I desire to dance like this man...

Camp we're going to in June..

Hype Type from Student Life on Vimeo.

What I'm listening to today...

Nerds vs. Geeks

Sam Roberts is possibly the coolest 7th grade kid in the world.  He had some great insight for me today.  Here's how it went...

Sam: I'm a geek (out of nowhere)

Joel: Come on Sam, you're not a geek, you're awesome man!

Sam: I think you're thinking I said I'm a nerd.  I said I'm a geek.

Joel: There's a difference between nerds and geeks?

Sam: Of course.  Nerds are really smart but have no purpose in life. Geeks are really smart but have purpose in life.

Joel:  Never heard it that way before.....

Sam: Ya. Nerds are so smart that they have no idea why they're smart and they waste there life.  I'm a geek.  I'm smart and I've got purpose (meaning Jesus) and I'm cool with that.

There you have it.  Geeks are different that nerds.  In the words of young Sam, "Aspire to be a geek and live with purpose!"

Jelly Filled Doughnuts and Youth Ministry

I couldn't believe it yesterday.  I had the perfect game in mind for our opening Boys vs Girls challenge.. Tie a bunch of jelly filled donuts on a string and have people of the same height compete to see who could scarf it down the fastest without using hands.  Perfect.  Not to mention all the jelly that would be all over their faces.  The crowd would love the visual and grossness is always huge on the fun factor meter in junior high.  So I set out yesterday afternoon to pick up 4 jelly filled donuts.  Not too hard right?  WRONG!  I spent an hour and a half (intensley spiritual I might add) lookng for jelly filled donuts in Ames.  First Super Wal-Mart, then Dutch Oven Bakery...Casey's, Bread outlet store? Nope .  Let's try Hy-Vee.  You're sold out of jelly filled doughnuts?  Anything with ooozy stuff in it? Nope Sorry.  At this point I'm wondering if I'm being persistent or stupid for spending 1.5 hours looking for jelly filled doughnuts???  I would say stupid.  What difference is this making in God's Kingdom?  What the heck, one last try at Kum & Go on the way back to Cornerstone.  Strike 6!

I love junior high ministry.  Who else gets to fail at finding jelly filled doughnuts for work? 

Oh and don't worry.  I found a new game.  Who can get the most clothespins on their face in 2 minutes?  It was painful....

Frozen Grapes

I know it's freezing outside but if you've never tried frozen grapes you are missing out my friend.  Go ahead.  Go to your fridge, throw some grapes in a cup and put them in your freezer for a few hours.  Let me know what you think!

Day 134 - Happy New Year!

Psalm 134...

 1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD 
       who minister by night in the house of the LORD

 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary 
       and praise the LORD.

 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, 
       bless you from Zion.

What a Psalm to start the New Year.  I hope there is much blessing in 2009 in my life and in Sarah's.  Genesis 12:3 says we are blessed to be a blessing.  Starting off this year, I have a new years resolution - think of others more than myself.  Often I'm caught up in my relationship with God, my house, my life, my fiance, my bible reading, my prayer life, my facebook page, my car.  Nothing wrong with keeping these is check but Philippians 2 says that we should have the attititude of Christ and consider others more than ourselves.  I want to do this practically this year in big ways and small.  Not running the coffee grinder next to my roomates door early in the morning, opening doors for people, carving chunks of time throughout the week where I am serving someone, being quick to listen and slow to speak, stick around for the answer when I ask people how they are doing, having conversations out of my comfort zone, gloryfying Christ in preaching, shoveling my neighbors driveway, picking up the bill for people, loving Sarah creatively, and on and on.  It's going to be a great year.  Say it!

137 days until marriage

Psalm 137:4 - How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?

Not sure what to write about through this Psalm but verse 4 makes me think of praising God when all is NOT going according to plan.  Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."  Constantly considering the sovereignty of God when things are going really well (like now for me) will hopefully serve as a great discipline when life gets stormy. I pray that when God sovereignly takes me out of my comfort zone, I can look to Him and His plans, trusting He knows what's up.  His promises have never failed, His truth is eternally solid, and the hope Jesus gives is fire proof.  Say it.

As an aside, Sarah and I were at our favorite restaurant last night, The Cafe, and someone picked up our bill.  What a sweet blessing that was!  I might do that the next time I hit up McDonalds!

Worst Best Man Ever....

How did I skip to day 138?

I know.  Weak right.  What can I say.  Sarah and I both get grace because it's Holiday season and we're all in misery (National Lampoons Christmas Vacation quote :-).

Seriously, I've missed blogging about some great Psalms so I'll choose some of my faves from the past 7 days off.  How bout a little top ten...

10. Psalm 144:3 - O Lord, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.

• Wow, I'm small in comparison to God.  My life is short.  It would be foolish to not make the most of every second (Eph. 5:15)

9. Psalm 143:10 - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

• I need you to lead me.  Teach me to do YOUR will.  I want to lead you a lot.  Show me how to love like you and go where you go, not the other way around.  

8. Psalm 143:11 - For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

• I love David.  He is always looking for God to be made great through every circumstance of life.  I want that passion, that zeal, in all things, to truly reflect it all to God.

7. Psalm 143:5 - I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

• It's always motivating for me to remember where I was and where GOD has brought me.  Pondering the day He saved me, how His Spirit has changed me, how my life has purpose now, and how my future is secured motivates me to actively love Him and others.

6. Psalm 142:1-2 - I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.  I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.

• David is extremely honest with God. Throughout Psalms, David gives God his real complaints, reactions, questions, and joys.  Am I that honest with God or with other people 1st?  God wants it all.  A real relationship where we can share everything and be brutely honest with Him!

5. Psalm 141:8 - But my eyes are fixed on you, O sovereign LORD

• David was experiencing some intense trials and hard times in life.  It's easiest to chuck God and depend on our own understanding and emotions in these times.  Fixing our eyes on God in hard times lets the world's troubles fade knowing that He is sovereign and has complete control.

4. Psalm 140: 10 - Let burning coals fall upon them; may they be thrown into the fire.

• Holy cow.  David holds nothing back.

3. Psalm 139:22-24 - I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me...

• God to David, "Lets start with Psalm 139:22".  Again, David is honest with God and lets Him know exactly how he feels.

2. Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

• Do you ever have those moments when you think to yourself, "Wow.  I am the only (your name) in the world.  No one is like me.  I am unique.  God made me different than everybody else.  Say it.

1. Psalm 138: 6 - Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

• Jesus said blessed are the meek.  Psalms say God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.  I'm glad God doesn't run a country club or want our churches to be showcases for saints.  He runs the public course and wants our churches to be hospitals for sinners!

145 - Next Generation

Psalm 145:3-7

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; 
       his greatness no one can fathom.

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, 
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works, 
and I will proclaim your great deeds.

They will celebrate your abundant goodness 
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

I have a passion for the next generation.  Being a junior high pastor naturally focuses my attention and efforts on the next geneees.  Passing on "the power and awesome works" of God must be a top priority in the church.  Sadly, it's not.

Junior highers are known for getting the shaft in many churches.  They are the untouchables or the unreached people group that no one wants to go to.  Few people have fond memories of their junior high days and many can't handle to inconsistency of the age.  It's not glorious and it's definitely not easy.   Junior high ministry requires a lot of faith - a lot of seeds are spread but few fruit trees are visible.

They don't get the shaft at Cornerstone.  They get red carpet.  Over 35 adult volunteers are committed to ministering to this roller coaster age.  They are committed to telling and showing the next generation the greatness of God.  They spend time outside of our Wednesday and Sunday meeting times and invest heavily relationally. Time and time again I have to stop what I'm doing and actually pinch myself to see if there are really so many people passionate about junior high ministry.  I'm very greatful to be in a church and leadership team that values the truth of Psalm 145 and passing on His greatness to the Next Generation!

Say it

146

From Psalm 146 

 1 Praise the LORD.
       Praise the LORD, O my soul.

 2 I will praise the LORD all my life; 
       I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

I love David's passion but I have to admit, I don't always feel like this.  I get lazy sometimes, I lose focus, I don't praise God all the time and all day.  That's why I'm glad he's commanding his soul to praise God in verse 1.  Things weren't going so well for David.  People were seeking to destroy and kill him yet he knew what would endure - a strong relationship with God that is centered on gloryfying him.  Not getting more for himself or forgetting about God.  Father, please help me to do this - when I don't feel like seeking you and praising you, help me to command my soul that it's worth it.  You're worth it!

Best of friends at a Notre Dame Game

The 1 4 7....

Some verses from Psalm 147...
He heals the brokenhearted 
       and binds up their wounds.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; 

       his understanding has no limit.

The LORD sustains the humble 
       but casts the wicked to the ground.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, 

      nor his delight in the legs of a man;

      the LORD delights in those who fear him,

      who put their hope in his unfailing love.

There is an amazing contrast in these verses.  Humble vs. Proud and man's strength vs. God's strength.  God heals those who admit their need, he sustains those who constantly need Him, and He delights in those who fear Him.  Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

God is always calling to me, "Joel, put your hope and strength in me.  Not you.  You can't do it.  But I can.  I delight in sustaining you.  Fear me.  Seek me.  For when you are weak, then you are strong.  Put down your pursuit of pride and pleasing others and get intimate with me, that's why I made you."

Say it

Stars

Psalm 148:3 - Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.

Sarah and I love to look at the stars.  It's probably one of our favorite things to do together outside of choreographing a dance while riding in the car to a random 80's classic.  Pondering God's greatness and talking about life seems natural on a clear crisp night where you can walk outside and see so many stars bigger than the earth we step foot on - which seems so huge itself.  It's like right clicking the mouse when you're on mapquest and seeing the picture of life from a way different prospective.  Colossians 3:1 says, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  It's so refreshing to zoom out, set our hearts on things above, revel about how great He is, and know that we will be with Him forever.  Looking at the stars makes me hungry for God.  It causes me to want more of His glory revealed.  The stars praise God.  They point to God.  They point me to a zoomed out life centered on Christ and His Kingdom.

Looking to the stars...