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Emerson and ABC's

Emerson has been working hard on those elusive letters of the alphabet... enjoy!

Happy Birthday Shaula!

Our daughter Shaula celebrates her 18th birthday today!  Being 32 myself, many people wonder how I could have a daughter that age.  And it's true, Shaula and her sister did not come to us in the usual way.  They are our foster daughters.  Well, at least that's what they used to be.  You see, it used to be this "arrangement".  We were to take care of these girls and the foster care agency would monitor us and pay us for providing care.  But all that is gone now... except the girls.  In the three years that they have been with us there has been a transformation in my heart and in our family.  In the place of foster care now stand two beautiful young ladies that I call my daughters.  

Shaula, today is your day!  I am grateful to our Creator and Savior that we have been brought together... that you are truly family.  I love you and I am so proud of you!  Happy birthday sweetie!

Shaula (right) with Crit!

Shaula showin' some skill in DC!

Your Student Ministry Might Be In Trouble If...

#1 - Either you or your leaders love ministry or the students more than you love Jesus!

Let's just put it this way... if you have leaders who spend crazy amounts of time calling students and hanging out with them, but they never spend any time connecting to God's Word or never spend

much time in prayer YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.  If you, as the leader of this ministry, are doing that youhave an even BIGGER PROBLEM!  This isn't going to be the first time I will say something

unpopular in the next few posts, but here is the truth:

If the above describes some you or your leaders there is a good chance the motivation to work with

students is to fulfill some kind of self-worth issue, and not because there is a passion to see Jesus come alive in your students.

There is some powerful Scripture both here and here that describe what our attitude needs to be

toward our walk with Christ and to the ministry He gives to us.  

Where are you?  Where are your leaders?

#2 tomorrow.

 

Change

Many people ask the question, "Why?".  Why do things need to be different in student ministry all the time?  I could spend some time answering this question, or we could just consider this one thing: how much time are those who lead our culture spending on finding ways to attract students?  Are the things that attract you to what you like also effective in reaching those who are younger?  Most likely not.

In May/June of 2008, a group of 164 executives were asked what they felt were the most effective tools in reaching the current generation of Middle and High School students.  Check out their response here.  

We provide change in student ministry because it's necessary.  We have the most powerful, timeless message of all time in the story of Jesus Christ.  I WILL NOT dress it up in yesterday's fashion and try to sell it to today's students.  If Jesus is the best thing we could ever provide to students, doesn't it deserve to be the absolute best presentation?  Jesus thinks so.  He said it pretty well here.

Think about it... more on this tomorrow.

Today is YOUR Election Day

Many of us have already been "out there" this morning and witnessed the craze.  Masses of people waiting in line for well over two hours to cast their vote.  Many people are casting aside their typical reasons for voting, and voting based on categories that have rarely ruled an election in our nation's history.  Regardless of which way I vote, I am encouraged by the passion of our country to let their voice be heard... no matter how small.  

But there is something that troubles me.  Where are the people that care so much today, tomorrow?  Somehow, our nation has come to a place where we believe that our responsibility ends when someone slaps an "I voted" sticker on our chest.  We carelessly hand the reigns over to the officials that we have elected and go home somehow thinking it's "no longer our problem".  

I want to challenge you to consider today to be your election.  I vote for you.  You have what it takes to make your community better.  You have what it takes to help our nation back to health.  If you are willing to stand in line for hours to cast your one small vote, then I believe you are also willing to let your one small voice be heard on any other day of the year.  

Let your voice be heard... tomorrow... and the next day, and watch your one voice have the power to shake the world.  

There are no words...

So we open our mail today, and here is what was awaiting me...

For the record... I am 32.  This is bogus, and I want some heads to roll!  Viva la revolucion!  

If the freedom to vote isn't enough...

Tomorrow is the day that determines the course of our country for many years to come.  This is BIG!  And in case you don't respect your freedom to vote enough, Starbucks wants to give you a little motivation.  Take a look... oh, and by the way, a little food for thought: if you don't exercise your freedoms, how long until they are taken away?  I will give you a hint... how long do you keep something around that you don't use?  Think about it.

What if we all cared enough to vote from Evan Courtney on Vimeo.

Accurate Polls?

Check out the statistics from the company that was voted the MOST ACCURATE polling site in the previous election.  They had their statistics down to a difference of only 3/10 of a point!  Maybe things aren't as much to one side as they thought... check it out here!