Archives for July 2009

RIVER DAY in pics….

We hung out at our campsite and never left the campgrounds all day.  We got up, ate breakfast, and then were lazy style relaxing by the river in the morning right next to our camp.  I regret to say I did not buy a fishing license or bring my pole… so I sat and sipped on some java while toying with my camera all morning.

 

 

After they survived, we had a fun afternoon on a lazy hot day next to a very COLD river.  The numbness went away after a while 🙂  Regardless, everyone dove right in and becky and billy got their first ride on Daddy’s kayak. 

 

Day 2 was simple enough.

We took the free shuttle bus to the Marioposa Grove of Giant Redwoods for a day hike, grabbed some ice cream, and then took a nice nap before dinner.

If you ask me why I go camping, one reason I will tell you is “trees”. Yes, trees. I enjoy San Diego and it’s a fun place to live, but if God calls me to Tahoe one day…. I wouldn’t complain. I SOOOOOOO MISS THE TREES. I love the smell. I love the sound of the wind rushing through them. I love birds chilling in them. I love the trees. I love the mountains, I love the streams, I love the trees in them.

So we went on a 4ish mile hike to go see some of the biggest ones on the planet. (click on the pics and they’ll get larger if you wanna closer view)

only to be slightly surpassed by french press java and napping in my hammock by the river a mere 10 feet off the river.

For the next 7 days, I’ll post a one day re-cap of our camping trip to Yosemite each day.

For the record, here’s the trip by the numbers:

• 1 truck, dog, hammock, and kayak.
• 2 number of kids who had the first ever camping trip
• 3 tents
• 4 hikes and different river locations where the kayak went floating
• 5 1/2 waterfalls
• 6 blocks of ice
• 7 people, suitcases, sleeping bags, and bikes.
• 8 days gone
• 16 gb worth of photos shot
• 17 miles on foot
• 28 ice cream cones
• 1046 miles via truck

We drove from San Diego to Wawona Campground in Wawona, CA within the bounds of Yosemite National Park, about 40 minutes south of the valley floor.

We left at 4:45am and arrived about 2:30pm to what was a beautiful riverside camp location along the south fork of the Merced River. Shannon and I have been to Yosemite several times in high school with our youth group or families and then we went once on an anniversary day trip, but this was the first time for TJ, Ty, and Jake. It was also Becky and Billy’s first ever camping trip and our whole tribe’s first time in this campground.

We had to explain to Becky and Billy that camping was in a “cloth house” and that we’d be coming “home” again as this was their first and longest trip away from our house since arriving nearly 6 months ago. They had so much fun and learned to enjoy the river, go for walks, see waterfalls, check out the giant redwoods, eat smores, and enjoy the great outdoors.

So here’s the first day in some pics:

Riding with 3 six year-olds across the middle and the two big kids piled through the window in the “cage” as it has been dubbed.

Arriving at our campsite with all our gear still intact thanks to the miracle of my Ford F350, Yakima racks, and bungee cords.

Here’s the teaser for the latest article I wrote that hit the web this week:

Everyone in youth ministry knows the pressures of feeling like you have too much to do and not enough time to do it. So with that in mind I’ll get right to it.

You need help. I need help. Money is scarce and volunteers are our only option.

But if we’re honest, that can either be a great solution or a really tough one, leaving some to just “do it themselves” rather than work with a volunteer. It’s rough because if this is done wrong, you end up more burnt out and your volunteers end up feeling “used and abused.” But the great side is that when done right and everyone feels “empowered and encouraged,” including you the leader.

I’ve found that the key to a great volunteer experience is giving them a chance to serve in an environment that fits their style. So I break down the ways I ask for help into the following four (unspoken) categories.  I hope they help you like they’ve helped me.

Hit up the rest of it here if ya want to read it.  If you’re one of our volunteers, regardless of your role or style, you rock!!  I couldn’t do 10% of what I did without any of you.  

If you’re a youth pastor and like me, you suckola at all things music. 

Well, then you might enjoy my latest article on Simply Youth Ministry that just hit the web.

Here’s a teaser:   

I have a confession: I’m a youth a pastor who’s a musical idiot. I like music. I’m just horrible at all of it. I can’t sing a note. I don’t know jack about youth culture music. I stink at name that tune. I can’t tell you any cool new up-and-coming bands. My iTunes play list is so uncool kids constantly unplug it and insert their own iPod instead during youth group. I can’t play the guitar. I tried once, and even got a guitar and a case. I took a lesson, and then at a youth group event my guitar was stolen. I decided it was a sign from God.

But this generates a huge problem. So much of my own teen years—and the teen years of my students—revolve around music. As a result, we use music a lot in our planning, messages, and as illustrations. Sure we do “worship music” and yes, it’s an all-student-led band because remember, I’m horrible at it. But what about the rest? How do I use current music in my ministry and compensate for my weakness if I can’t delegate the whole task away?

Here are some notes from a bona fide cheater:

You can read the rest here.