All-Star Retreat Highlights

As I mentioned before, a couple weekends ago we took a group of our All-Star Student Leaders on a retreat to Oakwood Inn down on Lake Wawasee. The result was an awesome weekend of focusing on God's plans and His vision for this upcoming school year and how we might fit into those plans. I was really encouraged to see some of the students "get it"--that this year wasn't about them, but that it could be about something so much bigger. I told this group of students that if they want to be leaders, they need to be servants--a far cry from what the world teaches us, but Jesus never really cared much about the kingdom of this world, did he? No, his model of leadership was countercultural--his model of leadership was to put himself below others in sacrificial service to them (see Phil. 2). Probably not exactly the kind of leadership that these high schoolers had in mind, but I think they see it now--there's really no other way to lead.

One of the highlights of the retreat for me was when we began to share visions of what God wanted to do in our student ministry and in our local schools. We then went to three of the most highly represented schools in our ministry, Jimtown, Penn, and Mishawaka, and we laid hands on the school buildings and prayed that God would have His way in these schools this year. I'm excited to see what might come of these prayers, and I expect that some of our students might be used in powerful ways to transform their schools. God is going to move this year! 

Jimtown High School

The students praying for Jimtown.

Praying over my alma mater, Penn High School.

Asking God to move at Mishawaka High School.

Good Times With Great Friends

This entire past weekend was spent catching up with some of my best buddies from high school. We call ourselves The Association, although a few of you lucky ones might remember that we were formerly known as the "Dawgs" some 7 or 8 years ago. But whatever you call us, we are just a group of guys who love Jesus, love each other, and love hanging out together any chance we can get (which at this point, sadly, is only about one or two weekends a year). Still, somehow, we stay connected, and when we get together it always feels like the good ol' days again...

Kyle, Michael, Ben, AC, Natedawg, Ging, Teddy

Kory, AC, Teddy, Ben, Ging, Kyle

Good times...GREAT friends!!!

Welcome to the World, Lance Michael Edison!!!

Congrats to my brother-in-law and sister, Michael and Emily Edison, on the birth of their healthy new son and my first nephew, Lance Michael Edison! After nearly 24 hours of labor (my sister is a trooper!), Lance was welcomed into the world yesterday, July 29th. Here's a sneak peak of the little rugrat...

MaxAC Buys a House!!!

After nearly one and a half years of searching for a house, the search ends at 809 33rd St. in the River Park neighborhood in South Bend. That's right...MaxAC is a homeowner! Here are the top five reasons why I absolutely love this house:

5. I can move right into it...no work needed!

4. Can't beat the location. (Just a few houses down from my brother's new place, close to friends at Bethel, close to downtown Mishawaka, close to shopping, movies, etc.)

3. Got the house for over $25,000 less than the original asking price.

2. Moving in with one of my best buddies since high school, Teddy G.

1. It's MY house!!!

All-Star Retreat

Heading off an an overnight retreat tonight with our All-Star Student Leaders for this coming school year. The goal is to cast the vision and dream dreams together with this core group of students and let them take the vision and run with it. I think God is going to show up in a big way this weekend. Can't wait! 

Highlights From Paraguay

Some highlights from my recent mission trip to Paraguay:

• Spending a day touring Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Spending time in Villarrica with the kids at Alyssa's school
• Spending the night in a Paraguayan host home with Lucas and his family
• Being reminded of my love for the Spanish language (and foreign languages in general) and getting numerous chances to practice speaking Spanish
• Teaching the kids at the church in Villarrica how to play futbol americano (and then running around for the next few hours as the kids tried to tackle me!)
• Enjoying a worship service with the believers in Kapi'i (the Gospel just reached this rural village about a year ago)
• Uniting our hearts in worship and fellowship with the SIM missionaries at the retreat
• Late night talks and royal rumble wrestling matches with the MKs
• Horseback riding outside of San Bernardino
• Hanging out with a really cool team from St. Mark
• Staying overnight in Brazil and seeing the Itaipu Dam (one of the seven wonders of the modern world) and the Iguacu Falls

Some highlights since coming home:

• Soft toilet paper
• Being able to flush my toilet paper
• Hot showers
• Water pressure
• Pizza
• Regular bowel movements (TMI, I know...)

Stay tuned...I'll be sharing some sweet pics from my trip soon!

Good Times in Paraguay!!!

Still keepin' it real down in Paraguay. You can read about it here. I'll be back in 5 days!

¡Vamos a Paraguay!

Heading off to Paraguay tomorrow with a team from the church. We will be helping to lead a conference for the SIM Missionaries serving in Paraguay. Half of our team will be providing VBS for the MKs there, while the other half of the team will be leading the worship services for the missionaries. Danielle and I have been working extremely hard to prepare hours upon hours of meaningful worship experiences for the missionaries. The goal is that they will leave the conference refreshed and renewed in their spirits so that they can continue the difficult work they are doing to reach the world for Christ. Please pray for our ministry there over the next two weeks. I will be keeping you all posted on what God is doing while we are down there in Paraguay here.

Gotcha!

In case you haven't heard the news, less than a week after our church was broken into and thousands of dollars worth of equipment was stolen, the three kids responsible for the break-in and robbery were caught. 

The story goes something like this:

Last Sunday night, three teenagers broke into our church, taking tons of equipment, some of which was a guitar and an amp. One of our musicians in the worship band, Ray, works at a local guitar store, and only a few days after the robbery the kids tried to pawn the stolen items (not the brightest thieves in the world). Ray noticed a striking similarity between those items and the ones stolen from our church. We checked the serial numbers on the items, and sure enough they were a match. The store had the address of the teens who pawned the items, and they received a visit from the cops. Not only did they confess to the crime, but ALL of the stolen items were found in their apartment and returned to the church! God is good!

To any thieves out there, if you are planning on making a life out of stealing, just don't forget rule #5: YOU WILL GET CAUGHT!

Movie Review: THE INCREDIBLE HULK

A much less anticipated Marvel Comic release than this movie, and for good reason. Perhaps it was the fact that we are still only five years removed from Marvel's last attempt at putting the Hulk on the big screen, but this movie doesn't seem to quite be the blockbuster calibre movie that you might expect from Marvel Comics.

Here's what I liked about the movie:

• Edward Norton never lets me down, and he does a great job playing the role of Bruce Banner in this movie.
• Some classic fight scenes involving grenade launchers, tanks, and a couple (that's right...there are TWO) green monstrosities known as "Hulks."
• A cameo from another Marvel Comic character (I won't spoil the surprise if you haven't seen the movie yet). The combining of the storylines for these two comic book heros could make for an epic movie in the future. 

Here's what I didn't like about this movie:

• There was very little resolution at the end of the movie. Clearly a shameless ploy for Marvel Comics to continue making sequel after sequel after sequel. I'll still go see the ensuing sequels, of course, but a little closure on this particular storyline would have been nice.
• Unlike Ironman, this movie lacked much originality. Nothing surprised me...I could have probably guessed the entire plot from the beginning. 
  

The bottom line: Liked it...didn't love it.

Overall grade: B

Newsflash: Stealing Isn't Cool!

I arrived at St. Mark this morning to find out that we were broken into last night. Some punks smashed one of the windows at the church and proceeded to run off with a TV, video camera, brand spankin' new iMac computer, and the church safe--which luckily was almost completely empty at the time of the break-in. The whole situation left me pondering some things about life...

What possesses someone to take something that's not theirs? How can someone who steals feel like anything less than a complete and utterly pathetic fraud when they make a living off taking things that aren't theirs from other people. And maybe the biggest question of all: WHO STEALS FROM A CHURCH?!?!?

Seriously...

When I was in India, I had $100 stolen out of my wallet. I almost didn't even care about the money (whoever took it most likely needed it more than me), but it left a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach...I felt used and defrauded. That same feeling crept into my stomach today as I walked around the church making a list of all the stolen items. There aren't a whole lot of things in life that I can say I really hate, but stealing is certainly one of those things...

Link Lovin' It

• For great insights on life and ministry, check out Derry's blog.
• If you want your head to explode from lots of big words and great thoughts on church, religion, and philosophy, check out my brother Dave's blog.
• For endless hours of laughter watching funny videos and reading about old men car clubs, check out my buddy Seth's blog.
• To get the skinny on life as an intern in St. Mark Student Ministries, check out Dani's blog.
  

These are some of my favorite people in the blogosphere. Check them out sometime!

Breaking News: AC to the Max Goes International!

So I've always been a pretty globally-minded kind of guy, but my blog only recently decided to hit the international stage.  In the past couple weeks I have experienced a worldwide boom in blog readership.  Thanks to Google Analytics, I'm able to track the countries, states, and even cities where people are reading this blog. Here's a list of the countries where people have visited my blog, in order from most blog hits to least:

1. United States (duh)
2. Canada
3. United Kingdom
4. Australia
   
5. Italy
6. Poland
7. Germany
8. Mauritius (island off the eastern coast of Madagascar...I had to look it up, too)
9. Chile
10. Sudan
11. Brazil
12. Costa Rica
13. Argentina
14. Mexico
15. France
16. Macedonia
17. Slovenia

A few random thoughts as I have analyzed the data.  For obvious reasons, my top four countries are English-speaking nations. My blog has been read on every continent except Asia (not counting Antarctica, of course), which interestingly enough is where I have spent more of my world travels than any other place. I suppose I'll have to make an appeal for readership from my friends in China, India, and Bhutan. Western Europe is apparently in love with me, although I've never been there nor posted about that part of the world. I've had readership in one African nation (Sudan)...well...two if you include Mauritius, but I think that is more of an island nation without any continent affiliation.  My readership covers probably 85% of the Americas (I made that statistic up, but that doesn't mean it's not true!), thanks to readers in the big countries like the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina.

The bottom line...my blog readership is going global! So join in the fun! If you are reading this blog from somewhere outside the U.S., leave me a comment! (Ok, U.S. readers...I won't be ethnodiscriminatory...you can comment, too!)

Proud Moments in Youth Ministry

This morning Seth and I officially kicked off the graduation season with the first of many graduation celebrations. This particular celebration, however, was unique in that it was an 8th grade graduation ceremony. Now, I remember my last day of 8th grade, and I remember some kind of an awards ceremony (somewhere I've got a trophy or two to commemorate that day!), but it was nothing like this...this was a students-dressing-up-auditorium-filled-with parents-cameras-flashing-band-playing-people-cheering-diploma-
handing-out-full-fledged graduation ceremony. Basically, it was the real deal. My pessimistic thought for the day was that middle schools have started holding these ceremonies because so many kids (40% was the statistic I heard today) will never graduate high school. For many of them, today is their graduation day--their one and only graduation day.

I digress...

The cool thing about this ceremony were the kids from our youth group whom we were there to celebrate. We were invited by Dylan, the poster child for our student ministry if there ever was one. When I came to St. Mark 3 years ago, Dylan was just entering the 6th grade. We quickly became close friends--in fact, Dylan may have been my very first friend at St. Mark! I have seen Dylan grow and be challenged so much over the past three years. He speaks with wisdom beyond his years, and he's just about the nicest kid you'll ever meet. It was no surprise to me, then, when he walked away from the ceremony today with a handful of trophies for academic excellence and other positive contributions to his school and community.

Samantha "Sam" Decker was the other student of ours involved in the ceremony. Sam has been involved in our student ministry for a couple years now. After being invited to youth group by a friend, she has become one of the core kids in our middle school ministry. The cool thing about her is that she accepted the Lord as the result of our ministry. Not only that, but since becoming a part of our ministry, her mom started coming to church. Her mom also began bringing one of her friends to church, and that woman accepted Christ through the ministry of our church shortly before dying at an early age from cancer. One of the coolest stories you'll ever hear.

But back to Sam...she literally stole the show today. Sam was one of two students in her grade who received all A's this entire school year. She also walked out with another half dozen or so trophies and awards for things such as top orchestra student and outstanding work on the school's TV broadcasting team (by the end of the ceremony they actually gave her a box to carry all of her trophies!). Basically, she dominated!

All in all, it was a proud moment for Seth and me as we watched Dylan and Sam today. God has been doing incredible things in their lives, and it has just been great to play a part in helping them grow. I couldn't be more proud of these two! Way to go, Dylan and Sam!

Seth, Sam, Dylan, and Me.

Highlights From Hotlanta: Day 4

• A great break-out session about a ministry called Student Impact which provides students weekly opportunities to serve in the body of Christ.
• Another incredible message from Andy Stanley on working together as a church staff.
• A huge barbecue at one of NPCC's satellite churches, Brown's Bridge Community Church.
• A one-hour stand up comedy routine by JEFF FOXWORTHY! Hilarious!!!

More pics...

Worship through the arts.

Rockin' out with inflatable guitars!

THE most incredible drama skit I have ever seen!...Broadwayesque...

Nothing like finishing up a meal including ribs, french fries, and 

elephant ears with some cotton candy!

Jeff Foxworthy's stand up comedy routine at BBCC.

This guy is hilarious.

That's it for day 4 at the Drive Conference. Day 5 is already underway...looking forward to hearing Andy Stanley one more time this afternoon!

Highlights From Hotlanta: Day 3

• Brunch at Cracker Barrel like a bunch of old people (great food, though!).
  
• Hanging out in downtown Hotlanta.
• Taking the "Inside CNN" tour (not worth the $12, but still pretty cool).
• Meeting Glenn Beck (sort of).
• An incredible opening session of the Drive Conference 2008, including a message on trust between church staff members by Andy Stanley and worship led by Steve Fee, Todd Fields, and Kristian Stanfill.
• More time connecting on a deeper level as a church staff.

Here are some pics from today:

The Georgia Aquarium.

The Coca-Cola Museum.

It was a lot of fun hanging out with Seth and David...and their cell phones! :-P

Inside the CNN Center.

Riding up the world's largest escalator...what a rush!

CNN en espanol.

Seth hangin' with Wolf Blitzer!

"Larry King...he looks like an owl!"

Keepin' it real with Glenn Beck.

The cops at NPCC writing tickets to people who dared to save seats for the opening session!

Foreshadowing my future, perhaps?

Highlights From Hotlanta: Day 2

• Sleeping in a little bit.
• Catching the 11AM service at North Point Community Church.
• Hearing an incredible message from Andy Stanley from his new series Faith, Hope, and Luck. Seriously, check it out.
• Lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.
• Cutting my head on the TV screen in our van and bleeding all over (more of a lowpoint of the day, I guess).
• Getting a long Sunday afternoon nap for the first time in FOR-E-VER.
• Seth and I teaching the rest of the staff how to play Settlers of Catan.
• Dinner at a sweet burger joint called Five Guys.

Another great day! Looking forward to starting the conference tomorrow!

Movie Review: IRONMAN

Two words: Loved it.  

Two more: A lot.

I realized tonight that I don't think a Marvel Comic movie has ever let me down (I dare you to prove me wrong!). This movie is certainly no exception to that rule. If you're looking for a great action flick with heroes and villains, superhero fight scenes, a pretty solid plot, and even a bit of a sappy love story for all you ladies out there (and you, Mr. Hopeless Romantic), this is your movie!  

The bottom line: I enjoyed it from start to finish. I give it an A.

Highlights From Hotlanta: Day 1

• A near-death experience on the way to the airport thanks to Seth's driving skills.
• Two crying babies sitting directly behind me on the flight.
• Walking into the women's restroom with Pastor John in the Atlanta airport (whoops!).
• Eating massive amounts of wings at Wild Wing Cafe tonight.
• Catching a showing of IRONMAN tonight.
• Hanging out and laughing a lot with our awesome staff!

All in all, it's been a great day! Looking forward to checking out North Point Church tomorrow morning!

Hotlanta, Here We Come!

Our entire church staff at St. Mark is taking off first thing in the morning for the Drive Conference 2008 down at North Point Church in Atlanta, GA.  More to come on that as well.  Can't wait!!!