Summer in the Son - Wednesday

Miranda is excited that it's Wednesday!!! She actually might be excited about her gum or something else... but it was a good picture nonetheless.
















Today was a sunny day. The girls broke out the sunglasses for the day. Julie and Reagan check out Rachel's shades.















Max checks out Austin's glasses as well.












Todd's highlight of the day was picking up some "Toy Story 3" stuff today during the annual "K-Mart" run... including his new "Buzz Lightyear" cup.


Man... I can totally tell that today is Wednesday. I'm starting to wear out... tomorrow is the last full day!! It will be a great day!!!


Jim

Daily Read June 30, 2010

Proverbs 31:10 (New International Version)

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

Summer in the Son - Tuesday

Today was Dodgeball day.

Peyton, Jacob, Paul, Curtis and Cameron went to the final 4 in the dodgeball tourney. The other team, however, didn't make it out of the first round.

But these guys did awesome!!









Some big smiles at evening worship!!
















Max and the boys got into the worship tonight.












The Crowder concert tonight was awesome!!! Everyone seemed to enjoy it!!!



Jim

Daily Read June 29, 2010

Proverbs 31:8-9 (New International Version)

⁸ "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

⁹ Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Summer in the Son - Monday

Terril was surprised... not really... in this picture with Reagan from this morning.












Faith was excited about breakfast.


















Miranda and Amber paused for a picture this morning as Audrey, Shayla and Lexi look on.














The crew (led by Austin) were ready for worship tonight. There are a few interesting faces in the crowd. Aaron Pelsue did an incredible job and the speaker was super challenging.









And Jackie took us to the "gun show". Look at those guns!!!!!!




More tomorrow!!!

Fireflight's Encore - Liar (with Dave Pelsue)

Fireflight rocked us out tonight!!!

Dave Pelsue (from the Arraon Pelsue Band and Kids in the Way) came out and helped them with "Liar." It was rocking!!!!

Jim

Aaron Pelsue Monday Morning Shabach

A little taste of morning worship with Aaron Pelsue and crew... They led us in Shabach... always a crowd favorite.


Jim

Daily Read June 28, 2010

2 Chronicles 9:22-24 (New International Version)

²² King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. ²³ All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. ²⁴ Year after year, everyone who came brought a gift—articles of silver and gold, and robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules.

Summer in the Son - Sunday

We have arrived.

We are settling into our dorms and finding the accommodations quite nice. (It's always a blessing to be able to do this from my bed rather than outside of a dormitory or someplace...)

Julie, Sadie, Reagan and Audrey are enjoying the accommodations.








Several of the girls are enjoying their's as well...












The rage seems to be "Ninja." Several students are engaged in a game here (Reagan, Jacob and Matt). Our group has been teaching other groups the rules of the game.













Peyton, Paul and Jacob give their approval to SITS already.














Curtis found a good way around campus... on Kyle's back. But hey, you've gotta get around somehow.



So far, things are off to a great start. Aaron Pelsue rocked the worship tonight. The speaker was great. And the group is jelling well already. Looking forward to a great, great week.


But now, I think I need to go and break up a soccer/dodgeball game that seems to have broken out in the hallway... 3 minutes before bedtime...


More pictures tomorrow.

Jim

Summer In The Son - Arrived

We have arrived...

at Kentucky Christian University...

Just in case you wondered...

Daily Read June 27, 2010

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (New International Version)

¹³ Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.

¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

Summer In The Son

I must apologize to my regular blog readers... unless you're from North Terrace, in which case you're in for a treat starting tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the first day... and travel day for our Summer in the Son trip to Grayson, Kentucky.

We've got 29 incredible students and 5 insane leaders heading down to Kentucky Christian University for this intense week of awesomeness.

For those of you who are regular readers, you will be seeing lots and lots of pictures (hopefully... given that I can get Internet there somewhere). Those of you from North Terrace, keep an eye on the blog for some pictures of our week.

Feel free to pray for us often as this week will definitely be intense!

Jim

Daily Read June 26, 2010

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 (New International Version)

⁷ Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

⁸ There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
"For whom am I toiling," he asked,
"and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?"
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!

⁹ Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

¹⁰ If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Daily Read June 25, 2010

Ecclesiastes 3:10-14 (New International Version)

¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on men. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. ¹³ That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

Daily Read June 24, 2010

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (New International Version)

²⁴ A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

Daily Read June 23, 2010

Proverbs 28:26 (New International Version)

²⁶ He who trusts in himself is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

Daily Read June 22, 2010

Proverbs 27:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.

Daily Read June 21, 2010

Proverbs 27:12 (New International Version)

¹² The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

Daily Read June 20, 2010

Proverbs 26:18-19 (New International Version)

¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
firebrands or deadly arrows

¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
and says, "I was only joking!"

This Sunday's Outline - June 20

This Sunday's North Terrace sermon outline is available under "live" events on YouVersion.com. You can access this from your iPod Touch, iPhone or other mobile Internet device. Or you can check it out HERE:

Daily Read June 19, 2010

Psalm 150:6 (New International Version)

⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

A little crazy drummer action...

I saw THIS and it made me smile...

Enjoy!

Daily Read June 18, 2010

1 Kings 8:23 (New International Version)

²³ and (Solomon) said:
"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Official Traile...

The trailer for the 3rd Narnia (The Voyage of the Dawn Treader) has been released. It's supposed to be showing before Toy Story 3... which will be a great spot for it. It looks amazing!!!! I can't wait to see it... maybe I'll have to get on reading those books again!

Check it out HERE.

Jim

Daily Read June 17, 2010

1 Kings 8:10-13 (New International Version)

¹⁰ When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. ¹¹ And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

¹² Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; ¹³ I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever."

Daily Read June 16, 2010

Proverbs 19:21 (New International Version)

²¹ Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

"The Sound" by Switchfoot video

One of my favorite songs on the new Switchfoot album... Hello Hurricane... is "The Sound." I love the bass line that under girds the song. So I was stoked to see that they had put together a video for this song.

Check it out HERE:

Daily Read June 15, 2010

Proverbs 18:10 (New International Version)

¹⁰ The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.

Daily Read June 14, 2010

Proverbs 17:28 (New International Version)

²⁸ Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Akron 1/2 Marathon

Well... Now I've done it!!!


The other day, I saw on Twitter that the Akron 1/2 Marathon was capping at 4,000 runners. They also said that they were filling up. Which kinda freaked me out... since I'm training for it.

So I registered!!!!
And there's no refunds!!!!

So I guess I'm in for it now.

But my training is going well. This week (Monday) I knocked out a 6 mile run... my longest ever... and tackled some pretty big hills in the midst of those 6 miles. This week (Thursday) I knocked out another 3.6 mile run and I've got another on Saturday. The training is going well.

But I'm a little nervous about having registered. I'm sure it will be fine. Actually I'm kinda looking forward to it.

Jim

Daily Read June 8, 2010

Psalm 119:105 (New International Version)

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.

God of This City - Zanesville, OH

Pretty cool video!!

Jim

Check it out HERE!

Daily Read June 7, 2010

Psalm 119:97 (New International Version)

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.

Daily Read June 6, 2010

Psalm 119:11 (New International Version)

¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

Today...

... I am honored to be performing the wedding ceremony for two students that were in my youth ministry in Pennsylvania. Sarah and Justin are a great couple and I'm really looking forward to performing the ceremony.

Justin has been working with me for the past two years at Fox Valley as a worship ministry intern working with our students and did a phenomenal job! When we asked me if I would perform the ceremony this weekend, I was honored.

I truly am honored.

It's an amazing thing in youth ministry to have enough longevity in ministry to get to this point with students that we've worked with. I've known Justin since he was in fifth or sixth grade. (I could tell stories and show pictures that would totally embarrass him... but I won't... or at least I'll try to refrain...) I haven't known Sarah that long... but I've known her since she was in middle school. And now, to stand under the tree at Stainbrook Park where they are getting married and perform the ceremony after 10 or 11 years of relationship will be awesome.

It is truly one of those small miracles in youth ministry that make the marathon of youth ministry worthwhile. I don't do many weddings... by choice... so when I do them, it is often because they are special.

Justin and Sarah are truly special.

Congratulations to the happy couple. May your life together be filled with joy and richness!

Jim

Daily Read June 5, 2010

Psalm 71:14-18 (New International Version)

¹⁴ But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.

¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.

¹⁷ Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.

I love these verses... especially verse 18. It almost reads like a Youth Ministry manifesto. In fact, little known fact, these verses are written on the concrete under the carpet in my old office at FVCC. Just thought I'd share.

Jim

Daily Read June 4, 2010

Psalm 37:23-24 (New International Version)

²³ If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;

²⁴ though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Daily Read June 3, 2010

Psalm 37:3-7 (New International Version)

³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Daily Read June 2, 2010

Psalm 118:22-24 (New International Version)

²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

²³ the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Daily Read June 1, 2010

Psalm 115:1 (New International Version)

¹ Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.