BOWL PICKS 2010

My friend Wes asked me to make some bowl picks for a game he runs every year. Here are my picks I made in 20 seconds.

OUTBACK BOWL

Northwestern = 9

Auburn = 31

CAPITAL ONE BOWL

Penn State = 10

LSU = 39

GATOR BOWL

West Virginia = 13

Florida State =20

ROSE BOWL

Ohio State = 27

Oregon = 24

SUGAR BOWL

Cincinnati = 17

Florida = 45

ALAMO BOWL

Michigan State = 9

Texas Tech = 24

FIESTA BOWL

Boise State = 42

TCU = 35

ORANGE BOWL

Iowa = 28

Georgia Tech = 21

GMAC BOWL

Central Michigan = 34

Troy = 7

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Texas = 14

Alabama = 31

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GOALS FOR 2010

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a nerd. I love typing up things and making spreadsheets.  Every year since we have been married Kristin and I go out on New Year’s Eve and talk about our 1, 5, and 10 year goals.  Last year we started doing a similar exercise on our staff by listing our short-term goals and how we plan to accomplish them, as well as our dreams and how e plan to accomplish them.  As I do every year at this time I thought I would give you a glimpse into my goals for the year so you can hold me accountable.

The Categories are Family, Health, Ministry, Spiritual.

SHORT-RANGE GOALS

1. Find balance in 2 kids 2. Seriously look at adoption 3. Use Vacation Days 4. Start Canaan’s/ invest in Malachi’s college fund 5. Have a weekly family night 6. Have a weekly date night 7. Take a vacation with Kristin only 8. Re-do kitchen, dining room, sitting room-floor, cabinets, etc.

1. Weigh 190 lbs. 2. 34 inch waistline

1. HSM Numbers o 200 students Wednesday worship o 15 grace groups-150 growing o 100 students serving o 20 salvations a year o 50 adults on staff o 3 students enter full-time ministry 2. Expand HSM staff management levels 3. Lead by equipping and empowering leaders. 4. Start college ministry-service that leads to grace group in summer. 5. Lead Worship as part of transition to change our culture. 6. Expand role in church at large for decisions, programming, leading 7. Attend a leadership ministry conference.

1. Journal-Prayer requests, answers to prayer, struggles, venting, praises 2. Read the NT by June 3. Spiritual days away 4. Read Biblical books 5. Find a mentor 6. Mentor 2 high school guys

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SHORT-RANGE GOALS

1. Find balance in 2 kids 2. Seriously look at adoption 3. Use Vacation Days 4. Start Canaan’s/ invest in Malachi’s college fund 5. Have a weekly family night 6. Have a weekly date night 7. Take a vacation with Kristin only 8. Re-do kitchen, dining room, sitting room-floor, cabinets, etc.

1. Weigh 190 lbs. 2. 35-36 inch waistline

1. HSM Numbers o 200 students Wednesday worship o 15 grace groups-150 growing o 100 students serving o 20 salvations a year o 50 adults on staff o 3 students enter full-time ministry 2. Expand HSM staff management levels 3. Lead by equipping and empowering leaders. 4. Start college ministry-service that leads to grace group in summer. 5. Lead Worship as part of transition to change our culture. 6. Expand role in church at large for decisions, programming, leading 7. Attend a leadership ministry conference.

1. Journal-Prayer requests, answers to prayer, struggles, venting, praises 2. Read the NT by June 3. Spiritual days away 4. Read Biblical books 5. Find a mentor 6. Mentor 2 high school guys

I WANT TO BE A CHEERLEADER

I am not alone in this, but I love Francis Chan. His first book Crazy Love rocked me so I picked up his second one Forgotten God.  There were tons of things I could unpack or quote from there but here is a paraphrase of one that I ended having two conversations about today…

Francis mentioned that there are always those who talk people from down from radical faith and radical commitments…

“Oh you want to go into missions, well why don’t you get a business degree and than you will have something to fall back on.”

“You don’t need to move to Africa, you can support orphans by just sending them money”

I am not saying everyone has to be a pastor or full time missionary those are extreme examples, but unfortunately I see parents, friends, and people in churches all the time talking people out of following what God has put in their heart.

“You can’t do that summer ministry trip and play in the state soccer cup.”

“Living for Jesus is important, but it isn’t practical to share your faith everyday”

Francis asked where are the people who cheer on radical commitments?  Who are the ones who celebrate radical action?

I want to be one of those people.

“Yeah you will miss soccer practices, but experiencing God on this ministry opportunity will be worth it.”

I want to help people follow their heart for adoption. I want to celebrate people selling their house to move into a bad part of town. I want to celebrate people following the heart of God and not the heart of the world. I want to be a cheerleader of radical faith.

EDIT: I had some conversations about this post that got me thinking…

I don’t want this to be misinterpreted that I am for revolting against parents. I believe they are in students lives by God’s design and therefore have authority in their lives. If you are living at your Mom and Dad’s house, or on their insurance, or driving a car that they pay for or insure, or gas up, than you need to play by their rules.  If they say go to college, you do it. If you don’t want to, than as an adult you are now out on your own and free to follow God while paying for your own life:) But seriously, make sure you approach all avenues with wisdom and pray through decisions while listening to those God has placed in your life.

THE MERRY-GO-ROUND OF IMPROVEMENT

In college I was given a list of the 6 elements of a healthy student ministry.  I am a list guy so I loved it and still do.  Here is the list…

1. Atmosphere of love
2. Healthy group image
3. Effective prayer base
4. Positive contact/relationships outside of the church walls
5. Proper understanding excitement of Jesus Christ
6. Clear communication into the Word

This list is a progression that builds upon itself. Four years ago I thought I could check these things off of my ministry to-do list one by one as a culture was built and move onto the next mountain. What I didn’t realize was that I was running on a track and I would come back around to the same obstacles.

Once you build an atmosphere of love or an effective prayer base your group will grow or change (graduate) and you will face it again. You will create a culture and hopefully generations will build into the next, but you will still have to address problems whether it is a tweak or a rebuild.

Even though you are able to communicate the Word clearly to a group of 35, it doesn’t mean that 100 people will be as engaged by your stories and style.  We multiplied some small groups last year, only to realize that is staring us in the face again in a new way.

In ministry you will have new challenges that catch you off guard and stretch you, but more times than not it will be the same bully you battled before with a new haircut.