Can-Am Relations.

I found this video on youtube I loved how it played up the on how Canadians perceive Americans and how Americans perceive Canadians.

Enjoy!

Off to vacation…..

Off to the  “Great White North” for some  R&R. So for the next couple of week I will be checking in but not daily. If you know anyone in Canada let me know. I am sure I will be seeing them…….(If you didn’t get that last joke, either you are not Canadian or you have never watched this video.)

Back from camp…….

Camp was great we had an excellent time. I am working on a video that I will post at a later date. The theme was Love God, Love People Serve others. I am amazed by the powerful truths that were taught this week. If I had only learned these when I was in the 5th grade!

The first night was Love God our youth pastor talked to the kids about TWA. Our love for God can be seen in our Time, Words and Actions.

The Second night our assistant pastor talked to the kids about loving others and how our love for God can be

seen by how much we love the “unpopular” kids.

The last night I challenged the kids to serve others. I told them that how much we love God and love people can only be measured by how much we do to serve others. The whole point of the message was to challenge the kids to “Think Like Christ” Philp. 2

Lots of relationship happened, lives were transformed and we had loads of fun in the process (played a new game called “fling it” where you launch various items from a water balloon launcher.) So all in all Joshua Church camp number 10 was a success in God’s eyes and therefore in mine.

Until next year……….

Off to Camp…..

We are off to our 10th annual camp for our 5th to 7th graders. Our theme this year is “Love God, Love People, Serve Others.” I am very excited. Please pray for us. I will not be blogging do to the lack of internet access in the woods of New York. I will let you know how it went when we get back.

How to do something, From a show about nothing. [update]

Just came across a little web 2.0 application based on Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret. I wrote about it in a previous post.

To read about the application click here.

Doh!

He is a very cool link I found on Jason Boucher’s blog

Check out his blog, lots of cool posts including how to simpsonize yourself.

The Simpson’s version of me.

A few light topics on the blog this week.

I am in full get ready for camp mode we are going back to beaver camp this year I am very excited. This is our 10th camp for 5th -7th graders. I am very excited, I have tons of week before stuff to do so my blog will be light and semi festive.

Shameless Plug

Click here to check out Generation Conference’s new blog.

Seven people in the front seat of a pickup truck doesn’t work.

Seven people in the front seat of a pickup truck doesn’t work.

Charlene, age 16

What is driving your ministry? How to keep you ministry from being driven in 7 different directions.

 

Be Specific - If your specific they’ll be terrific (Borrowed from Ed Young.) – Talk to your leaders often and be specific about what you want and don’t want. Share with them your vision. Talk early and often and for the love of all that is holy Be Specific.

Know where you are going - The only thing worse than “a” back seat driver is “7″ back seat drivers. If you have ever driven in a car with more than one person all of whom have a different idea how to get to where you are going you know what I mean.

Stay Focused - Don’t be distracted by everything. I struggle most with this. I get distracted and because I try to do everything at once and in the course of it all…..(Phone ringing, must take this call)……what was I talking about? I wonder if I have any new emails?

You should never order seafood at a hamburger joint in Nebraska.

 

 

You should never order seafood at a hamburger joint in Nebraska.

Chad, age 11

Stick to what you are good at.

If this isn’t the best advice I don’t know what is. I lived in the Midwest for the first 11 years of my life. I know from experience that seafood is not a strength of the wonderful people in the Midwest. What are they doing selling seafood?

This is a huge pitfall that many ministries fall into. We see someone doing something great and we add it to our menu and do it good. I believe Seth Godin said that “Good is the enemy of Great” in his book “The purple Cow” (which by the way is a must read for anyone with eyes).

We all have made the mistake of making so so seafood when people just want an amazing burger.

This whole issue to me comes down to clarity.

1. Clarity of vision - I will defer to one of my favorite blogger Craig Groeschel I can’t say it any better than he did so check out his blog series on vision. Fantastic is all I can say. Here is a link to the one I like best. Leading with Chazown Part 2.

2. Clarity of Focus - What is the one thing you can do better than anyone else? Find out and go do that THING, singular THING.

3. Clarity of purpose - What does God want have for you to do. Each of us are unique and have a unique calling. Find it. Do it, and for the love of all that is holy do not try to sell seafood if you make hamburgers better than anyone else.

(Here is a link to a hamburger joint that gets it. All they sell is hamburgers and fries, simple and very, very good.

Their tag line says it all – A business passionately focused on selling great hamburgers!