Safe and Sound!

We arrived safely and ahead of schedule in New Orleans on Sunday evening. We made good time driving on both Saturday and Sunday, and we arrived at the church where we're staying for the week at around 4:00 p.m. We got all settled and had time to relax and hang out before the other youth group arrived.

The church is nice and air conditioned. We divided into our work teams tonight, and we'll head out tomorrow morning to serve New Orleans. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers!

HS New Orleans Mission Trip REMINDER!

If you're a student or parent, please REMEMBER this stuff!

1. We board the church vans THIS Saturday at 5am from Sunnybrook.

2. Bring Chuck Starbucks coffee. :)

3. You can bring cellphones and ipods at your own risk. I will collect them when we get to New Orleans, and give them back to you when we leave New Orleans.

4. Our youth group is teaming up with a youth group from Chicago Heights, Ill. I talked to their youth pastor today, and they sound like an amazing group! They are bringing 18 students. Go to their WEBSITE

5. Bring $90-100 for your travel food.

6. Remember your packing list! See below!

PACKING LIST!
• Reusable water bottle (extremely important
• Sun block, lip balm, hat (to protect you from the sun), sunglasses
• Long pants (for cool nights and/or work projects)*
• Long sleeved shirts and sweatshirts (for cool nights and/or work projects)*
• Short sleeved shirts (no sleeveless shirts or tank tops)
• Appropriate length shorts (see clothing policy)
• Nice, clean clothes for a possible worship service*
• Light jacket (for cool nights)*
• Tennis shoes (must be closed-foot)
• Underwear and socks
• Bath towel, wash cloth, & one-piece swimsuit for showering & possible evening activities(We ask that you bring swimsuits for showering because not all of our communities offer private showers. If a swimsuit is not needed for an activity, it is OK to wear a two-piece swimsuit for showering.)
The girls swim suits that are brought for the waterpark (after New Orleans) needs to be a one piece or a tank-kini.
• Shower shoes
• Small shower bag or backpack
• Soap, shampoo, deodorant, other toiletries
• Extra contact lenses, backup pair of glasses)
• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Air mattress or foam camping pad ( must be twin size or smaller)
• Bible and pen
• Spending money for snacks and t-shirt purchases
• Insect repellant
• Flashlight
• Battery powered alarm clock
• Reusable lunch bags/boxes for lunches

Notes on Packing
Because space is limited in the sleeping rooms, everything but the sleeping bag and camping pador air mattress must fit in one duffel bag or suitcase.Please check the local weather forecast for your site to make sure that you pack accordingly.

DO NOT BRING:
• Blow dryers, curling or straightening irons because the shower time is short and because many housing sites do not have the power to run all of these small electronics at one time.

Clothing Policy
YouthWorks loves the community where you are serving this summer! Because of this, we
ask that you recognize that your words, actions and appearance during your week contribute to the way we present ourselves to a community. Choosing modest clothing helps to avoid distractions in our representation of Christ. We ask that you choose apparel consistent with the following guidelines. We appreciate your help in creating a safe, respectful, distraction-free environment for your mission experience.

Please Bring
Loose-Fitting Clothing. During the week your clothes may endure paint,sweat, mud and lots of love from children! Bring clothes that you can work and play hard in.

Closed–Foot Shoes. To prevent injury, you need to bring a pair of
shoes that completely cover your foot. Bring shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet at work sites and that you can wear in the kitchen.No plastic shoes (e.g. crocs).

One-Piece Swimsuits. Although we won’t swim at every YouthWorks site, swimsuits are a good idea for additional privacy in the showers (not all of our communities offer private showers. If a swimsuit is not needed for an activity, it is OK to wear a two-piece swimsuit for showering.) Please choose modest swimsuits for swimming activities.If you do not bring a one-piece for swimming, you’ll be asked to wear a t-shirt over it.

Mid-Thigh or Longer Shorts (or pants) You will bend, twist, sit, climb and crawl as youlove and serve communities. Short shorts will only get shorter with these activities. A good measure is to let your arms fall to your side – if your fingers touch skin, bring a longer pair of shorts.

Please Don’t Bring

Apparel that Distracts Including . . .
• Tank tops or sleeveless shirts
• Short shorts
• Clothing that reveals undergarments
• Clothing that reveals midriffs or chests

Apparel that . . .• Includes obscene, vulgar, abusive or
discriminatory language or images
• Advertises or promotes alcohol, chemical,tobacco or any other product illegal for use by minors
• Represents hate groups, is gang-related, or contains threatening language

Why Not?
We represent Christ in the communities that we serve. These “prohibited” clothing items often work against, not for, our efforts to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. This distracting apparel can be disrespectful and damaging to our long-term relationship building within a community.

99 balloons...

New GAMER techology that blows my mind...

I totally ripped this blog off of Joshua Griffin's (High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA) blog MORE THAN DODGEBALL.

I wanted to post it on my blog, because this is some of the coolest technology I've ever seen. Where are we going with all this?

To all my HS friends running in the state track meet this week...

Dear high school state track athletes,

You may be too young to know who John Belushi is, but KNOW this: you're NEVER too young for little chocolate donuts to fuel your way to victory. Eat them before every race and be victorious for your high school and your hometown.

And whatever event you're this week, strive for God's glory and not your own. Colossians 3:23

"God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure."
- Famous Olympian Eric Liddell.

country music imitates life...

I can't say I've ever listened to a whole George Strait song, but I found "I Saw God Today" on Itunes and bought it right away. Those lyrics came true in my life (especially the last verse) last Wednesday, April 29 when my second daughter was born.

I Found God Today by George Strait
I just walked down the street to the coffee shop
had to take a break
I'd been by her side for eighteen hours straight
I saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk
pushing up through the concrete
like it was planted right there for me to see
the flashin' lights, the honkin' horns all seemed to fade away
in the shadow of that hospital at 5:08
I saw God today

I've been to church
I've read the book
I know He's here, but I don't look
near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should
His fingerprints are everywhere
I'd just slow down to stop and stare
opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

I saw a couple walking by they were holding hands
Man, she had that glow
yeah I couldn't help but notice she was starting to show
I stood there for a minute takin' in the sky
lost in that sunset
a splash of amber melted in the shades of red

I've been to church
I've read the book
I know He's here, but I don't look
near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should
His fingerprints are everywhere
I'd just slow down to stop and stare
opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

I got my face pressed up against the nursery glass
She's sleeping like a rock
My name on her wrist wearing tiny pink socks
She's got my nose, she's got her mama's eyes
My brand new baby girl
She's a miracle
I saw God today

The 6th "S".

We have a new baby in our household. We also have a 20-month-old, so my wife and I are getting the hang of mornings - taking care of two children in two different phases of life.

My wife was reading our 20-month-old a book while I was shaving after a shower. Our new baby girl started to cry, so (with a towel wrapped around my waist), I proceeded to implement the "Five S technique" in our living room.

We learned this technique in a parenting class, and it's been working like a charm for our new born.

1st "S" = "Swaddling" -Wrap the crying baby tightly in their blanket.
2nd "S" = "Side" -Hold the baby on their side and support their head.
3rd "S" = "Shushing" -Make white noise by shushing in the baby's ear.
4th "S" = "Swinging" -Slightly and gently jiggle the baby.
5th "S" = "Sucking" -Give the baby a pacifier.

So there I jiggle, holding and shushing a cyring baby - with only a towel wrapped around my waist, in the living room with all our window shades up.

The towel falls off. The 6th "S" occurs.

Naked dad "streaking".