War of the Worlds

I went to the War of the Worlds thinking the war was between earth people and aliens. As it turns out it was the story of the war between a dead beat father and his disillusioned son. What a great reminder about what is really important. Even in the context of the complete conquest of earth what really mattered was the strained relationship between a father and his son. Shame on us if we get so busy saving the world we lose our own homes. I know my life is often out of balance. What a great reminder of what my first priority should be.


I Timothy 5:8 sums it up pretty bluntly...

"But those who won't care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers."






tags: War of the Worlds Tom Cruise
Stephen Speilberg

The Junction

The Junction tonight was well...Entertaining. I don't think we ever got the constipated chicken imitation though we all waited with baited breath. We did get a hilarious story from Leah concerning a ride on her dad's shoulders and a low hanging ceiling fan. You can figure out the rest.

The Junction...where people come together!

The Phone Call Every Youth Pastor Loves to Get

Covenant College called me today. They wanted to know if we had any students who had not yet made their college choices for the fall. They said they would love to have more of our students. The reason...because they LOVE Alec Waller soooooo much.

tags: Covenant College Youth Ministry

Mean Girls

1 Samuel 1:6 says, "Her rival however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD has closed her womb." Wow, talk about cutting someone off at the knees. This chick, Peninnah found the most sensitive spot on Hannah's heart and stuck the dagger right in. Mean Girls are nothing new. They've been around for awhile (not to leave guys out they just kill each other with swords rather than words). I guess we shouldn't be surprised when human beings treat one another with contempt. But we should still be heart broken. Let's pray for God to raise up some more Alpha Girls and Godly men!

tags: God Mean Girls Alpha Girls Bible

How Not to Get a Good Nights Sleep

Last night I was wiped. I veged on the couch for awhile and before I knew it I was fading fast. Laurie left for the grocery store and on her way out I heard her honk the horn. I glanced out the window to see what she was doing and saw a bunch of high school aged boys in the driveway. I didn't think much of it. It's not that uncommon for some of the neighborhood boys to stop by and say hello or whatever. So I crashed again. That's where I went wrong. Sometime after that I was awakened to a mob of guys walking into my back door and heading straight for me. By the time I knew what was going on one of these boys had his knuckles piercing my ribs so I was so tickled (in a very painful sort of way) that I could not move. As they picked me up and started heading for the back door I had a feeling I knew what was coming. At that point my ribs were in so much pain I was just longing for them to go ahead and get it over with. As I was being thrown into the pool I wondered what was in my pockets. Fortunately nothing. It took what seemed like forever to get back to the surface. It's not easy to swim in socks! All I remember as I began to swim back to the top is, "wow, this won't be funny anymore if I drown." So kudos. You got me. Shame on Laurie for aiding and assisting.

After that event going back to sleep isn't that easy. So I watched the end of the basketball game before I finally crashed for good. 5:00 came very early this morning!

Where Do You Want to Be?

Last night it was time to put the new kittens into the laundry room for the night. The kittens do NOT like being shut in the laundry room. I could only find one (Kirby, formerly known as Sida which apparently means AIDS in Spanish)so I put Kirby in alone. After a few minutes I heard very loud cat crying. I assumed it was Kirby wanting out. So I ignored it for awhile assuming she would adjust and find contentment in the laundry room. No such luck. The wailing only grew louder. I went to check on her and what I found was that Kirby was not crying wanting out of the laundry room, Pubbles was crying wanting in. Why would Pubbles want in, they hate being locked in the laundry room? Simple. That's where Kirby was and for good or ill if that's where Kirby is than that's where her brother Pebbles wants to be.

Where do you want to be? One major lesson I've learned in youth ministry is that programming is a very small part of whether or not people want to come. People want to know who will be there and how will they be treated. Are we treating people so well that they want to be there regardless of the quality (or lack thereof) of the program. I don't think we are there yet. Let's pray that God will take us there.

tags: God Youth_Ministry Church

Swept Out of Yankee Stadium

A little over do I know but I was trying not to goat gloat. Once again the Chicago Cubs, in their third attempt in the history of baseball, have failed to leave Yankee Stadium with a win. The Yankees completed the three game series with a win over the Cubs on Sunday. Previous attempts for a Cub win ('32 World Series, '38 World Series) left the Cubs equally winless. Mike Mussina, sporting a Chico's Bail Bond t-shirt (sponsor of the Bad News Bears) hardly looked the part as the Yankees continue to role. Too bad they can't continue to play National League teams as the Rays got the better of them last night. That's alright 5 games out and in the hunt. With a pitching staff that seems to be coming together the Yankees will be fine.

tags: Yankees baseball MLB

Little League @ Yankee Stadium

I read today that when the new Yankee Stadium is complete the old field will be left in tact and used as a recreational facility for little leaguers. Wow! I'm sure that will be a thrill for the kids of New York. What a great idea. I'm sure the ghosts will enjoy watching the kids play.

tags: Yankee Stadium baseball Little League

Yanks vs. Cubs '05

The 'luckiest man alive' Scores the First Run of the '38 World Series

This should be fun to watch. Tonight the Yankees square off against the Cubs in Yankee stadium. Usually when games are billed as historical giants squaring off it's because both teams stink so they draw from the past to raise interest. That's not the case this time. These 1938 World Series foes are both current contenders to be in the fall classic. That will make this one especially fun. Tonight's game is on WGN @ 7:05. Tomorrow's is on FOX @ 3:15. Tomorrow will 'feature' Wang pitching. I hope he's learned to field his position since I saw him in Tampa. Otherwise the Cubbies will have their way with the Yanks. Go Yanks!

tags: Yankees baseball MLB Cubs

Meanwhile People Die and Go to Hell

This topic deserves way more time, energy and thought than I have right now so let me say it as simply as I can...

I am fed up to the hilt of listening to people bicker over trivial matters such as whether songs written in the 1800's carry more theological weight than songs written today or whether drama or movie clips are a less appropriate way of communicating truth to people than a person standing up and talking. So we sit around and make our case for our particular preference while everyday people die and go to hell having never heard the truth explained in any fashion. So, if God has called you to lead a worship service lead it the way He has called you to. If He hasn't called you into that leadership role than go find a leader you can trust and follow. But most of all we all need to stop debating among ourselves and talk to some people that need to hear the truth that God loves them has made a way for them to experience eternal life with Him through His son.

tags: God church worship evangelism

Yankee Stadium's Grand opening 2009

The view from left field in Yankee Stadium

I heard tonight the Yankees are building a new stadium next to the old Yankee Stadium. Yankee stadium, built in 1923, is the third oldest stadium in existence Wrigley Field (yes, field not stadium Jeff Gordon)and Fenway Park are older. As much as I love historical landmarks I think I like the idea of the Yankees having a brand new stadium. The first major league game I saw was at Yankee stadium in 1987. I was in left field and could not see a thing (that's when I was young and my eye sight was still good). I thought major league baseball stunk! I was used to watching games at Dick Howser (home of the Seminoles for those of you not familiar with Florida State baseball)where you are on top of the field and can look into the eyes of every person on the field. Watching the game at Yankee stadium was a huge disappointment. Yea, I had a great view of Ricky Henderson in center field and Claudell Washington in left but I just had to take the announcers word for it...the speck on first base was hall of famer Don Mattingly and pitching that night was Joe Neikro. My favorite Yankee at the time, Dave Winfield, was the DH or at least that's what the PA guy said. I couldn't see well enough to verify it. Than I went to a game at Turner field. It was awesome. You can see everything. Of course Laurie's brother hooked us up with some tickets behind home plate but even just walking around the stadium every spot felt like you were right there on the action. I'm sure Steinbrenner will make the new Yankee Stadium the best of the best. It's supposed to be ready for the 2009 season. When can I put my order in for opening day tickets? It's only fitting that the best team money can buy (for you cynics out there)should have the best stadium money can buy. I for one like the idea of progress over history on this one.

tags: Yankees baseball MLB

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Yesterday Laurie and I celebrated 13 years of marriage. Following is a list of all the things I've come to understand about women over that time...



















































































tags: women marriage

New Orleans and Team Planning

Today was somewhat of a disappointing day. Although for several weeks our mission trip to New Orleans looked like it was in jeopardy today it became official. I spoke with the staff of mission lab and told them we would not be coming this summer. Darryl Lindsay, the director of Mission Lab was of course disappointed that we would not be coming. He remembers us from when were there in 2000. We were actually the first group ever to do a mission project through Mission Lab New Orleans. I'm also disappointed for the four students and four adults who did plan on going. They set that time aside as a week to give themselves to the people of New Orleans. But that is not my biggest disappointment. I guess my biggest disappointment is for the kids in New Orleans. I'm sure it's too late in the game for the mission lab staff to send another group our week. They'll have other groups working in St. Bernard during other weeks...but the week we were supposed to be there will just be a big whole. What happened? What went wrong?

That's where a little confession is in order. Over the past year I have slipped into a planning vacuum. I have said for years and continue to believe that planning is best done in teams. Great planning happens with the input of many people is involved. I have also ignored wise voices that have said, there is just too much going on this summer. So if I had planned with a team and listened to the wise voices that surround me than I would have realized along time ago this trip was not going to happen. It's hard to quit. Even on deadline day when the final number was eight I e-mailed Shandra and told her we'd 'make it happen'. But I quickly realized, we're not in the business of 'making things happen'. We're in the business of following Christ as He 'makes things happen'.

So there are a number of factors as to why we ultimately had to cancel the mission trip to New Orleans. Yes, people are busy and involved in a lot of different types of ministries this summer. Yes, people are laying off this year because New York was so expensive last year and yes we have a demographically young youth ministry that may not be quite ready for a mission trip the scope of which Mission Lab New Orleans would require. But none of those things should have taken us by surprise and none of them would have - had we planned with a team.
tags: New Orleans Leadership planning

Laurie, Josh, Drew & Arlene in Panama City

New Additions to the Sapp Family

We have put in our order to adopt these new kittens...Pubbles and Sida. Pubbles is Josh's and Sida's is Drew's. We should pick them up sometime next week.

Bike Tour Reflections

Miscellaneous lessons from the bike tour...

1. Somethings can't be prepared for...only endured.
2. Weariness brings out the best in people.
2b. Weariness brings out the worst in people.
3. Jim Day has a lot more patiece than he thinks.
4. Erin cares about people.
5. We take our freedom for granted.
6. I can not eat whatever I want just because I'm biking all day.
7. God's best teaching tool is pain and self doubt.
8. When we are busy our quiet time is usually the first thing we toss.
9. People usually only do what they are led to do.
10. Emily does what is right...whether led to or not.
11. 19 Hours is way too long to be on the road in one day.
12. I see level 5 leadership in Paul's future.
13. If you want to know the truth...ask Nicole but don't cry when she tells it to you.
14. Jake is is a hilarious.
15. Mr. Robbin...great spiritual leader...horrible mathmetician.
16. Senior citizens are fun to hang out with.
17. Fig newtons taste great after hours of biking.
18. Company is everything on a bike trip...solitude is the enemy.
19. Kayla and Rachel make good friends.
20. Good equipment is important for accomplishing hard tasks.
21. We're losing a great group of seniors.
21. We have some great leaders coming up behind this group of seniors.
22. I envy Clint Purvis (he uses a moped for his church's bike trip).
23. I wish everyone could/would go on the bike trip.
24. If everyone went on the bike trip our youth ministry would be different.
25. You can cry...you just can't quit!

Super Regional Seven for the Seminoles

After defeating Auburn 10-4 last night and winning the Tallahassee Regional the 'Noles will be heading to their seventh straight super regional this weekend. This should be the funnest of them all. Yea, it was fun beating Miami for the right to go to the World Series a few years ago but playing the Gators for the privledge should prove sweeter. What a fun team this has turned out to be. Win or loose it has been a great year and they have accomplished way more than many would have dreamed for this group of guys. Here we are only two wins away from going to the college world series...who would've thunk it.

tags: baseball college baseball
Florida State Seminoles