Had to Back Out of a Commitment Today

As a volunteer youth worker, I do my best to make and keep commitments with students. However, sometimes I have to back out. I hate that because I do my absolute best to model the importance of keeping commitments even when it comes at a personal sacrifice.

Tomorrow I was supposed to spend a few hours with a student who is helping with our Vacation Bible School at church. He lives pretty far from the church and relies on his family to take him back and forth to church events. I was hoping to alleviate their driving tomorrow by keeping him around until the youth event tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, an appointment came up for tomorrow that I couldn't afford to turn down. That's where my internal conflict comes in. In my heart, I would turn down the appointment without thinking twice because my passion and commitment is to serving Christ by serving students. However, my bills still need to be paid.

I am very fortunate to be in the business I'm in. I have more free time than anybody should be allowed to have, but still make enough to live on. I can typically take time off when I need to for vacation or taking the students to summer camp. It's a good deal.

Times like this, however, are a real struggle for me. I wish there was a way to have my cake and eat it too; make commitments to students and still be able to do all of the appointments that come my way.

The good news is that I've earned a few credits with this student. We've built up a good rapport and he knows my heart has his best interest in mind. I'm taking next Monday off to go with him and Kyle Cleveland to Magic Mountain. If, however, I flake out on that or other events, I'll begin burning up my credits with this student and be just another adult who makes promises that he doesn't intend to keep. Proverbs refers to this as a raincloud that produces no rain.

My point to all of this is more on a personal level. If you get anything out of it, that's a bonus. I'm writing this blog post more as a way of writing myself a reminder about the importance of making commitments sparingly unless I am certain I can follow through. I also need to actively build credibility with those under my care by being a consistent source of predictable support in their lives.

The reward, as well as the consequence, will be placed on the head of the student more than it will on me. The worst thing that can happen to me is that I lose the trust and respect of the student. The worst thing that can happen to the student is that he can lose his ability to trust others and become cynical. The best thing that can happen to him is that he will be so blessed by my ministry to him that he ministers to others, bearing the fruit of my ministry investment in his life. That's a reward both of us get to enjoy as well as the people he ministers to.

Earthquake in Los Angeles

I'm in Tustin and felt the earthquake very strongly. Apparently it was centered near Chino Hills. This was a lot longer and stronger than other earthquakes I've felt.

I happened to be at my mom's house when it occurred. She was about to get in her car which is a Toyota Corolla. We stood there and watched it shake back and forth for a while after the ground stopped shaking. It was kind of crazy.

When it happened, I was on the phone with my sister who lives in Lake Elsinore. A few seconds after I started feeling it, she started feeling it out there. She said it made her dizzy and had to go lay down.

Right before I started writing this post I felt a little tremor which I'm sure was an aftershock.

They originally said it was a 5.6, but have since said it's probably a 5.8. The latest reading is 5.4.

HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 13

Message Title: Flooded (featuring Josh Pease)

Sermon in a Sentence: We're sunk when we try to live on our own power because God wants us to do our good works through him instead of for him.

Key Verse: "Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.'" Mark 10:27

Weekend Scale of Difficulty: 4 out of 10. Pretty simple weekend, very few elements. One glitch in starting a video, but it turned into a funny bit.

Attendance: up 4% from last weekend, up 76% from the same weekend last year, up %24 from the same weekend two years ago
Service Length: 70 minutes
Understandable Message: A Josh Pease used a story about getting his car stuck on a flooded street to illustrate how silly it is when we try to get unstuck in life on our own power while completely ignoring God's ability and willingness to help. This was a strong message that was easy to understand and apply. Josh's use of the illustration had two key attributes: it was memorable, it was immediately applicable to the student's lives.

Volunteer/Student Involvement: B/B Volunteers were actively involved at the tables and greeting students. Students led in the band, and handed out programs and pens as people entered. Still noticed that many student leaders had isolated themselves to the separate balcony. A few students, however, stepped up.

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: B The video of the cameras trying to keep up with Josh Pease at the beginning was very entertaining. It could probably be tied to the theme of the service, but I'm not sure that was the point. It seemed to be just an element of fun to reinforce the point that church doesn't have to be boring; it can be fun.

Music Playlist: All I Need Is You Lord, Hosanna,
Dominik dominated this weekend. He's got great talent combined with a powerful passion for worship.

Favorite Moment: The most powerful moment of the night was near the end of Josh's message. He finished telling the story of being stuck in the flood with his car. Nobody was around to help him. He didn't want to turn to God for help because he was intentionally trying to keep God out of his life. The situation helped him realize that he can't do everything on his own and that he needs God. The story of Josh reconnecting with God was powerful. The miraculous resolution to the crisis was even secondary to Josh's telling how God had his attention and bonded with him in that moment.

Overall grade: B+

My Search For A Youth Ministry Job, Pt. 2

A few seconds ago, I withdrew my resume from a high school ministry position in Yorba Linda. After reading through the materials and thinking through this and praying about it all week, I knew it wasn't the right match.

I'm keeping my eye out for opportunities, but am not going to move too quickly on anything. Maybe God wants me to stay put, maybe he has the right opportunity waiting for me. I'll keep the updates coming as they happen.

DB

My Search For A Youth Ministry Job, Pt. 1

Seeking God's will for my life, I've started searching out youth ministry positions. I'll post blogs as I go through this process. It's only been a few days since starting this search, but I've been praying about this now for a few months.

Sunday night I responded to a few youth ministry positions posted on YouthSpecialties.com. Monday I received a request for a resume and also posted my resume on YouthSpecialties.com. Tonight I received another request from the Reno area for a resume and application package. It seems like a great opportunity, but I have some questions about the strength of their theology.

Tonight I got an e-mail from the church in Yorba Linda that requested my resume. They want to interview me on Saturday.

This seems to be a lot in such a short amount of time. It is. However, I'm definitely not in a rush. I've gone too quickly into youth ministry positions in the past and been burned pretty badly.

I'm very encouraged by the response, but will ask tough questions and do some due diligence before accepting anything.

There is another opportunity I'm working on in the background. It's not a for-sure opening, yet. This one is at the top of my list, but have to be patient for the process.

With all of this going on, one of my options is that I could keep doing what I'm doing. I love my ministry as a volunteer and feel fulfilled doing it. My only purpose in this search is to test the drive I have for youth ministry. I want to see if God is leading me to get back into full time ministry. If the answer is no, I'm happy to keep things the way they are. If it's yes, I will be so happy to be back on staff in youth ministry.

Please pray for me as I go through this process.

Thanks,

Dennis

This Could Keep You Busy For Hours

For lovers of cool random facts, this is something you'll need to see.

Click Here

PDYM Student Leader Conference

I had not planned on being a leader at this year's conference. However, my schedule was clear this week and they needed help. I think that was a God-thing. I made several great connections with students, got challenged through the messages, and renewed my passion for youth ministry.

I'd write more, and I might later, but a consequence of late nights up with students and early mornings for general sessions has this youth worker wiped out.

Have a good one,

Dennis

Better Than Cox Email

The other day I wrote a blog post about how to get your Cox e-mail on your phone. Tonight I came up with a better idea; quit using Cox for e-mail. They have great service on other things like cable and Internet. However, they drop the ball on e-mail availability from my cell phone.

Tonight I signed up for a new Gmail account. It's great because I can easily get it from my cell phone without having to do any tricks to make it happen. Cox is history!

Twitter Codes

Ever wonder about codes you can use with Twitter? Here's a link to all the information you need to know. Click here

Enjoy!

Dennis

Cool Hybrid News From Toyota

How much more green can it get?

Toyota to Add Solar Panels to Prius Hybrids
Monday, July 07, 2008

From FoxNews.com

Link to article

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to add solar panels to its popular Prius hybrid early next year to power the vehicle's air conditioning, a newspaper report said Monday.

As part of a complete design makeover, the Prius will be fitted with rooftop solar panels on its high-end models, the Nikkei economic daily reported.

"It's more of a symbolic gesture," said the unidentified source. "It's very difficult to power much more than that with solar energy."

Toyota, who declined comment on the report, would be the first major carmaker to use a solar power generation system on a mass-produced vehicle.

The automaker plans to produce 450,000 Priuses in Japan in 2009, up 60 percent from 2007, Nikkei reported.

The Prius, the world's first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid car, first went on sale in Japan in late 1997. Total global sales have since topped 1 million.

Help A Friend Succeed

A friend of mine from college designed two posters that are in the top 10 finalists for a contest run by the John McCain campaign. He's asking us to vote for poster #9. Please take a moment, click this link, and help my buddy out.

Thanks,

Dennis

Getting Your Email From Cox ISP On Your Cell Phone

A frustration I've had with my Cox Internet service is that they disabled my ability to check my e-mail from my cell phone's Internet program. The other day I had a hunch that, when I checked into it, turned out to be correct. This has been helpful even though I've had mixed results.

I logged onto my Cox account online and found where I can have my e-mail forwarded by entering an e-mail address. I'm a Sprint user so I have a Sprint e-mail address attached to my phone automatically.

Since I entered that address, I now get my e-mail forwarded to my phone. The reason I say "with mixed results" is that sometimes only part of the e-mail comes through and other times I see that I got an e-mail, but can't open it.

Until the new iPhone comes out, (and until I can afford to cancel my Sprint service) this will have to do.

I hope this is somehow helpful for anybody who was burned when Cox stopped this service.

Another option I plan to do, but haven't is to change to a Gmail account. That would solve everything... especially if I end up ditching Cox.

Have a good one,

Dennis

How God Got My Attention Today

God got my attention today and reminded me of the importance of putting him before material possessions.

I'm moving out of my condo to downsize and save money. I'm leaving the place furnished for my renters. That means all the stuff I accumulated to fix this place up will soon be enjoyed by others.

I got super sad about that right before I started packing. I stayed sad for most of the day; even though I know this is the right decision. I'm excited about the freedom and leverage this is going to give me in some areas of my life where I've been stifled. However, it's still hard to leave all of my hard work and creativity behind.

Here's where God comes in. For my devos I've been reading 1 Samuel. Tonight's chapter was about the Israelites demanding a king. God told Samuel to warn the people about how a king would take advantage of them, treating many of them like slaves and taking the best of their crops for him and his military. They still demanded a king because they wanted to be like other countries.

How's that for peer pressure? I never realized that was in the Bible. Maybe this is closer to keeping up with the Jones family. Either way it's bad.

God used the prodigal, material-minded Israelites to teach me. He showed me how moving away from all of this stuff I've accumulated is his way of putting my focus wholly on him. I love this place too much. I've been focusing on what others have and doing my best to keep up. He wants me to be free from this trap and submitted to him.

So much good is going to come out of this move. I'll see the evidence in my relationship with him and in his ministering to others through me. God used my sadness today in combination with my devotional reading tonight to totally refocus my thinking. I've completely changed from a feeling of sadness to an attitude of gratefulness.

I know he's setting me on a new course. I was telling some friends that last night. This is just one of many steps in the new direction he's turning me toward. I don't have a clue where he's leading, but I see the evidence that his work is in progress.

Movie Review: Hancock

Hancock was original, fresh, very funny and action packed. I rate this movie very high. We had such a great time seeing it. It's definitely a little too violent for the little ones. We saw it pretty late at night so there weren't many people in the theater, but we were all laughing pretty hard during many of the scenes.

I give this movie a strong thumbs up. It's got some bad language, but not over the top.

The critics tore this movie apart, but don't let that stop you from seeing it. They got it wrong. Go see this movie.

Today's Funeral

Today I went to a funeral for an 86-year-old woman who I met, but never got to know well. She was the mother/grandmother of a family I've become very close to over the past few years. I have been the Bible study leader for the children in this family and we've even gone on vacation together. They've become like family to me.

Lee, the father of the family and the woman's son, gave the eulogy. He is not a man of many words. However, he had written out about 3 pages of loving memories about his mom.

Here's what got me. All I knew about this woman was what I saw; immobile, difficult to communicate with, reliant on others. The words in her eulogy showed me a side of her I wish I could have known; hospitable, art-lover, traveler.

She lived this full life that I never knew about until Lee gave her eulogy.

Funerals have a way of making us evaluate the people we are and the people we're becoming. I'm accomplishing some good goals in my life, but am I "who I want to be" as Switchfoot sings? I love to be hospitable, but am I doing it. There are a lot of things I love to do, but don't do them. I need to get passed some roadblocks that hold me back. I'm finally starting to travel. It's good to know I'm doing that right.

One of my favorite sayings is, "I want my last words to be, 'Hey guys, watch this!'"

I don't know if I really want those to be my last words, but I'd like to be known as a person who made life happen for myself and others. Was I hospitable? Did I go places? Did I let roadblocks hold me back or did I find a way around them?

I'm doing pretty good. I want to do great.

I Found Renters For My Condo

Tonight I found some renters for my condo. I'm super excited. This is going to be great on so many levels:

1. I'm going to rent a room out of a house to save money
2. That will help me reduce my debt considerably
3. I will eventually be able to put enough money aside to put down on a house
4. Ladera Ranch may become my new home. I've wanted to live there for a long time

Life is good, but it's going to get even better!

Movie Review: Wall E

Saw this movie tonight at the El Capitan in Hollywood. I'd never been there before. It was amazing. Disney bought this theater a while back and spent $10M refurbishing it. It's amazing. When we walked in, there was a guy in the middle of the stage with his back to the crowd playing a gigantic organ that lowered through the floor of the stage when he finished. Before the movie, they had a cartoon. Then they had a dance routine with several characters from various Disney animated movies. Disney made the trip to the theater as fun as the movie itself. It didn't hurt that Will Smith was outside for the premiere of his new movie. It was fun to see him, too.

Anyway, back to Wall E. The movie was fantastic. It had a lot of undertone messages that were the point of the movie, but never directly spelled out to the viewer. They just assumed you'd get the hint. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it. Being a Disney/Pixar movie, you know it's going to be squeaky clean.

For storyline, I'd give this movie an A especially because of the use of script (or lack of it) to get communicate. They did an amazing job.

For animation, I'd give this movie an A+. It was so good that I was kind of distracted by how real everything looked.

Not sure how else to rate it. Overall, I give it a big thumbs up with or without children. Probably a good date movie because there is a little romance worked in throughout the movie.