All of Me

WorkCamp Parsons,KS

2010-09-15T21:17:00.001-07:00

Vacation 2010

2010-07-08T14:38:00.001-07:00

Grand Canyon

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Swoon Dr,Lafayette,United States

One Day Parent/Teen Workshop

2009-09-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

Trinity Student Ministries
Saturday, September 19, 2009
1:00-3:00 at the Trinity Student Center

Parent-Student Bible Study Workshop
Do you think the bible is hard to understand?
It's not that hard, really!
Students and parents come together and discover
some easy methods that you can use to
learn the bible for yourself and how to teach others.
To sign up contact Michelle LaFluer
michellelaf@cox.net
337-962-7344
Please contact me with any questions
Please lets us know if you will need childcare.

(For students that would like to come but don't have a
parent to come with them. Sign up and let us know, we will
get your small group leader or a youth volunteer to come with you)

Youth Fall Retreat

2009-08-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

TSM will have a fall retreat to Tall Timbers October 24th and 25th. All Middle School and High School students and their friends are invited to come be a part of a powerful weekend of friends, fun and worship. Register at Trinity Student Center.

MXC Back to School Bash

2009-08-12T13:18:00.000-07:00

Join us Saturday August 15th from 1:00pm till 4:00pm at Trinity Bible Church for team competitions. Invite your friends and come ready to get wet.

Dee painting at workcamp

2009-07-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Last day of workcamp

2009-07-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

Teams are heading out for the last day of work, hoping to finish their
home repair projects. Everyone is tired but motivated to get their
projects finished

Halfway done with #workcamp

2009-07-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

Two days of work down and two more to go. We got the night off so we
are at the rainforest cafe which sits right on the beach.

#workcamp dare or no dare

2009-07-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

First day at #workcamp with TSM Middle Schoolers

2009-07-20T16:45:00.001-07:00

We made it through our first day of work. I don't have any pictures
because none of the TSM kids are on my crew. They all worked very hard
today, mostly scrapping and soing minor repairs. Tomorrow will involve
lots of painting. All of the projects this week are in Galveston and
are homes that just had external damage. I will post pictures over the
next few days. They will be pics of students playing, not to mistaken
that they are not working.

Sent from my iPhone

The lamest excuse for a ping pong table @ #workcamp

2009-07-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Notice there is no net.

Eating our first meal at workcamp...That means we made it

2009-07-19T15:35:00.000-07:00

Coming home

2009-06-13T10:46:00.000-07:00

Team is about to board the plane back to US.

Sent from my iPhone

A little heaven here on earth

2009-06-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

Trip wrap up!!!

2009-06-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

Our team had a great week in Comitancillo Guatemala. All of us were
challenged spiritually, mentally and physically. We painted several
homes and buildings around Comi and Chixal. The children in Chixal
were such a blessing and it was hard to leave them. We also got to
minister at a church in Comi - www.cfccomi.com. What a great church
that is reaching their community for Christ. We are in Lake Attitlan
for a little R&R. Everyone is healthy and feeling great after a few
struggled earlier in the week. Pier and Ovidio are the two Men who run
mission house. They have really touched all of our lives and are great
men of God. Pastor Pablo in Chixal was an amazing encouragement and
example of Christ likeness. We head to Guatemala City this morning by
way of Antigua and then back to Lafayette tomorrow. God is so good and
amazing...his love never fails.

Sent from my iPhone

Soccer in the pit

2009-06-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

No roof

2009-06-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

Making gospel bracelets

2009-06-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Waterfalls

2009-06-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

Some roof

2009-06-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Guatemala countryside

2009-06-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

At pastor Pier's church in Comi

2009-06-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

Painting sister church in chixal

2009-06-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

Bubbles

2009-06-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

After a long day of painting and playing

2009-06-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

Pastor Pablo with children from aldea

2009-06-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

Balloon animals

2009-06-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

Gwen made pastor pablo a scrapbook

2009-06-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

City hall... Guatemala style

2009-06-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

2009-06-08T08:21:00.000-07:00

Painting city hall

2009-06-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

2009-06-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

2009-06-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

Esteban's pet lizard

2009-06-07T15:07:00.000-07:00

2009-06-07T14:14:00.000-07:00

Painting Pier's

2009-06-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

2009-06-07T12:41:00.001-07:00

Today our team got a chance to see Comi. We went to the market and then saw the cemetary. We are about to go to Pier's house and paint. Pier is on staff with the mission house an is totally awesome.

Touring comi

2009-06-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

Let's eat

2009-06-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

We made it

2009-06-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

I thought we weren't going to make it out of Lafayette but we are
officially in Guatemala. Delta airlines did not make many friends
today. I guess everyone has a bad day.
Sent from my iPhone

Heading to Guatemala

2009-06-05T11:56:00.001-07:00

We have a team of 20 adults, college and high school students leaving
tomorrow morning to go serve Trinity's sister church. We will be
painting, meeting with young people and playing with the kids. Come
back throughout this week to follow our trip.

Sent from my iPhone

Honoring Seniors 09

2009-05-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Join us Sunday May 17th at 5:00pm at the Trinity Student Center
to honor our graduating Seniors. Parents, Grandparents,
friends and siblings are welcome.

Kingdom Day Picts

2009-04-30T19:00:00.001-07:00

Mobile Blogging

2009-04-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

Again trying out a new feature on my iPhone. Had coffee with a good
friend and took my first ipicture.

2009-04-29T10:18:00.001-07:00

I am testing my mobile blogging from my iPhone to my personal blog. It will be very useful to be able to post things to my blog this way especially since I have neglected my blog for months.

Joel Sprayberry In Concert

2009-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

You can check Joel's music out at www.joelsprayberry.com

Kingdom Day '09

2009-04-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

Students around the country will take part in serving their communities. We are looking for parents and students to join us in serving Lafayette.
Check out the national website.

Parents Seminar in Lafayette

2009-03-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

"Parenting with Purpose"
Young Life in Lafayette will host John Evans on Wednesday, March 18th as he conducts his seminar “Parenting with Purpose.” John is the Young Life Mississippi Valley Regional Director and has a private counseling practice. We’d love for you to join us and feel free to invite anyone who you think would be interested.
Location: Grace Presbyterian on Roselawn Dr.
Time: 7:00-8:00pm
Please call the Young Life office for more details, 989-9595.

Shannon Fruge heard John speak this past weekend at Young Life Family Camp and thought that it was very worthwhile. She writes:

"My husband, Bobby and I were blessed to hear him speak this past weekend and were especially impressed with the relevance of the topics covered as well as the common sense advice he had to offer. His experience as a counselor, father and Young Life leader, who has spent years working with teens and young adults, provides a unique perspective that I believe makes his message real, practical and compassionate. He truly cares for young people and wants to help parents on our journey towards raising independent, Christian adults."

Life After High School: The First Year

2009-03-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

Those who “walked away” from their faith during college made the decision to do so long before their college years—they just waited for the freedom of college to enact that choice. In many cases, these teens reported having important questions regarding faith during early adolescence (12-14 years old) that were ignored by their parents or pastors rather than taken seriously and engaged thoughtfully. It is in early adolescence that faith trajectories (along with other life trajectories) are set, thus early adolescence is the point when preparation must occur. Middle and late adolescence are increasingly similar, as college represents less of a qualitative change and more of a quantitative change. In other words, there are few ideas and freedoms available to college students that are not also available to high school students—college students simply experience ideas and freedoms in greater quantity. Hence, early adolescence is the time when churches must prepare their youth, and must do so fully aware that youth now arbitrate among many claims for their allegiance. Sadly, most youth ministries are long on fun and fluff and short on listening and thoughtful engagement. The former produces a million paper boats; the latter produces a handful of seaworthy ships. Launching a million paper boats is an amazing spectacle on a clear summer day, but only a ship can weather storms and cross oceans. Read full interview here.

Cultural Issues: Teenagers send nude photos

2009-02-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

This month, three teenage girls, students at Greensburg Salem High School in Greensburg, Pa., were charged with disseminating child pornography.

They had sent nude pictures of themselves by cellphone to their teenage boyfriends, who were charged with possessing child pornography.

The legal consequences in this case may have been unique, but the behavior is not. About 20 percent of teenagers have posted or sent nude cellphone pictures of themselves, according to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a nonprofit group. Read more here.

My Jr High Article for the school newspaper

2009-01-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

I have been going through a bunch of old stuff and found some newspapers from when I was on the newspaper staff of Atkins Jr. High in 8th grade. Don't be impressed to quickly read the article first. It was in the December issue in 1984.

Christmas Siege

As I hid behind the chair, the toys under the tree stared moving about. Tanks and plastic army men seized me. They were trying to shoot me down. Just as I thought I was getting away, a model jet flew over my head and dropped some fake bombs. Little canons were shooting metal balls at me. The army marched and surrounded me. I knew I shouldn't have stayed up for Santa. It was too late. I picked up a B.B. gun and started shooting every tank I could. Any little army man that came near me I would pop it. After it was all over, there were dead plastic soldiers everywhere. Tanks had been blown up. It was a sad sight, but it had to be done.

This story was actually published in our school newspaper. I can only imagine how hard the teacher was laughing as she read it. Reading this has helped me to understand a little about why I am the way I am.

TSM Super Bowl Extravaganza

2009-01-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Join us at the Trinity Student Center for our annual Super Bowl party. Kick off is at 5:00pm we will start at 4:00pm. Parents wishing to help with food and snacks, contact Michelle LaFleur, 337-962-7344 or E-mail Michelle for information.

7 Factors That Foster Teen Virginity, Pledge or No Pledge

2009-01-04T19:25:00.000-08:00

Pledges of no sex until marriage don't work, especially if taken by 15- or 16-year-olds, according to a recent study in the journal Pediatrics. Despite broken promises, however, virginity-pledging teens were considerably more conservative in their overall sexual behaviors than teens in general—a fact that many media reports have missed cold. In other words, the act of making a virginity pledge doesn't appear to affect a teen's future sexual behavior. But the kind of teen who takes a pledge is the kind who's already likely to be sexually restrained throughout adolescence.

There's an important message here for parents: The focus should be on cultivating the teenager's ongoing home and social environment, rather than on eliciting a one-time, easily-forgotten promise. Read the rest here.

Sneaux on my house

2008-12-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

We have lived in Lafayette Louisiana for six years now and we hear people talk about the legend of the time in snowed once. There is debate about the validity of this legendary story or not. Some claim it snowed and some will say it was just sleet. So the city was in a frenzy on Thursday when we woke up to actual snow falling from the sky. It started snowing at 5am and since we never see snow here, I think the whole town was outside playing in the sneaux (that is cajun snow) at 5:30am.

Great Stories of Life Transformation

2008-12-09T16:28:00.000-08:00

I am Second is a great site that has encouraging stories of amazing life change that many have experienced through a relationship with Christ. I am Second is a movement where significance in life is a shared value among people of all kinds.

Internet Search on Crack

2008-11-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

Online search has never looked so good or been more comprehensive. Viewzi has 18 different categories to view search results. Unlike other visual search engines such as SearchMe, you can look up items across multiple platforms. Type in your search topic and not only will you find reviews,news, and photos, but also videos, songs, and maybe even recipes!

The Teen Brain

2008-11-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

Found this great article on Connect with Kids website

In a study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, researchers have found that the ventral striatum or reward center of a teenager’s brain is less developed than an adult’s.

“The hypothesis being, in order for them to achieve satisfaction in that area, they would go further behaviorally to achieve it,” says Dr. Tom Burns, director of neuropsychology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “They would be more likely to drink more or to get involved for example with smoking to reach that level.”

In other words, it takes a bigger, more intense reward to stimulate a teen’s brain. And that could lead some to take risks, ranging from extreme sports to drinking or drugs. Read the rest here.

The journey of a pregnant teenager Pt 1

2008-11-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

I have been reading Philip Yancey's book The Jesus I Never Knew. I have had this book sitting on my shelf for over ten years and just never got around to reading it. I am just a few chapters in and am really being challenge with my current image of the story and life of Mary and the birth of Christ. As we read stories our mind creates a mental picture of what's going on. At least my brain works this way. Maybe I am weird and not everyone does this. So I will give you a glimpse into my mind. When I read story, it is like my brain converts it and stores it as an mpg file. To think back to what I read, I don't image text but I replay the movie. This movie is an interpretation of what I am reading. It will include things that I imagine were a part of the story but not implicitly stated.

I have discovered that my movie of Mary's pregnancy is wrong. I have failed to take into consideration fully the implications of what it meant for a teenage girl to become pregnant out of wedlock in a Jewish family.

Yancey says "In the modern United States, where each year a million teenage girls get pregnant out of wedlock, Mary's predicament has undoubtedly lost some of it's force, but in a closely knit Jewish community in the first century, the news an angel brought could not have been entirely welcome. The law regarded a betrothed woman who became pregnant as an adulteress, subject to death by stoning."

I imagined Mary being troubled with God's decision and then choosing to be a part of God's plan out of faith and living out of an overwhelming joy and fear that God would have chosen her for such a great position. Yancey has challenged me to reconsider the humiliation and loneliness that would have accompanied such a place.

Mary was the first person to accept Jesus on his own terms, regardless of the personal cost.

For me to follow God's leading everday will involve personal cost. Do I seek a life of joy and comfort unwilling to face the cost? What are the costs for me? What are the costs for you?

New Mandles - Man Candles

2008-11-16T12:38:00.000-08:00

Found this on my friend Jim Clark's Blog. I had to pass it on.

Adoption Rocks

2008-11-15T13:19:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine, Neely, is selling t-shirts to help raise money for an international adoption. Go check out her blog. She has some very challenging thoughts on being a part of the solution to a global problem. You can also buy a really cool t-shirt

OSU uses signs to call in plays

2008-11-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

If you watched the game on Saturday you couldn't miss the weird signs OSU was using to call in plays. This pictures captures there defensive strategy that they were unable to actually execute. Can you decipher the code on the left sign.

To Write Love On Her Arms

2008-11-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

Today was the second annual To Write Love on Her Arms day. We all know that live can be a struggle. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. TWLOHA encouraged people to write "Love" on their arm in hopes that it might bring up conversations with people that need to hear words of hope and encouragement. Gwen and I both participated. This was not a good thing for our youngest son who loves to draw on things with a marker. He comes out of the back room and has decided to participate himself.

Mid Semester Evaluation

2008-11-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

We retooled most of our programming at the beginning of this semester. We wanted to do a better job of aligning our programming with our purposes. We have seen our seeker program attracting more seekers and our small group program has become more personal and intimate. One change that we didn't plan on making but just happened was adopting a table scheme for our big group event. The most common format for big group, and the one we had been using, had all the students facing the stage with the focus for the evening being what was happening on stage. We did a series that we wanted to have group discussions about social issues so we went with tables. The result was our students talked with students they didn't know, they personally interacted with issues and scripture and the focus became less about what I wanted to say and more about what God wanted to say.

Important TSM Dates

2008-11-12T22:42:00.001-08:00

Please mark these dates on your calendar

Dec 13th - 6:00-10:00 Middle School Progressive Dinner

Dec 14th - 1:00-5:00 Gift of Music - River Ranch - put on by The Bridge/ No Mpact that night

Dec 19th - 6:30-10:00 High School Christmas Bonfire at the Mast's
425 Kidder Rd Carencro LA 70520 Click for Map

Dec 21st - No MPact

Dec 28th - No Ignite/No MPact

Jan 4th - No Ignite

Jan 23rd-24th Hot Hearts conference for High School in Beaumont

Feb 1st 4:00 Superbowl Party Middle School, High School and families

March 28th Trinity's community service day

April 25th Kingdom Day - Nation wide youth day of service

June 6th - 13th High School Mission Trip to Guatemala

July 19th - 25th Middle School Group WorkCamp, Ike recovery in Texas City

My Cheerleading Past

2008-11-12T13:18:00.000-08:00

For those of you not on Facebook I thought I would share a part of my past that is unknown to many. Yes that is me. The skinny one standing on the right. I was a cheerleader for our high school my senior year. Check out all that big hair!!

It's just sex...right

2008-11-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

As a youth pastor and parent, teen sexuality is an issue that I deal with often. Jason Soucinek wrote a great article for the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding.

I have come to realize how desperately this generation desires relationship—physically, emotionally and spiritually. I’ve also seen how a message of sexual abstinence and sexual purity opens the door to discussions on many facets of life and penetrates deeper than other topics. As I always tell teenagers, “Sex is more than just sex.” You know what? They get it. They just have a hard time articulating this point. Most of the time a discussion on sex brings up issues of depression, self-worth, self-esteem, addiction and so on. However, the one element they almost always bring up is fear. Read the rest here.

Marriage and Family Podcast #07

2008-11-08T22:16:00.000-08:00

Graham Harrell Leads Texas Tech to 10-0

2008-11-08T21:48:00.001-08:00

Texas Tech is all over the front page of ESPN. Two more games and looking good.

Role Models for Today's Teens

2008-11-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

We can't ignore the fact that our kids grow up with a number of role models in their lives that do not model life the way we would like. How can we as parents be role models to our teenagers. Focus on the Family had a great article on this subject.

What teens crave
Why do teens look up to the other adults in their lives? Whether or not we like it, parents are sometimes considered the enemy. Teenagers might see their moms and dads as judgmental and unconcerned about their lives. Two qualities, therefore, are crucial to being a role model. Read the rest here.

Worst superheroes ever

2008-11-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

The moment I thought Jesus was coming back

2008-11-06T13:02:00.000-08:00

How to be a great youth pastor

2008-11-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

I wrote an article that appeared on morethandodgeball.com.

God has taught me many things through the years, a few of which I would like to pass on.
1. Be where you are at - Every youth pastor can relate to being at a church that they feel doesn’t get it. Either the leadership is not open to change, parents don’t want unbelievers at your events or your senior pastor wonders when you will want to grow up and work with adults. The temptation is to begin to pray that God will lead you to the church He wants you at. The church that will help you reach your maximum potential. The problem with praying this prayer is that you may be exactly where God wants you. Read the full article here.

This About Sums Up Texas Tech's Victory Over Texas

2008-11-03T14:31:00.000-08:00

These are not the droids you are looking for

2008-11-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

Spiritual Lessons I Have Learned From Being A Texas Tech Fan

2008-11-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

I grew up in Lubbock and went to Texas Tech. So I have been a Red Raider my whole life. God has taught me several lessons through Tech Football.

1. Sometimes God's timing is different than ours - For years Tech football was average. We had hopes and dreams every season that this was going to be our year. We would be the ranked Longhorns, Sooners or Aggies any given year, which usually turned into a campus riot, but we would still finish with an average year. Mike Leach has been coaching the Red Raiders since 2000 and has brought a consistent offensive onslaught that has catapulted them into the national spotlight. This week Tech plays the Longhorns, ranked #1. We will see if this is our year on Saturday.

2. God seeks to use anyone - Tech's kickers Fowler and Corona were struggling the first half of the season missing half of their field goal attempts. Matt Williams, a Tech Student, comes on the field during a game as a part of a promotional kicking contest. He makes the field goal and wins the prize. Mike Leach immediately says go get me that kid. The next week Williams is kicked for Tech making nine extra points. You never know when your number will be called.

3. Sometimes we miss judge people - On Nov 9th 1996 Texas Tech was trailing Texas by three points in the 4th quarter with only four minutes remaining. Tech's defense held the Longhorns just past midfield on third down. With a decent punt return the Red Raiders would have a chance to do something with only a minute to go. But, Texas decides to attempt a 52 yard field goal. The kicker at the time, Phil Dawson, comes into the game and puts it right through the uprights. I decided that Phil was a punk. I had a deep dislike for him that bordered on hatred. Around 2 years later I was serving as youth pastor at a church and our pastors daughter started dating Phil. I began to learn more about this guy that had brought so much pain to my life. I learned that Phil was a Christian and very actively involved with athletes in action. Phil went on to try out for several teams and landed with the Cleveland Browns and has been kicking with them for 10 years. Phil Dawson is a stand up guy. A true example of what it looks like to walk closely with God and a live a spiritual legacy.

Surfing the internet

2008-10-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

I found this fascinating article on the effects of the internet and texting on brain development.

Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA in California who specializes in brain function, has found through studies that Internet searching and text messaging has made brains more adept at filtering information and making snap decisions.

But while technology can accelerate learning and boost creativity it can have drawbacks as it can create Internet addicts whose only friends are virtual and has sparked a dramatic rise in Attention Deficit Disorder diagnoses.

Small, however, argues that the people who will come out on top in the next generation will be those with a mixture of technological and social skills. Read the full article here.

Old School TNBC

2008-10-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

My wife is on a mission trip this week to Guatemala and I have been home with my three year old son Seth all week. I am amazed at some of the insane stuff that is on TV. I used to think that Teletubbies was bad, but after seeing "Yo Gabba Gabba", "Wow! Wow1 Wubbzy!", and "Ni Hao, Kai-lan" I think that I might be clinically insane.

I remember back in the day when simple stories with somewhat normal kids was all we needed. Take a trip down memory lane and see if you can remember all the names of these shows. Leave you answers as a comment and I will post who gets them all first.

Pet Costumes

2008-10-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

Signs of Depression

2008-10-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

So...How can you tell if your teen is depressed.
1. Is he or she always sad or in an irritable mood?

2. Has he or she lost interest in something he or she previously enjoyed?

3. Have you noticed a significant change in his or her eating patterns? (Has your son seemed to “lose" his appetite – or has your “figure-conscious” daughter become a “chow hound?”)

4. Is your former “early riser” now sleeping in considerably longer?

5. Does he or she have trouble concentrating on projects that “never used to be a problem before?”

6. Has your son or daughter recently begun expressing feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt?

7. Do they fear death?

8. Is your son or daughter experiencing excessive boredom?

9. Is your son or daughter prone to sudden outbursts of shouting, complaining, unexplained irritability or crying?
10. Has your son or daughter recently begun complaining about frequent vague, unspecific physical ailments? Read the full article here.

Decision '08

2008-10-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

We are approaching a very important time for our nation. Presidential elections are a time that everyone needs to become as informed as they can and then take part in the democratic process. I do not consider myself to be informed enough to speak in the political arena. A friend of mine, Nick Carnes, has some very insightful posts on his blog. Read up, get informed and vote.

The Age of Facebook

2008-10-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Facebook, myspace, twitter, texting and a growing list of digital social networking mediums are becoming apart of everyday life and culture. The big issue for parents is determining the pros and cons of digital social networking. I don't know that we can fully answer this question since social networking is so new. I'm confident that there will be many findings in five or ten years. Most parents are not interested in waiting that long. We need answers today. I found an article that may help begin to unpack the world of cyber-networking.

If anything, online communication has forced people to become pithier, condensing babble into a short, possibly witty, comment.

To be fair, a look beyond the surface shows that some people are capable of using this powerful technology well. Notes, a blog-like tool that allows for longer, drawn-out thoughts to be shared with a wide audience, contain well-organized insights and discourse on topics that would typically be hard to discuss in everyday life.

In this sense and beyond, the impersonal feel of communicating online can actually be an advantage. It is easier to reach out to a long-lost friend or an acquaintance because the potential for an awkward experience becomes much less of a worry. The worst that can happen is a lack of response. There are no uneasy silences, and word mishaps could easily be deleted.

And the best-case scenario? You actually get to know another human being. Not a bad trade-off. Read full article here.

Video Games Make You Smarter

2008-10-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

I was hoping that there was an article like this somewhere in the world. I always feared that my boys and I were getting dumber because of video gaming.

In addition to basic education elements, the survey suggests video games are teaching children to think strategically. The majority of video games require players to follow rules, think tactically, make fast decisions and fulfill numerous objectives to win. This resonates with the 70% of the parents surveyed who have seen their children’s problem-solving skills improve since they started playing video games. Read full article here.

SuperMatt

2008-10-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

Thought it was time to reveal my secret identity.Check out the video. It's pretty stinkin funny.

Helping small group leaders become small group leaders

2008-10-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

We have had small groups at Trinity Student Ministries for several years. These small groups met at a central location on the same night. This year we moved those small groups off site and there are several things that I have been reminded of over the last several weeks about small group leader training.

1. Small groups are more about relationships than content - A mentoring relationships develops over time. A leader must show a personal commitment to each student which will in turn give the right to be heard. Anyone can lead a study as a teacher, but it takes a deep relationship to impact a person's life choices and passions.

2. A successful small group is not measured by numbers - When an adult gets a chance to spend regular time with two or three students incredible things can happen.

3. Vulnerability is not automatic - Groups may have individuals that hinder intimacy. Expectations need to be clarified for anyone that wants to continue to be involved. Maturity is another roadblock to vulnerability. Younger students may not be mature enough to share deep issues. Leaders who stay committed to their group will have a relationship in place when the members are ready to share.

4. Leading a small group is not easy - To quote George W. Bush "It's hard work". As a small group leader you are giving your time and energy. A leader becomes emotionally invested and may not feel like the students are recognizing the sacrifices made. The motivation rests in the prayer that God will use the relationship to transform the lives of some.

Texting Craze

2008-09-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Texting has taken the world by storm. It provides an easy way to communicate 160 characters at a time. When it comes to teens it is more than a craze but a lifestyle.

The study also confirmed that texting is replacing talking among teens. Teens admitted spending nearly an equal amount of time talking as they do texting each month. The feature is so important to them that if texting were no longer an option 47% of teens say their social life would end or be worsened - that’s especially so among females (54% vs. 40%).

Teens say texting has advantages over talking because it offers more options, including multitasking, speed, the option to avoid verbal communication, and because it is fun - in that order, according to the study. Read the full article here.

Texting has become a social phenomenon that many teenagers need to be coached through the etiquette of when and where to text. Many teenagers hide there phones in their laps and text during class, youth group and anywhere else. If you take a look around while in a theater you will see lights on everywhere because teens are texting.

There are several things that we should all remember about texting.

1. Texting communicates to the people you are with that you would rather be with someone else.

2. Texting is not discreet, no matter how much we think it is.

3. Teens prefer to communicate through texting. There is a huge benefit to connecting with teens in a way that they enjoy.

4. Teens need to have expectations clarified in regards to calling in to touch base. There paradigm doesn't differentiate between calling and texting. Let them know went it is ok to text and when they should actually call home.

Sexually active teens suffer more depression

2008-09-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

The British Daily Mail reports on a new 38-page study done using U.S. government-funded National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health, based at the University of North Carolina, which found that sexually active teen girls are twice as likely to suffer from depression than those who maintain their virginity.

The study involved more than 14,000 adolescents aged between 14 and 17.

It found that having sex apparently doubled the chances of girls becoming depressed, with 19 per cent of those who had sex exhibiting major symptoms of depression, compared with 9.2 per cent who had not had sex. Read more here.

Must See Video - Jesus is my friend

2008-09-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

I think that there is something healthy about being able to laugh at things that looked good on paper but didn't really play out the way we expected.

Pray for Bill Maher

2008-09-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

Bill Maher along with those who brought us "Borat" have a movie coming out in October called "Religulous". Maher has gone after every religion on Earth. They used dishonesty and manipulation to get people to talk to them about their religion. My reactions to movies like this is to pray often for those who have not experienced the incredible reality of a relationship with God through Christ. The hope is that this movie will prove that religious people are foolish and ignorant. If Maher wants to debate Christianity or any other religion he should be willing to sit down with guys like Josh McDowell, Rick Warren, Chuck Swindoll, etc. not some guy that is dressed like Jesus at a theme park. Please pray for the people who made this movie that God might draw their hearts towards him.

Aaarrr, me mateys - Talk like a pirate day

2008-09-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

In 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy) started Talk Like A Pirate Day. Legend has it they were playing racquetball and one of them declared Aaarrr!!! and the rest is history. They picked Sept 19th which was Summer's ex-wife's birthday. In 13 years it has become an international craze. So join the world and talk like a pirate today.

Here are a few tips on talking like a pirate.
1. Growl and scoff often
2. Use pirate lingo
3. Gesture with your hands frequently
4. Run words together
5. Refer to yourself as "me" never I
6. Always substitue "me" for "my"
7. Be as loud as humanly possible
8. Procure one dead stuffed parrot and sew feet to right shoulder of 2nd hand store jacket

Read More Here

Teens, Pressure and Grades

2008-09-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

According to the latest State of our Nation’s Youth report, 79 percent of teens say the pressure to get good grades is a problem. That’s up from 62 percent in 2001.

45 percent polled say that pressure is “major”, up from 19 percent.

Experts say, for many teens, even when they do well, they still think they could do better.

“The problem is that they will always be anxious. They will always fail. Even when they have a 4-point average they will always fail in their own eyes and they can’t ever relax,” explains Dr. Allen Carter, a psychologist.

He says parents should help kids understand being perfect isn’t realistic and help them create balance in their lives- beyond academics.
Read the rest of the article here.

Shows that we Tivo

2008-09-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

1. Lost

2. 24

3. Heroes

4. The Office

5. My Name is Earl

6. Wipeout

7. Chuck

8. Ninja Warrior

9. Phineas and Ferb

10. Sarah Connor Chronicles

11. Fringe

12. Bionic Woman

13. Kirby: Right back at ya!

Just Learned "24" will be coming back

2008-09-15T21:49:00.001-07:00

I was skeptical that "24" would make it back for another season. It was just a hunch. But I was proven wrong and extremely exited to see that "24" will be starting Nov 23. Check out the trailer.

Not Your Mommy's MTV

2008-09-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

MTV began airing 27 years ago. They have always pushed against the status quo. Tonight's Video Music Awards pushed further than ever. Russell Brand, a stand up comic from Great Britain, was the host. Everything he said was crass and offensive. The crowd didn't seem to even laugh very much. He talked non stop about masturbation and sex. There was something unnerving about having a non-american comic rip on the president. I have laughed at my fair share of Bush jokes, but I think that MTV made a huge mistake in bringing this guy in to blast our current president. Russell then turned his attention to the Jonas Brother's commitment to sexual purity and then later insinuated that he had one of their rings because he had convinced him to engage in homosexual sex. The only positive thing that happened all night was when Jordan Sparks came out to present an award and defended the idea of sexual purity and wearing promise rings. Thank you Jordan for your willingness to publicly make a stand for morality and be a light in a dark world.

Not Again

2008-09-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

Those of in Louisiana are not real excited about graphs like this. Gustav disrupted school and church events last week in Lafayette and other parts of Louisiana had more significant effects. So will we have to pack up our families again?

Red Bull vs. Your Gut

2008-09-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

The staple ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine -- lots of it. If you're wondering how much caffeine energy drinks have compared with other beverages, here's your answer, according to the caffeine database at www.energyfiend.com:

8 ounces of tea (brewed): 47 milligrams

12 ounces Coca-Cola: 34 milligrams

12 ounces Sunkist: 41 milligrams

8 ounces coffee: 108 milligrams

8 ounces Red Bull: 80 milligrams

8 ounces Redline RTD: 250 milligrams

Read the full article here.

Attack of the 80's

2008-09-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

The 80's were like the most totally awesome era to grow up in. Some people who didn't grow up in the 80's think they understand the complexity of this decade. Here are a few things to to test whether or not you truly are an 80's child.

1. You know the difference between these two kids.

And know that the Gooch is to be feared.

2. You remember when Bon Jovi looked like this.And Metallica looked like this.
3. You remember when the battle for video gaming dominance was fought between Atari and Intellivision.

4. You know that parachute pants does not refer to "Hammer Pants",but is what we called these incredibly fashionable pants actually made from parachute material.

5. You once believed that these were the two most feared men in the universe.

6. You were ever caught in the dilemma of whether to wear the Michael Jackson Jacket or the Member's Only Jacket.

7. You know that "coolness" is determined by these two logos.

and ultimate "coolness" is achieved with the double pop.
8. And finally you ever wore a pair of Op corduroy shorts and actually thought you looked good in them.To be continued.

It's In The Void

2008-08-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Gustav is about 48 hours from landfall. As it is with hurricane's, no one really knows exactly where landfall will occur. This creates an interesting place of limbo for those who find themselves in the possible path. We are sitting here watching football and playing scrabble after a full day of boarding up windows and bringing in plants. A strange feeling has set in. There is a chance that this life as we know it could radically change in two day. Or on the other hand we could get a little rain and wind. Two radically different outcomes are possible. It is all out of anyones control and the effect is total unknown. The possibility of the unknown is very bizarre. It is in these strange times that you discover aspects of God you may have missed before. You find yourself completely out of control. You are totally at the mercy of nature and just asking God to give you the wisdom and courage to be the person you need to be if the worst comes to pass. We as a church were involved three years ago in helping families who were displaced by hurricane Katrina. We had conversations with people who had lost everything and I was amazed by the peace some were able to find through their faith in Christ. So here I sit in the void. I don't know what my life will look like on Tuesday. It might be the same or it might be totally different. One thing I do know is that God wants to walk with me right now and through it all.

It's all in a word

2008-08-23T21:58:00.000-07:00

A few months back my wife and I decided to start playing Scrabble. I think that we were hoping that it would make us able to speak more gooder. We started playing some, but then we discovered Scrabulous on Facebook. This was where the trouble all began. We were now able to play with different people from all over the country at the same time. Once thing I realized is that I was not very good at Scrabble. Than as many of you know Scrabble brought legal action against Scrabulous and it was taken off of Facebook. This brought despair to the lives of many of my friends. Some were excited that co-workers might actually get more done at work.

Then the glorious day came when Scrabble introduced themselves directly to the Facebook community. So it was game on again. The fascinating result is that my wife and I no longer get out the Scrabble board and play. Instead we sit in the same room with two different computers and play against each other on Facebook. Our kids know who is winning because they will hear one of us exclaim "You jerk" across the room.

There is an interesting phenomenon that has happened as a result of social networking. Most of us have been in a situation where someone that you are with is constantly texting someone else. My thought is immediately "Am I not interesting enough to keep you attention that you feel the need to text or twitter others to satisfy your social needs. Social networking has many pros and cons. On of the cons is that people will social network at the expense of actual physical interaction.

So, back to Scrabble. It has given me the ability to check my Facebook and connect with people while at the same time interacting with my wife. This should in no way be seen as a substitute for real meaningful interaction, but it does keep me from disappearing into cyber-world and ignoring the fact that my wife and family are right there begging to me validated by conversation and interaction. So get on Facebook and chat with your friends, send some flair, take a few quizzes. But while you are there don't forget, I am there waiting for an invitation from you to play Scrabble. Good luck!!

What Are People Doing On The Internet?

2008-08-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Top 20 most trafficked sites

1. Google
2. Yahoo
3. MySpace
4. YouTube
5. Facebook
6. Windows Live
7. Microsoft Network
8. Ebay
9. Wikipedia
10. AOL
11. Craigslist
12. Blogger
13. Amazon
14. Go
15. Photobucket
16. CNN
17. The Internet Movie Database
18. ESPN SportsZone
19. Flickr
20. Microsoft Corporation

Twitter...huh??

2008-08-20T21:54:00.000-07:00

We had a student ministry parents meeting this last weekend. The topic of discussion was cyber-networking. Twitter was listed as one of the current trends and I heard many comments around the room that went something like this. "I have heard of myspace and facebook, but what is twitter?" So here is a video that describes what twitter is all about.