Biggest Loser, Marko Style

Tomorrow begins the contest by Youth Specialties, "Are You a Bigger Loser than Marko?" I have entered into this contest with the hope that I will lose weight and get in shape. Last week I tried to enter into the exercise stuff full force going to the Y three times. That's the most consistent I've been in a LONG time. We'll see how this week works out with Ash Wednesday and all.

Wish me luck!

More Pics from Atlanta

Gavin took this picture of Eli, Marko and myself. Then there's a picture of my friend that showed me around the town.

Random Thoughts From NYWC - Day Five -There's No Place Like Home

I'm waiting at the airport now after a day of listening, worshiping and preparing to travel. My flight takes off at 6:30...I'm hoping nothing is delayed or anything. I wish I was home already instead of waiting but it won't be long.

It was a good day today...we saw The Skit Guys, Lost and Found and Marco lead the closing seminar. I met a gal from Phoenix and we had a lunch together. Check in here went quicker than I had anticipated and they said they were looking for a major rush later, so I'm glad I came early.

I had an early dinner and have been sitting blogging and waiting for my flight. It's almost time to take my Dramamine...

I wish I could click my heels and say, "There's No Place Like Home."

Lost and Found, Bob and the Kit Guys

Lost and Found - a musical comedic group (left)




Then we heard from Bob Stromberg....




Finally, we heard from The Skit Guys who taught the signers and all the rest of us some very interesting things...including the sign for passing gas. Thanks, guys!

Random Thoughts From NYWC - Day Four

I didn't blog from the conference yesterday because by the time I got back to the hotel, I was exhausted. Plus, I still had to pack to go home. So, let's see if I can remember what I did yesterday.

Worship was wonderful, especially with David Crowder...I just LOVE his music!! This picture's not the greatest cuz I was sitting toward the back and I took this off of the screen. But, he was WONDERFUL!

Oh, yesterday I forgot to mention this CRAZY and I mean CRAZY band called the Family Force 5. I think that many of our youth group kids would just love these guys. They were quite wild, including the lead singer donning a pair of silver gloves/hands on one of the songs.

Anyway, back to Sunday. So we had worship with David Crowder...then Doug Fields from Saddleback talked. The talk was good...it was about envy and Doug talked about the story of Joseph and his brothers. Following that I had lunch with a gal named Paige and her husband, they were from Radford, VA. And then attended some media classes in the afternoon. Some really great stuff was shared there on how to make powerpoint slides...I have a book and hope I can replicate what they did.

Following the tech workshops, I met up with Mary and we went to the Varsity. The largest drivein in America...the drive in was also seen on the movie We Are Marshall. Anyway, after that we went to this mall and looked around and then I made my way back to the conference.

Last night Marqus Loughlin did a dramatic reading about Abraham and Sarah...boy that was powerful. And then Lost and Found, Bob Stromberg and The Skit Guys performed. This was the first time I'd seen any of these.

I found The Skit Guys hilarious. I wanted to hear Bob because he's coming to our church in the spring for JesusQuest a youth rally (more on that later) and Lost and Found is a favorite of a good friend of mine.

After meeting up with Eli and his wife, Jenn I planned to go to the late night comedy time with
these last performers and boy, was it funny. I'll post pictures in the next post.

Random Thoughts From NYWC - Day Three

Today is day three for the NYWC in Atlanta. Today started off really well. I LOVED the talk by Phyllis Tickle...she talked about how the church is in the midst of a change...that every 500 years or so through history, the church has changed in a significant way. Her thought was that the emergent movement is the change that has begun.

I got to catch the Michigan game with some new friends....unfortunately the game didn't turn out so great. Next year, my friends, next year.

I went over to the CNN Center to check out some stuff and picked up a little something for my youngest. Then went over to the conference site to look around again.

Caught up with a few people then went to the evening session in which Louie Giglio talked. He was WONDERFUL...he told us that our anchor in life and in faith should be the cross...I liked that analogy.

Chris Tomlin was our worship leader and Family Force 5 played also.

I'm going to hit the hay cuz early morning tomorrow. Night all!

Random Thoughts From NYWC - Day Two

Today was a day filled with connecting with new friends and seeing a couple of old friends.

Gavin - I finally got to meet Gavin and chat with him over lunch. It was cool to put a face with the blogger name. I did notice his uncanny resemblance in both appearance and sound of his voice to Jack Black. I also met another of Gavin's friends, but right now I can't remember his name. Sorry...I'm really bad with names.

I also met Mark Oestreicher for just a bit. And I really liked his talk today. He told us to waste time with God...I like that term...just hanging out with God. How cool!

There was a lady from Missouri who had a little girl that was so very cute...made me miss my little guy. There were two Taylor students from Ft. Wayne who actually knew where I grew up...that was cool. A dude working one of the booths at the expo who is a Michigan fan...GO BLUE...who told me that we can catch the game at the expo on one of the TVs even though the guy who runs the booth is an OSU fan.

Oh, I forgot to mention seeing my good friend Todd which I went to seminary with. It was good to see him and his family. He's working for Youth Specialties so I hope to see him tomorrow so we can chat a little more.

And I saw the professor I had for youth ministry.

Mark Yaconelli talked about the Dark Night of the Soul as being the time when God works on us in secret to deepen our relationship with God. He also said that it is during this time...the time when we feel as though everything's out of wack and nothing really makes sense...that God is expanding our understanding of God. The boxes that we have placed God into are no longer sufficient.

Following this, I went to dinner and was shown around Decatur by Mary. Now I'm tired and have an early morning tomorrow. And looking at the clock, I think I'll go to sleep.

Night all.

Random Thoughts From NYWC - Day One

I had intended to post yesterday but by the time I tried to log on, our internet here it was down. So now I have two days of conference to catch up on.

Yesterday wasn't really a conference day as I arrived in Atlanta and was trying to get acclimated to the area and see what all was going on. I got into Atlanta at around 3:15 and had to navigate through this airport which I'd never been to before. I finally found my luggage and waited for Mary. We met up and took MARTA to the hotel. I got checked into the hotel...my room is on the 26th floor. Mary and I went over to the YS conference site and I got checked in (after walking a few miles).

Later we went to The Underground and had dinner at a pub there. On our way back, a very helpful individual tried to evangelize to us on the way by the Phillips Center where Bow Wow was playing. Mary told him we were both pastors (which I suspect made him even more sure we were condemned forever) and assured him that God loves him.

From all the walking, traveling, and evangelizing, I was exhausted. So back by 8 to prepare for Friday.

The pictures are views from my room.

Almost Ready

Well, my bags are almost packed and I'm getting ready to go. I'm heading out to the Youth Specialties Conference in Atlanta tomorrow. I'm looking forward to learning some new things and discovering new techniques. There are new connections to make and old friends to see.

I'm looking forward to meeting up with my friend, Mary who's been in seminary for the last 2 and a half years. We're going to check some things out too.

I'm still trying to figure out where to watch the big game on Saturday. I'm hoping Michigan will pull out a win...we'll see what happens.

But I will miss my boys. :::::Tear:::::

I'll be blogging from Atlanta tomorrow if time allows. See you soon!