Carson Day

One door closes...

2010-05-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

A door isn't actually closing, but a new blog is opening! I am in a different place than I was when I first started this blog...and I think that's a good thing. After a blogging hiatus, I have decided to start fresh. So if you still care, you can find my ramblings on life, student ministry, and me at...

www.carsonhalley.tumblr.com

Hope to see you there!

Taboo

2009-10-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Wave Student Ministry at Church by the Glades is wrapping up it's last week in the series Taboo. I have really enjoyed Taboo - we challenged students with the thought that nothing is taboo anymore, but there are things that definitely should be. Matt Boone started off the series with a bang talking about subjectivity and objectivity, discussing how God's word is objective, and the world is subjective. The rest of the weeks have followed the flow of "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil." I think the coolest part of the whole series has been that it really transformed. The original thought was to tackle taboo topics head on, but while brainstorming for a video idea, our video guy came up with the whole monkey closing his ears, eyes, and mouth, and we thought that maybe we should just start with that. There is definite value in tackling subjects head on, I think it is often neccessary, but at the same time, if you start with a solid foundation or purity of thoughts, words, and things your letting into your mind, the bigger topics are a little easier to handle. I have really loved the media for this series as well. It is definitely up there with one of my favorite graphics and bumpers.

This is the video bumper we play in between worship and teaching as a transition:

And this is a video we played before worship to kick off the night. We made one for each week, hearing, seeing, and speaking no evil.

Developing the Leaders Around You

2009-10-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

So - I have a confession, I'm not a good reader. Not like, I can't read well, I'm just not good at reading. I don't like it, I get bored, I loose interest, I don't make time for it. But things are changing. I'm making progress. I finished a book in a week! To be honest, I'm pretty sure that's only the second book I've actually finished. But I've turned over a new leaf, I'm reading on a regular basis now. So, I will continue to read, and then blog about my thoughts.

I have another confession...I forget to blog a lot too. So that book was about 3 weeks ago, I might have forgotten a thing or two, but I will do my best to track my thoughts, even though I have horrible memory on things like this, and I gave the book to a friend.

The book is called "Developing the Leaders Around You" by John Maxwell. I was given the book by a former boss/pastor/friend of mine when I first started interning at my old church, and never got into it, but I dug right in and fell in love the second time around. Maxwell takes the time to talk about the best ways to develop strong leaders, leaders who aren't afraid to take risks and initiative if it means the possibility of success. I want to be that kind of leader, and I want to be able to develop those kinds of leaders. A lot of the principles he discuss are basic leadership principles that most people know, but just need to be reminded of. I came away thinking a few things...

1 - Leadership is ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS - I know this seems really obvious, but I really felt challenged with this thought. So many times I find myself running around 'doing' and I never stop to find the time to invest. There are two times that the leaders within my ministry are always around: during our Wave service and during LifeGroups. I spend time outside of those times with a handful of them, but thats because they are my friends. But the others don't always come around in times other than the expected. So I realized that I need to make sure my job is as done as possible before the leaders show up so that I can stop and talk to them, see how life is, and see how I can help them be more successful.

2 - You can't hold your leaders back out of fear - I have insecurities. There, I said it, it's out there! I like to be good, no, amazing at everything. I am intimidated by people who are better at things than me. I want to be the most successful I can be. After a couple months at the church I am serving at now, they brought back an intern that I had heard about nonstop. I was a little scared, they liked him...a lot. They raved about his photoshop skills, and teaching skills, and relational skills, and so on and so on and so on. I was scared. I didn't want him to be liked more than me. I didn't want him to be better than me. I wanted to be the top dog. After all that is said, I realize how out of control and prideful that all is. So many times, we can be afraid that if we develop our leaders too well, they might make us look bad, or pass us by in the ladder. That is ok! Actually, that is great! It reflects well on you, and why would you want to hold someone back from reaching their fullest potential? Why would you want to hold someone back from helping your ministry's fullest potential? That's just silly!

3 - Developing strong leaders is NOT managing - There is a big difference between a manager and a leader. A manager is task oriented, a leader is goal oriented. A manager cares about numbers, a leader cares about people. A manager leads people who need to get a job done, a leader leads people who want to see something cool happen. So many times as a leader, you can start to get caught up in what is going on and just manage the people around you, but completely forget to invest in them, play to their strengths, or bring out the best in them. As leaders, we need to find people's niches, encourage them, pour into their lives, and create an environment where that happens, all while seeing results come into fruition.

This book was a great read, and a great reminder as to how to do ministry with people, because that's all it is....God's people doing God's work!

What's Happening!

2009-09-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, the team and I were sitting around trying to solve the problem of announcements. You see, we try to create a very exciting energy-filled environment during our student services. The problem is, they tend to hold onto that energy when someone is on stage and just talking. But we noticed that they paid attention to videos....I'm not exactly sure why, but we decided to take advantage. So, we put our heads together and thought of a announcements/weekend update type video featuring TC (the intern) and yours truly. We have definitely learned what students respond to, what makes them laugh, and what grabs their attention. Here is our very first video:

We then decided to mix it up one week and have Travis, a student pastor, and Adam, a summer intern impersonate TC and I. It was very funny...but we learned it was funnier to us and the leaders who knew us well than it was to our students, and if you were a first timer, you had no clue what was going on!

This was last weeks:

We are constantly trying to get better, learning from the crowds response, and trying our best to keep it simple, sometimes that's all it takes. We have had moments of 'pop culture updates' and 'guest stars' and reoccurring characters, and there is a time and place for all of them, but usually they are the best when TC and I are just being ourselves. It has been a really fun project that TC and I have had the opportunity to own and develop on our own...now we just need to find a way to take it to the next level....or even replace ourselves...just a thought.

Save the Humans

2009-09-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

We launched our brand new series to kick off the school year Wednesday night and it was unbelievable! Save the Humans was the brain-child of our Student Pastor, Matt Boone, and the thought was that there are a million causes in the world: Save the Trees, Save the O-Zone, Save the Pandas - but as believers, the one cause we are called to carry out is to Save the Humans. That is what Jesus commanded us to do, so we are just continuing what Jesus did 2000 years ago through the lives of students!

For the start of the series, we really wanted it to be fun and interesting, an environment students would want to invite there friends to. We equipped students with materials to blanket the town with business cards and flyers, each leader had a "Save the Humans" tee shirt with a funny black/white pic of their faces on it, free pizza and soda was given to every student, we made custom spray painted shirts for students, the student with the most first time guests received $100 (a 6th grade from my LifeGroup won!...shut it down!), picket signs were made for leaders to carry around before service (the rain stopped this one, but the thought was good), an awesome video bumper featuring the downfalls of humanity was made by our awesome video guy, the band played Linkin Park's 'What I've Done' and killed it, we did our 'What's Happening' announcement video live from the center of the stage, and Pastor Matt brought the word strong! The night was filled with energy and excitement. Our leaders caught the vision and created a gust of excitement, and our students sucked it all in and were an explosion of energy. By the end of the night, the team was exhausted, but energized by all that had happened, and 38 students took a step towards the cross by accepting Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! That was only the first night of Save the Humans....I can't wait to see all that God has in store for the students of Coral Springs...next week we are making more custom shirts, giving away another $100, TC is bringing the Word, and were having free ice cream sundaes! I cannot wait!

A Huge Event - by a Huge God

2009-08-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

The event has come and gone, and I find myself reflecting. Three weeks ago from Friday, my church's student ministry hosted a high school girls conference called Love Movement. I had the pleasure, and honor, of being a part of the team to lead it up. God gave Summer Boone (amazing woman who loves God and students, and happens to be married to a super cool student pastor) the vision, and she gave me the charge. She put me in charge of it all - graphics, materials, curriculum, advertising, programming, decorations, leaders, and the list goes on. It was an amazing experience, and a HUGE undertaking. We invited over 300 churches in the local area, and prayed out butts off. At the end of the day, God reminded me (often) that it was His event, and He would do with it as He wished. When all was said and done, He made stuff happen, and in the meantime, I had to do my part to make sure everything went well. The day was flawless....I didn't do a thing that day but hang out with students and leaders. From this, I learned a couple things when it comes to running an outstanding event:

Plan, organize, and plan again! I knew that it would be a long day with a ton of little details, so for about a month, I walked through the day, and all that it would entail, and wrote down everything that had to be done, and set a date for all of the prep-work to be done by. I made sure that by the day came, there was no stone left unturned. I asked all the questions imaginable, and found the answers. I got to relax and watch the event run itself because I made sure to answer the questions and provide the supplies before there was even a need.
Drop the perfectionist attitude the second you wake up! The day of the actual event, I told myself 'what's done is done!' I even told my leaders and chaperones that I was done doing stuff in the early morning meeting. If something was missing, it would stay missing, if we missed a cue, too bad, if everything went wrong, I watched it happen. The thing is, while I strive for excellence in everything, from the smallest detail to the biggest ordeal, and I want everything to go well, if things don't go as I planned the day of the event, it is too late for me to fix it with excellence, and I'm probably the only person who notices. Freaking out does no good, especially to those you're leading, and being able to laugh at the things that go wrong will ease your day, and make it a lot more enjoyable for you, and those around you.
Enjoy the process! You know how they say people can hear your smile over the phone? I think it is the same way when planning an event. If you put love into it and enjoy the process, it shows. It shows when you enjoy doing the graphics and set up and stage decor stuff. It shows in the breakout sessions. It shows in your leaders, who get the vision, and want to carry it on. What a waste to put so much effort into something, and hate the process! And if you enjoy the process, it will show the day of. Being stressed and unhappy the actual event is like going to the party of an angry person - fun for no one!
Get out of the way! God made it very clear that He had His hand on this event. There was no doubt in my mind that He would do with it as He wished, and for me to try and control every little detail and do things just as I wanted would be moving God out of the drivers seat - and that's just dumb! By the time the event came, a lead speaker canceled, a key worship element pulled out, the weather did not cooperate, and only 3 of the 300 invited churches showed. But that was God's doing! If I tried to control that, things probably would have only gotten worse. God knows what He's doing, and when He provides a vision for something, it is our job to do all that we can, and let Him take care of the rest.

Love Movement did not go exactly as I dreamed, but it went exactly how God planned and was a spectacular day! Doing great events is very possible in the world of student ministry, as long as you understand who is in charge!!!

Lessons from interns

2009-06-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

The weirdest thing has been happening to me lately....I've been learning from people I feel I should be influencing. I just got back from middle school camp and while there I had the pleasure of getting to know two of our interns a little better. TC and Juan are two of the nicest and coolest guys I've ever met, and we all talked the whole way to and from camp, as well as spent a lot of time together at camp. They are interns, both younger than me, both with less experience, and both people I feel the need to influence. But everytime I hang out with them, I find myself learning from them. I am honored that God has put these guys in my life, and love the fact I continually learn from them. It makes me so excited to see God working in their lives, and am honored to be a part of it all!

venn diagrams of life

2009-06-12T12:58:00.001-07:00

...an interesting statement on how students view life compared to their parents. (I found it here.) I love students. I love how they are fearless. I love how excited they can become. I love how if you give them a hope, they really can change the world. I love it when they fall in love with Jesus. I love it when I can smell cigarettes in the bathroom during our student service. I love the look they have when you know their name. I love talking about sex, drugs, and rock and roll with students. I wish their parents did too. But I love that their parents love them.

...by the way, I'm supposed to be working on a school project thats due in 16 hours....I haven't cracked a book.

The "It List"

2009-06-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

Speaking to my friend Joycy today, we were discussing life as young single women, and the things that come along with it financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I am happy the way my life is now, and I love where I am at (excluding school). From this, we were discussing the fact that we both don't want to be dependent on a husband for financial support. If God decides to bless me with a man, that would be great. But if I am doing all that God has called me to do, like doing ministry for a living, while I know the financial implications that creates, I believe God will take care of me, as long as I am wise. So, with that thought, I will not settle for less. I will not settle for not having my own place, and I will not settle for less than my desires...unless of corse God's plans are bigger (and they always are!). I don't consider myself the materialistic type, but I will admit I appreciate quality in a couple things: make-up, cars, and home decor/furnishings/kitchen-ware. I have started a list, my "It List" of things I would love to fill my home one day, and I thought I would share them:

Thoughts below a palm tree

2009-06-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone has doubts, right? I mean, that's normal. Yesterday I had one of the greatest nights I've had in a while. After dinner (which was nice, but not a highlight), I drove down to Dania Beach, one of the nicest, quietest, more reserved beaches around town. I sat down below a palm tree. There wasn't a person in sight. It had rained all day, so no one dared bare the beach. So I sat, just me, the beach, and God. So I started thinking, and started talking. I felt compelled to chat it up, talk about my fears, my worries, my struggles. And with every sound of the waves breaking on the shore, I felt God's listening presence. I started talking about my doubts, not in Him, but in me. I have been used so much lately at one of the greatest churches I've ever experienced. The student pastor not only trusts me to be a part of something much bigger than me, but looks to me for advice. In jest, I have been labeled "The Boss" or the "Golden Child." I am honored every time my opinion is asked, but every once in a while I can't help but doubt myself. And wonder. I wonder if they only knew all about me, if they would want me to still be a part of something so great. If they knew my faults, my struggles, my downfalls.....would they still want me to be a part of it all. Sometimes I think that my faults will reflect the growth of the ministry. I sat spilling my guts to God last night, and then felt the need to shut up. God put me at my church for a reason. God blessed me with experiences and a heart for students for a reason. God gave me a voice within CBG's student ministry for a reason. I am grateful. I am overwhelmed by how much I am used. And mostly, I am humbled. But I will do my best, to give praise to Him who is my all, and to do justice to the calling He has put on my life. I love doing student ministry, and I couldn't imagine anything else. Sometimes I just need to get away, stare at the ocean, and realize that God knows what He's doing, especially when it's involving me!

Miracle Middle

2009-05-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

I'd never heard that phrase before today, but I've experienced it many times. It's that time after you choose to listen to what God has called you to do, but before the final product. That moment where you have no idea, or control of what is going to happen, and God has clearly taken over the reigns. I have been through this a hand full of times, an event is happening and God makes it bigger than you would think, but never on this level. I've been a part of big things, things that seemed like a good idea, or things that were an annual event that we just assumed God would bless. But this, this is not one of those things. This is something that God put on someones heart, and I was honored enough to be asked to be a part of it. There's this girls event right, just a one day conference for high schoolers that we're doing. It seemed simple, Summer (amazingly awesome pastor's wife/student leader/friend) felt God called her to do it, she cast a vision, I made a graphic, some promo material, and set a schedule. Nothing major.......then we let it go, sent the vision to the core girls ministry student leadership and we got a glimpse of what God is going to do.....I'm scared! In a 15 minute meeting, we had girls asking for more flyers to post around the community, girls coming up with ideas to make viral videos, and a whole slew of facebook comments talking about how the 'movement has started'. Then I realized, this was so much bigger than a one day event, and that was the goal. The vision is to start a movement, an action so big that it rocks the community with God's love, all through high school girls who are willing and loving. I realized that for one: this is going to be a bigger event with more girls than I expected; and for two: even if there are only 50 girls there, the after effects of the event are going to be out of control! God is so much bigger than this event, and is going to do so much bigger things than Summer or I could ever imagine. I am so humbled by the fact that God is using me, so excited by the fact that God has already begun to show Himself to be so HUGE in this undertaking, and so overwhelmed by the thought of the movement!

"We are the movement, and love is the mission" - Summer Boone

The Movement has begun!

2009-05-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

God rocks my socks....I don't know if I've mentioned that lately, but He never ceases to amaze me. Not even a year ago, I was introduced to an awesome student pastor at an awesome church. I told him I wanted to help however his ministry needed, I stuck around, and bugged him until he gave me something to do. Four months later, I was given the opportunity to lead a great event called D-now - it rocked. Four months after that, I have been given the opportunity to lead another great event - "Love Movement" - a one day high school girls conference in August. The event is the vision of Summer, the student pastor's wife, and for some reason, she asked me to be involved...I'm honored. We had a leader meeting tonight to cast some vision and get some people behind it. I learned so much from the few minutes I spent with these awesome women. These are my life lessons:

if you cast vision, people will bite - we spent 10 minutes explaining why we wanted to do this event. The leaders spent 20 minutes talking about how excited they were and how big of a deal it is.
if your reasoning behind something is legit, people will have your back - in order to keep things cohesive and flowing, Summer and I have chosen to plan out every part of the event, from the graphic to the session flow to the breakout curriculum. I was worried about the breakout speakers not wanting to not have full control, but since the reason made sense, the leaders understood and supported the idea.
with awesome leaders who get the vision, you don't need anything else - I have been apart of this team for less than a year, yet I stood in front of all these veterans as they sat and told me that they not only support me leading, but want to help me be successful by helping in any way possible. How cool is that?!
a little bit of encouragement goes a long way - I wasn't home for 10 minutes after tonights meeting before my phone was ringing. It was Summer, thanking me for my help in the whole event, and especially in tonights meeting. She asked me to help with the event, so I said I would, and that means every part that she wants me involved in. She doesn't need to thank me, she doesn't need to follow up with me and make sure I was ok with her participation in the meeting, and she doesn't need to call me that night (when I will see her tomorrow) just to encourage and thank me. But she did, and that will go a long way. It isn't necessary, but it is greatly appreciated, and will only encourage me to keep working.

At the end of the day, I can't help but notice how great the leaders are at The Wave. They will support anything the pastor says, and they love students. They get ministry, they get why it's important. They get why we do what we do. I don't know them all very well, but I definitely love them!

my gay bff

2009-05-16T14:55:00.000-07:00

my friend wanted me to straighten his hair, so I did. boys who straighten their hair are gay. but its ok. we still love him!

Thoughts from the "Day"

2009-05-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

....these are my thoughts...some random....some not:

I finished my first class at Trinity! I love the schedule and the way it all works...I finally found school that works for me!
my bestie might be moving back down here. I hope he does whatever is best for his future, but God is opening some awesome doors.
Pei Wei has a very filling (and cheap) kids meal, what more can a girl ask for?
I'm on the hunt for another job, I hate the whole process, and I'm not good at it at all....pray for me.
Is it weird that my legs are still peeling after getting a sun burn a month ago?
Some friends and I discovered this new card game "Monopoly Deal" - it sounds lame, but is AMAZING! You go through all of the emotions of Monopoly, but instead of 5 hours, it's 15 minutes.
I'm so sad that It was dumb!
I was told that I was "emotionally satisfied" and that might be a problem in my love life....I don't get it.....but I don't really care.
I love CBG! The church, and the student ministry, has let me be involved in many ways, and I am so blessed! The Wave rocks my socks!

Grow a pair!

2009-04-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

I found this on my friend Stacie's blog, and was so excited!!! I feel like I have had this conversation 20 times in my life. Perry Noble knows where it is at! And if you don't know why he wants to name his kid Boaz, look it up!

Beautiful_02- Single Guys Outtake from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

It's Here!

2009-03-26T13:45:00.001-07:00

One day in December seems so long ago, but also, so recent. I was sitting in the office of one of the coolest student pastors I know, Matt Boone, and he issued the challenge. The challenge was this: make disciple now happen! My immediate thought, "Awesome! This guy is trusting this crazy person he barely knows with a huge event in his student ministry! I want to make it the biggest, best, most amazing event CBG has ever seen!" My second thought, "What the crap is disciple now?" After my head shrunk from the thought that I was worthy of such a task, I learned that disciple now is a in-town retreat, that dates back to old school south baptist student ministry, but has its roots deep in one-on-one discipleship and conversations with students. I have no problem with old ideas, as long as they work, and I knew this one would work. So, I started doing some research, and putting some ideas on paper, both administrative and creative, I started to pray about it, and promote it. I went to people for guidance, gathered all that I could, and organized the crap out of a 2 day event.

So, right now, God has brought 120 students to sign up, and the adventure kicked off last night, and the fun begins tomorrow. Last night was a great night in student ministry. It began with a reading from Isaiah, followed by some sick worship, and little Louie Giglio clip, and our guest speaker brought down the fire!

Tomorrow night is when the real fun begins. It is 2 days of nonstop, God-centered, student seeking, freaking awesomeness! I can't wait for it all to go down, and to see how God rocks the area of Coral Springs!

**By now, my mind is fried, so please excuse the vocabulary, but I wanted to share my excitement with the cyber world!

Don't you twitterstand?!?!?!

2009-03-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

This is a little video I would like to post as a little shout out to my friends (who I no longer follow), @mattboone, @rclopez, & @ameliareve.

I recently stopped twittering, and I don't have anything against twitter, in fact I think it is great for networking and getting some great creative ideas, but if you don't do that, it is a little....well, I'll let the video speak for itself!

Thoughts from the "Day"

2009-03-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hmmm.....I know, I haven't blogged in forever, and I hate saying that, because I don't care! Yes, it is bad form for blogging, but that's just how I roll, haters! So, here are my thoughts from the couple of weeks:

I discovered a new mascara and it is even better than Diorshow Blackout, it's Yves Saint Laurent's Volume Effect Faux Cils, and it is FABULOUS!!!
If you cannot afford to leave a tip, do not go out to dinner! Did you know servers only make about $3 before tips? After taxes, that's practically nothing. That means if you don't tip, they don't get paid, so don't be cheap, Jesus doesn't like cheap.
There is no Nascar race today...I am sad.
Two of my closest friends are getting married on Friday, I am so excited for them, but not so excited for the dress and heals I have to wear in front of 200 people as a bridesmaid. They are a great match for each other, and pray that God will bless their marriage.
I got to build something (a small sign) for The Wave last week, and loved it! I have really spread my creative wings as a graphic designer, but nothing beats physically making something come to life. I didn't realize how much I missed it until I got to do it again.
Being stuck in this "in between" part of life for so long is wearing on me. I am over living under my parents thumb. They are fine, giving me space and freedom, but I just want to be on my own. My goal is to get a place on my own by the time I graduate, if not sooner!
If you have not seen Slumdog Millionaire or Gran Torino yet, you should, they are both great movies!
Needing off for 2 Fridays in a row (the wedding and d-now) might have gotten me fired, please pray for my job to want to keep me around, or for better oppurtunities to come around.
Disciple Now, an event I'm helping plan for CBG's student ministry is in two weeks, I am so excited to see what God has in store for the students of Coral Springs, I just hope I am able to make it the best it can be, and my leadership can stand up to the great team already established at my church.
I got a new hoody yesterday, it is so cute!

So long Twitter

2009-02-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

Well, if you follow me on twitter, you have probably learned that I erased my twitter. I am not anti-twitter, but for some reason, I just no longer had a desire to tweet any more, or read others tweets. While on a trip to Thomasville visiting family, I didn't want to twitter, and got annoyed every time I got a twitter (except for amy's). So, it's done. I have never been a big fan of technology and how impersonal it can be. From this, I am really starting to make a conscious effort to speak to my friend to see whats up, and I hope it will really keep strong relationships with the people I care about. So, so long twitter!

Journey

2009-01-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

I have been put in charge of an upcoming event at my church called "Journey" and I am so stoked! It is a Disciple Now experience, which I have never been a part of, but have learned that it is an old-school student ministry event that is an intense discipleship weekend. After a couple creative planning meetings, I put together a graphic and info/permission form, and I thought I would share them with you!

The forms go back to back, and are printed on 17" cardstock.

My Kabuki

2009-01-07T20:56:00.000-08:00

Wow, I didn't realize how dramatic life can be sometimes. It has been made clear that my job at Sushi Cafe is more of a form of entertainment for me than an actual job. Between people sleeping in the booths and creepy old hatian men who tell me what they do to a woman, I have had my fair share of laughs and "oh my" entertaining moments, but recently, this simple Japanese Cafe owned by Chinese men turned into a full on soap opera. On Christmas day, all of the waitresses took off their aprons and walked out (not me, I had the night off). The boss they walked out on was the second in command, and obviously fired them on the spot. So, for the 5 days after Christmas, I worked my butt off trying to keep things together, train 3 new girls, and still make some money. It turns out, the head waitress, who was the first to walk out, had permission from the head hancho to walk out, and they whole thing was basically a set up to get this one boss out. So, 6 days after the walk out, the man who was once boss/owner, that was walked out on, was walked out of the front door.

Here's the thing, I don't know who was right in the whole situation. Even if the girls thought they were justified in walking out, was it right? As a head boss, how bad does someone have to be to fire a owner/manager? Would you re-hire 5 waitresses who walked out on your business once? Who says they won't do it again? I really don't know what I would do as a leader in this situation, but I do know, as someone under the leadership who basically was molded by a head waitress, set up his business partner for failure, and then rehired people who walked out on his business, I have lost a little bit of respect for him. In church leadership, what would happen if a head pastor set up his student pastor to fail, after being influenced by a volunteer? It would fall apart. Both the pastor and student pastor would loose all respect and the volunteer would be left with a feeling of pride. Things would be wrong on all levels. Thankfully, at least to my knowledge, my pastor has a little more wisdom than that.

Facing my fears

2008-12-29T20:54:00.000-08:00

For the past couple months, I've had this fear. It hasn't been life-crippling, or even on the forefront of my mind, but still a fear. You see, since July, I have said that I was very happy with all that has happened, and I am. I have said that I care about the people that I served with for a very short time, and I do. I said that I was not angry, hurt, or upset by the situation, or the person, and I haven't been. I've said a lot, and I meant it all, I believed it all. I know all that has happened is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. But there was this underlying fear, what if it was all empty talk? What if I was saying those things because I knew it was the right thing to do? If I knew I needed to be the bigger person? Well, I always knew that the day I saw the person who let me go from my "dream job" would be the day I would have to face the fear in the face. It happened. I was at dinner with some friends at the Ale House, and saw Miller (a campus pastor, and former student pastor). When walking out, straight in front of me sat my fear: that guy, his wife, Miller, and his wife, and it was do or die, I couldn't ignore them, and I refused to make it awkward. So, I walked up, said hi to everyone, made some small talk, wished everyone a Merry Christmas, and made my way out. It was over, I faced it, and was fine, I was great, I was genuine about all I said at the restaurant to those people, and I hope they knew that. I had always said I was fine, and there were no hard feelings, but now I know that those are not just things I've said, but things that are truth. God has shown me a path throughout all that has gone on, shown Himself larger than I ever expected or desired, and given me peace and grace. I am so grateful for all he has done, and all that He is!

His Mercy shows me how to dance!

2008-12-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

You know, almost every time something bad happens, or I have to go through a rough time, I always tell myself, if I make it through with integrity, blessings will come. I believe that to be true. I always have, even to the point that I share that "wisdom" with others. And while I believe that, I never really thought it would happen to me. I am by far the least deserving of blessings and grace, but for some reason lately, God is smiling over me. Good things have happened that I didn't expect, or even when I expected all hell to break loose, good things have happened. My parents have seen me as an adult and been understanding through my education issues, I have received countless free things, from coffee to french presses, enough money to get my friends great gifts, new friends, great opportunities in ministry, and so much many little things that just make your day a little brighter. I don't quite know why this is happening, I definitely don't deserve it, maybe God is blessing me because I have stayed faithful, but does He do that? I don't know....I think that maybe, He is just that good. He knows when someone needs a little encouragement and proof of His love. And that's all that this is, His love. I am so grateful for all that God has given me, and all of His blessings. Mainly, because I love feeling his presence. There have always been moments in my life where I felt God's presence. This is one of them. And that is a blessing in and of itself. I hope that you are able to feel God, not only in this season, but past that, because it is so good!

A little explanation

2008-12-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noticed by my infrequent blogging, and weird moods lately (that is, if you know me), a lot has been going on in my world lately. Well...I say a lot, but looking back, it hasn't been as much as I made it out to be. For two weeks straight, my mind was filled to the brim with tornadoes of worry, frenzies of guilt, and thunderstorms of anxiety (not sure why I think I'm Al Roker today), but the storms have passed. Kind of. Things have come, and I have handled them, and now comes the rebuild time. "What things?" you may ask. The first was my mom's health, and that is done and over now, thank God. Then was school. It is all taken care of now (for the most part). I discussed everything with my parents, and I have decided to go to Trinity to pursue a degree in Christian Ministry, which is what I have always wanted and never did, for various reasons. Now all I need is a formal acceptance and I am good to go. As far as all of those other weather related items going on in my head, looking back at the problems, they were so minute, and I just freaked. The smallest things through me into a tizzy. But I'm cool now, and under control...or so I think.

the morning after

2008-12-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

I've always considered myself a pretty private person, or at least have tried to be one. To me, there is no need to share my emotions and self-promoted drama with others. Yet, my last two blogs have been written under the influence of tears and heartache. I have to admit, I am a little (a large little) embarrassed by my recent openness...or blatant disregard for my desire to be private. But, I suppose it is a good thing...right? I mean, when I started a blog, it was for me, to share my thoughts and experiences, mostly aimed towards ministry related items, but right now, while ministry is my passion, it isn't at the forefront of my life. But life is, pain, consequences, unwise choices, curve balls, that is at the forefront of my life. So, I write about it. Maybe to help myself, hopefully to help others....but I'll try to keep the tear filled writing to a minimum from now on.

My self destruction

2008-12-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

So, my last blog post was embarrassingly honest. Yet, my head is still spinning. Not with the troubles in my world, but with the aftermath. To, be honest, I'm not really relieved. I had made a giant mistake over the past couple of years, and it finally caught up to me in one enormous explosion of me sucking. Now, I have to face the realities of my mistakes, and I'm less worried with the effect it has on me and my future and more worried about the effect it has on my relationship with my folks. You see, one of my major worries (last post) was concerning my mom's health, and the other was my educational future. Well, after freaking out about my mom's health, everything turned out ok, but during the waiting time, I freaked. I had already imagined my life without her, and couldn't bare the thought. Now, I have really learned to appreciated her and all that she is in my world, despite how little time we are able to spend with each other. This brings me to my second worry, school. This is the one I screwed up, and there aren't any test results or phone calls that are going to make it go away. It is a fact, and a harsh one that I had to break to my folks (just my mom so far). As prementioned, this is where things get painful for me, the effect my scholastic mistake will have on my finally normal relationship with my folks. With a steady peace at home and a new-found appreciation for my mom, I just through a ginormous lead monkey wrench into everything. It pains me to know that I have let my folks down. It pains me to know that they have to worry even more about my future because of my mistakes. It pains me to know that they feel like I don't listen to them, despite their constant warnings for the mistakes they saw me making. I have very few regrets in life. Honestly, I can hardly think of any regrets, other than a bad haircut of Christmas sweater. I subscribe to the thought that if you learn from something, there is no need to regret it. But, even if I did learn something from the mistake I have made, I regret it. I now can look back at all that they have shared with me and see the truth punching me in the face, and wish I would face it and learn to learn from it. My prayer is that things will be back to normal with my parents soon. I love them so much, and wish I could take back all of the pain I have caused them. I don't really know what else to say, or how to end this, in fact, I can barely see the screen through the tears gushing out of my eyes, but I just hope I learn from this, and like they say, if it doesn't kill ya, it will make you stronger.....I just took emotional steroids.

My head, the Gravitron

2008-11-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, my dad used to ask me what I was thinking, and my response was always, "nothin'!" It was the truth, and really has been the truth for my whole life. I'm not a deep thinker, I'm not much of a thinker at all. Not to say that I am dumb, insipid, or shallow, but I am who I am, and that is a person who isn't very deep. Don't get me wrong, I think things through, my creative mind is always going. But in those quiet moments of life, while just hanging out, there wasn't a lot consuming my thoughts. There was always a little bit of joy in my thoughtless mind, I had a carefree attitude that made me smile. I don't know, maybe I was shallow or dumb, I just didn't think of things often. That was until recently. In the past couple of weeks, my mind hasn't shut up! My mind has been overwhelmed with worries, anxieties, thoughts, and just plain crap. I hate it! I don't know how to make it stop. I remember one day, late last week, while driving home, I came to a stop sign and had to sit there for a good minute, I had to talk my mind down just to be able to focus on the road. I have been in my head constantly, and it is starting to show. I suppose I am starting to understand why some old people are so grumpy, they never leave their head, and the things going wrong, or having the potential to go wrong in their world, stay put in front of them, and they let it influence the moment they are in. I have let my head get in the way of my now. The funny part is, when people have asked me for advice in times like this, my response has always been, "give it to God"...and it's the right thing to do. I know it. I've said it a million times. ....I don't always know how to do it. I know how to give things to God when I know they will work out; when I know everything will be ok, life will go on, and all will be forgiven. But, when I don't know that, that is when things get difficult. I am praying, praying, praying, praying, for God to take my thoughts away, for me to let go and trust Him, for everything to be done according to His will and purpose....but my head is still spinning. I don't really know what else to do, so, I will pray. I don't know if these are things that most people think but are too afraid to say, or if I am all alone in my thoughts, and I don't really care. This is my journey, and it is honest.

Worshipping the worshipper

2008-11-05T10:28:00.001-08:00

So, I was reading a blog post recently about women thinking their pastor is sexy. I have actually heard this quite a few times. Maybe its the fancy jeans and metrosexual style, or the "man in authority" position, but some women seem to be jonesin' for some pastor. Personally, maybe because I am 22 and I don't go for guys who could be my dad*, I have not yet found myself attracted to a pastor. But, I have seen a trend in the females of my generation swooning over the guys in the worship band. I mean, every girl loves a rock star, and when they are Christian, it gets even better! So, for those chicks out there who have found themselves focusing on the face of the worship leader instead of the words to the praise song, or staring at the drummer going crazy instead of going crazy for God, here are my tips:

Close your eyes. Personally, when worshipping, if I know the words, I like to close my eyes, it helps me focus on what I'm there for. There are a couple benefits to this one, for one, you can't see your main squeeze. Secondly, if you are crazy and are convinced that this God-rocker has noticed you out of the crowd and is checkin' you out too, he will see you worshipping and "looking holy" with your eyes closed, and suddenly fall madly in love with you too!
Find a big guy, and sit behind him! As you walk into your worship center, find a big guy, tall and wide is best, and sit behind him. This way, when you stand to worship, you won't be able to see your little rocker crush. The problem with this is, if you are a crazy girl and think, "I know this guy is watching me worship and thinking how holy I look", he won't be able to see you.
Focus on the guy making "bass face"! There is nothing better than an average guy jammin' in the worship band as if he were in Poison. So find that guy, you know, the one making his face look like a Picasso painting, and stay focused. There is no way you will be able to be distracted by the hot acoustic player with the funniest thing in the world going on with the face of that other guy.
Realize, "your crazy" and get over it! Here's the deal, most of the girls I know who go crazy over band members don't know the guy, and if they do, it's on a minor level, he might know their name and their favorite band, but that's where it stops. So, there is no way these guys are picking them out of the worship crowd and lusting after them, so stop kusting after the worship guy. He doesn't like you, and if he did, you would probably know it. So stop drooling over him, and start drooling over God!

So, for those out there lusting over worship guys, stop! Jesus is so much cooler than them, and deserves the praise, not the guy with the bass guitar.

*this actually is not true, I am way into Dr. Drew Pinsky, Donald Miller, Daniel Craig, Anderson Cooper...you get the picture.

The Adams Family started....

2008-10-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

A couple nights ago, while helping my friend with his paper, I was scanning his walls. Decked out with the cliche family pictures, my eyes locked on this one baby picture. It was like a trainwreck, I couldn't move my eyes. They were focused, on this on picture. Matt, as a baby.....by far the craziest baby picture I have seen. After a closer analysis, I realized I had seen this picture before, well, at least that face. So, in honor of Perez, I give you...Separated at Birth:

As if that wasn't enough proof that "oh my gosh, Matt's baby picture looks like Uncle Fester!" he went on to take a picture of himself now. This is had Amy and I laughing for days! Luckily, Matt
grew out of his Uncle Fester phase, and is now a normal looking guy...for the most part. But this made me think, you know, I have always had issues with having babies....because, what if they are ugly? What do you do? Do you know your baby is ugly? Do you not care anyway? I know this makes me seem really shallow....and I kind of am when it comes to babies. I mean, if you have to wipe their butts, the least they can do in return is be cute! So, in honor of Matt, and ugly babies everywhere, I leave you with this...one of the many reasons I love Seinfeld!

Bleh

2008-10-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

I'm currently sitting in a library "writing" my 10 page paper that is due on Wednesday. There is a stack of 7 books on schizophrenia sitting next to me, waiting to be opened, and my computer tabs are filled with my list of 29 blogs I read on a daily basis. Mutemath's "OK" is playing in my earbuds, and my MickieD's iced tea is now more ice than tea. I clearly have no desire to work on school stuff, as expected, so have decided to share my random thoughts with the world...or the 3.7 people who read my blog.

The restaurant that I work at is relocating today. Starting tomorrow, Sushi Cafe will be at the old Atlanta Bread location in Pembroke Pines, much better for business, and hopefully for me. Working there has been an adjustment, for a couple reasons. For one, no one speaks english. I mean, they can, they just don't. I sit around listening to people speak Chinese, which isn't always a bad thing, but sometimes I get paranoid and think they are talking about me, or something I should at least know. When I first got the job, they said if I was good and learned quickly, I could start waiting tables. Well, they rave about how "good" I am, but the manager hinted that the owners want asian waitresses. I'm not shocked or really bothered, but only 1 person there is Japanese, everyone else is Chinese, so just because I can't be mistaken for Japanese and the others can, I don't get a shot at making more money?! Lame! Also, the guys are creepy! I am constantly being hit on. I'm not saying this to brag, I mean, I'm not what one would call a "hot-chick", but seriously, the things I hear are crazy! There are 3 guys who just cross lines all the time, and one is married with a kid! I knew that going from a church to a restaurant would be weird, but that is just crazy. I am using the things I have learned about conditioning to stop it, it is slowly working.

I am loving my church! At first, I wasn't really sure of it. I felt that it was just a temporary fix for me. I would go there, graduate in less than a year, and move on to wherever God moved me to work (hopefully in ministry), but I am really starting to love it! I totally believe in Pastor David's vision, and am loving the student ministry team. I don't know where my future lies vocationally, but I wouldn't be opposed to sticking around CBG. Recently Pastor Boone and I have sat around have brainstorming sessions, one of my favorite past-times, and they have been really cool and fun. There are great things to come at the Wave, and he's even mentioned letting me decorated the stage for the series! Yesterday, while sitting in service, it was all I could do to focus on the lesson and not where I could put some cool fabric and accessories. I struggled for a couple weeks, hoping my gifts would be used there, but after letting God take care of my pride, and that issue, and focused on just helping with what they wanted, not what I wanted, God opened doors, and my gifts are being used, I feel the joy of serving again, and am loving every second of it!

Boys have been brought up a lot lately. I don't know if it is me or my surroundings. I am trying not to waste time dreaming and focusing energy on the status of my love life, but it seems to be the topic of conversation more than I would like it to be. I am trusting God will bring me a man on His will and timing, and for the time being, I don't really want to think about it. I'm not in middle school, I have better things to focus on.

I really want to finish school. Not because I hate school (although I do), but because I want to move onto my next chapter. I was talking to Amy the other day about goals. I want to graduate, go on a life changing mission trip, start working at a great church or Student Ministry organization, surrounding myself with people who love God and students, get my own townhouse or condo filled with great unique furniture and friends, an English Bulldog named "Chunk" and a motorcycle so I can save gas. This is seeming within my reach...I just hope I stay focused long enough for me to get it. I want all of this to be my future, but most importantly, I want to do God's will, and I trust if I do, He will give me the desires of my heart.

I think that's all I have in terms of random thoughts. I know it is super long, so if you stuck around to read it all, I owe you a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate! I have to start working on my paper now, but someone brought a crying baby to the library....is it wrong to complain about that?

Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high!

2008-10-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

As I have shared in the past, I have recently gotten into reading. I have never been into books, and it was a good day if I read the articles in my Truckin' magazine, but I have come out of that with a new appreciation for knowledge and entertainment on paper. My current goal is to finish all of the books I have started by Christmas, about 10 books. But once that is done, I have a whole 'nother list I want to start. So far, it consists of:

Francis Chan's Crazy Love
Rob Bell's Jesus Wants to Save Christians
Tony Jones' Postmodern Youth Ministry
C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity
Tony Campolo's The Church and the American Teenager
Anne Jackson's Mad Church Disease
Rob Bell's Sex God

That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure there I will be others, and if you know of any good books, let me know. I'm new to this whole "reading" thing, and any help would be appreciated!

Na Na Naa Na, Na Na Naa Na, Hey Hey Hey....

2008-10-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

Goodbuy sticker that plagued me! Last year, I lost a bet to a friend over a football game that went south for my beloved Noles. The terms of the bet, I had to sport this on my truck until next time they played:

Fortunately, that year has come and gone, and so is the sticker! I think I'm going to get a Nole sticker to replace it, just for kicks. But for now, my truck just looks like this:

That makes me happy!

Back in the saddle!

2008-10-02T10:33:00.001-07:00

I have officially gotten back into student ministry! This past weekend, I sat in at a 6 grade girls table/small group, and have volunteered in the church office a little bit this week! It feels so good to be back at it again. I no longer feel like I'm wasting my, or God's time, and have a sense of joy from just serving. I told myself that when I started serving, I would do so with a heart to just serve, and if my opinions or experiences were desired, I would share them, but for the time being, I would give my time and energies. This has been a weird adjustment, but I am honored to be used, and humbled to be a part of such a great ministry. I can't wait to see what the future holds, and am so glad to be hanging out with students again!

Lightning does strike the same place twice!

2008-09-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

They hit again! This is what I found on my truck this evening:
After not seeing three of my closest friends in what seemed like forever, they visited me at work tonight, and I was so excited. I was even more excited when I was let off early. Upon leaving the restaurant, I saw some people, and stuff cluttered around my truck. After a closer look, I saw my "friends" covering my truck in message-clad Post-its. In good fashion, I laughed, drove around Rock Creek, and then cleaned them off. I'm always game for a good prank, especially when it's payback time!

Rock the Vote

2008-09-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Politics seems to be on everyone's mind lately, and to be honest, I'm kind of tired of talking about it. But, I do think it is important to vote, and know who and why your voting for our future Commander In Chief. So, ABC put together this cool little "game" to see who you agree with when it comes to the hot topics. A lot of the statements are very vague, but that's politics. Give it a try and see who you should vote for!

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-09-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

The thoughts of me:

My new job is crazy! At my Japanese restaurant, all of the Chinese staff is hilarious, and the chef's keep making creepy inuendos about cucumbers....I'm praying for them!
The folks are out of town, and I work all week plus have two tests, what a waste of a perfectly good party opportunity.
I have become addicted to Perez...I'm so embarassed, and need to stop.
School is so boring, I'm ready for it to be over.
Do you remember GUTS! on Nickolodeon? They remade it, Family style, and it's AWESOME...ish.

Still Adjusting

2008-09-21T19:22:00.001-07:00

Hmm...I'm feeling very honest right now.

Life has been an adjustment for me lately. I feel kind of scared and out of place. I know that me leaving my former church and job was a great thing for me, there is no doubt about that, but it doesn't mean it has been a breeze.

I feel out of place, not really in a bad way, but a different way, like moving to a new city after getting a great new job. My former church was my world. I gave everything to that place, and put off everything that matters. That is the thing that gets me the most; I refused to accept the blame for the things in my world that were off balance, and just thought it wasn't realistic for me to be balanced. I put off my family, we are now closer than ever, I put off school, I am now getting decent grades, I put off relaxing, I now do too much of it, I put off being financially smart, I am not budgeting my life, I put off being healthy, I have been to the gym 5 days a week. And the sad part is, I have missed out on so much for so long, and it was all my fault. I was so focused on the church, that I forgot about me and my world. This isn't the churches fault by any means, but it was my insecurity and immaturity in thinking that I needed to give everything, when that isn't even what God wants. But it's weird, you know, not being where I basically grew up. My social, romantic, conversational, and physical life revolved around that place for so long, and now it doesn't. I'm not sad, mad, or even complaining (though it may seem like it), I just feel like being honest in saying, it has been weird, but such a blessing.

But, I'm also a little scared. I have always felt called to do ministry vocationally. It has been my dream to be a Student Ministry Assistant. I want to plan camps, organize mission trips, be involved in students lives, create fun programs, throw crazy events, and support a student pastor. I was on that path, now I'm not. I might just be dramatic, but it isn't like there are a million churches looking to hire someone full-time to do such a thing, and if there are, why in the world would they hire me? But, God gave me my previous job without me asking, so I trust Him.

Please don't take this as a pity party, I don't need one. I want to be honest with my blog. So, I am honestly scared and feeling out of place, but I honestly know that God has His hands all over my life, and that He will take care of me.

Prof. "Borderline Disorder's" view on love

2008-09-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

Today in my Abnormal Psych class, we were talking about the usual: my teacher and his so-called life. In this great discussion filled with exaggerated stories, self-absorption, and off topics, the prof made a bold statement: "it is impossible for a grad student to be in a relationship with someone with lesser education!"...gasp! I gasped, as did almost everyone else in the class, followed by a couple chuckles from the front. He went on to say that the pressure of grad school puts strain on relationships, and that after the sex (he is also a pervert), you still have to hold a conversation, and a undergrad student can't hold up a convo with a grad student. This irked me for so many reasons! In my mind, I have made a decision not to go to grad school (at least not any time soon), for reasons not because of my intelligence, but because of my goals. This doesn't mean I can't hold a conversation with someone in grad school, nor does it mean I am less intelligent! Someone in grad school, granted, is very book smart and driven, but there "intelligence" typically only goes as far as the subject they are studying. Now, I don't know about you, but I want to hold a conversation about more than cognitive psychology. Also, he almost alluded to an actual caste system to dating. I'm sorry, but I don't think that your SES, race, education, etc. should have any influence on who you date - as long as they are living to worship God, have goals, and can make me laugh, you are worth dating (I have more standards, but you get the point). Plus, I know a great couple that just got engaged; she is in grad school, and he is going to a tech school.

Granted, I am a little biased in this topic, I clearly cannot stand this professor, or anything else he says for that matter. But I'm curious, am I crazy? Is there an issue with education gaps in relationships? Should that matter? What if I want to date a doctor...or a lawyer...or a professor?

J.B. Rolls for life!

2008-09-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all that have prayed...I got a job! I now answer phones at Sushi Cafe! And the guy said if I'm good at it, I can start waiting tables. I'm super stoked, and grateful for the prayers and the opportunity. I'm also really excited to be working in the real world, I can't wait to see what effect God has on these people through me. Plus, I'm sure I will come home with plenty of funny stories, raw fish + silly me x heavy asian accent = pure comedic genius!

I Choked!

2008-09-12T21:08:00.001-07:00

While reading The Air I Breathe, I was suddenly humbled by what a crappy worshiper of God I have been. I have been a Christian my whole life, a volunteer/leader since I was 14, and was even on staff at a church. I have always been that girl. To be honest, I didn't deserve any of it, and I don't really know why God gave it to me. The whole book is about worship, and what it means to worship, not only in words but in action, and it hit me like a ton of coffee beans (I was at Starbucks), that I wasn't worshiping God with all of my actions. Yes, when teaching a small group, or building a stage I would give it my all for Him..usually, and occasionally I would think of Him while doing a tedious task, just because that's the only way I could get through it, but my everything during everything, to honor His everything hasn't been a reality. Giglio told a story of his job in a copy room, where he worked as a worship to God, and His love and power ended up shining through Giglio's efforts, seeing as it took 3 people to replace him. He really was a great testimony to how great God is, without even saying His name. He lived a lifestyle of worship. Gosh, the worst part about my realization is that I knew that worshiping was a lifestyle, I just never did anything about it. I always had a good work ethic, and did well, but never in God's name. I can only imagine the difference I could have made in the lives of the people I worked with, and for. As I start my new job, wherever it may be, my new goal is this, to be and do everything in His name and for His name.

And the winner is...

2008-09-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it, Mindy has awarded me for my blog! This is nuts! I've got to say, I'm honored she even reads my blog, let alone thinks it to be award worthy! So thanks Mindy, you rock!

With this award, comes a few rules...

1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

.....I have to be honest, I don't really read enough blogs to award. I mean, most of the blogs I read are guys I don't even know, and they would think I was nuts! So, I will award some, but 7...I don't know if that is gonna fly on my ultra casual blog.

But, in good fashion, here are my winners:
- iStacie...she is hilarious with the most random stuff that always makes me laugh!
- E.Y. the Hippie....I don't always agree with her views, but she has them and I respect that.
- Heather....she is a great friend who is always there and always honest on her blog, I love her lots.
- Kristy.....is recently engaged (congrats!), she doesn't blog often, but when she does, it's good stuff.
- Britnee...is one of the best people I know. Her love of Christ shines through her smile and it is so encouraging.
- Liz....has such a cool perspective and humility that is note worthy!

Classy or Trashy?

2008-09-08T13:34:00.001-07:00

Today, I went to Sephora thanks to the giftcard I recieved from my good friend, Amy. Seeing as I own almost everything in the store I could possibly need, I took a risk. I bought RED lipstick. If you know me, you know I love some poppin' lip gloss, but I am not typically a lipstick girl. So tell me your thoughts...can I pull this off?

Help Wanted: Prayer

2008-09-04T16:19:00.000-07:00

Could you please pray for me? I am searching for a job, and it is so lame! I would love to find a job that will allow me to serve at my church as well as make enough to save. So, just a little prayer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

That Emerald Horse

2008-09-03T22:08:00.000-07:00

So, I have this new found love of online "window shopping" and it is horrible. I really think I am an addict who needs help. I have never been materialistic, into fashion, buying things for the whole price, or shopping in general, but I am all of a sudden enamored with pretty & expensive things online. I have a whole bookmark list of online stores that I look at on a regular basis (at least once a week). The funniest part of the whole thing is that I have no money, or intention of purchasing any of it....well, not any, there are a couple things I have my eye on. But most I have no need, or room for.

Rewinding 2 months, I was with my mom looking for granite for our recent house renovations. After picking out a slab-o-stone, we sat with the GC in the stores design room. It was a well decorated room with a great leather couch, cow-hide rug, water feature, and emerald horse. I fell in love! This sculpture called my name. I had to have it. I actually considered stealing it, or at least working a deal with the guy, I mean, we were buying a whole lot of granite. I became enamored with this horse. Everytime I went shopping for house accessories, I always compared stuff to the horse, and nothing could quite hold a candle to my perfect house accessory.

Fast forward to now: I found the horse! There is a great new store at Pembroke Gardens called Z Gallerie, and it is a fantastic home decor store with decent prices and great unique things. After breezing through the store, I went online to check out the website, you know, just in case I missed something. And there it was, my horse. For only $78, I could make it mine. Or, for only $78, you could make me happy! Just a thought!

That's Crazy!

2008-09-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

I was recently discussing funny SNL sketches with a friend and was reminded of one of my all time sketches: Brian Fellow's Safari Planet....That's crazy!

Saturday Night Live - Brian Fellows Safari Planet

I also love "Canteen Boy", "Mango", and "the Luva's"! What's your favorite?

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-09-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

Can't sleep, can blog:

I wonder why I can't sleep...do you think it is because I slept in?
Snagged some new work out capris at target - comfy clothes make me want to go to the gym more often (even though I've gone almost every day...go me!)
A friend I hadn't spoken to in a while called with much encouragement and a very kind gesture, I am glad to have people care about me.
Life is confusing to me...I have no idea what is next, I feel like a mexican child who is blindfolded, spun around, and told to hit the pinata...where is it? But I trust God has put me where I am, so he will connect my old baseball bat with that crate paper sculpture soon enough
I can't wait for Mutemath's new cd!
Through all that has gone on, I have come to the realization that I need to make steps towards becoming a responsible adult, keeping things clean for my sane mind, going to class in order to actually graduate, making wise health choices to be able to do what I want, etc. It has been challenging, but refreshing, amazing, and rewarding!
I'm still poor....I hope I get the job at Macy's.
I have realized that I have no girl abilities.....I don't think I could flirt if I wanted to....but I don't think that is a bad thing...right? Where does a single woman of Christ stand in the single world? How do you let a guy know your interested? Should you let a guy know your interested? Why do I even care about these things...I'm not quite sure.....I'm trusting God with my whole life, so I shouldn't even be putting thought into this. Can you tell I'm confused?
Would you go to a restaurant that only had grilled cheese and tomato soup?...if it was really good, comfortable, and had different varieties?
I keep pressing the ";" button instead of the " ' " button...it;s really annoying.

2 Thumbs Up!

2008-08-31T18:20:00.001-07:00

Now, this isn't usually my style for my blog, but it was on my mind, so I'm putting it in cyber-ink. The other night at a great dinner with friends, favorite movies came up.....so here is my list:

10. Zoolander

9. The Breakfast Club

8. Chicago

7. X-Men Trilogy

6. Lord of the Rings Trilogy

5. High School Musical (1 & 2)

4. The Patriot

3. Crybaby

2. Dodgeball

1. 10 Things I Hate About You

So whats your favorite?

No Comprende

2008-08-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

So, something strange has been occurring lately in my time of worship...I've been crying. This is weird...for multiple reasons. For one, I don't cry, at least not often. I'm not one of those girls who cries at movies, graduations, or cheesy love songs, in fact, the only time I really cry is at the loss of a loved one or when I'm really passionate (and I mean, really really), and I don't even go home and cry over stuff...I'm just not a big crier. It's also weird because it has never really happened before, I mean the occasional intense last song at a camp or conference or something would get a tear or two, but not every time. And lastly, it is weird because I don't know why it is happening. That's what I hate most about emotions, I don't always understand them. I mean, I get passion, anger, hurt, embarrassment, joy, and all those obvious ones, but when I just cry....it's like smelling chocolate and tasting a burrito, it just doesn't make sense to me. I have attended probably 4 church services since leaving Flamingo, and every time, without fail, I have cried through at least one song, even if I didn't know the song, and I'm talking major tears, like someone-get-me-a-bucket tears. In these times, I have searched my brain, and heart for an explanation, and come up empty. I then turned to God, asking for reasoning, and He hasn't given me too much yet. For now, I will take it as just the Spirit moving in me as I truly surrender myself to Him in those moments, but I feel like God is trying to tell me something, and I am anxious to find out what!

Oh there goes gravity!

2008-08-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

I'm back! After a much needed vacation, I have snapped back to reality. Reality of school, family, friends (and the drama that comes with them), church, serving, and the inevitable search for a job. I spent an amazing weekend at the Keys (my first time ever!) that reminded me how much I love the ocean, and the amazing God who created it. From there, a trip to visit the bff in South Carolina was a real break from reality. Taylors, SC is by far one of the more "laid back" places I've been. I had a good time, but was quickly reminded that I was converted to a city girl a long time ago....driving 20 minutes to a gas station just seems crazy to me!

On my trip, I fasted from blogging, twitter, and pretty much all forms of techie communication, just to enjoy my time with my friend, and to just take a break. It was kind of amazingly refreshing. But I'm home now, and glad. I missed my friends, family, and convenience of SoFla. I'm excited to start seeing where God takes me next, and ready to start working and serving!

Oops, I did it again!

2008-08-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

I finished another book!!! I know, it's crazy, I've been reading like a mad woman lately. I hope it isn't only because I have nothing else to do, because I have really enjoyed learning and thinking...I can't believe I'm saying this! But seriously, I just finished I am not, but I know I am. It was so good. Well, it is Louie Giglio, so I didn't expect less. The title itself wraps up the whole book, its about knowing who you are, knowing who God is, and letting Him be that in your life. It has really been a great read, and I'm hoping some wisdom seeped into that thick head of mine.

As far as the reading goes, I am making changes in my life, changes for the better. My goal was to finish reading all of the books I've started by the end of the summer, but the rest of my books are packed in a box in a pod somewhere, so I don't know if that is going to happen. But I will continue to read, learn, and focus on God. I am leaving (hopefully) tomorrow for the Keys for a couple days, followed by visiting my bff in SC for 2 weeks. So I am leaving my laptop behind. I am going to fast from my computer, and twitter, and really try to enjoy my time with friends, and especially my God. Pray for me, as I pray to seek God's will!

Something New!

2008-08-07T09:58:00.000-07:00

Last night I attended "The Wave" for the very first time. The Wave is CBG's weekly student service, where all middle and high school students come together to worship an ever-present God. It was such a cool experience to sit back and watch students worship, the Spirit was there last night. I must admit, it was weird for me to sit back and watch, but it was a great "something new" for me...I've been having a lot of those. I am so excited to start serving at CBG, they have a great student pastor who I have had the honor to meet, and I just hope I will be able to serve at such a great church. As HSM once said, "Its the start of something new, it feels so good, to be here with you!"

Wishing I was Canadian!

2008-08-05T21:06:00.001-07:00

I found this video on one of my favorite blogs, and had to share it. It is so honest and blunt, which is sometimes just what someone needs. I almost cried, or at least I wanted to, but was very inspired. Hopefully, you will be too!

Jesus-friends

2008-08-05T18:35:00.001-07:00

Recently, the value of friendships has been in the forefront of my reality. I have this one friend, who I am glad to get to know more and more each day. She is shy in nature, but one of the sweetest people I have ever met. Honestly, she would do anything for anyone at the drop of the hat, especially her friends. She has really shown me what it looks like to be a Jesus-friend. What's a Jesus-friend, you might ask? Well, I kind of made it up (can you tell?), but it is a person whose friendship represents that of Jesus. Jesus didn't do life alone, nor did he make his disciples sit in the background and serve him, he did life with them, and constantly encouraged, served, and lifted up his friends. My friend does this so well, and I am so appreciative of her example. Unfortunately, we have a friend who has done almost the exact opposite to her. When needed, she is there for that person, above and beyond the call of duty, but it seems like she only gets a call, invite, or friendly experience when something is wanted from her. This makes me SO ANGRY!!! And it is not a Jesus-friend. I think that sometimes as God followers, we work so hard to be Jesus to the lost, that we end up treating our friends and family like they don't matter, they don't need to be treated with Jesus' love. The main problem with this is, you shouldn't be "working" to "act" like Jesus, you should be living with Him shining through you. When this happens, everyone is treated the same. I once heard it said that you leave every relationship closer or further from Jesus, never the same. As a friend, I pray that I am able to be a Jesus-friend, one who brings others closer to Him, letting His bright light shine through me. As far my friend, I trust that even though she may be getting the shaft right now, her constant Jesus-friend-ship will be blessed, and I know I am blessed for knowing her.

My First Real Book Report

2008-08-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make....I just finished reading my first book. Agh, I know, it's horribly embarrassing, and doesn't speak much of my character, but it's true. For the first time that I can remember (excluding a BSC book or two in the 2nd grade), I finished a book, the whole way through...and it was fantastic. In the past, I have skimmed through books, read a majority, or just got the spark notes, but for some reason, I couldn't put this one down. And I'm glad I didn't.

Velvet Elvis was written by Rob Bell, a pastor in Michigan that I respect dearly. It is a book about life, faith, and perspective. Bell really approached faith from different eyes and challenged my thought on a lot of things that I have believed to be true. He wasn't knocking the system, or even saying that he is right, but his goal is to make you think and question, and from there, real faith and knowledge flourishes and grows. He really challenged me to stop being who I think I, people, or God wants me to be, but to become the person God created me as. It was such an inspiration and refreshing look at who God is. And has really motivated me to read more. I think the last page was my favorite part of the book, which really makes me wonder how much knowledge and insight that I have missed out on. On to finishing "I am not, but I know I am"....I will let you know how it ends! Oh yea, and does anyone have Sex God, I would love to borrow it?!

$1 Tea Inquisition

2008-08-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

Today, while picking up a drink at McDonalds (their $1 Iced Tea is the bees knees!), I had an interesting experience. I placed my order at the giant menu/worlds loudest speaker, drove to the first window and paid, and then made my way to the second window. There, a teenage boy in a red visor began to question me. Our conversation went a little like this:

Him: Did you pay already?
Me: Yes.
Him: Are you sure?
Me: Yes.
Him: Seriously, your sure you paid?
Me: Yes, you can ask the lady.
Him: (questioning look)
Girl who pops out of nowhere: Yea the lady paid, look at the screen, now give her her drink.
Him: Oh yea, cool, here you go.
Me: Thanks.

Now, call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure that's not how things are supposed to happen. This really made me think. "The customer is always right!" yet this young man clearly thought that I was wrong. So he argued with me, when the answer was right in front of his face...in writing! I have found that all too often I find myself arguing with God; "this is the way I should do things, that is the best, this is the truth," when in fact the answers are all found in one big book...in writing! I am really working on looking in the Bible for answers in my world. Far too often I will look to people, hoping God will speak through them, but everyone is saying something different. Or I will pray and my head will be so much louder than my heart that all there is is commotion. Being intimidated by the Bible, I would hesitate to give it a chance to bring answers...evidently I missed out on the whole "inspired by God" thing. But I think that is changing. I am starting to realize that God is all I can depend on, and His word is all that I need. Don't get me wrong, I love and appreciate my relationships, but people let you down. I don't really know if this makes sense, or if it is so blatantly basic that I sound like a child, but they are my thoughts....in writing.

Rest? That's for the weary!

2008-07-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

Wow, my life is so boring right now! I feel utterly and completely lame. I went to church last weekend for one service and then left. And this weekend, I completely slept in (I was dead from cleaning the house I was house sitting for). This is so weird to me, and I'm not really adjusting. I went to church, and kept noticing things that were wrong, or that I would have done different, instead of just enjoying a time of worship with God. And I keep thinking of student ministry stuff, ideas, games, themes, I'm even still visiting blogs of SM leaders. It is in my blood, and it isn't going anywhere.

I have noticed that even though I am not currently serving anywhere, I am still and student ministry leader. I am still convicted about being a good example and not doing things because of the influence it may have on students. And I am still bombarded with students coming to me for advice, help, or just someone to talk to. Through this all, I still crave it. I am still humbled every time I get the opportunity to speak to a student. I am still excited every time I walk through a churches doors. I still glow with joy every time I hear what God has done in a students life. Right now might not be the most productive time in my life, and it is tough to unlearn some habits of "doing church" that I have learned over the years. But I am really enjoying this time of learning and growing. And I am most liking the fact that God is still using me. It is proof again that God is not done with me, and that my calling to students is all too real.

I am putting off committing to serve in a church until I return from my final summer vacation. But once I get back, I am ready to strap on the armor of God, and get in the trenches with, and for my passion, students!

Is it worth it?

2008-07-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

As mentioned previously, my house is under major construction. After years of my mom complaining, my folks have finally decided to redo all of the floors and our whole kitchen. So, after packing up our whole house (literally, it looked like we were moving), and getting out of there for 2 weeks, we are in the process. The place was gutted, and is slowly being put back together, in a prettier, more sophisticated way. Since we are already fixing up the place, and I have a lot of free time, my parents are paying me to fix up some other things that have been on my dad's honey-do list. From painting ceilings and baseboards, to replacing air filters, and helping the movers, I have been, and will continue to be very busy, working hard for the money. After 4 hours of painting baseboards tonight, I started to think, "is it worth it?" You see, I am not really working for money exactly. Last summer, for my birthday, I redid my room, got a new bed and mattress, some fresh paint, and some gorgeous fabric. But funds ran a little short before I could get a dresser. So, after living out of boxes for the last year, I decided that instead of money, I wanted a dresser. But not only a dresser, my dream dresser:

Along with my thai-style carved headboard, french and asian inspired curtains, and the americana antique nightstand I hope to get in S.C., I think this will work great! When my room is finally all put together, I will post pictures.....I am so excited!!!...and it is so worth it!

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-07-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Here's what is going on in my head and my world:

for some reason, it's really hot in the room I am in
I went to a church today that I really enjoyed, with prayer, I will know if that is where I am supposed to be
Twitter is really fun, but annoying to my mom when she keeps hearing my text "door bell"
I am still really tired on Sunday's, even with not being at church all weekend...weird
I can't wait to go on all my summer time vaca's - Orlando for a surprise visit, Key's for some lobstering fun, and S.C. to see my bff!
my house is in shambles while under construction.....but my room has never been cleaner!
I have really seen who my true friends are through this "hard time"....it hasn't been really hard, but if it was, I would be very comforted by some awesome people.
I re-found one of the coolest websites, check it out, you might find something you like.
I am going to miss Rif Raf, he is a great part of our crew...but I suppose we can let him go away to college.
Mama Mia was great, but I have an issue with musical movies casting people who can't sing...sorry Pierce and Meryl.

As the pages turn....

2008-07-16T18:15:00.001-07:00

As I just sat down to write this, I all of a sudden got nervous....ahh, this is weird. So...here it goes...

As of one week ago, I am no longer a part of Flamingo Road Church. Previously, I was on staff at FRC's Student Ministry, doing all that I could to serve God and reach students. I was let go last Wednesday, and couldn't feel better about it. As far as reasoning, I wasn't doing my job to the best of my ability. But, I honesty am great with the decision made. When we first started the process of looking for a new Student Pastor, I prayed that God's will be done, no matter what, and that He give leadership wisdom, as well as wisdom and guidance to the person hired, even if it means moving me out of the way to help reach South Florida's students. So, a fantastic pastor was hired, and I was moved out of the way. Granted, I am disappointed that I was not able to succeed under such awesome leadership, and I will no longer be able to see a lot of the students that I formed a great relationship with. But I trust that God's hands are on this situation, and really feel like He has been preparing me for this for a while now.

So, what now? I'm not really sure...but God is. I am going to finally focus on school, get a part time job, and find a great church. You may be wondering, if you are so ok with this decision, why are you leaving the church? Well, God has placed students on my heart, so I am going to go somewhere that I can use all of my God given talents, to help reach students.

I honestly couldn't be happier; I can't wait to hear all about what God will do at FRC, I can't wait to get involved in a new church and bring a little "carson-flavor" to the table, and I really can't wait to watch God flip that pages of the new chapter of my life. So, I'm not dead, so call me, I'm not hurt, so don't feel bad for me, and I'm not employed, so buy me lunch! (j/k...kind of)

Did you catch it?

2008-07-15T16:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday night at 7:55, something momentous happened: the first preview of High School Musical 3: Senior Year! This is HSM's first big screen flick, and I am super stoked! I have always been a big fan of musicals, and HSM is not exempt from this affinity of mine. You may laugh at me, or think that I am childish, but anyone who has seen HSM 1 & 2 has to admit that it is good stuff; between the songs, choreography, and acting, it is a great example of musical theater captured on video. I have both of the movies, and soundtracks, and jam out on a regular basis. So, mark your calendars ladies and gentleman, because October 24th, the next edition premieres, and I will be there, surrounded by middle schoolers, and smiling ear to ear!

Thats not classic!

2008-07-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

We are currently in the much needed process of remodeling our kitchen and all of our floors in our house, a big project, which leads to me doing my dads honey-do list...not that I mind, I'm getting paid! So while painting our ceilings the other day, a job I don't even recommend for my enemies, I was jammin' to Big 105.9, a classic rock station down here. A cool Rolling Stones songs wraps up, the cheesy cliching-onto-my-youth dj came on and made some lame reference to the olden days or drugs or something, and then the next song plays...and it's a little too familiar to me. I listen a little closer, and as the vocals of Anthony Keidis stream across the radio, I nearly fall off my 10 ft. ladder. "Seriously, a Red Hot Chili Peppers song?!?!....that's so not classic rock!!!" Granted, it was Under the Bridge one of their older hits, but not that old! Can someone please inform Big 105.9 that anything from a cd that was released in my lifetime is not classic rock...what is wrong with the world?!?! The soothing sounds of Genesis soon soothed my confused anger, but seriously, that is so not classic!

Lessons not learned on Sesame St.

2008-07-11T19:58:00.001-07:00

So I know that I haven't blogged in forever and a day....and I hate saying that because I write this for me, but for those who care about me enough to keep up, sorry for my absence. Since my last post, I've been busy. I went to two summer camps, which rocked, turned 22, which was fun...I'm old, and went on the most amazing vacation with the most amazing people. I'm sure that I will write more about my vaca another time, but for now, I would like to focus on July 1st.

For those that don't know, July 1st is my birthday. While I had a great birthday, I don't really want to write about that. More importantly, I would like to focus on what I learned that day. This birthday was kind of hard for me, because I learned life is going to be hard. I know, everyone knows that. I've been told that time and time again, and while I knew the concept, I didn't know it for myself as an applicable concept in my life. After a hard day before, a million different realities came to my world....realities that I had suppressed, not yet learned, or just plain ignored for far too long. From this realization, I then learned that since I was aware of these things now, I had to actually do something about it. Imagine that, being an adult means that you actually have to face crap, conflict, pain, difficult decisions, and all around hard stuff. I know that this may seem trivial, and I'm sure I will look back one day and think "I wish I could go back to that time, that was a breeze"....but for me, right now, in the place that I am in in my life, it isn't a breeze. I've had it pretty easy my whole life, so to learn such a strong reality, has been a bit of a shocker to me. But, and I know it probably doesn't seem like it, but I am glad to be learning such realities. I feel like I'm finally growing up a little. Getting older and becoming a mature adult means facing harsh realities, and learning new lessons, so to finally be learning lessons is really refreshing for me. I feel like God is just getting started with me, and I look forward to being used more and more each day by Him.

The De-Pot

2008-06-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

Today, I ventured over to the newest Home Depot in town (I was near it and needed some stuff). It was new and pretty, so that was kind of cool. I was picking up some wood, and realized...it was heavy. So, remembering the commercials telling me that people are there to help, I went on a search for a man in an orange apron (story of my life)...and found no one (ending of the story of my life). So, I figured, I'm an independent woman, I tried to move some wood myself...and quickly failed. Not long after, some people not in orange aprons came and helped. They were managers, always dependable for help, but I thought that was kind of sad. While I appreciated the customer service, I thought it was poor leadership. These people in a leadership position were doing the work of the people they were leading. When this happens, a leader stops leading, and workers stop working, hence my inability to find a man in an apron. I found this rather unfortunate, but made me think, how often do I do the work of my volunteers, as opposed to leading them and letting them thrive. Just a thought.

Saturday night...to tired to think of title

2008-06-07T21:16:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a really cool night in Student Ministry at FRC. New people were welcomed to the team, Seniors were sent off, middle schoolers were welcomed, a boy with a disorder worshipped, and I got pranked...kind of.

This week, our new student pastor made his way down to South Florida, with wife, baby, and intern in hand, he officially moved into his new digs on Thursday. I am so excited about all that he and his team are going to bring to FRC, and can't wait to get my hands dirty in ministry. Tonight had an all different energy to it, as if everyone, and even everything, new that something cool is coming. It is amazing the difference one person can bring. So to Scot, Holly, Becca, and Legend, welcome to the team, and to South Florida.

This weekend also happens to be promotion weekend. What that means is that everyone moves up a grade in our system. We honored a great group of seniors, as they ran the HS service, and kicked butt! "Crush, crush, crush" was awesome (including Holly's dance), and it was really cool to see the slide show. This years seniors is actually the first group of middle school girls I ever lead; so while I feel old, it is really encouraging to look at these girls and where they are and know that I influenced that. As the seniors move out, 5th graders move in! I love 5th graders, their faces has an array of emotions going on all at once; the fear of the unknown, the excitement of something new, the awe of a live band, and the nerves of the cute girls runs rampant on their faces....I love it! This is an awesome group of 5th graders, and I can't wait to see all that they bring to our ministry.

Another group that moved up was the new freshman. Daniel, a new freshman, has Aspergers syndrome; this is a slightly mild version of autism. He is a great kid, always smiling, and not as temperamental as most students with his disorder, and I love to watch him worship. This student while surrounded by 150 of his "too cool for school" peers lifted his hands and worshipped tonight! How is it that a boy that is withdrawn and socially hindered able to get the concept of praising our almighty God in a way of free expression, but a more than capable teen refuses to get his hands off his slider cell phone long enough to think about raising his hands in worship?!?!? I think that Daniel really gets the concept of "faith like a child" and trust that God sings as Daniel does His name justice. What an encouragement!

Lastly, after dinner and the UFC fight, I returned to my truck to find it pranked.....kind of. I am all about pranks! I think they are a great comic relief, as well as a fantastic way to blow a Friday night or a quick $50. But if you are going to do it, do it! I came to find my truck with the wipers up, mirrors turned in, and tailgate down. ....really? Someone took the time to walk out to my truck and do that....really? Why bother? I love a good prank, and will give props to it all day long, but am slightly disappointed at what I found tonight. Now, you might be thinking...."Carson, your just asking for it now", and maybe I am. But if your gonna do it, bring it on, but keep in mind, I don't like crappy pranks...and payback is way too fun!

The Next FRC Idol

2008-06-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

You may know the talents of such FRC worship stars known as Ricky, Vaughn, Fuller, and Marc, but have you met "Matt"!?!?! He exudes worship, his voice is like an angels, and his heart is made of gold. Behold, Matt in all of his worshipdom:

If you would like to book him for your next event, call me, his manager!...I get 20%....but he doesn't know that!

I caved...again!

2008-06-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

I have joined the world of twitter! It has always seemed appealing, and I always wonder who's twittering while I'm around...now I'll know! Follow me...if you dare, I'm carsonhalley!

Let's bowl, let's bowl, let's rock and roll!

2008-06-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

So what happens when Elevate gets kicked out it's room for a night?.....we hit the town! Last night, over 50 college kids invaded Davie's Sparez bowling alley, and it was awesome! They hooked it up 8th Birthday party style with pink balloons, frozen pizza and tube's of soda, and it was a blast. So what happens when 50 college kids go bowling:
- the roar of screeching and yelling is louder than the crashing of pins
- people get really competitive
- my friends reference Lost all night, and I am lost
- someone "accidently" throws more than one ball down the alley...oops!
- crazy nicknames appear majicly on the screens...who is Diamond?
- fun is had
- people connect, make friends, and are encouraged to come back!
We had a great time, join us next time at Elevate, FRC's college small group, Monday nights at 7 in the Dive!

You can do that online?

2008-05-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

I recently received an e-mail from one of my middle school girls, asking me to join an online community that she is a part of. I never had a myspace or facebook, and it took some convincing for me to get a blog, so I had no intention of joining this community...but I was interested. I think that it is important for me to know what students are doing and are into, and I am all about leveraging what the world already has to influence students, but this latest trend concerns me. It is called e-spin, and it is a "fun, flirty site where you can spin the bottle and pass notes with thousands of hotties. " That's right, virtual spin-the-bottle. Correct me if I'm wrong, but spin the bottle isn't the most modest of games. Unfortunately, I am aware of the game and the type of trouble it can get you into....and the type of people who play it. This web-community is a myspace/eharmony/hookup central that is just looking to get young students into trouble. These online communities are no longer for networking or friends, this is intentional "hook ups" and that is a loaded phrase these days. My heart goes out to the young girls who join this looking for love, and aches for the perverts who will log on faking to be something they are not. If you are a parent and are reading this, please be aware of what your students are doing on their computers, it can get them into a load of trouble, and if a student is willing to play virtual spin the bottle, I guarantee they will play the real thing. This makes me sad, I fear what my kids will have to face when they are in middle school.

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-05-28T08:02:00.001-07:00

Things have been crazy, mainly funny stuff, people are weird:

Jesus is so much better than that crazy witch lady!...It was a beautiful day on Sunday, when it was supposed to pour, but I wanted it to stay nice and prayed the whole day, then some witch lady comes and says "It suddenly got windy, probably gonna bring rain", then 5 minutes later a giant black cloud came, I prayed a little harder, and it worked, no rain, take that witch lady, Jesus will always trump the witch!
I pray I don't awaken to my dad's voice the rest of my life!...I have an issue with waking up, I literally set 5 alarms, wake up to none of them, but jump up at the sound of my dad hollering about all the racket. This weekend, when my alarms went off, I didn't hear them, but I heard his voice clear as day...he was in D.C....I hope that stops once I move out!
I missed the whole weekend because I had to work at my second job, it was tough, but I heard things went well. It's cool knowing that you have left a whole team of people who can take care of things and not worry....well, of course I worried, but I trusted the people left in charge, and I heard nothing but good things.
I had the most amazing Memorial day, I took a real day off, not even thinking about church (of course I thought about students, every time I saw teenagers...I can't help it). I traveled north to West Palm, and had a mini vaca with great friends, is there anything better. I also went to Sephora...trouble!
Pastor Scot came down, we figured out camp in one giant meeting, I am so stoked, super busy, a little nervous, but ready to rock!
I love Weezer's new song, check it out on I.E.'s blog!
I often forget to be a leader in my home, my parents treat me like a kid because I often act like one. Too many times, my parents will hear from people how great I am (not in a cocky way), but they don't see it in me. I need to start being an adult at home as well as everywhere else, maybe then I will be respected by them as well.
Is it weird that I by myself flowers to put on my desk? I think they are pretty, and who says a girl can't by her own flowers?!

Map Confusion

2008-05-23T09:18:00.001-07:00

I am heading down to Miami today to help out a friend...but I'm scared. I rarely cross the 954/305 border, and when I do, I feel like I need my passport. The roads down there are ridiculous! They jump, and don't make sense, and confuse me. So, the place that I am going to has a website that provides directions, and I wrote them down. Just to double check, I went to google maps (which has gotten me lost before), and they gave my different directions. Now, I don't know which way to go. I know, it seems logical to follow the website of the place that I am going, but I don't really want to. One says to take the Palmetto, the other says 75....I have taken the Palmetto before, but the problem is, I have never seen a sign that says "Palmetto", it is just a name south Florida has given for a highway, but it isn't advertised! Who does that?!?! I think I am going to follow Google maps, at least that way if I get lost, it's expected, I took google maps!

Pray for me...I'm scared!

**Update: I took Google Maps, and it was so wrong I couldn't even follow it....it is kind of heard to take 75 south to exit 19 when 75 ends! Maybe one day I will learn not to follow online directions, but the little maps with "point A" and "distance time" really keep my convinced they know what they are talking about.

I can see the light!

2008-05-22T22:01:00.000-07:00

Many moons ago, back in late February/early March, our student pastor decided to leave FRC. Now, you might be thinking, "Many moons ago? That was just a couple months" and the thought "just a couple months" crossed my mind as well, until reality sank in. I thought that "a couple months" without a leader would be a breeze, and boy was I wrong. Don't get me wrong, we had a leader, Holly has done a great job keeping the team encouraged and focused, and Matt gave direction, while Garland did his thing, but it isn't the same as a Student Pastor, a man with vision, ideas, heart, and focus on what needs to be done. Throughout this time, God has taught me a lot, unfortunately, it has mostly been through mistakes and faults. I learned...

that I am not as talented as I think I am naturally, all of my gifts are from God, and most are brought out by great leaders, not great desires of the self.
that you can't do ministry without the endurance from God, things get tough and the flesh gives up, the Spirit is what has to keep you going.
that I am not the invincible supergirl, and when I try to be, things get dropped and everything I touch becomes mediocre.
that God gives you a leader for a reason, and a bad leader is better than none, at least it is something to learn from, mistakes or successes, either way you can learn.
that just because I am a leader, it doesn't mean I can self sustain, I need people to be honest, critical, and encouraging to get the job done correctly.
that ministry is hard.

Well, after tons of resumes (so I hear), and a couple of interviews, God brought us our leader, and I couldn't be more grateful. I immediately thought that Scot was a perfect fit, and this past week spent with him just proved me right. I am so excited to roll up my sleeves, get a little dirty, and get the SM ball rolling. And I feel so blessed. You know in those cheesy love stories people tell of their husbands, stating they "hoped for something great, but never expected someone that great!"? Well, I'm not in love, and usually try to stay away from such phrases, but really am surprised by what God has brought us, we prayed for greatness, and I think Scot is a little greater than expected. Now, I know I barely know him, and that he is human and bound to screw up soon enough, but I really feel like he is going to take our ministry and shoot for the moon, and all I can do is aim right along with him. I am so excited to see what he is going to do, and anxious to be lead by such an intense person. I pray that he is successful, chases after God and students, and leads our team with a passion. I pray that I am challenged and soar past expectations, not for glory but for lives changed, and that the enemy stays far away from the team and our insecurities. I pray that every high schooler knows what FRC is and what a difference God can make in their lives. I pray that our team stays strong, close, and empowered. And I pray that God's will be done in everything, miracles do happen, and students get to know our great Lord and Savior.

Da da da daaah, du du duuuh....can you tell it's a theme song?

2008-05-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

I just got home from the midnight showing of the new Indiana Jones flick. Let this be said before I write further - 1 - I had no desire to see this movie...he is old, the originals were filmed forever ago, and it looked like the least action packed action movie ever; 2 - I almost never go to midnight showings, I like sleep, and waking up at a normal time, besides the fact that most people who see midnight showings are uuber nerd fans who kind of creep me out and/or shouldn't be out in public that late at night. The only reason I did go see it is because my new pastor is in town for a short while, wanted to see it, and invited me, trying to form a relationship and gain whatever sort of respect gained in these situations, I went. Now, on to the review. I was kind of right, he is old, and you could tell he was a little slower than the original, but I suppose I could cut him a little slack, he is 80. But I was, however, impressed. The movie seemed to pick up where it left off, same time period, style of shooting and colors, and was more action packed than expected. But, the ending...LAME! I won't ruin it, but I will say, it doesn't seem to be something Indiana Jones would find interesting...or realistic. Considering I had no desire to see this film, I would say it was alright; with the exception of the few times I found myself hiding (I scare easy), the occasional velveeta style one liners, and uncomfortably odd ending, I found it entertaining. Would I pay to see it, no, would I see it again, no, would I recommend someone seeing it, probably...let's just say it was worth saying I saw it.

At the end of the day, I still think that someone should make a movie with the worlds oldest heroes - get Harrison Ford, Samuel L Jackson, and Sylvester Stalone in one room, and you've got a geriatric hit on your hands!

Really, that is the ultimate?

2008-05-20T11:01:00.001-07:00

I receive a lot of e-mails from church/student ministry organizations sharing their resources and ideas on how to do ministry. Most are selling something, or mediocre ideas, but I keep them around because every once in a while a gem will appear. Today, in an e-mail from "church solutions" they promoted this:...really, a sign with a church name and a cheesy saying such as "If you've been waiting for a sign, this is it!" is the Ultimate Outreach Tool!?!?! When was the last time you bought something or subscribed to a thought because of a 10' plastic glowing cheese-fest of a sign? Sadly, this e-mail went out to probably thousands of churches, and these said churches really do think that a sign is good outreach. When really, a sign is not even close to outreach. Outreach means to get OUT of your comfort zone and REACH out to the community to share with them how awesome God is. So, according to this authority on "church solutions" a sign on your property that does nothing but embarrass Christians and make non-believers think we are all whacked is outreach. I pray that those who really want to reach out into their communities and make a kingdom difference know that a sign is not the answer. I am all for signs, don't get me wrong, and FRC has quite a few of them, but we don't depend on those signs to touch the community, and it definitely doesn't deserve the title of "Ultimate".

The extra touch

2008-05-20T08:17:00.001-07:00

I have never been someone who thought that they needed encouragement. I have done the whole 5 Love Languages thing, and words of encouragement barely even registered for me. I have always kind of gone without encouragement. Not as a knock to my parents or friends or anything, they have always supported me, but not really done the extra to make sure I was encouraged, and I never thought about it, so probably don't soar in the area either. But lately, as things have gotten tougher in my world, it seems like God has sent people my way just to encourage me and it has been so influential. It started with a phone call from an old friend, then an e-mail from a mentor I haven't seen in ages, a stern talking to from the person I admire the most, and a vase full of flowers from someone I want to be one day! I never realized how important it is to encourage someone, but it can give them that extra push they need towards their potential, or just make them smile, either way, it's worth it. Jesus went the extra mile to touch the leper, be someone's Jesus today, you never know how far it will go!

Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles, and warm winter mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings!

2008-05-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

My last post was a little gloomy...sorry, I was having one of those days. But I am not typically a gloomy person, at least I don't think I am. So I decided to blog about the things that make me smile, and laugh!

rolling down the windows, blasting music, and going 80 down 75 at 1 in the morning.
meals with those close friends that you can say whatever you want in front of and still feel loved.
painting pottery
finishing a project, like a good meal, or a better stage.
showtunes...Wicked, High School Musical, Hairspray, Mame, even The Little Mermaid...just to name a few
buying new hoodies and flip flops (I scored on Friday, but all in the boys section...I wonder why?)
fresh flowers
seeing 6th grade girls standing in front of their peers and leading.
dancing (I'm really bad, and too shy, but love to shake it fast...watch yourself!)
trying new things, like "Da Gospel Factory"
sausage ("Wow"...lol, Jimbo, Jared, & Joey)
Sephora
hanging out with people who can dish it and take it
Human Tetris
seeing students faces when I show up at their parties after a hopeful invite
Mutemath
the sound of student worshiping louder than the band
My all loving God!!!

.... 10 points to the person who can name where the title came from!

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-05-15T11:36:00.000-07:00

These are my thoughts, most are my aggrevations...people are stupid!
- For the first time EVER, I can't take a final early, I don't care if their "Doctors"...professors are dumb!
- I know why gas is so expensive, there was a tv in my gas pump today...thanks for the update in gossip, now give me my $4 back!
- The Pub is one of my new favorite restaurants, fried pickles anyone?!
- Sign up for camp, it is going to rock!
- I taught my friends the art of Sephora, soon they will be just as addicted as I am!
- Joey's gone, again, I'm sad, and sorry we didn't get to hang out as much as I wanted.
- I cooked the boys dinner!...I want to be a wife......eventually.
- I cannot wait until DC, it is going to rock my socks!
- A giant scandanavian woman was mean to me, I don't care if you want to close the store, I'm a customer!
- I have been angry and aggrevated a lot lately, something needs to change.
- I like hanging around Amy, she makes me feel funny!
- I haven't blogged lately, not much to say, can you tell?

Caution: Moving Garnish

2008-05-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

Last night, some friends and I went out to dinner, as we do every Saturday night. Joey is in town, so he got to choose, so we ended up at The Original Steakhouse (formerly Shnellenbergers). The evening started off rough; after an hour long wait, in a restaurant with a broken a/c, and a tv that can change from Cartoon Network to the race, we finally ordered. Our food came, and I thought that the a/c kicked back on because it seemed like there was a breeze in the room...you see, my garnish was moving. I took a closer look and noticed that my parsley wasn't dancing, but the maggots on my plate were! Gross!!! It takes a lot to gross me out, but I immediately felt sick and pushed away my plate. My friends thought I was nuts, until they looked a little closer at their plates and found that their plates too were garnished with fly larvae. Gross, gross, gross!!! We showed our waiter, the manager came and apologized, and we saw all of the wait staff being brought to the back, their whole garnish bucket was filled with maggots! It was by far the most disgusting thing I have ever experienced! Someone needs to call Chef Ramsey, and DON'T GO TO SHNELLENBERGERS!!!

Cool-laboration!

2008-05-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

Collaboration is a value here at FRC, and I have always been a big fan of this, and today was an example of how great and encouraging it can be. Last week, I was invited to a global environment meeting with all of the environment staff here at Cooper City, as well as the other campuses via the internet. I went again today, and was then brought along for lunch. As a young adult in student ministry, wanting to learn and grow, there is nothing better than being included in meetings and gatherings of those who are doing it right. I really appreciated the warm welcome I received, and the investment Sharon, Priscilla, and Deb made in my life today, thanks for valuing me!

Going Up!

2008-05-06T07:59:00.001-07:00

Elevate is a college aged small group at FRC that was started last fall during our big small group push during the Naked Pastor series. We started in Mo's house with 12 people and apples covered in peanut butter and cereal. Well, from humble beginnings and a great team of passionate people, it has grown to be much more. After we hit 25 people and made a mess of Mo's oven, we moved on campus a month and a half ago. We expected a small hit from the move, but found that we were maintaining numbers while getting new people. Meeting after meeting, with ideas, plans, and responsibilities divied out, we finally started to put our finger on what it meant to execute well for us. Last night, after a Sr. Dinner that pushed some freshman up and a greeting presence in the main lobby, we had 48 people! That's right, I said 48...18 of which were first timers! What happens when you pray and plan to grow? Every person who walks in the doors gets welcomed and makes a friend immediately, we have tables waiting in the wings to be set up, all first timers get food...while Kristy runs to grab KFC for the usual people, I walk in and get hit in the face with an energy I've never felt in that room before! Last night was a blessing and an honor. I never thought that God would be able to use a small handful of college kids, all involved in ministries elsewhere, to turn a small gathering into a large community where no one felt small!

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-05-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

So I know I'm uber lame and haven't blogged in a century, so here is an overview of my thoughts from the last 3 weeks:

Just because you say "no-homo" doesn't mean you can say whatever you want...Luis, it's ok if you think Evan is hot.
Why do people read my blog if they don't like my thoughts?
I am one of the most forgetful persons I know, I need a lo-jack for my keys!
Sr. Dinner is one of the best parts of student ministry, a time to recognize all of their achievements, and ball like a baby.
I never got a chance to take a picture of my Unstoppable stage, sorry, it was banners, but cool.
Joey is coming in tomorrow!
If one more person tells me I look tired, I am getting a face lift.
Kids say the darnedest things: "I love rolls, I could live off of rolls and water"...really, you could survive off of bread and water, how interesting.
Why is it that when you are single and loving it, the first question people usually ask you is if your dating someone?!
One of my closest friends has been going through a hard time, I feel bad, but all I can do is be a friend.
School is over...for a week. I have taken summer term every summer since I've been in college, and once I graduate, there is no such thing as summer break....being an adult is lame.
I love my new stage...pictures to come.
We have to put my dog of 17 years down, I will miss him =. (
Gas prices are crazy, thank God my parents are generous!

Expelled

2008-04-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

I just saw the new Ben Stein documentary "Expelled" and I really enjoyed it. As mentioned long ago, I don't go to the movies often, so I hate seeing a bad one, but this was definitely worth my time and money. It was about the outcasting of scientists giving time to the thought of Intelligent Design. And it actually went a lot deeper than I expected, dwindling in the thought that Darwinism was the root of the Holocaust (seems extreme, but actually makes sense). I am not one for documentaries, but the truth was almost comical, and Ben Stein's dry humor was laced throughout the flick, keeping it interesting. Go see it, it will really open your mind!

On a lighter note, before the movie & previews (you know, the advertisement parts), there was a green friendly ad program. Now, I'm not anti-green, I'm all about taking care of God's green earth. But I am not jumping on the Al Gore bandwagon, and don't really trust the intentions of the media and their new "green" mindset. Well, in this ad program, there was a particular commercial that caught my eye, not because it was green, but because it was absurdly extreme. It was a cartoon that had a message pertaining to the admission of carbon dioxide, and all of a sudden, elephants started falling from the sky. Seriously, giant blue elephants were raining on this cartoon neighborhood, and led to the line "don't ignore the 12.1 billion elephants in the room"....really, elephants. Please, tree huggers out there, don't do that again.

From the mouth of a student

2008-04-18T14:29:00.001-07:00

While watching the previews of this seasons "The Paper" starring South Florida's Cypress Bay High School journalism club and little shots of Dan Suarez (woot woot!), a student said "it is better to act fake than start trouble!" Now, I know it is only a tv show, but I wonder how many of our students feel that way. If you look back on the history of christianity, they are trouble makers, beginning with Jesus. But do our students carry on with that rebellious attitude? Not rebellious against authority, but against the world, afraid to start trouble by being light and salt, and find it easier to be fake. According to this boy, its just easier, are our kids taking the easy way out? Do they walk around with a facade, hiding who Jesus is? And if so, are they fake at church, because it's easier too? The problem with being fake all the time is that eventually, it gets harder, and tiring. And how do we, as a student ministry show kids that it isn't easier to act fake?

Just a thought.

The Princess and the Piercing Bed

2008-04-18T13:55:00.000-07:00

You know that story, The Princess and the Pea, where supposedly a real princess could feel a pea under her bed? Well, I wouldn't say that I am a princess, but I felt a little something more than a pea while chilling on a bed last night. Often times, I chill on my brothers bed because he has a tv in his room and I don't, and hes never home. The only issue is, his bed 23 years old...seriously, he got it when he was a kid. Well, in this bajillion year old bed you can feel every spring, and a couple of them occasionally pop out...did I mention this bed was old. Last night, while enjoying an episode of Deadliest Catch, I scooted over to get a closer look at the crabbin' action, and I felt a little poke, ok more like a stabbing in my tuchkis. I hopped up immediately from the shocking pain, and took a look at my flesh wound - it was 1/2 an inch deep, and an inch long, seriously, from a frickin' bed!...I bled from a bed! How does my brother sleep on this thing?!?!?! It is a proverbial bed of nails. From now on, I am sitting on pillows.

p.s. according to my speel check, "shocking" is not a word, shocking isn't it?

Conch fritters, red hats, and a moleskin

2008-04-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Today I went out to the beach to clear my head and think a little. I was recently reminded of the story in 1 Kings where God couldn't be found in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but is heard in the whisper; and it really made me think. So often, I find myself in a whirlwind of life, and I am waiting to hear God, but am looking in all the big things and are never silent enough to hear Him. So, I am making an attempt to get quiet on a regular basis. This time, I just wanted to be quiet, reflect, and spend some time creatively thinking. As stated before, I found myself at the beach, which is a rarity - I don't think I have been to the beach for a reason other than beach baptism since 9th grade.

While there, I stopped to grab some lunch from a dump of a restaurant (my favorite kind), and had the best conch fritters I've ever had. Seriously, they were amazing! While waiting for my food, I noticed in the corner of the place, a group of about 8 elderly women, and they were all wearing purple shirts and red hats. I'm not talking t-shirts and baseball caps, I'm saying royalty style purple church clothes, and giant red hats! This one lady's hat looked like Elmo and Big Bird had an obese baby that took a crap on her head, it was nuts! I wish that I would have taken a picture, but by the time I thought of it and took out my janky phone, the flock of white heads was gone...I wonder what they were doing there....?

After a good meal and a better laugh, I took a seat on the beach and was so distracted by God's creation. The ocean to me has always been amazing, but when you go there just to think and hear God, it blindsides you with its majesty. I sat there, thinking, praying, and staring in awe, and while doing so, I got an idea almost immediately for my camp stage! I had been struggling with it for a while, and the second I got quiet, it came to me. So I whipped out my moleskin and sketched it out. Later, out of nowhere, while being quiet for a little while more, a hymn came to my mind, and I couldn't believe it. I was raised in a southern Baptist church, but it had been a while, and from what had to be the Spirit came a song. It was probably the most peaceful moment I've ever experienced. For so long I've missed out on those awesome God moments because I never got quiet enough. When was the last time you got quiet and surrounded yourself with God?

It's Back!

2008-04-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

Amidst the crazy writers strike, I wasn't craving 24 or The Office, in fact it didn't really phase me at all. But there is one show I've been craving, and it's back! In case you didn't know, Deadliest Catch is probably the best reality show out there, mainly because it seems like the only real reality show. So check it out, it's amazing!

Refreshing...like a lifewater

2008-04-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend was really refreshing for me...I really enjoyed serving and it was so carefree. To start, I had a really bad weekend last week. I was off my game, so it seemed like everything else was off too. The program ran as smooth as a 1940 F1 that's been sitting in a field in Georgia for the past 57 years, the game was lame, and about the only good thing was a new stage (pictures to come). But this weekend, after much prayer and planning, we had a real run-through (Thank God), a good game, the band was kickin', and a great speaker, Shad....there may be more to come from him. I think the biggest difference was that I realized that getting stressed over the little things makes me ignore the big things, the God things. I started off the weekend with an awesome prayer time at a nature preserve down the road (I kept hearing things and I thought is was an alligator), and I think I will make it a weekly tradition. It is amazing how that breath of fresh air and time to rest and be quiet can restore you for a weekend of craziness...it was more refreshing than a Strawberry kiwi Lifewater...now you know that's good!

Love It!

2008-04-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know this person, but I love his blog! Josh Griffin is the interim HS pastor at Saddleback, and he has so much good to say and offer - I always find myself on his blog and learning something new. Check it out: http://www.morethandodgeball.com/

Thoughts from the "Day"

2008-04-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Just some of my thoughts over the past month:
- I haven't cleaned my mac in almost a month...there are finger prints...gross!
- Evidently, our small group has turned into a nail salon.
- I couldn't imagine doing life without God's strength, how do others do it without Him?
- I am not a "U" fan, I just lost a bet to one...darn that truck sticker!
- We are getting some new equipment and I am so stoked!
- I was recently praying about discipline in a certain area of my life, and God pulled through ten times more than I expected with an accountability partner, I can't wait to be able to do life with Kristy a little more!
- Pedicures make me feel pretty.
- Noel & Jimbo are engaged! He is gonna look so cool in that kilt...come on Jimbo, you've got to wear it...your Irish!
- I dig my new job at the concession stand, it is hilarious and I feel 15 doing it, but it is actually good money...holla$$$
- My vocabulary reached an all time low lately, "real talk" and "bro" are my most used words...I promise I am not as dumb as I sound.

Lesson's from IKEA

2008-04-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

So I was reading Josh Griffin's blog a while back, and was so inspired by what he and his team did. He took a leadership fieldtrip to IKEA to learn something new about how to do ministry, and this is what they came up with:

The IKEA staff is easily identifiable with name tags, a colorful shirt. How can people tell who is on the volunteer team in our ministry during the weekend?

The IKEA experience is very well planned out before hand. How can HSM better communicate with our adult team and better program the weekend?

IKEA loves their signs! As you walk in, there are tons of signs that address everyone’s needs. How clear is our signage? Can a first-time visitor find us easily? Should we put up laptops in the back so students can sign up for HSM texts?

IKEA trys to make the first time experience as positive as possible. The store is huge, at times confusing, and intimidating to new customers. Our entry level program isn’t much different. Big room, lots of activity, and people on the outside looking in. This must be addressed.

Seeing as we are currently looking for a student pastor, I pray that we have a leader who thinks outside of the box when it comes to learning something new, and takes time to learn with his team. I think that sometimes as a leader, the lesson holds more water when you learn it with your team, that way they don't just hear the lessons, but they live it!

A Shut Up Easter!

2008-04-02T07:32:00.001-07:00

You know when sometimes you don't know what to say, so you just say "Shut Up!"? Well, we had a "Shut Up!" Easter here at FRC. To start off, on Friday night at the Good Friday services, a bajillion people went forward to accept Christ or ask for a miracle, and it really set the tone for the weekend. For all of the services, we had students out front passing out Peeps and cards, telling every student who came through about our kickin' student ministry.

Then, on Saturday night, we had our "Ridiculous" student service. We called it "Ridiculous" because Easter is, what Jesus did is, and what students can do with Him is! We started the service with a bunny and chicken break-dance fighting (Zoolander anyone?), some awesome music, channeling our inner Rihanna, Family Force 5, and Paramore, and then had a speed Easter Egg Hunt to have a chance to win a flat panel tv. The hunt was nuts because it was inside due to the rain, but I think it was for the better. We then played chubby bunny with Peeps to give out the prize, and those kids were bad at chubby bunny - one girl couldn't handle 2 Peeps! Afterward, Duce lead some worship, and Corey (a college student/future student pastor) and I shared some honest truths about ourselves, a kind of "dramatic reading" of our lives and the reality that everyone makes mistakes, even leaders. Matt followed up with a killer lesson, and 16 students accepted Christ, and a handful got Baptized. It was so encouraging. 275 students showed up to "Ridiculous", we were expecting 150 - God is good!

The rest of the weekend was just so cool. I was forced to be in the choir, but it was fun, and the energy was killer! So many people went forward to accept Christ or ask for a miracle. And even though we had 11 services in 3 days, it seemed to be the most stress free Easter I have ever been a part of. I might be wrong, because I wasn't everywhere, but the staff was ready for what God was going to do, and prepared for the over 15000 people He brought to FRC that weekend! It was stinking awesome!

No such thing as goodbye

2008-04-02T07:08:00.000-07:00

It actually happened! My best friend has been saying that he was "moving to South Carolina" for the past year and half, and I never thought it would actually happen. Joey has a certain way about him, he doesn't lie, but not all of his aspirations or plans come true. So the minute he said he was moving, I told him I would believe it once he gets up there.

So on Monday, I said "See you later" as he, his family, and the worlds largest red trailer drove away. I got a text message at 3:15 on Tuesday morning saying he was there. He left.

I knew that it would be hard to not have my best friend 12 minutes away (7 on a good day), but to be honest, it is a lot harder than I thought. Joey and I have a really special relationship that not a whole lot of people understand. You see, we met when I was in 8th grade, and became instant friends. The first time we spoke on the phone, it was for 8 hours, and we have spoken almost every night since then. Three and half years after our initial meeting, we started dating. Three years later, we broke up. We took a little break from everything for a little bit, and then restored our friendship. When we first restarted our friendship, it was a little shaky - we fought constantly, and the battle between handling the pain of heartache and the joy of friendship was tough. There were times that I wanted to strangle Joey for his jealousy and insecurities, and I am sure he felt the same way. But over the past year, we have really become comfortable in our friendship, we are truly friends who can count on each other, and enjoy each others company. Joey is the first person I run to when I want to cry, shout for joy, or punch someone in the face. He is the first person to call me out when I am being dumb or stumbling. He is the first to encourage me when I've had a bad day, and give me a hug even when I don't want one. He is the first to challenge me, even when I don't want to be challenged. He has always been there for me no matter what, even when I'm being a crazy female. He is my best person!

I am super excited for Joey as he enters this new adventure. He gets to go back to school, get a fresh start, and afford to live on his own in the next couple of years. So I am praying for him, and hoping he finds great friends and a great church up there. But I am sad that I can't see him whenever I want. Our friendship will last, I know it will, we worked so hard to make it work from the get go. It looks like ichat and cell phones will have to replace our hang outs, but I cherish our friendship so much, even more now because he's gone, and to me, there are no such things as goodbye's, just see you later!

Never too late

2008-03-11T11:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend, the adult service kicked off a new series called "RationaLIES", where they call out the devils lies. Pastor Troy and the team started off the series with a bang, with protesting "minion's" and a Green Day song. Then, God spoke. As God spoke through Troy, the truth about hell came out, followed by the truth about God. Pastor Troy filled the congregation in on the Good News of Christ, and invited them to take a seat in Christ. The whole time, while Troy was talking about hell, I was reminded of my only loved one that had passed on without knowing our Savior. My grandfather was Jewish, and set in his ways, especially when it came to his eternity. Every time the subject of hell is brought up, I am reminded of him, and how I wish he would have just accepted the truth of Christ. I knew it was never too late for him, but he didn't, until it became too late. While Troy invited the crowd to "sit in Christ" - literally - the whole front of the auditorium became filled with white folding chairs with people who had just made the greatest decision in their lives. As the seats filled, my eyes began to swell up at the sight of an elderly man taking a leap of faith. A man who I am sure has been set in his ways for far too long, but had decided to get out of His way. I just imagined the granddaughter of this man, that had prayed for so long, having so much joy. Now, I don't know this man's story, but I do know that his life is now changed, and he is proof that it is never too late.

Just a quick note

2008-03-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

I don't know who would ever do this to a friend, but I thought it was funny!

Pranks make me laugh!

Moving Forward!

2008-03-05T16:57:00.000-08:00

I just left a meeting with some awesome lead volunteers at Flamingo, and I am so excited...I feel like I just drank 18 redbulls (not that I have ever had one)! I have been dreaming about redoing our student building for-ev-errr (The Sandlot anyone?), and it is actually in reach! With the heart, man power, and most funds provided from volunteers, our room is going to be ridiculous! A month ago, I felt as if we were standing still, but after meeting, things are on paper, schedules are being made, and stuff is going to happen. What are you doing to make your dreams, as big or small as you like, come true? Take a step forward and see how far God takes you...I dare you!

Overloaded

2008-03-04T11:45:00.000-08:00

I want to do this:

How amazing!...any high school dancers out there????

Real Fortune?

2008-03-04T00:19:00.000-08:00

I received a fortune cookie not that long ago, and oddly enough, I think it is coming true. Now, I know that most "fortunes" are written in a very vague way so that it is most likely to come true, but I have rarely come across one that seemed applicable in my life. A couple of years ago, I stopped at Pei Wei (for the first time) on my way to a summer camp, and received a fortune saying I "would soon witness a miracle." While that came true, very few have followed suit since. But check this one out: "Be prepared for a sudden, needed, and happy change in plans!" I have learned over the years that having plans is practically useless, because God's plan is always better, and will always win. Yet, while knowing that, I still have an idea of what is going on in my life, and where it is going...well, I did.

Things are changing, and quickly...I think. I think, because nothing is for certain, as usual. One way that this prophetic cookie applies is in my ministry. Our student pastor is following God's lead, and leaving FRC. While he will be missed, I trust with all of my heart that God is in charge, and while sudden, it is "needed and happy". So I'm being prepared; while staying focused on God and my leaders, I am working with my team to stay on track with impacting the youth of South Florida.

Another possible change is my residence. No, I'm not moving, exactly. But my mom just interviewed for a position in Tallahassee...a city 8 hours away...a city that I will never go back to. While my mom doesn't think she will get the position, there is a possibility that she will. She said that if she did, my dad would stay and fix up the house until I graduated. So let me spell this out: my mom would be 8 hours away, and I would be living in a house under construction with just my brother and overwhelmingly disciplined father, who thinks a dirty room is the end of the world. While I understand where he is coming from, I don't think I could live with him for a year without the buffer of my mother. So, my residence would be moving from a messy room to under a bridge, which is probably equally messy. I don't know how I could "prepare" for that, but it would be sudden, maybe "needed" (to build character), but I yet to see the "happy" in this possible change.

Lastly, I will be going through a change in plans in terms of my independence. I never have been financially independent, or even remotely close to it, but I will have to be soon. My parents have taken care of me all through my life, and as my fourth year of college wraps up (logic says I would be graduating, but dropping classes and procrastination has prevented that), I think my free ride is coming to an end. I was hoping they would take care of me until I walked down the aisle, but that isn't going to happen. So, it starts; my reality check of what it takes to survive in ministry, as a full time student, in the crappy economy I like to call South Florida. I know that it is probably "needed" (my growing up and all), but in terms of "happy", I don't see how that is a reality. This fortune can represent so much in my life, and I know that God takes care of His children, so I will always be "happy" in the end, as long as I follow Him - but in the meanwhile, pray for me as I try my hardest to "prepare" for those "sudden needed changes". Who knows where I will be in the future, but I hope the next prophetic cookie says something with a little more instant gratification.

Oh...that commandment

2008-02-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

"Friday's my day off" was often a phrase followed by chuckles and a sarcastic smirk. Being a full time student, with basically a full time job, things sometimes don't get finished by Thursday night, so my "day off" became my day on. I never stopped to think that the purpose for my day off was not really to be my day off, but to be my Sabbath, a day without work or school, to enjoy my life with my God. While listening to a podcast, I was reminded of the Sabbath, the concept (and commandment) had completely slipped my mind. It had been so long, probably 6 months since I had actually taken a Sabbath, and at least a year that I had taken a Sabbath consistently. My creator, the awesome God that is everywhere at one time took the time to rest after six days, but I couldn't manage to find the time. God created the Sabbath for a purpose, for man to enjoy God, family and community together without the toil of work and the world. What a blessing! My God wants me to take a break, a day long one! It is a blessing and a discipline all in one - give up a day for God and you get a day to relax and see all that He has for you. As if that reasoning isn't good enough, it came to my mind that whole "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" -Exodus 20:8. You know, those 10 commandments that God gave us, those 10 rules to live by, well, #4 was a bit of a struggle. After coming to the realization that by not taking my day off, I was sinning, I made a commitment to myself and my God to remember the Sabbath, and what a blessing it has been! God gives us the Sabbath to rest, and I am loving it! Not only will He bring me blessing for following His Word, I have been less stressed and really enjoyed my life and ministry more because my willingness to stop and smell all God made for me...and occasionally a rose or two. For those not taking the Sabbath, try it out and see how much better life gets, and it will make God smile too!

Drums to go!

2008-02-28T12:34:00.000-08:00

We just started a new series called "Proverbs" with a cool asian flare, and I dig it! Pastor Chad used the idea of old chinese proverbs found in fortune cookies and used the theme to relate to God's Proverbs. Ever since I saw the graphic, I wanted to do it! Through the series, everything is asian; we got custom fortune cookies with funny/dumb fortunes on one side with an invite to The Rd. on the other, we made a dubbed over old chinese film (it turned out lame, but the thought had good potential), our games involve chopsticks and soy sauce and sushi, and we will be having a take out movie night the last night of the series, eating egg rolls and watching "3 ninjas". We are having an all out asian time, and I love it. Also, the stage has to be one of my favorites yet, check it out:

Proverbs Stage from carsonday on Comiqs

I covered the drum risors with a chinese takeout box, made a bamboo planter to cover the keys risor, decked out the ceiling in chinese lanterns, got a cool chinese dragon, and hung fabric with the series title painted on it.

Garage Sale Time!

2008-02-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

Our last series was alignment series with big church called "Garage Sale"which lead to the worlds largest garage sale!...and it rocked! For the stage, I went simple with banners, but it was cool:

There's a first time for everything!

2008-02-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

One of my main responsibilities at FRC Student Ministry is making the stage. We are a very visual/creative driven church, much like the world, so all of our series themes are portrayed physically on the stage where the worship and teaching takes place. I love doing our stages. I started when I was in 9th grade, as a helper to my friend who lead the team, and I never stopped! Environment is huge in our society. Starbucks doesn't have the best coffee, but you want to go there, Cheesecake Factory doesn't have the best food, but it is always packed, and smoke filled redneck bars usually have the best wings, but no one wants to go there; people go places because they feel comfortable in the environment, so we try to instill this philosophy in ministry. Being in student ministry, it is a blast, because we have some fun themes. I will be posting pics of my stages as I do them...I know, I finally took a picture after 8 years of doing this!

The following is the stage from 3 months ago, called "Me, Myself, and I". It was a series on selfishness, and I based the stage off of the graphic designed by the student pastor.

"Me, Myself, & I" stage:

Using great grayscale fabrics and mirrors that I painted gray and black, it had a great feel.