I stole this from Katie's Facebook info page.
Katie:
(Sarcastically) "Oh, I'm sorry...Jesus must not have been right when he said good things happen when you do good to others."
Joey:
Actually, it was good things happen to those who wait, and it was Heinz who said it- not Jesus.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Youth Ministry Stories #2 (Lindsey Neislar vs. Heather's elbow)
I am compiling stories for the past 17 years of youth ministry. This one is from First Presbyterian Church, in Athens Georgia. Heather and I were newlyweds. I worked there around 2000-2002.
Youth Ministry #2 (Lindsey Neislar vs. Heather's elbow)
We were hosting a “Disciple Now” event with a handful of other churches. All of the students, about 150 total, spent Friday night and Saturday morning doing bible study, prayers, and worship, and Saturday afternoon we visited a nursing home. Afterward, we loaded up our 15 passenger van and began a 30 minute drive to our final event of the weekend.
I was driving the van, and my wife, Heather, was sitting in the middle of the seat behind me. Directly behind her was Lindsey Neislar, a middle schooler, and Kevin Weir, one of our high schoolers.
Heather was a newbie to FPC who the object of punishment from the youth, and Lindsey and Kevin made it their objective to aggravate her, which I wholeheartedly encouraged.
As a part of this torture, Kevin had delivered one of his famous theories on life. According to Kevin (at the time) people were really made of marshmallows. I could go on to answer all of your questions as to why he felt this way, but we'll all be smarter if I just skip it.
Lindsey thought this was an excellent theory, and went on to tease Heather, "I am really hunger right now. I think some marshmallow would do the trick." Lindsay kept pretending to lean forward and bite the elbow of Heather (who had rested her arm over the seat). Several minutes was all Heather could bear, so she threatened him, "If you don't stop, I'm going to elbow you in the face." Now, Heather would never actually do this, but...
Well, you can call it fate, destiny, God's provenience, but as Heather lifted her elbow to symbolically show her threat, I hit a HUGE pothole in the road. Lindsey's face did indeed met Heather's elbow as the bump in the road lurched him forward into it.
Lindsey immediately grabbed his nose and put his face down in his lap. When he sat back up a few seconds later his nose was pouring blood. Heather was bouncing around the van in a panic trying to find paper towels and saying “sorrysorrysorrysorry” over and over. Lindsey, however, had begun laughing and trying to cup the blood so it would not get all over the van. We missed the last “Disciple Now” session trying to clean up his face and the van. I had to get the rental van shampooed.
Needless to say, the marshmallow theory was never mentioned again.
Youth Ministry #2 (Lindsey Neislar vs. Heather's elbow)
We were hosting a “Disciple Now” event with a handful of other churches. All of the students, about 150 total, spent Friday night and Saturday morning doing bible study, prayers, and worship, and Saturday afternoon we visited a nursing home. Afterward, we loaded up our 15 passenger van and began a 30 minute drive to our final event of the weekend.
I was driving the van, and my wife, Heather, was sitting in the middle of the seat behind me. Directly behind her was Lindsey Neislar, a middle schooler, and Kevin Weir, one of our high schoolers.
Heather was a newbie to FPC who the object of punishment from the youth, and Lindsey and Kevin made it their objective to aggravate her, which I wholeheartedly encouraged.
As a part of this torture, Kevin had delivered one of his famous theories on life. According to Kevin (at the time) people were really made of marshmallows. I could go on to answer all of your questions as to why he felt this way, but we'll all be smarter if I just skip it.
Lindsey thought this was an excellent theory, and went on to tease Heather, "I am really hunger right now. I think some marshmallow would do the trick." Lindsay kept pretending to lean forward and bite the elbow of Heather (who had rested her arm over the seat). Several minutes was all Heather could bear, so she threatened him, "If you don't stop, I'm going to elbow you in the face." Now, Heather would never actually do this, but...
Well, you can call it fate, destiny, God's provenience, but as Heather lifted her elbow to symbolically show her threat, I hit a HUGE pothole in the road. Lindsey's face did indeed met Heather's elbow as the bump in the road lurched him forward into it.
Lindsey immediately grabbed his nose and put his face down in his lap. When he sat back up a few seconds later his nose was pouring blood. Heather was bouncing around the van in a panic trying to find paper towels and saying “sorrysorrysorrysorry” over and over. Lindsey, however, had begun laughing and trying to cup the blood so it would not get all over the van. We missed the last “Disciple Now” session trying to clean up his face and the van. I had to get the rental van shampooed.
Needless to say, the marshmallow theory was never mentioned again.
Friday, October 16, 2009
3 Rules for CCSM Leaders and Facebook
3 Rules for CCSM Leaders and Facebook
We love that our volunteers are on Twitter and Facebook! It seems like everyone is enjoying the benefits of social networking these days. Most use the technology to our groups’ benefit, though from time to time we’ve had to have conversations about leaders putting thing online that are inappropriate. Apply these three simple guidelines when updating social networks:
Remember what you post is public
Here’s the big deal – a joke that is funny between a few friends might not be funny at all out of context or in the harsh light of public view. Remember that everything you post – picture, status update or essay, becomes completely public the second you push submit. You can never really take it back once its out there, so be wise and use discernment with everything you post.
Remember what you post influences students
Your students are checking out your profile. They look up to you. They are eager to make a connection with you, and since they’re always on Facebook they’ll almost always see what you post. But it is so much more than just seeing – what you say, what you value, what you show yourself doing – it all influences students – the good, bad and ugly. When you give an inch, they may take it a mile. Of course, it works the other way as well, when you use social media positively, it can have a significant encouraging influence on them, too.
Remember what you post is a reflection on CCSM and Christ Church
Your character and faith is reflected in every post that you make so if you are doubtful about something, here’s a simple rule to follow: DON’T POST IT. Just like behavior on a youth ministry trip is a reflection on the church and student ministry, know that what you post adds or detracts to the reputation of the church and ministry … and ultimately Christ.
(Josh Griffin-Morethandodgeball.com)
We love that our volunteers are on Twitter and Facebook! It seems like everyone is enjoying the benefits of social networking these days. Most use the technology to our groups’ benefit, though from time to time we’ve had to have conversations about leaders putting thing online that are inappropriate. Apply these three simple guidelines when updating social networks:
Remember what you post is public
Here’s the big deal – a joke that is funny between a few friends might not be funny at all out of context or in the harsh light of public view. Remember that everything you post – picture, status update or essay, becomes completely public the second you push submit. You can never really take it back once its out there, so be wise and use discernment with everything you post.
Remember what you post influences students
Your students are checking out your profile. They look up to you. They are eager to make a connection with you, and since they’re always on Facebook they’ll almost always see what you post. But it is so much more than just seeing – what you say, what you value, what you show yourself doing – it all influences students – the good, bad and ugly. When you give an inch, they may take it a mile. Of course, it works the other way as well, when you use social media positively, it can have a significant encouraging influence on them, too.
Remember what you post is a reflection on CCSM and Christ Church
Your character and faith is reflected in every post that you make so if you are doubtful about something, here’s a simple rule to follow: DON’T POST IT. Just like behavior on a youth ministry trip is a reflection on the church and student ministry, know that what you post adds or detracts to the reputation of the church and ministry … and ultimately Christ.
(Josh Griffin-Morethandodgeball.com)
New Small group leader for some CCSM Leaders
@MaybeKt So thankful we got a small group leader--my only small group leader I've ever had and one of the most spiritually capable women I know :)
Great news about Priscilla being Katie and Desiree Duff's new small group leader. Awesome. Woo Hoo.
Great news about Priscilla being Katie and Desiree Duff's new small group leader. Awesome. Woo Hoo.
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