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One of my “hobbies” is shooting and editing video. I recently got a JAG35 adapter for my Canon HV30. One of the things I wanted to get was a rail system for my camera. I decided that I would take this opportunity to build my own. So, here it is. It seems pretty simple, but it was a little harder than I thought. I am excited to see how it works.

This year I am going to try something new. It’s not a resolution, just something that I wanted to do. My goal is that each week in 2010 I will “create” something. It might be a painting or drawing, it might be a video or a picture, it might even be something out of wood or clay. I don’t know exactly what it will be, but I want to start getting the creative juices flowing. So, the plan is to have at least 52 creative thing by the end of the year. I will post them here for you to see, so keep me accountable.

My first project of the year was this video. It was done after our high school retreat. I hope you enjoy it.

I recently asked the question on Twitter, “What would you do if there was more than 24 hours in a day?” I got responses like “sleep”, “eat”, “spend time with my wife”, and my favorite – “complain about not having enough time”. I asked this because I have been wondering how I should be spending my time. Then this question came to me. What if there were less than 24 hours in a day, what would I do? Time would be at a premium, so what is most important? I’m still trying to figure this out, but how would you answer this question?

Several months ago I made a post on here about using the arts in worship. After that first night I made a decision to use these forms of worship for special times. I was wrong. Let me give you a glimpse into what we are doing with worship in our ministry and why. I would love to hear you thoughts on it, and get your help into taking it to a different level.

1. We don’t use a live band to sing with. For one reason, our youth room is not acoustically well designed for a live band, but a bigger reason is that for many youth worship leaders (and adults for that matter) have a hard time separating leading worship and performing for their friends. I’m not saying they can’t, but I think it’s a thin line. So, we use worship DVDs, and honestly, it has been great.
2. Each week we set out paints to paint on the “continuous painting” and markers and crayons and paper on a table, and we have chalk and chalkboards out as well. As we get ready to open up our time of worship, I make sure that the students understand that the room is theirs to respond to God in any way (appropriately) that they feel. They can draw, they can paint, they can write, they can sit quietly, they can sit and read their Bible and journal, they can pray with each other or a leader, or they can stand (or sit) and sing with the worship music playing.

It took a little while, but the students are starting to embrace the idea that worship is not all about standing in rows and singing. I do know that there are other things I need to work on and develop in our worship, but it has been a process.

I want to know how to incorporate live music and students who worship through playing instruments and singing without setting them up to struggle with pride. I want this to be a true time of worship for them. I want to figure out how I can keep this from inadvertently teaching them that we only worship at specific times. I want them to understand that they can worship God at all times in everything they do.

I would never say that this is the way that worship should be done. I don’t claim to be an expert in worship, and I am always worried that I could be doing more harm than good. We will keep trying this and trying to grow, and I will keep praying that God would draw us into authentic worship as a response to His Word and what He is teaching us.

For you viewing enjoyment here is a progression of our painting.

I don’t usually lead a small group during the year. Frankly, there are usually better people to do it, and it frees me up to do other things. This year however I am leading a group of Jr. High boys. They are hilarious and It has been great to lead them. Last night I gave them all nick names. Here’s a picture from last night. It took several tries to get one where we could see everyone’s face.

From Left to Right: “Brick House”, “Squirl”, “Stretch”, “Arm-Pit”, Me, “Crazy Legs” & “Freight Train”

So the football season is upon us and I couldn’t be happier (isn’t that what we say). I love football. I love playing football. I love watching football played at all levels. It is just something that I truly enjoy. This year is different. Not that I won’t watch games, or get excited about great plays, but I have a different “outlook” on the football season this year. The reason is that I have chosen not to play fantasy football at all this year. This will mark the first time in a great many years that I haven’t played. I am usually in at least one league with a bunch of other youth pastors and friends from Moody (I have won this league 3 times). We never played for money, just for pride. I have also been in pick-em leagues and this year I am not.

I don’t have any great spiritual reason that I am not playing fantasy football. I just wanted to return to enjoying a game without having to check to see how my fantasy team is doing. I want to watch football to watch football. I don’t want to have to cheer for guys to have a good game and hope they lose because I hate their team, but they are an important player on my fantasy team. I want to enjoy the game. Pure football.

Of course I make this choice the year Yahoo introduces an app for my iPhone that would allow me to control my team better. Oh well. Let’s go Bears!

Okay, I have always been a “husky” boy. I thought I would give skinny people a glimpse into things they should know when they deal with their fat friends.

1. Never let your fat friend wear a solid purple shirt. It only makes them look like Grimace.
2. Don’t stand behind me without letting me know you are there. Turning around or backing up could be dangerous to you if I don’t know you are there.
3. I know you can’t catch me if I fall. Don’t pretend you can.
4. Don’t make me sit in the middle of a row. Let me have the end. It will be best for everyone.
5. I don’t always want the food you don’t finish. Okay, sometimes I do, but you don’t have to assume I do.
6. It’s okay to laugh when I make a fat joke.
7. Please let us continue to believe that black clothes and vertical stripes make us look slimmer.
8. Don’t make me sit on flimsy chairs. I’ll just stand.
9. No, I have never put an all-you-can-eat buffet out of business. Thanks for asking.
10. If I’m wearing a red shirt, “Hey Kool-Aid” gets old really fast!

Do you have any others to add to this list?