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graduation weekend : photoblog

today was graduation day for hendersonville high school seniors. some of my pictures seeing my third set of graduates from hendersonville.

prince caspian : pre-screening

caught a pre-screening of prince caspian tonight courtesy of the folks at interlinc and youthworkermovement. i didn't know what to expect past the first 5 or so minutes. so i was interested to see how i would or wouldn't appreciate it.

i am not an expert in this book like others i dwell on the missing length of depths of various conversations, like that of the fab four with the beavers in lion witch and wardrobe. so for you purists. i probably will let you down.

so i share my feelings through the movie.

• it got long at points.. not sure exactly when or why, but it happened more than once.
• edmund was the character transformation that i liked the most of the fab four. he had a sarcastic charm that i can appreciate.
• there was a lot of fighting.. not sure if that was a good or bad thing, i just noted a lot of fighting
• the ending was rather slooow.. maybe after 2 plus hours i was tired of sitting. or that 32 oz medium drink they comp-ed us had me needing to pee really bad.
• if you know the book, the kings fight was really good (but again, more fighting)
• i was just waiting for prince caspian to break out in an "excellent"

was it better than lion witch wardrobe? eh, probably not. but, it is hard to beat that initial allure capturing the narnia world. glad the worlds are back in order.

saying yes too much : open thread

so i have this illness, it is called "yes." i say yes too many times, to too many projects or positions. sometimes it has given me some real benefits, other times not. it has me thinking, what are good guidelines for making "yes" decisions to participate in or take on new endeavors?

my initial guideline thoughts

• am i actually passionate about this?
• does this give a benefit or is it a act of grace?
• who/what does it take away from?
• am i actually a good person for this, or am i just the only person the asking person knows? do i know someone else who would be better suited?

what other guidelines might be employed in saying "yes" or "no"

fatherless : photoblog

Defend the weak and the fatherless;
       uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. -psalm 82

shane claiborne : way of life

shane claiborne on urban ministry. tip dale

mayer funny : a single tv show

i had seen this randomly on vh1 but forgotten about it. tip to jared for mining it out and reminding me of the laugh. the bear suit and fan group stuff is brilliant! not to mention a bunch of it is taped in nashville clip 1 & clip 2

tuesday randomness : link love

for your review

• zombie protestors in nashville
• church teamwork
• how to shoot band promo photos
• shane claiborne's scandelous sermon at nywc '07
• what every good marketer should know
• parenting & jr. high dance
• small time ministry with big dreams
• not too fat for me
• turn point & shoot camera into super-camera
• found who i am voting for in '08 wooo!
• interview with phyllis tickle
• small churches should embrace cheap technology
• scot mcknight at shift conference
• wayne on the complications in myanmar
• infinite world of the web

where do we get this time to work on the internet?

morning prayers : psalm matthew

Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides in the great assembly;
       he gives judgment among the "gods":

    2 "How long will you defend the unjust
       and show partiality to the wicked?

    3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
       uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

    4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
       deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

    5 "The 'gods' know nothing, they understand nothing.
       They walk about in darkness;
       all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

    6 "I said, 'You are "gods";
       you are all sons of the Most High.'

    7 But you will die like mere mortals;
       you will fall like every other ruler."

    8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
       for all the nations are your inheritance.

Matthew 5:2-12

2and he began to teach them.
    He said:

    3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    4 Blessed are those who mourn,
       for they will be comforted.

    5 Blessed are the meek,
       for they will inherit the earth.

    6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
       for they will be filled.

    7 Blessed are the merciful,
       for they will be shown mercy.

    8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
       for they will see God.

    9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
       for they will be called children of God.

    10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

music monday : yusuf cat

when i think of the music that was a big part of my life in those later teenagers years cat stevens would have to be somewhere at the top. to this day, i still sit listen, feel.. he was already yusuf islam when i started listening to his music, so i it is just how i've known him. so today, we do a little then and now of two favs.

peace train then, and now with a twist

father and son now & then

happy mom's day : picture share

i've been really poor with my uploading pics to my project 365 this past month. but for all the mothers out there from our front porch family to yours, Happy Mother's Day

second life : first life

i've had a pretty good time of late discovering second life. caught this article by the center for parent/youth understanding on second life becoming more into first life.

Even though just four years old and relatively unknown to non-cyberspace dwellers, the last few months have vaulted SL into the public, real world consciousness of advertisers, businesses, universities and ordinary people looking for fun, companionship or something a little different from the first life they are currently living.

...

SL represents another step in cultural interaction. As with other Internet advancements, the possibility of good and evil is present. I would imagine, for the good, in the near future, churches may make use of SL to promote events, hold services and even provide support networks. However, I also imagine, for the bad, that evil influences will continue to find ways to lure avatars (people) into dark places. So, since SL and similar sites are here, let me offer a few suggestions and observations:

...

Cyberspace reality does impact the way one interacts in the real world. As demonstrated, the real world is cashing in on the real needs expressed in SL. It also has been demonstrated, more than once, that relationships built in cyberspace, even though beginning with the promise of confidentiality, find their way into the real world either by choice or by deception. The real world impact of SL conjures up the following questions: If SL users, particularly teens, can use the anonymity of SL to work through identity issues, how will that affect the struggle for identity in first life interaction? Furthermore, if avatars, who gather enough resources, can find life fulfillment in SL (friendship, security, sexual fulfillment, religious enlightenment, etc.), how will that affect the search for the fulfillment of those same needs in first life? Realize cyberspace does impact the way we live life outside cyberspace.

Don’t let your SL experience cheapen the way you view and live life in the real world. Even though real-world interaction and challenges have found their way into SL, and participants can lose real money in this virtual world, remember that there is a real life outside of SL where real people are living life in all its fullness, failures and pain.

shift happens : moving into the unknown

i've run across this video a few times, last time was at the shift conference. i shared this as an add on to my presentation at the youth ministry institute retreat this weekend. i also showed this and a the last 10 minutes of this. the idea is that youth are heading into mass of unknown.. how are we helping to prepare them for this?

you are nobody unless people talk about you : gossip girl blog

one the shows i've been getting interested in lately is gossip girl. since coming back on the scene with new episodes this new show, based off a series of books has some interesting hybrids and is meshing mainstream media with web2.0.

simple premise, think beverly hills 90210 characters move to upper east side new york, take on the charming care for human kind of cruel intentions, with the omnipotent narration of desperate housewives. mix in that, a blog. it could be a new favorite of mine.. when nothing else is on.

actually, i'm just intrigued how these characters are interlinked with a cyber media. with the target audience being teenagers i wonder what this might mean to the blog world. there are already enough gossip blogs, but when teens want to be somebody will similar blogs which talk of their happenings start popping up? as we know, it seems better these days to have people notice you with negatives rather than not be seen at all

youth ministry institute : everyone needs a network like this

i spent the last 30 some hours with some fellow youth ministers that have been on a journey as a group this academic year. this was our youth ministry institute 2 for the tennessee conference umc.

a number of years ago i was part of the pilot youth ministry institute, since then they have popped up around the country. our conference has had a group participate just about every year since the first one. this was our first year for up-ing the commitment level in a second year. i totally loved the group experience, these folks span lay volunteer in small church rural areas of tennessee to middle sized sub-urban and me who is probably at the largest church of the bunch. these folks have become my best friends in ministry.

if you get a chance to participate in an intensive such as this i would totally suggest you go for it.

this years tasks were collaborative youth culture readings and research. i'll probably expand more on what i have processed, but this is a little list we created of some trends & ideas.

• single gender opportunities
• drivers license worships
• parent support group
• decision making lessons
• sexual-relationship talk
• self-image issues
• help parents understand their importance as parent
• "replacement" activities for harmful behavior
• root of the solution is God
• listen to God
• think for themselves
• build in times to listen
• be present with kids
• help them be ready for the world
• see them as individuals

pay attention : a psa of another kind

so in getting my work done for a paper i am turning in and presenting. this video showed up in my history of archived articles and reports. one thing is for sure, i'll never text a cute high school girl while crossing the road.

phyllis tickle : the new rose

rachel got me thinking of this video of phyllis tickle sharing insight into the new rose or the great emergence.

mac church : it isn't so threatening

john has a little pontificating happening over an announcement of a conversation at our church in a few weeks. jim had done this "pc mac" thing as part of a change of language. so john has examined.. why mac in a pc world?

street preaching : the pope in a gay marriage

matt threw this at me in an email.. interesting

come converse with us : connecting with the spiritual interest of non-religious people

Connecting with the Spiritual Interest of Non-Religious People

A Conversation among Christian Leaders in Middle Tennessee

 

(Facilitated by author/speaker, Jim Palmer)

~

June 13, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

First United Methodist Church, Hendersonville, TN 

The way many people process life and matters of ultimate reality have changed, and represent an increasing number of people in Middle Tennessee. Here's a sampling of those changes…

God Peace, Doctrine Truth, Christianity Christ, Blue Green,   Church Community,  Worship Centers Coffee Shops, Holiness Compassion, PC Mac,
Teaching Conversation, Membership Friendship, Functionality Beauty, Books Blogs
Knowledge Freedom, Answers Questions, Religion Spirituality, Doing Being
Style Substance, Outreach Missional, Plastic Digital, Heaven Earth
Exclusive Universal, Certainty Wonder, Consumerism Activism, Polished Real
Excellence Authenticity, Programs Doing Life, Homogeny Diversity
Orthodoxy Love,  Accountability Acceptance

The working question for June 13 is: What does this change mean, and how do I and my faith community respond?

~~

About Jim Palmer: After receiving his M.Div. from TEDS, serving on staff at Willow Creek Church, and planting/pastoring a non-denom church for six years, Jim left professional ministry and immersed himself in a world of non-religious people. As an author, he has been chronicling his journey out of organized religion: Divine Nobodies: Shedding Religion to Find God (and the unlikely people who help you) and Wide Open Spaces: Beyond Paint-by-Number Christianity. Jim's new book will be out the end of 2008. Through trial and error, Jim pioneered a form of church for non-religious people, which functions as a social network in the Nashville area.

Two groups have increasing contacted Jim through his writing: people interested in knowing God but turned off by organized religion, and people in ministry who desire to connect with them. The half-day gathering on June 13 is meant to stimulate conversation among pastors, church planters, church staff, and key volunteers around the topic of how churches can better relate to people who want to know God but currently wouldn't consider the idea of "going to church."

Jim and friends will share and guide our conversation and interaction for the gathering. Each participant will receive two free books: Divine Nobodies by Jim Palmer, and Authentic Relationships by Wayne Jacobsen. A light lunch will be offered. The cost is a $50 minimum donation. Because the gathering is designed to be interactive, participation is limited to the first 25 people. Please register by email before June 1 by contacting Jim at: jim@divinenobodies.com Each participant will be given preparatory assignments, and a dedicated Internet forum will be utilized for participants before and after the June 13 gathering. For directions to the gathering, go to www.hfumc.org (contact me for more church info)

tuesday randomness : linkage of a different kind

so some things to look at when you have free time like so many of us. i need to send out tips for some of these.. i just don't know who. so apologies for not giving appropriate props today. i still love and appreciate you for being so wonderful

• beth gives her rundown on general conference
• post general conference poem
• 10 reasons men should not be ordained
• hauerwas, moral superiority of gays
• necessity of christian culture
• the theo-celebrity deathmatch continues
• the future of emergent gathering...
• who didn't see this coming? apparently car dealers
• 21 ways to shoot better photographs
• dan kimball visits the holyland.. in orlando
• latest worship resources from jonny baker
• if i wasn't already at camp i'd imagine going
• ultimate fooseball
• what will you buy to stimulate the economy?
• the ultimate dance off
• 10 ways to work on subject matter in linkedin (big for me, i have no idea what to do with linkedin)
• blogging getting a second wind? you decide
• which comes first the gathering or the crowd?
• make some stop motion video
• can twitter be liberated? i didn't know it was captured
• a new american
• top down vs bottom up polity in the church
• is facebook now part of a murder?
• apparently you are not God's favorite

important day in tennessee conference youth & children ministries

this is a letter i have sent off to a number of fellow youth ministers and interested parties. it's been quiet, but this a continuation of the recent firing changes of two our most functional and successful parts to the tennessee conference ministries of the united methodist church.

Hi all,

hate to leave a short notice alert for a meeting. but tomorrow has possibility to be a big day in the world of youth ministries.

In the afternoon the camping committee is meeting (at the conference office) to discuss the future of camping ministries in the aftermath of the dissolving of the program positions as they were. As it looks, there will be a rubber stamp to have Dickie Hinton, who is program director at Beersheba, function as director over all camping. The second point of business is summer camp at Cedar Crest. There is a real lack of summer staff and if canceling camp becomes the option then there are many of us that fear it would never come back. This might be the desire as some as there is a resolution going to Annual Conference to develop a task force for exploring other options for Cedar Crest. Though my participation in Cedar Crest has been minimal over the years I appreciate and know the important of camp. My own experience in childhood being spent at the methodist camp in southern New Jersey. We hired James to try and bring Cedar Crest up to speed as a camp that gives a high adventure retreat space for summer camps as well as smaller church groupings. My personal opinion, we have nickeled and dimed our way through camping ministries to get our current results. I ask for your prayers and maybe suggestions that we could bring to the table as solutions to not let summer camp die for the hundreds of youth that call it home for a summer.

at 6:30pm we will be convening the first gathering of the youth ministry for the conference since the 'listening' session a few weeks ago. This meeting, as i know, is open to interested parties to attend. As I know, I will be there and some of the CCYM as well as Loyd. The order or content of the meeting, I do not know. I hope it is a continuation of the 'listening' session where we can do some discerning and visioning of how to actually move forward. If you car not, or cannot, make the meeting pray for discernment and listening on all parts. Like I have said in the past, I am all for churches growing and reaching those who are lost/unchurched/etc. however, it is undeniable that the methods for which our trusted leadership took upon themselves to bring change have caused hurt and unrest.

thanks for all ya'lls time
shalom
-gav

music monday : shut your eyes

we forgot about AIDS : general conference oh snap moment!

buddy bill has posted to the methoblog one of those, oh snap! observations. in all the celebration about nothing but nets and selling basketballs signed by.. i forget who, i think the bishops. we apparently have forgotten our commitment to global AIDS crisis from four years ago.

i know what you are saying.. AIDS is so 2004

my night : general conference 2008

you are looking at some of our quorum that collected for the virtual reality viewing of a very real general conference. in the house through the night

• revmom
• revragamuffin
• jim morrow
• carol mckay
• john stephens
• jonathon norman
• locust and honey
• john meunier (sorry, forgot john, too many johns it seems)
• some second life locals

good question : general conference reflection

so i've been all into the blogosphere and being the onlooker for general conference this year. so much more than in '04.. before that there really wasn't a way to keep up like today. i find this from craig to be a very good question

The General Conference is meeting under the theme of: "A Future with Hope." But, does the world or the Church (in general) really need the UMC?  Is there a place in the plan and purpose of God for the UMC?