Hey everybody! Look at me! I have the holiest donkey in the world!

HAHAHAHA.... You guys ... check this stuff out.. it is HILARIOUS. There are four of them, so just sit back and enjoy! :o)

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=vintage21

"In the Spring of 2003, Vintage21 had a four week series on Jesus Christ, taking a deep look at what He said and did. It was difficult at times to get past our preconceived notions that had been developed by staunch, starched Sunday School classes of old. This is a satirical look at what some people think Jesus is like. Thank goodness He's not."

Okay, Lauren . . .

I don't have a whole lot to blog about tonight. I'm sure I could talk all about my weekend in Arlington with my special olympics kids ... buuuuttttt I'm not. haha... Yeah. hahaha..

I've been enjoying my summer break for the past two days. It's been incredible. Monday was spent being lazy and spending time with friends on Memorial Day. Today was great - I got a few things done at the house and was lazy and watched The Producers. (it's funny!! especially if you like satires and musicals) Tomorrow, the 3rd day of summer, will be spent fixing my brakes with Ross and hopefully some other stuff.

I leave next Tuesday (hopefully) or Wednesday for Missouri to go to Camp Barnabas. I've got lots of stuff to do between now and then .. like PACK ... :o) Oh yeah, and I'm supposedly going to have a job interview next week but I'll let you know all about that later. Sorry for the long time in between posts ... I've been in mourning of the Spurs losing for a long time now ... :o\

Love you!

blame it on ... mexico?

Well .. Spurs ran out of time tonight. I'm pretty sad and depressed about it. But it was a pretty stinkin good game. Like the majority of the series between the Mavs and Spurs this year, it came down to the last possession of the game, and ultimately an overtime yet again. I, along with many other Spurs fans, were in the victory position, hands over my head in a V, for most of the second half as we came back from a 20+ point deficit at half. A great game, but the Mavs beat us out .. this year. There were some pretty sweet shots on both sides and a nail biter all the way. Heehee.. a great highlight was watching Mark Cuban in the last quarter as he looked like he was trying to poop a brick. Anyway ... I can't in good conscience root for the Mavs for the remainder of the playoffs, so I'll just stick with a great player and pull for the Suns. Go Suns Go!!

not quite blasphemous . . . :o)

This is awesome.
"And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 13:42


I've added a link to this website over in my links column. They're fun to look at!!

Today was a great day!!

Work was good - only 5 days left!! Came home, spent some time in the sun (doing that a lot lately) and ate some dinner. Then I went with the ever cool Ashley to see an totally sweet movie. Stick It. Let's just call it ... amazing.. for now. :o) So funny! Then I came home and got a phone call from an old friend who hooked me up with somethin' totally sweet. (see below) I am ready for the weekend!!! BRING IT ON!!!!

Me with my totally awesome shirt.

See? Even Mike supports the Spurs!! :o)

Oh.. it is ON ....

Today was a good day! :o)

Slept in, which is a rarity lately. Then headed to Conroe to celebrate Patrice's graduation! We hung out at her aunt's house which is absolutely amazing and gorgeous and huge. Did some swimmin, some eatin, some water gun fightin. Then headed back to CS. Got cleaned up in a record 15 minutes (yes that includes drying hair) and got back on the road to David & Kathrin's country house. There were some other couples out there (Mike, Amy, Brandi & Matt) and we fixed supper and ate and played some very competitive Taboo. Then I headed back to CS (again). Came home, slept for about 1 1/2 hours and went to the Rec. No, I haven't turned into a workout freak, I went to help chaperone After Prom Bash. :o) It was fun! Saw lots of kids. There was this bungee jump thing that you got hooked up to and just jump and flip and stuff. I talked Donna Hanson into doing it with me. It was fun, but the harness was really really tight and I did lots of back flips so I didn't last long. After I got off, I didn't feel so good. I tried to walk it off, but ended up taking a short walk outside for some private time. (aka I ralphed = not so fun) I still don't feel good at all, but I am glad I went. I think I'm gonna go to bed and try to get up for church tomorrow. We'll see if it happens.

If you're a mom, Happy Mother's Day!!

Oh, to live as Mr Garner did . . .

"He was as selfless in dying as he was living"

What a wonderful thing to say about a wonderful man !!

"Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end, I'll fly away
I'll fly away, Oh Glory, I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away!"

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. "

-Philippians 4:4-8

a great story for anyone in ministry

I got this from a weekly e-newsletter I receive. It's a really awesome story that speaks volumes and testifies to why many of us are really in ministry.

Just Rock

Some people really live through hell—I mean real hell, hell on earth, hell now. Zack is one of them. His life for years was like a volcano waiting to erupt, and during that dormant time, like most kids I know, he had done such a concealment job that no one knew of the violent, unstable environment at home and inside his heart.

I had met him once or twice while at East High School, where I was working with Young Life at the time. Zack was a name among many names. I didn't know much more … until one Monday when I swung by the school around lunchtime to visit with some students and remind them about Young Life that evening.

As I entered the office to sign in, the principal, whom I had befriended, pulled me aside. He asked me if I knew Zack. It seemed to me I knew 12 Zacks, but eventually through associations I was able to zero in. The principal looked at the tile floor as he shared how Zack had found his father dead the day before in the garage. It was a clear suicide. He was an alcoholic. Turns out, the family had been suffering from his physical and emotional abuse for years.

I was dumbfounded. Zack on the outside seemed normal, even happy. I promised the principal that I'd seek him out and do what I could to care for him. He told me when and where the funeral and memorial services were happening, and thanked me.

Zack wasn't at school. I didn't expect to see him until Wednesday at the services, so it came as quite a surprise when, halfway through the first song that night at our large-group meeting, Zack walked through the door. Immediately, he was encircled by friends, engulfed in hugs. I was glad he was there but a little nervous, too. I had nothing to offer. What do you say to a kid in hell?

Afterward in the parking lot, I told Zack as much, told him I would be at the funeral, told him if he ever wanted to talk that I'd listen.

He looked at me and smiled as if just being there was enough. "Sure," he said. Then, he hugged me.

It was the first of many hugs, the beginning of a great friendship.

But he never talked. Periodically, we'd hit Wendy's for a Frosty. We would wander about safe topics like sports, movies and cars until our Frosties turned to chocolate milk. We'd scrunch our napkins making ready to leave, and I'd finally muster enough courage to ask him if he wanted to talk about it. He'd say, "Nah." That would be all.

Zack came to Young Life camp with us that summer; he was the first to sign up. We had a blast—his face told the story of a kid in a dream. One afternoon, he walked with me lakeside over to some rocking chairs. We just rocked, watching as people were catapulted awkwardly and painfully into the lake by the Blob, an inflatable, water trampoline. I asked him about his week. He said, "Great." I said, "You want to talk about it?" He said, "Nah." And so we just rocked.

We continued to be close. The following school year he was a junior, and he never missed a thing. He was a leader among his peers. He had the full appearance of being a new creation, but at times when I caught his eye I could see the hidden pain. We kept slurping Frosties. It became routine-we would get to the end, I would ask him if he wanted to talk about it, he would say "Nah" and give me a hug.

I felt like a failure.

He came to camp again the next summer and was personally responsible for getting a half dozen more folks to sign up. Again, he had the time of his life; again, we sat on the rocking chairs and just rocked. And by the end of the week, I knew I was a failure.

I had known Zack for two years, was closer to him than any other adult, and yet I never managed to get a word out of him. We just rocked.

That fall I received this letter:

I don't really know what to say because there aren't enough words to explain how much you mean to me. Young Life has been so important to me, and I only wish I had started coming earlier. I never had a friendship quite like ours before. Though I've only known you for a little while, you're pretty much like family to me ... I can't tell you how much I appreciate knowing that I have someone I can talk to about anything even if I can't always actually get it out and say it ... Thank you for everything you've ever done because whether you know it or not, it has really touched my life.
Blessings, Zack

I learned from Zack sometimes all you need to do is sit there and rock. Just rock. The ministry of presence may be the most meaningful ministry of all.

Ned Erickson serves as the recruitment director for Metro Denver Young Life. He is the author of Falling into Love (RELEVANT Books).




On another note, many of you may have known Robert Garner. He was the principal at College Hills Elem and also Rock Prairie Elem in College Station for many years. He was a strong member of our church and a wonderful man with a big heart. Mr. Garner passed away this morning and I can promise that along with his family, his students and co-workers are mourning the loss of a great educator.

Howdy!
Not a lot to report right now . . . A little under the weather with something I picked up from the weekend. It was a fun weekend - Went on retreat with the youth to Frontier Camp. It was beautiful & such a blast. We played night games, had great worship, & hung out in the sun. I walked around on Saturday and took some pictures. Some were good, some not so great.

I really enjoyed hanging out with the kids and being with all the counselor girls.

This weekend, I'm staying with the Wolfe boys. I am looking forward to it !! :o)

That's all for now . . .