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Post # 500!!!

To celebrate 500 posts on this little blog I've decided to list my 5 favorite posts.

In posts 0-99:  Where's The Bathroom?

In posts 100-199: Welcome to Cardinal's Nation

In posts 200-299: 52 (Chick-fil-A)

In posts 300-399: Communicating With Students

In posts 400-499: Camp and Cheeseburgers

Sabbath

Merry Christmas

This year is really fun because it feels like we are establishing some really fun traditions.   Since I work for a church we have to do Christmas a little bit differently when it comes to traveling.  This morning (Christmas eve) we woke up and pretended it was Christmas day.  Huge breakfast, stockings, presents, and lots of fun.  Just the 4 of us.  This afternoon I've been at the last 4 of our Christmas eve services.  And then Rachel, the kids, and I are heading out on Christmas morning to Northern Indiana to spend time with our family and some friends.

I think some traditions we create.  But some traditions just happen.  Regardless, traditions are fun.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

If you need to smile...watch the video below.

Isaiah 9:6

Middle Schoolers get it

One of the things we talk about a lot around here at The Crossing is Advent Conspiracy.  We are passionate about creating a movement where we push back on consumerism around the holidays and give towards causes around the world that will help those in need.  The particular cause we support is Living Water International.  Unclean drinking water is the leading cause of death and disease in the world.  Living Water digs wells that provides clean water. 

We didn't put together a huge marketing campaign complete with the huge thermometer showing our progress.  We didn't make a competition out of it.  We didn't give prizes.

We just talked about Advent Conspiracy.  We talked about Living Water.  We talked about how we can actually make the water crisis in the world go away.  We talked about getting a little bit less and giving some away.

And a bunch of 11 to 14 year old Middle school students got it.

Just this last week money started pouring in.  It started with one girl who worked with some teachers and other students at her school.  Then small groups got involved collecting loose change.  Individuals threw in money.  Parents matched money raised.  It was a little revolution.  And it was beautiful.

So far these Middle school students raised over $2,000!  And the best part about it is that I think they get it.  I think they understand what they are doing.  I think they are doing it to help.  I think they are doing it because that is what Jesus is calling them to do.

Comfortable

I read this today...

“fix you” by coldplay has been one of my favorite songs for a while.  although it’s incredibly moving in any scenario, there’s a striking difference when you listen to it while driving through the streets of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.  it’s unexplainable.  it was like listening to a new song today.  and as i think about it, ANY song you listen to takes on a completely different form when listened to in the surroundings of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  There’s something about this place…a certain heaviness…that makes art seem more potent.

I am moved by music and art.  The problem is I am too comfortable.  I don't need to go to Haiti to get uncomfortable.  But I do need to be shaken up.  I need to be moved.  I need to sense the depth and potency of the art around me.

When it rains it pours

It seems as if our family goes for long periods of time without being sick.  And then it starts sprinkling, and then raining.  Well, it's now pouring.

Just before Thanksgiving Claire got a nasty cold.

Then Caden got the cold....
Then I got the cold...
And now I still have the cold and Rachel got a stomach bug.

Rachel and I are both on the up. 

Here's hoping the stomach bug doesn't get passed around.

Down time

This next few weeks are going to be very busy for our "big church" people.  Preparing for 10 Christmas eve services is quite the feat and will have people running like mad.  We in the youth ministry have quite the opposite scenario.  After our Wednesday night and Sunday night programs this week we have about 3 weeks off.

So rather than sleeping in and playing solitaire in the office I am going to work on some strategic things during this down time.

1. Organization:  What are things that I need to get reorganized and restructured.  What administrative things need attention that have been neglected.  
   • For me I need to reorganize our volunteer paperwork (back ground checks, applications, next steps, etc).  I also need to spend some time with some key leaders reorganizing our orientation process.
2. Creative:  What are some creative things I need to pay attention to and spend some time on.  What are some projects I haven't been able to get to because I need some creative "white space" to get in the mood. 
   
   • I need to spend some time researching and writing for some of our series for next semester.  I also need to start putting some thoughts down for different articles that I have had running around my head the past few months.
3. Long range planning:  What are some things I can start planning for the future.  Things that are hard to wrap my mind around when in the midst of a hectic schedule. 
   
   • I need to keep thinking about summer and next fall.  What are some events we need to continue to reach out and what are some ways we can help our middle school kids serve a little more.
4. Relational time:  Who are some people I need to spend some time with?  I often find myself running pretty quickly, sometimes with a pretty specific agenda. 
   
   • I need to find some time to have some face to face time with a few people with no agenda.  "How are you?"

And then it will be January....

Thursday Randomness

• I got to share a little bit at St. Louis|ONE this morning.  St. Louis|ONE is a really cool group of youth workers in the St. Louis area who get together to talk, share, inspire, and encourage each other.  We've only been doing it for a little less than a year, but I think it has potential to be something really great.
• I got a letter from the United States Senate today.
• Adam and Allison are coming over tonight.  Allison made me a birthday dinner and now we are returning the favor.
• I will watch The Office.  And then I will go to bed.  Stupid cold.

Perspective

Confession:  I'm judgmental, quick to critique, and all around not a very nice guy.  And no this isn't just me being self-deprecating.  It's just one of those things I deal.  I wrestle a lot with it. I pray about it.  I talk about it.  I try to keep it in check.  I learn from it.

Lately what I'm learning is that one of the best ways to battle being judgmental is through perspective.  Getting more information and getting a different view of things changes everything. 

Perspective is an interesting concept isn’t it.  I love photography and one of the things that helps capture a shot is perspective.  Just the right angle, just the right light, just the right moment, just the right perspective and you’ve got it.

Or how about the day after finals.  Talk about perspective right.  The weeks leading up to finals and the actual finals week is insane.  And then we get to the day after, breathe a sigh of relief, and realize it wasn’t quite as bad as it seemed.

That's what I'm trying to do with people.  Get more information.  Ask more questions.  Wait.  Realize there is more going on.  Listen.  Love.