Weekends

I was reflecting on the past couple of days and realized it was one of the best weekends I have had in a while. Here is the run-down:

Friday: Got my car's windows tinted, got a bunch of errands done with Meg, attended the guest book at my good friends' (Chris and Brittany) wedding, at the wedding got to sit at a great table with some good college friends, went to Bill and Cassie's place after the wedding to chill.

Saturday: Had a nice lazy day cleaning up around the house, went to Bill and Cassie's again for a house warming party, saw a friend I haven't seen in like 3 years, got to meet some cool people.

Sunday: Sent off our 8th graders into high school, relived some fun memories with them, looked to the future with the rest of our congregation, heard about an inspiring meeting for our lifegroup leaders, spend 2 hours talking football with good friends, got excited about football, watched 2 episodes of Lost, watched the Steelers pound the Eagles in a pre-season game w/ the Savages.

As you can see it was busy, but I am walking into work refreshed and excited. Excited for an amazing labor day weekend, where I will picnic with co-workers, welcome new 7th and 5th graders into our ministries, hang out with family, and relax.

God, thank you for these wonderful days, friends, and loved ones you have put in my life!

Fantasy Draft

Here is an amazing picture of our fantasy league's draft board:
We expected it to take about 3 hours but it went much quicker (about 2). We had a blast jeering each other and commenting on other's picks. It was everyone's first Live draft except for one. And he said that it was the friendliest draft he has been a part of. Well here is my team:

QB1: Drew Brees
QB2: Brett Farve

RB1: Joe Addai
RB2: Cedric Benson
RB3: Chester Taylor
RB4: Dominic Rhodes

WR1: T.O.
WR2: Donte Stallworth
WR3: Vincent Jackson
WR4: Muhsin Muhammad

TE1: Todd Heap
TE2: Chris Baker

Def1: Chargers
Def2: Vikings

Kicker1: Jeff Wilkins
Kicker2: Rian Lindell

How was camp?

I love that this picture cannot even begin to describe the action that took place on the lake and beach last weekend. There were moments when every single boat was launched with 2 or 3 5th graders in it. There was another moment when there wasn't a place to stand while we waited to see which teams cardboard boat would survive the longest (a one point a team boat held all 200 lbs of me!)

I do have pictures of all these exciting thing but I wanted to use a picture that often isn't used to describe our weekend retreat. One challenge that Chad issued to these soon to be 6th graders was to take the things that they learned home. Not the retreat "high" that everyone leaves with. But to take home the understanding that we need our lives cleaned out of all the junk in our lives and the only person that can do that is Jesus. Then Jesus hands us back the key of our life to live like he wants us to. The best way to live our lives for Jesus is to "do something" rather than "do nothing." God gives us endless opportunities to do something that we have to choose to use.

That's why my prayer is that these students grab hold to the idea that Rock Mountain is just a camp. God was there and they knew it. We often sense God greater when we spend extended time focused on him. But God is also at their home and school and everywhere they go.

Thus the picture. It is only a beach. Nothing spectacular. We had fun. But we travel on our journey more when we make progress in everyday life.

Survivor Weekend

Megan and I leave tomorrow with about 80 other 5th graders and leaders to head 3 hours north to Gibson, PA for our first annual 5th grade camp. The camp runs from tomorrow at noon until Sunday 3 PM. It will be interesting because this will be the first time for some students that they are away from home for more than 1 night.

My car is literally loaded to the brim and I head out first thing in the morning. I pray that for some of our students that they connect with our youth community deeper and gain a better understanding of what it means to make the choices to change the world piece by piece...

Highlights on the other side...