Reflections on Public Safety

Okay, can someone explain to me why public safety is now utilizing the use of Kevlar vests? Are they serious? At CBU? Is CBU such a high risk campus that they need to protect themselves from the onslaught of vicious crimes directed towards public safety officers? Silly me, I forgot. There are those numerous gangs on campus that furnish nerf-guns and are deadly accurate with the hot-pink foam missiles. Or could it be the fact that CBU is home to some of the most dangerous people that can toss bibles at such velocity that it could kill man in seconds (especially those NIV's)? Really people, Kevlar vest....? At CBU? I didn't know that CBU was Beirut and that we needed tactical equipment. Where's my nerf-gun again??? Fun times.

PLEASE NOTE: My experience at CBU (for the most part) has been a wonderful experience. The education I received has been second to none. This social comment is just that, a comment. If this offends you, please discontinue reading my blog.

Surfing Rats

This is so funny!!!

Why?

Why do I always think the worst of situations? Why do I think that the motives of people are based upon some sort of negativity? Today, I realized that I need to allow motives and perspectives to form their own image. I draw too much conclusions, and this ultimatly will hinder my ministry efforts.

Got paper....?

As some of you might know, I will be traveling to the wonderful country of Thailand in July. I will be there for about three weeks. As I continue to research the culture and geographic areas of which I will be working in, I ran across this reality: Thailand endorses "squaty-potties!" I pray that either God will give me strength to use one of these or there will be some sort of western counterpart. Either way, I will rough it out, although crapping my shorts seems like a better option at the moment. For those of you who have shared in this experience (you know who you are) bravo!!!

By the way, I am writing a book entitled "Fun with Feces." It will be hitting the bookstores this summer. I know that its a crap shoot writing a book on things that makes people sick, however, after a few years in student ministry and having to clean up many overflowing toilets (because miraculou students forget how to use a mop) I have learn the value of fecal-talk. Forgive my crudeness, wait...if you have a problem, quit reading my blog!

Okay I Lied

Okay, this has got to be in my top five, along with Ladytron.

Ladytron

Ladytron "Destroy EverythingYou Touch"

This is one of the coolest video's I have seen in a while. Extremely interesting!

This is so funny!

This is the funniest commerical I have ever seen, and I don't care what Josh thinks!

Current Synth Favorites

Some you might know that I am a connoisseur of synth-pop-electro-clash music. Here is a list of my top favorites that I think you should check out!



1- The Knife

2- Panda Bear

3- Ladytron

4- Lindstrom

5- Figurine

6- Norway³

7- Artemius

Imagine this...

Imagine a church telling you that you couldn't promote a missions trip "within the church"!!! I was not aware that missions trips were so secular that we needed to keep them out. What an interesting day so far!

My Last Few Words...

This week is the beginning of my last three weeks of school. I am reminded of how much I have grown as a leader and as person. It is weird to see how God works. I look back now and think about the issues that once plagued me. Please note that I stated "once." Now I view those as the learning blocks of life.

It's interesting to read my old youth ministry journals. So much has changed in these last four years. I have learned so much and still continue to learn much. I must confess that am embarrassed of the things I used to hold as the "only way" to do youth ministry. If there is one thing I learned, youth ministry is constantly changing, and once you become complacent, things begin to become rough. Fluid mobility is something anyone working with students needs to have in the arsenal.

I can't to see what else God has for me in the next four years.

B.Y.O.F. Weekend Review

Wow, BYOF is finally over and exhaustion has finally set in. The weekend was hugely successful, not to the fact that students had a blast, but that I got to connect with students I didn't know very well, while meeting some new ones. Our visitors for the weekend had a blast and can't wait till Wednesday for more. I think two elements really played a part in this weekend being so successful: intentional and relational. Every leader (regardless whether or not they were tried or not) loved on the kids, and really tried to break through those superficial barriers. Breaking those barriers are not the easiest things to do, but the impact one makes in the lives our their students is incredible. Enough reflection, here are some highlights and lowlights:

Highlights

• Laser Tag- It was awesome!!! This was the fav for most students.
• HALO for days- Guy's played HALO and watched Thundercats cartoons.
• CastlePark- Cheap Thrills and a neat time to hang with students. No one Puked.
• BBQ- good food, XBox 360, basketball, volleyball Sardines at night and fire...good times.
• Hanging with students and meeting new ones.
• Seeing students step up the leadership table...priceless.

Lowlights

• General tiredness
• Students with attitudes
• Snoring
• A dare that involved the licking of armpits (after an hour of DDR) for a $10 movie card
• A 6 ft. turd that plugged a toilet. Yes, I had clean that crap up (pun intended)
• Resources that were requested, not provided (2nd projector)
• Students and cliques
• Grease fires...they suck!

Overall, it was an awesome time. I am glad I went ahead and did the event. I need a nap...

Changes, Changes, and more Changes...

well, it looks like I'm not moving to Texas as soon as I'd had hoped. But, I know that God has plan. I just need to listen more...dang, it did it again!

B.Y.O.F Weekend Adventure

So after careful prayer and a strategic message, BYOF is still a go! The fun starts tomorrow at 5:30pm and ends on Sunday morning. We have about 20 students going, most are bringing friends. Please note that I mentioned the word "most." Here's my issue; In order to sign-up to go, a student needed to bring an "un-churched" friend. This later afternoon I received a call from a parent stating that her son's friends just bailed on him, can he still go? I thought rather quickly and stated "yes." It only seemed fair. He made the contact, he was intentional, and these things happen. So, our ratio is not completely 50/50, but its pretty darn close. I am so proud of my students!!!

Conversations with Public Safety

Here is a real conversation I had with a public safety officer, I use the word "officer" loosely. My thoughts on public safety are this: I feel that they are needed on campus, but they take their job to a level it should never go. CBU public safety employees are not "real" peace officers. Yet they act like they run a maximum security prison. It's just a college guy! Your not on SWAT and this isn't your beat. Seriously, there have been public safety employees that have actually came to work in a tactical jumpsuit! What are they a afraid of? The Hollister gang littering the campus with credit cards receipts? Okay, here's the conversation...

Background: my friends and I are playing a game of nerf war at night in the courtyard, when public safety coming rolling up...

PS- why were you guys running from me!
ME- Sorry, I didn't think walking feet in your direction necessitate running, we were not running from you, just didn't see you.
PS- Student ID's please
ME- here you go
PS- You can't be playing games like this
ME- Why?
PS- People get real nervous when people run around with objects that look like guns
ME- You know, you're right. I thought the hot pink coloring on my nerf gun was a dead giveaway!
PS- Have a good night
Me- You too!

Nerf guns that look real...what a retard!!!

Reflections on Numbers

I often wonder why attendance numbers are a like a roller-coaster ride. There are many factors that can influence this issue. One issue that plagues our ministry is that many of our students come from single parents. We have a rather high amount of students who come broken homes. From this, I am able to deduce that most of our missing students on Wednesday and Sunday are with the "other" parent for weekend. It's not a bad thing, but it is something we have to keep in mind before we throw in the towel, and need to figure out a way to keep them encouraged and loved on, not to mention plugged. What about their "other" parent? Anyone have a thought on this? Hit to Lovato...

Has this ever happen to you?

It's been awhile since I last posted something, and I'm too busy to get into that at the moment. Here's the question for all those who read this blasted blog: Have you ever had to cancel an event because no students signed up for it? This is my dilemma at the moment. My students are either out of town or don't have the money to go on BYOF weekend. I fear that I might have to cancel it. Your thoughts?