A New Goal

2 weeks ago, I accomplished something that I never thought I was going to do. I completed my 2nd half marathon. I completed the 1st one last September and was very proud of myself for taking on a difficult task and going through with it. For someone that is not a runner, a pretty good goal. I also remember saying to myself as I crossed the finish line, "As long as I live, I will never run again." A little dramatic, but at the time I thought it was a very truthful statement. As I was telling some friends about it, they decided to run it this year. I just said to them "good luck, I will cheer for you". Little did I know, I would be pressured into running along side them in this 2nd half marathon. Yes, I said pressured.
We trained, and we accomplished what we set out to do. (I would show a picture to prove it, but Disney wanted $19.95 for a small pic. Please take my word on it.)
The way I see things, Half Marathon + Half Marathon = Full Marathon. Simple math really. So what now.
Now, a new goal. It is something that is doable and definitely beneficial, but is it something that I can commit to? I think Im going to give it a shot.
An old high school friend just told me that her pastor challenged her to read the Bible in 90 days. I wished her good luck and told her to let me know how that goes.
After a few minutes of chatting, I realized this would be something I could accomplish. So starting tomorrow, I am going to read the Bible 12 pages a day for 3 months.
I thought running the half marathon was tough, but I already am wondering what I got myself into. This will truly be a test of dedication and perseverance.
Wish me luck!

Healer (Cancer Faked) Mike Guglielmucci

This story is unbelievable. I just recently posted aobut how I was inspired and encouraged by the lyrics in the new Hillsong song healer. I did not realize it was written by someone who was faking a terminal illness. To be quite honest, I was pretty disturbed with the whole story.
But it is great to see this pastor admit that he has another kind of illness and he is seaking help.
Search it on youtube to see the entire story.

The Sports Illustrated Jinx

I have never really believed in the curses that go along with professional sports.
From the Cubs, to the Red Sox, to Madden, to SI, it seems like there are many. I always just viewed these so called curses as a coincidence or an excuse for choking late in the year.
So why am I worried? Look at the cover.
If you know me, you know I am a huge Dallas fan. Fanatic might be an understatement. I grew up watching America's team and remember 3 Superbowl's in the 90's.
The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since the year I was getting my drivers license and yet I will continue to watch every single game. I have even attended 3 out of the last 4 training camps. I have been faithful. It is now time to return the favor. So, from a fan to the team, I have a few requests.
Romo, if you are reading, please don't get hurt!!! Forget about the curse.
Pacman, don't make it rain.
T.O, Keep your mouth shut.
Crayton, catch the dang ball.

Superbowl prediction: Dallas Cowboys-31, New England Patriots-28

Encouraging song

I was just browsing through itunes and came across the song Healer by Hillsong.
What a simple but yet powerful worship song.
I was reading through the book 'Man in Black' by Johnny Cash. He has a line in his book that says whenever he sang the song "Walk the Line" he meant it, or at least wanted to.
This song made me think of that quote. Whenever I sing words to God such as "I believe you are all I need" I mean it, or at least I want to mean it.

Pay the dollar and get this song on itunes. Be encouraged.

Lyrics:
You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in You
I trust in You

I believe You're my Healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You're my Portion
I believe You're more than enough for me
Jesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
Nothing is impossible for You
You hold my world in Your hands

To run or not to run? That is the question

This weekend will be my second year to run the half marathon down at Disneyland. Last year, I just set out a goal to accomplish and was proud of the fact that I did it. I remember as I crossed the finish line saying to myself, I will never do this again. As the year went on I had friends who made the same goal for this year. So I thought, what the heck I will do it again. Im not great at math but the way I see it, Half marathon (last year) + Half marathon (this year) = One full Marathon.
But as I have been training, I am having problems that I dont really remember from lat year. If you are a doctor (Chad) or a running expert, please let me know whether I should run or not. Here are the concerns.

Knee Pain- After some internet research, I have diagnosed myself with an abnormally tight iliotibial band. Not sure what that means but I definitely need to loosen this band before this weekend.

Ankle Pain- Couldn't find a medical term but it sure does hurt when I run. Weak ankles I guess. Maybe bad running shoes.

Black Toenails - My middle toes on both feet are black from banging up against the shoe while running.

As long as I do not hurt anything worse, I don't mind suffering through the pain. But my fear is that I will need something amputated by the time this run comes to a stop on Sunday.

Allnighter Outreach

It is once again time for our Jr. high outreach where we have to stay up all night long. Thank God this is only once a year.
I am really looking forward to this years event. I think that what we have in store for these students is something that they will really enjoy but be challenged as well. Every year many students make decisions.
We always start out with a rally at the church with a band, speaker, games, giveaways, and food. As you can see on the poster that we have an illusionists to give the message. From what I hear, Danny Ray is amazing.

After that we go to this massive building that has everything from laser tag to surf rider, to arcade, to skate park.

I cant wait!

Getting away

I just got back the other day from a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas.\I know, life can be tough sometimes. There was something about this trip that made it one of the most fun and beneficial trips I have ever been on. Of course it was fun. Jet skiing in the ocean, snorkeling, eating until you want to throw up, all good things. But there was just something about spending time with friends and not having a care in the world that made it memorable. Try it sometime. Get away. Anywhere. You will be glad you did.

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.

My Trip to Texas

I just flew back from Gods country into the 100 + degree weather with a sky full of smoke of central California. Time to get back to ministry.
It was a very busy but very fun week. I got a chance to basically see everyone I know or knew at one point. I also got to gain about 10 pounds by eating some great TX food.
Here is a glimpse of the trip.
The first week, High School Reunion.
This night was actually a lot more fun than I thought it would be. Seeing old faces, reminiscing on old stories, and even watching old videos made the night memorable.
I learned that people don't really change after 10 years. Yes, they are older, have kids, have jobs, but personality wise, people usually don't change.
This is me and my 4 best friends in high school. (missing one other)


After the reunion I rented a car and drove up to Arkansas to see my brother and his family. It was a short trip but worth while. They have some of the cutest kids ever. Thanks for the good food!


After Arkansas, I woke up early and drove to Oklahoma City. But before I got there ( I know, this is pathetic) I had to stop in Checotah, OK. which happens to be the home town of Carrie Underwood. Don't worry, I didn't go out of my way. I just saw the sign and had to take a quick pic.


I finally ended up in OKC. Spent the day with my cousin, checking out his new church and just hanging out. It was also a short trip but a lot of fun.


I finally ended up back in Dallas, and after 14 hours of driving, I got to see my sister and niece. We went to the movies, pet shop, out to eat, and just spent the day together. Her alone would tempt me to move back to Tx.
.

All in all, a great trip. I rarely get to go back there, but I am sure glad I did. It was kind of weird. The traveling to different states to see family and friends made it seem like I was dying and had to say my last good byes. I really hope thats not the case. But now it is time for summer camp and a mission trip in July. The fun never ends.

An Itunes Run for my Run

There is something about music that gets you motivitated to do something that you really dont want to do. I remember when I was playing basketball in 6th grade. Are team was called the heat. You should see our shorts. They were yellow and orange flames. Probably the ugliest uniform ever. But I remember in the locker room before the game, I had a an amazing idea. I said that we should come out to the song "The Heat is On." So the next week, one of the players moms had a juke box and cranked the volume up as loud as it could go in the gym. We couldnt even hear it.
But the point is, music is motivational. I, as of right now, have no motivation to train for my half marathon. The thought of running 13.1 miles again makes me cringe. My left knee is begging for me not to do this. It went through a lot of pain the last time. But I made a commitment. This time IM not alone. This time I have friends expecting me to run because they are running it for the first time. So tonight I will begin. I will need some good solid tunes to get me through it.
Here are a few that I have so far.
Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
Lets get it started - Black Eyed Peas
Dont Stop Til You get enough - Michael Jackson
Dont Stop believin - Journey
Lose Yourself - Eminem
Ignition - Toby Mac
Livin on a prayer - Bon Jovi
In the end - Linkin Park

This should get me through the first 2 miles. What are some others?

Price is Right

A big group from church is heading out tomorrow for a taping of the Price is Right. I went a few years ago but was totally bummed when they did not call anyone from our group. I have to get on this time. I will do whatever it takes. Okay, maybe not everything. But I could sure use 10,000 dollars, a new car, a bedroom set, a trip to china, a sailboat, a waffle maker, a set of golf clubs, a hot tub, or a diamond necklace. But if you know of any secrets on how to get on, let me know.
If anything, it will be a great time of hanging out with some cool people.

A New Title

In honor of the greatest television show of all time, I have a new title for this blog. If a show about nothing can become as great as it was than so can this blog.

Hit and Run

Okay, so the high school pastor and I were in his office talking and all of a sudden we hear tire screeches and a huge crash at the intersection right outside the church. As we were getting up to check it out, all of a sudden we hear this guy yelling expletives at the top of his lungs. He is running as fast as he can.
Not sure what to do or what happened, we decide to chase the guy. I thought that maybe he was caught on fire or someone in the car got hurt and he was freaking out. Man, am I dumb? As I was halfway through the parking lot, I suddenly realized that he was not wanting to get caught. That is when a lot of stuff went through my head. Oh my goodness, what am I doing? Does he have a gun, knife? Is he bigger than me?
I soon realized that putting my life at risk wasn't worth it. Call me cray, scared, a wuss, whatever. I know that any guy that is reading this safe and sound behind his computer would say that they would of easily chased the criminal down. Maybe if I was like 70 and thought to myself, "I have lived a good life, I am going to go out a hero." But being 28, not happening.
But thank goodness, the criminal was caught. One of the neighbors stopped him until the cops came.
Not much drama happens in the great town of Visalia.
But today I could of died. Thank the Lord I didn't.

An end of an era...

I didnt want to do this. It might be one of the most difficult things I have ever had to deal with.(total sarcasm by the way.) But I think it is time. I must retire the name Puddles. It hurts to even type those sad words. (even more sarcasm) Some understand why, others have no idea what a Puddles is, but it was a name given to me 4 years ago that would stick for a long time.
January of 2004, the Jr. High ministry at Saddleback was on a retreat. The 3 year old daughter of Ron and Katie Edwards was trying to say my last name, which is Putman. But some how, the words Monster Puddles came out of her mouth and everyone thought it was the cutest thing ever. I had a good laugh and thought that would be the end. The word monster was quickly forgotten but Puddles stuck around.
The next weekend at church, I was introduced to hundreds of Jr. high students as Puddles. That is how it all started.
From then on, every student, pastor, co-worker, and friend called me Puddles. I actually didnt mind. It became a part of who I was. It became a second name.

That was a name that I associate the time I spent at Saddleback with. Great times. 2 of the best years of my life. But just like everything else, all good things must come to an end. So there you have it. Puddles has retired. Eric is the name. How boring is that? But thats the name for now. I am open to suggestions for new names, or I could just be normal for once and stick with the name I was given at birth.

Texas Sized Worship

I did not care what songs were on here.
This is an album that I gladly judged by its cover.

New blogs I read

I have linked a couple new blogs that I read that you might want to check out.


Jerrod Nunn
Jerrod is a rookie to blogging but a veteran in youth ministry. He is my cousin and one of my best friends. Im sure he will have some very funny or insightful things that you could take away from his blog.


Jenny Simmons
I was good friends with Jenny in high school and college. She is the lead singer for the Christian band Addison Road. She is very intellectual and her blog is very interesting.

Check them both out.

A righteous response to promises that seem absurd

Sounds like a title of a sermon. If I let myself, I could turn this post into a 30 minute sermon but I will just give you a little snap shot on what I have been learning lately.
As I read through Gods word, I come to find promises from Him that I have depended on since I was in high school.
Certain ones like, "Trust in me, Ill take care of everything, I know the plans I have for you, not to harm you but for you to prosper. (paraphrased), All things work for good for those who love Him, Romans 8:28. All of these thick, hearty, powerful promises are ones that I live my life by.
But there is one promise that I really cant seem to get. One that is easy to understand but almost impossible to live by. Yes, It sounds absurd, but yes I believe it is true.
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
Wow, I have an escape route? No sin will ever be able to master me? Sin doesnt ever have to take place?

What do you do with this promise when it seems like and it feels like it is impossible? What do you do when sin just owns you? When it stalks you, devours you, kicks the living crap out of you?

I think the question that it comes down to, Do I Believe that He loves me? It is that simple. Do I believe that His promises are true, Do I believe He wants the best?
I think there are many, including myself that sometimes likes to play the victim card. We might even think that God can sometimes be mean, vindictive, or just flat out doesnt care. And that is where the problem lies. Even though we have seen Him work in so many other peoples lives, we doubt His love for us.

I think once we swallow our pride and humble ourselves, when we start to trust Him, then He will make Him self known. His promises will start to come through.

Book Review

I am loving this book. It was recommended by Donald Miller when I went and heard him speak a while back. He said it was one of the best books he ever read but I have seen the movie Walk The Line. I wondered, really? that good? You are probably over doing it a little.
After reading, I now know. This book is basically his testimony in his own words. It was published in 1975. I never knew how much faith Johnny Cash had at such a young age. He eventually fell into the ways of the world but in the end, he found his way back. This book is authentic, honest, entertaining, and I have totally related it to my life. It is hard to find, but I recommend reading this.

Here is a section where he talks about how important church is.

This was the first night I'd spent away from home since I'd been married, and Sunday morning driving from Shreveport to Gladewater, Texas, something about it all didn't feel quite right. It didn't take many miles before I knew what it was.
The performance the night before had been emotional "high." The wild enthusiasm of the audience had been stimulating. I had sung at a fever pitch, putting all the energy I had into every song.
Now it was Sunday morning, and there was a little letdown in the naked light of day. Marshall was driving the car, Luther was beside him in the front seat, and I was lying across the back seat. Every few minutes we'd have to slow down to allow cars to turn in to the churches all along the highway.
"That's why I feel so low this morning. I ought to be in church," I said.
"Do you want to go? Marshall asked. "I'll stop at a church if you want to."
Luther turned around to look at me to see what my answer would be. "Ill go with you," he said.
I didn't realize it, but my answer would establish a precedent, the beginning of a habit, a working pattern which would stand for years. My policy of aloneness and severed fellowship from other committed Christians would weaken me spiritually. Not that missing church necessarily meant missing God. It was just that Jesus never meant for us to try and make it on our own. There is something so important in worshiping together with other believers. And missing it would leave me vulnerable and easy prey for all the temptations and destructive vices that the backstage of the entertainment world has to offer.

I knew I needed to stop and get some spiritual feeding. If every night in this business was going to be like last night in Shreveport, I knew I'd need not just weekly, but a daily dose of God.
But I laid back down in the seat. "Naw, let's go on down the road," I said. "We've got a show to do tonight."

What I want

How sweet would it be driving one of these bad boys down the side streets cruising at 40 mph?
If you havnt noticed, gas prices are ridiculous. It kind of makes a good excuse to invest in a moped. This thing gets over 100 mpg.
My only fear is hitting a pot hole and flying off of it or some truck crashing into me. I think it might be worth the risk.

Red Box

I think I just found my new way of renting movies.
You only have to pay a dollar a night. Someone should of thought of this a long time ago. You can find these at different grocery stores in your area. I highly recommend it.

A tragedy

Pray for Stephen Curtis Chapman and his family.

Stephen's daughter Maria, age 5, died today in a tragic accident.

His teenage son did not see her playing in the driveway and she was hit by his car, care flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN and passed away there in the hospital. She was the youngest of Stephen and Mary Beth's six children and was adopted from China.

I dont really know why but this news really hit me. I mean, I know it is very sad but tragedy happens to people everyday. I think it is mainly because from what I know of him and his family is that he is a great Christian example who has a huge heart. I cant even imagine the pain that his family is going through right now.

The Importance of Community

"It is healthier to eat a twinkie in a group setting than broccoli by yourself."

The topic of community has been on my mind for a while now. It is probably a selfish motive but I am realizing that community is something that is extremely important to the health and morale of every individual. It is true that some people cope with aloneness much better than others but the truth is we all need people to love us, encourage us, fight with us, play with us, argue with us, cry with us, laugh with us, and experience life with us.
My heart has been extra heavy and sensitive lately for people that I see on a weekly basis that are struggling with this very thing.

How does the church help out?
Every church that I have been involved with in my life, I have witnessed the challenge and struggles of the church trying to reach to the young adult singles.
Life out of college is a constant struggle for graduates to find community. I have also experienced it for myself.
Lately this has been my holy discontent. If I knew how to solve this problem, I would. But I dont. But I dont want to just give up.

I understand that bigger cities have a wider variety of options, but I question is, what can the church do?
If you have experienced this or have any ideas, I would love to hear your ideas.

Off to the coast

Im heading off to an annual staff retreat at the central coast tomorrow.
This will be my third one. I have really enjoyed the last two. We always take time to meet and talk "business", but the majority of the retreat is just hanging out and connecting with the other staff.
Our offices are set up where all the youth guys are on the west side of the campus and all the older pastors are on the east side. So besides our weekly staff meeting and Sundays we really dont interact as much as I would like.
I am looking forward to attempt surfing, eating at Splash cafe which has the best clam chowder I have ever had, pulling pranks on the staff. (Last year I set up a fart machine under my senior pastors chair during a meeting. Risky move, but he had a good laugh), and running along the beach to help get in shape for the half marathon.
It will be a lot of fun and hopefully I will learn something in the process.

Mr. Likes to Play Worship Music

Wrong on so many levels but pretty funny.

Scuba anyone?

I have a new goal. I think. For those who don't know, I ran a half marathon in September of 2007. It is still hard for me to believe that I actually went through with it and am still alive today. Seriously, I thought my last days were near. But after feeling the satisfaction of completing a goal that I had to work pretty hard for, I decided that I want this to be an annual thing. Not running half marathons. But setting goals and going through with them. Just wanted to make that clear.
I was at sports chalet the other day and noticed that they give scuba lessons right in the store. Actually the pool is behind the store. The lessons are every weekend for a month and then they take you to Catalina to scuba in the open waters. This makes me excited and nervous at the same time.
I'm nervous about
a. getting eaten by sharks or over sized fishes
b. drowning
c. current sweeping me away to where I am never found and have to live on an island the rest of my life.

But if none of that happens then it should be pretty sweet.

Wired Jr. High Ministry

After months of brainstorming names for the Jr. High department and getting a look for it, (thank you Sarti Designs) we are ready to kick off our name this Sunday to the students. Im really excited about it. I think that it will carry out of the church into the schools and we will have an identity to the unchurched students.
This Sunday will include t-shirts, banners, games, a new resource booth and a pancake feed. I will also explain why I came up with the name WIRED.

Why I love Jr. Highers!!!

Unfortunately, about a week ago one of my worship leaders for the Jr. High had to step down. This kind of left me up the creek for this past Sunday. I called a few people to step in but no one could. So this past Sunday, I had the privilege (or burden) to step up and lead the Jr. high in worship.
I really hate doing this. I mean hate, from the deep pit of my stomach. I am not gifted in this area, I have no business attempting this and I do not want the program to be a one man show, but I really wanted us to worship through song. So after a few minutes of brainstorming ways to cancel worship for the day, I went in and got my guitar out of the office.
So I prayed and started playing.
As we were singing, I realized that I was not successfully playing and singing at the same time. I was going too slow. So I came up with an idea.
I told all the students that the only way I can play at the pace of the song is if I hear you guys sing. So I completely stopped singing and just listened to 50 Jr. high students sing to God while I played. It was amazing. There were even guys singing.
I love Jr. highers because they just want a leader that is real. They don't care how talented you are. They don't care if you mess up. They just want someone to love them and lead them.

If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.

In my entire career of youth ministry, I have never been as excited as I am now about an upcoming event. No its not camp or a mission trip (although it probably should be.) But May 16th, I signed 10 of my students up for a dodge ball tournament. There is a new venue in town who is putting this on. Winning team gets $500.
I will coach our way to victory. We will practice day and night until we are tournament ready.
To be honest, since these are jr. high students we will probably get owned in the first round but it should be a fun night.

The Village

I just started listening to the podcast of Matt Chandler. He is the pastor of The Village church in Dallas. I have heard him a few times before while living in Dallas. He is one of the best communicators I have ever listened to. The Village is a young church that is exploding in the Dallas area. I definitely recommend downloading a sermon or two on the ipod.

A proud uncle!

Only 6 and already a huge Dallas Maverick fan.
I think Im going to cry...

The Donald

No, not Trump. Off tomorrow to see Donald Miller at Fresno Pacific University.
Will be a long day but hopefully a good one.

You’re not FoxWorthy

Just noticed that Jeff Foxworthy will not be hosting the CMT awards tonight. Instead it will be 15 year old Hannah Montana and her dad. (doesn't she do enough already?) I'm not going to lie, I am a little disappointed. I really don't think the show will be the same. Not only is Foxworthy really funny but you probably remember him showing off his serious side at the end of last years awards with is passionate speech on why he loves country music. I will watch because I love country but Jeff will be missed.

Jeff's Speech
"I started thinking about why I like country music and doing this show so much, and here's what I came up with, y'all.

"I like country music because it's about the things in life that really matter. It ain't about braggin' about how you're gonna mess somebody up, or how somebody ain't respectin' ya. It's about love, family, friends -- with a few beers, a cheap woman and a two-timin' man thrown in for spice. It doesn't take political sides, even with things as ugly as war. Instead, it celebrates the brave men and women who go to fight 'em, the price they pay to do it and the longin' we have for them to return home to the ones that they love.

"It's about kids and how there ain't nothin' like 'em. I get tired of hearin' about how bad kids are today, because there are a lot of great kids out there that just need somebody to love 'em and believe in 'em. Country folks love their kids and they will jack you up if you try to mess with 'em!

"People in country music don't forget the people that allow them to do what they do for a livin'. They sign autographs and they take pictures with the fans because they know without 'em most of us entertainers would be gettin' a lot dirtier in the course of our workday. We are thankful that people want to hear the songs and the jokes that we write. Country music doesn't have to be politically correct. We sing about God because we believe in Him. We are not trying to offend anybody, but the evidence that we have seen of Him in our small little lives trumps your opinion about whether or not He exists.

"We love country music because it touches us where we live. It's about mommas, and when they were hot, and when they are unappreciated, and when they were dyin'. It's about daddies and the difficulties they have sometimes at tellin' the people that they work so hard to protect and provide for how they feel about 'em.

"Country music is about new love and it's about old love. It's about gettin' drunk and gettin' sober. It's about leavin' and it's about comin' home. It's real music sung by real people for real people, the people that make up the backbone of this country. You can call us rednecks if you want. We're not offended, 'cause we know what we're all about. We get up and go to work, we get up and go to church, and we get up and go to war when necessary.

"All we ask for is a few songs to carry us along the way, and that's why I love this show, because it ain't some self-important Hollywood hype with the winners determined by somebody else. On this show, you decide who goes home with a trophy and you get to dance and sing along with the people that bring you the songs of your life."

Mens Retreat Overview

Just got back from our annual men's retreat. This is one event that I really look forward to every year. We go up to a christian camp in the mountains and just chill. Being a pastor at the church you might assume I know almost everybody at the church but the truth is I probably know about 20%. This retreat gives all of the guys a chance to connect.
Here are a few highlights:
Golf tournament - came in last.
Disc Golf
Football
Foosball tournament
Ping Pong tournament
Risk until 3:30 in the morning
guitar workshop
paintball

Video Game Review

If you are in youth ministry you have probably heard about this game. Some of my students were talking about it so I decided to rent it.
You play as Jimmy, a 15-year-old delinquent who's been expelled from seven other schools. After his mother and step-father dump him in a corrupt boarding school, Jimmy must find a way to go from social outcast to schoolyard hero. It's filled with the typical cliques that are in every school.(bullies, nerds, jocks, preppies, greasers) and out of school (townies). The entire game is filled with missions that include ditching class, running from cops, fighting the football team, picking up girls, pulling pranks, and pretty much anything else that a rebellious teenager would want to do. Thats probably why students would like the game. They can get into trouble without really getting into trouble. Although filled with cursing, getting in fights, stealing, and crude humor, the game is somewhat addicting and your students will most likely love it. It will also teach them ways to pulloff pranks and get away with it. Save yourself time and brain cells by not renting this game,and tell your students not to rent it either.

My Idol Predictions

Everyone has them. Although no one on the show is quite like past idol winners such as Kelly and Carrie, there is some pretty good talent.
So here are my predictions for the final 8 Idol Contestants.

8.
She has managed to survive many weeks in the bottom 3 but it is her time to go.

7.
Very talented but not that popular.

6.
Not that talented but very popular. Should of gone earlier.

5.
My favorite contestant but not the best.

4.
Great singer but kind of scary.

3.
I think he should win it all but he will be forgot about.

2.
Will be very successful. He is the Daughtry of the group.

AND THE WINNER IS....
1.
I do not like this guy. Great singer but no personality and he always looks like he is half asleep. But unfortunately he will be the next American Idol and we will hear him every five minutes on the radio.

How many stars?

For all you "Friends" fanatics out there (Josh and Allison are the only 2 I know of), I was wondering how many celebrities you could guess that made guest appearances on the show. (with out cheating)
Here are the ones I could come up: 25 of them
John Stamos
Rebecca Romijn
Jon Lovitz
Elle Macpherson
Robin Williams
Billy Crystal
Ben Stiller
Susan Sarandon
Charlie Sheen
David Arquette
Reese Witherspoon
Christina Applegate
Tom Selek
Jason Alexander
Julia Roberts
Jon Claude Van Dam
Danny Devito
Soleil Moon Frye
Charlton Heston
Alec Baldwin
Bruce Willis
Dakota Fanning
Brad Pitt
Denise Richards
Freddie Prinze Jr.

Office Exercises

If there is one thing that I do not like about my job it is the fact that I have to spend so much time at a desk. I would much rather be hanging out with students. But most of the time I am working on the weekend stuff or logistical crud, so I am on my butt most of the day. So this post is for all of those office workers out there that want to stay in shape. Here are some diagrams of some exercises that will help. So go ahead and get buff. I believe in you.


Office Tips:
• Take mini-walks - Walk during coffee breaks. Arrange a walk-and-talk instead of a sit-and-talk meeting.
• Climb stairs Walk at least some of the distance up or down in office buildings.
• Park and walk - Park farther away from the office (or the store when shopping), instead of trying to get as close as possible.
• Walk on your lunch break - You’ll return refreshed. Wear comfortable shoes.
• Move while on the phone - Stand and move around while talking on the phone. Do some stretches.
• Swing your arms, turn your neck, or wiggle your toes — any kind of movement helps.

The Parent Link

There is this resource that I just became aware of that is getting me in good with my students parents. Isn't that what youth ministry is all about? It is called Parent Link. It is a monthly newsletter that is set up in a word document that is filled with articles for parents about todays youth. The best part is that it is completely adaptable to fit your needs. So far, this has been a very successful way to continually keep parents informed on what is going on in the ministry.

Go Rangers

Just took a look at the standings and noticed that the Rangers are in 1st place after 2 games. I am going to savor this moment because it will probably be the last.

1.Texas
2.Seattle
3.LA Angels
4.Oakland

Classic Car Wash Video

Im back from my blogging break and I thought I would like to kick it off with this video of me going through a car wash on top of the car. I have seen it done before but no one had told me how bad it hurt.

Where did the time go?

Here is a picture of the graduating class of Trinity Christian High School in Cedar Hill, TX. Class of 1998. Can you find me?
I am about to purchase my flight to Dallas for my 10 year, yes I said 10 year high school reunion. So many thoughts go through my head as I take a road down memory lane through the past 10 years. As I look back I can see where I was. College, Southern California, my current residence, but I can not believe that it has flown by so fast. It really gives me a grasp of reality on how fast life goes by. Do you remember the question that always gets asked when you are about to start a new chapter? Where do you see your self in 5 years, 10, 20? This question usually drowns people in fear. Although I do remember the anxiety attacks and the horrific feeling of not knowing, it was also an exciting time. A time to step out in faith.
I would of never guessed that I would be a Jr. high pastor way out in California but that is the plan God had for me. Its amazing to think that even though I had no clue of what my future holds, God was molding and shaping me for His exact plan.
I am looking forward to the next 10 years because even though I have no idea whats going to happen, God does. (hopefully marriage is somewhere in His plan.)

Help out an old friend...

Just wanted to let all of you know about a good Christian album that just came out. The band is Addison Road. I just picked up the album and I must say that I really enjoyed it. It brings a fresh sound to Christian music. I use to be really good friends with the lead singer and it is exciting to see her dreams come true.
Help them out...

Book Review

As part of the Josh and Puddles book club I decided to find something that was a quick read and beneficial to the ministry while trying to attempt the other 2 books we started out with.
Jim and Casper Go To Church:
A quick read it was. I loved the idea of a former pastor (Jim) teaming up with an atheist (Casper) to visit churches all over the country. It is exciting to think about an "open minded" atheist giving up his time and energy to help all of us to see the perception that a non believer has when he/she walks through the doors of the church.
Here is how I would describe my experience with this book though. When I read it, it tasted good going down but then it left a very unsettling feeling in my stomach. I will call this my Taco Bell book.

The idea is great and there are some very useful ideas that we can take from this but over all I hated this book. Okay, hate may be too strong of a word, oh forget it, I hated this book. Here is why...
Casper the atheist went into each church with his mind made up. Just as a movie critic would watch a movie in an effort to find its flaws, Casper went into each church to point out all the flaws. Some were legit but others were ridiculous. Flaws such as too many lights, hair too slick, too well planned out and so on. He was also very inconsistent with his critiques. For example, the church is too big,the church is not big enough, they are overly friendly, they are not friendly enough, and so on.

The opening pages state that he is open minded but he is completely opposite. I understand what he set out to do to when helped write this book but I highly doubt that many non believers would be this critical if they walked into the doors of a church. I hope not anyways.

Maybe I am being a little too negative but I find something wrong with someone making money off of a book by ripping into the church.

Grade: C+

The People's Superhero

Im not a big SNL fan anymore but this video is pretty dang funny.

Worship Night

Every year our Jr. High ministry has a worship night. We cancel our small groups and meet together to worship God and to teach the students that there are many different ways to express love and worship God.
Tomorrow night is going to look a little different and it makes me a little nervous.
We will worship through song for a little while but then we are going to break out into 4 different areas. The areas include prayer, art, journal, and communion. The students will hopefully discover a new way to express worship to God and not just think of WORSHIP as singing only.
I am really looking forward to this and I believe that God is going to challenge these students and show Himself to them in a way that they have never experienced.

5 things that you might not know about me.

I was watching American Idol and the contestants how to tell America something that people didnt know about them. So I thought I would give it a shot.

1. I must eat my food one thing at a time. If I have a plate filled with chicken, beans, vegetables, and a roll, I will start with what I like the least and save the best for last. Another weird thing about this is I will not let any of the foods touch. If I get any beans on my chicken, I wont eat it. Isnt that crazy?

2. There are 3 pretty common things that have never happened to me. I have never been stung by a bee or any other insect. I have never broken a bone and I have never had a cavity. Man my life is boring.

3. I had to get swats in school with a wooden board for calling my teacher something that I should not of called him. The embarrassing thing is that I was a senior in high school.

4. I am part of the Studebaker family. I believe that I am a 3rd or 4th generation cousin to the inventor of the classic Studebaker car. My mothers maiden name is Studebaker.

5. Number 5 is what I like to call the worst day of my life. I have shared this with a few. Earlier in the day, my girlfriend breaks up with me. I have a varsity basketball game I must get to. While soaking in my misery on the bench from being dumped the coach calls me in. As my team mate inbounds the ball to me, I shoot it in the wrong basket. We lose by 2. On the way home from the game, I see a fire trucking racing down our street. As I pull up our house is in flames. All in one day.

Im sure there are more things but thats all for now.

King of the Hill

For a long time now people have been telling me that I must watch this show. They always tell me that it reminds them of me and that the characters (specifically Hank)talks like me. Never being a fan of animation sitcoms, I would say thanks but no thanks. But thanks to www.hulu.com I thought I would give this show a shot.
And I must say that they were right. The Texas pride on the show makes me proud to be a Texan and makes me want to move back.
Here are some of the more memorable quotes:

1. An all Texas Super Bowl... His will be done.

2. If I wanted to watch my wife on Super Bowl Sunday, I would've married Fran Tarkinton.

3. I dont want to go to jail but I dont know if anything is wrong if you are doing it for Texas.

4. The Liberty Bell is great. But if it was in a contest with a bunch of other bells *without* cracks, it would lose.

5. I wasn't jealous. I was just upset that you were spending more time with that guy than you were with me and I wanted to spend that time with you. Jealousy had nothing to do with it.

When you feel like quitting the ministry.

Thankfully I am not going through this but unfortunately I have talked to too many youth pastors who want to get out. I ran across this post from Tim Schmoyer and thought it gave 5 simple and logical reasons why pastors should stay in it.

1. Confidence in God’s calling on my life.

2. Knowing that the greatest rewards are often on the other side of the greatest trials.

3. What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.

4. Working with sinful people is always messy, of which I am the worst.

5. I know the enemy wants me out.

Favre calling it quits.

Congratulations to one of the most overrated quarterbacks of all time.

Japanese Soccer with Binoculars

You might have already seen this.
Im already in the works of planning this out for our jr. high ministry.

Hot Topics

I am in the process of planning a Jr. High teaching series for after Easter.
I really want to hit on the most difficult challenges that a jr. high student goes through or the most difficult questions that they might have. I have a couple in mind but I really want to see if there is someting big out there that I am not thinking of.
Open for suggestions:

Embarassing Gym Moment #2

The other night I was continuing my quest to get buff.
I was walking back to the locker room after a tough workout. I was listening to my ipod as I was getting dressed. The ipod was pretty loud. This pretty big guy tapped me on the shoulder and asked "What the hell are you listening to?"
Not knowing how to avoid the question or to respond with a witty answer, I swallowed my pride and admitted that I was listening to

Josh and Puddles' Book Club

I've never loved to read.

Books have never been appealing to me. Maybe it was the many years of English teachers shoving pointless novels down my throat. But I have recently realized that the teachers are gone and I must self motivate myself to further my education. It might be more enjoyable now due to the fact that I will not be graded.
So I decided to accept the invitation to this book club that Josh has started.

Josh has already mentioned the books that he has recommended.
Kitchen Confidential and Gilead. To be quite honest, Kitchen confidential was the only of these two that sound some what interesting but being the adventurous, open minded person I am, I chose to dedicate my time to tackle these books.

There is already one book that I started reading a few nights ago.
The Shack by William P. Young.
It is a Christian fiction novel about a man who meets up with God in a shack.
I am only in the 6th chapter and it has already jump started numerous questions about God, dealing with tragedy, and where He is in a world filled with pain. Ill let you know what I think when I'm done.

Pick up a book and join the club.
A special thank you to Josh for the graphic. I figured that since my name is in it, I could steal it.

Small Group Curriculum

One of the biggest struggles I have had since being a Jr. High pastor is trying to figure out what small group curriculum works best for the students.
With the curriculum I have used, I always get one of two responses from the small group leaders.
1. It is not challenging enough
2. It is over their heads. It would be better for high school students.

Trying to find that balance has not been easy.
I guess the real question to ask, is not whose curriculum you are using or book you are going through but what topics are the students interested in? What will make them ask questions?

Just food for thought.

Are you smarter than a 5th grader?

I just got an email with this 5th grade question. I actually answered it quicker than I thought I would. Can you figure it out? Ill give you a cookie.

There are 7 girls in a bus.

Each girl has 7 backpacks.

In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.

For ever big cat, there are 7 little cats.

Question: How many legs are there in the bus??

Big Brother 9

I posted a while back that I was auditioning for big brother 9. It is a reality television show where you have to live in a house with 15 other people. I didnt get picked. But after watching the preview for it, I am so glad. I think God was looking out for me.
This year the theme is "Till death do us part". They match you up with who they think your perfect match is and make you do everything together including sleeping in the same bed. The show has always been a little trashy but I think this year will be over the top.

Embarrassing Gym Moment #1

I have been going to the gym consistently for about a month now.
There have already been 4 very embarrassing things that have happeed to me.
First one:
I was finishing up my fourth set of bench pressing. I did not have a spotter.
After about 4 reps, I cant push up the weights anymore. Im just trying to keep it from caving in on my chest. After about 2 minutes, I am completely helpless but no one around is noticing. Having my ipod on, I guess I didnt realize how loud I was but I screamed for help. 4 people ran over to help and laugh at me at the same time.
The funny thing is that there wasnt that much weight on the bar.

I'm Tired

There is really no reason for me to be. From what I know, I live a pretty normal lifestyle. I work, go to the gym, try to eat somewhat heathy, but for some reason I am constantly tired.
This actually makes me a little nervous. Back in 2002, I was diagnosed with mononucleosis. To most people mono is not a big deal. You have it for a couple weeks and then you are back to normal. I had a pretty severe case of it. It wasnt until about 9 months later until I started feeling better. It was horrible. I would not wish it upon my worst enemy.
I dont think its possible to get mono again but if there is any nutritious expert out there, I would really love for you to give me any advice what so ever on how to have more energy. The only thing I will not do is drink coffee. Seriously. I refuse to get addicted. I dont want to be one of those who need 3 grande frappuccinos a day.

Church Marketing Sucks

I am in the midst of revamping my Jr. High Ministry bulletin.
I came across this website that shows different, out of the box ideas that other ministries are coming up with to promote there events, services, etc..
It is filled with many ideas... Some great, some very controversial.
Check it out.

Say it Aint So

Here is an article on MSN on the return of the Mustache.
Time to start growing mine.

Danny Ray Illusionist

This is a promo for a different church but we just booked this guy to come speak at our Jr. High Allnighter Outreach in September.
I think it will go over big with the students. He even agreed to come hangout and do card tricks on a school campus to get them to come to the event. Im already looking foward to it.

Jesus Video (The Wrong Perception of Jesus)

If you have 9 minutes to kill, watch this video. Its pretty funny.

Its a boy

My brother and sister in law just had another baby. His name is Seth Gregory Putman.
Cant wait to meet you!

Hume Lake 08

Just got back from Jr. High Winter camp at Hume. It flew by but I am very glad to be home. My fingers are just now starting to thaw out. Here are the highs and lows.

Highlights:
Broom Hockey - I found out that I was absolutely horrible but our girls team made it to the championship game. They lost 3 to 1, but I'm pretty sure the other team was on steroids.

Box Sled Blitz - This was something new. Each church makes a sled out of cardboard and duct tape. Sat. night there was a competition to see what sled was the fastest down the tube run and most creative looking. We didn't win but it was a lot of fun watching the students fly out of the sled and role down the hill.

Ice Skating
Snow ball fights

Low lights:
The programming in the service.
They tried to pull off a Hollywood squares type game. The set up was amazing but the game itself was long and boring.

The band - The lead singer was sick but yet tried to sing. They only did 2 songs each service.

Cost- Its very expensive for a short weekend.

Overall a great weekend. Anytime I get to just hangout and have fun with jr. highers, I always have a blast.

I got dirt in my eye

Went to see the movie "the bucket list" the other day. I went in to the movie thinking that it would be pretty lame.
Besides its predictability and stream of greeting card moments, this film tugged away at the heart strings and by the end of the movie, I was forced to hold back a few tears. But it didnt work.
Other movies that i shamefully admit brought on the waterworks:
Rudy, Hoosiers, While you were sleeping, Armageddon, and the Notebook.

I think I am opening myself up a little too much on a public blog.

Back to school

Unfortunately, I am not able to go to seminary just yet so I decided to take a class at the local community college. After all, we should never stop learning. Which one wlll benefit me the most in the future? I have narrowed it down to 3.
Auto Shop
Computer design
Sign Language

Difficult decision.

T.O. Cries for Tony Romo

Im sure you have seen this already but Im just glad that the Cowboys have such passionate, selfless, caring teamates such as T.O.

Im dreading Winter Camp

As I sit here and prepare for our Jr. High winter camp at Hume Lake, I am starting to already get cold. How people enjoy this kind of stuff, I have no idea. It is a weekend of freezing your butt off, hands becoming numb, falling on your face from the slippery roads, and having to wear 14 layers of clothing.
Other than that, it should be a great weekend.

Romo Jersey for sale

Someone buy it fast before I burn it.

Goals for 08

I know that new years resolutions dont work out about 100% of the time but I hoping that one of these things that I came up with will stick.
After all, I did complete a half marathon. I know that doesnt sound like much but trust me, it nearly killed me.

Here are the few:
go back to school
meet new people (i just joined a flag football league at a church where I know no one.)
read at least one book a month
go to gym at least 3 times a week
coach jr. high basketball

Talking on Relationships

I am still enjoying a long break in TX but while I have some down time, I am prepping for an upcoming talk that our College, Career, and 20 somethings pastor asked me to do. Subject - Healthy Relationships.
At first I thought, NO PROBLEM. I will speak on friendships, or sibling relationships, or parent-kid relationships. But no, after speaking with him, I was specifically asked to speak on guy-girl relationships. This should be interesting.

I usually am not too nervous preparing for a talk, but this is different.
Besided being in a serious relationship in college, I really dont feel like I know too much on the subject. (at least by experience anyways.)

So my question is, What do these young adults need to hear? Being a 28 year old single guy, what can I possibly relay on to these people who are in the same position I am?

It should be a great Sunday because it is a great challenge. I am looking forward to sharing what God has taught me. I just need to figure out what exactly that is.