Update: April 19, 2009

It two months since I have even looked at this list. School has kept me busy as well as the ministry. I have not given up on the list, nor have I stopped working on it. I am still in the process of saving up to pay off Christy's school bill. I am in the mist of trying to loose weight, 10lbs. so far, and trying to eat health, which is hard with the lifestyle that I lead. It is easier to stop and eat out instead of cook in. I have not finished my book for January, but I have read 4 other books in the mean time (because of school - they out rank my want-to-read book). I should put them down that I have read since I did read them. They are not just "fun" books. Speaking of school, it is time for me to sign off and get to work. 

Take Christy To An Overly Price Restaurant

This year Christy and I were not planning on celebrating Valentine's Day because we are trying to really watch our money, but I mention about doing a nice dinner and Christy just lit up. So...I decided we needed to do a nice dinner. We threw around places like Chili's, or T.G.I. Friday's, and places like that. The only problem with those, is that they do not seem "special." So then we started think a little more expensive. All I was starting to see was the dollar signs. Not cool!

I have been saving up for a guitar for months now, and so I figured I would use that money for the dinner. It made it a little easier to spend the money. 

We decided to go to Ruth's Chris Steak House. It was a great choice! I asked how they seasoned their steak, and they informed me that they used salt, pepper, and came out to me on a "butter plate." The "butter plate" is not a plate made of butter, but a plate that is heated up to 500 degrees and has butter on it. I was thinking, SERIOUSLY, just salt, pepper and a "butter plate," HOW BORING. At that moment Christy reminded me that this was an establishment that is doing well, so it must be good. Let me tell you...it was AWESOME!!!!!!!!! Cooked to perfection, the seasoning brought out the flavor of the steak and the butter added a nice touch. 

The menu that we partook of was as follows:

Christy:

Appetizer:  House salad with homemade ranch dressing

Entree:  Salmon flavored with a sweet chili sauce laying on a bed of roasted vegetables, surrounded by scallops

Side:  Mashed potatoes with a hint of garlic. 

Dessert: Creamy white chocolate banana custard in a flaky crust.

Me:  

Appetizer:  Lobster Bisk

Entree:  18 oz. Ribeye cooked to perfection

Side:  Mashed potatoes with a hint of garlic

Dessert:  Creamy homemade cheesecake served with fresh berries.

It was definitely worth going. It will not be a restaurant that we frequent because of the cost, but it was a great night of food. 

Update: February 19, 2009

It is Thursday morning, and I have wanted to get on the blog and give an update but it is hard when there does not seem to be enough time in a day. I have not given up, and I am still very excited to accomplish the list before the 1001 days are up. 

The statement "you always have time for what you really want to do" is not true. I understand the gist behind it, and it is probably true for most people, but there are only so many hours in a day. I want to do seminary which I have to get up at 5:45 to be on time. Class starts at 7:30 and it is a 30-45 min. trip depending on the traffic. I listen to sermons in the car as I drive. I go straight to work, and get the things there completed that I need to accomplish. Then I get onto homework, which these days are taking me close to 6-8 hrs. to complete...Yeah. I want to play with my daughter and give her some time, but that usually get cut down drastically. I have to shaffer her around to the different sitters. On top of that I was taking sign language class which I had to drop (too much). When I do lunch, I read. I fill almost every free time with something that I am trying to accomplish. 

I do watch one hour of TV maybe 3 days a week. I could cut that out, but I need some unwind time. The other time that I am not doing all of the other things listed above, I am either cooking, cleaning, or fixing something. Two weekends ago it was winterizing my lawn equipment (2 months late). This past weekend I was repainting my bathroom because the trim paint was peeling. 

All of this to say...I think that statement does not apply to everyone. At least the person that has made a conscious effort to pack so many "important" things into the day. Well...onto life!

Read Through the Bible in 52 Days

I am going to try to read through the Bible in 52 days. I have tried to do it three times, and each time I got farther, but was not successful. I am going to be reading differently this time. The other times I would read some OT and then some NT, but I am just going to go in order this time. I am also going to be listening to it on my ipod as I read so that I can keep a pace as I go. 

Passage

1. Genesis 1:1-23:20 - January 27, 2009

2. Genesis 24:1-40:23

3. Genesis 41:1-Exodus 10:29

4. Exodus 11:1-30:38

5. Exodus 31:1-Leviticus 10:20

6. Leviticus 11:1-27:34

7. Numbers 1:1-15:41

8. Numbers 16:1-33:56

9. Numbers 34:1-Deuteronomy 18:22

10. Deuteronomy 19:1-Joshua 7:26

11. Joshua 8:1-Judges 3:31

12. Judges 4:1-Ruth 3:18

13. Ruth 4:1-1 Samuel 21:15

14. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 Samuel 14:33

15. 2 Samuel 15:1-1 Kings 7:51

16. 1 Kings 8:1-2 Kings 2:25

17. 2 Kings 3:1-22:20

18. 2 Kings 23:1-1 Chronicles 12:40

19. 1 Chronicles 13:1-2 Chronicles 8:18

20. 2 Chronicles 9:1-34:33

21. 2 Chronicles 35:1-Nehemiah 9:38

22. Nehemiah 10:1-Job 12:25

23. Job 13:1-35:16

24. Job 36:1-Psalm 30:12

25. Psalm 31:1-68:35

26. Psalm 69:1-101:8

27. Psalm 102:1-126:6

28. Psalm 127:1-Proverbs 11:31

29. Proverbs 12:1-31:31

30. Ecclesiastes 1:1-Isaiah 12:6

31. Isaiah 13:1-42:25

32. Isaiah 43:1-Jeremiah 5:31

33. Jeremiah 6:1-30:24

34. Jeremiah 31:1-51:64

35. Jeremiah 52:1-Ezekiel 18:32

36. Ezekiel 19:1-39:29

37. Ezekiel 40:1-Daniel 11:45

38. Daniel 12:1-Micah 7:20

39. Nahum 1:1-Matthew 5:48

40. Matthew 6:1-21:46

41. Matthew 22:1-Mark 6:56

42. Mark 7:1-Luke 3:38

43. Luke 4:1-16:31

44. Luke 17:1-John 5:47

45. John 6:1-19:42

46. John 20:1-Acts 15:41

47. Acts 16:1-Romans 6:23

48. Romans 7:1-1 Corinthians 13:13

49. 1 Corinthians 14:1-Ephesians 3:21

50. Ephesians 4:1-2 Timothy 3:17

51. 2 Timothy 4:1-1 Peter 5:14

52. 2 Peter 1:1-Revelation 22:21

Finish Seminary

I have been in seminary at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary for 6 years now. I have only taken between 2 to 6 credits a semester, and I sat out a semester when Adelina was born. Sitting out really set me back because a lot of classes build on each other, and are only offered on certain semesters. If I knew that at the time I was deciding to sit out, I probably would have just bit the bullet and continued. 

Needless to say, I have started becoming serious about classes. I think if I take 8 credits a semester, I should be able to finish in close to 3 years. So...that is what I am going to try to do. 

Spring semester 2009

Pastoral Leadership - It is a class that helps you prepare for the ministry. Yes I know I am already in the ministry, but I have to take the class anyway. I am sure I am not doing everything right, and could always use help to become better. 

Greek Exegesis of Colossians  - Guess what I will probably be speaking on soon in youth group. It is a class that I will exegete the whole book, parsing every verbal, and outlining every paragraph. I have to write 1-5 pages single space every week, as well as a 20 page paper by the end of the semester on the different between the old/new man.

Homiletics 1 - This is how to preach. It is taught by Dave Doran who is a great preacher, and the pastor at Inter-city Baptist Church. I am very excited about this class. 

Old Testament Historical Books - The explanation is in the title of the class. Good information, just a boring class. 

Make My Ministry Vibrant

I have been thinking a lot lately about my ministry. I believe that it is going well, but not as well as it could be. It has been as if I have put everything in place and then let things just run themselves. In turn, I think I have been more a passive leader. I want to become an active leader, a leader that is in actively moving the ministry to become better. 

The ministry needs to become fresh and challenging. The teens are comfortable, and not really involved. They come to church, fulfill their responsibility, and go home and nothing changes. I want to preach messages that move, have activities that challenge, have conversations that convict, and friendships that last. 

I don't want to be known as a youth pastor that "is a cool guy," but I want to be a youth pastor that has made a difference.

When I talk about my ministry, I am not just talking about the youth group, but also the children's programs like Sunday school, junior church, Awana, Kids Klub, and nursery. I want to also get my hands in the college class and wake that area up. So needless to say... I have my work cut out for me. I am praying that the Lord will give me strength, and the ability to do all of this and make it great. 

In the past I have search for and thought about things that would help my ministry become more vibrant, effective, and enjoyable; they are as follows:

1.  Take pictures of the youth group activities. Hang them somewhere where the youth group can see them, and even comment on them.

2.  Use mail more (or email) to send birthday cards, affirming notes, and announcements.

3.  Use surveys and questionnaires to their best advantage. Find out what the teens are thinking on a regular basis.

4.  Never ignore a disturbance during a meeting. When a disturbance occurs, acknowledge it. 

5.  Avoid making promises the I can't keep.

6.  Get a "hot line" that would have information of upcoming activities. I think this would be more for parents. 

7.   Make a group yearbook at the end of the year. 

8.  Prepare a job description and stick to it. 

9.  Always deal with problems as they come up. They are not going to go away. 

10.  Set up a "phone chain" to help spread the word regarding upcoming events.

11.  Put together a good youth resource library.

12.  Remodel the youth room.

13.  Talk to the teens and see who they would want to keep or get as youth sponsors. 

14.  Meet regularly with my volunteer staff and sponsors for training, prayer, and fellowship. 

15.  Periodically keep track of my time to see where it is really going. 

16.  Always arrive to church or the meeting place early enough to greet the youth and their parents as they arrive, and stay late for the same reason. 

17.  Develop a program that reflects the needs, interests and energy level of the young people in the group, not the adults who work with them. 

18.  Develop realistic goals and expectations.

19.  Preview everything. I do not want to be caught off guard by videos that I have not seen, or preachers I have not heard. 

20.  Get to know the parents of the young people.

21.  Take time to read several new books each year. (one on youth ministry, management, theology, classics, and popular novels.)

22.  Avoid creating a "youth ghetto." Get youth involved in the life of the church. 

23.  Don't be afraid to smile and laugh a lot

24.  Print up brochures or postcards describing youth activities. 

25.  Plan at least two retreats a year.

26.  Lighten up and let kids be kids. They are not adults, so don't expect them to act like adults. 

27.  Communicate availability

28.  When students are helping, use that time to build them up

29.  Start a collection of something

30.  Don't do everything myself, even though I feel like I can do it better. Learn to let go and delegate. 

31.  Ask the adults of the church to "adopt an adolescent" by getting to know one of the youth and praying specifically for that young person on a regular basis. 

32.  Teach my leaders - by example - to be player-coaches in ministry. 

33.  Keep parents informed. Publish a parent's newsletter or schedule periodic meetings for questions and feedback. Lack of communication with parents can seriously handicap my ministry. 

34.  Develop a good job description for my volunteer leaders. Make sure they know exactly what is expected of them and what is not expected of them. I need to provide them with good resources for the jobs I ask them to do. 

35.  Make sure every meeting or activity is well organized

36.  Use personal illustrations when speaking to young people.

37.  Don't take myself or my circumstances too seriously. 

38.  Be able to say "I don't know."

39.  Avoid all double standard rules for leaders and students. Whatever goes for the kids goes for me and my sponsor.

40.  Deal with root causes, don't treat the symptoms. 

41.  Attend a youth ministry training event every year. 

42.  Don't make threats you can't or won't follow through on. 

43.  Make sure to have at least one male and one female adult youth sponsor working with the youth group. 

44.  Serve refreshments at meetings and activities. 

45.  Keep a file on each student. Get personal and family information, birthdays, photos, notes from personal interviews and observations, and other information. Keep it confidential

46.  Avoid counseling someone of the opposite sex in a private place. 

47.  Keep a ministry journal. Each week record and evaluate what you did with the youth group. 

48.  Surround myself with adults with whom I can go for advice or counsel. I need accountability and support. 

49.  Know the names of all the teens that pass through. Can't minister to them unless you know them. 

50.  Avoid disciplining youth in front of their peers. It is best to handle it one-on-one. 

51.  Learn to say "no." Make time for family and friends, outside interests, and personal growth. 

52.  Become a listener. Learn to withhold my opinion on everything and just listen. 

53.  Get the group involved in at least one service project each year. 

54.  Put on a drama one a year. Gives teens a chance to discover their talents. 

55.  Be a model for my teens. Whenever possible take teens with me. Let them see a christian in real life. 

56.  Don't attempt to be "one of the kids." Be an adult that loves kids. 

If you have more ideas that would help the youth ministry feel free to leave comments.

Read One Book Per Month

My goal is to read one book a month. For me that is great because I despise reading and only do it when I have too. I will post the books that I am reading and the ones that I have read since my goal was established. I am also going to write a synopsis of the book (I will link it to the title of the book below).

1. Pushing the Limits  - IN PROGRESS FOR JANUARY
by Mike Calhoun & Mel Walke