I am not dead, I tweet occasionally, but finding time to write more than 140 characters lately has been a stretch. It's been about two weeks since ATF and I still haven't done a follow-up post, so I guess that is what this will be about. Just to summarize, ATF was great. Now driving in Baltimore was evil, but worth it. Speaking of "worth it." They must have a bug on my computer that lets them in on my sermon notes. Over the course of the … [Read more...]
May 20, 2010 by at 9:07 am 4 Comments Back from the undead #MyExperienceAs #YouthPastor via @Nick_theGeek
May 3, 2010 by at 6:56 pm 8 Comments Broken People Helping Broken People #MyExperienceAs #YouthPastor via @Nick_theGeek
Broken People Helping Broken People
I am a broken person. It might look like I have it together on the outside, but on the inside I'm totally broken. The thing is, I have a lot of people looking to me for the answers. It is tempting to try and put on a facade, to make it seem like I'm great. It would be nice if I had the answers, it would be nice if I could keep the juggling act going so that everyone would think I had the answers. I don't have it all together. I don't have … [Read more...]
April 21, 2010 by at 8:02 pm 4 Comments You Are Valuable #MyExperienceAs #YouthPastor via @Nick_theGeek
You Are Valuable
I am a person that internalizes everything. I'm always thinking, analyzing things. I pick up on a lot of things and build huge stories around them. Often this serves me well, but it also makes my full of doubt. I am constantly aware of others. I am picking up on their moods and how they look at me, talk around me, and act around me. I think these things through for a long time after the fact. Days later I am likely to be thinking through … [Read more...]
15 years later
Fifteen years ago today I was home sick with the chicken pox. I was 16, a junior in high school, and feeling much better. The previous week had been miserable. I had chicken pox EVERYWHERE. They were in my throat. I think they were in my stomach too. The itching wasn't even partly soothed by oatmeal and milk baths. I was allowed the scratch my head and I did violently. I hope I never lose my hair because I am certain it is horrible under … [Read more...]
April 18, 2010 by at 6:54 pm 4 Comments A real life story of depression #MyExperienceAs #YouthPastor via @Nick_theGeek
A real life story of depression
Last week I wrote about the prevalence of depression in the students I work with and know of and how I want to try something different to help them. I am asking advice as I go forward because I know that the answers are bigger than I can imagine. I received this email and have obtained permission to publish it hear anonymously. I have stripped a couple of pieces out to keep anonymity, and I think later this week I will share some personal … [Read more...]
April 15, 2010 by at 4:00 am 12 Comments What we all have in common but feel we bear alone #MyExperienceAs #YouthPastor via @Nick_theGeek
What we all have in common but feel we bear alone
We are continuing the series on "Am I Happy?" in youth and I was talking with one of my students after. She was telling me how in the schools they have groups for quitting smoking (which I've facilitated), drugs, alcohol, bullying and plenty of other things like that. What they don't have is a group for students who are suffering from depression. I know the schools offer services for this but I also know the counselors are overwhelmed and … [Read more...]
April 14, 2010 by at 4:00 am 9 Comments Life is Funny when you have kids #MyExperienceAs #Dad via @Nick_theGeek
Life is Funny when you have kids
I don't often participate in the "life is funny" carnival, (read I have never but really should), but I have to share this little story and while it was happening I kept thinking of the "life is funny" carnival. Most kids like to play house or school. Admittedly my kids often play this game. They tend to entertain themselves and listening in usually provides more than a few chuckles. They argue about who the mom is and who is going to marry … [Read more...]
April 13, 2010 by at 6:51 am 14 Comments Playing hooky with my kids #MyExperienceAs #Dad via @Nick_theGeek
Playing hooky with my kids
This past weekend I was blessed to be able to spend time with my wife without the kids. They stayed most of the weekend with some friends and the last several hours before we got home with my parents. We had a great time with the retreat but missed our kids. Today we decided to keep out kids home instead of sending them to school. We had a picnic at the park with them and then let them play for a couple of hours. My oldest is growing up … [Read more...]
April 12, 2010 by at 7:58 am 2 Comments Close Encounters of the Married Kind #MyExperienceAs #buildingastrongermarriage via @Nick_theGeek
Close Encounters of the Married Kind
Believe it or not this post is not exactly a red-warning sex post. It is actually about my last weekend and a marriage seminar I attended with my wife. We attended an Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter this past weekend. Now some people might suddenly assume that Mrs_theGeek and I have been having problems. Of course this is true but not in a significant sense of the word. We are married and we are human, this means we have different opinions … [Read more...]
April 8, 2010 by at 4:00 am Leave a Comment Went to church and a hockey game broke out #MyExperienceAs #amIhappy #fights via @Nick_theGeek
Went to church and a hockey game broke out
I know it's an old joke, but we had our first real fight at church tonight. It has come close more than once. A couple of weeks ago I had to break something up before it happened. Tonight I was brought in after the damage was done. One of my adult leaders was outside when it happened and got it broken up pretty quickly but it really ticked me off. I stayed calm with the boys, but I feel like it was the steely calm that I am prone to get which … [Read more...]
