Category: light force

This is self-explanatory.

My latest internet addiction can be found at Newsvine. How it works is that while I’m browsing and I find something that I think is interesting, I simply seed it to a page of stuff that I want to either look at more closely later, or want other people to check out.

Here’s a newsvine I’m trying to get going on the issue of adolescent spiritual development. Interesting concept in a Web 2.0 kind of way. I don’t know if it will really take off since the community aspect of it is really a bunch of snobs… but you never know. So… I’d love to have some more youth ministry seeders… I’m not promoting it in any way… but I’d love to have a bunch of people like me seeding articles about youth ministry and adolescent spiritual development. All they’d need to do is create an account and start seeding… just not sure if I really want to promote ONE MORE THING or just keep focused on what I’m already up to.

Some very practical tools from our friends at Saddleback Church. Gasp, did he say "Saddleback?" Yeah, Saddleback. As in California. Does that mean Adam is "Purpose Driven?" Um, it means that I think the video is funny. I fully expect to see some of these techniques used this Sunday.

Thanks to Tim Schmoyer for the link

Well, I’d post some pictures but my camera is one of two things I forgot. (The other being my Bible!)

My first day here has been incredible. Despite being really tired, I met tons of new people and saw some old friends. My class went great today (phew) and I’m really looking forward to doing some interviews and research tomorrow and Saturday involving vendors and exhibitors.

Let’s see, tonight I met up with some YMX people: Jeff Greathouse, Becky and Kevin Jones, Melissa (who’s name is not Michelle) Jason Raitz, and a few more who’s names I can’t remember.

From my Michigan network, I’ve seen Dave from Faith Lutheran and Jimmy from the Flintish area.

Tonight, I went and saw Leeland and Starfield… two rockin’ new bands. Small show, great show.

This will be my first trip to Cincinnati and I’m going into it with a few hopes. Being that this is my second NYWC I know what to expect, I anticipate what I’ll like and dislike about the convention itself.

Purposes
Unlike the first time, I’m going under a few "mixed" purposes. First, I’m going as a learner. My class with Huntington starts up in about 18 hours and I’m pretty excited about it. The idea of doing lab work surrounded by our target audience… very cool. Second, I’m going as a youth pastor. After all, this is what the conference is all about. I’m going to learn and observe what Youth Specialties thinks is "hot" in youth ministry. I love the break-out sessions and I’m greatly looking forward to learning some stuff I didn’t know. Thirdly, I’m going as an ambassador for YMX. We’re not vending there or presenting there, but I am looking forward to meeting up with some people from our incredible online community.

Pre-Convention Hopes

1. Rest. I need some of this. Schedule-wise, I don’t know how this will tangibly happen. But I do plan on skipping the occasional session just to "be" Adam and rest. There has got to be a hot tub with my name on it.
2. Small groups strategies. I want to hear what some of the smart guys are doing with their small group ministry.
3. Games and worship development: These are two things Light Force is getting better at… but could use a shot in the arm about.
4. Elbow rubbing: I want to chat with a lot of people I know "in the biz" of youth ministry. I look forward to meeting vendors, practitioners like me, academics, presenters, and maybe even a performer or stage presenter or two.
5. Fun. Man, I need a good shot of fun. Not childishness really, just some goofing off and a firm reminder that I’m only 30 and not 75.
6. Record some interviews. YMX is going to launch a podcast by the end of November… so I’m looking to interview 10-20 people. Forum users and "known people" alike. While I’m not the only one participating in the podcast development, I’m going to try to use the convention as a place where I can get some material.
7. Reflection: I’m ready to listen to God for a while. I feel like I do to much of the talking.
8. Serving others somehow. I look forward to helping however I can. Being that I’m all alone at the convention, I’ve got no excuses.

Note: I’ll be checking in regularly during the next few days. It’s the role of an introvert to be introverted when surrounded by extroverts.

Yesterday I had the pleasure (and, um… duty?) of filling in for Bob as he wrapped up  a conference in the Atlanta area. I’m looking forward to having him back… and in just a couple of days I’m off to a conference of my own for a week. OK, the truth is that the conference is just 5 days… but I’m tacking on a couple of days to both the front and back end of it for R&R.

Yes, I’ve even included a link to the video intro I used for the message yesterday. I posted my notes in the link below. (The audio will be on the church site sometime Tuesday.)

(more…)

Today we were creating a video to promote Main Street. I needed some "in between" stuff to make the video clips flow together. (Which we did get eventually!) We had 15 minutes to shoot this and well… we got about 5 minutes worth of outtakes and errors out of it. This isn’t going to win any awards, but I thought it was good enough to toss up on YouTube for folks to enjoy.

This is proof that I shouldn’t be in television. It’s not as easy as those guys on the tube make it look.

In just a few hours we’re going to go freeze together. The whole crew from Light Force is meeting together for a hay ride. Man, I haven’t done a hay ride since I was… well, since I was in youth group. 9th grade? 1990? Yikes, been a while.

Right now it’s 44 degrees at the McLane house. Let’s hope for a sudden heatwave across southeastern Michigan! It should be a good time though. We’re meeting at the church at 5 and I suspect a rowdy good time.

Last night, was the November MainStreet. MainStreet is our kid’s program’s once a month "foyer" activity. (Meaning, we invite the whole church and the whole community to a comfortable event where we introduce a biblical concept.)

This was our second one, and it really was better than the month before. We added a lot more characters. We technologically went a lot further. And the whole thing was a lot more complicated. And it showed. When you make that much of a leap… there will be some problems.
Overall, the night was a massive hit. (Again) People were excited and pleased with what the event accomplished. Right now I can only think about what went wrong… but so much did go right.

So, it’s time to tear down from last night and start working on the December one!

p.s. Now I know who can play off messing a scene up. 🙂 That really is a valuable skill for this type of thing.

Today and Saturday I’m in Chicago with 5 Light Force students as we’re enjoying our annual trip to visit Chicago area colleges. Actually, it worked out that we’re crunched for time and a lack of sincere interest in a number of places…. so it’s just one college we’re visiting. We left the house at 4 am and I’m about ready for bed right now.

I got a chance to pop in on the class of one of my favorite people in the world, Bob MacRae. Bob was my adviser at Moody but really ended up being my biggest encourager to pursue professional ministry. It was great sitting in on his "Communicating Biblical Truth to Adolescents" class. It was like a bad flashback to the ghost of college class past! I was proud of myself that I just observed and resisted the temptation to join in the discussion.

We’re headed back to Romeo late Saturday night and will be in church Sunday morning.