Looking back - looking forward

This past week - Went with our Primetimers (seniors) to Pigeon Forge Tuesday - Thursday. Had a blast. They pulled me up on the stage for a stunt at the "Hoot-N-Holler" - that was a trip. Friday and Saturday I was playing some real catch up in the office (bulletin, SongShow - including the pastor's notes for AM and PM services, my youth message, etc.).

Sunday - we had a good number in Kids Zone, they are really growing. Our new Sunday School Class is doing well - HomeBuilders. We went out to lunch with Chris and Denise, to Ruby Tuesdays. I got the Bison Burger and a salad. Pretty good. Great fellowship with great friends.

Today - stayed home to work on bills (ug). I met Chris (yp at Wilson P&W) for lunch then hung out at Saxon's office (yp at FHCOG).

Tonight - watched MNF! I won week 3 in my Fantasy Football League! ROCK ON BABY!

Looking Forward:

I'll have a tough week. We have a WAYnet Student event Wednesday night and SYATP that morning. I also have my regular stuff to do while looking to improving what is going on at Shiloh.

QUESTION: Do you give yourself a rigid schedule? I try to have a "to do" list, but they gets all goofed up as the week goes on. I've got some projects that I'd like to work on, but I have so many other things to do... first. I get frustrated. I want to work on our "first impressions" team (we don't really have one - we have greeters), a program to help folks share their faith, BE a youth pastor (and children too), and ... Get the picture?

Got any advice?

Online Calendars

Looking for an online calender for our family to use. I set up one with Cozi, but then found out that all the options were not available if you just use it online. It has a download version that you use on a central computer and then access it from other computers (and enter data) from online.

I found an article that talks about online based family calendars.

Just wondering if anyone else has one.

thanks

The Latest

The latest what? I guess the latest about me, of course! It's been a while since my last post. I just get busy and then when I sit down to post, something else comes up, usually like ready everyone else's postings. That really eats your time. BUT, I get to read some really good ones.

One I read today compared the fastfood pictues to the real thing. You've got to check this out.

More? Here you go... (this is isn't all, I just don't want you to fall asleep at your computer and drool all over your keyboard - ewwww)

• Sunday (June 10) was Grad. Sunday. I got to preach even though it was our new pastor's second Sunday with us. What a cool honor. I used a bicycle in my sermon: Bicycle of Life: Getting Ready for a Brand New Journey. Here it is in a nutshell (without scripture refs. sorry. If you want them, just let me know). Wheels = Faith (got to have your own and keep them pumped up - I gave each grad a bike pump with "Faith" written on it.) Peddles = Action (get involved, go somewhere, enjoy life) Handlebars & Breaks = Direction & Choices (life is about choices, make good ones) Balance (control your life) The Journey ahead. The we prayed for each grad.
• Sunday night in Fusion Life (youth service) I used each of the grads favorite verse to talk about life. They really picked some good ones. They also submitted some quotes. One of my favorites what by Justin. He said, "God created us all to be superman, we have to choose to wear the S." That is so cool. God doesn't make any junk or mistakes - but we sure can make it look that way when we are outside of his will.
• Mine and Rhonda's anniversary is coming up - tomorrow - 14 years! I've got some special stuff planned - very creative this year (no, that doesn't mean cheap). I'll share more later - Rhonda may read my blog... but I doubt it.
• We went to see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End on opening night - I thought is was very good - a bit slow at the beginning, but it picked up nicely. Maybe a #4 coming. I hope so. Next big movie: Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer! Maybe taking the youth group boys. And YES, my wife is planning to see it with me too. She is so cool!
• UNC is in the College World Series! Is your team? Did you know that colleges play more than Football and Basketball? UNC is thinking about having a football team next year (ha ha ha). Go Heels!
• Took my 2 kids to the dentist today. No cavities AND the dentist and hygienist are both Heels fans.
• Did some downloading from iTunes this weekend. (hey, someone send me an iPod or at least some iTunes gift certs. - that would be nice). I downloaded some songs to used for the Grad. Picture Show (makes moms cry to see their babies all growing up). Here is my list... don't judge me...

I Still Believe - Jeremy Camp
What If - Jadon Lavik
Raging Sea - Michael W. Smith
How to Say Goodbye - Michael W. Smith
The Power of a Moment - Chris Rice ** This is the song we used**
Where You Lead Me - MercyMe
Follow Your Dreams - Raze
Smellin' Coffee - Chris Rice
8th Grade - Chris Rice
He Believes In You - Aaron Benward
Lifesong - Casting Crowns
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper -- yes, I'm a closet Cyndi Lauper fan, now the word is out --
Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
She Bop - Cyndi Lauper
You're the Inspiration - Chicago

The first two, I'd downloaded several months ago for different youth services. The last few were, well, old memories. BTW: That is my whole iTunes list.

Here's an idea: post your last 10 iTunes downloads! Tag, your it.

That's all for now. My next post will be #100. I can sense your excitement.

Little Update

So much has been going on lately. Here is a short rundown.

We have a new pastor, Rev. T. Elwood Long. He was my pastor in the late 80's at Mt. Carmel and then our Conference Superintendent after that for 11 years. In fact, he was the superintendent when I received my minister's license and then my ordination 2 years later. I'm excited to be working with him. He has much wisdom.

Memorial Day was nice. That was the Sunday the church voted on Pastor Long. We did not have an evening service, so we had some extra family time.

School is almost out and my daughter is VERY excited. We are fixing snow cones for her class Monday.

Graduation Sunday is June 10th. No, I'm not ready. I get to preach Grad. Sunday, but I've got other things to prepare for that Sunday too - senior picture show is the biggest deal.

We start a new Sunday School and Kid's Zone schedule Sunday - for the summer. All the adults will be meeting together for Sunday School. The teachers will rotate through the summer. The kids will all meet together from Sunday School (9:45 AM) through the end of morning worship (about noon). We are using a VBS program and building around that. I will be an exciting summer.

I guess that's enough for now.

Work standing up

I've heard of this before, but this article is interesting. Here is a clip... (who is going to give it a shot?)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Think work feels like a treadmill
now? Try a new desk designed at the Mayo Clinic.
They built what they called a "vertical workstation" -- a desk fitted over a standard treadmill. They persuaded 15 obese people to work at this treadmill-desk and measured how many calories they burned.
If an overweight office worker used this vertical workstation all day, every day for a year, he or she could lose up to 66 pounds (30 kg), the researchers report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Fun Trip and Easter

Took a fun trip with the family and youth group. We went to the NC Aquarium - Ft. Fisher (down close to Wilmington). We also stopped by UNC-W. Justin is going to school there next year - going to swim for the school. He's like a fish. We ate at Rockola Grill in Wilmington. We had a great time.

Here are my favorite Easter funny pic. Hope this doesn't offend anyone.

Raines anyone

Found a new TV show, Raines. It came on Thursday's at 10:00 PM, but they are already moving it to a new day - Fridays. Not sure if that is a good sign. I don't usually write about TV shows, but I'm really enjoying Raines. I think Jeff Goldblum is great. Of course he has the perfect first name, unless that is not your first name, then, maybe not so perfect.

I'm a bit out of time, meeting the youth group to go to Student Life Tour: clarity07. Can't wait, gonna be a GREAT time with them.

Show is great. What do you think.

Oh, yeah, GO HEELS!

Dinner and a Cause

My wife and I went to the Wilson Pregnancy Center Banquet - it was very nice. They had a silent auction. Rhonda and I bid on two items and the good/bad news... we won both of them. One is a one-year membership to Regency Athletic Club. When the director announced me as the winner, she said, "Good luck with that one." OK, she knows me. She is a volunteer in my youth group, my new Assistant Sunday School Superintendent and good friend. What did she mean, "Good luck with that one." Hmmmmm.

We also bid and won a large basket full of ... stuff. It had coffees, pasta mixes, and lots of other stuff in a very cool bowl. Rhonda really like it. I thought it was pretty cool.

Anyway, the $$$ went to help the Pregnancy Center. We had a very nice time. There was a humorist - very funny. One thing I really liked was that they didn't really "push" the Pregnancy Center. They did give an opportunity for you to give a one-time gift or an ongoing gift, but they didn't beg. Hey, if I didn't believe in the cause, I wouldn't have paid for the dinner or bid on the items. Very well done.

Me Happenings

I just check my MySpace and I posted a blog there. Well, here it is ... here... to.

Anyway, just thought I'd drop in and here's a bit of news...

1. getting ready for WAYnet (Wilson Area Youth workers network) were I serve a coordinator and I have for the last 2 or 3 years. I'm getting ready to pass it on. I still want to be actively involved, stay on the board, but let someone new step in... but who?

2. I'm still at Shiloh with no real intentions of leaving


3. my oldest is getting ready to turn 8 - ahhhhhh

4. I just got a new Church Education Ministries board. I installed them in the morning service Sunday. I think they will be great. They want to go out to dinner for our first meeting. I'm sure that means they want me to pay... which means the CEM dept. will have to pay.


5. I just ordered cable TV - for the first time ever I'll be paying to watch the TV. I wanted DirecTV, but we have too many trees in our back yard to get reception. Oh well. We'll see how it goes. I hate to pay to watch TV.

6. We just had our 4th annual Super Bowl party and Chili Cook-off. Becky won with Larry one point behind. Ummmmm, Chili.

7. Yes, I'm still a Tar Heel fan and proud to admit it. Miracles do happen, just ask NC State. It won't happen again. Wednesday night we get Duke. That game will rock. Go Heels!

8. Eight already? Hmmmmm - I love my Wife! Well, that should be number 1! I'm taking her to a marriage conference - Family Life, Weekend to Remember. No, we are NOT in trouble. It's gonna be fun!


9. I'm too busy to be posting blogs. Gotta stop.

10. thanks for reading - now comment!!

48 minutes and 12

I came across this post about the power or "magic" of 48. The bottom line of the article was that you set a timer and work steady at a project for 48 minutes and then get up, stretch, get a drink, go to the bathroom, etc. for the next 12 minutes and then repeat. Some of the emphasis also seemed to be on doing something different in the next "48" block. For me, maybe work on my youth sermon for "48" and then check email, stretch my legs and all for the next "12." Then, I guess, I'd hit another project. Sounds good. I'll let you know how it works... although it didn't take into account all the interruptions in the office. Hmmmm. Problem is, sometimes it seems like there are 48 interruptions.

Also, taking the family and the youth group to see the UNC girl's play basketball tonight. They are ranked #2 in the nation and playing Georgia Tech. Should be good... unless you're a GT fan, then ... sorry.

Go Heels!