2 Minute Tuesday: The Stock Market

Does anybody else feel like we have some chicken out in the middle of the yard screaming, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling." ? I asked my boys about the stock market and here is what we came up with; another installment of 2 Minute Tuesday. Enjoy.

Sign Wednesday: Is it worth my time?

I love a good sale. There is just something about getting stuff for less than retail. I love finding a shirt that someone paid $78 for and buying it for $20 instead. I love finding shoes that I pay $40 for that originally cost $160. I will go out of my way and spend more of my time to get things that are discounted. If I don't have the time then I don't shop. So in my head my time is worth money and the better the deal that I find the more my time is worth. For some reason though, I am not moved by this sale or this sign?



Seriously do you really think that 7% off would be worth my time? You can do better than that.

Ministry Monday: Bible Bucks, Cool Cash, and Incentives

Did you know that there is a very hot topic going on right now in Children's Ministry? It is about the use of incentive programs at church. Now I know that I am about a week late and maybe a Bible Buck short on this topic (please forgive me) but I thought it is better to be late than never.

Kenny Conley wrote 3 posts about the subject: Post #1, Post #2, and Post #3.
Sam Luce wrote 4 posts including one from Jonathan Cliff and insights from Larry Shallenberger: Post #1, Post #2, Post #3, and Post #4

I told you I was late to the party. What do I think about the whole matter?

Yesterday at church we had our "IN Store" open. We open the store every third weekend of the month. If you miss the third weekend then you miss the store. If you forget to bring your "IN Cash" then you miss out. Sorry. What can you get or do at the "IN Store"? You can buy little trinkets to great prizes for you or give them away in our program called "IN Return".

How does these programs of "IN Cash", "IN Store", and "IN Return" work? Basically you get "IN Cash" for coming, participating, and knowing last week's Bible verse. You save as long as you want and spend it at the "IN Store". Hopefully we are teaching to give back and the kids give to the "IN Return" program. There is nothing really new or cutting edge about the system.

So why do it? Why have a program that some people consider bribery? Why do something that kids recite a Bible verse and forget 30 seconds later because they just wanted the cash? Why spend so much money on trinkets and prizes? Why use this to promote participation? Why do something that could be taken as money changers in the church? Why do a program where kids whine and complain about losing their reward? Why do something that could promote greed?

Why? The same reason I try and make the environment the best it can be in the hallways. The same reason I change my sets every 8 weeks on the stage. The same reason I strive for incredibly creative services. The same reason why I give volunteers gifts for volunteering.

If a child looks forward to coming to church for any reason whatsoever then God is going to do something incredible in his/her life. If it takes Bible Bucks, Cool Cash, or "IN Cash" for a kid to come hear that God loves them even though they don't think their parents do or anybody else in the world loves them then sign me up for an incentive program. If in return they learn about stewardship, giving, grace, Bible verses, bringing friends, love, forgiveness, determination, friendship, and most importantly Jesus then my conscience is OK.

So that is where I come down. How about you?

Sign Wednesday: Rooster's Restaurant

Every Tuesday night is family dinner night. When I say family I mean the whole family. My parents, Jessica's parents, my brother and his family, and of course Jessica and the boys. Grand total of 12 when we walk through the door and ask for a table. Last night was no different. We rotate each week on who gets to choose where we eat. The strangest pick was my brother picking my parents house and for my mom to cook but that is not the point. Last night was Jessica's parents turn and they picked Rooster's Restaurant. A new place where I had never eaten before. It sounded like fried chicken but ended up being a wings and sports type of place. It also happened to be heaven for a sign geek like myself. Signs were everywhere. I took three pictures to give you an idea of what I am talking about:







There were at least 50 more of these around. Not to mention a wide range of neon and other plastic signs. Notice though that the signs that I took a picture of are not fancy by any means but are consistent. They know their purpose, which is to give you something to do while you wait for your food, and they don't get to crazy.

By the way if you do happen to end up at a Rooster's then go ahead and order the Buffalo Chicken Pizza. It was very, very good.

Off Topic: The Cincinnati Hurricane

UPDATE: The power came back on last night around 6:30pm. The internet did not come back until today around 6:00pm. The power out my office also came on today but the internet could be a couple more days we are told. There is one more place though that you could pray for and that is the school that we have church. It is still without power and could be out until Sunday. Now don't get me wrong, us living without power here in Cincinnati has been an inconvenience and nothing more. I still pray for all of those who have been affected by hurricanes who may never see there house again. If you are one of those people and you need a helping hand just let me know.




I never thought that I would see hurricane force winds in Cincinnati, OH but now I can tell my grandchildren that I lived through it.

The past couple of days have been nuts. As of this blog post we still do not have power at our house. It has been 51 hours since we have had power. Right now I am currently at my in-law's house who lost power for only about 10 hours on Sunday.

There are certain thoughts that you don't think until you lose power. The list for me have been:

1. I am really glad I have a gas water heater and not electric.
2. Where can we take all the stuff in the fridge and freezer?
3. How much is a generator?
4. I truly have no control over this.
5. Now I know why we don't go camping that much.


There are also certain things that I have been truly thankful for:

1. Family is close and no matter what happens we get through together.
2. The weather has been incredible for this to happen. Not to hot and not to cold.
3. All of our friends and neighbors have been more than willing to help.
4. I have an iPhone and where I can get service I could check the news.
5. When ice cream is going to melt anyway you eat a lot of it.

The biggest thing about this "hurricane" though has been it makes you stop. It makes you unplug. It makes you appreciate things that you should appreciate more. I am not willing to say thank you for cutting off my power for over 2 days but I am thankful that I have been able to stop and think just a little bit.

Now, if Duke Energy is reading, PLEASE, can I get my power back on? I really miss the convenience of it all.

I'm Way to Competitive

I love competition. Really, I just can't help myself. So, when my wife came home last night and challenged me to sell more lipstick than her this week, like an idiot, I said, "Bring it on!" Seriously, I can't believe I am doing this but it is for a great cause. What am I talking about? Here read this:

Want to do more? Your efforts can change the lives of women and children around the world. Here are a few ways you can help stop domestic violence before it starts. Did you know? One in three teens will experience abuse in a dating relationship and more than 23 percent of them will never report it to anyone. Learn more at www.breakthecycle.org. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), "Domestic violence affects women and children in every community – large and small, urban and rural – and it continues to be the most underreported crime in America." Here's what else the NNEDV reports: 25 percent of 8th and 9th grade students have been victims of dating violence. The Department of Justice consistently finds that girls between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence. One in four American women reports being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in her life. As many as 10 million children witness domestic violence every year. In the United States every year, 1.5 million women are physically or sexually assaulted or stalked by an intimate partner. Domestic violence costs U.S. employers up to $13 billion annually. 63 percent of homeless women have been victims of partner violence as adults. Get Involved Being an advocate can be as simple as keeping a list of help lines and Web sites to share with a person in need. Make a Personal Donation Whether it's clothing, money or your time, every donation helps. Better yet, get your friends together and hold a fund-raiser to support the cause. Be a Volunteer Get involved in the Break the Cycle's volunteer program. Check for shelters in your community and volunteer to help. It can be as rewarding for you as it is for the women and children you help.

This lipstick is only $13 and from what I am told it is designed to look good on female skin type. Now I am for sure not the expert on that but what is it going to hurt for you to try it or for you to buy it for your wife. Seriously. . .

Go here and buy the lipstick: http://www.marykay.com/jessica.mckee/color/lips/berries/10022682/default.aspx

Now you can say that you did something for a great cause, got a you or your wife a gift, and you can help me win a little family competition. Can it get any better than that?

I still can't believe I told her that I could sell more lipstick than her. What was I thinking?

2 Minute Tuesday: Jamaica

Patriot and Azlan wanted to do 2 Minutes on Jamaica and our vacation. How can you say no to them? I hope you like it.

Ministry Monday: New Staff

Last week I was on vacation, and while I was out I had a new staff member start. Well, I should say that she officially started getting paid while I was gone. She has been doing her "job" for almost 3 years now.

I picked up this philosophy along the way that says get the best volunteers in the world and eventually pay them to do what they love to do and you will keep them for a lifetime. Such is the case in this instance.

The new staff member is Sarah Youngblood. Sarah is over qualified, under-paid, and willing to do anything. So what is her new role as a staff member?

I will let her letter that she sent out to all of the parents in the Children's Ministry of Horizon explain because I couldn't say it any better myself.

Parents,

Perhaps we’ve met at SMASH, check-in at Horizon, or passed in the hallways as we dropped off our kids at Sunday School.

Maybe we’ve run into each other at the Madeira Kroger or an Indian Hill football game in Mariemont or Anderson.

My name is Sarah Youngblood and I’m the new Parent Coordinator for the Children’s Ministry at Horizon Community Church. I’m one of you – I live in the community, send my kids to school here and worship here.

My job is to connect you and your children with the Children’s Ministry. Do you have a question about how your son or daughter is being taught? Maybe you have a question about scripture or your son or daughter is having a rough time adjusting with his or her class.

I want to be accessible to help you, but I don’t pretend to have all the answers. In my new position I’m available to get those answers by taking your cares and concerns to the appropriate person within the church.

At Horizon, the mission is to comfortably connect people to God. As part of that goal, I want to comfortably connect your family with the wonderful things going on within the Children’s Ministry.


I am extremely blessed to have Sarah on staff. Her role is perfect for our community and our church. She will truly take the Children's Ministry at Horizon to places it has not been in the past.