Waiting in the airport

My flight was supposed to leave about 3o minutes ago - so I am watching people in the airport. It's interesting to watch all of the different reactions of people as they realize the flights are late or moved or the wheelchair is broken. Holy Spirit come...

A side note - I have enjoyed reading other peoples experiences at NYWC 07 this year. Especially if we participated in the same thing but had a different response. I would list all of them but for some reason when I add a link to my blog, it doesn't show up. Going to try to work on that while I am at my parents for the holiday.

YS Day 3

Got to sleep in a bit. I made it to the General session about 20 minutes before it started. Have always enjoyed Taylor Mason, as a matter of fact I think that he has changed how people view puppets. But his bit this time was so short - only two puppets...and not as interactive. But I am glad that I got to see him. If you haven't ever seen him, you have definitely got to if you ever get the chance.
I went backstage to chat with Marko about Meltdown 08 and I didn't get lost. It was interesting to watch lots of different people relax backstage and hang out - children as well - while they seamlessly put the different acts and speakers onstage. Also, Marko and Tic had a short conversation about what they would do if they couldn't find Doug Fields before he was supposed to be on stage - but he showed up before they got too worried. That would be the hardest part for me...not being able to get in touch with someone once the general sessions start...whew.
Zach Hunter was interviewed by Jeannie Stevens - He is the 15 year old that wrote a book about "Be the Change". So humble.
Doug Fields spoke about envy. Especially ministry envy. I don't really struggle too much with ministry envy - because as my friend Vona said today, "I just don't go there". It's not an issue for me - it does fly around me at times but it just doesn't stick. I struggle more with when I know someone is doing something they shouldn't be and no one else knows...and they fake it so well. Is it my job to call them out???? Correct? I have done that at times and pray that I have done it generosity and gentleness...but I know how crazy my heart and soul were in that time.

I went to Marko's seminar on Middle school ministry and was honestly encouraged about where our middle school ministry is. We definitely don't have it all together but we are trying to create a SAFE place for our students to engage in relationships with each other, with adults and with Jesus.

Then I left NYWC because I paid $25 for a parking spot till 4:00 p.m. because of the Lakers game downtown and some concert at the Tabernacle...and I would have had to pay another $25 to stay there for the evening. So I went to the Lenox Mall to go to Sephora, Teavana and Urban Outfitters and was actually completely overwhelmed by the amount of people - so I left as soon as I could.
Had dinner with a bunch of friends and then to bed!!!

YS Day 2

My day started off with a glorious cranberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese from Einstein's Bagels. And it just kept getting better from there. I love Shane and Shane. I haven't heard them recently but every time I do - I remember how much I resonate with their lyrics and love their music! And today was no different. It was amazing too because they were both sick - one with bronchitis and the other with an infected tonsil. And they still sound great!
Then Phyllis Tickle. She basically left us with a plea to guard Christianity and theology well because what we do with it will affect our faith for the next 500 years. Every 500 years there are HUGE changes within the church and we are in the middle of one now...our denominational differences and becoming more and more the same while at the same time some people within denominations are trying to hold onto what they know even harder. She asked us to remember that the people we are in disagreement with are still Christians. There was a lot more to this but that is how she ended. (You can a more thorough write up here and here) What struck me is that I am pretty sure that I work in a church(United Methodist) that is going to stay UM, it has no interest to change and does what it does really well. And then there is me. If you have never heard or read Phyllis Tickle - you have got to! She is incredibly smart and passionate...

I bought way too many books at the YS bookstore - I am a sucker for books. I even bought two books that I already own but have loaned out - so now I have more. :)

I spent the afternoon session with Rich Van Pelt in Helping Parents with teens in crisis. It was basics but basics that I think many youth ministers could use. I really appreciated that he gave us the story of the four friends that bring the paralytic to Jesus in Mark 2 as a reminder that parents and youth ministers aren't expected to do miracles but we need to work together to bring the kids to Jesus.

My Thinking theological class met for about 1 1/2 after the afternoon session to share 1 sentence about each session we have been to. The 1 sentence was supposed to be a theological "nugget" that we gleaned from the session. Harder to do than I thought it would be. 1 sentence!? I need a paragraph to explain...

I skipped Louie...and hung out with friends again for the evening...and now am getting ready for bed. I am meeting with Marko in the a.m. to discuss Meltdown 08 and just hang out. I am supposed to go to the backstage area and just ask for him - so hopefully I don't get lost! Ha.

YS Day one

We had two assignments for Thinking Theologically about Youth Ministry(the class I'm taking with Dave Rahn at Huntington University) today. One was to go through the YS Exhibit hall to pick one exhibit display/table that...if Jesus walked into the hall, which table would he "turn over". It was interesting to walk up and down the rows and rows of displays and look at each one through that lens. Before I even got to the hall, I joked that Interlinc would win that honor. Just in case you don't know - I worked for Interlinc for about 1 1/2 years so I know our purpose of all the flash. But the table that probably bothered me the most was the Asbury booth with all the violent gaming.
2nd assignment - was to try to talk to someone at one of the booths to ask them to explain if and what theological concepts drive their exhibit. I talked to one of the workers at UthStuph - their exhibit had a HUGE red balloon over the exhibit and all of the workers were dressed like a pit crew and they had a tricycle race that youth workers can experience. IF they so choose. I asked her what the theological concept is for their display and she just started laughing and said, "ummm, I don't think we have any purpose". But Youth Workers were having fun racing. So they may not have a purpose but they are fun.

I believe there are about 5500 people at YS Atlanta...this is the 3rd time I've been to YS in Atlanta - which means that I've been around for awhile. Nice.
My favorite part about YS is that they constantly remind us to take care of ourselves while we are here. I didn't actually believe them when I first started to come to YS but I do now! I used to try to go to EVERYTHING! But these days - I skip lots. And talk to friends. And be still.
Andy Stanley was good - but basic. But good.
Shane Claiborne - I skipped. One of my friends called me a lightweight because I was so tired this evening after 2 days of classes...but I decided to buy the MP3 and head to Anne's to relax.
I can't wait to hear Phyllis Tickle tomorrow morning though. I heard her a year ago when she spoke in Atlanta with Anne Lamott...she was incredible! She basically brought it. So hopefully she will tomorrow.
My prayer for myself and my friends, shoot all of us, this weekend is to truly stay open to the Spirit...no matter what. I am tired but I am also excited to be here.

Update(12/06/07): I regret missing Shane Claiborne. Even though I can listen to what he said - it will never compare to the experience of hearing him read Matthew 5 and 6 and then walking off the stage. Everyone was talking about it the next day.

MARTA

I am staying with my friend Stacy in Atlanta and she lives pretty close to little 5 points. Which is a great location when you have to be at the Omni/CNN building at 8:00 a.m. She made homemade chicken wings and 7 layer dip for dinner and as she, Ben and I were eating. She casually mentioned that I should take the shuttle downtown cause it will be easier then finding a parking spot. I smiled at her and nodded my head as I thought, "Yeah right". She takes the Marta to school every day from here and so for me to not even consider taking it is a foreign concept to her. So now armed 2 one way tickets that she had left over, my very own map of Atlanta and directions to and from both Marta stations - I have to make a decision by the time I leave tomorrow about this.
What do I do? What is it about me that I would rather leave earlier and struggle to find a parking spot? Interesting. Is it that I like the freedom of driving? Or that Marta is an unknown? What if I get on the wrong shuttle and end up in Taiwan? That would suck. I've ridden on it before - so I don't think I am afraid of actually riding it. I really think that I don't want to not have my car. What if I got a chance to drive somewhere...then what would I do!
Ha!
I'll be in class all day tomorrow from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and then I guess I am heading over to Anne's for the rest of my time here. Wonder if I could take the Marta from her area of town...

Update (12/06/07) - I didn't take the MARTA that morning. I am too much of a control freak. I wanted to drive to the building and park in my parking lot(the one I got to know while attending Q) and walk to the Omni/CNN Building.

In the airport...

I am actually about to board the plane to Atlanta. But I have to say this is one of the first times I have left town and I was actually ready yesterday. Packed. Work finished. Not stressed. Well, not about leaving town.
I am ready for this weekend - ready for my class. Ready to be loved on by Youth Specialties and ready to LEARN!