Saturday Shout Outs!

Happy October, everyone, and welcome to an Autumn edition of my Saturday Shout Outs! We've got baseball playoffs, great college football, pumpkin cheesecake at Olive Garden and a little chill in the air in the evenings- even here in Florida tonight! October has always been a big month for me, with my birthday, Marilyn's birthday, my Mom's birthday and now even Will's girlfriend Michelle's birthday as well! There was also a time way back in the day when it felt like every relationship disaster that happened to myself or any of my friends took place this month. So I always approach October with a "never a dull moment" kind of attitude. So what do I have to shout about today? Read on, dear friends!

• One week from today I will have already been in NC for a few days on my solo adventure to visit friends and eat barbecue! I'm still trying to shoehorn in as many meet ups as possible, so give me a shout (813-919-3755) if you'd like to catch up. I do know for certain that next Saturday I will be doing live shout outs at the Pizza Inn in High Point with anyone who cares to join me! I'll be there around noon and will hang out a while, so stop by if you can. There are other "gatherings" in the works as well, so stay tuned for more information! Or make your own plans and just tell me when to show up!  
• You know my little "Shout Outs" avatar at the top of the page? Last week I got a text from Ashley Goad (Springfield Friends Meeting) who was in South Africa at the time saying she had just seen the little guy on something there. She said it confused her a bit, making her wonder if it was already Saturday and where the shout outs were. It's nice to know this blog can get in your heads like that! LOL She's home safely now but headed back to Haiti soon so keep her in your prayers. 
• Trey Augenblick (FUMC-Kissimmee) became a dad on October 2nd when baby Stella was born! Baby and mother Jamie are doing well, but I'm guessing Aunt Erin and Grandma Jill are chomping at the bit to get down here from Michigan and see them all! Congrats to all!
• Kena Hurt (Wesley Memorial UMC) took her daughter to Raymond James Stadium here in Tampa last night to see the boy band One Direction in concert. Kena (and every parent who does such things) not only gets votes for Mom of the Year, I am pretty sure it gives her a leg up on sainthood! Well done, Kena!
• Marilyn is headed to Orlando this afternoon to spend tonight and tomorrow with her dear friend Gaylynn Brown. Among their other adventures they will be going to a Disney Villains Party tonight at the Disney Hollywood Studios- from 10 pm - 3am! Before you go to sleep tonight you might want to offer up a prayer for my wife- it's been a few years since she tried to Rec Around the Clock! I know they will have a blast!
• Continued prayers for Cyndi Reep Browning (FUMC-K) as she looks for a new job.
• Monday, October 6th, is my birthday. I hit the old double nickel, the speed limit, el cincuenta y cinco. At this point in life I feel both a little old and a bit surprised I made it this far. But the celebrating has already begun and I don't plan to stop anytime soon!
• My World Series prediction- the Washington Nationals (that's for you, Todd Willis & Jacob Lupfer) will beat the Kansas City Royals (I love a good underdog). 7 games.
• Susan Allen (NCYM & Quaker Lake) I am counting on you to enjoy all the hoopla at Ole Miss today and to cheer your Rebels on to a victory over Darth Saban and Alabama! I know you can do it! It's time to put the Crimson Elephants in their place!
• And finally...I see that Terry & Leigh Ann Venable (QLC) and Cynthia Davis Strider (QLC & Cedar Square Friends) are about to become a grandparents. Having people I knew when they were middle school campers and I was on staff enter that realm does not help the feeling of old age that is creeping over me this weekend, but still- how AWESOME is that for them! We will continue to pray for those families.

That's all I've got for now. Have a wonderful Saturday, a blessed Sunday, and if you're in the Greensboro/High Point area be looking for me starting Wednesday night. Hurricane Carl is coming to town!

Because of Jesus,

#TBT: Youth Ministry Made Simple...er

A vintage post for a Throwback Thursday...

I was a youth pastor for about 28 years, and have been out of the ministry for nearly 8 years now. And today I am going to share the most important thing I know about ministry to students, something that has become more clear to me the longer I have been away from serving churches. You want to know the key to simplifying student ministry? Want to know the one thing you can do (because Jesus does the rest!) that makes youth ministry have a lasting impact in the lives of teenagers? Well listen up, because here it is. Go where the youth are. That's it. And here's why....

All of pictures on this post have one thing in common- not a one of them was taken at a church! One of the first things I ever learned as a youth pastor was that waiting for students to show up at church was not an effective way to build relationships with them or to help them grow in their relationships with Jesus. Unless they grow up in the church, lots of students are a little scared of the place. I was taught early on that in order to really let kids know that you care, you had to meet them on"their turf." That meant seeing them at their homes, their schools and their extra-curricular activities. So I did. Like most professional (and many volunteer) youth workers I ate many school lunches, was attacked by numerous household pets (and a couple of parents) and spent many a happy moment with students in restaurants and arcades. And I spent hours- more hours than you could count or would believe- at sporting events, band concerts, dance recitals, school fund-raisers, cheer-leading competitions, school plays, piano recitals and much more. There was nothing quite as good for the ministry's PR as being at football games in Trinity, NC or Waycross, GA on a Friday night and being seen by the entire community. There was nothing quite as odd as going to swimming, gymnastics or badminton competitions when I was in Hinsdale, IL  (It is hard to cheer for a badminton match and look enthusiastic. "Kill that birdie, kill that birdie, GO GO!") and seeing the stunned looks on the faces of the students who could not believe I actually showed up. No matter the event, I made an effort to see each student in action at least once a "season." It was important ministry- even though I did have one church tell me that the hours spent at such events did not count as work (that same church at one point actually had me punching a time clock). I would submit to you now that not only did those hours count, but in many ways they were Job #1.

Sometimes the events themselves were quite tedious. I remember going to a three hour piano recital to see two students perform- and both of them played in the last 15 minutes! I remember going to soccer match after soccer match, trying desperately to pretend I enjoyed the sport. I pulled for incredibly bad football teams, watched horrific marching bands and clapped loudly for off-key violin players. I also saw some amazing things over the years. But in reality, the results didn't matter. What mattered was being there. I loved seeing students after the event, in the lunch room or at their home and hearing the question:  "Why are you here?" When I gave them the simple answer- "To see you"- their smiles told me I had just taken a step towards a real relationship with a teenager. And real relationships open doors for sharing Jesus.

Another great thing that happens when you are "there" is that you impact more than just the students you already know. Their friends begin to ask who you are and why you are there. You meet new kids and start new relationships. Or you visit their homes and connect in new ways with parents.It is an amazing thing. Many of my best memories and answered prayers involve youth whose parents did not attend the churches I worked at, but came to us through relationships built away from the church buildings. It is important for people in any kind of ministry to remember that Jesus had no "church home." He was always out among the people. And that is where we need to be as well.

The movie Field of Dreams taught us that "if you build it, they will come." While it is one of my favorite movies, when it comes to youth ministry (and ministry in general) that particular statement is a lie. The truth is much closer to this- If you show them you care, they will come. So as my old buddy Geoff Moore would say, "It's time to get out there- and play ball!" It's time to cut back on office work, skip a few staff meetings and get out there and love students- on their turf!  Youth work is hard. But it can be a little bit simpler if we remember that relationships are Job #1. They don't care how much we know until they know how much we care.  It's a truth that will never change.

Because of Jesus,

In Defense of Baseball

I was up late last night and don't have a real post for today. But I do have a brief message for the many minions out there who have been brainwashed into believing that baseball is boring. Last night, the Kansas City Royals played their first postseason game in 29 years. The stadium was rocking. Two excellent pitchers started well but then got roughed up a bit. The Royal's manager did something stupid. They fell way behind, then battled back. They tied the game in the 9th inning and won it in the 12th. And now they get to play a playoff series and the Oakland A's get to go on vacation. The Royals are not my team, but I cheered hard for them last night. And because in baseball there is no clock it never struck midnight- and Cinderella is still playing! So here's my final, thoughtful and sophisticated message to all of you who find baseball to be slow moving and boring...

It's October. The fun is just beginning. Now let's go Pirates!

7 Movies You Should See (or see again...)

Everyone has favorite movies, the kind they can watch over and over again. This writer is no different, and there are various lists of movies on this blog that attest to that fact. But today I want to share with you some movies that may not show up on many lists of top picks, but are movies I have either watched again recently or find myself wanting to watch in the very near future. It's a very personal list, and these are suggestions with which I am not asking anyone to agree. If you don't like them, that is your opinion. And you are wrong! :) If you know me at all then you know my sense of humor can be a little "off" and that movies that make me laugh or tell great stories are always my favorites. So with that in mind I give you 7 Movies you should find and watch...or watch again!

1. Dick Tracy (1990) - This Warren Beatty film about the great comic strip detective (and the first guy with a phone in his watch!) is worth watching just for the incredible water-color backgrounds and sets. But it is also a fun story featuring the kid from Hook and What About Bob? (either of which could have made this list), a lot of famous actors playing the bad guys (including Al Pacino and Dustin Hoffman) and even a decent performance by Madonna. It's been years since I saw the entire film; my hunt for the blu ray continues!
2. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) - One of the darkest dark comedies you will ever encounter. A professional assassin, played by the marvelous John Cusack, returns to his hometown after completely disappearing following graduation for his 10 year high school reunion. He has someone to kill. A very sleazy Dan Aykroyd and several others are trying to kill him. He rekindles an old love which leads to a very unexpected plot twist. Alan Arkin is soooo good as his therapist, and Joan Cusack is wonderful as her brother's secretary. The scene where the convenience blow up is priceless! Told you it's dark...
3. The Rocketeer (1991) - A wonderfully underrated World War II era story about an Ironman-like hero and his adventures in learning how to use a rocket pack he found and save the world from the Nazis. Alan Arkin is again brilliant as the mentor to Bill Campbell's Rocketeer. And in what was her first major role, Jennifer Connelly is beyond gorgeous. Plus I never liked him as James Bond, but Timothy Dalton makes a really good nasty villain. Like Dick Tracy, an often overlooked Disney film.
4. A Fish Called Wanda (1988) - Like Blazing Saddles, Airplane!, Ghostbusters and Anchorman, this is one of the movies that makes me laugh just a little bit harder every time I watch it! The cast- including a very sexy Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline (who won an Oscar for his performance), Michael Palin & John Cleese (both of Monty Python fame) is fantastic, the story is filled with adventure, twists, turns and great one-liners. And yes, there really is a fish called Wanda. I seriously LOVE this movie. Now "speak French to me, Otto!"
5. Johnny Dangerously (1984) - So few people saw this movie in theaters that the night I met its star Michael Keaton (see The Night I Met Batman) he was shocked that I knew of the film. I find it hilarious. Keaton plays a member of crime family, led by the great actor Peter Boyle, that is at war with another mob gang. Danny Devito, Marilu Henner and Joe Piscopo also play key rolls. Will and I quote this movie endlessly. "My mother hung me on a door, Johnny. Once...ONCE."
6. Arthur (1981) - There was no chance I would see the 2011 remake starring Russell Brand because there was no way to improve on the original. The late Dudley Moore was perfect as the spoiled, often drunk title character who falls in love with Liza Minnelli and stands to lose the family fortune is he doesn't follow through with his arranged marriage with someone else. Sir John Gielgud is perfect as his butler/best friend. A great comedy with great heart. Gotta' love those.
7. A Bug's Life (1998) - There are so many great Pixar movies that this one often gets overlooked. It has always been one of my favorites. The story of Flik, an ant trying desperately to impress people but constantly falling on his face rings very true to me. The quirks of the other bugs, the importance of the "little people" and the great cast of voice actors (including Dave Foley, Kevin Spacey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hayden Panettiere, David Hyde Pierce, Denis Leary, Madeline Kahn, Bonnie Hunt & Brad Garrett) make this a film I wish ABC Family would show more often- or one that we should buy on a format a little newer than VHS. "And now...FLAMING DEATH!!!"

So there you have it- my suggestions for some movies to be on the lookout for in the days to come. And Will would have my head if I didn't also mention this- Young Frankenstein turns 40 this year, and a new blu ray has been released. It's not only a great comedy, but my son who is headed to film school next year calls it "a perfect movie. Everything works!" I hope most of you have seen the Mel Brooks classic. But if not...do it. NOW! 

Have a great day!

Revisiting My NC Bucket List

In May of 2012 I wrote a blog post about how much I miss the great state of North Carolina, and included with it a Bucket List of things I wanted to do and people I wanted to see when I was finally able to return to my native land. As many of you know I was back in NC in August after my wife's father passed away, but didn't get a chance to check off too many of the items on the list. October 8-13 I will be driving up by myself with the intent of scratching as many of these itches as possible. As I was thinking about this last night it seemed like a good time to revisit my list and see what's changed. So here is my original NC Bucket List. The notes in red indicate changes in what can and needs to be done on this trip. So many people to see...still. Here we go:

1. Quaker Lake Camp-  There have been so many changes made to the old place since I last saw it in 2006 and I can't wait to see how it looks. My former youth Heather Beggs Varner still runs the place, and she is among the many people connected to camp that I would love to see again. Very high on that list are very old friends like Neal & Susie Thomas, Susan McBane Tuggle, Terry & Leigh Ann Venable, Jay Osborne, Laura Wheeler and Terri Johnson Harris. There are also literally hundreds of former campers and staff I would love to run into...  May just be a drive thru visit, but I do hope to go!
2. That Old Gang of Mine-  So many of the people I grew up with, and spent untold hours with in high school, college and beyond, are still in NC. Denise, Donna, Tammy & Chuck, Lisa & Dan, Beth & Bob, Carl & Diane, Mark & Liz, Mark & Martha, Alan, Tim and so many more are often in my thoughts and prayers. Now I just need them in the same room.  And I suppose Steve & Kathy could come from Ohio too- I hate to be a friend hog!  :)  I will make it so!!!
3. Ghassan's, Bojangles and Stamey's-  The best steak and cheese sandwich (that's right, you heard me Philadelphia!), the best spicy chicken biscuit and the some of the best barbecue (or "pulled pork" for those of you who don't speak the NC lingo) can all be found in Greensboro, and I intend to eat my way around the city upon my return! Did Bojangles in August; the other 2 are still high on my list!
4. Springfield Friends Meeting- We have been away way too long. I can't wait to get back to my "one particular harbor" and see so many people I love. Some of you I talk to regularly and can't wait to see. Others I miss so much. And of course there would be a great party and reunion at the Pizza Inn in High Point! The Pizza Inn party is happening Saturday the 11th at noon. Anyone and everyone are welcome!
5. The Reep Twins-  Two of my favorite Kissimmee youth, Teresa Reep Tysinger and Cyndi Reep Browning, now live with their families in NC.  I would love to visit them both, but I may have to hurry. I don't know how much longer both of them will be there...  Sadly I am indeed too late for this one. Cyndi now lives in Alabama and Teresa in Texas, so those are adventures still to come!
6. The Roller Derby Queen- One of my former minions at Springfield, Laurie Rees, is now involved in roller derby down in the Wilmington, NC area. This falls under the category of  "I did NOT see that coming!" Seeing Laurie flying around the ring doing damage ranks very high on the list of things I need to see...and soon!  I believe I am too late once again. Laurie may have "retired" from the rink. Dang it!
7. The Dean Dome-  There is nothing...NOTHING!...like UNC basketball.  I grew up loving players like Charlie Scott, George Karl, Bobby Jones and Dudley Bradley, and I still love my Heels today. I need to see another game in the greatest venue in college basketball, named after Dean Smith, one of the top 5 coaches ever. I am not even picky about who I see them play. As long as it's Dook... Wrong time of year. My dream was NOT to see UNC play football!
8. David Bills- He was the pastoral minister at New Garden Friends Meeting when I started attending in 1972. He still is (to the best of my knowledge). He (and many others at NGFM) had such an impact on my life, and I really want to take him to lunch and thank him. He can choose from Ghassan's, Bojangles or Stamey's...   :)  I would also love to see any of my now over the age of 40 former youth from my days as youth leader at New Garden. Just so many people to catch up with...  David finally retired so catching up with him will be much trickier. Would still LOVE to see some of those New Garden folks!
9. The Blue Ridge Mountains-  There are many lovely things about living in Florida.  But I do miss the mountains, especially in the autumn when the leaves change. I miss the cool breezes and the amazing scenery. I miss the picnics and hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway. And even though we'd have to sneak across the Virginia state line to do it, I'd love to pay one more visit to the Levering's apple orchard. Oh yeah. I'm going  to be there in October. #WIN
10. Calabash-  Since Myrtle Beach is in South Carolina (and trust me, there is a HUGE difference!), I would want to head to my favorite little coastal village in NC, Calabash.  It is basically a town made up of seafood restaurants. It is the kind of good old fashioned, bad-for-you, fried and battered seafood that is hard to find in Florida. And with LOTS of hush puppies!!!  I may spend a week there, eating in a different place every night!  Checked this one off in August. Doesn't mean it can't happen again!

So there's my list- with a few revisions. NC, I will see you soon. And if you want to hang out, give me a shout (813-919-3755) and get on the schedule. We'll get something to eat.  :)

Because of Jesus,

Dance Like David

Recently I took one of those little online quizzes that help you determine things about yourself. You know the ones- What Decade Should You Have Been Born In? or Which Boy Band Best Reflects Your Life? Those things. This particular one was Which Biblical Character Are You Most Like?  Knowing the Bible pretty well and knowing myself very well, I took the test anticipating one of two outcomes. If the quiz leaned towards the New Testament, the answer would be Peter. I'm stubborn. rash when I shouldn't be and timid at the worst of times- but I do love Jesus. If the quiz skewed toward the Old Testament, there was no doubt in my mind the answer would be David. We share far too many things in common. He did some great things in the name of the LORD. He defeated Goliath, was named King of the nation of Israel, was a musician and was called "a man after God's own heart." He also screwed up in some big, big ways and found redemption and solace in God's love and in writing songs. His Psalms are often full of the joy of the LORD; on other occasions they cry out for forgiveness and mercy. The test agreed with me- David was the answer.

Marilyn and I went to church last night and our pastor is in the midst of a series on Psalm 23- so David was on my mind yet again. The stories of his life kept popping into my mind, and I once again felt a real kinship with the ups and downs of his joy and his agony. One of my favorite David moments was this one, found in 2 Samuel 6:14: "And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment." God had made him King, and he was so full of praise for his Heavenly Father that he just had to dance. And while scripture doesn't spell it out for us, he apparently danced with such vigor that he danced right out of that priestly garment. He was totally in the moment with God, praising God's name and not caring who saw or what they thought. And at least one witness found the display disturbing. The scripture continues in verses 20-22 (NIV):

When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”

David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! 

And there it was, the question starring me down like a bear in the woods. When was the last time I was undignified before my LORD? As a youth pastor all those years. being foolish in God's name was second nature. But in the years since, there has been very little dancing. Very few undignified moments spent praising God. The love of God and the grace on Jesus still fill my heart on many occasions, but there are precious few times these days I actually shout for joy to the LORD. It's time to change that, to be so full of joy that I become undignified and look foolish. It's time to dance like David!

Now don't get me wrong- no one wants to see me dance and NO ONE needs to see me come out of my garments! As many of my oldest friends know I have a trick knee (my excuse and I'm sticking to it!) that has kept me off the dance floor since middle school. But my soul can dance- and it needs to be set free to disco the night away. Praising God should not be limited to sanitized moments in a sanctuary. We need to cut loose and let the world know that when we worship God, our hearts, minds, souls and bodies need to dance. And when we think we are looking foolish, we need to remember David's words and be willing to become even MORE undignified! Some will actually dance or give shouts of praise, while others of us will fall to our knees or lose ourselves in deep silence. But we will look strange to the world. Such foolishness...

If this little devo has hit home with you, that is wonderful. But it's actually just for me. My life is a testament to our ultimate humanity, to following Jesus and to falling flat on my face. But God never leaves us or forsakes us. We are always loved. And that should be enough to make me dance like David.

Because of Jesus, 

Farewell, Captain

"Take a good look. This is a baseball player."  -Billy Crystal

My love for baseball has been well documented on this blog over the years. And like every baseball lover, I was watching the other night to see what Derek Jeter would do for his final curtain call at Yankee Stadium. It seemed obvious something wonderful would happen; it has so often when the moment was big and Derek is involved. If you care at all, then you know what happened. He delivered a "walk off" game winning hit in his final at bat in Yankee Stadium, wrapping up his career with the same type of clutch performance we had seen so many times before. It was so perfect, so in character that upon seeing it all I could think of to tweet were 4 simple words and a hashtag: Of course he did. #FarewellCaptain

A couple of days before that hit the great Billy Crystal recorded a tribute to his friend The Captain. It is a brilliant and very personal summation of Derek's year and his career. All baseball fans feel like they know Jeter. Personally, I saw him play as a Class A minor league player for the Greensboro Hornets in 1993 and then several tims in Spring Training over the seasons here in Tampa. He makes his off-season home here. Rob Thomson, for many years now an instructor and coach for the Yankees, had a daughter in my youth group in the early 2000s who told me stories about her friend "Jeets." His individual accomplishments are impressive, but he was always about the team and always about winning. He is class personified, both as a human being and as an athlete. I leave you with Billy's tribute and these final thoughts. Derek Jeter is not the greatest baseball player who ever lived. He is not the greatest shortstop ever. He is not even the greatest Yankee of all time. But if you could somehow take all of those "greatest" players and put them all in a clubhouse as teammates, I have no doubt that they would unanimously elect Jeter as their captain. And that, my friends, is what #Re2pect is all about. Farewell, Captain. Baseball will miss you.