Starting youth ministry from scratch

Nice article by Brandon Collins at the MinistryLive site about starting a youth ministry from the ground up.

Great primer for vets and rookies.

I am a big fan of MinistryLive... great articles, ebooks and reviews.

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Alltop

Yay!

I got added to Alltop recently. And I finally understand why the boys who score touchdowns laughingly scoff at the commentators who tell them to "act like they've been there" when they score touchdowns.

Yep, I am stoked!

Alltop, in its own words, is an "online magazine rack" that yanks and aggregates news and opinion pieces from the web's top online publications and blogs. It promises to bridge the gap when it comes to one's social media needs.

The Church section (where I am listed) boasts of some of the brightest minds in contemporary ministry, folks that I have a lot of respect for. It is a huge honor to be listed with people who do so much for the Kingdom, and from whom I can only continue to learn from.

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Chastity promises: a waste of time?

Here's an interesting article that popped up on my newsfeed this morning.

While the analysis is not new, you pretty much figured that it would pop up in the news again with the recent announcement by Miley Cyrus that she had joined tween pop sensations the Jonas Brothers on no-sex island.

Now, before I go on, I'll admit to being a bit cynical about celebrity promises of this nature. Check out this cynical MSNBC article by Tony Sclafani to understand why. Sclafani goes so far as to theorize that it tends to be deft career move.

Sclafani does make a valid point. By talking about not having sex, aren't we really talking about sex? In other words, when American Idol winner Jordin Sparks or Julianne Hough of Dancing With the Stars talk about waiting till they're wed, aren't they really just upping the sex ante?

And, is that really wrong?

The problem with the celebrity chastity thing are the predecessors. Britney had one, if I recall correctly. Mariah Carey is said to have stated she waited for "complete intimacy" with current husband Nick Cannon (I didn't ask, and neither should you). Therefore, when you toss in the stats that make most chastity adherents look like stupid kooks, it is clear why most people take the whole movement as a comical waste of time.

So, should these pledges mean anything to us? I say "maybe." I cannot find anything ethically wrong about such a statement, and I feel as long as they are made with complete sincerity, we should be able to find something useful to get from it -- and the sincerity aspect is probably not for me to decide. We also need to fight the urge to start betting pools on soon they will fail.

*Sigh* I broke a few promises myself with this post... I promised to never, ever blog about Miley Cyrus.

Oh well...

Photo courtesy of Greg Crusco via ReelWorship.

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BibleReader 4.0 for BlackBerry review.

Olive Tree brings name recognition and a reputation for reliability to the game. One of the things I first looked for when I initially considered the jump from Palm to BlackBerry was the presence of Bible programs.

The fact that Olive Tree had a BlackBerry port helped make the decision easy.

Olive Tree BibleReader for BlackBerry Version 4.0 is an impressive Bible study program that provides access to an entire suite of inspirational resources.

What makes this software compelling is the ability to store bible translations and related material on the user's expansion card. This removes the natural fear BB users have when it comes to device memory. Now, with this software, the only restriction on how much resources one can carry is based on device OS and memory card size.

Genius.

I am finicky... and OTBR accommodated me. Option-wise, I had numerous options: the ability to adjust font size, font color, background colors and more. The search function was snappy; I found it to be very responsive, even to multiple words.

Of particular interest to potential users will be the Bookmarking feature. It does just that: it keeps the selected verse in memory. This is great for when you are at service or such and have a list of scriptural references, you can save them in the program before-hand. I found it very useful.

Olive Tree has a library of dozens of bible translations and related reference resources that can be stored on card. Of these, a few are free (like ASV and BBE); the rest are for sale at the Olive Tree site. The reader itself is free.

My biggest issue with OTBR is admittedly somewhat unfair; it is based on the fact that I was such a huge fan of the features on the Palm port. To be specific, I was dismayed with the inability o add notes directly into the program while studying the bible. As said earlier, I loved this feature on my Palm. At the risk of sounding overly whimsical, I missed the ability to "split" screens with different versions. Again, that feature enhanced bible study a great deal

Simply put, this is an excellent program. It is well-made, feature-rich and has the potential to be a valuable tool in the lives of the familiars and the curious. If anything, try out the free translations. Support is quick, updates are frequently put out, and the developer clearly aims to please.

This software is rated for devices running OS 4.2 and up.

It is also available for Palm, iPhone, Symbian, and Windows Mobile.

This software was tested (and its review written) on an 8320 running OS 4.5 on T-Mobile.

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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BlackBerry Game Review: Platypus

I had an opportunity to take Astraware's latest offering for BlackBerry, Platypus for a test drive, and it turned out to be a great voyage indeed.

For Palm enthusiasts, Astraware is a well-known commodity. They produce and/or distribute some of the most popular games titles on the Palm and WinMo platforms (their parent company, Handmark, should give you an idea of their pedigree). So, when presented with an opportunity to survey their first BlackBerry offering, I jumped at it.

Platypus is an aerial shoot-em-upper that pits continual offense against strategic defense, and is based on the PC and Macintosh favorite of the same name.

Like Right Said Fred and his hopelessly inadequate shirt, Platypus is too sexy for earth. Instead, it takes place on peaceful Mungola, where your mission is to defend your planet against marauding Collosotropolans that appear in many incarnations. You move around -- guns blazing -- dodging both swerving and bouncing alien aircraft, rumbling ground vehicles and dangerous terrain.

Of course, no arcade-style shooter is complete without point bonuses that drop from exploding enemies, or weapon upgrades and power-ups that emanate from stars that the player has to collide with to redeem. Platypus brings all elements of arcade play to your BlackBerry device, and the four different worlds provide hours of game play.

The developers did an excellent job of using color to bring this adventure to life. The vivid representation almost literally allows one to lose themselves in the environment. The color differentiation between sky-to-sky and sky-to-ground were very, very well done. Hardware-wise, I found the game responsive to the Blackberry controls.

As far as ports go, this was pretty faithful to the original. Fans of the PC/Mac versions will be pleasantly surprised by graphics. Even the claymation is reproduced with an eye for detail.

My biggest complaint at this point is general in nature: why isn't Astraware spitting out more games? Why? I still have a Palm device chock-full of their stuff. More, please!!!

Pick up Platypus from the Astraware site, or check it out at the Handmark location. It is rated to play on all 81xx, 83xx, 88xx devices as well as the Bold. The game is available at a special price to all Club Astraware Members through December!

This game was tested (and review written) on a BlackBerry 8320 running OS 4.5 on T-Mobile.

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Peace on Earth

As we mark His birth, may we be appreciative of who He died for.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

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Grace and accountability.

Interesting philosophical discussion about grace over on the Todd Rhoades site... well worth the read.

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The delicate art of finger-pointing

I abhor stupidity.

There really is nothing complex about it. I have a natural talent for rooting out stupidity and tomfoolery.

I am particularly adept at finding it in others. Yep... siblings, acquaintances, friends, talk-show hosts, newscasters, referees, contestants on reality TV, the general public... my foolishness meter knows no bounds.

I realized recently that my long-suppressed urge to pelt people who had fallen short of my standards of intelligence was beginning to overcome my outward facade of patience. In other words, my judgmental side was taking control.

I first noticed this losing battle the other day, when I was able to pick holes with Mother Teresa.

See, the thing is, folks do some really crazy stuff. Am I really so bad for assuming my purpose on earth is to let them know that their idiotic decisions have been noticed? I have the best intentions. It's not a fun job, but somebody has to do it.

The last election allowed me to perfect my fault-finding. On both sides of the aisle, in both camps, some of the talk was so anti-logical that I began to view some pairs of opposing pundits as twins separated at birth. How else can you explain two equally nonsensical yet divergent viewpoints?

By the time the actual election rolled by, it was easy pickings.

Any chance I had at going another route was thwarted by other interests. Take soccer, for instance. What is a reasonable guy like me to do when some joker blows the game on an obvious no-call? You see, this type of situation is made for me. I admit, I have had a non-productive conversation or two with refs before, but trust me: it was for their own good. Besides, my kid brother is a ref. Now if that is not an indictment on the entire profession, I don't know what is.

Nothing hones ones skills at pointing the finger like the microscopic study of imperfections known as "marriage." I found my true calling: I was definitely born to be fault compass for my wife. I could do it in my sleep. I could do it in her sleep. Any guilt I had was superseded by the need to be in God's will and show her what her numerous faults were.

And don't give me that nonsense of "when you point one finger at another, four point back at you." My mother made the mistake of telling us that when we were younger, and we actually studied it. In depth. Actually, it is possible to curl your fingers just right and ensure no fingers point back to you (seriously... try it). In any case, to be on the safe side, we developed a unique way to make sure we never made an error and "four-pointed" ourselves: we learned how to point with all fingers extended, palm down. Call us ridiculous, but it worked, and we pointed -- and continue to point -- away joyfully, to the everlasting chagrin of our mother.

I know all about specks and logs, and I firmly believed that specks were far easier -- and more fun -- to remove.

As I have gotten older (and hopefully closer to Him), I have become progressively aware that there is an ever-present hole in the fabric of my lifelong pursuit, and that is the realization that to score convincingly in the blame game, there is a need for perfection on my part. Sadly, I have not yet been able to figure out how to get that accomplished.

I believe that is a lesson God will have me/us learn. I personally have discovered that if I apply a fraction of the monumental angst I reserve for the social injustice I perceive to actually working to fix the problem, I could be a world-changer. Or, that the energy I assign to identifying deficiencies in others is better used to pray about my own. And that if I actually admitted to myself that I am the one who made out like a bandit on out marriage covenant, and worked to treat my wife like the Ruby she is, I'd be the type of husband she deserves ALL the time.

It is taking some getting used, pointing flat-palmed into the mirror, but it has been well worth it. Try it... trust me, it does work. I am an expert at this!

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Uno = Family Strife

I recently had another opportunity to try out Concrete Software's reincarnation of the board classic Uno.

In order to shake things up for my latest game review, I decided to change devices and loaded the software on my wife's Pearl.

You see, my wife just stepped into the smartphone world. She is NOT a big fan of smartphone gaming; since she rarely uses her phones on weekends, I figured that I would have plenty of time to run the game through the paces.

Uno for BlackBerry does a good job of bringing the original game to life on your BB handheld. The background is vivid, and the developers did a great job of making color just as much of an element in this electronic version as it is in real life.

Game play was smooth. Selections were easy, and one can play by the "classic" rules, or institute a combination of "house" rules. One can play against the on-board CPU or against friends using the same device.

Anyway, my wife had to make a quick call, and came to "borrow" her own phone while I was playing. An hour later, she was engrossed in this game. Within two hours, she was hollering and arguing with the other "players" on her Pearl, and when I finally went to bed, she was vocally daring them to "three-card" her and shouting "UNO!"

That, in my humble estimation, is the strong point of this game: the ability to make a smartphone "non-gamer" get addicted.

So, enjoy this game, or your significant other will.

You can try out this game here, or pick it up for purchase at Handango.

Compatible with: BlackBerry 71xx, 77xx, 81xx Pearl, 82xx Pearl Flip, 83xx Curve, 87xx, 88xx, and 9000 Bold handhelds.

Reviewed on: BlackBerry Pearl 8100 on T-Mobile running 4.2.

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The Chameleon Church

While performing my periodic drive-by today, I came across this thought-provoking guest article by Scott Rodgers.

Has the church gone too far, or has it not gone far enough in reaching EVERYBODY?

Very, very interesting question. You do not have to be a social theologian to notice the change in focus from just a generation ago. The new crop of emerging (pun intended) church leaders have made a pointed effort in bridging the gap, perceived or not, that existed between the church and mainstream... well... people.

The philosophical argument of the church's role in society has always been a hut-button topic. Head on over to hear some real-life commentary.

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Using YouVersion to bridge gaps.

Understatement of the year: I love YouVersion.

As a free mobile Bible port, its introduction is, in my humble opinion, one of the most significant occurrences in mobile ministry.

It has given smartphone users a common bond, and the possibilities are endless.

Recently, I have been thinking of an unobstrusive type of ministry that provides fellowship and counseling type of opportunities in the local (Charlotte, NC) area. To this end, I have been using YouVersion as a personal devotion tool for my wife and I.

The tools were all there: we downloaded YouVersion for BlackBerry to each of our devices. Also, I signed up to be a member of YouVersion.com, which gave us access to notes written by other users, and to add our devotion and expository notes.

In practice, it was easy; either one of us could go online and add notes for a future remote devotion. Now, we had to have phone/EDGE access (and/or Wi-Fi in the case of my 8320) to access the Bible translations, but we never had a problem.

So, as you can guess, it was a nice experiment. We were able to do in-depth devotions during lunch hours, out-of-town trips, or anytime it caught our fancy. The email-a-verse utility allowed for opportunities of random encouragement.

Now, think of this on a larger scale. Think of how this can bolster fellowship meetings or small groups. You can send a supportive scriptural reference to anybody with access to the web and a free YouVersion account.

Pretty nifty... also why YV for BB is my favorite application.

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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BenQ E72 Smartphone: Unbelievably priced!

If you are a ministry guy or gal looking for a good deal on a great smartphone, you might me interested in this nugget I swiped from Antoine at Mobile Ministry Magazine: The BenQ E72 Windows Smartphone. Apparently, the phone is going for under $130.

Impressive.

The specs sound great... GSM, WM6, A2DP Bluetooth, integrated wi-fi, expandable memory, 2 MP camera, video recording and mp3 player.

If you are interested, make sure to google and read reviews.

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Stealing Baby Jesus?

Apparently, stealing nativity scenes is big business. So big, in fact, that churches are now surreptitiously placing GPS receivers inside the displays to assist track the display items.

Watch the video... shows church staff tracking a statuette across town in real-time after a simulated theft.

Image courtesy of Geoff Stratford (ReelWorship.com).

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Thank you!

... for all of you readers who spread the word about Edward Frank Harris... on Twitter, FaceBook and links to your respective websites.

We hear so much of colleagues who fail or betray the trust of the people they are supposed to trust; therefore, this was a story that meant so much to me.

The outpouring of support was very kind, and I think it was a nice send-off to our brother.

Continue to pray for his family. Also pray for all those he served, including the ones who are charged with this heinous crime.

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Youth Ministry e-book

Spotted this post over on MinistryLIVE.org blog: a youth ministry e-book!

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Second place...

I am usually a bit cynical of "trendy" causes and programs, but this particular concept caught my eye and warmed my heart.

I Am Second is a resourceful website that combines down to earth testimonies from celebrities and Average Joes alike to assist people with everyday struggles.

The site provides chat, email, and reading resources for people in need. It also provides opportunities for people to get involved helping others.

I am a fan of ministry ideas that don't get bogged by overly intricate ideals, so much so that they miss the target. This is simple: everybody else first....

Authenticity will never be out of fashion.

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PalmBible for Treo/Palm

For Treo/Palm users: yet more Bible software! Got this from Mobile Ministry Magazine (courtesy of Palm Addict): PearlBible!

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Church Diversity

I have reached a point where I will now blog about my own blog. At least, in my own mind I have.

While hanging out in Twitterville, I eavesdropped a tweet from Anne Jackson to Pete Wilson talking about diversity in church leadership.

This blog was initially started to talk about the cultural challenges of serving in ministry. As a black man in the south, this is especially poignant; toss in the added battle of serving in predominantly white churches, and you get a pretty interesting picture.

So, I feel led to write an article about this albatross. Is diversity really all that necessary in church leadership, or is it just another PC-motivated man-made talking point? What does diversity bring: true cultural awareness, or just the facade of acceptance?

I am looking for thoughts from both sides of the aisle, from both ends of the spectrum.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Mobile Phone Ministry

Visited the blog of Bill Reichart recently. Like a moth to flame, I was drawn to his blog post about mobile phone ministry.

Of course, I belong to the school of thought that believes that the sooner the church embraces these trends, the better off we'll be. We have to be swift (as God blesses and time and culture allow) in learning and using technology to reach people.

Pastor Reichart also touches on mobile-ready websites (another biggie, IMHO).

Nice food for thought.

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Review: HanDBase for BlackBerry.

I am the type of phone user that likes to have it easy. There's nothing really complex about it; no insane formula that governs it. I simply like to have as much as I can on the least number of devices. Convergence is key.

It's the reason that I, the most loyal of Palm guys, migrated to BlackBerry. I am a ministry guy, and everything on my device needs to assist me in that pursuit.

The biggest drawback for me as a new BB user was the relative dearth of the third party applications that made life with Palm a breeze. In recent years, the gap is closing; one application that helps shrink this gap significantly is HanDBase Professional for BlackBerry by DDH Software.

I originally had this on my Palm OS device, and it was my most used non-scriptual application. Simply put, it is an all-round database solution with an amazing penchant for flexibility.

There is almost no limit to the possibilities. This application bridges the gap that exists between convergence device and handheld laptop replacement.

The program comes in two parts for the BlackBerry. It has the handheld portion and a desktop companion. The two components are syncable both ways. The idea is that the user makes a database on the desktop that is accessible on the user's device.

To explain further, think of a relational database that could be useful (like a check register) HanDBase allows the user to create a custom check register to fit the user's needs. The interface easily helps you along, and you can create tables and columns that are dependent on each other. In other words, you can integrate data and basically create simple mini-programs that fulfill business and personal needs.

It gets better. Checkable tasks lists, fitness logs, bible studies, business ledgers, contact databases, and more can all be created and then carried on your device.

DDH also offers the ability to create custom databases for individual and enterprise users. It is easy to see why this item is so highly regarded in the Palm world.

To nitpick, I wish that one could create databases on the go on the actual device.

All in all, I enjoyed using this software. Look here for a comparison of features of the BB stable.

Try out HanDBase at the demo download site.

As an added boon, DDH is offering a special code, good for 20% off HanDBase Professional for BlackBerry. Just use the code Dec08TL20 during checkout at the DDH website. The code is good till January 15, 2009.

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Looking for a new Pastor...

Yes, I am looking for a new Pastor.

I have just about had it with mine. His sermons almost always get on my nerves.

Note that I have no problem with the church body; no, not at all. It's Derek alone that I can't stand.

This morning, he had the audacity to speak about service -- about becoming Christ personified in the way we approach helping others. He spoke about how, for him, Christmas prep was sometimes a drag, and how it could feel like just another chore.

I guess I would have been fine, but every time I tried to laugh self-consciously, I felt a sharp jab in my ribs from my wife, who figured her elbow should be used as a constant reminder that I was no better.

Whatever.

In any case, he specifically challenged the married guys to be better husbands (the women applauded), and even hinted at the fact we could be better servants by doing more around the house on Saturdays. That was truly unforgivable.

So, I am off to find a pastor who is a little less into forcing me to confront my deficiencies. Someone who will let me be me, even if it means I'll fall short of God's plan in my life.

Boo, Derek. Boo. Can't trust a Tennessee fan.

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Get a-twitterin'... NOW!

If you are a youth worker, parent, pastor, church staffer... if you are a human being, and you are not twittering yet, why not?

Beyond being just a fad, Twitter is growing in influence in christian circles. As I have said elsewhere and previously, the potential is endless; microblogging brings a sense of intimacy and accountability to ministry.

It is no longer just the domain of young and trendy; more and more pastors are using it to develop bonds with people in the real world. With a simple device and text plan, one can really get an opportunity to fellowship with people on the other side of the globe, or across town.

Give it a try... you'll most likely be pleasantly surprised.

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The Lego Bible

Twitter friend Brian brought this to my attention: a lego-illustrated Bible. Interesting...

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Lightin' it up!

I wanted to take the time to give a huge shout-out to the wonderful guys and gals of Light Of Christ UMC in Charlotte. They are absolutely great people who I owe a lot of recent stuff too:

Shalonda: for giving me some shopping tips that I have decided to pretend I came up with (more on this in a future blog);

Team Llama (don't ask): for ruining my childhood and telling me people actually eat llamas;

Pastor Kyle: for forcing me to accept the fact that God wants us to love EVERYBODY, including evil Duke fans such as himself;

Whitney: for not thinking I was weird for wanting to watch Warren Sapp twirl around on Dancing With the Stars.

Jean (and her crew): classy, kind and everything honorable.

Great church family, and proof that God abides in the heart, not necessarily in multi-million dollar edifices.

Love you guys!!!

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Send me...

Edward Frank Harris Jr was, by most accounts, a "joyful" guy with a "loving spirit" about him.

He served at Pendergrass Baptist Church in Cleveland, Georgia; he was one of those pioneers and laborers euphemistically known as youth pastors. He also served as a chaplain at Compassionate Hospice in Gainesville. His favorite verse was said to be Isaiah 6:8.

This past Sunday, after service, Frank Harris called home. Apparently, he had found two people that needed help, and he decided to give them a ride. You see, Frank Harris didn't take his "church hat" off; he didn't rationalize excuses to drive away. He saw an opportunity to serve, and he took it. It is a little unclear as to whether he knew the couple; it is assumed they were strangers.

Early the next day, his lifeless body was found in an empty field, the victim of murder, most likely at the hands of the very people he had helped. He left behind a wife and three kids.

While it is easy to think of the what-ifs, the basic point is that here was a man who never quit serving. He didn't measure his faith by work shifts. He lived it 25/8/366.

Here is proof that you don't have to search too hard for heroes. I never knew Frank Harris personally, and I'll never meet him. I mourn that fact.

In lieu of flowers a college fund for the children will be set up and donations may be sent to Compassionate Hospice 2565 Thompson Bridge Rd, Suite 112, Gainesville, GA 30501.

Online condolences can be made at littledavenport.com


Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Reaching out... by any means necessary?

Now, I am all for creative expression. I will even admit that I find the commercial above funny. At first. But then, when you stop to consider that this is guy is singing about his woman creeping with chicken nuggets, and then subsequently reprimands her -- soulfully -- for not sharing said nuggets with him, you have to feel uneasy.

And by the way, what, pray, is "stingaaaaaay?"

In actuality, it is interesting to see how companies transform and adjust identities to reach particular segments of society. Kind of like Bruce Wayne at night. On BET, McDonald's becomes the urban-tinged Mickey D's with R&B singers that croon about the evils of being selfish.

Of course, it boils down to economies of demographics. Different strokes for different folks. Advertising and catering to the needs of Mr A does not always compute to achieving the same results for Ms B. Quite understandable. Different people like different music. I even have a video to prove how interpretation can vary very, very widely:



Now, the same type of thinking seems to be prevalent in the church.

Big question: should the church tailor its offering to particular people? I am not talking about the content of the message: in essence, that should and will be unchanging. What about the frills? The music? The style? The atmosphere?

Some churches are more explicit than others. The most popular focus is to reach the "young, post-grad unchurched or rechurched" crowd. To be brief, just say the Starbucks crowd (though, admittedly, recent developments in the economy may force a change in the tag). Why not? It is probably the largest Gen Xers segment out there.

But what about others? What about the soon-to-be largest minority in the United States, Hispanics? What about the immigrant African population? Should a church that straddles a reservation approach work differently from a church that borders a large community of Asian ancestry? Questions, questions, questions...

Integration seems to be the measure of success, and for all the wrong reasons. I spoke to a pastor of a predominantly white congregation a while back who wistfully dreamed of how great it would be to have a black guy on staff, even while being visibly concerned about the reaction of one or two older members to such a hire. Now I cannot say that full-out sit-ins were in the picture, but I do find it interesting that an informal type of affirmative action-type mentality seems to be setting in. I also wonder if we should be concerned that a minority face on the church staff webpage is becoming standard strategy.

Of course, it is hard to fault folks that think this way. I will be so forward as to say I doubt that a lack of sincerity is at play. In the big picture, we should be careful of the potential fruit (of course, I do tend to be cynical sometimes, but hey, when you have had a white pastor of yours where an afro wig, bell-bottoms, platforms and a dashiki in the name of being culturally relevant in February, you are allowed to be a little jaded).

And yes, this is reality. Take the stereotypical African American worshipper, for instance. Yeah, you hate to lump people in batches, but most would probably say quality of music is a biggie. And, by quality, the perfect opera performance by the late Pavarotti wouldn't cut it. Neither would a bluegrass praise session, just as praise session headlined by BB Jay would confuse and concern a "Starbucker." Anyone with the most basic understanding of African American history would understand why music is such an important part of the spiritual consciousness.

While I do applaud the efforts of churches that strive to be open, I think the biggest thing is the need for change and acceptance in each heart. I do believe that folks should make efforts to learn the cultural attitudes of people in our communities. Furthermore, I humbly think that sometimes, the church should strive to do what is RIGHT, even above societal leanings or trends. Openness and love is openness and love.

One thing to consider is that if we applied some of the modern day definitions of success, our Lord's ministry would probably been labeled a failure. As much as we hate it, regional mores will always affect attitudes. Centuries of mistrust, misconceptions and prejudice (on EVERY side) won't disappear overnight... but we do have the morning after, right?

Blessings at ya!

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Technology and the gospel.

Love hearing how folks are leveraging technology? Can't get enough of hearing about the latest tech gadgets, and their potential in ministry? Than you have to check out Mobile Ministry Magazine.

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Being Prodigal Jon

Remember the flick Being John Malkovich? Crazy fable about some finding a weird portal into the brain of the title character.

Now, there are a few people in whose minds I think I'd be interested in spending time in. My daughter, for one. Maybe I can finally decode the irrational love for Backyardigans and SpongeBob.

My kid brother comes to mind; so does Flavor Flav and maybe Britney Spears. I think 15 minutes each would stretch the limits of my sanity, though.

This priceless gem from Jon at Stuff Christians Like, though, is the type of genius that keeps him at the top of my Malkovich list.

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The theory of the singing youth pastor...

I am not a singer. No, not at all.

Now, I love music. I love melodious sound. I love deep lyrics. I love single instruments and even symphonies. I love solos. I love choirs. I even listen to Dolly Parton.

I just don't like to hear myself partake in any activity aimed at creating any of the above.

I am blessed with the fact that I realized my musical shortcomings at a very young age. I remember the pained half-smile on my mother's face during an especially hoarse rendition of "Happy Birthday" one year. My dad's dream of managing his sons in a boy band died that day (or at the very least, were altered). In any case, any dreams of having people applaud my musical stylings someday were extinguished long ago.

In time, my psyche healed. It felt good to find out that my horrendous singing was trait inherited by all my siblings. Somehow, I am not even the worst singer; that honor goes to Son #3. Sadly, his confidence in his vocal abilities is barely overcome by our vicious taunts. Nothing clears a room like his sadistic cover of Alicia Keys.

So, I was thoroughly satisfied with a life of musical mediocrity. In church, I worked hard to make friends with the most voracious people; you see, that way, you could sit beside them, and they were almost always sure to sing the loudest. That way, they drowned you out. It worked well.

I remember a misguided choir director back then. The poor guy had the misguided belief that anyone could sing. In search of tenors, he demanded I join. I tried my hardest to dissuade him, I truly did. He didn't listen, and kept trying to get me on the choir. It took one practice.

He actually stepped down shortly afterward. I think my singing shook his faith.

At one point, I decided rap would see me through. That foray ended when a producer told me he didn't even know our group had been performing in English. Whatever.

When I got into youth ministry, my mandate was clear: aid young people in their pursuit of faith. Clearly, with this in mind, I knew I was morally right to never expose these kids to my "praise" music. No way. Torture by ear does nothing for "growing" the numbers.

Lately, I have seen so many ads looking for youth/worship pastors. Why? They tickle me. I have always wondered if I could lip sync, Milli Vanilli style through an audition. After that, a good mix of flamboyant arm waving and face-squeezing would provide some job security. Since the only instrument I play was a bass drum, I knew I really needed to perfect the arm-waving.

Today, I accept my deficiency. Whenever I even hum, the same pained, disapproving glare that is usually on my wife's face is replicated on my daughter's. To assuage my shallow ego, I tend to take a keen interest in American Idol auditions, where I live vicariously through Simon.

And, when I'm all alone, I whisper Dolly Parton songs. Still.

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The innate power of networking

It is a much smaller world we live in today.

Earlier this year, I wrote about the great experience of networking with local youth workers. Those Charlotte boys and girls are sharp and quite innovative.

I do love the fact that we are now blessed with an opportunity to network across the country and abroad. With the ministry superstars on Twitter, I always have a veritable support group. You can always get advice, bounce ideas, or just ask for prayers on your own behalf. Love my Twitter family! They are just one TwitterBerry post away...

Also, I am thankful to my "BlackBerry Brethren." I have never met these guys, but I am continually encouraged by the fact that we "talk" quite often, using our common bonds of faith and BlackBerry PINS to facilitate fellowship. Again, nothing beats having a moment of doubt, and being able to whip out your phone to belt out a message to a friend you know will pray for you on the spot. Or, having the ability and privilege to do the same for them.

I truly believe that social networking can be such a powerful tool in ministry. It has such potential to help meet the needs of people, and even more potential in meeting the needs of pastors. I know I can contact my Pastor via Twitter or email and that he'll get back to me soon.

I still hold that as long as the human interaction is not permanently displaced, social networking is a powerful ministry tool in every facet of ministry. The potential in youth ministry is truly unlimited, and I enjoy reading how savvy youth workers are harnessing these tools.

Facebook is much maligned, but I do consider it to be a potentially excellent resource. For many parents, it's not a matter of if your child will get a social networking identity, it's a matter of how many. I subscribe to the belief that we (youth workers) should work to immerse ourselves in the fabric. No hidden identities -- just online lighthouses.

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Being thankful for the opportunity to give thanks.

It's that time of the year again... in North America, we mark Thanksgiving day, and we generally do so with plenty of family and food (did you know that a Hokie is basically a turkey? Trivia point of the day to jab at y'all Virginia Tech fans).

So, it is usually a time of year to reflect on what you are thankful for. Of course, this can be an exercise in futility if you let it; The Detroit Lion faithful are probably not thinking about gratitude right now. Those with loved ones away, or ill, or gone probably have weighted minds. Worldwide, some people have no concept of Turkey Day, and with recent massacres and related tragedies, such region-specific observances are pushed even further out of mind.

But there is plenty to be thankful for... probably starting with the opportunity to be thankful in the first place. We can be thankful for the seemingly simple things (like oxygen); for being in a country such as ours; for the troops who selflessly work to ensure that I can blog about being thankful (a huge shout-out to my brother-in-law Kenneth serving in the Middle East); for everything and anything.

Let us take a little bit more time than usual to think of those who don't have, who are dealing with loss of any kind. In the current economy, we can -- and should -- be even more thankful. As we all relax watching football in a half-sleepy turkey-induced stupor, let's be grateful to God for all our blessings.

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Tech to the rescue!

I tweeted enthusiastically about getting my new Freedom Keychain Bluetooth GPS receiver a few weeks back. It was the last piece (along with TeleNav software) that I needed to make my BlackBerry a fully convergent device. A devotion tool, ministry manager, mp3 player, social networking hub, financial monitor, calendar/task keeper, news device, and now, voice GPS navigation... you get the idea.

Last night, the GPS functionality was of great help.

While coming back from practice and driving through the two-lane back roads of Cabarrus County, NC, I came across an accident. The car was precariously stopped, half off it still seemingly on the road. Something made me stop.

So, I stopped, and saw the driver. He was in a lot of pain (hit a deer), and on the phone with a 911 dispatcher. The dispatcher was not able to get the driver to speak coherently. Neither could the driver's kid brother, who was hurt as well. So, I took the phone and attempted to give the dispatcher our location.

Problem being, Rocky River is a VERY long road, and when I say we were out in the country, we were really out in the country. There were no mailboxes within sight, and walking along a two-lane highway to find one was not something I looked forward to. Unfortunately, she (the dispatcher) had no way of knowing where we were, so help would not be swift in coming.

Then it occurred to genius boy (yep, me): I had a GPS puck.

So, I put it on, paired with my BlackBerry, and was able to give the dispatcher exact cooordinates. The calvary was there in five minutes.

It felt good to be able to help someone in need, and to use the technology at my disposal to do it.

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YouVersion: Bible solution for smartphones.

I promised to review some Bible software a short while ago. This is one I stumbled on while talking to Twitter pal Chris Szulwach, and I am happy I stumbled.

Youversion is an offering from Lifechurch.tv that is aimed at making the Bible more accessible to all. The best part is that they truly have a heart for leveraging technology to make it happen.

This application is user friendly, allowing users to add devotions and notes to specific verses that can be used by fellow users.

The whole project makes available a robust online Bible in numerous translations. Well, the developers didn't stop there; they created a BlackBerry port, so that your biblical needs are available on the go.

The BlackBerry application has more than 30 different translations in numerous languages. You can search the entire Bible with keywords. Upon starting the program on your Berry, you are welcomed to a clean mobile interface with an option to check other user contributions, or to use the built-in one-year reading plan, or simply just "read."

I found that application responsive. The default font was perfect, and can be made smaller or larger to fit the users tastes.

If I had to gripe (and I am honestly struggling here), it would be about the inability of a user to make notes/contributions on the BlackBerry.

All in all, this is a beautifully-made free application for BlackBerry and (gasp!) iPhone users. A true blessing. Have fun "inviting" friends and family to use this application Facebook-style via email, or join the growing community at youversion.com.

The generalized mobile site is located at m.youversion.com.

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Food for thought

I absolutely love this post from Twitter pal and youth ministry all-star Patti Gibbons. Patti really wrote a touching post about some things that, in my humble opinion, should be close to heart because they are painfully present in the church.

Each and every bullet touched me. How profound... it is funny what we focus on sometimes...

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What do you think?

What is the the most pressing issue facing youth today? What issue do you think impacts the life of our youth in the church, and how should youth pastors and youth ministry workers approach said issues?

Your comments are welcome!

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Mystery Shoppers in Church

So, I love reading Anne Jackson's contributions. She quite seriously has a few screws missing (and that is a huge compliment, by the way). Anyway, stumbled a recent posting of hers on "mystery worshippers." Seems like some churches are using consultants akin to the way retail establishment and entities use mystery shoppers to provide feedback on the experience.

Seems like The Wall Street Journal has chronicled the phenomenon.

Is this yet another sign that we are becoming too corporate?

I liked the final two paragraphs. I agree. I refuse to criticize the heart behind the people who I am sure sincerely want to document their own failings for good. However, I am a little uncomfortable with the fact that it is a serious issue if we have to turn to this to help fix the arguably most important function of church.

But if this is happening in the church, there will be many more applications. I can see my daughter hiring a friend from another school to mystery shop her kindergarten teacher. Heck, there are many things I'd die to mystery shop my parents for, like making us hand-shred important documents as a weekend chore when growing up. A "mystery child" would have been great help in documenting my concerns to the appropriate state agencies.

In fact, I can come up with a million scenarios where a mystery shop could be used, at the very least as a pitiful excuse. Houses of ill-repute and infidelity would easily be explained away ("Honey, I was doing research for Broken Home Alternatives. Honest!").

Or am I missing a life calling here? I think I would be gifted at this. I could blitz churches during Easter and Christmas, and have a prime time special the morning after cataloging various issues like ministers and pastors whose shoes don't match their belts, and which churches use modesty blankets appropriately. My very own red carpet show.

Then, just as in retail, underground movements to sniff out mystery worshippers will spring up. Anybody who looks too closely at the band, or keeps their eyes open during worship, or takes notes even more frequently and copiously than Deacon White during service would be suspect, and will be exposed to the local area via Twitter. Extra special care must be taken with the newbie who savors the donuts and coffee with TV advertisement-like severity.

Now, pastors will be forced to incorporate hand signals, and there will be an upswing in the use of "praise ringers" or folks used as Hype Men. Just what we need... Flavor Flav teaching us the finer points of getting things started right....

Anyway, dreams of career options aside, great story.

Much thanks to papanashul for the image via Creative Commons License (Flickr).

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Yep. Old.

So, I lamented about my age here a while back, and got some much unneeded affirmation this weekend at the tournament I coached at.

In the hotel lobby, I ran into an old player of mine, Chris. Now, I had known Chris since my rookie days as a high school assistant. In fact, I knew Chris since he was in middle school.

Well, guess who is coaching now? Yes, you guessed right: Chris.

You know you are old when your old/graduated players start coaching.

We had a blast reminiscing about the old days. Chris was a fiery player in his heyday, so I needled him by telling his current players of how their coach acted way back when, and I advised them to give him a hard time.

It was great to see him; I wish I had seen him in action.

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The Kingsport Chronicles.

Spent most of the weekend in Kingsport, Tennessee with my team, taking part in the SCOSA Appalachian Fall Soccer Festival.

It was sure to have a lot of subplots; first game since one of my angels broke her foot; the first game when I would have another angel back from another fracture; and the first game with our two new players. All that in the pleasant foothills of TN.

As always, I was somewhat nervous. I spent the solitary drive up windy Hwy 321 thinking and rethinking field combinations. I guessed we'd be playing some good teams, but not knowing the ability of the teams (or parent club) gave me pause.

In any case, our first two games went well. The scores (4-0 and 3-0) did not reflect the toughness of the teams we played. Our third game (a 9.30 am battle in seemingly freezing weather) was a toughie, but we eeked out a goalless tie.

That set up a last game that we really needed to win to avoid a final game (to win on points).

The last game was one we should have supposedly won easily on paper. However, the other team came out swinging. They scored in the first few minutes.

Fortunately, we put one in almost immediately after, and put two more grit goals in to seal the victory and the tournament top spot.

Great outing, my angels are champions, and they did it in style. 10 goals for, 1 against. I am so very proud!

Go Lightning!


Sent via my BlackBerry.

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10 Crucial Youth Ministry Laws

Youth ministry is a tightrope over a minefield. Youth pastors have to learn early that once you lose the facade of respect, you have lost the battle.

I do have a couple of pointers for the rookies and vets alike. They are gleaned from things I have seen. They don't teach these in seminary.

Of course, none of these were perpetuated by me.


1) Never use the word "chillax" at all. Ever. Period.

2) Do not get faux tattoos. Nothing kills your juice like cheap ink smears.

3) Resist the urge to use urban slang. Do not call the young ladies "shawtie" or the guys "cats." Terms like those are very easily considered offensive by the untrained ear, and you could get arrested. Seriously. Ask The Kingsmen about Louie, Louie.

4) Crying is cool, but like shrimp and William Shatner, moderation is key.

5) There is no law that I am aware of that forces youth pastors to dye their hair blonde. There is no biblical exhortation either. Unless you are a biblical Nazarene (like Samson), regular haircuts and dos work just fine. Think about Eminem and Grace Jones. They are not youth pastors.

6) Don't challenge your youth to dunk contests.

7) Don't challenge your youth parents to dunk contests.

8) Don't invite your mother to speak to your youth group, unless she has lockjaw, mouth surgery or is otherwise unable to talk. Nothing hurts your ministry more than anecdotes of you running down the street naked at age three. Pictures hurt more.

9) No dancing. It is a lose-lose proposition. You'll either look like a Tin Man impersonator or a video hoochie. Definitely don't do splits. When you do splits, nothing is gained; there is plenty that can be lost.

10) Never be too embarrassed to say the phrase "I don't know" in response to a difficult question.


Prayin' for ya!


Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Soccer Life Lessons.

Sometimes, the important things in life can get hidden behind fear.

This weekend, again, I relearned a few life lessons.

1) Courage comes in difference sizes. It can appear in a 5'2" frame, carried off the field of play with a serious fracture, or in a 5'7" frame who is hurt but refuses to leave her teammates, and every height in between.

2) Courage doesn't always mean confronting your fears head on, on time. Sometimes, it means coming back to be there for your team before it is too late.

3) Nothing -- exhaustion, superior numbers, seeing a friend rushed to hospital -- nothing is bigger than pure heart. Want to know the definition of team? Come watch Lightning play.

4) Nothing is more overwhelming than a bunch of 11-yr olds looking at you for direction. Trust personified.

5) You realize that even though some players may support Virginia Tech or Notre Dame or (God forbid) Duke, they are still angels in your book. After all, it is usually the parents who are making horrible mistakes. Not everybody is nice enough to be a Carolina fan.

Win or lose, these ladies have won my heart, and I am learning, at the very least, as much from them as they are learning from me.

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What a weekend...

Wow.

So, it started well enough. We won our game on Saturday. Not our prettiest showing. We scored "grunt" goals, and a defensive miscue led to a goal conceded, but a 3-1 win is something to celebrate.

Sunday was a nightmare.

We were scheduled to play one of the top teams in our league. I had broken my toe the day before, so I was already a little less than optimal.

The game started... we were doing well (if a little gun shy). A few minutes into the game, one of my players went down and didn't get up. As was customary, I ran out to check on her as play was stopped.

I was slightly concerned when I found her crying, knowing she is generally one to pop back up after collisions. I became more concerned when she couldn't move and I had to carry her off the field.

My heart froze when I saw her ankle. By this time, her parents and my manager had made it to us on the sideline. After looking at her leg, we made the immediate decision to take her to the emergency room. I suspected that her ankle was broken.

So, I returned the game really bummed out. The girls were bummed out too. The rest of the half was a blur.

As for the game itself, I was now down to eight players (no subs). Then, another of my ladies fell sick right before the second half began. Yep, I had to play the opposing team a player down. I also had to spend halftime talking and settling my ladies (and myself) down.

I made the adjustments, killing one wing, and then consolidating the middle. Somehow, exhausted, my girls rose to the occasion, and actually controlled the game.

At one point, one of my players went down. She needed to come off, but she looked up, saw her teammates needed her, and jumped up on one foot. To be careful, I took her off anyway, so we we had to play down two players for a spell.

Somehow, some way, it ended at zeros. I was so proud!

Went to the hospital afterwards. Sherry had broken her heel, and was about to be operated upon. It broke my heart to see her in her hospital room.

The operation was a success, and yesterday, we skipped practice to hang out with Sherry at home. Great time. Sherry will be gone for 10 weeks. We also found out that my other player who broke her heel should be back with us next week.

Crazy weekend!


Sent via my BlackBerry.

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The latent racism of 8-ball

Incredibly, it had never occurred to me before. Ever.

It was during my freshman year at college. My friends and I were on campus, and we were actively taking advantage of the resources available. We were treating ourselves to a game of pool. Winner retained the table; challengers paid the dollar necessary unpocket the balls.

I was playing L, who was a shark in his own right. He had dreadlocks, and always had the aura of being deep inn thought. In retrospect, it is clear now that he was deep into something of a more organic nature; but for eighteen and nineteen yr-olds, he was cool.

I was lining up for shot. With the sticks in the game room, you needed a periscope and prayer to overcome the bowed equipment.

"Have you ever analyzed the racism involved?" he asked out the blue.

"Huh?" I had long since realized that I wold never make a living off the cue table; still, I needed all the concentration I could get. Starting what I assumed was gonna be a treatise on the socio-economic status of African Americans in the Dirty South was not going to help me at this moment.

He persisted. "Why is the object of the game to use the white ball to knock in every colored ball, and to finally knock the black ball in?"

"What?" That truly went over my head.

"You have to look at the big picture, man. Nothing is ever how it seems. Pool is an expression of white superiority."

I stood up.

I don't claim to be a great thinker. However, this bothered me. I cannot believe I never noticed this and came to this conclusion. In other words, I honestly thought he was pulling my leg.

He wasn't. He was dead serious.

Now, I had a problem. Since I had so clearly fallen prey to the subliminal message, I had a limited amount of time to recoup our loss. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was easier said than done:

1) Switching the cue ball and the 8-ball does not work. Really. If you're playing on the pay-to-play type tables, don't scratch; it'll get expensive. Plus, everybody (black and white) will look at you funny.

2) Billiards is just way to pretentious for regular people (pretentious, as used here, is a euphemism for complex). Real Gs play pool.

3) Bowling doesn't work. Yeah, on the surface, what is better than 10 white pins waiting on a gleaming globe of ebony to knock 'em down? Well, you try finding an all-black ball that fits correctly at the bowling alley. And how do spares work in the big picture? What about midnight bowling? Too many unexplained variables.

4) Dominoes and oreos just confuse me.

I am not trying to make light of a serious issue; I want to kick the door in. I believe that while issues do exist in the real world, we all need to focus on the numerous ones that are out in the open, versus grasping at supposed concepts buried in the ground.

Today, it is trendy to get fired up. About something. About anything. For example, I am furious with Meck County for closing the game fields this weekend. I am not too happy about Argentina winning soccer gold at the Olympics, and I am quite ticked about Chuck Norris singing the opening theme to Walker, Texas Ranger.

Love supersedes a lot of wrongs, including theme songs and 8-ball conspiracies. Preaching acceptance is easy, but practicing it is a whole different concept. And, I am aiming that to a different demographic than you may have initially guessed. The only thing worse than letting an ill-doing hold one back is allowing a perceived ill hold the same weight.

I don't think we ever finished that game. I wonder if I could get my dollar back.

Another big shout-out to Brent and Dennis. If they are cue balls, they are the type that knock change into occurring.

Much thanks to Reijii and rlr77 for making their fantastic work available via Creative Commons License on Flickr.

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Am I the next Billy Graham?

Loved this writeup by ProdigalJon, blogger extraordinaire. As I commented on his site, I almost qualify, but the ridiculous Grape Nuts requirement was asking for too much...

Love hitting that site...

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Ministry Hues

It hit me, somewhat literally, a few years back.

I was in a training class, learning strategies on how to deal with teenage girls in a Christian setting. As usual, the trainer led us through pre-class worship, a cappella. Today, as promised, he was taking our pre-conference staple to a new level. He brought a tape deck.

After we finished, still caught up in the alternative tunes still playing, he asked me what I thought of the music. I replied that it was okay, which was true; I liked it. He was dismayed by my answer.

“Cool? How about Dy-No-Mite!!!! You cannot tell me that you don’t love this band. I don’t believe that you don’t have their CD.”

Somewhat fearfully, I intimated that I did not know the band at all, much less own any of their material. Big mistake.

In a fit of panic, our instructor jumped up, flailing his hand, and his pen flew out and clunked me in the head. Amid his apology, I made a mental note to clone his CD collection for private study to protect my health.

“You have to be kidding me… you have not worshipped to this?! What about Sonicflood?” He proceeded to rattle off the names of several Christian rock and alternative bands. To each, I had to reluctantly admit to not being a fan. He was beside himself.

After an awkward pause, I found the courage to ask him a question.

“You ever listened to Trin-i-tee 5:7?”

“No. Who is he?”

“They are a female gospel trio. Huge following,” I supplied.

“Oh… no… never heard of them.” He became thoughtful. “Touché.”

Believe it or not, I was not on a crusade that very moment. While I did feel smug, I honestly was not trying to go for a civil rights victory. I do believe that despite all the time we had spent together, this was the first time he noticed me. Yeah, he knew I was black; I am sure that he knew that I would never be able to give candid advice on which sun tan lotion to use. However, I think it finally occurred to him that culturally, I was a little different, and I am not sure he knew what to do with that.

Since I have lived in mostly huge metro regions in the south, I am familiar with the oft-recounted tales of Sunday Morning, the so-called Most Segregated Day in America. Being the son of immigrants, an exposure to cultural diversity was a priority. Thus, we attended mixed congregations, but almost always defaulted to predominately white churches. Going to college in Chapel Hill reinforced this norm.

Of course, when I started working in the church, I gravitated to the same; mixed membership churches where I could fit in but not disappear. I prided myself with the ability to learn how to adapt to any environment without losing my own personality. I was able to retain my love for gospel music and urban mannerisms even while worshipping with the suburban folks. However, my first few forays into youth ministry left me feeling like a poorly-cast understudy of Sidney Poitier in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

One time, when I arrived for an interview, the confused church secretary had me wait in the foyer for a half hour while she held what must have been an emergency conference with the senior pastor. Seeing an African American show up in a suit and tie was just too much for the sweet lady’s sensibilities.

She came out of the office, and asked again, “Are you Tre?”

“Yes, Ma’am” I replied.

“Are you sure?”

Strangely, I did get an offer from that church, so I guess it could have been worse, particularly since I never thought to double check my identity.

At one church at which I served, I got to meet the parent of one of my more active teens. He did not regularly attend church, but had heard about me a great deal, he said via email, and had been browbeaten into attending our Fall social. When I walked up to him, he actually shook my hand and walked by me and introduced himself to our senior pastor, thinking that it was me.

No sweat… I figured he’d come back eventually. He did.

It was easy to justify the resentment that built up. During a job hunt, one pastor was honest enough to tell me that I was perfect for a position, but that due to recent issues, the appointment of a black person could potentially split the church.

Honesty hurts sometimes.

See, I just refuse to see things as black and white (pardon the pun). Humbly, I have seen way more than most people will see in terms of pain. I spent time being tortured because of my faith when I was a teen, and most of the physical and mental pain was inflicted by people who outwardly looked like me. At the end of the day, there is a simple choice to be made: I can either use differences as a crutch, or I can roll with it. In fact, allowing people into my soul allows me to accept them, and hopefully be a good reflection of the One we serve.

Race will be a hot button topic for years to come. Globalization has ensured that we have had to get closer, maybe faster than we were comfortable with. Tough.

There has always been an unspoken rule… things that black guys shouldn’t do. Like skiing. Or whitewater rafting and skydiving. Some would add swimming competitively to the mix. In any case, to keep my Urban Card active, there were activities I could not enjoy.

I have been the black youth guy, the token staff mixer, the lone injection of culture and the beacon of integration. I used to resent being the standard bearer. Now, I think it is somewhat of an opportunity: an opportunity to broaden my own horizons. Learning that it is not my mission to integrate the races was a humbling, but necessary step in my own spiritual journey.

The answer is not throwing in the towel and choosing to return to secular work; it isn’t becoming a race martyr in my own mind. It is simply acknowledging the good, forgiving the bad and remembering that people will be people.

Standards today are different than they were decades ago. I am less of an anomaly, and that is a good thing. We minister to people with varied backgrounds. The lines that separate the races are blurring, and some mores of old are fading to obscurity. My job is to make sure that I don’t settle for being the diversity quota; I can be an agent of change

So, I did go skiing. Most of the trip was spent reflecting on how something so seemingly pure and beautiful could inflict so much pain. My ego will forever be scarred by the little kids who pointed and giggled at my predicament on the zero-degree bunny slopes. Years of playing soccer could not prepare me for the sore shins I obtained. God may have intended for minorities to ski, but I am thankful He did not make it a requirement to get to heaven. Even watching snowboarding on TV makes me break out into sweats.

When I think about it, through the years, I have felt most accepted by the teens themselves. I have been blessed to mentor teens that see me through colorblind eyes. And at the end of the day, that is what it’s all about right?

Recently, after an especially strenuous game session that preceded our Saturday youth meeting, my hope that I would be given a few minutes to lick my wounds and catch my breath were thwarted by Stephen, one of my newer young people. We had talked about haircuts a while back, and he had wondered about the texture of my hair. Why did I have my hair cut it so often, he asked.

“Well, we black dudes tend to do that.” I said without really thinking.

He looked at me, and in complete astonishment, said, “That’s right! You aren’t white!”

Now, Stephen looked down at me and told me he thought I was great (he must not have seen me play snatch the bacon).

Perplexed and humbled, I looked at him wordlessly.

“When I grow up, I wanna be cool like you. I want to love God and work with the difficult kids like me.” And with that, he walked away.

While I do admit I have seriously considered adding that to my email signature in bright orange with a link to audio attached, in my more lucid moments, I am unashamed to say that in that instant, I am quite sure I got more from him than he did for me. Forget culture. I want to learn from people like him, and I thank God for showing me how important that is.

White water rafting is on hold for the time being. Hey, we all have our limits…

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Bittersweet Symphony

So, Sunday was a mixed basket.

On the positive side, my team bounced back and effected a convincing 6-0 victory. 2-0 at the half. We keep on getting better.

Now, for the sad stuff. One of my players was hurt during the game, and left bleeding. She is okay. Another player was hurting after the game. Well, today, I found out that her foot is broken.

Tough cookies, this lot. Incredibly resilient, and hard as steel, but real angels.

I hate when my players get hurt...

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Funny how things work out...

So, I wrote earlier that I had $50 stolen from me on Saturday. We are on the tightest of budgets during this transition, so we have been more careful than usual.

My wife did her best to console me, but I was quite upset.

In any case, we visited my Twit pal Derek at the church he pastors on Sunday (okay... "Twit pal" sounded cooler in my head). The youth ran service, and we had a blast. Pastor Scott's message was on point, and the worship was sorely needed. As we left to introduce ourselves to Derek, right after offering, this guy -- a complete stranger -- furtively squeezed a C-note into my wife's hand.

Quite confused, we continued out into the lobby, where Derek and I "met" each other.

After introducing each other to our respective spouses and laughing about Twitter, I told him about the gift, and why we had to give it back.

He was genuinely unfazed.

"That is the type of people we have here. I am sure he felt God stated you had a need, and he listened."

He ignored my prideful protestations. "He blessed you. That's what people do."

That simple... and he was right.

I'd love to say that I listened, and that my pride allowed me to humbly accept.

I ran around the church looking for this person. Without success.

Later on, during quiet time, I allowed myself to focus on what I was supposed to learn. Was I too concerned about perception to accept a blessing? Or am I man enough to be graceful while adding an important clause in my mind to bless others as well?

Thank you, Lord, for being good even when I too dumb to appreciate it.

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Hanging wit' the Police

Not my best day.

We played our sister team today. It was a game I would frankly like back, and I am quite sure that my ladies feel the same.

To summarize, we gave up a goal early, and it took a concerted effort to pull out the tie in the dying minutes.

The opposing coach was masterful with her game plan, and used her players in a very clinical way. I still cannot get away from the fact that I was not able to get my girls to clinch a victory.

Then, we discovered that one of our parents cars was broken into. The crooks got away with just under $1000 in cash, an iPod, a pocket book full of personal effects amongst other things.

My car was rifled through, but I did not notice anything taken; my Blackberry, bluetooth headset and cardholder were left untouched. I figured that my delayed car alarm spooked them off in the act.

Stuff like that burns me. Having dealt with fraud and dishonesty at the corporate level, any type of theft infuriates me, and reawakens the thirst for putting such people away.

So, I hung with my player, her mom and sister waited for the police to arrive to take down a preliminary report. Seeing how dejected they were ripped at my heart strings. This particular player is recovering from a broken foot, but is still there for spot duty; never complains, and is always there for our team. Like the rest of my ladies, seeing her hurt made me wanna go for the baseball bat.

When I got home, it hit me. I almost never carry cash; I always have an emergency $50.00 stashed in my work bag. Well, guess what was missing from the car (along with paperwork, game paraphernalia and a keyboard)?

What a day...


Sent via my BlackBerry.

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