A-"Muse"-ing Thoughts

Flashback Posts

You know your favorite drama, where you don't know a lot about the character who you have grown to love, and you are so curious about what happened to make your character the way he or she is?  And then, your favorite drama gets even better because they start interspersing flashbacks in the middle of the action that reveals more and more of the story, and piece by piece you get the full picture of what had happened in the past, helping you to more fully appreciate the current situation and character.

Well, I have decided that is what I am going to do with my blog here.  Because I think it is important, for my current status, thoughts, ideas, etc. to create a fuller understand and picture, that you have to know what it was that got me to where I am now.  And since I have been MIA for the past two years, I thought that would be a good way to catch you up.  So, interspersed as I feel led, will be some "flashbacks" over the past two years of the A-"Muse"-ing Thoughts I've had.

welcome back!!!  :)

New Blog Post - Amazing!

Wow!  Time flies...

I, myself can hardly believe that it has been OVER two years since I last posted a blog post.  So many things have happened in the last two years, and SO many changes in my life.  If I were to begin to write them all in this blog post, it would become a short book, which I realize no one would actually read to the end... so rest easy, I will not (at least in one blog post) try to update you on everything that has happened and the massive changes in the last two years.

As I was thinking about this blog and blog posting, I realized that the biggest challenge for me in posting a blog post is actually finding (or making) the time to sit and write it.  It does take time to write, and with the schedule of my life right now, it feels as if I don't have any "extra" time to do anything else - even write a blog post.  This got me to reflecting on one of my closest friends and something he did.

My friend made a New Year's resolution about 5 years ago (which he kept for 3 full years).  His desire is to be a writer, and one of the things that is important for anyone who is (or wants to be) a writer, is actually writing.  A lot of times they say that the best thing to get past writers block is to sit down and write about anything.  Well, this friend of mine made a resolution that before he went to bed he would write a minimum of 1,000 words EVERY day!  He made the commitment to himself as a writer to not sleep until he had completed his writing "assignment." 

As we all know, most New Year's Resolutions are broken within weeks, if not days, of the resolution being made.  But my close friend did not break his resolution - not after days, or weeks, or even months.  He kept that commitment every single day for 3 years.  Absolutely amazing to me.  And consider, as of this word you are reading right now, I am only at 357 words - so not even half of what he would write (at a minimum) every single day.

I have come to realize, even in his life, that this commitment was made quite a bit easier because during that time he was single.  So, if he decided to stay up until 2 am to finish his writing to keep the commitment, he could without worrying about impacting anyone else.  Nevertheless, as it has been two years since I even posted a single blog post, I found myself reflecting on his resolution and commitment and being very impressed at his making it - and keeping it!

What does this all mean for me and my blog here?  Well, in short, it means that I am hoping to not wait another two years before I blog again.  Will I be blogging daily - I'm pretty sure I won't.  But I do hope to get back to blogging and writing some thoughts.  Over time, I do hope to update everyone on what has been happening in my life the last couple of years - especially as God has been doing a LOT of work in my life.  I hope that through my sharing of these thoughts that anyone who reads this would be encouraged, moved, convicted, challenged, or any other thing that the spirit might do in your heart.  For some it will just be a chance to hear what is happening in my life and get caught up.  For others, I pray God will use it in some way.  And still, for others, it won't really matter... and that's ok.

So, the journey begins anew...

Announcing Pastor2youth's Gold Membership

ANNOUNCING THE NEW
PASTOR2YOUTH GOLD MEMBERSHIP?

Here is what you can expect as a Gold Member:

*  Exclusive Premium Content – You will have access to download some premium content (Bible Studies, Lessons, Training Documents, and more) that will not be made available to anyone else on Pastor2youth.com

*  Automatic entry into monthly give-away drawings for new Youth Ministry resources.  Simply by being a Gold Member your name will be entered every month into this random drawing.  Those who pay for an entire year in advance will receive 3 entries into every monthly drawing for the year they have subscribed.

*  Access to all Gold Membership resources, all the time!  These will not be made available to you as a Gold Member for only a limited time and then removed.  As a Gold Member you will have full access to all of the Gold Member resources whenever you want and as often as you want.

*  Access to additional materials that will be made available only to Gold Members.

*  A surprise thrown in there from time to time.

*  More to come!  As the Gold Membership grows, so will the benefits of being a Gold Member.  The Gold Membership benefits will not become stagnant.  As we grow, so will the benefits to you.  So as a Gold Member, you will benefit month after month after month. 

Join now as a Gold Member and enjoy the exclusive benefits right away!

HOW MUCH DOES GOLD MEMBERSHIP COST?

We have two subscription options at Pastor2youth.com for Gold Membership:

1.  Monthly Subscription – Cost $10 per month.  Receive all of the benefits of a Gold Member, and be entered once a month into the monthly give-away drawing for a youth ministry resource.

2. Annual Subscription – Cost $90 per year (a SAVINGS of 25% off the monthly cost).  Receive all of the benefits of a Gold Member, and be entered THREE times per month into the monthly give-away drawing for a youth ministry resource.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please email Ryan Nielsen at  [email protected]

AVAILABLE NOW TO GOLD MEMBERS...

The following exclusive files are available to Gold Members right now:

1.  "Angelology: A Study of Angels" - a Bible Study which includes the following:

*  The Origin, Nature, Fall And Different Classifications Of Angels; and
*  The Work And Destiny Of The Angels

2.  "So You Want To Work With High Schoolers: 4 Things You'll Need to Know" - A Leadership Training document which includes the following Four Sessions:

*  Knowing Yourself and Discovering Your Passion
*  Characteristics of High Schoolers
*  Characteristics of a High School Worker; and
*  Recognition of God’s Blessing

And just in time for EASTER...

3.  "More Than Words: A Study on the Seven Last Sayings of Christ on The Cross" - A 7-week study that will be perfect to lead you right up to Easter Sunday!

 

NEW Content will be added on a Regular Basis.

Also, don't forget, EVERY Gold Member will be automatically entered into monthly prize give-aways, and those who subscribe for the entire year will be entered three times each month.

Pastor2Youth Gold Membership Options

Monthly : $10.00 USD - monthly Annually (25% Discount) : $90.00 USD - yearly

Your Pastor2youth Username

The Summit Blogs are coming...

Lots more to blog about, but it has been SO full (wonderfully full) here at #thesummit that I have to find the time to actually write the blogs to post.  But they are coming, so stay tuned!  This conference has been AMAZING - structured basically like a TED Conference for Youth Leaders.  I've already got 27 pages of single-spaced type written notes, and there are still 8 speakers left to hear between the current session and the last session later this afternoon.

Amazing Video Testimony

This girl has an incredible testimony that is definitely worth watching!  God is amazing!

 

You Know What Really Annoys Me...

You know what really annoys me....
Those pictures so many people post that have some saying on them that is most-often controversial… and the end of the picture says, "if you agree, like this and share.  99% of you won't" - SO manipulating!!!!  It makes me not only want to NOT share it, but to speak out against it (even if I agree with what the little picture says).  It makes me want to say, "where in scripture do you see Christ using manipulation and guilt to encourage his disciples to spread the gospel, the good news, or any message of His?"  Jesus himself never used that tactic, so why are you???"  UGH

VIDEO: Best Olympics Commercial: Nike's Find Your Greatness Jogger

The Olympics is all about being inspired, and outside of the pool or the balance beam tonight, anyone watching got a heavy dose. It happened when a 12-year-old boy went running alone up a deserted road, staring straight in to the camera, with sweat dripping from his grey T-shirt. With all of the TV commercials trying their darndest to capture millions of viewers during the Olympic coverage, none has struck a chord the way Nike did in its true-to-form minimalist message.

via www.dietsinreview.com

Now this is the Way to Do April Fools

If you think you are creative and good at pulling off an April Fools joke, check out the joke that this guy pulled off.... pretty impressive!!!

http://bit.ly/picture23

(HT: androidmoser)

Out of Site, Out of Mind

(And yes, the Pun was intentional for the title of this post)

Ugh!  What can I say.  I feel like a broken record sometimes on this blog about "I can't believe it's been so long..."  and "ok, I'm gonna get back to blogging."  

You know what they say about good intentions... well, I have good intentions.  But life seems to always get in the way.

In addition, you know the phrase, "out of sight, out of mind" Well, that has been my blog.  I have not been on my blog in a while, and therefore it seems like it has become a victim to that adage - out of sight out of mind.  I have SO much that I want to share.  So much that I feel would be good to journal about.  So much that has happened in the last 7 months.  So much I want to share with everyone.  But I've also been more busy than ever before in my life.  I've had more changes than ever before in my life.  I've had more challenges than ever before in my life.... and this blog seems to be the easiest thing to just ignore.  (and there is a lot of truth to that).  But, I also know that writing can be very therapeutic as well - and I LOVE to write.

So, what do I do with all of this?  Well, here is what I've come up with.

1) Don't feel so stinking guilty about not blogging as much as wanted.  Life is busy and guilt doesn't help get anything done.
2) Take some time out regularly to blog.  Writing is therapeutic and with all that is going on, it certainly couldn't hurt to take a few minutes every couple days or so to write what is happening.
3) Don't feel like very blog needs to be a novella - in fact, if they are, chances are no one will read them.  In addition, if they are, then I am more likely to put it off until I can "find time" - and that will never happen.  So, as Nike would say, "Just Do It!"
4) Relax, Enjoy, Write, and move forward.

To quote a phrase from a sermon I recently preached:  "You can't live in the past with all of it's mistakes, and you can't live in the future because we never know if we will even be there.  But, we must live for today - because it is a GIFT that God has given to us, which is why it is called the PRESENT!"

So here is to TODAY!!!

Time Flies

Wow.  Where does time go?  I guess one big answer to that would be: "To the Children."  It is so true that a lot of things have changed since getting our foster daughters.  Balancing time expectations is one of the continual challenges that I face every day. 

I have a lot of thoughts that I want to blog/journal more fully, but I thought I would give a few highlights since my last blog:

*  Got back to work on my doctoral dissertation.  At the moment of writing this I have 2 chapters written and about 15 pages on Chapter 3 completed.  This is my final year to finish the doctorate.  One way or another I am done after this.  I WILL write my entire project and pray it gets accepted by the committee.
*  May 2nd was the 3-month anniversary of Christi and I being foster-parents to two amazing daughters.
* Celebrated a wonderful Easter with my family - including the first time ever for easter baskets or easter egg hunts for my two foster-daughters.
* Celebrated Christi's 31st Birthday - treated her to a 3-hour spa treatment, lunch together, and then a fun dinner with friends.
* Had "Youth Sunday" at the church - which ended up being a wonderful day with the students doing an amazing job, and many adults giving us all very positive feedback.
* We are getting ready to celebrate our oldest foster-daughter's 4th birthday.  Should be a blast as we are having a "Princess Slip-N-Slide" party  (full of pinata and all)!!!  She is very excited, and so are we.
* We found out 3 days before the deadline that the bio-family of our foster daughters has hired a lawyer petition for adopting the girls.  Needless to say, this is a very heartbreaking thing for Christi and me, and we are praying that God would do what is best for these girls, but do it quickly, and if they are to be returned for him to cover our hearts.
* I am currently the only full-time program/pastoral staff person at the church.  Our Sr. Pastor retired.  We are hoping to hire an interim pastor sometime before September (yikes, that's a long ways away) and the search for a new Sr. Pastor will take approx. 2 years.  (YIKES!)  This has caused extra work for me and an extra element of trying to balance life duties and work duties.
* I have the most amazing and supportive wife that a husband could ever pray for.  Just have to say - Christi is a saint (she truly should be given sainthood status, but since we are not Catholics I am not sure they would accept my application for Christi's sainthood)
* At the end of April, beginning of May, I went on a "Walk to Emmaus."  It was powerful, incredible, and God is really working in my life and heart.  Lots to share about this one.

Well, I know there is more that has happened.  But that will give you a quick highlight of the things going on in my life since last blog in February.  Man, Time Flies!!!  I am going to try and blog a lot more details about some of these things, and some others that have been heavy on my mind lately as well.