Sign This Petition!

I know a lot of petitions have been going around lately for various political and moral causes. Here's one more...though it's not particularly moral or political...if you have time please sign it.

Back to the Future Tribute

tags: Back to the Future Michael J. Fox

'Youth Minister Challenge...and the winner is..."

The Crowd Anticipating Youth Minister's Challenge 2007

It's been awhile since I've done a 'dream' post so I'll throw this one out there. Last night I had a dream that I was on the verge of my first ever Youth Minister's Challenge Championship. Just to fill you in...at Student Life Camp every year there is a challenge between all of the youth pastors. They are given these crazy games to play such as eating a napkin or putting on a t-shirt that has been frozen like a brick. Well, in my 9 attempts I've fallen short every time. Although I have made it to the finals once (and had to miss the final event due to an emergency) and was most recently robbed of a victory by a very poor call by the referee.

So the dream...for the first time ever student life decided to do the youth minister's challenge according to two criteria...the first criteria was actual youth ministry skills. We all had to write and present a Bible Study. I won hands down. The second was a physical challenge. We had to carry a canoe over a sandy beach...again...it was all me in a land slide. So we were told there would be three contests and each would be worth 25 points. The youth minister with the most points would be the champion. So of course after winning the first two events I was like Floyd Landis on the last day of the Tour de France. It was in the bag and I was enjoying the moment. I was talking some serious smack. Just before I began to feel bad about my prideful attitude and self congratulation over winning my first Youth Minister's Challenge in 9 tries my alarm clock went off and I woke up. Once again I was robbed of experiencing actual victory. But the build up sure was a lot of fun. Maybe '07 is my year.

Artist of the Month

You may be surprised, as I was, at who the MSN Artist of the month is...

Envelope please...

And the winner is...

The David Crowder Band!

What a great example of a band being salt and light in the world without a watered down message.

tags: music David Crowder Band

QVC - Probably Didn't Sell A Lot of These

A stagehand on QVC has an unfortunate on-air accident while climbing a ladder.

Trajectory

Days at camp are so full it is hard to put summarize in the few minutes I have to update each morning but some conversation starters for when students return would go something like this...

Are you a sponger or a servant?
Since everyone's a worshiper...what or who or you worshipping?
Where is your trajectory taking you?
Is your myspace a light?

tags: youth

Camp 2006 - Day 1&2

We arrived at camp in Daytona Beach on Monday afternoon. so far it's been great. Loui Gigglio is our camp pastor. Chris Tomlin is leading worship. You can see all kinds of pictures HERE but the one our students are going to love to tell you about it this one...

We had senior night 2006 Sunday night at the Wirgau's. It was a great time of sharing and encouragment. YOu can see the cmoplete set of pictures |

The Panthers

Yes, summer relaxation here I come.

Baby Pictures...

These pictures were taken today of our third child who should be born sometime in late September or early October.  Technology has come along way since the days of Josh & Drew's ultra sound.  No longer did I have to just nod and say, "oh yeah, I see the little nose there."  You actually can see the baby.  Pretty amazing stuff. The complete set can be seen Here

Sappulous! II

Well Josh's team, the Panters, were winning 4-0 in the championship game when I had to leave to go to church. So you can imagine my surprise when I asked Laurie how the game came out that night. "They lost", she said. I asked, "What was the score". "four to zip". "What are you talking about? They were winning 4-0 when I left". "Yes, they had to forfeit. They batted out of order the other team protested so the Panthers lost by forfeit." Not the best way to end a long season but hey we all had fun in the process, I think Josh learned a lot and team and the coaches showed great class through it all so I have no complaints.

Sappulous!

Josh's all-star baseball team has reached the championship game for their region. They did it with two great games. The first one took two days to play going 2 extra innings. I thought only Cricket took multiple days to play. The second game was tied going into the last. They scored 4 in the top half to get the win. The championship game will be played tomorrow afternoon around 4:15pm at Canopy Oaks.

The best part for me has been watching these guys pull for one another. In games as tight as they've had it would be easy to get frustrated with an error in the field or a strike out in a key situation. It hasn't happened with these guys. They really get that baseball is a team game. One of the parents came up with a cheer for Josh when he comes up to bat...he gets everyone to yell - Sappulous! I couldn't agree more. Go Panthers!