conversation and all members of the family will feel like other members are invested in their life.

Table Topics is a great resource that I have used here at church as well as with friends. It gets conversation flowing and helps you learn about others. If you go to the Good Goods Shop on Glenwood (near Pastry Perfection they also sell them there).

Food For Talk is another resource I have used here at church and it is a great conversation starter and comes in a fun little recipe box.

The important thing is to listen and allow everyone a chance to talk. Here is to a better family dinner!

Digital Age and Real Problems

2009-09-09T11:07:00.004-06:00

The school year has begun, we are getting into the swing of things, the senior high retreat is this weekend, confirmation is right around the corner and we are about to have a jam packed calendar full of events.

Yesterday, some of you may have seen the President's speech to school children. While I am neither going to bash or support the President on here, I am going to say that he said some very important things in his speech. The piece I am going to address here is safety. He specifically talked about Facebook and being aware of what you are posting on the site. I believe it extends beyond just Facebook and goes to all social networking sites (Myspace, Twitter, and whatever ones I am not cool enough to know about). The internet is not some private little conversation between you and your friends. People from all over the world are able to see what you are saying and what pictures you are posting. I was once showing a friend how Facebook worked and I explained how we could search and find people and add them as friends. So we did a search of her daughter who was a freshman in college. We found her profile and mom wanted to see her picture album and there were pictures of her daughter drinking and partying. Fortunately this led to a civil discussion and the mom explained the importance of portraying yourself as a profession and not as some crazy party animal.

There have been numerous stories in news sources about people losing their jobs or not getting jobs because of their social networking profiles and what is on them. Recently I read a story about a woman complaining about her boss and her job. She forgot she had "friended" her boss and he fired her.

But thinking about your actions extends beyond just the internet. When I was growing up you just had to worry about doing something stupid and parents or other people finding out. Now there are more types of technology than I can mention. "Sexting" has become an issue, even here in the Treasure Valley. So we constantly need to be aware of our actions and make prudent decisions. So whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent, 3rd Party, I think we should all (not just school aged youth) take the President's advice and be careful what we are doing in the digital age.

Speaking of the digital age, KoG Youth are now on Twitter (a piece of me died making it). Follow along and get important updates! https://twitter.com/kogboiseyouth
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After all that heavy talk, here is a little light-hearted fun for Open Mic Wednesday:

Who is it about?

2009-09-01T11:16:00.003-06:00

Let me begin with a humorous video I found several years ago B.B. (before Boise).

Throughout my life I have heard people say, "I didn't get anything out of that worship." That sentence has always caused a great internal debate. Do we come to church to be enlightened or entertained? Do we put anything into worship? I admit I have been to worships that have impacted me far greater than others.

Is worship all about us, is our faith all about us? OR... Is our faith about how we can do what it is that God is calling us to do?

Looking to a New School Year

2009-08-26T14:15:00.001-06:00

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news to some, but school is about to start (and has already started for some). There is a college in Beloit, Wisconsin that makes a list for the faculty letting them know things that provide a background of sorts concerning the incoming freshman class. The list can be found here.

This last week the ELCA Church-wide Assembly voted on several proposals. They have created a variety of reactions from people all over the country (and the world). In these discussions regarding the church and society it is important to remember that the person we are talking with probably has a drastically different worldview than yourself. Take the difference between current high school students and myself: to them people have always had internet in their homes, it has always been common for teenagers to have cellphones, George H.W. Bush has always been an Ex-President. Now I remember life B.I. (before internet, heck I remember how exciting dial-up was), I didn't get a cellphone until I was 24 and it was enormous, I was alive during the Carter administration.

The challenge when talking about faith, life and frankly anything else is to be aware of the differences between self and the person/people we are conversing with. By being aware of where someone is coming from, can help us to engage in civil discourse and avoid the common name calling and shouting. I am interested in seeing where the church will go from here.

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For fun and giggles, I give you:

Your video of the week:

Follow-Up...

2009-08-19T15:23:00.000-06:00

This is in addition to today's earlier post.

Youth Raise Over $150,000 for World Hunger at Youth Gathering

Yes YOU Can!

2009-08-19T12:57:00.004-06:00

A month after Katrina and you are still news worthy! You DID make a difference. Those of you that went to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering made a difference in the city and people are still talking about it.

Right around 3:45 of this video you will hear yourselves mentioned.

People often feel that they are unable to make a difference in this world. We are surrounded by so much negativity and people not willing to work together, this makes it difficult to be motivated to do something about what is wrong with the world. But you HAVE. This summer we sent youth to Milwaukee and New Orleans to serve those communities and they did and people were grateful. We served the Food Bank, worked in the Community Garden, did Sandwich Sundays, and helped around town in other ways. You made a difference. Be the Change. You are the change. You folks are AWESOME!

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Here is a video for you to enjoy. It has nothing to do with faith or anything like that, but I saw Coldplay on Saturday Night Live and I enjoy the video it makes me chuckle.

Thinking about Gifts

2009-08-12T13:35:00.001-06:00

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (New International Version)

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

I have talked a lot about service and spiritual gifts on here. That is because they are two things that I think are very valuable to think about in the life of the church. Our #1 calling from God is to serve others. How do we do this service? By using the gifts that God has given us. Kind of a handy set-up if you ask me.

Sometimes, we set our minds on what it is WE want to do and ignore what it is God is calling us to do. Trust me, I was really good at it for a while. I was sure that I was going to be a band director, music producer, famous musician, etc. God had other plans. Though I came kicking and screaming, I eventually listened to God and began working for the church. Now that doesn't mean that everything is suddenly rosy. I have days where I would rather be in bed, I have days where people test my patience, but then I have days where people bring me delicious food like plums and pies, days where people tell me that they appreciate what I do, I have days where I see young people achieving great things. And it makes the not-so-hot days forgettable.

I urge you to listen to what it is God is calling you to do. I urge you to pay attention to what gifts God has given you. I urge you to push yourself. Sometimes we don't realize the gifts we have until we leave our comfort zone.

Speaking of gifts, check out this kid:

Here are some upcoming events:
August 16th - KOG Family Movie Night; 6:30pm; Finding Nemo
August 19th - Music and Lyrics; Rembrandt's; 2pm
August 23rd - 6-12 Grade at Wahooz!; 6pm
August 25th - Bible and Brew; Thomas Hammer; 10am
August 27th - I Have a Question; Whitewater Pizza; 12pm
August 30th - TV LYFE Pool Party; 6pm

Photo-o-the-Day!

2009-08-11T15:58:00.003-06:00

Here is your Picture of the Day. I took it with the camera on my phone. There was a Praying Mantis on our door for most of the day today. I found it interesting that a Praying Mantis was on the door to a church.

CAN

2009-08-05T14:34:00.002-06:00

There have been times in my life where I have let the word "Can't" cross my lips. It is a word I really don't enjoy saying. Those that know me, know that there are things that I am stubborn about. And when people put limits on me, I work hard to prove them wrong.

When my swimming lessons instructor kept failing me and told me I would never pass because I couldn't float, I knew I was going to prove her wrong. On my 18th birthday I was certified as a Lifeguard. It was a lot of hard work, but I got it. When I had a professor tell me I would never be able to get a masters degree because my ADD kept me from focusing, I went forward and got my MA in Theology and Youth & Family Ministry.

But there are times I tell myself that I can't do something. And I get frustrated with myself for trying to set limits and holding me back. The following videos remind me that anything within reason is possible. For those that know me, there are two things that get me instantly choked up. Father/Son stories and inspirational sports stories. Today you get a 2-for-1 special! Enjoy!

Help Needed

2009-07-29T12:54:00.003-06:00

I am back from spending 10 days in New Orleans planning and executing an area of the ELCA Youth Gathering. My brain is still goo. Today, I am just posting something that I think is on the minds of many Boise residents.

If you can help find this missing boy:

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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