youth ministry | basics

My Weekend Recap: It’s been a crazy two weeks!  I just returned from Asbury (Kentucky campus) on Saturday night after spending a week in class learning about systematic theology.  At the time, I didn’t think I was retaining a lot of information; but as I have been explaining the class to people, I find that I can regurgitate stuff I didn’t know was possible.  It was an interesting class taught by one of the smartest people I have ever met.  However, it is definitely one of those classes that will take some time to understand the material and appreciate the concepts.  Aside from the class time, I spent a lot of time trying to stay warm.  The temperature never reached above freezing and there was 2-3 inches of snow every day.  I had to postpone leaving a day; but that wasn’t too bad because I was able to catch up on a lot of things.

This upcoming week: Now the class in KY is behind me, I have to focus on my job at the church again.  Today was my first day back in the office for 3 weeks and I realized just how far out of the loop and behind I was.  I will spend all of this week and next catching up, cleaning up and preparing for the next 5 months of curriculum, discussion outlines, programs, etc.  It’s tiresome and tedious, but by establishing all of this up front, it allows for more ministry time with the kids during the rest of the year.  I will also be preparing for the Confirmation Retreat this weekend (as opposed to last week, the temps will be in the 60s…loving it!)

To Do List: Prepare for the Confirmation Retreat, Map out discussion outlines for SNL thru May, Continue reading for my class, and prepare Bible studies for high school students.

Not looking forward to: There is really not anything that I am not looking forward to this week.  We leave for our retreat on Friday and this is always one of my favorite.  I guess I’m not looking forward to the 5 1/2 hour drive to St. Simons, but I know the end result is worth it.  I do have a church council meeting at the end of the month that I am not looking forward to.  It seems that church politics have been heightened by the downturn in the economy.  These types of meetings weren’t too much fun to begin with, now they rank just below a double root canal being done by a blind chimpanzee (I’ve never had this one done, but I have a friend of a friend whose sister knows a guy that says this is painful).

Book I’m currently reading: Theology As History and Hermeneutics (I’m not even going to provide the link for this one because no one in their right mind would actually read this book if given the choice).  This is one of the books for my class this month.  It is only interesting to those who are seeking an MDiv degree or studying Theology or Philosophy (and I can make a really good argument about how it is not even interesting to those people).  My goal is to finish this book before leaving town on Friday.

Recent Music Addiction: Jimmy Buffett (“The Buffett Hotel”). I listened to this album about 6 times driving to and from KY last week.  After sitting in a theology class and listening to this album so much, I’m starting to develop theology based on Jimmy Buffett.  I wonder how that will change the post-modern structure of the church.

Attitude Right Now: Refreshed!  I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but it was nice to be back in the office today.  All of the problems from the past year seem to be smaller than I remembered.  I’ve made it a goal (because I hate resolutions!) to have a more positive attitude with things at the church and not let the little things get in the way of the big purpose.  This is going to be a great year!

Have a great week!