Here is one of our girls at camp. She is trying to catch an M&M in her mouth. I think I can see it!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Poland 2007
You know we are still missing 6 passports, but we do have a t-shirt design!
What do you think?
What do you think?
The Springs...
So, we travelled 4 hours up to camp yesterday to take four senior high students. It was fun! Shari and I decided that we would stay up there for one night, I haven't seen camp programming in two year. Man, do I miss it! I get my fix once a year in February for our big winter retreat, but I still miss it. Everything seemed to be going well. So, keep up the good work guys.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
VBS Day 5...
Me: "Colin...Colin...? Oh there you are...I didn't expect to find you so fast..."
Colin: "umm...I...think...I......want to go home now...."
Me: "Do you want to sing songs?"
Colin: "no"
Me: "Do you want to listen to the story?"
Colin: "no"
Me: "umm...what do you want to do today at VBS?"
Colin: "umm...I...think...I......want to go home now...."
Here's to one long VBS week!
Colin: "umm...I...think...I......want to go home now...."
Me: "Do you want to sing songs?"
Colin: "no"
Me: "Do you want to listen to the story?"
Colin: "no"
Me: "umm...what do you want to do today at VBS?"
Colin: "umm...I...think...I......want to go home now...."
Here's to one long VBS week!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
VBS Day 4
"Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin?...Colin!?! Where's Colin? Uggghhh!"
10 minutes later...
"I was hiding!"
10 minutes later...
"I was hiding!"
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Evangelism...
So, working in VBS has me thinking about the church and how it should evangelize. I'm going to write some thoughts here and I invite discussion.
First let me define Evangelism. Evangelism is the process in which a person is challenged about and brought into the Christian faith.
1. Evangelism should be hard!
It shouldn't be so easy that we can 'accidentally' find ourselves in this situation. This decision isn't something that we choose it is something that we are given. In that respect we should make it hard - cloud it in mystery. Tell someone who is about ready to accept this life about the trials. Jesus didn't beat around the bush. He told the good and the bad. People left him because of it. Why should we be any different.
2. Evangelism is for everyone!
I remember during a 7th grade Sunday School class on Evangelism and how our teacher told us flat out that she didn't need to Evangelize because she was a seed-planter and it wasn't her spiritual gift. We are all called to share the Good News of Jesus. We need to leave their decision to accept it to the Sovereignty of God.
3. Evangelism is relational!
Every 4th of July, Parade, County Fair, or for that matter any large public event I attend I can assure you that I will be stopped by someone with a very large bible who is handing out black and white tracts. They will talk very fast and I won't get a word in edge wise (to tell them I am a pastor) before they are at the end of their gospel presentation that may or may not condemn me to hell if I don't turn. It makes me sick. This person doesn't care about me; I hate to say this but its as if they only care about the number of people they 'bring with them into heaven.' Evangelism is a relationship that matures, and I assure you that this can be so much more valuable than large numbers (it can also be larger numbers of people - but that is another post). I remember a professor of mine telling those of us in his class about how a family moved into the house next door and he developed a relationship with the husband and it took 3 years of relationship building before he accepted Christ.
4. Evangelism should be small!
I really don't think that large evangelistic events aren't very profitable; at least not in today's society. We have several people accept Christ as savior at our VBS every year, but the fact is that none of them, unless their family attended our church prior to the program, start attending our church. In fact we lose contact with them until they show up next summer. Don't get me wrong I don't think we should stop doing these types of programs. I think that these programs would serve the church family better if they were an invitation to start attending a particular program or weekly event through the church. Thus beginning a relationship with them.
Those are just a few thoughts... I'm curious to know what you think
First let me define Evangelism. Evangelism is the process in which a person is challenged about and brought into the Christian faith.
1. Evangelism should be hard!
It shouldn't be so easy that we can 'accidentally' find ourselves in this situation. This decision isn't something that we choose it is something that we are given. In that respect we should make it hard - cloud it in mystery. Tell someone who is about ready to accept this life about the trials. Jesus didn't beat around the bush. He told the good and the bad. People left him because of it. Why should we be any different.
2. Evangelism is for everyone!
I remember during a 7th grade Sunday School class on Evangelism and how our teacher told us flat out that she didn't need to Evangelize because she was a seed-planter and it wasn't her spiritual gift. We are all called to share the Good News of Jesus. We need to leave their decision to accept it to the Sovereignty of God.
3. Evangelism is relational!
Every 4th of July, Parade, County Fair, or for that matter any large public event I attend I can assure you that I will be stopped by someone with a very large bible who is handing out black and white tracts. They will talk very fast and I won't get a word in edge wise (to tell them I am a pastor) before they are at the end of their gospel presentation that may or may not condemn me to hell if I don't turn. It makes me sick. This person doesn't care about me; I hate to say this but its as if they only care about the number of people they 'bring with them into heaven.' Evangelism is a relationship that matures, and I assure you that this can be so much more valuable than large numbers (it can also be larger numbers of people - but that is another post). I remember a professor of mine telling those of us in his class about how a family moved into the house next door and he developed a relationship with the husband and it took 3 years of relationship building before he accepted Christ.
4. Evangelism should be small!
I really don't think that large evangelistic events aren't very profitable; at least not in today's society. We have several people accept Christ as savior at our VBS every year, but the fact is that none of them, unless their family attended our church prior to the program, start attending our church. In fact we lose contact with them until they show up next summer. Don't get me wrong I don't think we should stop doing these types of programs. I think that these programs would serve the church family better if they were an invitation to start attending a particular program or weekly event through the church. Thus beginning a relationship with them.
Those are just a few thoughts... I'm curious to know what you think
VBS...Days 1 & 2
Well, I decided to volunteer at VBS this week. I love working with kids and I've heard that our church does a fantastic job at running a VBS program. Well, they weren't kidding! It is really run well, of course there is plenty of room for improvement, but the kids really seem like they are enjoying it...
Day 1
"Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...Stop eating your name tag..."
Day2
"Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...What did I tell you yesterday...name tags are not for eating..."
Day 1
"Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...Stop eating your name tag..."
Day2
"Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...Colin...What did I tell you yesterday...name tags are not for eating..."
Friday, June 15, 2007
Bob Barker on Letterman Last Night....
I just saw this video on Yahoo! and thought I'd pass it along. Letterman's Top Ten was the top 10 things that Bob Barker can say now that he's retiring... I'll list them here, they are funny!
10. "We get the prizes cheap because they're stolen."
9. "The actual retail price of the retirement watch CBS gave me...$17.95."
8. "Before we give them away, I personally try out every Hot Tub."
7. "Slip daddy some cash and the showcase showdown wheel lands where ever you want."
6. "Sleeping in 'till noon and playing golf all day, come on down."
5. "Howie Mandell may be a younger game show host, but at least I still have my hair."
4. "I only wish Regis were alive to see this."
3. "On my last show I'm going to tell people to go neuter themselves."
2. "I'm not only a game show host, I'm also Spider-Man."
1. "Some older people have the good sense to retire....unlike Letterman."
I laughed out loud when I saw this, thought you might as well.
10. "We get the prizes cheap because they're stolen."
9. "The actual retail price of the retirement watch CBS gave me...$17.95."
8. "Before we give them away, I personally try out every Hot Tub."
7. "Slip daddy some cash and the showcase showdown wheel lands where ever you want."
6. "Sleeping in 'till noon and playing golf all day, come on down."
5. "Howie Mandell may be a younger game show host, but at least I still have my hair."
4. "I only wish Regis were alive to see this."
3. "On my last show I'm going to tell people to go neuter themselves."
2. "I'm not only a game show host, I'm also Spider-Man."
1. "Some older people have the good sense to retire....unlike Letterman."
I laughed out loud when I saw this, thought you might as well.
Rob Join's the Blogging Community...
My brother-in-law Rob finally joins the blogging community. I added him to the friend's site links (which I'm sure Tammi hasn't done yet - you have to at least have 1 post per week for at least 2 years to get your link on her site! Not here on R&R!). Listen you've got to check his site out! He's got some great posts here is a taste:
What to post about?
What's on your Ipod?
This is just a taste. This guy really knows what to say when everyone is listening... Like this:
Cavs...different night same result...
This has to be my dumbest post...Welcome to net Rob
What to post about?
What's on your Ipod?
This is just a taste. This guy really knows what to say when everyone is listening... Like this:
Cavs...different night same result...
This has to be my dumbest post...Welcome to net Rob
Charity altogether good for you!
I just read this article on Yahoo! It seems to say what we already know, but I always find those things interesting. He is a clip:
Knowing your money is going to a good cause can activate some of the same pleasure centers in your brain as food and sex, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
People who participated in a study got a charge knowing that their money went to a charity -- even when the contribution was mandatory, like a tax. They felt even better when they voluntarily made a donation, researchers found.
Ulrich Mayr, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon, said the research sheds light on the nature of altruism and could help people feel better about being taxed.
"It shows that in an ideal world you could have a tax situation where you could be a satisfied taxpayer," said Mayr, whose study appeared in the journal Science.
In the study, Mayr and two economists gave 19 women volunteers $100 each and then tracked their brain activity in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
The women were shown their money automatically being transferred from their account to a local food bank.
When the money reached the food bank account, it activated portions of the brain -- the caudate nucleus and the nucleus accumbens -- known for pleasure. The effect was even greater when the people got to choose to give the money away.
Knowing your money is going to a good cause can activate some of the same pleasure centers in your brain as food and sex, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
People who participated in a study got a charge knowing that their money went to a charity -- even when the contribution was mandatory, like a tax. They felt even better when they voluntarily made a donation, researchers found.
Ulrich Mayr, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon, said the research sheds light on the nature of altruism and could help people feel better about being taxed.
"It shows that in an ideal world you could have a tax situation where you could be a satisfied taxpayer," said Mayr, whose study appeared in the journal Science.
In the study, Mayr and two economists gave 19 women volunteers $100 each and then tracked their brain activity in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner.
The women were shown their money automatically being transferred from their account to a local food bank.
When the money reached the food bank account, it activated portions of the brain -- the caudate nucleus and the nucleus accumbens -- known for pleasure. The effect was even greater when the people got to choose to give the money away.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Verlander with a No Hitter!
So while I was at Cedar Point, Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers throws the first no hitter by a Detroit pitcher in Detroit since 1952!
I'm impressed, but what is even better is that with that win the Tigers move into a tie with Cleveland for first place!
Cedar Point
So we took the Senior High to Cedar Point yesterday and we had a blast. It took forever to get into the park because of the long lines at the group sales counter, but we still had a blast.
The crazy thing was that Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons were there! We were on our way to ride the Iron Dragon (I know it's not the most glamorous ride), and the guy sitting at the front of the line said that they had just walked by. I gave my cell phone number out to all the teens before we went into the park and I was getting phone calls all day from people telling me that they had seen these guys. I was really getting bummed because I was the Detroit fan, and I wasn't getting to see these guys (Shari saw them on three different occasions). Finally it was the end of the night and we were trying to gather up all of the teens. And who would walk by Tayshaun and Rasheed within 5 feet and all of their family and their bodyguards and publicists. It was a beautiful thing!
Anyway the trip was pretty good we only had one problem that needed to be dealt with, and that's pretty good considering we had 26 students.
The crazy thing was that Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons were there! We were on our way to ride the Iron Dragon (I know it's not the most glamorous ride), and the guy sitting at the front of the line said that they had just walked by. I gave my cell phone number out to all the teens before we went into the park and I was getting phone calls all day from people telling me that they had seen these guys. I was really getting bummed because I was the Detroit fan, and I wasn't getting to see these guys (Shari saw them on three different occasions). Finally it was the end of the night and we were trying to gather up all of the teens. And who would walk by Tayshaun and Rasheed within 5 feet and all of their family and their bodyguards and publicists. It was a beautiful thing!
Anyway the trip was pretty good we only had one problem that needed to be dealt with, and that's pretty good considering we had 26 students.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Movie Review...Ocean's 13
Well, just saw Ocean's 13 tonight (after our try last night) and we got through it with no problems.
Well, it was true to the Las Vegas feel of the 11 and the unorganized (yet organized) plot of 12. It made sense and it was original in the storyline. But lets be honest how many things that "can't be done" can there be? You have to reinvent the wheel, you can't just make the same thing work over and over again. The crazy thing is that I loved it. The same things work for me. I like it! It was entertaining! I watched 2:20:00 worth of a movie and was entertained from beginning to end. I was excited for Linus and loved watching Brad Pitt eat (thanks for that one Jacob).
4 out of 5 stars.
Well, it was true to the Las Vegas feel of the 11 and the unorganized (yet organized) plot of 12. It made sense and it was original in the storyline. But lets be honest how many things that "can't be done" can there be? You have to reinvent the wheel, you can't just make the same thing work over and over again. The crazy thing is that I loved it. The same things work for me. I like it! It was entertaining! I watched 2:20:00 worth of a movie and was entertained from beginning to end. I was excited for Linus and loved watching Brad Pitt eat (thanks for that one Jacob).
4 out of 5 stars.
Leslie's Movies V
It is interesting that movie number "V" was V for Vendetta. This was an interesting little flick. I think I'll need to watch it again to get everything I can out of it. What I liked about it was the anitbrickworld themes in the movie. I loved the push against extreme religion. Being a pastor it sounds a little weird for me to say that I liked a movie against organized religion, but what really stood out were the themes of justice and choice as opposed to fear and dictatorship.
I think I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
I think I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Waiting on 7
We taking this trip to Poland in a couple of weeks, and we are only waiting on 7 out of 13 passports! What a year to plan a foreign missions trip! Here is an article from Fox News.
Local Youth Pastor Gets Kicked Out of Theatre
How about that headline Justin? So, it wasn't that dramatic. Shari and I went to the theatre to go and see Oceans 13 tonight and much to our chagrin the lights went out just 6 minutes before the movie was going to start. We were sitting in the threatre being completely entertained by the guys behind us playing "flashlight tag" with there cell phones. A police officer comes in and tells us that a power transformer went out and that we probably wont get to see our movie. 5 minutes later a theatre employee comes in to tell us to leave. We can come back anytime and show them our ticket stub and get in to see another movie of our choice, but I really wanted to see Ocean's 13 tonight. What's funny is that they still have my money and that even though I haven't seen the movie, my dollars will count towards movie's totals.
Who knows maybe we'll go tomorrow night!
Who knows maybe we'll go tomorrow night!
Brake Pads...
Just replaced the brake pads on our car today for the 3rd time since we moved to Indiana (3rd time in less than a year). I'm a little upset, and if we have to do this again, lifetime warranty!
Jacob Tyler Wolfgang
So, I finally got Jacob and Sarah in for a concert. I was so pumped and so were several of the teens. Jacob and Sarah came up to help us out with worship at our winter retreat, Reality Check, and they also did a concert of his original music for us (I missed it, all part of being a youth pastor). Anyway they came on Wednesday and we video taped it and recorded it. We've got all the stuff, and we needed the practice of it, so now we have the raw footage, and hopefully soon Jacob will have video from that show on his website!
Thanks guys for coming out and doing the show!
Thanks guys for coming out and doing the show!
SGC Youth Cafe
So we had this great idea to start a cafe in our youth room. The idea was to get a bunch of concessions style food and drink and sell it at youth events and activities, and take any profits and give it to missions. These kids bring so much to youth group anyway, I thought it would be a lot better way for the youth to do something other than line the pockets of someone else.
Well, we did no advertising, at Jacob and Sarah's concert we opened it and we made $3.50! What a good night! I'm sure it will only go up from there.
Well, we did no advertising, at Jacob and Sarah's concert we opened it and we made $3.50! What a good night! I'm sure it will only go up from there.
Jacob and Sarah
You know it interesting if I were to drive a little ways (440 miles) down the road (I-80) I would eventually run into Des Moines, IA, and near there is where my brother and sister-in-law live. Now I don't know why it seems so infrequent that we get to see each other, but it seems rare. Although, when making trips to Lansing Jacob often stops for a day or even for lunch. Its quite fun. I absolutely love it when they stop by. Well, they just left yesterday morning. They did a concert for a youth group night at church on Wednesday (I'll blog about this later). But it was really nice to see them again.
Thanks for coming guys...I know its our turn to drive the dreaded 440!
Thanks for coming guys...I know its our turn to drive the dreaded 440!
Cluster Blog time...
Jacob and Sarah
Jacob and Sarah's concert
SGC Youth Cafe
Getting kicked out the theatre
Brakes
They are all to come...
Jacob and Sarah's concert
SGC Youth Cafe
Getting kicked out the theatre
Brakes
They are all to come...
Monday, June 04, 2007
Personal Story
So I asked the Poland team to write down their personal stories, testimonies, for our trip. I told them I would go first and I did. So here is my personal story. Let me know what you think. Even you Mom!
My life before Christ
Growing up in a little town with two younger brothers we had plenty of opportunities to get into trouble. I had a family who knew God and what he could do. My dad would take my brothers and I to church every Sunday morning and most evening services. My parents loved me, and supported me. They took care of me and provided for all of my needs.
How I met Christ
While always being at church, my entire social life was consumed with church activities. One Sunday morning our teacher in the children’s church program asked if anyone would like to “accept Jesus Christ as their savior”. I raised my hand really not knowing what I was doing. Several of us went into a back room and there another teacher explained that we all do bad things – remembering some of the things that my brothers and I would do – I quickly realized that I had done quite a few bad things. He also told us that those bad things are called sin. He showed from the Bible that all people sin and how they can’t have a relationship with God because of it. It even says that those who sin deserve eternal death. He then started talking about this man named Jesus and how Jesus was God and that Jesus died and three days later came back to life to cover for our sin so that we could have a relationship with him.
That day I asked Jesus to come into my life and cover for my sin. I asked him to save me from eternal death; I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, so that I could have a forever relationship with God.
My life since I met Christ
Since I met Christ I’ve had a focus. I really try my best to learn as much about Jesus as I possibly can. I learned that he desires for me to be like him. So, I try my best and with his help I am becoming more and more like he is. Life is not perfect, but it seems better than those who don’t have this relationship. I’ve also committed my life to share this story with people. I want people to have what I have from Jesus.
My life before Christ
Growing up in a little town with two younger brothers we had plenty of opportunities to get into trouble. I had a family who knew God and what he could do. My dad would take my brothers and I to church every Sunday morning and most evening services. My parents loved me, and supported me. They took care of me and provided for all of my needs.
How I met Christ
While always being at church, my entire social life was consumed with church activities. One Sunday morning our teacher in the children’s church program asked if anyone would like to “accept Jesus Christ as their savior”. I raised my hand really not knowing what I was doing. Several of us went into a back room and there another teacher explained that we all do bad things – remembering some of the things that my brothers and I would do – I quickly realized that I had done quite a few bad things. He also told us that those bad things are called sin. He showed from the Bible that all people sin and how they can’t have a relationship with God because of it. It even says that those who sin deserve eternal death. He then started talking about this man named Jesus and how Jesus was God and that Jesus died and three days later came back to life to cover for our sin so that we could have a relationship with him.
That day I asked Jesus to come into my life and cover for my sin. I asked him to save me from eternal death; I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, so that I could have a forever relationship with God.
My life since I met Christ
Since I met Christ I’ve had a focus. I really try my best to learn as much about Jesus as I possibly can. I learned that he desires for me to be like him. So, I try my best and with his help I am becoming more and more like he is. Life is not perfect, but it seems better than those who don’t have this relationship. I’ve also committed my life to share this story with people. I want people to have what I have from Jesus.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
12:45 in the AM
5 people on the blog at 12:45 AM
Elkhart, IN (me)
North Hamton, MA
United States (I think that this you Justin)
Bonnie, IL
Toyko, Japan
Drop a comment they are always welcome...
Elkhart, IN (me)
North Hamton, MA
United States (I think that this you Justin)
Bonnie, IL
Toyko, Japan
Drop a comment they are always welcome...
May in the books!
So, I have never posted more than I did in the month of May! Kudos to me. I hope your enjoying. What your reading and being pointed towards.
Leslie's Movies IV - Fever Pitch
So, what half-way decent baseball fan will forget the year the Red Sox won the WS? This was an amazing year! I hate the Red Sox, and a true Tigers' fan, but who in there right mind could forget about coming back form 3 games down in game 4 of the ALCS and then winning the series? I did like the love story as it intertwined throughout the season. That was very enjoyable. Overall I'd have to say that I was more entranced with the story of the Red Sox more that I was with the Guy and Girl. Maybe its the inner sports guy, but that's where I am.
3 out of 5 stars
Three more movies from Leslie
The Guardian
V for Vendetta
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
3 out of 5 stars
Three more movies from Leslie
The Guardian
V for Vendetta
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
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