Third Day going mainstream?

Third Day just released their new album Revelation today.
Never been a huge fan. I always thought they were just "okay".
I remember going to a Michael W. Smith (remember that guy) and Third Day concert back in college. Smith made them look like an amateur garage band.
But I have to admit this album is pretty amazing. There are also a couple songs with Daughtry and Lacey Mosley from Flyleaf.
While recording this album in LA with a mainstream producer, it seems like they are trying to step out of contemporary Christian music confines. Hopefully their message will be heard by many for the first time. They will be on the tonight show tonight. Check em out.

Youth Assistant

I just found out about this software called Youth Assistant.
Here is what it claims to do:
Automated check in/check out
Event budgeting and expenses
Visitor tracking
Text messaging
Mentor Link program
Small group tracker with pictures
Email blasts
Prayer requests
Postcards

And about 20 other things.

It seems like an amazing tool. If there is a youth pastor out there that has tried it or heard about it, it would be great to hear what you think of it.

Google saving gas

I just saw that you can not only get driving directions on google maps but you can get walking directions as well.
For me to drive to work - 17 minutes.
For me to walk to work - 3 hours and 8 minutes.

I think Ill drive.

Texas State Board approves Bible courses in public schools.

I never thought I would see they day, but starting this fall certain Texas schools will add Bible courses to their schedule. Here is the article. God bless Texas!

Just when you think tv couldnt get any lower.

There is a new reality show on the G4 station called "Hurl"
Here is a short description of the show.

Just relax, let go, and hurl!

This new reality show that has five contestants attempting to prove their iron stomach prowess by eating food in a short period of time. This is immediately followed by nausea-enducing acts. Those who managed to complete each feat without "hurling" will be crowned winner.

Although this show is wrong on so many levels, I find myself intrigued and will probably watch at least one episode.

Cow Appreciation Day

I just saw this picture on my sister in laws blog. Chick-fil-A gave away free food if you dressed up like a cow. My niece and nephews couldn't pass up on such a great deal. Smart family.

A picture says a thousand words

This is the look you will find on the face of your leaders at some point during a week of summer camp. Okay, actually camp was a lot of fun. It could quite possibly be the best camp experience I have ever had personally.
I will take a note from Kurt Johnstons blog and do a little section called "the good, the bad, the ugly."

The Good
I have never spent so much time just hanging out with students. From running with one of my students at night to taking 15 of them on a bike ride around the lake, to playing mafia in our cabin every night, it was a week of being relational. There would be times that I would want to sneak off and take a nap, but it was just too much fun hanging out with them.
A few of my students really felt Gods presence at camp. It wasn't really the typical emotional re dedication week like every other year, but God really gave some students a reality check and challenged them in different ways.
I also look forward to connecting with different youth pastors across California every year. All the same churches go the same week every year, so the youth pastors had a chance to connect and just talk about ministry. Thursday night, the camp had us over for a BBQ and a chance to connect. Good times.

The Bad
DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA!
It never seems to fail. There is always going to be drama between students at some point during camp. Usually it is the girls, and this year was no exception. I really saw first hand how much gossiping, negativity, talking down to others, and complaining can come out of Jr. highers. This is something that I saw that I really need to teach on in the near future.
Homesickness - One thing that frustrates me the most about Jr. High ministry is that every now and then I feel that I am working with children, not teenagers. Two of my students called their parents and had them come get them because they were homesick. I tried to be as sensitive as I could but after a few days of hearing it, I pretty much thought "SUCK IT UP!!!!"

The Ugly
This was a first for me. And our camp hadn't dealt with this kind of situation in a long time. Our guest speaker had been going through a lot lately plus trying to launch a new ministry. With that said, he was pretty much all over the place and impossible to follow. He went over an hour each time he taught and for the majority of it, he wasn't making any sense. Halfway through the week, all the youth pastors were called outside and asked by the camp the best way to handle the situation.
We all decided to let the camp director speak the rest of the week. It ended up being great. The way the camp handled the situation was very impressive and I respect them that much more because of it.

I give this years camp an A+++. But thank goodness its only one week a year.

For the love of God, STAY RETIRED!!!!!!!!

Hey Brett,
I have news for you
1. You are old
2. You throw a lot of interceptions
3. Your backup is most likely better than you
4. Last years record was a fluke
5. You are overrated
6. You already said bye

Sorry man, but you have to go. Invent a grill or some sort of salsa to sell. Every athlete does it. Dont be like the annoying dude at a party where everyone is happy to see them walk out the door, only to see him return 5 minutes later.

Gullible is not in the dictionary

If I have one weakness (which we know there is more) it would be that I am very gullible. I believe just about anything anyone tells me if they are being serious. Why wouldn't I? Excuse me for giving you the benefit of the doubt only to find out you are lying to my face. Anyways, one thing that I am always a sucker for are infomercials. It is amazing what they sell on those paid programming shows at 3 in the morning. Whether it be a knife that cuts through a shoe, an infrared oven that cooks your food evenly or a steamer that can get out all wrinkles in less than 30 seconds, I believe that it works.
My latest moment of weakness were these green tea packets that help you lose weight and get into shape. Doesn't that sound amazing? They even guarantee the money back if you don't like it. How can this go wrong?
Well, after a week of trying the tea, I find myself not feeling well and in the bathroom a lot more. I'm not sure if that is the strategy they had in mind to help lose weight, but it is not one my body cares for too much.
Lesson Learned: Don't believe everything you hear...
As sad as it is, there are people out there to get you and don't care how it effects you. You can learn a lot through bad green tea. Now I just have to figure out a way to get my money back.