God Ideas...

We have staff meeting every Tuesday from 3-5 and you would think we get a lot of work done but we laugh and make fun of each other more than we should.  Each week a different staff member has to give a devotion which is very unique because we all come from different backgrounds.  I have done many different things like evaluations of ministries, sharing from a book I just read and even crafts.  That's right I made the staff do crafts.  But yesterday I wanted to challenge the staff with separating good ideas from God ideas.  I drew a chart on the white board and at the top I had written good ideas.  There were two sections about the ideas, one for your ministry and then for the entire church.  The staff had many great ideas about outreach programs, items needed for their ministries, ways to help those in need and things that need to change in our services.  Then I wrote on the other side of the chart God ideas.  I told them to think about what God would want them to do in their ministries and in the entire church. These answers took some thinking and questioning.  But the answers were amazing.

We did not talk about things we needed or things we could do.  We did not talk about flat screen TVs or programs that needed changed.  We did not talk about the service or what we could buy.  We talked about people.  We talked about compassion and love.  We talked about saving the lost.  Matthew 9:13 says, "Go and learn what this means, I desire mercy not sacrifice, for I have not come to call the righteous but sinners!"  That is what we talked about. It felt great to talk about the mission of Jesus.  To talk about people instead of programs.  It felt great to talk about the gospel instead of our gospel.  

I am amazed on how we as the church can take our eyes off the will of God.  I am amazed how we think we are doing what God wants and sometimes it's anything but...  I get a little nervous when we talk about what we need or want instead of what others need.  I am ready to show mercy to those who need it.  I am ready to love those who are unloved.  I am dieing to share compassion to those who are turned away.  Maybe just maybe I am starting to see what it means to be the church.  

What in your ministry needs to stop because it is a good idea and not a God idea?

What needs to happen because of a God idea?

What would your church look like if you only focused on God ideas and not just good ideas?

Simply Amazing...

As most know I am a huge music fan so of course I listen to all kinds of different stuff (expect country). I came across this video and usually this is not something I would share but this song and the way she does the song has been in my mind for months now. Now at first you might be thinking what's the big deal? But I promise when she starts looping her voice and every other thing (thats right she does that) you will freak out and then watch it again. By the end of this video you will be thinking, she is amazing and very creative. Wait until you see what she does at the end!! ENJOY!!

Recap...

Natalie and the girls were in a car wreck but they are ok.

I have eaten breakfast 3 times this week which is rare.

The students are leading worship this Sunday which is awesome. 

We have a staff dinner tonight which usually turns to chaos but I always look forward to it.

The church website is almost done and I have to say the Student section is the best.  

Natalie's car is probably totaled but our children's director and her husband let us borrow a sweet Nissan. (Plus the Cox family is the greatest)

Emma smiled at me twice this week.  It is awesome to look at you daughter and her at you and you both smile together.  

I have moose in my hair today because I am sick of having a little boys hair cut.  

Caroline got a power wheel for her B-day and when I watch her ride it I wish I was two again.

I have a gym membership that I haven't gone to in a while.

There is a drink that you have at a wedding that includes 7up and other things but it has ice cream floating on top of it and it is not called punch.  What is it called?  I have been thinking about it all week.  

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!

Attention

The other night I was tucking Caroline into bed and going through our nightly routine.  Bath, tickling her, sleepy cloths, milk and while we walk into her room we are holding hands and she is counting to make sure all her animals and dolls are with her in bed.  She lays down and everything goes as usually.  I tuck her in and whisper in her ear, "Daddy loves you so much!" She smiles and then we pray.  Her hands are clasped tight and I always end the prayer with, "In Jesus name."  She then screams out AMEN!  After the loud amen I tell her good night and start to walk away.  She then says, "Daddy look, look daddy look."  I come close to her and ask her what is going on.  She then grabs my cheeks and squeezes them and then pulls me to her face. She starts talking faster than the micro machine man in those old school commercials I use to see during Saturday morning cartoons, but Caroline is dead serious.  I can only make out a few words but whatever she is telling me is supper important because I am looking in those light blue eyes and they are staring right back at me.  She continues for at least a minute and then smiles and says, "Bye, Bye Daddy!"  I just mumble OK and continue to tell her I love her and walk out the room.  

Caroline wanted her daddy's attention.  She had to tell me something important and so she went to the extreme level to do that.  She called me to her, she grabbed my cheeks, she squeezed my cheeks and then looked right into my eyes.  Whatever she was saying she wanted to make sure that my attention was drawn to her and nothing else.  She wanted to make sure I was listening and nothing else could distract me.  

There have been so many times in my life where God has tried to get my attention.  He has even gone to extreme measures and yet I have been distracted or not willing to focus.  Know wonder the first commandment is, "Thou should have no other Gods before me."  God wants our attention, and devotion.  He wants us to look into his eyes so we can learn something and know how important his word is.  My attention so often goes everywhere but God.  So my prayer today is that my attention would be only on Jesus.  Nothing else but Jesus.  I think Jesus has something important to say if we would just listen.  If only we would give him our full attention.  

Best Baptism Ever...

We have a prayer time at  church for all our people which starts at 8:30.  After the prayer time we begin to get ready for our ABF classes and Focus groups.   As I was walking out the room our children's director comes up to me and tell me there will be a baptism today and asked me if I would help with it.  This is something I normally do if I am not doing a baptism.  She continues to tell me that Sam is getting baptized today.  Now Sam is one of the coolest kids ever.  Sam is a fun loving child who lights up the room with his smile and curious personality.  Sam is autistic but you would never know it by seeing him or talking with him.  When I say he is one in a million I mean it.  

After our focus groups I am walking to the sanctuary and I see Sam and his father and family in our welcome area.  We are talking about how great this day is and how excited Sam is.  Sam was so excited that he shared with his special Olympic partner that he was getting baptized today. His partner happens to be a leader in your youth ministry and a very special girl.  She was so excited about Sam being baptized that she asked me if she could help with anything.  I told her she could come back there and help Sam if he needed it.  Later she would be crying because she was laughing so hard at Sam and she wouldn't be the only one...

Now we do our baptism's in the middle of our services so Sam was getting ready and his cousin from ACC was going to baptize him.  Theywere all set so I gave her the instructions on when to go and what to do and Sam was telling Caitlin how excited he was.  Then the screen raised and they make their way in the water.  Caitlin and I are standing by the steps where no one can see this but we definitley have the best seats in the house.  She then dunks her cousin and they start to make their way out.  She is on one side and Sam is walking towards me and Caitlin.  He gets to the top step and looks at me and says, "I want to go back in!"  He then jumps backward holding his nose and lands in the water.  To say there was a splash is a understatement.  I am freaking out and laughing my head off at the same time.  I am frantically saying, "Sam come on buddy get out of the water, you can do it, get out of the water!"  Then Sam precedes to do some back strokes in the water and doggy paddle.  Caitlin is crying because she is laughing so hard, I am pleading with Sam to get out of the water and the congregation is singing Resurrection Power and some of them are laughing.  His cousin comes out by the grace of God and ask, "Where is Sam?"  I point to the water and plead with her to go get him.  She jumps back into the water pulls her cousin out and now all is right with our church service.  I walk into the service and many faces are smiling at me and I know exactly why.  

Now you may think that many people would be upset or elders coming up to say that will never happen again but everyone seemed to be really gracious about it.  One elder said it was the coolest thing he has seen in a long time.  I am so thankful for moments like that in ministry. I am so thankful that we can laugh at life and wonder if God is laughing to. 

So this blog is for you Sam, THE GREATEST BAPTISM EVER!!!!

Dave Matthews Theology

I am a huge Dave Matthews fan and his new album comes out June 2nd and I am really looking forward to it.  The single was just released and I found the lyrics to be thought provoking.  The song is called Funny The Way It is...

Funny the way it is if you think about it,

someone is going hunger and someone else is eating out,

Funny the way it is whether right or wrong

some bodies heart is broken becomes your favorite song

Funny the way it is if you think about it,

one kid walks 10 miles to go to school, the other is dropping out

Funny the way it is, whether right or wrong

a soldiers last breathe while a baby is being born

You can download the song for free at http://www.davematthewsband.com/

Just Let Go...

I was out with Caroline at some fast food restaurant and every time we go we have to play in the play place.  She can barely eat because she sees the balls, stairs, slides and other kids and has to get over there.  So on my day off I take her out to the finest dinning a 2 year old can have and of course afterwards its off to adventure land.  Well on this day I noticed the play place was a little bigger and steeper than most but that wasn't going to stop my little red head.  After lunch she dashed into the play place and went right for the steps that led to the slide ( the slide is her favorite).  She starts to climb up and then she notices that this is a little harder then usually.  She gets right in the middle of the play place and then looks up.  I could tell by the look on her face that she was not going up that high so then she starts to climb down.  But on the first step down she did this...

She was holding on for dear life and the ground was inches from her shoe.  Of course being the great dad I am, I didn't help her I just grabbed my camera.  She said softly, "Daddy, Daddy help me!"  I put my camera down and just started to tell her to let go, let go the step is inches from your feet.  Then she started to get a little upset and scared.  Her voice got a little higher and now it was screaming, "DADDY HELP ME!"  I climbed up there and showed her how to get down and we played for the rest of the day.  

Countless times in my life God has been asking me to let go.  He has been right there encouraging me and whispering to me to let go, but I think it is in our nature to old on and to fight.  We want to control certain aspects of life, and even in times of fear we try to old onto things that we shouldn't.  God has told me so many times to trust him in everything but I still want to hold to my ministry, my family, my time, my money and my life.  None of that is mine though.  It is all God's and all of us would be doing ourselves a favor if we just let go.  

The Ugliest Easter Bunny Ever...

Hope you had a great Easter!!

This changes everything...

Since Jesus lives and reigns it changes everything.  It wasn't just a man who died on a cross but God, it changes everything.  When he told others about Jonah and how the Son of Man would be in the ground and then would rise and actually did it, it changes everything.  When people thought the disciples were liars or had stolen his body, until they saw Jesus with their own eyes it changed everything.  When people heard about a man who rose from the dead, it changes everything.  When you meet the drug dealer who is different, the marriage that was close to divorce and now stable, the teenager who had no identity and now knows exactly who he or she is, something has changed.  They believe something bigger and different.  Something has changed in them and with them.  They now understand that this changes everything...  

Hump Day...

Many refer to Wednesday as "hump"day because it is in the middle of the week.  You have gone through one half of the week and now you just have one more half.  Whether the disciples knew it or not Saturday was their hump day.  Friday had just passed and they had seen some things that they never thought would happen.  Jesus had been arrested, beaten, mocked, and finally went through the worst death penalty anyone would face, death by crucifixion.  Only one of his disciples made it to the cross but I am sure that all of them knew exactly what had happened. They knew the torture of the cross but I wonder if John came back and told them what Jesus said. "Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing..."  

We talk about Friday all the time but I wonder what Saturday was like?  For the followers of Jesus this had to be one of the worst days they had ever seen.  They were frightened, confused, worried and worse than all they were alone.  They had been through tough times before but nothing was like this.  Peter was depressed because of his denial, their friend Judas was dead, most had left all to follow this teacher named Jesus and now he was gone.  The future never looked so uncertain or grey.  I wonder if they talked about the past and the things they had seen or if the room was quiet?  I wonder if they pulled out their iPhone and called their families to say, "Honey I don't know what I am going to do so I think I am going to come home."  I wonder if they were so tired of crying that they sat in silence or maybe their tears were still heard in Jerusalem.  I wonder if they thought of the other followers or just themselves?  One thing I do know is that none of them knew what tomorrow would bring.  They lived in darkness and yet light was around the corner.  They had know idea that tomorrow the sun would rise and that wouldn't be the only thing.  They had know idea that Saturday was their hump day and if they could get through this day, their lives would never be the same.  

We are taught to live in the moment and only for today.  I don't disagree with that but I do think there is wisdom when you anticipate the future.  Especially when you love the one who holds the future.  I am all about living life to the fullest but I look forward to what God is going to do and I trust it is going to be amazing.  

Rescue is Coming

To all those I love and pray for, I would hope that you know on this day that rescue is coming.  No matter what you have lost or what feels empty because of what this day holds know that the God of universe loves you as a individual. And there is nothing wrong with you, and nothing left to do but believe something bigger.  There is nothing wrong with love, I know it's just enough to believe.  Stop what you are doing and let Him rescue you...

This weekend...

I wanted to share with all of you that I will be blogging each day this weekend.  Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday.  I hope to share my  heart with you and hopefully show you some things that will move us closer to Jesus.  I don't know what most of you have planned but come by here and take sometime to think about what Jesus went through this weekend and why.  C-ya tomorrow and hope all of you spend time with the God that saves and loves...   

BLOB...

I know when you read this and especially see it you will call me a liar but that is the chance I have to take in sharing this story.  When Natalie and I were first married we had a friend work at Country Lake Camp (the camp that Southeast Christian Church built) and we were invited to enjoy the day at the lake and hang out with friends.  We had a great day goofing off and joking around the camp grounds but then my friend Shawn showed me the greatest "lake invention" ever.  It was called the blob and it was spectacular.  He told us that if one person sat at the end and jumped of the other end it would send the person 10 or 15 feet high.  He had this great idea to put Natalie at the end of the blob and Shawn and I would go onto this high platform and jump of sending Natalie to the so called heavens.  I asked him how far it would shoot Natalie?  He thought it would send her maybe 20 feet and since my wife is a dare devil we all were in agreement to see this wonderful thing in action.  Shawn and I stood at the top of this platform and Natalie is sitting on the blob waiting for us to jump.  I scream, "READY!"  Then the countdown to the worst belly flop except it was on her side was about to happen.  3........2.......1.......  HERE GOES!!!!

I would like to say that was Natalie in this video but in all honesty, Natalie went twice as high as the young victim in that video. I know, I know you are thinking lair but you have to understand, Shawn is 6"3 210 all muscle. I was 5'8 all chubby and Natalie was 5"1 110. I promise you Natalie shot over the trees and over many telephone polls. When she landed it was nothing but tears. She told me that she never wanted to do this again. I pleaded ignorance because I had never seen this great thing called the blob before but Shawn was laughing. He knew the secrets of blob and knew what would happen.

Days later Natalie's left leg (the whole thing) was purple. She is ok now but still has nightmares about this awful thing we call the blob. So this summer if you see one or know someone that has one be careful. This blob almost destroyed my marriage, Natalie's left leg and a friendship. We have had to seek major counseling for this situation and when Natalie see's this awful thing she begins to shake and remember. SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL THIS SUMMER... FEAR THE BLOB!!

Recap and Updates

We went to believe this weekend and it is by far the best conference for middle school.  They do a great  job of pulling things together.  I have been going for years and this year was spectacular.  

We had a middle school girl rededicate her life this Sunday.  AWESOME!!

I am playing golf on Monday with our worship minister and senior minister, nice hard day at the office.  

I started a twitter account as you may notice on this blog and it is very addicting.  Not as good as facebook but different.  If you want to find me my name is CrockettD.

During the last session at believe my students dared me to jump on stage with the band in front of at least 1,000 students.  I did it and loved it.  The band was looking at me like who is this guy, he not on the CIY staff.  

Kurt Johnson was our speaker and he is the Junior High Minister at Saddleback Church in Cali. He has been doing middle school ministry since 1988.  I wonder how long I will do youth ministry?  

Kurt asked the kids during his sermon what they have built that they were proud of.  Some said cups, others said they sowed pillows, he asked me (of course we were front row) I told him, "I make babies!"  Let's just say everyone cracked up...

I am trying to be better at organization and still have a lot to learn but I was talking with friend about my weaknesses and he said that was one of them.

Emma loves her mom but gets frustrated when I hold her.  Caroline was the same way and now she doesn't leave my side.  

When I was talking to my friend about my weaknesses even though he mentioned organization he said I didn't have many.  That made me feel really good about what God has done in my life.  

I spoke with an old friend from high school on the phone Thursday and asked her about being a Christian in high school and what that was like.  My biggest regret is that I didn't follow Christ earlier in my life.  

Believe

We are headed to Atlanta for the Believe Conference this weekend.  Pray that God does great things with our middle school group and challenges us adults.  

April Fools...

I am sitting in my office not knowing the date and my phone rings, I notice it is a minister who has been a friend of mine for years so I pick it up and he asks me, "Crockett can you talk?"  I can tell by the sound in his voice something is wrong so I get up and close my office door and reply with, "Whats wrong?"  He begins to tell me that he and his wife went out on a date last night and  had a couple of drinks.  On the way home an officer pulled them over and could smell the alcohol on my friends breath.  He continues with a lavish story about how he was not drunk but the officer led told him that he was over the legal limit and arrested him on sight.  I am sitting there blown away by this story and my mind is racing with what is going to happen and what do I need to tell him.  My friend explains that he spent all night in jail and that his elders will surly find out so he knows he will be fired and then he asks me, "What should I do?"  He could here my frustration when I sighed and told him to call an elders meeting ASAP and tell them the truth.  He ask a random question, "What is today?"  Was he to drunk to know?  Did something bad happen to him in jail?  Had he gone dumber?  "Wednesday!"  Then he ask me that question that would bring such a sigh of relief to my life and heart.  He ask me what the date was.  I thought for a second and said, "March the... April, You piece of crap!!"  I hear this laughter over the phone that I had heard so many times but this time I was not laughing with him.  I was relieved that this story was completely made up  and yet awed by the creativity and superior acting on the phone.  I told him I hated him a couple more times on the phone and then we said we would talk Friday. 

Since this was the best prank played on me in a while and my heart was racing I couldn't do my work anymore, what does a good youth minister do?  He calls his friends, elders and those in ministry he knows to play the same prank.  It was a good April Fool's day for me.  If your wondering how my stories went here we go...

A youth minister friend so believed everything I said and I even called him out of a meeting to tell him.  

The elder I work with believed me for a couple of minutes then remembered I don't drink and caught on. 

A senior minister who lives in Indiana believed it for a minute then realized the date. 

I called Natalie and told her I was in the hospital because of a car wreck but she knows me to well.   She never believed a word I said and rarely does.

I went to the preschool directors we have in our church acting like I had a kidney stone and wanted them to take me to the hospital.  They freaked out and afterwards almost punched me in the face. 

My Secretary didn't believe that one for a minute.

Then I got tired and went back to work.  

April Fool's day may be one of my favorite days now.  Maybe I will call you next year!!

Fact!!

8.5 hours a day adults are exposed to screens.  It could be cell phone, CPU, TV or iPod but that is the national average. 

5 best ways to reach your church family with information.  1.  Family 2.  Friend or Neighbor 3.  Informative area like Newspaper 4.  Outdoor sign 5.  Magazine ad

Traditionally parenting leads to well adjusted kids: A family that disciplines and has high expectations on their children will be more likely to have well adjusted children. 

25% of women would rather win America's Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize.

Black girls are 50% more likely to be bulimic than white girls.  2.6% of black girls were clinically bulimic compared to 1.7% of white girls.  

Your brain starts to decline at the age of 27.  (It looks like it is all down hill for me now)

Your brain peaks at age 22.  

There were more babies born in 2007 then ever in American History.  (I am GUILTY)

Knowing someone that is happy makes you 15.3% more likely to be happy yourself.  

Internet use increased by 19% in ages 70-74 in one year.  Age 75 and up it went up 10%.  (Maybe they are joining facebook)

All this was found at www.churchrelevance.com        Have a great day!!!