This will be my only post the rest of this week.  Instead of posting here.  I am going to be going to other blogs and posting comments only this week.  It was spurred on by Tony Steward and our small group last night. So, for the 14 people that read this, stick with me.  I will post again I promise.

If you are in youth ministry odds are you have used You Tube videos before.  I think it is a good idea, but feel it takes away from creativity.  That's a whole other issue though. Here is the best thing for taking those videos off of You Tube.  I could explain it all here, but go to this site instead and get it.  click here.

People were drawn to him.  He always had a crowd gathered around him. Why was this? I think there were many reasons, but one I like was that he was a risk taker.  He wasn't normal.  He was so far outside the box for his day. As a leader of people we need to do things outside the box, many things.  We need to take risks. We are called to live like Jesus, but there is more to it than loving others, taking care of widows and loving God with everything we are.  If we are to truly live like Jesus we need to take risks and do things outside the box as well. I hope in your ministry you are taking risks and living a life that is outside the box because you are free in Christ. What are some risks you have taken?  Did they work?  If not, how did you correct it?  If you have never taken a risk or it has been a while, I challenge you to take a risk this week.  It will be worth it either way.

Do others around you see Christ through your actions or do they see you?  Think about it.

So, I bought Seth Godin's book Tribes on iTunes the other day for .95 cents.  He also has a website called Triiibes, but not everyone can get in.  I'm still waiting on my invite (wink).  It was definitely a great purchase.  I really want the actually book so I can go back to things and underline things, but this will work for now. It is so far an excellent read.  It is a great book on leadership and has me asking myself many questions about what it means to be a leader and how to be leader in this web 2.0 age.  It is good for any leader. UPDATE:  Just checked the iTunes store and the book is now $5.95.  Still a bargain

I was born in America, which already gives me an advantage.  Oklahoma to be exact. Growing up my family always had food on the table. We always had clothes on our backs and way too many in the closet. We were a 2 car family until my brother turned 16 and I turned 16.  Then, we became a 4 car family.  Really? My dad has been in the oil business as long as I can remember. Except for 2 years when I was around 10 and 11.  The oil boom was dead and my dad was out of a job.  He got into real estate for those 2 years and then back into the oil business.  Luckily for our family he made smart choices, and we had enough money to make it through that time he was out of a job. Here's the thing and why I write all this.  You see, I thought during those two years we were poor.  Now, for our standards we were.  I remember that Christmas I got Chinese Checkers and a sleeping bag and a few other very little toys.  I thought it was the worse Christmas ever.  How selfish and out of tune with the rest of the world could I have been.  Now, I was only 10 at the time and really did not understand it, but to this day I still get mad at myself when I think about it.  I look at the rest of the world and even parts of America and realize how blessed and wealthy we really were.  "God has already blessed us." - Rob Bell This last weekend we had an emphasis on our outreach programs at the church.  How, we as a church reach out to the poor and needy in Orange County.  "Yes there are poor and needy in the OC".-  @kylezimmerman This was another time I realized I have way more than I need.  So, this next week, my wife and I will be cleaning out our closets and we will be giving away a lot of stuff we don't use.  And being that I am a packrat there will be a lot of stuff that will be going to the trash and to the needy. I guess this is kind of an apology for not taking care of the poor and needy the way Jesus did or the way God asks us to.  My eyes have been opened a little more to the things that are important to God and the things that should be important to me as well. I guess, if you read this and you know me or even don't know me please don't hesitate to ask me what I need to give away.  I will keep you updated on the giving away of stuff that I don't need, but others desperately need.

Until recently I hated coffee, but something changed.  Either I grew up, maybe hit puberty, or my tastebuds are changing.  I am really enjoying drinking coffee with just a little half & half.  Still working on the whole chocolate thing though.  I can only eat chocolate if it is in a candy bar, not a main ingrediate.  Okay, take luck.

I have never been to a Catalyst Conference, but know what it is and what it is about.  I had so many friends go last week to the conference in Atlanta.  I Wish I could have been there. Luckily though, Catalyst will be in our backyard in April.  I cannot wait to be a part of it.  Mariners Church will be hosting Catalyst West Coast.  My wife works on the JH team at Mariners and I am a volunteer with JH and our Sunday Night Service. Please check out Catalyst West Coast, and if you are one of my friends please let me know if you will be making the trip out. Also, check out the brains behind Catalyst West Coast.  Ben Arment.  His blog is awesome, and from what I hear he is pretty great too.

Mine is my alma mater Oklahoma State University.  They kickoff against #3 Missouri in about an hour.  My brother who went to OU is not having a good day, nor are all the other Sooner die hards.  They lost to #5 Texas, 45-35. I hope my Cowboys can pull off the big upset tonight at Missouri.  We will see. So, who do you cheer for?

Reading the Bible for me has always been a chore, not something I have look forward to.  I would pick up my Bible and read a few verses at a time, but I never have sat down and studied scripture and looked at it for a long time.  I think some of this has to do with the fact that I went to a private Christian school from Pre-K through 12th grade.  I had Bible class everyday and chapel once a week.  The Bible was essentially spoon fed to me.  I thought because I was reading the Bible in class and having Bible class everyday that was enough.  Now, don't get me wrong.  Going to school there taught me a lot and definitely prepared me for life at a public university.  I am so thankful I went to a public university and not a private Christian one. I would not change that at all. Anyways, I have started reading the Bible again and I am loving it.  I can read stories I have heard 50 times, but I am finding new things and new ideas.  I can now say I love reading the Bible. Have you ever felt this?