OK, I've crossead over to the dark side

I mentioned that my family is gone, leaving me to sow my wild bachelor oats, right. Well, I feel compelled to inform you that I just watched the special Dance Along version of High School Musical. I can't really spend too much time updating--Hannah Montana is coming on, and it's the one where she starts high school.

What a way to spend a Friday night. I'm laughing at myself...

alone again, naturally

Kim and the kids are on the road, rolling 15 hours down the highway to see her sister & family in Missouri. I like the fact that we can be spontaneous! Well, they can be spontaneous, while I stay home to work, coach baseball, and take care of the pets.

The kids were out of school yesterday and today, so they didn't miss much. I went to Parent-Teacher conferences without my kids yesterday, which was fine. Our kiddos are doing well in school, but both of the older kids got the "talks too much in class" comments. No surprises there!

I think the biggest thing for us is that our kids love school, and are learning to love their friends more than they love themselves. I try to drive that point home almost every night I tuck them in bed:

What are the two most important things in life?

They answer in unison now:

Love God and Love other people.

I hope they're getting it. I believe they are!

overwhelmed, and overcome

My first thought when I cut off the tip of my middle finger on my left hand was, "Wow. How will I play guitar now?" I love to lead worship, and I had no idea if I had just lost that ability, at least the guitar-playing part of it. I started trying to play a few days after the accident. Left-handed guitar playing made me feel like a 6 year old trying to learn all over, so I started to experiment with which chords I could play without my middle finger. A few weeks ago I stepped back into the role with our middle school students a couple of weeks ago, but the big test was a packed-out Sunday morning.

I didn't expect to come unglued. I was nervous at the start of worship, and I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to lead worship again. The room is always warm, and we get sweaty leading worship (nice, I know), but my palms were outright wet. Yummy.

The morning was great, and I was a wreck at the end. Totally blubbering and stuff. I had no idea that it was coming, either. I couldn’t finish the walk out song, and ended up sort of choking back tears. Lynn Nold came over and gave me a hug, and I started sobbing. I had the same kind of emotional experience my first Wed back at XStream, worshiping with the middle-schoolers. It was pretty weird as far as experiences go.

I didn’t think that I had a lot of fear about getting back, or that I spent a lot of time stressing over it. But when I finally did get back, it was overwhelming. I ended up sitting on the stage fiddling with my cables trying to gain a little composure before stepping out to talk with the people waiting to talk to me.

I am so grateful for God's healing and mercy.

Oh yeah--I found the tip of my glove and a big chunk of my fingernail in the guts of the snowblower Saturday afternoon. How cool is that?

ArkALMIGHTY invites us to the party

Last week, Marko posted a note informing us about youth specialties' partnership with ArkALMIGHTY. They are offering groups $1000 seed money to start service projects and random acts of kindness in towns.

I applied, and heard back from them last night. They have added us to their list of cooperating student ministries. How cool is that?

This ties in quite nicely with our Summer SPLAT. In late July, we'll be spending 3 days serving the Centre Region with students from other churches. It's our 2007 version of Summer Camp. We'll be staying in host homes as small groups, worshiping together each morning and evening, and working all around Centre County during the days. Some of the groups will do planned service projects, others will spend time blessing people with random acts of kindness (and here), while others will be praying around town.

I'm pretty pumped.

For a long time, our local youth network has been praying about unity, asking God what we can do to help students love each other and be a blessing to our community. We've tried lots of things--worshiping together, camps, weekend retreats. Everything we tried fell a little short of what we hoped for. We believe that getting students together to serve will move us closer to where we want to be. Serving others gets the focus off ME, and provides a practical, tangible way to love others and show people the love of God.

Woohoo!

finger update, one month in

Things are good. New pictures are here.

I'm playing guitar in church this weekend, and have been able to figure out how to form the chords I need to play. It's not as smooth as I'd like, and it takes a little more time to work out how I need to play the chords, but I'm playing. I've been playing acoustic for XStream (middle school) and House Party (senior high), but this will be a fun weekend, getting back into the swing of things.

Levi and I played catch in the yard tonight. The Physical Therapist made a little plastic thimble-like cover for the tip of the finger, and that's been really helpful for baseball and kayaking.

I'm helping a buddy teach a kayaking class for Grace Prep students. We spent a couple of hours in a pool Wednesday afternoon, and the finger felt fine. I wear that thimble and a glove. Good times...

Baseball has been going well. I'm able to hit, throw, and catch, but I have to shift my fingers in the glove so that the impact of the ball doesn't land right on that finger. I tried a catcher's mitt Thursday at practice--for one pitch! Not quite ready for the bullpen...but give me some time!

high school closed tomorrow in light of terroristic threat

Hard to believe, but it's true. One of my baseball players found a note in the guys' restroom that threatened violence tomorrow at State College Area High School.

The State College Police department has closed district schools, canceling all school activities for tomorrow. The school's statement is here.

Marko posted an article (and other resources from the Youth Specialties website) that gives some direction to those of us working with students in terms of how to respond to the Massacre at Virginia Tech. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, as well.

Sad and disturbing times, to be sure. But there is hope. Christ is the victor, and the whole world groans in anticipation of restoration. We have to hold on to hope, knowing that in the end, love wins.

Mark Yaconelli's Contemplative Youth Ministry

I started reading Mark Yaconelli's Contemplative Youth Ministry today while I waited for our server to come back online. I need to figure out how to kick the server off more often.

I didn't get out of the introduction before the Spirit of God was whispering to me, "See, this is what I've been trying to get you to see and hear. Slow down. You're too busy. Stop. Be still. Be...that's it--just be with Me..."

One thought that I want to remember today, from page 39:

...the purpose of youth ministry isn't just to help young people learn morality, as important as that is; it's to help them enter into the alternative way of life that Jesus offers. It's to help young people unmask the principalities and powers that seek to bind us--to help them live in freedom. It's to help youth learn the practices, understandings, and disposition that will keep them close to the source of life revealed in Jesus Christ.

questioning the way we do mission trips

Kurt Johnstson (Saddleback's Junior High Pastor) is rethinking the way they do short-term mission trips. Marko worked through the same lines, spurred on by an article from Seth Barnes.

We're taking a hard look at STM (short-term missions), as well as our Summer Camp. This summer, we're spending less money, staying local, and serving our community.

There is a lot to unpack here, but we are re-thinking our emphasis, trying to help students grow into a place where we value serving others more than we serve ourselves.

Stay tuned for more info about Summer SPLAT.

hello, I'm your campus pastor

We rolled out our first video sermon yesterday, and things went pretty well. Our pastor, Dan Nold, was filmed Saturday night. He left for Myanmar Sunday morning, where he'll be speaking to a bunch of Burmese pastors. We've been tinkering with ways to implement a multi-site venue for Sunday mornings, and this video-venue idea was one of our options.

There are several churches doing this, and Northcoast Church hosted a seminar on how they've worked out the details. Here's a good resource for more info.

Our plan was basically to have a live worship team and a host/campus pastor to do the intro and wrap up of the service. That'd be me yesterday.

It went pretty well. We're asking for feedback this week.

what? a NO-NO? Are you kiddin' me?

oh yes, the joys of Spring...

We actually got to play baseball today. It was about 50 degrees, and Chambersburg rolled into town. Our JV team is playing good baseball of late, and today was more of the same. Our pitcher tossed a gem--no hits, 10 strikeouts. We scored 10 runs in 6 innings, which invoked the mercy rule.

A NO HITTER!

To top it off, that same pitcher was 4-4 at the plate with 5 RBI, including the one that ended the game. Not a bad day...

We're supposed to play 4 games next week. Let's hope the weather holds.

a late night post

Whew, what a day. This may be short, cause it's late.

My finger doesn't like the cold weather, that's for sure. It was about 40 degrees for most of our game today. Fortunately, we played good ball today. We hit well, and our pitchers only allowed one hit to Altoona's JV squad. I think we're finding our stride as we get into the meat of our season. We've scored 28 runs on 29 hits in 62 plate appearances over the past 2 games. Maybe even more impressive is that we played errorless ball today in the freezing weather. We have two more games this week.

Two cool things happened today, set opposed to one not so cool thing.

I got an email from a former student--Erin (Smartnick) Uhlinger. She was a little bitty junior high young lady when she waltzed into our life and ministry. She decided to follow Jesus, grew tons and bunches, headed off to Toccoa Falls College, married a young man, and they started life together in student ministry. What an encouragement her email was.

Secondly, I got to pray with and for a friend who is wrestling with spiritual growth. I believe that we all need people to gather around us and PRAY with us as we work through the junk that ends up in our hearts. Again, more encouragement!

The not-so-cool was an email from our adoption agency informing us that the wait for our adoption of Annabelle, our baby coming from China, just went up to 18-19 months. Kim and I are sad, but we believe that God knows, sees, cares, and is working behind the scenes. We will wait, knowing that God cares for the orphan. The last half of Psalm 10:14 assures us that the helpless put their trust in God, and that he defends the orphans. We will wait, in confidence.

Christianity Today's contemporary artists' Easter images

Before reading became common, people could grasp the Story through artwork. That's why so many churches had stained glass windows, telling the stories of Scripture through art. This is reminiscent of Stations of the Cross, and is worth a look.

Click here for the CT artwork.

crazy Crowder goodness

A Weekend/Finger Update

I think I'll always remember Easter '07. There were some standout moments, but I'm pretty sure that losing the fingertip will be a marker that I remember forever.

This weekend was a good one, for the most part. I am working through a cold, so that added to the discomfort level. That seems kind of trivial, but there it is.

I quit taking the vicodin last Thursday, and Friday/Saturday were tough. I guess my body liked the vic more than I knew, because I had a ferocious headache and body pains for most of Friday and Saturday. Could the meds (or lack thereof) do that?

We hung out with Kim's family in Bedford Friday afternoon. Cousins are so much fun, and Easter is a great excuse to load up on sugar! We had fun hiding plastic eggs around the big room. I laid low around the house Saturday (I slept a good portion of the day!), and got geared up for a full-on celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ with the good folks at our church.

It's the first Easter I can remember since moving to SC that I haven't led worship. I did sing on one of the songs. It was weird not having a guitar in front of me. I didn't know what to do with my hands!

Last night at House Party we talked about the effects of Easter, how people's lives were transformed by the power of God, the touch of Christ, the Holy Spirit...There were some great stories shared. God is working in the lives of students all over the place. Scott Mangene (talk about a transformation story!) led worship for us, and I jumped in to play bass. I thought it went rather well, and the bass is definitely easier to play than the acoustic. Hmm, I might be a bass player!

Pictures of the finger will be up later. It looks a little better every day. It's rounding out and the dried blood is working its way off. I guess it'll be sensitive to the cold for quite some time. Oh well...

Good Friday, Good Finger

I took my first full-fingered shower since March 17 today. It was a little weird to feel the water hitting the stub of my finger. Some of the dried blood and dead skin is already starting to rub off. The fingertip is rounding out a little more each day. I'm supposed to be bending the finger each day, and it's pretty stiff. But it doesn't hurt too much. There's some nerve pain, and a dull ache that's pretty constant.

I've been off the pain meds since I got the stitches out yesterday. I'm noticing that I have a constant headache, and my body is tense and sore.

Sadie won't look at my finger yet. She glanced at it yesterday, but she bursts into tears when I suggest that she take a look. I think she expected the finger to regenerate. I guess she needs more time. Although I'd be real happy with some Divine Intervention!

The Way of the Cross

Levi and I got up early this morning to spend some time together with the Lord. Our church put together a series of prayer stations all around the church, allowing us to pray and meditate on the events of Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection. There were some incredible visual and auditory elements, and Levi and I were both moved.

There are some great resources online to experience this. Click here or here or here to start the Journey to the Cross.

May the God of Peace reveal himself to you this Easter.

pictures, without stitches

Here you go! The finger is a little hurty, but I'm excited to start bending and using it. The nurse says that the dried blood and dead skin will slough off. The finger tip is already starting to round out. I'll start physical therapy next week, trying to desensitize the nervy-ness of the finger. Sounds fun, doesn't it?

My Chains--and Stitches--Are Gone!

Chris Tomlin was in State College the night that Amazing Grace (the story of William Wilberforce and his fight to see slavery abolished in England) opened. He shared the fact that he was asked to pen a refrain for the hymn by the same name, and this is what he wrote:

My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

Those words have been reverberating in my soul for weeks as we've headed into Holy Week. There is freedom in Christ, and I celebrate that freedom!

I just learned that one of the young ladies who has been attending our high school ministry asked Jesus to set her free, letting his love and mercy roll over her. How cool is that?

And, on a finger-note, I got my stitches out today. It wasn't easy. They were pretty encrusted in dried blood, old skin, and newly growing skin. The nurse had to do a lot tugging, and even a little digging. She kept asking me if I was going to pass out! I have to admit that my palms were pretty sweaty, but I made it through.

Thanks for praying! I'll try to post some pictures tonight. My squeamish wife didn't watch, and we left the camera in the van, so there aren't any action shots...

Middle School students connect with God

What a great night!

We'd been planning to do an evening of extended prayer and worship with our middle school students for some time. For the past few years, we've been incorporating experiential prayer exercises into our worship times. Not every student connects with God through singing, so a long set of worship songs leaves some of the students in the dust, and that's not good. A few weeks ago Kim D led a group of students through the process of creating prayer stations, and we used a couple of their ideas. That was cool!

Tonight was exactly what we were praying and hoping for.

You can see pictures here. Thanks Randy.

Some of the highlights for me included:

• seeing high school girls leading middle school girls through the communion station
• 6th grade guys lighting a candle while asking God to bring the light of Christ into the lives of their friends
• students writing prayers of confession, then burning the papers to symbolize God's purifying power making them clean
• students holding a rock that represented their burdens, then laying the rock on the altar, releasing the burden to God's care

There is a picture in the collection of me praying with a smile on my face. God spoke to me tonight about who He is, who I am, and answered a question that I've been asking for a long time. I found myself crying, with a huge smile on my face.

Oh yeah, I played guitar tonight, too. Woohoo! God is good!

you gotta be kiddin me

It's supposed to be baseball season.

It IS baseball season.

Would someone explain this to me?

nothing like good words from good friends

The Bible refers to the advice and counsel of friends, and how a timely word is good...

My buddy Bob sent me this reference, with the note that he was glad I could still attend our local house of worship.

Yeah, me too.

choices...tough choices

Happy Gilmore or Karate Kid

I just turned on the tube to be a little background noise while I answer email, and I find myself in the middle of a dilemma. Do I go old-old school with Mr Miyagi (I forgot that Elisabeth Shue was in KK), or do I go with one of the new classics. Man, this is hard. #97 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies" or #31 on Entertainment Weekly's list of the 50 Best High School Movies. What to do?

Didja notice that a lot of Adam Sandler gives his movie girlfriends names that start with V? Seriously. Not all of them, but there are several. Veronica Vaughn, Virginia Venit, Vicki Vallencourt, Valerie Veran...makes you think, doesn't it?

Happy and Bob Barker just teed off, while Daniel-san is about to get his leg swept. And there it goes. The dude (Bobby) from the Cobra Kai just got dq'd, and Daniel has 15 minutes to get healthy for the next match. Mom is telling him to be satisfied with the tourney. Mr Miyagi just did his "rub hands together" thing, and now Daniel is going to limp back in to fight Johnny. The Crane Kick is coming...Woohoo, Mr. Miyagi, we did it!

Kind of like Rocky, but not...OK, over to Happy for the final showdown between Shooter and Happy--you know what the pathetic thing is? You been playing golf your whole life!

I never thought I'd blog my tv watching. But now I have.

Finger Update-a return to church and hitting baseballs

Whew, what a weekend!

Dan Nold was away, and he asked me to preach the weekend services at Calvary. I was excited as soon as he mentioned it, because I felt like God had given me something to say even before Dan asked. I wasn't sure that I had the stamina to pull it off, but God gave me strength, and the weekend went pretty well. Folks were gracious and encouraging.

I was tempted to show pictures of the finger during the sermon, but my better judgment said NO WAY!

If you're so inclined, you can listen to the sermon here. The study notes for the series are here.

Dannah Gresh came to speak to our student ministry team (Team XStream). Like always, she knocked it out of the park. She talked about Daniel in Babylon, and God's call for us to live lives separated to him. Dannah and her husband Bob are such a gift to us--the kind of people who breathe life into a relationship.

Baseball practice rolled around today, and I have been itching to hit some groundballs. Last week I used a bat that Randy Riesterer turned down on a lathe, making it possible to swing with one hand. That went fine, but I couldn't hit the ball hard, or to the outfield. So today I thought I'd take a few swings with both hands. Surprisingly, the finger felt great. I did manage to knock the bandage off the finger at one point, but a little athletic tape fixed it right up. So things are looking good so far.

I should be getting the stitches out Thursday, and I'm looking forward to trying to get back into some of the things that I've been missing: guitar and kayaking. We'll see.

I'll let you know how things go this week.