Rest. We all need it.

Myself included.

When was the last time you spent more than three days unplugged from the information pipeline and plugged into your loved ones, their beautiful faces, and entrenched in real time conversations, daydreaming, and whimsy?

I can't remember the last time I was unplugged. A few weeks ago my husband and I spent a week without our children in San Diego but I was still honed in on my iPhone to anything that "needed" my attention.

Technology isn't bad. It's good. Facebook isn't bad. It's good. Email, while some might contend it is evil due to it's ability to multiply exponentially, it's actually pretty amazing and it helps us do things like we've never done them before. Twitter connects us to a generation that is learning to speak a new language. Quite a nifty tool for someone who is just learning to speak her own native language.

It's all pretty good stuff. But I can't help but thank God for setting the example. Creating the whole world and everything in it, then resting for an entire day from the good stuff. Can you imagine how weird that would have felt to create two entirely new beings called humans, then wait a whole day to spend time with them?

Discipline.

God knew...we need to rest from the good stuff too. The point--we need to rest. We're wired for it. It creates space in us to receive.

It gives us a glimpse at peace.

It points the way to understanding how we can allow the good stuff to be a blessing instead of a curse.

I get busy. We all do. But God wants us to look at all the good in your life--and take time to rest from it. Even for a day.

In the meantime, I'm logging out. No guest posts. No status updates. (Where's my dusty journal?) No blogging or tweeting---just rest and quality time for the ones who give me life to do what I get to do each and every day.

I'm resting, not stressing....listening, not talking....seeing, not doubting.....

I'll be back in December, while I'm gone. I hope you'll rest some too.

One more reason to be thankful.

Teenagers say the most wonderful things.

Austin (8th Grade): "Can preachers be girls?"
Austin's Mom: "Umm, what do you think Pastor Brooklyn is?"
Austin: "Oh yeah!"

How story plays into sharing our faith.

Most people want to be free. Most people want to be forgiven. Most people want to know what it feels like to experience unconditional love. Hearing how you’ve experienced all of these things may just be the bridge to their own stirring and curiosity for God. And in the midst of the telling, we find the gentle and prevenient grace of God doing the important work of love in our hearts.

Read the rest of my slant at Slant33.

Thank You | Leaving a Legacy

It was hard to hold back the tears as I watched this video and heard this song.

As I watched it, specific couples in the church came to my mind. Of these people, I've said before, "I want my life to count like theirs has, I want to love like they do."

Our children and our students need us to model love in our relationships. If you're married in ministry, watch this video and remember that your love toward your spouse will speak volumes to the children and teenagers in your lives. More than words ever could....

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

$3.99 Downloadable Video Illustrations – Purity Ring 3000 at Bluefish TV

This week in our "Rooted" series we'll be talking about what it means to be rooted in purity. We found this awesome illustration online to poke a little fun at ourselves but to also open up the conversation in a lighthearted way. We'll be taking a look at Ephesians 5:1-21 together and talking about how purity can be a way of life--starting now.

"For you were once darkness, but no you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." Ephesians 5:8



$3.99 Downloadable Video Illustrations – Purity Ring 3000 at Bluefish TV

Teach this song:

My husband and I attended Erwin McManus' Mosaic church downtown Los Angeles last Sunday. The band played this song that I had never heard before and the leader sang it beautifully and powerfully. It brought me to a place of worship that I haven't experienced in a awhile because I'm always so busy at church. Both the setting and the song caught me off guard--a totally good thing. The lyrics are prayer about the garden of Gethsemane. Props to Need To Breathe for writing something so original and moving . It would be wonderful to teach this song to students as an anthem for a semester, a series, or for an entire year. I may just do that. Thanks to whoever led worship at Mosaic last Sunday--you took us there.

Steve Jobs Isn't Jesus- But Maybe He Knows Him?

I came across this quote by Steve Jobs. I think it resonated with me because Jesus said similar things long before Jobs bit into the apple. It's more than a pithy line for the trends of today. I believe this advice is the most upgraded version, so don't worry about something better coming down the pipeline. We really all could use this reminder when we find ourselves wanting for another persons life (or another persons phone).

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” --Steve Jobs, American Entrepreneur, Apple Co-Founder

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you (your uniqueness and your personality included)." --Jesus, John 14:1

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful I know that full well." David, Psalm 139:14

DIY: Thank Your Leaders

The bottom line. We can't thank our leaders enough. It's impossible.

When writing thank you cards a few weeks ago--in a moment of whimsy--I wrote this line on my note to a leader,"We built this city on rock and roll...and on youth leaders like you." I'm not sure why Starship was the soundtrack that day but it was fun and different and hopefully something our leaders had to read twice.

The problem, I wanted to send the message to all my leaders, not just a few, and not in an email but in a personal card with a unique message that reflects my personality as a leader.

So I sent my thoughts to my friends at CEDESIGN and they took it to another level. I love the new thank you post card-that I can duplicate and send often with a personal note written on each card--plus it's totally us.

How do you thank your leaders? Maybe you've got the perfect thing to say and just need a little help. Go ahead, go old school. Print out some post cards and get to thanking.

How to help parents. A resource for promoting spiritual parenting.

This year in our youth ministry, we purposefully dedicated time connecting with parents. We meet during a scheduled youth program in a different location once a month to talk about things they have in common as parents. We've talked about how to be better listeners and communicators. We've cried together over the frustrations and near exhaustion that comes as bi-product of the onset of puberty in their children. Parents have helped each other with advice and prayer. Mainly, we've asked more questions than given answers. Nevertheless, it's been in the asking that we've begun to grow. I came across this article that tracks a similar course. It gives more than a sweet encouragement for us to promote intentionally spiritual parenting--it gives us questions to ask and good reason to ask them. Print this article by Stephen Ingram, hang it in your office, and make it a point to ask these questions to the adults who have more influence on your youth group than you do.
Youth Ministry Resources & News: YMtoday.com