Thankful

Wow, it's been way too long since I did a blog post. Hopefully I can get better at posting more regularly. This one is a #thenmyyouthparentsaid anyways here goes...

Last night was our annual 1/2 lock-in (we leave at midnight - I don't do the staying the whole night anymore). It's been a crazy busy week. We had a big fundraiser Thursday night with my wife's job. Between preparing for that and actually putting it on, I didn't get a lot of sleep this week. I had a killer headache, somehow miscommunication happened and all the chairs were setup in our gym for our early service - meaning we had to take them all down and set them back up after the lock-in - so needless to say I was tired and frustrated, all I really wanted to do was go home and sleep. Especially because I knew that today I'd be getting up early to travel across the state to have early Thanksgiving with my wife's family.

I was running around the church frantically making sure everything was ready when I got a text from the mother of one of my seniors:

"While all the seniors are celebrating senior night and the home football game he seems so excited about spending the his evening with you and the others."

This dude who could have been going to the senior night football game at his high school, chose instead to come hang out at the lock-in. I just stopped and stood there in amazement at how one small text, one simple sentence, can make all the headaches, heartaches, lock-ins, sleepless nights, trips, Bible studies, etc., worth it. What a great reminder of the privilege I have to be able to watch all these youth grow from the goofy little 6th graders into amazing young men and women.

To all the youth pastors/youth workers/volunteers out there, a word of encouragement: you are appreciated more than you know. Never take for granted this amazing thing God has called us to do.

To all the youth out there, whether you are still in youth group or off at college: take a moment right now to send your youth pastor a quick text or email to let him or her know how much he or she is appreciated. It doesn't take much and you cannot possibly imagine how much it'll mean to them.

Wednesday night at youth we talking about Thanksgiving and being thankful. Last night I was reminded just how thankful I am to do what I do.

Priorities in College

The other day I got a text from one of my college freshmen while she was in her lab #thenmyyouthsaid "I thought lab ended at 10:20 so I could go get chicken minis, but it doesn't end until 10:50. Debating dropping it."

A few minutes later: "SHE LET US OUT....ok I can keep this class!"

She clearly has her priorities in line. I'm a proud youth minister, I trained her well. 

Bus Ride Games

On the bus on the way to ski trip we were playing that game Head's Up. The category was Superstars. Jimmy was holding up LL Cool J. We say things like NCIS Los Angeles. #thenmyyouthsaid "JJ COOL J!!"

A few seconds later he got Vanna White. We start talking about Wheel of Fortune. #thenmyyouthsaid "WANDRA WHITE!!"

The game when on for a while. One of my girls was taking a turn. She was holding up Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi.  We start singing it, leaving out the title of course. #thenmyyouthsaid "I Wanna Dance With Somebody!"

I've wanted to start this blog for some time now.  I just kept putting it off and saying I would do it another day.  Finally the other day I decided it was time.  So, I got my graphic designer wife to make a logo for the twitter account and this blog.

Why a blog for @thenmyyouthsaid?

There have been countless times that I have wanted to tweet a good quote but it just wouldn't fit in the 140 characters, or times that I have had a quote but then deleted it because it just wouldn't be funny without the proper lead up.  Some stories cannot be told in a mere 140 characters.  That's where the blog will come in handy.  This is where you will get more and (hopefully) even funnier quotes and stories.

However, as with the twitter account, I do not want it to just be quotes and stories from my youth - I want to hear from all of you. Please send in your quotes and your stories - thenmyyouthsaid@gmail.com  I'd love to include your name and location (first name and state or country if outside the US).  If you wish to remain anonymous in the post please let me know, otherwise I will credit you for the story.  Feel free to include pictures and videos.


I look forward to your e-mails and lots of laughs.



And now for my first story for the blog...

A few days ago I tweeted that I was about to give stick shift lessons to one of my boys.  That was an interesting day.  At one point he apparently forgot what a brake pedal was and didn't slow down at all before attempting to make a turn.  I was fairly certain my jeep was going to flip.

Anyways, I also tweeted that a few years back the first time I gave his sister a lesson she ended up putting my old jeep into a bush.  I found the video for it.  This was back before everyone had iPhone's so the video quality leaves a little to be desired.

We have a decently sized parking lot behind the church that I use to teach the youth, who have their permit or license, how to drive stick before they attempt it out on the road.  Well that day, as others looked on and videoed, I was giving a lesson.  She had stalled out her fair share of times but overall hadn't done too bad.  I told her to pull the jeep into one of the parking spots and we'd be done...

#thenmyouthsaid "Wait...how do I stop?!?"