Ordination Exams

I PASSED!!!!!!

What? My Name is...

...Slacker. Yup, that's me! I want to blog more often. I want to keep you informed of what I'm doing in my life but amazingly enough most of the time I'm at the office I'm doing some form of work and when I get home, the computer is hidden away in my other office and I don't see it very much so I don't remember to blog. Please forgive me for neglecting you... I still love you!
I am annoyed with the current state of affairs and am considering moving to Australia. You can surmize on your own dime which state of affairs is causing me to desire running to a foreign country...
In my wonderful world, Christmas has already begun and I'm not liking it because I get mad at the stores and the television stations that think once Halloween is over (sometimes even before then) that it's time for Santa and Christmas trees. I want Christmas to be special again, but I'm not sure that is possible in my line of work. Speaking of which, I have to work on Christmas Eve which means I can't make my yearly 11pm date and means my weenie parents won't come visit me for Christmas. It's going to be so wierd and sad and plh. Damnit... now I feel the need to buy a tree and trim my home in festivities in order to raise my spirits! Bah... humbug!
Stupid America

NYWC Unveiled

Ok, here's the promised dish:
I flew out to Cali way too early on Thursday, September 23. Got there in time for lunch and a kick-butt adventure to Disneyland with my friend Marilyn. We filled up at Denny's before heading over to the park. A lot of cool stuff was closed, including Space Mountain and The Matterhorn, which made my final decision a lot easier- Walt Disney World is DEFINITELY better! But it was a lot of fun to see the differences and enjoy the park in the wonderful southern California weather. They have a New Orleans section and I wanted to get some beginets for Marilyn to try, since she had never had them before, but they didn't have any! Totally bizarre! But it was all good. Grabbed dinner at Joe's Crab Shack before heading back to the hotel to meet our new roomies- Shannon and Michelle. They were totally cool!
The next morning, we slept in a little before heading over to the beach. We spent a little time on the beach soaking it in and taking pictures. Then it was time to head back for the first general session. It was a good time with David Crowder, Rob Bell and the usual NYWC suspects. Afterwards we headed to our first seminar- I went to Kara Powell's "Help! I'm a woman in youth ministry." It was pretty fun. There were a lot a girls piled together in one room... and this one guy who thought that this would be important information to pass on to his colleagues. The evening general session was more Crowder (always a plus) and John Ortberg. After a long day, we headed back once TobyMac got underway and turned in.
Saturday morning I slept in. Got up for the morning general session with even more Crowder and Alise Barrymore (no relation to Drew). She was amazing! Grabbed a quick bite at the Women in Ministry luncheon before heading to Hollywood to catch Movin' Out. The drive was horrendous- LA traffic is much worse than Atlanta traffic. I couldn't believe how bad it was on a Saturday afternoon! We made it just in time for the curtain. It was good, though not quite as exciting as I was expecting it to be. And of course I had left my glasses in the car in the rush to get inside in time, so I had to watch the show with my sunglasses on which I'm sure didn't help. But it was worth it. As we left, we walked down Hollywood Blvd a little checking out the stars before getting in the car and taking our own driving tour of the area. We drove down Sunset Blvd into Beverly Hills before turning down Rodeo Dr. and checking out all the pricey boutiques we could never afford. Got caught in some more traffic heading back to Anaheim and grabbed a quick bite at Arby's before heading over for the evening session. It was our final session with Crowder (sad) with speaker Mike Pilavachi from England. He was funny but also had a great message. Afterwards, stopped in at the Truewell late night option to learn about getting a better website. It was a good session with a great deal on the software, so I signed us up. Now I just have to convince them that it's worth the investment!
On Sunday morning, I actually got up for a morning seminar- youth worker as spiritual guide. It was not what I was expecting, nor hoping for, but it was ok. Headed to the morning session with our new worship leaders, Something like Silas- they were pretty good, but they were no Crowder. Princess Kasune Zulu was our amazing speaker for Sunday morning and she rocked the house. Her's is the only general session I am getting on DVD... it will be helpful in our mission events. We tried to go to Outback for lunch, but they didn't open til 2 and we had a seminar then, so went we to this little local bistro and had a pretty good lunch. I had veggie quesidillas. Then back for a seminar on emerging worship. Another one that wasn't what I expected, but worth going to. An early session with Ron Martoia, who was really good, before grabbing that important bite to eat at Outback. We dropped in at the Crystal Catedral before dinner hoping to attend worship, but it didn't start until 6:30 and we needed time for dinner before heading back for the evening Chris Tomlin/Steven Curtis Chapman concert. The concert totally rocked! But we were totally exhausted by 9:30 so we headed back to pack and go to bed early.
Marilyn got up super early to check out on Monday to avoid the line. We all got up and got ready for the final seminars and general session. We said our goodbyes before heading out. I went to a seminar on finances in ministry and then off to the last general session. It was wierd being there til the very end. There were a lot of people that had left already. Scott Johnson did a great job filling Mike's shoes for the final session. I was glad I got to be there for it.
I also took time throughout the weekend to spend some church money on a lot of cool books and stuff from the Exhibit Hall and the YS Store. I had a really great experience out there and will definitely be heading somewhere next year for the convention.
Quick shout-out to my homegirl, Marilyn, who helped make the weekend awesome! It was great getting to hang out with you more! Can't wait til next year!
Hope everyone is having an awesome Monday! Check you later!
peace, k :)

Ode to Tired

As much as I want to tell you all about the fun had in California, I have again waited until too late at night to have the energy to type it all. I promise tomorrow, being my day off, I will have plenty of day-time to tell you the story! Hope you are all waiting on the edge of your seat!

Sleepiness

Hey guys! Well, I finally made it back from National Youth Workers. It's been a long trip home, so I am going to head to bed now, but I promise to update by the end of the week about the awesome weekend. Just wanted to let you know that I'm alive and survived yet another hurricane...

What DCE really means...

Can I just tell you that Christian Education is never simple, never just "hey, let's pick out some curriculum for our classes," never that rich piece of cake. No, no, my friends, Christian Education is NOT a box of chocolates! It's a lot of work and it cannot be done by one person alone. It's a team effort and the team should consist of everyone in the church, not just the DCE and the members of the Christian Ed Committee (or whatever you choose to call it).
The church world is just as political and business-like as any secular corporation. Groups are vying for space and time and supplies and people. The elusive bowl of cherries still remains, well, elusive.
I am learning many things here during this little thing we like to call an internship. Life is indeed interesting and a learning experience. Keep that in mind til next time, kids!
Peace :)

Frances, who?

I am totally over hurricanes, now. For Charley, I was a little scared because I didn't know what to expect, but at this point, they are just little annoyances in my daily routine. At least I didn't have to go to church this morning... it was a the fussing about whether or not we were going to have church at all that made me not want to go so I was ever so glad when the final decision became my own and I opted out. It was a lovely lie in before a day in jammies spent in front of the tv. I would really love to figure out how to hook all my equipment up together so I don't have to move the cable line every time I want to watch something on the VCR or the DVD (i.e., yoga...). Alas, I have wasted away the day and am totally burnt out, so I am going to go to bed, only to face another boring day stuck at home tomorrow, because I'm sure Frances doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon! MOVE FASTER! Adios, amigos :)

Crazy Insurance!

In the last week I have had the biggest insurance nightmare! My dad's company changed carriers and he was told that I would no longer be covered. I know some of you are thinking... she's 25, how is she still covered? Well, as the eternal student, of course. Anyway... so, I enrolled in Board of Pensions, the health plan for the PC (USA) and then my dad called today and said he got them to cover me until my birthday. So I'm on the phone with Board of Pensions right now cancelling my coverage, only to plan on signing up with them next year. Oh the wonderful world of insurance. Just make it go away!
Anyway... time to get ready for work.

Olympic Spirit... Carry it On

I ask, why must the Olympic Spirit of peace and brotherhood last for only 16 days every four years? I say, let it not be confined to a stadium, but let it radiate beyond those walls into each country of the world. Let us be bold to stand up and proclaim the Olympic Spirit for our lives and be willing to greet our neighbors the way athletes greet their competitors at the end of a race. Let us give glory to the One who makes it all possible the way many athletes did silently and boldly no matter what their finishing position. Let us be reminded at the close of these Athens Olympics of the power of history and the importance of passing the torch to the next generation. The Games will go on and so must our hope for this world. Let us continue in the Olympic Spirit.

In the Midst of Trouble, Hope

That is my brilliant sermon title for this week. The text is Jeremiah 29:1-14. I think this is a great passage and a great reminder that God does indeed have a plan for our lives and is always in charge no matter how chaotic life may seem.
Other than working on my sermon, I've been watching a lot of the Olympics. They have been amazing, but I will be glad when they are over and life can go back to normal.
Also getting ready for our trip to Orlando for Disney's Night of Joy and Universal's Rock the Universe. It's going to be a ton of fun and I'm pumped at the response I've gotten. Right after that I've got ords followed by my trip to Anaheim for the National Youth Workers Convention and then (hopefully) a retreat at Montreat for rest, rejoicing and renewal! It's going to be a crazy fall but it sure beats sitting in class... sorry guys!
Hope everyone is having an awesome week!
Peace :)

Hmmm....

comments do not seem to be working... any ideas? (I guess comments would need to be working in order for you to give me any ideas...)

Testing...

I just adjusted my template, so I am wanting to see if it works... I know I said I was "going to bed"... well, I am now :)

Yes, the biggest slacker ever does actually reside at youthminister.blogspot.com! I am in Florida, on assignment, if you will. I am doing a year long internship at Venice Presbyterian Church. I have a cable modem, so you think I'd update more often, but alas, the true slacker within comes out! I survived my first hurricane, Hurricane Charley, over the weekend, but am tracking Earl on his way through the Caribbean. I am the Director of Children's, Youth and Family Ministry at VPC and am looking forward to an exciting year. I'm tired now, so I am going to go to bed. Ok, truth be told, I'm going to go watch the Olympics before I go to bed... man are they messing up my schedule! Oh well, they're fun and they're only every two years and at different times... go USA (Michael Phelps)
Peace out, dudes :)

It is March... I am such a slacker. I promise that I am still alive. I am no longer working the desk at the library and therefore do not have all that free internet time. I'm finally getting into the routine of Spring semester and hopefully will be online more often (at a Starbucks near you)... I'll try to blog more... I promise :)

For those of you that are wondering, I am still alive, here in Jamaica.
We had a wonderful weekend up in Ocho Rios and are now back at UTC for the home stretch. The students have returned to the campus, and it is nice to have company.
Will be home Friday... miss you all :)

Well, I am in Jamaica. We are staying in Kingston at the United Theological College of the West Indies and there happens to be a computer in the library that we can use (yippie). I'll try to stop in sometime during the day while I'm here and give a brief update. The library is only open til 4:30 (EST), so it won't include all the days festivities.
Air Jamaica is not very exciting, and very uncomfortable...
There was a lot of sleeping on the plane (sometimes just trying to sleep...)
Our cottage is interesting... more about it later, cause it's lunchtime and I'm starving!
later, k :)