Poll... Which conference is for you?

I thought I'd try something new...
Never done this before, so we'll give it a wing...

Create interactive meetings at Poll Everywhere

Jim

I've Seen It All Music Video (HD) from NYMC

This video is great... Thanks Josh and Jake for putting it together!!

Jim

Check it out HERE

National Youth Ministry Conference

I just registered for this great convention in Columbus, OH!!!

It's the National Youth Ministry Conference.

It is Feb 27 - March 2 at the Great Columbus Convention Center. Which is great for me for a couple of reasons. First, I can drive. That's gonna save me some money. Second, I have family in the area... that's gonna save me some more money.

But it is a great, great weekend conference. Plus some of my friends at Simply Youth Ministry and Saddleback will be there. It's always great to see some friends.

If you are planning to be there, throw a comment on the blog. It would be cool to meet up.

Last year there was a contest here on this blog. Hopefully there will be again. I'm looking forward to this weekend!!! Hope to see you there!

Jim

National Youth Ministry Conference 2009 promo video...

My buddy Josh just pointed out that Group and Simply have released the promo video for the 2009 NYWC in Columbus. I'm already looking forward to it.

I would embed it, but I can't/don't know how. So, check it out HERE. I would highly recommend it!

Jim

Being Out of Town... both a blessing and a curse...

I love being out of town from time to time...

Especially with last weekend. After the National Youth Ministry Conference I felt confident and refreshed. A couple of things that I haven't felt in a while. Which is great. The training was great. It's always great to get to see old friends and catch up on life. Plus, it was an extra blessing being out of town with three of my favorite people in the world.

Good stuff...

But there's always a downside to being gone. Today, instead of working on homework and maybe watching a little college basketball, I'm locked in the "den" in our apartment working on stuff for the weekend. So, it's both a blessing and a curse. It was great to be out for a little while. But then you have to work twice as hard when you get back to get caught up. But I guess that's part of life.

I just know that looking down the barrel of what I have to do today, I would rather watch some basketball.

Jim

NYMC was good for my blog... thanks for visiting...

As many of you know, who read regularly, that I have become a pretty active blogger in the last few months. I have really begun to enjoy it, even if sometimes some folks wonder why I blog what I do... I blog what I do because I like to blog what I blog... if that makes sense.

Well, thanks to Josh Griffin... I had the opportunity to share some of my NYMC posts with others. I also had the opportunity to give away a sweet prize to Ken Compton (from outside of Philly). That was fun... especially getting a note that was written by Doug Fields who was thinking that he was writing to Jim Burns... but was actually writing to me. Fun fun...

But one of the fun little things about the Conference for me was watching the number of hits on my blog over the duration. And looking at the picture, the conference showed up quite a few hits... 72 on Saturday... 74 on Sunday...

So, my hope is that some of you who found my blog through the NYMC would continue to come back for some fun posts and youth ministry musings. But if you should choose to go to another blog (like www.morethandodgeball.com) I'll try not to cry...

Jim

NYMC - Back home!!!

I'm in my pajamas... sitting on my couch and I thought I would throw out one final blog from the conference.

It was a great time.
Thanks to Doug. Rick Lawrence. Tom and Joani. Josh (the stud) Griffin. Jake. And all my friends that I always look forward to seeing at these conferences.

But honestly. The best part of thew whole conference was about 15 minutes ago when my butt hit the couch for some relaxation and time connecting with my wife!!

Awesome!

Jim

Monday morn...

Its the last session...
Monday morn...
We just enjoyed a great super session by Kurt Johnston and picked up a
free book. Good stuff! The session, the book and the conference...

Starbucks...

The starbucks line was shorter this morning... And I am glad......

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

NYMC - Jumping Announcement Video

Jake and Josh have another great announcement video.

Enjoy!!!
Just stupid fun...

Jim


Check it out HERE.

Wafflehouse and late night meals...

So... Jeff and I have pretty much gotten into the habit of the "late night meal." And last night was no difference. We hit "Wafflehouse" with Tom Roepke.

I think one of the things that I like the most about these conferences is the chance to catch up with friends from around the country. It's always great to sit across the table from someone, catch up, ask what's been going on in their ministry, have a chance to breathe some life into someone else and allow them to breathe some life into my ministry.

It was great. Thanks Tom.

But that brings our official 11:30 pm dinner rotation to last night's Wafflehouse... Saturday night was Shanghi Mama's... Friday night was Skyline... It's going to be rough going back to eating at regular times...

Oh well.

Jim

Late night 321 improv

Carl and Adam doing a little late night comedy... Good stuff.

Kutless... Live!!!

Kutless came out tonight!!! They were great!! Rock on!!

3...2...1 Improv - NYMC

3...2...1... Improv was here tonight. Very funny!!

Session 2... Doug Fields...

Doug gave us a true treat last night at Session 2.

I love to listen to Doug teach. I feel like we have a similar style and a similar humor and so I always get a kick out of listening to Doug. So, I was really looking forward to this. And he didn't disappoint.

He talked about the three barriers in his life to having "caring conversations" in his life. Those three things are:
1. uncomfortableness
2. fear
3. occupied.

Then he went on to talk about this in terms of Luke 2 and Matthew 1 by talking about Mary (uncomfortable), Joseph (fear) and the innkeeper (occupied). And I would have to say that all three of those blockers show up in my life... there are times when I feel incredibly uncomfortable when working, talking and leading students... there are times when I'm afraid almost every day... and there are a lot of times when I am too occupied to develop deep relationships.

Doug... you always knock it out the park. Thanks for knocking it out last night.

Tonight, we're going to enjoy some Greg Stier... Dare to Share... Should be great!!!

Jim

"Hooked" on winning... Ken Compton!!!

Ken Compton picked up a FREE copy of SYM's Super Series "Hooked."

He brought me some "demon sauce" and a hand written note from Doug Fields to grease the skids. It was great. Ken is from outside of Philly. We had a good little talk while we waited for Andy B. and Nadim to help get him "hooked" up.

Thanks for reading Ken. Hope to keep checkin' in.

Jim

Overnighter - NYMC

Jake just rolled out an incredible new video yesterday. It is awesome. Check it out.

Jim

Click HERE.

Car show at nymc

So...
There is a cars show going on at the same time as the conference... So
tempting...

Cadillac Ranch

We grabbed some Cadillac ranch for lunch. Kathy and Chris are headed
back today. So we went big for lunch. Maybe I'll go ride the bull...

Sunday morning

That alarm clock was not my friend this morning... But we're up and
going again.

Taffy and Saddleback's 9th grade band led worship. And it was
great!!! Way to go Taffy