a rare evening off...

I had a good morning at church this morning. It was nice to be able to relax and enjoy church.

Tonight, I'm chillin' at home. I took a nap this afternoon to get ready for 3 hours of Survivor tonight. I love hanging with our students. But it's nice to have a night when nothing is going on as well. Put my feet up... post a couple of blogs... and relax.

By the way... I think Denise has it wrapped up tonight... Gotta pull for the school lunch lady!!!

Jim

a rare morning off...

So today is an unusual day.

Since September, we've been doing our middle school worship service on Sunday mornings at 9:50 am. Which has been incredible for our middle school ministry!!! In many ways... that are too many for this post... but might be good for a future post.

But today is the first morning of our 3-week holiday break... both for Sunday nights (High Voltage) and Sunday mornings (Live Wire). We're taking a break for a couple of reasons. 1. It gives our students time to worship for the holidays with their parents. 2. It gives our students freedom to travel and not feel like they are missing something. 3. It gives our volunteers a brief break for family occasions and worship.

But I realized this morning how much I have missed coming to church and just being here. I'm not teaching. I'm not leading. I'm not organizing anything. I'm just sipping some coffee and having some conversations. Usually on Sunday mornings, I'm running around like my hair is on fire and I'm trying to keep it from getting in my eyes... but this morning is different. Call it... a change of pace.

And it's been a beneficial morning. I already had one conversation and lined up a volunteer for our middle school ski trip on February 18th (shameless plug!). But it's nice just to walk around and relax a little.

Right now, 1st hour worship is happening and I had time to post a blog. Jackie and I are planning to worship 2nd. It's good.

Jim

New Book... Half Done...

So... having wrapped up my required reading for class on Thursday, I began a new book tonight... that I am half done with!

A couple of years ago, one of my students, Elisabeth VanderBand, gave me a copy of a "Christmas Story" by Jean Shepherd. She had heard me use an illustration about loving this movie... and indeed, it is my favorite Christmas movie... she bought me a copy.

It's great. This is the second Christmas that I have read it. I started tonight and I'm almost half done with it.

I love casual reading...


Jim

Christmas shopping and snow!!!

The snow has been crazy here this winter. This is more snow that we have had any of the other 2 winters that we have lived here. There has been a couple of inches of snow on the ground for the last couple of weeks and then this week, it was covered and sealed with ice.

Tonight we're getting a couple more inches of snow.

I was out in the snow some this afternoon as I joined the shopping masses and shopped for my wife. She was working... But I hit a couple of places and picked up some stuff. I would share... since she never reads my blog... but just in case she gets crazy, I'll refrain. But I've got a little more money to spend on her. But I got most of what I am planning. Fun fun!!! Lots of people.

It's starting to look... and feel like... Christmas!!!

Jim

Check out this pool!!!

You can check out the address HERE.

But that looks like a pretty cool pool. But I would still feel weird by swimming all the way out to the end...

Jim

4.00 baby!!!

I just got my grades from this past semester this morning... They are posted on our seminary network... I scored a 4.00 baby!!! I landed a pair of A's in Biblical Worship for Today and Christianity in the Reformation Period. That makes all those long days of reading and writing worthwhile.

That brings my cumulative GPA for LCS to a 3.74. I transferred in a stinky B minus from a class at Emmanuel School of Religion that I might retake...

But not too shabby for this semester. (I'll end the shameless bragging now...)

Jim

Student Ministry Progressive Christmas Dinner...

Last night, we had a couple of great Student Ministry Progressive Christmas Party Dinners. Everyone showed up and from what I heard from the high school group, had a great time. I know the middle schoolers had a blast... I was with them. All in all it was great!

Thanks to the Hutto/Mortons, Brooks and Reffett(s) for hosting the high schoolers. And thanks to the Cerezos, Gallaways and Alfords for hosting the middle schoolers.

It was a blast!!!

Jim

Apple Get a Mac Ad: Santa Claus

This is pretty sweet....

Jim

HERE it is...

New Resource at YouthMinistry.com

I posted my Star Countdown on YouthMinistry.com. Check it out HERE. It's pretty cool to be able to share resources with others like this...

Jim

Reading is DONE!!!

Well...

Many pages... much reading... done.

This semester is wrapped up. Monday, grades will officially be posted. But as of today, I have a 97.9% in my Biblical Worship class and an A/A- in my Reformation history class. So, I'm thinking another semester of A's.

Jim

P.S.: I'm glad to be done... I'm going to watch movies tomorrow and not read anything...

Upside down Christmas tree...

So Melanie... One of our staff members... Has an upside down Christmas
tree... Here is a pic...

New Underground Newsletter

We just published a new Underground (middle school) newsletter today.

We posted information about our upcoming Middle School CIY Believe trip to St. Charles, MO on March 7-9. Information about the Underground Ski Trip, which begins it's sign ups this weekend for February 18th. And more.

If you didn't get a copy of the Underground newsletter, email me (jim@fvcc.com) and I'll make sure that you get one.

Jim

scotty pichard sings the christmas carols

Here's a little love for the holidays from some friends at Saddleback... Enjoy...

Jim

Thanks Taffy for this classic...

Click HERE to check out.

Some thoughts on the Golden Compass

One of my best friends went and saw the Golden Compass a couple of days ago (I know I can hear the gasps...). He had some really great thoughts about it. Here is a link to Chris Genders' blog. It's really a great article...

Here's a little snipet:
"With all of the controversy swirling around about the movie and the books, I quickly decided that I was going to make a determination on my own rather than relying upon the words and thoughts of people that I don't know. (This is something I challenge everyone to do - to approach what they read, hear, see with a critical eye in an effort to determine for themselves what is true or false.) So I decided to go to the movies last night...

"I do not want to encourage or discourage you from watching this film or reading the books and making up your own mind about it. What I would say is that if you allow your children to watch the movie or read the books, do not be personally uneducated. Be intentional about watching/reading it with them. You will need to talk with them about it...

"In the end, this movie and these books are simply an attempt to do what thousands of others have done throughout history. And yet Christ still remains standing when the dust settles. Are there problems within the religion of Christianity? Absolutely. Are there problems with Christ? No way...."

Great article Chris!!!

Jim

This semesters classes are done...

I've got some pages yet to read...

But all of this semester's classes are wrapped up!!! It feels good... now I just need to finish my reading and then I'll be FREE!!!

Until January...

Jim

New Indiana Jones Movie Poster

Looks pretty awesome to me...

Jim

Lots O ice!!!

Man... It was icy this morning. The roads were pretty slushy. But they were drivable... when we left around 5 am... after we got to Yorkville... about 5:45-5:50, the roads began to get better. When we finally made it to I-55 at Dwight, things were great... just rainy.

Here (Lincoln), its rainy and most everything is coated with ice. And there is a little wind in the air which could be bad for power lines.

But we're here. We'll see if we make it through all of the classes with power issues.

This is the final class day.

Jim

700 pages... 5 days...

This Friday is when my Reformation History reading report is due...

I've got about 700 pages...
And 5 days...

Whew... That's going to be a lot of reading.

Jim

Good weekend...

My folks were up this weekend.

We had a good weekend. We didn't do much. We were planning to go into the city on Saturday, but my sister came down with a "stomach something or other" and we didn't do much. But we watched Elf and hung out some. If the idea was spending time together, which I think it was, then we accomplished our goal.

All in all, it was a good weekend.

Jim

No go for Chicago...

Addy got sick on the way into the city... So we rode the train...
Grabbed a snack and then back to the house..

5000 visitors...

Quietly this past week I passed the 5000 visitor mark... I've been averaging between 20 - 25 visitors per day... somedays as many of 30 or 35...

Keep reading... Now, I just need to get some posters...

Jim

Mom having a starbucks..

My mom had never had a starbucks... Until tonight...

Apple Get a Mac Ad: Now What?

Yeah!!!

Jim

Here!

Reading all day... and then Parents!!!

I'm spending most of the day reading...
I'm working on "The English Reformation" by A.G. Dickens for my Reformation class...

Then this afternoon, my parents and sister are coming in for a weekend visit. It should be fun and probably will spawn some mobile posts of pictures and what-not.

Should be fun!!!


Jim

Prince Caspian Trailer

This is rockin' awesome...

Jim

Check it out HERE!!!

Underground News!!!

I just sent out a brand new Underground newsletter... In there you will find information about
-MS Believe (in St. Charles, MO... March 7-9)
-MS Ski Trip
-All-Student Worship

Check it out.

If you didn't get a copy and would like one, drop me an email: Jim@fvcc.com.

Jim

Cold out there!!!

It was cold this morning...

The Official morning temperature at the Clark household in St. Charles was 3.3 degrees... Wow. That's cold.

Jim

Golden Compass Post...

This is a simple post...

I just wanted to shamelessly promote a post from Monday about the Golden Compass. Click HERE to check it out...

Jim

Dark Knight poster!!!

I stumbled on this poster this morning for the new "Dark Knight" Batman movie coming out next year. I found this HERE.

This movie looks like fun!!!

Jim

About 4 inches...

Looking out the window this morning... over the pages of A.G. Dickens "The English Reformation"... I would say we got about 4 inches of snow last night. It's actually pretty beautiful outside right now.

The roads were pretty slick last night... but the snow is nice. They are calling for some more today and maybe some tomorrow... fun fun!!!

Jim

Gotta love the snow!!!

Tonight we got about 3 inches... With maybe another one overnight!!!
Its like we're back in PA...

Apple Get a Mac Ad: Misprint

New Mac Commercial...

Gotta love it...

Jim

Check it out HERE.

I just knocked out "Obedience of a Christian Man" by William Tyndale

I've been like the seminarianator this weekend. I knocked out "Authentic Worship" by Batemann on Saturday.

Tonight, I knocked out "The Obedience of a Christian Man" by the man who inspired my internet handle, William Tyndale.

I've got a couple of historical books to knock out this coming week and the first part of next week...

I'm covering some major pages...

Jim

Center for Parent/Youth Understand... the Golden Compass...

I have been watching and reading some of the plethora of emails floating around about the upcoming movie called the "The Golden Compass." If you haven't heard at least something about this movie, it's a movie that set to open in a couple of days/weeks (I haven't paid that close of attention to it). But basically it is very similar in style to Chronicles of Narnia (in fact, the author Phillip Pullman openly admits to using some of Lewis' imagery...) but the movie has a very different agenda.

Phillip Pullman is what is being called an Evangelistic Atheist. Meaning, he doesn't believe in God and he's not afraid to tell you about it and wants to tell you about it.

Well... I have been watching the emails roll in... and they have been rolling in... and probably will roll again from Christians all saying the same thing... "Don't go... It's evil..."

And my thought has been... it's a movie... it's Hollywood... why shouldn't we expect this? I'm not saying that it's right... but I'm saying I'm not surprised. Hollywood wants to make money and it made tons of money on Lewis' Chronicles... why not try this?

Today, I got an email from the Center for Youth/Parent Understanding... feel free to check out their website, its extremely informative. And part of what caught my attention was an article that's coming out in their winter issue of their magazine called "Engage" by Dr. John Seel.

Here's the snipet that I would like to highlight and you can feel free to go and read the remainder of the article which is very short... but Dr. John Seel says this:

"The most powerful aspect of culture is the way it shapes our moral imagination. As Einstein observed, 'Imagination is more important than knowledge.' Books and films such as The Golden Compass are opportunities for important discussions with our children about truth and the nature of reality. We need not be defensive or judgmental. God's truth will prevail. All that is at risk is casual Christianity and unreflective belief. Assertive atheism can be a good thing, if it encourages us to become serious seekers of truth. Many will simply use such films to justify their rebellious attitudes toward authority. That shouldn't surprise us. More important than blaming atheists for what they think and write is to acknowledge the failure of Christian believers to provide thoughtful, winsome, and life-affirming alternative in our culture. This is the challenge of our time.
"It would be easy for us to not meet this challenge head-on and simply flee from our protest the books and the film. Sadly, many Christians have taken such an alarmist approach. But anger and protest often communicates insecurity. A Biblical response calls us to go much deeper."

To which I add: Amen!!! Well said Dr. Seel!!! And thanks to CYPU for putting together some good thoughts!

If you would like to download this article, click HERE.

Jim

Ohio State heading to the Championship Game!!!

Championship Game!!!!

Just like I predicted!!!

Ohio State playing for the National Title against LSwho?

Bring it Tigers...

Jim

It's 4:22 am...

What in the world could I be doing up???
Why, reading William Tyndale, what else? And trying to wrap up school stuff for tomorrow...

Ugh!!!

Jim

WVU falls!!!

Ohio State could be in the National Championship Game...

West Virginia lost to Pittsburgh (surprise!!! I assumed they would win big time) 13-9.

At this point (4Q, 14:00 to go), Missouri is losing to Oklahoma (as I predicted) 28-17 and they are driving again.

***Edit: Oklahoma just scored again... 4Q, 11:00 to go... OU 35 - Missouri 17...

Ohio State could be in the driver's seat!!!

Go Bucks!!!
Jim

Blitz read complete!!!

I just finishing flying through this book. It's Authentic Worship by Herbert Batemann.

This is the final book required for my "Biblical Worship for Today" class at Lincoln. I use the term flying because I read this 300 page book is less than 2 days!!! I am required to turn in 5 discussion questions for class on Tuesday.

It was a pretty decent read. A little heady and meaty in places. But overall pretty good. There was a great chapter on the lack of Scripture reading in our congregations today that left me with something to think about. I struggled with Webber's chapter on communion (because I couldn't figure out if he was advocating "Transubstantiation," "Consubstantiation" or something in the middle. My sense is the latter... and the lack of clarity annoyed me.) and the final chapter by Stalltman on multiculturalism in worship (not because I disagree but because he seemed to advocating a rejection of American culture in worship for the inclusion of worship elements that are abrasive for Americans because they are accepted by other cultures more readily).

Overall... it was decent. And again, it left me with somethings to chew on.

Jim

The Snow Storm of the Century has begun...

As least, that's what the Weather Channel is calling it... or at least acting like it.

They are calling for quite a bit of snow here today, mixed with ice and freezing rain. (So I'll have to go and find some candles... if the power goes out... I'll have to keep working regardless.)

But officially at the Clark household in St. Charles at 11:54 am, snow was reported!!!

Bring it on...

Jim

Go Oklahoma!!!

I'm pulling for Oklahoma to be Missouri today... If that happens... Ohio State might slip into the national title game...


Go Sooners!!!

Jim

Spot... Up close and personal...

Spot... Up close and personal...

Christmas Progressive Dinners!!!

We've got a great Christmas Party lined up for December 14th for both middle and high school students. We are planning a Progressive Dinner (everyone travels to different houses... eating a different course of the meal as they go). At the final homes, each ministry will have a $5 gift exchange.

It will be a total blast. Now, I'm just waiting to see who has the best lineup of food before I decide where I'm going... hehe...

Frontline (High School) will be visiting these families:
-Morton/Hutto (appetizer)
-Brooks (main course... spaghetti and breadsticks)
-Reffett (dessert and gift exchange)

Underground (Middle School) will be visiting these families:
-Cerezo (appetizer)
-Galloway (main course)
-Alfred (dessert... brownie sundaes... mmmmmm...)

Student are signing up for the Progressive Dinners right now. It starts at 6 pm and concludes at 9:30 pm and costs just $10!!! That's a pretty good deal...

I can't wait!!!

Jim

Good use of a power cord...

My wife found an interesting way to use her power cord today... As a
bookmark...

Library... Again...

Another day off...
Another day in the library...
Ugh!!!

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

Come on SNOW!!!

There is some snow predicted for the Chicagoland area for the next couple of days!

Which is great for me! This week, we are putting out the sign up sheet for the High School Ski Trip on January 21st. We are heading to Cascade Mountain in Portage, WI. I can't wait. I love the ski trip.

This will be a great trip and I'm really looking forward to it because the High Schoolers go now... the Middle Schoolers go in February... Jim goes both times!!!

Jim

I missed out today...

I'm kinda bummed right now.

Today we were supposed to host a Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Community Lunch here at FVCC. I always look forward to these. It's a chance to sit around a table, talk about ministry and life and most importantly, get some encouragement.

Except no one showed up.
I knew that no one was coming. I had sent out the invitations. I emailed... I called... Everyone "couldn't come." Or didn't even bother to respond. Major bummer!!!

I missed out on some encouragement. I missed out on some connection. I missed out...

Jim

Cold...

Brrrrr...
Winter is here.
Its about 28 and cold...

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

12 Days of Simply Youth Minstry Freebies!!!

My friends over at Simply Youth Ministry are doing their 12 Days of Christmas Freebies again this year. They did this last year and it was great. Every day, they release a new freebie for download.

Today was a Powerpoint game that I am planning to use this weekend. Its great. Check it out HERE.

I'm all about freebies that are free... always good... and good freebies that I will actually use.

Enjoy!

Jim

Long drive...

These rides home are so long...

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

Staying ahead of the wave...

Schoolwise... I'm paddling like crazy and at this point in my week, I'm staying ahead of the wave. Today, I had a major project due in my worship class (which I will turn in in about 15 minutes). Next week, I've got a reading assignment due for worship and a journal due for reformation. So, for the next week, I'm going to be paddling as hard as I can.

But I did get a little reprieve. My prof (and adviser) for reformation history pushed back our reading report due date to December 14th. Which gives me an extra 3 or 4 days to finish up my reading for that class... and that's a welcome relief!!!

Well...
Back to paddling...

Jim


***Hey Chris... I thought you might like this picture!!!***

5 Best Things to Say When Caught Sleeping at Desk...

This week is going to be a long week with lots of school projects to finish up as the semester draws to a close... I might need a couple of these. I found this HERE.

5 Best Things to Say When Caught Sleeping at Your Desk:
submitted by Liz Kroll

5. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen."

4. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time management course you sent me to."

3. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time."

2. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?" And the NUMBER ONE best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk...

1. Raise your head slowly and say, "...in Jesus' name, Amen."

Jim

BCS standings...

Today, Sunday, the new BCS standings come out.

Over the weekend, #1 LSC lost... we knew that. But #2 Kansas lost as well... which I called... WVU won... which I was hoping would happen.

Today Ohio State is #3...

If Oklahoma wins over Missouri this weekend... and I'm officially give it to Oklahoma. WVU has to play Pittsburgh, which WVU will win.

But if Oklahoma rolls like I'm calling, then Ohio State will be back in the running for a BCS Championship against WVU!!!!


Go Bucks!!!

Christmas Lights Gone Wild

A student showed me this this morning (Thanks Will). I just had to post it. Fun fun...

Jim

Check it out on YouTube HERE.

I'm really beginning to hate the library...

And I'm not talking about the public library.

I spent half of my Saturday today down at Wheaton College in their library. Today actually wasn't too bad of a day to be in the library since most of the undergrads are still on Thanksgiving break. But I'm getting tired of seeing the inside of libraries... Wheaton... Lincoln... blah... It's a nice enough library. I would just rather be spending my Saturdays on the couch watching college football or something.


But I guess I'm going to have to get used to it...

Jim

Ohio State back in the BCS Championship game???!!!???

Last night, LSU fell to Arkansas... 50 to 48 in 3 Overtimes!!!

LSU was #1... not any more...

Tonight, Kansas #2 and Missouri #4 square off (I give it to Missouri...)

West Virginia #3 is playing Connecticut #20...

#1 is no more...
Either #2 or #4 is going to lose...
If #3 were to go down (and there's a chance...)

Guess who might be back in the BCS Championship Game!!!!! (I bet you won't really have to guess...)

Jim

PDYM Community Lunch

Conversation
Connection
enCouragement

And food!!!!

That's what the PDYM Community is all about... minus the food. But it's all about building connections between local youth workers, having conversation about what's working and what's not in student ministry and get encouraged to continue in the ranks of youth ministry.

I'll be hosting a PDYM Community Lunch next week (November 29th) at Fox Valley Christian Church in Batavia, IL. If you are local, I'd love to have you join us for lunch at 12:30 pm.

If you have questions feel free to ask at jim@fvcc.com.

Jim

4:22 am... no "Black Friday Shopping" for me!!!

As the title says... It's 4:22 am.

'Why are you up?' you ask.

Well, I was planning to go "Black Friday Shopping" this morning. It would have been the first time ever!!! Jackie just left for work (Starbucks opens at 5 am here in Chicagoland...) and I was planning to hit one sale that starts at 5 am (a couple at was at the same Thanksgiving Dinner as us yesterday had a whole plan of attack for today... yuck!.

My sister and I are trying to pick up a present together for someone in our family. But the phone just rang and she picked one up at a sale in Ohio about 10 minutes ago (5 am EST). So, I'm going back to bed. I've never been "Black Friday Shopping." I just don't get it. It doesn't seem like much fun... elbowing people... getting up early (it's now 4:26 am)... going out in the cold (it's about 21 degrees here)... fighting people... rushing...

I think I'll just go back to bed. I had too much turkey and dessert yesterday anyway...

It's 4:29 am.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Jim

Happy Thanksgiving (thankfulness...)

So...
It's Thanksgiving. I'm sitting here on the couch waiting for the Packers vs. the Lions coming on here in a few minutes. And so I thought I'd take a couple of minutes and share some things that I'm thankful for (in no particular order).

-my Savior
-an incredible wife (who cares enough for our family and its finances to work on Thanksgiving... even opened this morning at 4 am... ugh!!!)
-a great group of students that I get the privilege to work with every week (most of which have been throwing turkeys and mashed potatoes at me on Facebook all day)
-my great parents (whom I spent an hour and half with on the phone today... and would love to be eating turkey with them today... my dad and I have the habit of "carving the turkey" in the basement together so that we can eat some before we take it upstairs and mom doesn't know... don't worry... she never reads my blog anymore unless I tell her...)
-a couple of good football games (Packers v. Lions... Cowboys v. Jets...)
-the Pauleys and the Reffetts (who invited my wife and I to join their families for Thanksgiving and we're actually taking them up on it)
-the Jacksons, the Jansons and the Watkins (who also invited us for Thanksgiving... but we didn't take them up on it)
-a great church family that I have the opportunity to serve at FVCC
-great staff relationships (Steve and I had lunch yesterday for an hour and a half... Chinese buffet day!!!)
-having my Cruizer back (it was in the shop this week... rental cars stink!)
(I said in no particular order... its mostly off the top of my head)
-a pretty good Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade today (I'm a sucker for the holiday parade thing... and I'll watch the Rose Parade on New Years Day as well...)
-my education at Lincoln Christian Seminary (although right now I'm in the midst of deadline time... so I'm wondering how thankful I really am...)
-friendships (which aren't as far down the list as it would appear... too many to mention...)

I think that's probably good enough...
If I think of some others, I'll add them later.

Wherever you're at today, have a Happy Thanksgiving. And remember to be thankful for what you have regardless of what the television tries to convince you that you don't have (at Sears, JCPenny's, etc) that you have to go out at 5 am tomorrow morning and buy.

Psalm 100:3-5
"Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations." NIV

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jim

Starbucks TV commercial

A pretty cool little commercial... and almost a little rip on Caribou...

Jim

Click HERE to check it out on YouTube...

Snow TONIGHT!!!!

It's official!!!

Here in St. Charles at 8:30 pm, there was snow reported!!! Maybe if it sticks around until the morning... or accumulates enough to see... there will be pics here.





Jim

Snow tonight???!!!

So...

The Weather Channel is calling for 2 to 3 inches of snowfall for the Chicagoland area tonight. Will it be a white Thanksgiving???

That would be awesome!!!

Jim

Rock Band was fun last night

Last night was a lot of fun.

If you haven't, check out a couple of "live blogged" pictures from last night's Rock Band-athon (I took them on my iPhone and put them right on my blog from Jeff's...). Boone, Clayton, Will, Matt, Jeff and I rocked out on Rock Band for about 2 hours together.

If you don't know what Rock Band, it's Guitar Hero with drumming and singing involved for XBox. It really was a lot of fun and I think there's an inner drummer trying to get out.

Jim

More rock band

Yeah... More!!!

Rock band

Some of the high school guys playing rock band.... Rock on!!

Cool Lighthouse Pic... Pigeon Point

I stumbled on this picture today on my usual stop... Digg...

Check this out HERE. It's a great picture!!

Here's a snipet of the story: "Once per year at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse they shut down the weak insipid modern (presumably electric) light and switch over the the 5 kerosene lamps and fresnel lens of the original, as it was 135 years ago."

Jim

Phil Dawson Crazy Field Goal

This was awesome...

Jim

Check out YouTube HERE.

Rose Bowl Bound!!!

Final:
Ohio State: 14
Michigan: 3

Big Ten Champs!!!!

Rose Bowl Bound!!!!


Jim

Ohio State... Still leading...

Here's what I'm getting tired of...

Ohio State is still leading... 4Q... 13:52... 14 - 3!!!

The commentators are basically pulling for Michigan... Chad Henne this... Chad Henne that... Llyod Carr... blah blah blah... Its like I'm watching a game being televised on local TV from Ann Arbor rather than a nationally broadcast game by a national network... Brent and Kirk stink!

Jim

Ohio State... 14... Michigan... 3... 3Q 13:51

Ohio State: 14
Michigan: 3
3Q 13:51

62 yard run by Wells!!!!

Go Buckeyes!!!

Ohio State... 7... Michigan... 3... 2Q 10:07

Wells scores!!!!

Ohio State: 7
Michigan: 3
2nd Quarter... 10:00 minutes left...

Go Buckeyes!!!

Today's the BIG day at the BIG house...

5-1...
That's currently the record between the Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines...

Today, it goes to 6-1... the Buckeyes winning 6 out of 7 games. And gets a little revenge from last week's game of no-calls versus Illinois (that probably cost them the game).

About 90 minutes until the game!!!

O
H
I
O
!!!!!

Jim

Google searches leading here...

Here's another volume of Google searches leading to my little blog... which is now averaging 30 visitors a day!!! Wow!!!

-Apple PR lady
-Guitar Hero III crack
-Big Ten Network rocks
-can i download my music from itunes to iphone
-legends of rock playlist
-starbucks song of the day
-man vs wild fake
-iphone my show song
-ministry song guitar hero
-what you eat on space
-start of change, youth ministry
-Go buckeyes commercial
-Apple Podium Commercial
-"Judy Gregory" + myspace
-iphone diet
-purpose driven youth ministry outline
-why Michigan football stinks

Always amazing... Especially the "Judy Gregory" one...

Jim

ESPN 360!!!

I love ESPN 360!

Recently we discovered that if you have AT&T Internet (which we do both at the office and at home), you can surf over to ESPN360.com. And what you will find is that you can watch live games that aren't on TV. And you can also watch replays of previous games!!!!

This is incredible. And the stream that is sometimes herky-jerky on live streaming stuff like this on the Internet, is actually pretty good.

Right now, I'm enjoying some morning Starbucks (Christmas blend) and watching a replay of last weekend's Ohio State loss to Illinois (normally I won't care to watch, since I know the outcome... but I've heard several reports of poor officiating and several have asked me for my comment... so I thought I would watch and get an opinion so I can comment).

If you've got AT&T... go for it. It's great!!!

Jim

Crazy excuses...

So I've been doing youth ministry for a while now... close to 10 years. And in the midst of that time, I've done a lot of youth ministry events... CIY... amusement parks... camps... retreats... and in doing those events, I've done a lot of sign up sheets of students who are planning to attend. In the midst of those sign ups, I've heard some crazy excuses as to why people can't come or don't come to events.

We've been working on getting our student worship band up and running on the weekends. (It's been down for a couple of months.) And we've got a great guy working with a couple students... Clayton who plays guitar, bass guitar, and drums... and Tracy who sings.

We were getting ready for practice tonight, as everything Thursday night. And Tracy didn't show up. So, as typical, I gave her about 10 minutes just in case she was running late. When she didn't show, Alex gave her a call. But she didn't answer. A couple of minutes later, she called me back and told me that she wasn't going to be able to sing anymore because she was moving to Alaska.

Yeah... you read that correctly!!!

That definitely goes down in my book as one of the craziest excuses (true or not) that I have ever heard in youth ministry.

Moving to Alaska!!!

Jim

Apple Get a Mac Ad: Podium

A great one...

Jim

Check it out HERE.

Apple Get a Mac Ad: Boxer

Another great Mac ad...

Jim

Check it out here.

Apple Get a Mac Ad: PR Lady

Pretty great... Leopard that is...

Jim

Check it out HERE.

Apple Leopard!!!

I just got done with the update yesterday to Leopard!!!

It's awesome!!!

From an appearance standpoint, and I haven't gotten to all the little fun "new" things like Time Machine... it's stunning. I am looking forward to spending some time with the booklet learning about it's new features. But at this point, it's awesome!!!

Jim

the Fall Retreat was awesome!!!!

I'm just getting back in home after the fall retreat. Actually, I'm not at home tonight... we've got high school church tonight and one of my leaders is leading. So, it will be great. I can sit and relax.

But we had an incredible trip. The retreat was excellent. Things came together at the last minute to make it an incredible trip. The students had a blast. Ken Leslie, a PDYM friend from Michigan, came over and helped out with the worship and did an incredible job at the last minute.

I'm hoping to squeeze some photos out of some of my-digital-camera-crazy-students this week and post a couple. But it was a great weekend!!!

Jim

House slippers for capture the flag

Will deuerling decide to play capture the flag tonight in house
slippers tonight. Some thing new eveyday.

Fall Retreat this weekend!!!

The Fall Retreat is coming up this weekend. I am just getting ready to publish the booklets for the event. It should be lots of fun. Hopefully I'll be able to post a few pictures from this weekend and some thoughts... but I'm sure that they will be mobile posts as I don't know how much Internet I'll have access to out at the camp. (I think they have some WiFi, but I don't know where and how strong.)

But I'm really looking forward to it.

Jim

95%

I got my paper back for my worship class... I blogged about it in the process HERE and HERE.

I got a 95%!!!

Yay!!!

I'm going to edit it some and submit it to a journal contest in for the Stone-Campbell Journal. So, that should be interesting.

Yay!!!

Jim

My face is arriving in your inbox...

My face should be arriving in email inboxes all over the country today. In fact, it already showed up in my inbox.

I was asked by Simply Youth Ministry (Doug Fields/Saddleback) to put one of my articles that I wrote a while back in their monthly newsletter. If you don't normally get one, you can check it out online HERE. And the article is HERE.

The article was one that I wrote after a small group night (students) that I had with Jackie. In fact, the article was posted here on my blog. You can check it out in its original form HERE. I spruced it up a little bit for the publication in the newsletter. So, the form that you find here and the form that's in the email might be a little bit different.

Fun fun!!!

Jim

Small group

I walked in tonight to small group... And there was a student who has
been coming this year. She didnt know me and remarked that I was
'new'. Oh the joys of small groups...

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

Brrrr

35 degrees...
5:09 am...
Brrrr... I hate mornings...

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

Mobile blogging

I'm trying to figure out if I have this mobile blogging thing figured
out... Cause I need to blog more...

Jim Clark
Student Minister

Sent from my iPhone...

Total moron. Total off road idiot.

Wow...

Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjn1-FnmpKs

Trinity University 28 - Millsaps 24 End Zone Angle

This is a great video to remind you to never, ever give up... even when things look bad and you're going out of bounds... there's still hope.

Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7oF4ZDigjM

Go Buckeyes Go!!

The Buckeyes continue to roll on.

Thanks to the Big "GAG" Network, I had to watch the Ohio State vs. Wisconsin game on ESPN.com's Gamecast. Certainly not the best way to watch a game... but since it was the only thing that I had, that's what I went with.

But they roll on...
Next: Illinois!!!

Jim

Down with the Big Ten Network...

So...

I'm just going to come right out and say it... I hope that the Big Ten Network collapses on itself and folds. I discovered this yesterday and I've been silently (at least to you guys... not so to my wife) brooding over the fact that today...

#1 Ohio State is taking on #21 Wisconsin...

A huge game of two ranked teams. Plus, one is Ohio State. But where is the game... On the Big "Gag" Network (as I've been calling it lately). Which means that NO ONE will watch it... not even people in Columbus unless you have that network on your satellite, and the game is right down the road for those people in Columbus.

So here's one hoping that the Big "Gag" Network collapses...

Jim

Cat Talking

This just kinda made me chuckle...

Enjoy!

Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVzJj9Bio5g

Guitar Hero III - TODAY!!!

I got my first crack at Guitar Hero III today...

Jeff (one of my most excellent Sunday morning leaders) and I had about 2 hours of it this afternoon. It was an excellent time of connecting and hanging out... plus the rockin' out was awesome. There are several new features that I like on this one... including "Battle Mode" (you collect 'weapons (i.e. broken string, etc)' to use against your competition) and "Co-op Mode" (where two folks play through sets together rather than solo.

It's very cool. And it will definitely be a purchase. But as soon as school is done in December... lest I got on a 40 or 50 hour GHIII binge and not get any school work done.

But a very excellent play...

Jim

Gas prices are up...

Gas prices have really gone up around Chicago...

Earlier in the week, they were $2.75... today, I got gas for $31.59... Wow... That's a jump...

And yeah, I really did take this picture.



Jim

Ministry Fair Video

Here's a short little video that I put together for our ministry fair this weekend. I just thought I'd share.

Jim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZI-da5c9jM

Back to normal... sort of??

I'm back in the office today. And man, does it feel good!

I've been out a lot lately and not that I"m just an office jockey. But when I'm not here on a regular schedule I feel out of sorts. Last week, I had to handle some things in the church because our Senior Pastor was out of town. They were good... but time consuming and challenging. I have been working a paper for my worship class at Lincoln and was planning to work on it last week... but it got bumped because of the church business...

So, Monday I spent most of my day working on that. So... things have been hectic. But it's back to normal today... at least, as far as normal goes...

Jim

Apple iPod touch Ad: Touch

This commercial is great. A friend has one and loves it. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkUqqA23XNQ

Jim

Paper is done!!!

Whew...!!!

My 12 page research paper for "Biblical Worship for Today" in completed. Awesomeness!!!




Jim

Go Buckeyes!!!

I just got done watching my Ohio State Buckeyes roll the Penn State Nittany Lions...

It was a great game... for the Buckeyes... hehe... 37-17 (but it wasn't really that close... the Lions got a cheap last minute kick off return).

#1!!!!

And staying #1!!!

Jim

Google Searches Leading HERE...

I'm always amazed at what combinations of "Google Searches" lead people to my humble blog...

Here are some of the most recent:
-guitar hero 3 aspyr
-starbucks iphone
-starbucks song of the day
-guitar hero 3 mac
-how do I get iTunes on my iPhone
-starbucks "song of the day"
-24 season 7 commercial
- "Tunak Tunak Tun translation"
-iphone diet
-man vs wild fake
-spiderman recap
-guitar hero 3 for macintosh
-youth ministry iphone
-michigan stinks
-starbucks song of the day playlist
-man vs wild dvd

Interesting...
Looking at those who have googled and arrived at my blog, I listen to a lot of music, play a lot of video games, watch plenty of Discovery channel and hang out a lot at Starbucks...

Maybe it's more accurate than I thought...

;)

Jim

My cat Spot watching Meerkat Manor again...

My cat Spot caught up on her Meerkat Manor this weekend...

Meerkat Manor (Friday nights on Animal Planet at 7:30 pm) has made it into our weekly TV shows to watch...

Spot seems to approve.

Jim