Catching up

Well, I've done a pretty rotten job of keeping up to date in this blog. Even though I am the only one who ever reads this, I like to imagine that there are many out there who live their lives waiting for my next post. We both know that's entirely fictional.
Random thoughts:
Lot of snow and cold. School cancelled since Wednesday, so really long weekend considering Monday is MLK day. Trying to change insurances to something with more coverage and something with dental too. It amuses me hearing about all the excitement leading up to "the first black president". More hype and build-up, more impossible expectations, more failure to live up to same impossible expectations, more disappointment, more searching for a "savior": my predictions concerning the 44th president. Just went to a men's prayer breakfast this morning, enjoyed the candid conversations. Need to get the door to our minivan fixed because it won't latch shut when it's very cold out. And I just bought two new needed tires for my car. I was trying to decide whether to take the youth group to a winter camp-more expensive, or a day ski trip-less activity and fun. So I'll do both and hope enough can do each to make it worthwhile. And at the end of this month I have both a parents meeting about the next 4 months and a mission trip meeting.
Speaking of mission trip: we are going to Monterrey in July to help local churches put on a VBS in their neighborhoods. We are driving to McAllen, Texas and meeting Juan Curling (a friend from college) and he is the one who heads up the transportation, meals, and activities inside Mexico. We'll be driving 3 days down and 3 days back. Sounds like a lot, but actually it's a full-2 day drive so making it into 3 will make it easier for all involved. I'm very excited as I haven't been to Mexico since 11th grade and it was the best trip of my life to that point. We will have a pretty full van load with stuff in a trailer too.
Family is continuing to grow and learn. I love the extra time I get to spend sometimes with my kids and yet I enjoy being by myself as well. Normal stresses continue, but God takes care of all as He sees fit. And I need to thank Him more for that.

2 weeks off-that weren't really "off"

Man, I'm back in the office for my first official day back since Christmas break. And what a break it was! We spent a week in Michigan going back and forth between the two families (my family and the in-laws). Had a great time, saw plenty of snow, then saw it all melt, got some good gifts including a new power drill I desperately needed, some youth ministry and youth culture books, food, etc... Then when we came back, I was in charge of the New Year's Eve-Eve service and so I talked about being burned out because we don't abide in Christ. Then showed the movie The Printing. That seemed to be enjoyed pretty well by all who were there. New Year's Eve we went over to some friends house for games and food and hangin' out. The rest of the week I slept in, saw the movie Valkyrie (was good) and did a little office work on Saturday while hanging with one of the boys in the youth group. Yesterday was church and then youth group. I'm going to start meeting down in the fellowship hall instead of the youth room just because of the added room we need.
Anyway, back to work, back to ministry, and back to staying crazy busy. Hopefully, I'll be posting some book reviews and extra stuff this year.
Now to get used to writing 09 instead of 08, which I just got used to writing.

Christmas stuff

Well, I'm feeling a lot better than earlier in the week. I'm getting a lot more colds and stuff and I think it's just life in WV. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Anyway, I'm mostly over the headache, sore throat, and snotty nose and congestion so I'm happy about that. We just had the Christmas program at school last night. It went very well and I guess when you put a little pressure on the kids they actually do better than you expect. As the "spotlight technician" I had the best view of the whole thing and enjoyed my little contribution. Glad it's done though. Today we're having the youth ministry Christmas party at our house. I'm headed out in a second to take Sierra to the church for practice for the church Christmas program tomorrow night and then straight to Walmart to pick up the food and supplies. We'll watch the movie Elf, eat a LOT of good food, play some holiday-themed games, and have a gift exchange. I told the kids to bring a gender-neutral $5 wrapped gift, and then we'll draw numbers to pick the gifts. You can steal someone else's gift but a gift can only be stolen once. Anyway, i think we'll have a good number come so I think the party should be a good one.
Tis the season to be jolly and I actually am in the Christmas mood right now. Can't wait for next week.
Read Luke 2

quicck update

Ugh, feel horrible...nasty cold...won't go away...must make it until I get home...
I'm very tired and the busy holiday isn't helping at all. School Christmas program rehearsals are killing me and then I have a big Christmas party with the youth group at my house this Sat. afternoon. I still have to plan some things for that.
Need to go running but now that my head's throbbing, that's out the window today. And i have Next Step tonight so I get to come back.
I was out Christmas shopping last night and Sat. night. Lots of money spent, but lots accomplished.
Had last Friday's basketball games cancelled for a snow day, don't know if I can make them up or not. Away game this Thursday but I am making the executive decision to not go on this one.
We're having our Christmas morning next Tuesday with the kids and then that afternoon leaving for Michigan to see the families. Should be a busy holiday but a good one.
Remember the true meaning of Christmas!

Quick stuff

Wow, December already. Can't believe it's the holiday season, but hey, it's the most wonderful time of the year!! I really do love the Christmas season and all that goes along with the holiday.
I am extremely busy right now and don't like it as much as when I was only really busy. The AD thing is wearing me out but thank God, the worst is over for now. The schedule's complete, first games in the books and the tip-off tournament (which I have to go on) is tomorrow.
Random thoughts:
1. I don't like the whole bail-out idea that government is in love with now. I like checks in the mail but there has to be a limit somewhere.
2. The girls basketball team lost pretty badly this Tuesday and the guys won pretty easily; which should be the story of this season. We'll see. I have to go see a baskeball game in a couple minutes that one of my girls in my youth group is playing in. Will be a daddy-daughter date.
3. I need to decorate my office more than just 200 multi-colored lights hanging askew overhead. But I'm not creative enough and I'm too cheap to really buy a bunch of neat stuff. Hmmmm, youth group decorating committee?
4.Preaching in tomorrow morning's school chapel and using the Casting Crown's song Slow Fade as the introduction. I want tto show the kids that some of them are on their way down the dangerous slope away form God. Using Psalm 1:1 and the story of Lot in Gen as text.
5. Can't wait to watch The Office tonight. I never would have thought I would say it, but I'm hooked on a national TV network TV show. (How embarassing!)
6. Will get back to this blog when I can

athletic director

Thought i would let you know how the whole athletic director thing is going so far. I was never thrilled with the idea of adding another "hat" to my collection of responsibilities but i enjoy athletics and wanted to do my part and fill in where needed. I am still trying to not be too busy with school stuff and keep "youth pastoring" first, but it is difficult in a church that has a Christian school with it and this makes it worse. Since agreeing to be the AD last week, i have been busy trying to familiarize myself with the scheduling, the different schools, details, etc... The first basketball games for guys and girls start this coming Tuesday and I have still been trying to fill in gaps in the basketball schedule for both guys and girls. I told both coaches I would try to even out what I could but no promises. It is harder than I thought to contact other schools and especially the ones in charge of scheduling games. Plus, I don't know how far away schools are from us and how good or not-so-good they are. For example, just yesterday i scheduled a home-and-away with a team down south from us. I was pretty pleased with myself until I heard from some of the teens that they are triple A while we are single A. In other words, they are totally out of our league. So now I will have to call back and try to think of a good excuse/reason to cancel the two games without saying the words "if we play you your JV could beat our varsity team". "Trial and error" seem to be the phrase that comes to my mind so far. But I have definitely been on a steep learning curve which means that i have to be learning something, right? It will take some time but I will eventually be much more familiar with the schools, teams, normal order of process, and all that jazz. I still have to schedule a couple fund raising events and plan the sports banquet, but that all comes later, and I'm just primarily concerned with finishing the basketball schedules and keeping track of paying the refs, making sure we have the gym when we need it, pacifying the coaches, putting together the half-done stuff that got dumped on me, and more along those lines. In a couple years, it will be all easier and much more clear. But for now, I find myself even worrying about this stuff, which is not like me at all. God help me (as i know He will) and give me wisdom and good decision making!

gym night

Had a great time at the gym night last night. There were some new kids there and some that normally don't come. We had pizza delivered which was a great move and just had the teens pay 3 bucks which covered the pizza and drinks. The games were awesome: a couple different relays using those plastic dolly things with the four wheels and the flat surface, and a different version of dodgeball that the kids really enjoyed. It was a great night overall and I ended with a little challenge about being thankful for fun and friends as well as the "bad things" God gives us. I liked just watching the 22 kids play around and thinking of the potential that is there.