Proud Father Moment
Saturday, March 31, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Christian, my 5-year old son, just beat his first videogame from start to finish. He beat Roboblitz in just 5 days of playing. So great! Talk about a proud father ... the torch has officially been passed.JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:08 PM |
Google Searches That Lead Here: Volume 26
Friday, March 30, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Here's the latest roundup of Google words that people actually used to find the blog this week. I've picked out just a selection from the whole list - some of the best and/or most disturbing. Enjoy!
- chris sligh's wife
- what year did simply youth ministry start?
- rush of fools
- matthew mcnutt
- how is chris sligh doing
- filming yorba linda via natalie march 24
- email contacts of pastors in germany bible society
- satan hates life
- funny proverbs about workplace
- truett cathy and guideposts magazine
- planet earth discovery
- african cripple mission cannibals
- youth ministy i want to quit
- sermon illustration of rocky balboa get up you bum
- saddleback church worship conference american idol
- fakeyourspace
- shaun blakeney book
- youth minister encouragement video
- ektelon 03 rip
- people hurt on the trenches
- manning v. solid rock ministries (mo.)
- johnny baker "swat"
- blades of glory ad
- i don't believe in love anymore
- april fools day youth ministry
- nabisco's oreo address
- monster pancakes+"helen"
- beauty boys
- summer wilshire lyrics
- stoplights
- chic-fil-a grand opening
- it's just chocolate download
- funny ways to save the planet
- leslie griffin news anchor
- fatherless
- souplantation + germs
- sprintsucks
- doug elliott saddleback church
- kevin reeves saddleback junior high
- ingrid schlueter front porch chat
- blades of glory phrases
posted by Unknown @ 9:47 PM |
Running on Empty Series Video
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Wrote and produced this little promo video for big church next weekend. Inspired by a Monster.com ad from 2002, I think? Thought it would be fun to share. Enjoy!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 4:42 PM |
Chris Sligh: Post American Idol
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Here's a great article on Chris Sligh with lots of new information from an interview he did with a local paper there in Greenville. Some interesting stuff, here's a clip:
Sligh said he knew his days were numbered when judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell panned his performance Tuesday of The Police's "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic," citing problems with being out of tempo with the song.JG
Before Wednesday's results show, Sligh said he bet fellow "Idol" contesant Phil Stacy $50 that it would be himself who was to be eliminated (Stacy and contestant Haley Scarnato were announced as two of the bottom three vote-getters along with Sligh).
"I just had this feeling in my heart that I was going home," Sligh said.
"I told Phil that I was going home, and he was like, 'No way, there's no way you're going home before me.'"
After the results, Sligh reprised "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" for the customary farewell performance. As he sang, he hugged the remaining contestants and interrupted the song to tell Stacy, "You owe me 50 bucks."
Sligh said he didn't realize the show -- which had run several minutes past its 30-minute time slot -- was still on the air and that his comment would be heard by millions watching at home.
The week before, eliminated contestant Stephanie Edwards' performance was cut off because of time constraints.
posted by Unknown @ 2:55 PM |
Student Leadership Article
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Don't know how well you can read this, but it's the white board notes from a quick brainstorming meeting I had with a couple interns about Student Leadership. I've got an article due to Ministry Toolbox later today, and this is the skeleton outline. Look for it Tuesday, I think?JG
posted by Unknown @ 2:45 PM |
Intern Road Trip: Stop #4
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Here's the shots from the final stop on the road trip - we ate at the Seal Beach pier at Ruby's Diner. Enjoyed some fun talks and discussions the whole day, great relationship building, and packed in a ton of stuff. I'm so thankful for our interns because they give and give to our church, and of course, often under-appreciated like most youth workers. Thanks to our inters - let's do another one of these in June!JG
posted by Unknown @ 2:01 PM |
Intern Road Trip: Stop #3
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
We went to a taping of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? in Manhattan Beach after grabbing cupcakes, and had a blast. They didn't allow cameras or phones in the studio, so no official pictures of the event. Funny how Hollywood magic happens in the nooks and crannies of normal life out here. The studio was basically in a office complex, by a hotel and mini-malls.It was great - the first guy won a Segway and $25,000 - though he was up to like half a million bucks before he lost almost everything. Then the second contestant got this huge introduction and everything, then lost on the first question. Priceless, even though the filming took a bit too long with lots of reshoots and pickup shots. All in all a great 3rd stop on the circuit - the episode airs in April, and I think we'll be featured in it quite a bit going in/out of commercials. Fun!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:55 PM |
Classic Halo Maps to Halo 2
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Might be enough of a reason to dust off the old copy of Halo 2 and slap it into the Xbox - those amazing multiplayer maps from the first Halo game are coming to the 360. I'm in ... remember Hang 'Em High?JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:51 PM |
Intern Road Trip: Stop #2
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
The second stop on the intern adventure was Sprinkles, a gourmet cupcake stop in Beverly Hills. We were running a big short on time, so we just picked them up to eat in line at the studio. Annie won a shirt because she guessed the closest a) how many cupcakes we ordered, times b) the amount per cupcake. Delicious!JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:49 PM |
Intern Road Trip: Stop #1
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
We went up the long drive to LA (about 45 miles = 2.5 hours) and our first stop was the amazing Griddle Cafe in Hollywood. Famous for their pancakes, which cover the entire plate and are stacked 4 inches high. Pictured is the Oreo Stack ... I had "Gone Shrimping" a crazy mixture of egg whites, shrimp and some crazy green sauce. So good.JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:29 PM |
Student Zone Steel
Thursday, March 29, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
This feels like some real progress ... to see the scale, check out the two guys (Doug and Sam) in the second photo. This is going to be big.JG
posted by Unknown @ 5:40 PM |
Final 4 Message Resources
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just stumbled on this site today, featuring resources, videos and more for a message with a basketball twist. Something you might want to check out/consider.
March Madness has begun.Sixty-five teams have their eyes on winning the ultimate prize—a national championship. But these players, coaches and commentators have found that there is something more to life than "the big win."
While the thrill of victory is sweet and exhilarating, it only lasts a short time. Each of these people has found a lasting peace through a personal relationship with God.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:03 PM |
Gears of War Global Tournament
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Did you hear about the Gears of War Global Tournament?
Microsoft® Game Studios and Epic Games, Inc. today announced the Gears of War 2007 Global Xbox LIVE Tournament, presented by the World Cyber Games, offering gamers the opportunity to curb-stomp and chainsaw their way to the Grand Final in Prague, Czech Republic. The tournament promises nonstop thrills over Xbox LIVE.JG
Gears of War players across the globe will have the opportunity to compete in ranked matches on Xbox LIVE for four weeks of leaderboard play. The top 11 finalists in the world with the highest individual scores will receive the grand prize, a trip for two to Prague—the setting that influenced the game’s “Destroyed Beauty” scenic imagery—to compete in the Grand Final in July. The grand prize includes a four-day, three-night trip to Prague with round-trip coach air transportation for the winner and a guest, standard hotel accommodations, basic ground transportation in Prague, and a $200 Visa gift card.
The top four eligible ranked players from each participating country will win a three-day, two-night trip to their country’s 2007 World Cyber Games National Championship event. The trip includes round-trip transportation for the winner, standard hotel accommodations, and a $300 Visa gift card. Secondary prizes include an Xbox 360™ package—boasting an Xbox 360 Pro System console, Viva Piñata™, Project Gotham Racing® 3, Xbox LIVE Arcade Unplugged Volume 1, Kameo: Elements of Power™, and a 12-month Xbox LIVE subscription, as well as Gears of War bonuses such as faceplates.
posted by Unknown @ 12:59 PM |
Chris Sligh is Out
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Too bad ... really liked the guy. Good thing I don't play Fantasy Idol, because I got a few early picks right and now and wayyyyyyy off. Oh well, a great run, dude. Nod to Treece for the video.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 12:47 PM |
Pick 6 is Here!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Pretty cool stuff we've been working on behind closed doors at SYM the past few weeks - we're ready to take the wrapper off of PICK 6.Basically you can drag and drop 6 of your favorite resources from Simply Youth Ministry and get them for one low price. We're going to roll this out officially next week, but it's live and it works right now. Hit this link, hover over the resources menu and click Pick 6 to give it a whirl.
Fun technology behind it, I think it's going to be pretty popular. Check it out just to play with it, too!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:24 PM |
Inside Halo 3
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Next Generation has a cool little update on the status of Halo 3. Here's a clip from their 2-page report:
Undoubtedly, there’s an esprit de corps that’s evolved; one of those emotional group hugs that cannot be manufactured, something that is entirely natural for people in an extraordinary time and place.JG
“It’s interesting how people react internally,” says O’Connor. “Everyone is a part of the progress that’s being made. We’ll have meetings on Fridays where people will do a ‘show and tell’ if they have something cool to reveal. Maybe a new water system or a new type of explosion. That’s where you sense the internal excitement. That’s where you see a bunch of videogame developers really getting excited.”
The pressure is on for Bungie to deliver an experience par excellence. Anything other than a 95% experience is going to be labeled a disappointment. O‘Connor believes the game will stand the tough test of media and consumer scrutiny. “Our technology is second to none and our art style is second to none. I’m very, very confident it’s going to be one of, if not the most beautiful Xbox 360 game. We’re going to get compared to the best that’s out there - we’re going to be compared to Gears and Resistance. But I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘oh our game is going to kick their ass’. I hate that kind of talk.”
posted by Unknown @ 9:18 PM |
Road Trip Success
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just back from a 12-hour roadtrip to Los Angeles with Saddleback's interns.
We hit the Griddle Café, Sprinkles cupcakes, a taping of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader and dinner on the Seal Beach pier at Rubys. Super fun day, lots of great ministry and life conversations.
Full posts on each stop coming soon ...
JG
posted by Unknown @ 9:08 PM |
How Does Your Church Brew Coffee?
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
This originally was on Fast Company about businesses, but it'd be interesting to use the same logic to see what it reveals about your church culture.
JGWhy should managers be bothered by any of this? Who cares where staff get their coffee, so long as it helps keep them awake and they are back at their desks working again before too long? Our Washington blogger has already hinted at why this matters. It has to do with workplace culture.
Until recently, when managers heard the word culture, they reached for their sick-bags. Costs, sales and profits did not strike many people as being particularly "cultural" concepts. But listen to what the 1,200 international executives surveyed by the management consultancy Bain have just revealed in its biannual "management tools and trends study": nine out of 10 say that corporate culture is as important as strategy in achieving business success.
Who your people drink coffee with, and where, is important. You may not think you need to promote the rise of "café society" internally, but a coffee culture could be beneficial - for collaboration, networking, and cross-fertilisation. It is this sort of so-called "soft" issue that has forced its way to the top of management's agenda.
"Executives would probably not have been nearly as interested in the question of culture 10 years ago, and would certainly not have talked publicly about it," says Darrell Rigby, a senior partner at Bain and leader of the management tools research since its launch in 1993.
posted by Unknown @ 10:12 PM |
Xbox 360 Elite
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Hmmm ... I think I want this.JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:07 PM |
Questions to Ask Your Next Church
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Talking to Stephen about his church search and discovered some of the questions he is asking possible churches in the process. He's interviewing them as much as they are interviewing him, which I respect very much. Here's his list of questions, reprinted with his permission:
QUESTIONS TO ASK A POTENTIAL CHURCHIf you can think of or have used any more, post them as a comment.
1. What is it that really makes your church distinctive?
2. What are the non-essentials that you look for in hiring staff?
3. How is the church as a whole governed? Elders? Deacons? Both? Are there committees?
4. What were three stand outs (in terms of success) that happened last year?
5. What are the things that YOU personally look for and value in the next Middle School Pastor?
6. Why is the Student Ministry an important part of the church? Why is Middle School so important?
7. What is your picture of success in the Student Ministry? In the Middle School Ministry?
8. Is there a process for staff ‘evaluations’ with the Student Ministry staff? How does that look?
9. What kind of resources will the Middle School Pastor have? Interns? Secretary/assistant? Budget for the ministry?
10. How much will be expected of the next Middle School Pastor administratively / organizationally?
11. As of now, how many students are involved in the Middle School Ministry?
12. Do you believe the church is more evangelistic or discipleship driven? How about Student Ministries? Or, is there a good balance?
13. When you look at the Student Ministry, what strengths do you clearly see? What weaknesses do you see? From that, what are your 3 greatest needs?
14. How do you get things approved at the church? Is there a long process for things or is it a flexible environment?
15. Who would I be accountable to as far as staff over my department?
16. What percentage of large group attendees are also in a small group? Are small groups a strong part/value in the Middle School ministry? In the Student Ministry as a whole?
17. How significant/big is the volunteer base for Middle School currently?
18. Is there currently any type of ministry within Middle School that reaches out to the Parents of the students?
19. Will there be other pastoral responsibilities on the Middle School Pastor such as ‘pastor on call’ or ‘hospital visitation?’
20. How does the leadership team work? How long has the Student Ministries had that asset?
21. Are there upcoming building plans for the church / student ministry?
22. Does the church value families going to church together? Do students go to church w/ their parents or are students in their weekend service the same time parents are in their service?
23. Will there be someone who is pouring into me as I pour myself into others?
JG
posted by Unknown @ 9:46 PM |
Podcast 47 is in the Can
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just finished up the 47th Simply Youth Ministry podcast - it'll be up on the site late today (in a perfect world, so we'll see). Good show - Jana from the student ministries team joined us today since Natalie/Jake couldn't make it.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 12:28 PM |
SD Stills Volume 1-3
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Nadim just finished uploading some new products to the website. SD Stills Volume 1-3 are now up on the site in the brand new category.JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:10 AM |
Tootsie Pop Mystery
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
In the office today we were talking about those Tootsie Roll pops. The answer from About.com:
Nobody seems to know how this rumor got started, least of all the folks at Tootsie Roll Industries in Chicago, Illinois, who have been politely deflecting mail-in requests for free Tootsie Roll Pops ever since the 1930s. They maintain there was never any sort of official promotion or contest associated with Tootsie Pop wrappers. Where the notion came from remains a mystery.JG
Actually, there's more to the mistakenly revered wrapper than just a star. The illustration shows an American Indian shooting an arrow at a star, and it's that Indian most people mention when they speak of the legend. I'm told about one-third of all Tootsie Pop wrappers sport the design. Why? For variety, apparently. Not much of a mystery there.
I'm not sure how commonly this happens, but readers have also reported to me that some independent grocers do unofficially honor the supposed free Tootsie Pop offer when kids bring the Indian wrappers into their stores for redemption. But it's neither sanctioned nor financed by Tootsie Roll Industries.
posted by Unknown @ 8:50 AM |
Made to be Known
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
I liked this article in Relevant Magazine this week, a good reminder we all need to be in community if we are to succeed.
One of the greatest complaints heard from those of us in the post-college vacuum stems from the feeling of being alone—really alone. We just left the world where you live with three other people in order to afford rent and see another thousand or so every day on campus—where “résumé builder” activities force us into contact with dozens of unexpected people and class projects turn into uninvited bonding experiences with miscellaneous classmates. We live in a world where, as “grown ups” we’re supposed to find our own way to work, live in our own place and decide for ourselves who we want to spend time with. We move (or our friends move) to find jobs, and suddenly we find ourselves falling through the cracks of the relationship world. No classmates, no family, no school friends. Just us and whoever we manage to collect.JG
Now, don’t get me wrong, most of us can spark a conversation with an interesting acquaintance and sometimes manage to turn it into coffee or a date, but most of us still feel alone—if we let ourselves.
In college, I lived with four other girls. I was highly involved in my church’s campus ministry, and pretty much every spare moment I had outside the classroom (and the homework drill) I had somebody to talk to.
posted by Unknown @ 8:40 AM |
Help Chris Sligh's Family Visit Idol
Monday, March 26, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just got this message from Natalie's mom - she's doing something great to help Chris Sligh out and I'm in. Sending my $20 now ...I got the chance to talk with Chris Sligh at last weeks Show and wasWant to help? Tell 'em Josh sent ya over.
able to ask him what he was needing and how we could pray for him.
He said; he had only been able to see his wife two times in the six weeks he was out here doing the show and he was in need of a place for her to stay while she was in Hollywood during the week. The spouses can not stay with the contestants. So on Tuesday I will be picking up Chris Sligh's sweet southern accented wife, Sarah, and taking her to our home in the Valley. We have also received confirmation of a donated car for her to use while she is staying with us.
So here is the "Big Ask." Chris' parents are missionaries in Germany and they have not been able to afford to come see him perform. If Chris has not been voted off by Wednesday April 11th, the thought was to try and defray the costs for his parents to see the Show the following week (country week) April 17th and 18th. I believe I could get them a host family out this way, but the cost of two round trip plane tickets are around $4,000.
I was wondering if you would join me in a Kingdom Assignment for Chris and his faithful family by matching my $20 dollars. That would take 200 people to match my $20 for $4,000. If you are interested or if you know of others that might be interested here is the info on where to send your matched gift.
Please make your check payable to:
The Kingdom Assignment Foundation
And mail it to:
Denny and Leesa Bellesi
The Kingdom Assignment
30802 Coast Hwy. F1
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
www.kingdomassignment.com (for feedback, click on contact us)
Your name will be added to a card that will be presented to Chris and his wife on April 11th if he makes it through. You might want to vote for him, too. If you do send a check and Chris does not make it through, the moneys will go toward bringing his parents out for the finale or one of the AI concerts this summer.
JG
UPDATE: I've set up a PayPal account that accepts donations (send donations to josh@theforce.net via PayPal). 100% of what's given will be given over to the Kingdom Assignment project. So fun!
posted by Unknown @ 4:33 PM |
Natalie Finally Blogs American Idol
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Natalie has finally blogged about going to American Idol last week - we discussed things this morning and I told her the "blogging window" was closed if she didn't blog before this week's show. Hit the link for some great pictures and a fun behind the scenes look at Idol, recorded just in time before the opportunity was gone.JG
posted by Unknown @ 1:57 PM |
Want to be in the Next Simply Youth Ministry Catalog?
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
We've just posted what I think is a pretty cool new idea we had for the next SYM catalog. Are you an artist? Like to doodle? Amateur photographer? Time to get your work in print. Here's a clip, head here for the whole scoop there for submissions:
Want to be in our next catalog? Starbucks is "Now Warming" and we're "Now Accepting" all high-res photographs, art, illustrations & design...created by YOU.JG
Our heart behind this is to find out "What is youth ministry to you?". Show us a snapshot of your youth ministry through any means of creative expression...well, interpretive dance might be hard to capture in print. All submissions welcome. If you're not creative, include others in the process...extend it to your students to participate, or create something together in a small group setting. Create a wall mural in your youth room and take a picture of it for us - since that would be hard to ship - two birds with one stone, now your youth room looks sweet too.
posted by Unknown @ 1:51 PM |
Rush of Fools at Passion
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
If everything stays as it sits right now, Rush of Fools will be leading worship at Saddleback's Passion service on April 29th. Gonna be great!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 12:51 PM |
Planet Earth HD
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
They've been advertising the snot out of this new mini-series event on Discovery HD, and my friends, last night's premiere lived up to the hype.
An amazing look at our amazing planet earth. Some amazing footage, some animals I've never seen before, some truly brilliant moments. The shark coming out of the water eating that seal was stunning. My favorite side notes to the series are that the first mention of deforestation and global warming don't come until 14 minutes in and evolution isn't mentioned until minute 22. Both are surprisingly and thankfully brief.
Watching episode #2 tonight - you should be, too!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 12:39 PM |
Tons of New Resources on SYM
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
- What's Next (super series by Kurt Johnston)
- Heart of a Champion (super series by Doug Fields)
- How to Shout without Screaming (super series by Doug Fields)
- What Does God Want from Me? (book by Mark Matlock)
- Don't Buy the Lie (book by Mark Matlock)
- On Location (super series from Kurt Johnston)
- The Youth Worker's Guide to Helping Teens in Crisis (book by Rich Van Petl)
- Live from the Tent (CD from Tim Timmons)
- Welcome (CD from Tim Timmons)
- All Out War (super series from Doug Fields)
posted by Unknown @ 11:07 AM |
The Case for Teaching the Bible
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
TIME has a new article this week discussing the Bible being integrated back into schools. Here's a clip of it:
JGA BASIC QUESTION: WHY TEACH THE BIBLE and not comparative religion? It may not be necessary to provide Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism with equal time, but it seems misguided to ignore faiths that millions of Americans practice each day; and a glance at the headlines further argues for an omnibus course. Yet could a school demand that its already overloaded kids take one elective if they take the other? Concerns about whether a Bible Belt Christian teacher could in good conscience teach a religiously neutral Bible course also plagued me. Was high school Bible study one of those great ideas that vaporizes when exposed to air?
I visited New Braunfels high in early February. Jennifer Kendrick is committed to The Bible and Its Influence, but as a starting point rather than a blueprint. "It gives me ways to approach the topic, and then I put together something else," she says. She's unconvinced of its impartiality. "It will bring up Catholicism and mention Gandhi, but you can tell it's written as if I am a Protestant Christian teaching Protestant Christians."
Actually, she is a conservative Protestant. But her students don't know that, and nothing in the class I saw suggested it. Kendrick aces the compulsories--notes John Locke's use of the Beatitudes and Frank Zappa's riffs on "the meek shall inherit the earth," and ponders why various politicians have found it more convenient to attribute the "city on a hill" to Winthrop rather than to Matthew. When a student asks how Jesus could say the meek shall inherit the earth, when Christianity inherited it only after attaining tremendous strength, she suggests, "When he was giving the sermon, people took it not just as a physical award but an emotional or spiritual kind of award. Later on, when they became more powerful, say, in the Crusades or something, they weren't trying to inherit the earth. They were trying to take it over." Explaining why Jesus' famous sermon took place on a mount, she reminds the students that Matthew was writing for Jews, and a mount is where Moses received the Ten Commandments. "So, supposedly," she says, "Jesus is the new covenant, the new law, for the Jewish people."
posted by Unknown @ 9:59 AM |
Pedestrian Walkway Almost Done
Sunday, March 25, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
The pedestrian walkway from the new parking lots on Saddleback's campus is almost done, Really starting to take shape, getting some paint and about ready to open. Maybe another month? Crazy structure to see on campus, one of the tallest buildings around, and on a pretty high spot on campus. Soon there will be enough parking again. Yeah!JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:33 PM |
Bad Word for the Church
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just read this article that mentions the PDYM book, thought it had some fair insights into our churches and youth ministries. Here's a clip:
JGFirst, you must have a vision. How can we do something if we don’t know what we want to do? Churches that are going to be world-class must have a clear vision of where they are going and what it is going to take to get there. Members of excellent churches don’t just show up on Sunday and say, “OK, here we are, let’s have church.” They have people in places that have responsibilities and those people show up and do their job without the pastor holding their hand, because they see the vision. If you fail to plan, then you can plan to fail.
Second, excellence requires something very few people have anymore — a burden. Churches that have a burden for something succeed in that area. If your church is burdened for unsaved people, then more than likely your church will have a great outreach ministry. Few people are burdened or broken anymore.
Last, excellence requires passion. A church of excellence is made up of people who are passionate about being in the presence of the King. They love their church, their pastor, their small group, everything about their church and they want to do God’s work more often than just on Sunday mornings.
If the only time you worship God is one hour on Sunday morning, then you are not passionate about God. He is just a convenience to you, not a priority.
posted by Unknown @ 10:31 PM |
My Son's Favorite Shirt
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
How much do I love this shirt?JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:30 PM |
Fields Teaches on Envy
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Last week Rick covered pride, this week Doug Fields covered envy. Some really great stuff from the life of Joseph. Here's a few of the highlights for me:
- Envy creates inaccurate judgments about other people.
- Envy hurts innocent people.
- Envy reveals the evil in one’s heart.
- Envy distracts you from the real problem. It causes you to blame the wrong thing or person.
- Envy encourages you to reduce a person down to the one who possesses something you want. Then, you refer to them in sarcastic and cynical terms.
posted by Unknown @ 10:09 PM |
Alanna Got Hit with Toast
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
This is like my 4th Toast post in a row. Alanna got hit in the head with toast last service. Brilliant.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:59 AM |
Nacho Clip on Trust
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
We used :44 of this clip from Nacho Libre when talking about what people trust in when they don't trust in God.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:56 AM |
Funny Pics in Wildside Talk: Part 2
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
This week's talk in Wildside is called TOAST - How Not to Get Burned, and before they left we took some funny shots of Kurt the Amateur Inventor trying to make toast in a new way. The students loved the shots during the intro to the message!JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:52 AM |
Funny Pics in Wildside Talk: Part 1
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Haven't had a chance to blog too much this weekend - teaching all of the Wildside services this weekend because the volunteers and staff are away on a retreat for the weekend. Been fun so far, getting better each time. Here's a few pictures I'm using during the point on getting counsel, as in, these people didn't get counsel before getting their haircut. Fun!JG
posted by Unknown @ 10:25 AM |
Sanjaya in 10 Years
Friday, March 23, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Tony had a funny post this morning, to see the pictures, follow that link:
Shocking new technology has given us the ability to peer in to the future and we have been able to obtain a picture of American Idol contestant Sanjaya 10 years from now in rural Mexico!JG
posted by Unknown @ 3:29 PM |
Pam from The Office
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Was surprised to read this headline a moment ago: Jenna Fischer, or Pam Beesly, from The Office, bares all on the April cover of Wired. Here's more on it from their blog.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 3:24 PM |
Made: Episode 4
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
The final installment of MADE!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 3:05 PM |
PDYM Newsletter is Away
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
The latest Purpose Driven Youth Ministry newsletter is out the door - if you don't subscribe you can check it out online, too. The main emphasis of this edition is the Student Leadership Conference this July and those new MADE videos I've been posting here all week.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 3:03 PM |
Chris Sligh Visits the Blog!
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Natalie got to go up to American Idol this week in Hollywood, even scored some backstage passes with her mom. So cool ... hahahaha, I need to preach on envy soon ... she just called to tell me the whole story. Anyhow, apparently, Idol favorite Chris Sligh has been on the blog before and knew about the love from all of us here in the OC.Chris, here's some free advice from one brother to another:
- Sing your heart out
- Do your best
- Go for the gold
- Just do it, man
- Pick the right song
- Don't be pitchy
- Don't ever wear suggestive outfits
posted by Unknown @ 10:22 AM |
Made: Episode 3
Thursday, March 22, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Episode 3 from the MADE series we did at PDYM Student Leadership last summer.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 9:32 PM |
Getting Away with Murder
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
These guys went to a lot of trouble to cover up murder.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 9:31 PM |
RIP Ektelon o3
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
After many, many racquetball games since I got it this past June, my sweet o3 Ektelon Red is about to enter a new chapter in it's illustrious life: the trash compactor. After a few games this morning, I noticed it was pretty severely cracked and then finally it completely split apart. Farewell, my good friend. Unless your still under warranty, and in that case I'll meet your twin brother very soon.JG
posted by Unknown @ 9:19 PM |
No Podcast Tomorrow
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just got word we can't all get together for the podcast this week, so we're pushing it back to Tuesday. Look for Episode 47 of the show then - in the meantime, send in your emails with questions or comments!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 9:07 PM |
Streaming Orb on my Xbox 360
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
How cool is this little download? Free streaming of almost all PC content wirelessly over to your Xbox 360. Me thinks I'll be trying this on my home computer tonight.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 6:02 PM |
Shaun's New Book: Energy Zappers
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Shaun Blakeney, the high school pastor at Saddleback Church, has a new book out next month called Energy Zappers. Today in the office to celebrate the occassion, we did this dramatic reinactment of the cover. Enjoy!JG
posted by Unknown @ 5:56 PM |
Made: Episode 2
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Episode 2 in our series from the PDYM Student Leadership Conference 2006.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 2:16 PM |
Enhanced Search Feature on SYM
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Some significant improvements to the Simply Youth Ministry store rolled out today - we enhanced the search function to now display resources, articles, podcasts and more when you use any search term.
For example, if you search for "small groups" you'll get a resources spotlight, 6 additional suggested resources, 3 relevant articles and 1 somewhat relevant podcast. Cool, eh? You can then click through that page to see all, too. Give it a spin and comment how it works!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:24 AM |
Intern Road Trip Logo
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
We're taking the Saddleback interns on a mystery road trip next week and we're having some sweatshirts made up. Here's the logo that Jaime made for it - I think it's nothing short of brilliant.JG
posted by Unknown @ 5:49 PM |
Made: Episode 1
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
The 2006 PDYM Student Leadership Conference had a special video series on being "made" into a student leader. Here's episode 1!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 5:34 PM |
Learning Yesterday
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
I learned a powerful lesson yesterday at lunch. A little goat cheese goes a long way.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 2:05 PM |
PDYM Student Leadership Planning
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Spent the majority of the morning focused on PDYM Student Leadership Conference planning - we've got some fantastic things planned for that week in July. Today we:
- prayed over the whole thing
- mapped out a few more of the workshops
- brainstormed the leadership experience afternoon (this is going to be amazing, but I don't want to spoil it and have to keep quiet)
- finalized some musician/band decisions
- planned the 'during registration' fun stuff
- began discussions on specific session programming elements
- reviewed the last stages of the marketing plan
- planned a last few videos/freebies to go out in emails
posted by Unknown @ 11:25 AM |
Matt McGill Sports Instructional Video: Swimming
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
I'm going to surprise McGill this week on the podcast and giveaway this classic Matt McGill's Sports Instructional video on the show. Should be fun - enjoy the preview!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:28 PM |
RSS Feeds at Simply
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just finished posting the first draft of a tutorial to help people get the most out of the new dynamic feeds from Simply Youth Ministry. We've got about 8 feeds or so right now, people can get blog headlines, podcasts, articles and new resource listings shot right into their browser or into the reader of their choice. Hope this little guide helps people take the leap and use some of the new integrated technology!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:23 PM |
Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Tonight we celebrated our little Austin "asking Jesus into his heart" by going to Lone Star for some steak.
He's so young yet but his heart is so tender. It's really special for us - and as a family we're committed to celebrating any spiritual step forward our children make. Tonight after a great night out ... getting ready for bed, he said, "the next time Jesus comes into my heart can we go to the Jump House?"
I've got the feeling he might be getting "saved" many times in the next few years.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:16 PM |
God Pie
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Really well done.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 3:57 PM |
Fatherless Youth Ministry
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just finished posting a couple of new articles on the PDYM website - check out the first one on the attitudes some people have when it comes to youth ministry community, and this second one that focuses on the hurt of absent fathers in your youth ministry. Here's a clip of that one, too, to preview:
One of the biggest surprises this program has produced is that it’s put together a team of people that can spot a student in crisis. Most of the time, a member of this team can have one conversation with a girl and tell if she has the “syndrome”. From that point, we can provide a place that she can go where there are other people in the same situation. She receives hope and support. She recognizes that she is not alone.JG
We’ve seen several success stories. Kristen is married now with a baby on the way. It took several years, but she’s finally at the point where she believes she’s worthy of love. Hannah’s in college and works in children’s ministry. I see a difference in her attitude and the other day I saw her hug her dad and tell him she loved him. That was huge! Another girl isn’t out of high school yet, but she’s made the choice to not get in a serious relationship until she’s worked through her problems.
“Life Hurts, God Heals” has been a tremendous help in reaching girls with the “syndrome”. They continue to come through our doors and now that we recognize them, the number seems to be increasing. They need God. They need unconditional love. They need support. They need hope. For us this has been the way to make a difference.
posted by Unknown @ 3:04 PM |
Simply Junior High Audio Podcast
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Did you happen to notice the new Simply Junior High (AUDIO) podcast? I thought maybe not, which is why I whipped up this little post. Previously we just had video, so we're now doubling up!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 2:56 PM |
Gift from Kenya
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Allison just gave me this nice gift from Kenya - a little giraffe made from beads from a local proprietor. Thanks so much - I love it!JG
posted by Unknown @ 2:51 PM |
An iTunes Run: Volume
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Made a quick run for some new songs on iTunes this morning. Was in kind of a classic mood, I guess? Here's the list:
- Journey - Don't Stop Belevin'
- REO Speedwagon - In My Dreams
- Phil Collins - You'll be in my Heart
- Chicago - If You Leave Me Now
- Chicago - You're the Inspiration
posted by Unknown @ 9:15 AM |
The People at the Gym
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Josh posted a brilliant set of descriptions of the folks that frequent the gym. I swear I see these people every morning! Here's an excerpt from 2 of them:
Cell Phone Treadmill Talker - If you've ever been to a gym, you've seen this person. They stay on the treadmill for no less than an hour and talk on their phone the whole time. Have you ever seen that ckip on the internet of the guy who gets his treadmill going super fast only to jump on it and fall flat on his face? Yep. Everytime I'm beside a CPTT I want to sneak up in front of them and turn the speed up so that happens to them.JG
Girl Who Never Works Out - I'm actually convinced that this girl is part of the gym's plan to keep members from leaving. This is the girl who is always at the gym, but never uses the gym. She usually selects a guy or two to talk to while she's there and spends her time following him around. Occasionally she will ask him to show her how to work out. You can always spot a GWNWO because she's the only girl in the gym with a matching workoutfit.
posted by Unknown @ 9:11 AM |
Artist Behind R2 Mailboxes
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Chris Calf is the guy who designed the RS-D2 mailboxes that are starting to pop up all over the US this week promoting the 30th anniversary of Star Wars. Fun to check out the process of how he did the great-looking design.JG
posted by Unknown @ 7:19 AM |
Feedburner Blog Feed
Monday, March 19, 2007
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
I took a bit of time tonight to update the blog feed, but I'm now pushing out a Feedburner RSS feed, if you want to subscribe in your various feed readers or Live Bookmarks in Firefox (screenshot above, I wrote about it here a while ago). If you don't know what any of this means, well ... move along, move along.There's at least 4 geeks out there are proud I updated the autodiscovery tags myself.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:30 PM |
Chris Sligh - Christian Idol?
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Chris Sligh made the OC Register this week, in a great article about faith and Idol worship. American Idol, that is. Here's the first few paragraphs, if it grabs you like it did me, read on:
You've heard his communion song, right?Now they sing in front of millions on "American Idol," but until recently many of this year's contestants could be found performing in church.
Chris Sligh is the worship leader at Seacoast Church in Greenville, S.C., where he and his wife, Sarah, are active in the congregation. Sligh leads the music during services and fronts the church band. The son of missionaries, Sligh attended Bob Jones University in Greenville and regularly seeks out his pastor for musical advice.
But don't expect him to perform praise music on the hit Fox TV show.
"Chris doesn't want to be the Christian singer; that's not how he sees himself," says Seacoast pastor Chris Surratt, who flew to Los Angeles last week to see Sligh perform. "He's a musician who's a Christian. He doesn't want a label."
How do you mix the sacred and the secular? Very carefully, especially if you're vying for the top spot on the most popular TV show in the country.
Many of this year's contestants honed their skills in church. Now they find themselves in the middle of "Idol" worship.
But those who know them say they can handle it.
"Chris has got his head on straight," says Surratt.
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:26 PM |
Warning Signs You Love Video Games Too Much
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
1up.com has a great new feature this week on signs you know your video game obsession has gone too far. Here's a clip from the piece, sadly I could relate to significant portions of the article:
It's hard to take mainstream media outlets seriously when they warn us about the evils of videogames. Far too often, they still treat videogames as the latest scapegoat for society's ills, and anyone with any knowledge of the medium quickly sees most of their bluster as sensationalist fearmongering conjured up for the sake of creating controversy.JG
We're gamers, and we know better. But at the same time, if we're being honest with ourselves, many of us would probably admit that there are times when our passion for videogames can become unreasonable, out of control, or even unhealthy. We all know it's the rare, unstable minority that actually tries to imitate Grand Theft Auto with a real gun, or dies from a marathon gaming session in a Korean internet café, but even those of us who normally consider ourselves to be sane, reasonable people can occasionally cross the line when it comes to our beloved pastime.
posted by Unknown @ 11:23 PM |
SJH Podcast Episode 24
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:13 PM |
SimplySmallGroups.com
SimplyJosh.com has now moved to DownloadYouthMinistry.com - follow this link to visit the new site with new posts everyday!
Just launched SimplySmallGroups.com officially today - the site it kind of a sister site/section of Simply Youth Ministry. I mentioned it back at the first of the year - fun to see it alive today. Whew!JG
posted by Unknown @ 11:02 PM |
