Freudian Slip?

For the first time in my short career as the Minister of Awesomeness - I had my first slip of the tongue. I just mixed up what I was saying. It was pretty hilarious. It wasn’t this bad:

But it was rough. I was talking about the Parable of the Sower and how we need to make sure that the “garden of our life” (whatev) is free of weeds and what not. I was making an illustration about that no one plants weeds. Gardeners don’t plant their corn, green beans, potatoes, and weeds. I followed that up by going further into the illustration. I wanted to say - “So, I am planting the corn and green beans.” Instead - I said, “I am planting weed…” Uh oh. We got a good laugh out of it. Thank God that I wasn’t talking about Lot and pitching tents. I guess this will be the first of probably many “Freudian slips.”

Don’t plant weed. Don’t grow or smoke or sell or distribute weed. Drugs are bad. Don’t worry - I told the students that, too.

Caution: Wet Paint

I have been working on some new ideas.  I am going to possibly change the look of the site all together - but there are new pages for sure.

I realized that I didn’t have a “tag-line” for this blog last night - and it bothered me.  Never fear - I will be adding content to the new pages at the top of the blog.  One will be a more comprehensive list of links.  And one will possibly be a page simply devoted to awesome/hilarious videos.  I hope that this will only enhance your blog visit experience.

That is all.  I will give a better explanation as to what everything is - when they happen.

ADD + Work = (not)Productivity

OK - if you know me, you probably know that I am not exactly the type of person that focuses on anyone thing for very long.  Even now - I can’t focus on writing this post long enough to finish it.  Since I am working on putting some finishing touches on my “message” for tomorrow night - I have to stop every few minutes.  It is the way God made me.  I can’t concentrate on anything for too long - or my brain will melt and ooze out of my ears.  I am not lying.

Since I have a deficit of attention right now - I will review the concert (show) that I was lucky enough to attend last Friday night.

• Joy in Tomorrow opened the show.
• These guys were sick - but they played too long… and the show started a little late.  (That will be my only complaint)
• Honestly - these guys set the stage.  They started the show with a sick performance.
• There was a chick fight that took place for almost their entire performance.  Two fat drunk chicks thought that everyone was in their way.  (it wasn’t pretty - and people seemed to pay more attention to the fight than the band… sorry guys.)
• Winston Audio played next.  I was anticipating a good show from these guys.  I bought their EP in preparation for the show.
• They were sick.  I mean - these guys were very awesome.
• One of the guitarists’ mom stood beside me while they played.  His name was Zach - I got his attention for her.  He didn’t seem as excited as I was expecting.  I guess some people are embarrassed by their mothers.  I am not.  Happy belated birthday Mom.
• Manchester Orchestra came on last.  WOW.  This was my third time seeing Manchester live - and it doesn’t get old.
• This time the crowd was into them - everyone was singing/screaming every lyric.
• Manchester (live) = perfection.
• I didn’t get home until 2:30.  Late night - I am getting too old for this… or I just live too far from Atlanta.

That is a short run down.  Check out those bands - you can thank me later.  (I started this post at 1:45 and am finishing at 2:56)

Promo

I have had a lot of questions asked about Go Camp and what it is going to be like. Awesome is the answer - quite simply. I have also had a lot of questions about the music. Mack Brock is going to be leading worship. He was the lead singer for a couple of different bands. He is an amazing worship leader. Here are a couple of videos to hopefully get you excited about Go Camp.

The first video is one of his songs - I think. I could be wrong, but I believe it is called “The Best.” And it isn’t loading up like I want it to - so you will have to enjoy a link. Check the video out here. The second video is when he was leading worship at Go Camp last year. He was singing a song by David Crowder called “Rescue is Coming.” Both videos = sick. Enjoy.

Immeasurably More

At the beginning of this year, I set a goal.  Well, I don’t guess it is much of a goal - it is more of a dream.  I don’t know.  It is a goal.  I was praying about things that I wanted to see God do with the students at Freedom Fellowship.  And honestly - I want to see salvation.  I know - all ministers want to see salvation in the ministry that they are “in charge” of.

So I set a goal.  I want to see twenty students at Freedom give their lives to Jesus Christ in 2008.  I think that this is a pretty lofty goal.  On a normal Wednesday - we have anywhere from 20 to 30 students show up.  But twenty has be blazed in my head.  Twenty has been pressed on my heart and I know that God can do this.

I believe in setting goals to be out of human reach.  I really think that if I did youth ministry for the year by myself - there is no way that 20 kids would come to know Christ.  But if I rely on God - anything is possible.  3,000 people were baptized in one day at Pentecost.  I am only looking for twenty - in a year.  My prayer is that I am not putting the God who saves all in a box.  My prayer is that I am not dreaming to small.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   -Ephesians 3:20-21

He is able to do immeasurably more than all that I can ask or even imagine.  So regardless of what happens this year - Praise the name of Jesus Christ.

P.S.  The number is 19 now.

Recently Played

Because I am a registered iTunes addict - I want to let the readers in on what is awesome in the world of music.

Reality vs. The Optimist - Kiss Kiss
I know what you are thinking - who?  Honestly, I ran across this band a while back.  For some reason - I ended up looking them up again.  They have a couple of songs that are just so catchy.  Satellite and Machines are really just good pop songs.  ‘Kiss Kiss’ has a rough sound.  Honestly, they are really weird.  But they are worth checking out.

Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
I had a friend tell me that these guys were pretty amazing.  I never really gave them a chance until recently.  It could be one of the best albums of 2007.  A lot of different people put it right behind ‘Radiohead’s’ ‘In Rainbows.’  So - I decided to check them out.  I don’t regret it.  This is a complete album.

You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, But Brilliance Needs a Good Editor - EP - Manchester Orchestra
I am going to see Manchester on Friday.  I am really excited about seeing these guys in concert again.  They put on one of the most intense and amazing performances.  They aren’t the showiest band on the block - but the music is incredible.

Come on, Hibernate - EP - Winston Audio
These guys are playing with Manchester on Friday - and I am excited about seeing them too.  Indie rock lives in these guys.  It is going to be a sick show.

Check out any of these bands - I really don’t think you could be disappointed.  Well, you might have really bad taste in music - then you might be disappointed.  I am also a Guitar Hero addict - so I have a few more songs that I have been stuck on.  Check out these songs on Guitar Hero III:

Cherub Rock - The Smashing Pumpkins

Knights of Cydonia - Muse

Stricken - Distrubed

Through the Fire and Flames - DrangonForce

Winter Retreat

Honestly - I have not had the time or energy to even attempt blogging in the past few days.  I apologize - but life has been good.  Life has been interesting.  On Friday, I went on my first youth trip as being the one in charge.  For the week building up to the actual event - I faced a good deal of stress.  But the weekend has come and gone and honestly - it all went off with out a hitch.  Here are some highlights:

• We had 17 students go on the trip with us - 6 snowboarders, 8 skiers, and 2 lodgers.
• One of the cool things was that this weekend was more than just us skiing and snowboarding.  This weekend was a conference put on by Student Life.
• Vicky Beeching led worship in the services that were held at night.  Honestly - she was a pretty amazing worship leader.
• Adam Robinson was the speaker.  This mug talked faster than anyone I had ever seen.  It was really ridiculous.  But - he brought it.  He presented the gospel in an amazingly simple way.
• One of our students made the decision to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of her life.
• Wow!
• It was -4 degrees at the top of Sugar Mountain on Sunday morning.  It was cold.
• I only fell like a thousand times.
• Only one “romance” was stirred up on the trip.
• On our first day of skiing -I left the lift tickets at the hotel.  I then had to drive back to the hotel and get them.  I didn’t exactly obey all of the traffic laws on this short trip.
• No one got hurt.  Thank you, Jesus.

It really was an amazing trip.  I learned as much as the students did.  God shook my cage.  But - boy, did he bless me.

Compelled

I feel compelled to write a post. I don’t really know why. I think it is partially because I drank a “5-hour ENERGY.” I am have admitted before on this blog that I am a bit of an energy junkie. I really didn’t need the energy - I was merely curious. 5 hours worth of energy? Really? Ok - lets see what you got.

• Perry nailed it here. “If God isn’t leading you to do it-DON’T”
• I have recently began reading a new blog. He had a good post today.
• Furtick had a great post about the importance of integrity here.
• Last night, Kent led worship for us at LINC. He did a good job - God is faithful. He provides at the last moment… all the time.
• Laura Beth and I have been watching the first season of Lost. Wow. I have watched this season maybe four times. I love it. We have gone through the complete first season in less than a week. We have two episodes to watch.
• Today - I am going to pick up season two.
• Resolution update:
  • I haven’t started training for any marathons
  • I have been using a 1 Year Bible Reading Plan. I started in the middle of April.
  • I don’t know if I am any more organized. I lost an important piece of paper on Sunday though. Not looking good at this point.

That is me right now. Check out those blogs - they can rock your face on a pretty regular basis.