Winter Camp '09

This past weekend was our youth ministry's Winter Camp. We had a great time on the ridiculous tubing hill and the drive over the pass provided enough memories and inside jokes to last for a long time. The best part however, was seeing the kids engaging God in worship and praying for each other. The last night, after service we were packing up and getting ready to head back over the mountain and I started to feel a tickle in my throat. So now I am fighting a pretty bad cold. I am thankful that it waited until we were done with camp to come on.
The speaker for the camp was Roosevelt Hunter who really connected with the kids. On Sunday morning, he spoke at New Life in the Main Services and absolutely KILLED it! I think the funniest thing he said was in regard to Jesus not being white or black but in the middle: "He was white enough to get into the dignified places but dark enough to eat chicken with the brothas on the weekend."
Roosevelt is dealing with cancer and if you read this, say a prayer for him and his family as they go through it.
Here are some inside jokes from the weekend, you probably won't get any of them but I put them on here for posterity.
Fly Away
Busting Grumpys
"No, I have coffee."
T-Shirt
"Uh, they have good coffee there."
"Ees on dee paper, ees close enough"
"I don't know anything about trailers...I don't know anything about guys either."

Discipline

This is what I ate tonight.

Knucklehead

So this morning I got out of the shower, put my towel on and went downstairs to get something out of the laundry room. My kids were downstairs eating breakfast and as I went in, I heard my youngest say "I saw Dad wearing a Man-skirt!"
Knucklehead.

7 Years

My oldest son turned 7 today. It doesn't seem right. I remember when he was born, feeling so inadequate and feeling like I had no idea how to be a dad. I guess you learn on the job.
I am so proud of the boy he is. He is generous and thoughtful. He is smart and curious. He is excited about life and loves to laugh. He is a good big brother and a well behaved son. He likes to dance when he thinks no one is watching. He likes to sing when he thinks no one is listening. When we ride to school in the morning, he is content in the back seat just thinking and looking out the window. He asks the occasional question or asks whether or not I remember a certain scene from a movie we have watched together, but mostly he is quiet. He is always thinking.
7 years.

The Discipline of Worship

In Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, there are some good insights into worship, among other things. Here is some of what he says:

Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father. Its central reality is found "in spirit and truth." It is kindled within us only when the Spirit of God touches our human spirit. Forms and rituals do not produce worship, nor does the disuse of forms and rituals. We can use all the right techniques and methods, we can have the best possible liturgy (I would add music as well), but we have not worshiped the Lord until Spirit touches spirit."

As a worshiper, how do you (or I) cultivate the atmosphere where "Spirit touches spirit" in our own lives? If you are a worship leader, how do you cultivate that atmosphere in a corporate setting? I would love to hear any thoughts/insights you might have on this.

Sunshine

Sunshine

It's been raining forever.
Promises fall from the sky, broken on the ground,
at least in my mind.
Oh I wish these clouds would break.
To see some blue sky above would lift my soul.
I could use a little sunshine today, just a little sunshine today.

Semi-self-inflicted exclusion
is exclusion nonetheless.
A kind word, a smiling face,
some good news for a change.
I could use a little sunshine today,
Just a little sunshine today.

A River Runs Through It

Last night I got out my favorite movie. A River Runs Through It. It is the story of Norman and his brother Paul, the sons of a Presbyterian minister growing up in early 1900s Montana. I saw it a couple years ago on t.v. and enjoyed the scenery and the fishing. My wife got it for me for Christmas last year on DVD. Watching it now I love it because I connect emotionally with it on 4 levels. I relate as a father, watching two sons grow up. I relate as a son wanting to make a father proud, and I relate as a brother. I relate to the characters' love of nature and fly-fishing as well. It is a beautiful story of love, family and loss set in the beauty of pristine Montana. If you've never seen it, I would highly recommend it.

"Eventually all things merge together, and a river runs through it."