Let wonder replace worry

The Shameful 2008 Seattle Mariners

I moved to Washington State in the fall of 2001 and the Seattle Mariners were finishing up one of the most amazing seasons in the history of Major League Baseball. For the first time since 1906, a team won 116 games in one season. Despite not fairing well in the playoffs that year, expectations were high for the future.

How times have changed. The Mariners finally finished a season that has been painful to watch. For the first time ever, a team with a $100 million payroll lost over 100 games. 101 to be exact. Last night the Mariners finally got their first home series sweep all year. (Yeah, you read that right.) It has been very easy to just not care about this team.

We did make it to one game this year and had a good time. One thing you can say about Seattle, in the midst of losing their NBA team, the sale of Safeco, banking disasters, and a tough economy, this city has remained highly faithful to its pro sports teams. Some city's would have not filled the 100 level with the play this team gave it fans this year, yet Safeco Field remained full.

Those fans deserve better than the shameful display the Mariners put on the field this season. I'm looking for the front office to blow this team up in the next few days and to just start from scratch.

2009 can only be better.

Free Youth Ministry Training Downloads

I don't remember how I came across this today, but the Urban Youth Workers Institute has posted mp3's of workshops covering a wide range of topics and issues around Youth Ministry.

Clicking through the different training topics, there could easily be a hundred hours of youth ministry training available here.

Here is the link to the training they are currently featuring, but don't stop at that. Explore the different topics listed there. I've even found a few video sessions available.

The sessions can be listened to on the site, or downloaded to your computer.

The Great Youth Ministry Resource Giveaway Round 2 (Yeah, Totally Free!)

Like last week, I am giving away 5 youth ministry resources that I have acquired over the past several years. If you are a volunteer or are in a position of doing ministry with little or no budget, I hope you can put these resources to good use. Like last week, I'll even use my YM budget to cover the shipping (which will be nominal) if you can't.

Email me, justin@whidbeypres.org, if you are interested in any of these.

Wild Truth Bible Lessons
Mark Oestreicher
12 wild studies for junior highers. based on wild Bible characters.

                                
The Justice Mission: A Video Curriculum
Jim Hancock
Includes Leaders Guide & 5 Segment Video

Pictures of God
Mark Oestreicher
12 Bible Studies for Junior High

Creative Junior High Programs from A to Z Volume 1 (Strangely, I don't think I have volume 2)
13 complete, ready to use, topical meetings.

High Energy Meetings
Group Publishing
(I ended up not giving this one away last week, so it is available again.)

There you have it for round 2. Please pass this onto those who could benefit from this.

More Free Youth Ministry Resources Coming

I'll be giving away 5 more completely free youth ministry resources this week.

I'm planning on posting them at some point tomorrow afternoon. If you know someone who may benefit, please let them know.

Don't know what this is all about? Check out last week's post for the details.

Your Free Ticket to Disney Next Year

Disney theme parks will give visitors free admission on their birthday during 2009. A one day ticket costs about $75 and guests will be required to show proper I.D. that reflects their birth date.

I have 2 students whose birthdays are right around the west coast dates for DCLA 09, which I am seriously considering attending again.

Definitely not the sole reason to make the trip, but would make a fun surprise once we got there.

The Mess on Wall Street and the Mess in DC

Both Obama and McCain have said over the past couple of days that Wall Street is out of control. Both promise tighter regulations on the federal level.

The federal government is currently running a $400 billion deficit. That is not counting the money taxpayers are on the hook for in unfunded future Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security liabilities.

The federal government pointing their finger at anyone demanding fiscal responsibility would be laughable if it were not so sad.

The Great Youth Ministry Resource Giveaway. (Yeah, I'm giving them away for free!)

Update: Wow, the response was amazing. Thanks for playing along. I'll try to put some more free resources up one day next week.

Last week I came across a couple of boxes of resources I stuck in a closet a sometime back. These are all resources I've acquired somewhere along my journey in youth ministry. Some I have used, others I forgot I owned. I'm not going to be using them anymore, so I want to pass them on to someone who can. Please let anyone you think may benefit know.

If you are a volunteer or are in a position of doing ministry with little or no budget, I hope you can put these resources to good use. I'll even use my YM budget to cover the shipping (which will be nominal) if you can't. I've got several more things to give away if this goes well. Also, my friends who do youth ministry full time, what do you have on your bookshelves that could be passed on to others?

Click any pic for full size. Email me, justin@whidbeypres.org, if you are interested in any of the books. If your request is already claimed, I'll let you know what is left.

Believe-It-or-Not Bible Studies for Youth Ministry. Group Publishing (c) 2000
13 Complete Bible Studies for High School or Junior High.

2 Books of games from the Youth Specialties Ideas Library.

I do have another book of games to give away. Let me know.

The Top 20 Messages for Youth Ministry
Jim Kochenburger Group Publishing (c) 2001

High Energy Meeting for Young Teenagers
Group Publishing (c) 1999
26 Meetings for Junior High Students including a section for celebrating different holidays at youth group.

The Message Bible
I'm not sure how, but I've ended up with several of these. I'd love to give one to you. Definitely useful in Youth Ministry.

There you have it for Round One. Like I said, if this goes well I've still got a couple of boxes of resources I'm willing to give away.

Not trying to make you jealous or anything...

This is what we look forward to during the rainy, gray winters- and we sure are enjoying it

Apple's iPod Hype and Youth Ministry

Apple release a new line of iPods this morning along with iTunes 8. I was really excited to see what they had in store for the Christmas season, but it was late afternoon before I had a chance to get online and check it out. My response to everything was pretty apathetic. The new iPods are pretty, but nothing that we have not seen before. The new iTunes is pretty cool, I’ll be using the Genius playlists I’m sure, but I’m not overly excited about it.

I’ve been thinking about how Apple has managed to create hype around every product they release- and how on days like today that works against them. Companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony release new products all the time and I’ve never just had to get online to check out any of their new or updated products.

Which leads me to think about ministry. Hype about the next big ministry event will always let someone down. Relationships based on acceptance, genuine interest, caring, and respect never will.

The hype is so much easier- the relationship so much more rewarding.

Matthew 11:28-30

Are you tired?

Worn out?

Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

-Jesus of Nazareth

I forget how much I love Eugene Peterson's The Message. While writing bible studies tonight, I read this from Matthew and was blown away at how eloquently these verses are written. What an amazing lesson for society today. I think I might even read it at youth group on Wednesday.

I need to spend some more time reading, reflecting, sharing, and teaching from The Message.