SNL Saturday

Random SNL Skits that I like... on SATURDAYS!

I'm not a Kristin Wiig fan, but this one is funny:

camera fun

that's all :)

coachella line up

man, that's the place to be this april. $269 tix, $55/person camping fee.
it's really too bad that we had to grow up and become responsible, because that would be awesome.

maybe next year?

Yoshimi, Evan, and Chan, together again

my life just got INCREASINGLY better.

scenario:
August 2006 desktop computer practically dead invest in a new laptop. MONTHS worth of music on my desktop. Tried to get most of it over, but failed miserably. stored the rest on my external hard drive [Miss Lacie... you know, since it's a Lacie HD]. Forgot about it.

October 2007 lost ALL my music on my laptop. cried real tears. decided "well, maybe just start over with what i like from here on out."

January 2009 get out Miss Lacie to finish a DVD of my friends' band; see a folder... "Music." Whaaat?

GUIDED BY VOICES! BUILT TO SPILL! THE MARS VOLTA! THE WALKMEN! AMERICAN ANALOG SET! TOM WAITS! GODSPEED YOU BLACK EMPEROR! ANI DI FRANCO! Hanson? I mean, VEDA! WAKING ASHLAND! haha

two things about this beautiful discovery:
1. all these songs/ bands have memories attached. all of them are freakin awesome.
2. now you all know i'm secretly an indie kid...

[the only thing missing is Guided By Voices: Hardcore U.F.O.'s. That's one of my top 10 songs EVER, and it's not on the Lacie. Bummer]

Top 10 Social Networks for Gen Y?

"Top Ten Gen Y Social Networks"

the funny part?
i am tech-saavy.
i am big on social networking.
i am twenty-four.

THE ONLY ONE I HAVE HEARD OF IS THE BARACK OBAMA ONE AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE BEST FRIENDS! the rest of them? no clue. And doing a glance over, I think my life is fine without them.

denied.

Lessons in YMin #1: Take a break

i've been thinking a lot about ministry lately, especially since next month will be my 18 month mark as youth director. they say your first two years are when you learn the most, and i would have to agree. the first year is all about getting your feet wet and the second year is all about navigating the waters after the newness/ honeymoon phase is over. we've had trials and triumphs, and we've seen God move through it all.

at this point in my ministry, i think there's some general advice i could give to those just going into the professional side of youth ministry; either i learned it the hard way or didn't realize it was that big of a deal. And because there's a lot to be said, this will be a series on my blog, so keep checking back :)

1. Block in time for yourself away from the ministry. i know that sounds bad at first, because you want to be with your kids to make that impact, but trust me, you can serve better when you practice self care and take the time to renew. Also, have someone in place who can hold you accountable to taking time off. There would be times where i worked 60+ hour weeks and tried to convince myself that it was okay. no sweetie, it's not. you have to take time for yourself. don't feel guilty about it, either. it will be better for you and for your students, because it boosts your energy and your drive, and it allows you to step back from the ministry and get an outside perspective [because you're not constantly in the thick of it]... this was something i always heard from professors/mentors, but i laughed at it. "I'm young! no worries! I CAN DO ANYTHING!" even Superman needed a break as Clark Kent, so make sure you take a break, too.

Quote of the Day

"Getting shot would definitely suck." -my Dad

their bank got robbed this morning and he saw the whole thing go down I guess. Well, not inside the building, but the whole 6 cars going after one car and the arrest. He gets really excited when his life parallels any given episode of Cops, and oddly enough, it happens about once every two months. Nobody else in my family has a life like that, but my dad is always in the right place at the right time.

[the quote was in regards to me telling him I'm glad he didn't get shot.]

Recession is an ugly word.

I just got done reading an article from my hometown's paper on unemployment rates. Awhile back, the New York Times ran a story calling Elkhart County the "white-hot center of the meltdown of the American economy." that's not a label any town would want.

In December of 2007, unemployment in the county was at 4.7%. By November of 2008, it was at 9.3%. Today, the rate is 15.3% and rising.

My friends and family are struggling because of a chain reaction related to gas prices. Elkhart's main industry was the RV industry. When people couldn't afford gas, they stopped buying RV's, which meant people lost pay, then hours, then jobs. It's weird when I go home, because our neighborhood is just south of where the factories all are. Usually, there would be fleets of RVs outside, but I haven't seen that for awhile.

Because parents are struggling, kids are struggling. They're in and out of school, in and out of homes, as their parents try to make it work. One of my mom's students lives in three different houses during the week while family members work odd hours just to get by. Almost all the students in her class are in the free lunch program. The community is struggling in all areas- not just factories, but in schools, local programs, and even churches. Yesterday, my friends at GCC had to let go of some of their staff, and it was like losing a limb. They had to say goodbye to people who were like family, and there was nothing else that could be done to prevent it.

It seems like a dismal situation with no hope, and it may be awhile before things turn around, but it reminds me of something Paul said in Colossians:

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.

In struggles, the human race unites together; we help each other get by. We saw it with WWI and II, 9/11, and I've got no doubt in my mind that it will become a reality for us in the coming days. Without the riches of the world, we start to see the riches of life- the love of a family, the care of our Creator, our own strength and perseverance. It may feel like it's wearing us down or beating us up, but in reality, we will be stronger at the end of the day. My hope is that we never lose sight of the big picture, of how God is working through us individually and as a community.

update

this weekend was: really fun. Battle of the Bands was Friday, and it was organized enough that the kids could just have fun. It's definitely important to have nights like that where kids can be kids. I think we we expect too much from them sometimes, and we want them to be mini-adults. So, because they got to be kids, I counted it as a success. Saturday I spent time with my parents and grandma in Fort Wayne. My mom said, "When are you going to come home next?" haha, no subtle hints for her :) Then Sunday was definitely a ministry day. Sunday School class had ADD, and a meeting in the afternoon made me realize how much time has passed since college; in the evening, the kids and I talked about the differences between guys and girls and how that plays out in relationships.

this week: appears to be calm. started it out last night with a migrane behind my left eye that continued into today. slept from about 2:30-5:45, and i'm feeling better, so that's a plus.

on my to-do list: organizing my life.

procrastinating about: organizing my life. [haha, go figure. but this is DEFINITELY a goal for February- to get all my ducks in a row... which probably means Jesus is going to throw me a curve ball]

book i’m in the midst of: still Wicked. I swear it's getting longer as I read it. And it's nothing like the musical, so that makes it seem longer, too. There's this whole part where Elphaba is in this castle, and she's just kind of hanging out for 200 pages. That's where I'm at right now. It's where I've been for a month. I'm tired of hanging out in the castle. Maybe I'll cheat and skip forward? I think I'd regret it.

music that caught my attention this week: well, I just posted that list. Bon Ivers reminds me of a male Imogen Heap ["Woods" is "Hide and Seek"s long lost twin]. I really like Room for Two, and Missy Higgins has these bluesy undertones that make you want to hang out with her and hear her life story.

random thought: when you have confidence and believe in your capacity to change the world, two things happen: 1. you have more instances that will test you and try to knock you down, and 2. you have more instances to show the world that you know who you are and what you're doing.

New Tunes

Just downloaded some new music on iTunes and thought I'd share :)

Missy Higgins: Where I stood
James Yull: No Surprise
Room for Two: Roots before Branches
Joshua Radin: Friend like You
Amos Lee: All my Friends
Bon Iver: Woods
Patty Griffin: Let him Fly
Wilco: Someone Else's Song
Lady Antebellum: Can't take my eyes off of you
Sara Bareilles: Morningside
Kate Voegele: It's only Life
Gavin DeGraw: We belong together [live from Soho]
She & Him: I thought I saw your face today
Lady Antebellum: I run to you

good stuff... a good mix as it is. definitely digging Room for Two and Missy Higgins.

Lessons from a break-in

Last night, someone broke into my car and stole a cooler of food left over from the ski trip [it was heavy and freezing out, so i hadn't done anything with it yet]. Even weirder? they left my $200 JBL speakers, which were right next to the cooler. They weren't doing it to make a profit, but rather to survive.

honestly, i'm not mad or anything [a little creeped out after my kids suggested that someone was with me all the way home from church! but not mad]. my heart's broken about it- someone needed someplace warm and some food. I ALWAYS lock my car. It's a habit, since I lost the remote for the last one and had to lock it on the doors. Plus, I'm from Elkhart :) So, the first time I don't lock my car, and someone gets in and takes old food that I kept forgetting to take out.

In these moments, I'm brought back to reality. I can complain about hating winter, but I can escape it by coming inside. I can put off bringing in a cooler of food because it's heavy, but at least i have food. I can crab about my crazy neighbors, but at least I have a place to call home.

I had to go down to the police station to file a report. I felt a little silly, but they needed record of it. Tonight I'll be praying for whoever it was, that God can meet them in their circumstances. I can't imagine living a life like that, and I'm extremely grateful for the life I have. You never realize how truly blessed you are until something like this comes up.

Ps. 140:12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

this blog smells like mothballs

a few random updates:
1. tomorrow is our Battle of the Bands fundraiser, which will be INSANE and WONDERFUL and EXCITING! I'm really pleased with how well things are going. We have seven bands signed up and I have high hopes. The only bump in the road? I got sick this morning and have been under the weather all day. A kind of nausea thing that limits my time up and moving. I'm not about to let that stop me though. Gotta' keep on keepin' on!

2. dogzilla is next to me, sound asleep and snoring. this is rare. she's been really good lately, which is awesome. And [and i know this won't be a big deal to you, but i appreciated it!] for the first time in 2 years, she didn't try to eat the vacuum cleaner when it was turned on. this is monumental in her life, since she usually picks it up with her teeth as soon as i hit the power button.

3. i've been doing a life evaluation lately, and i realized i haven't done anything super crafty in a LONG time. I also haven't painted my nails since Christmas. Neither of these things are normal, so now my nails are purple and i'm looking at knitting patterns online. I thought about whipping up some more strawberry hats, since winter seems endless. Here's a picture of the second one I made [modeled by Emma]. Sophie got the original back for her birthday last year :)

i figured i could put them up online and make some extra spending $ [or maybe I should call it "saving money" since i don't really need more money to spend!]. it only takes three nights to make the berry hats, so its should be painless. plus, I have a closet full of yarn, begging to be used.

my goal this year is to have a fulfilling life. when you feel fulfilled, it changes everything. it's so much better for you. The other day I was reading John 10:10, and it's been ringing in my head ever since:

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

i've been asking myself if that's the kind of life i lead, and i'm not sure that it has been lately. so that's where this boat is headed- the land of fulfillment. it should be a crazy ride :)

and she's back!

the FIRST blog i ever started reading was LoobyLu's, back in 2002-3ish. She took a hiatus for 2007, and I had stopped checking back after awhile. Randomly, I ended up there tonight, only to find that she's blogging again! Excellent crafts, recipes, and creative ideas there. check it out :)

Don't Miss Out

I just got done with a Creative Arts team meeting, and I'm so pumped for the next few weeks at CCUMC. Pastor Jean knocked it out of the park last week with her sermon on God's calling, and I have no doubt in my mind that she'll bring the heat this week. We're very blessed to have her on staff at CCUMC, and I love the insight she brings to the table.

In February, along with a stimulus package from the government, we're going to talk about a Spiritual Stimulus Package- light in the midst of darkness. Just like the economic stimulus, the Spiritual Stimulus is the thing we've waited for, hoped for, the thing that's going to pick us up and get us on our feet again. God is awesome like that, and honestly, this series is definitely one I'm excited about. There's going to be some awesome visuals and media, and it's a great series for those of us looking for hope in life.

I'm so stoked to be a part of the ministry at this church. God is doing huge things in Whitley County and it's awesome to see His Kingdom here on Earth.

for more info about CCUMC, check out www.columbiacityumc.com.

The Thick of It

I'm definitely in the thick of it right now. There's a lot going on, and things just feel thick.

This is awesome for 2 reasons:
1. It gives me a chance to rely on God. There have been a few key things lately [book deal, dead car, etc.] where I've had to say, "Okay God, what's the lesson here? What are you teaching me? Let's get through this." I've actually felt the support, too. It's kind of like leaning on a wall. You don't have to put as much energy into supporting yourself, because the wall is there to hold you up.

2. I'm growing from it. I can recognize my own misgivings, as well as learn from those around me as to how to deal with the things life throws at you when you're an adult. Not having a car since Thursday is definitely teaching me about asking for help- it has to- and this is something I've never been good at. In the last few hours, as I've prepared for HSM tonight, I've realized how much I've grown since teaming up with God almost seven years ago. I've realized how much I've been through, but I can also see how God has carried me through it and how He's now using those experiences to impact my students. I like this because I feel like I get to sit back and let God work through me, which seems easier once you can get to that point.

We serve an awesome God who's with us in the thick of it. It's unbelievably cool to think about that in the context of life. We're never in the trenches by ourselves. So cool.

I'm OVER this weather

... it keeps raining [snowing?] on our parade!!!
[this is for my kids, but some of them get on here, so you get to read it too!]

HSM LOCK-IN CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER :(

CCUMC policy is that if the schools close, we cancel all activities, and since WCCS, Whitko, and Smith-Green were all canceled today, we're going to have to cancel the lock-in. I know this is a huge bummer, because lock-ins= amazing. SO, I am already working on a crazy good replacement for this event [we'll talk about it at youth group on Sunday]. I don't want you guys out in this kind of cold, because it's pretty dangerous [my car won't even start!].

If you know someone who was coming to the lock-in who didn't get this message, pass the word on. I'm going to try to contact everyone, but you guys are definitely faster at getting ahold of each other.

Stay inside, stay safe, and stay AWESOME! :)
Kara

Again, there should be a test...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

the kids were taken into custody on Tuesday.

seriously, who names their kids "Adolf Hitler" and "Aryan Nation" because they like the names? "We're not Nazis, we just like the names. We have a right to name our kids whatever they want."

and they have a right to become emancipated as soon as they're old enough to talk.

The Flipside is Canceled

The Flipside [5th and 6th grade youth group] is canceled tonight due to weather. We'll [hopefully!] be able to meet back up next week, since it's been 5 WEEKS WITHOUT IT! [three of vacation, two due to weather]. If it gets canceled next week, we'll have a party when we all get back together. My promise to you :)

Stay inside, stay warm, stay safe.
Love you guys!

Google searches that led here

1. Quotes from Dogzilla
2. Sparkly Jesus
3. You're as old as you feel
4. Coping with Change
5. Let my love open the door
6. Baby hair bows

yeah, #6 has me confused too...

call me martha

today i have:
1. sewn up a shirt from old navy that refuses to hold together, despite my efforts.
2. cooked. raw meat! [this is huge in my life]. Wednesdays are crazy, so I grilled up some turkey burgers marinated in bbq/spicy brown mustard mi [equal parts]. my apartment smells yummy.
3. used the word yummy... weird. why did i type that?
4. worked out already! i got up early... an hour early... and thought, "might as well."

i feel like i'm already having a better day. weird. maybe i should consider being a morning person?

hahahhahaha yeah right.

Strange, but true

GREENFIELD, Calif. (AP) - Police have arrested a Greenfield man for allegedly arranging to sell his 14-year-old daughter into marriage in exchange for $16,000, 100 cases of beer and several cases of meat.

read the rest of the article here.

there should be some sort of test you should have to take before you become a parent. I mean, really? REALLY? I wish I could adopt all the kids in situations like this. I just want to scoop them up and make sure they're okay. man...

Book Update

Yesterday, the publishers sent me a 14 page contract/printing options sheet for my book. Now comes the hard part. They want me to cover all the upfront costs, which total out to around $2000, plus the printing of each copy. I believe in this book, I believe it has the ability to help church leadership understand my generation, but I also know I have around $12,000 worth of college debt that still needs to be paid off. I want to be financially responsible- that's a goal I've set out this year. I'm not sure how saying yes to this would contribute to that goal. It kills me though, because this is really something I wanted to see come to fruition.

I'm praying a lot about this. A lot a lot. I know God can do whatever He wants, but I also know that if the timing is right, things should all fall into place, and it doesn't seem that way right now. I'm not saying I shouldn't front any money- I'm okay with that; just not all of it. I can't swing that right now. No way. So, I sit and pray and trust that God is doing something only He can do.

HSM Recap

Last night's HSM was a blast. In the next 6 weeks, we're going to dig into the topic of dating and sex, so I wanted a pretty lighthearted night before we get into the heavy stuff [although i'm hoping to make this series a combination of educational/spiritual/fun... sex talks don't have to be all TURN OR BURN!]. We started out with Valentine's snacks and "The Dating Game:" 3 girls play different roles while a guy tried to guess who they were [we played a couple rounds and switched it up between guys and girls guessing]. My favorite moment was when Alan tried to guess who Katie was [someone with multiple personalities]. Someone asked her what her favorite color was, and she said "brown." Then Alan asked, and she said, "green." Alan had this look of mass confusion on his face, and said "She forgets things?! Who is she?!" It was definitely a priceless youth group moment. Afterwards, I split them up into groups based on gender [4-6 in a group] and had them dig through the Bible, looking for qualities of the perfect spouse. One group of girls had me cracking up because they described Jesus without saying "Jesus."

He cares about justice, he loves God, his mother was a virgin...

hilarious! my kids are so creative :) Finally, we wrapped up the night with Flame, from the Nooma series. [Sidenote: if you ever show this to students, they'll spend the whole time saying, "is he gonna light that pile of wood on fire? no... is he? what's he doing?"]. All in all, it was a good night.

Another favorite quote happened after I told the guys about some of the weird stuff in Song of Solomon:

Cole: Your teeth are like little sheep. They're so fluffy, I just want to pet them. No? Is it too soon to say that I want to pet your teeth? Oh, sorry...

Raisin Brahms

this made me laugh out loud... in a "haha" way, not "oh i will type lol whilst i sit here looking somber."

my day just got better because i was able to use "whilst" in a sentence.
anyway, enjoy!

ht to John Cessna

Quote of the Day

I don't need anymore New Year's resolutions, just Jesus. -DC Curry, "Cool in 09"

check it out on the GCC media player here.

quote of the day

Kara: Dad, should I be worried? Cleo won't eat.
Dad: Maybe she's not hungry.
Kara: It's Cleo.
Dad: [pauses] maybe you should be worried...

Nothing's wrong with Dogzilla... she just decided to be picky this morning. I tried hiding mini marshmallows in her food [she loves them], and she picked out the dog food and spit it on the kitchen floor, then ate the marshmallows.

My dog is a brat.

How to Save a Life

photo from daily dose of imagery

I thought this picture was interesting... a life preserver surrounded by a knotted rope. It's a great example of ministry. We know how to save a life, we have the means to do it, but there's always obstacles trying to hold us back. They might have been helpful at one point, and maybe they still are, but because we didn't take the time to tie up some loose ends in the past, we've got a mess to deal with before we can take care of what really needs to be done.

What are your knots? What needs to be untangled for you to use your full, God-given potential?

Quote of the Day

Business Tip: Spend 30 hard minutes every day planning, dreaming, thinking, and calculating. Review your goals. Consider options. Ponder problems. Write down ideas. Mentally prepare. Do it at a scheduled time. -Josh Blackson

Let's get INTERACTIVE today!!!

"Communication" has been the buzz word around here lately.

We realize we have a communication problem at church. We're working on changing things up in ALL areas, which is exciting. There are a lot of ideas being thrown around right now, and I feel like people are banding together. SUCH a cool thing to see.

So here's where you come in.
What are some forms of communication you connect with?
Here are some general ideas:
blogs, twitter, websites, forums, video shorts, e-mail, newsletters, podcasts, texts, facebook messages/groups, postcards/flyers, billboards, powerpoint, slideshows, word of mouth, up front announcements

We're looking for some direction right now, and since we've got traditional AND contemporary services, we have a bit more to think about when it comes to all of this. What does your church do? What do you wish your church would do? Drop a short comment [or a long one if you want], because we're looking for some input :)

More Link Love

Kem also posted some good stuff this morning, on leadership:

"It is difficult to maximize the gifts of abnormal people. Leaders are abnormal." Mark Beeson said this in a strategy team meeting we had last month. You know, he's right. Leaders are not normal. They are:

-the strong
-the rebels
-the skeptical
-the intelligent
-the independent
-the positive deviants

Try to control these people, and you'll never be able to rally their potential. Try to normalize these people, and you'll never be able to sustain their positive impact.

Swatting at Gnats

Steven Furtick knows what's up... I love reading his blog because:
1. he's to the point
2. he doesn't sugarcoat
3. he's crazy wise

here's a quote from today's blog:

“You’re swatting at gnats. You’re going to wreck your car swatting at gnats.”
That spoke to me. I spend too much time swatting at gnats.
I expend my energy fighting battles where there are no spoils.
I let worry and anxiety overwhelm me about situations that are either hypothetical, or outside of my control.
I let stupid comments from stupid people occupy oh-so-valuable bandwidth in my brain.
I blow my dilemmas out of proportion until they seem larger than life, and impossible to solve.

We’ve got to stop swatting at gnats.
We’ve got places to go, and bigger things to do.

definitely worth passing on. if you haven't added him to your google reader, do it. he knows what's up.

looking back/looking forward

2008 was: a sprint. it's one of those situations where one event happens right after the other, and a lot of life lessons happen in the blink of an eye. I definitely felt like i grew up a lot this year, or at least learned more about who i am an what i value. it was also a year of "flashbacks;" a lot of people came back in my life who hadn't been around in 2007, so there was a lot of reflection and growth in that.

2009 looks like: a whirlwind of incredibly wonderful opportunities. this will be my year :) the best part is that because 2008 went so quickly, i know to enjoy everything as it comes and not take it for granted.

favorite moment of 2008: I have a couple; commitment night at camp, our first 4thSunday service, the 5th and 6th grade lock-in, and the Rake and Run; Christmas this year was also pretty amazing, as was the family trip to Minnesota.

best blog of 2008: I absolutely love reading Kem Meyer's blog. sister knows what's up when it comes to communication. She has a book coming out soon, so I can't wait.

best movie of 2008: this is tough because I saw a lot of them... best girly movie would definitely be SATC, but overall is Dark Knight. It went above and beyond.

best book of 2008: I didn't read as much in 2008 as I had in years past, but I did manage to get through CrazyLove by Francis Chan; simple concepts are the easiest to overlook, and he nailed it.

best music of 2008: i spent most of the year listening to Taylor Swift, TI, and Rihanna. I also listened to a lot of classics- Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Chicago, etc.

something i learned in 2008: to quote Cameron from Ferris Bueller,

I am not going to sit on my [butt] as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I'm going to take a stand. I'm going to defend it. Right or wrong, I'm going to defend it.

i think we all end up doing this- life moves so fast that we react to it instead of being proactive in its events. this is going to be a proactive year.

and because i get lost in youtube links...

here's another schuyler fisk song:



not a lot of people know who she is in the midwest, but she's tearing it up on the west coast. if she looks familiar, she was kristy on The Babysitter's Club, and she was also in Snowed In and Orange County. she's awesome, so you should listen to her :)

i thought it sounded familiar...

i've had this song stuck in my head all afternoon, so i thought "record it while you remember it." I had the verse, and when I went to write the chords for the chorus, I realized Joshua Radin already wrote this song, and a lot better than I probably would. And he got Schuyler Fisk to sing with him. I don't know her, and since he already wrote this song, I'll just let him sing it to you haha :)



aren't they good? man...