Socialites

I'm pretty busy this weekend in terms of my social life. Makes me feel kind of special...

Saturday: Bonfire at my house for the worship team
Sunday: Church in the AM
Party at the Burgio's in the afternoon
Church in the PM
Coffee with Shannon, Jon, and Miriam afterwards

Yes, I consider church a social activity. 50% of it is what Christians refer to as fellowship. Not like fellowship of the ring where it is used as a noun but where it is used as a verb. It's supposed to have a deeper, more significant meeting then "hanging out." Which to me is pretty deep. I don't use "hanging out" lightly. Ever.

Jury

Shannon is on a jury of a civil case. Due to orders by the judge, the Honorable Judge Frank A. Sedita, Jr., she can't tell anyone the details but it seems pretty interesting.

She's like our own little Henry Fonda or John Cusack!

I got called for jury duty almost right after I turned 18. I waited for over 6 hours, then they called my name and told me I could go home. What a wonderful way to spend my day, but hey, I did my civic duty.

I looked all over the internet to see if you can receive jury summons more than once in your life. My bet is yes but the odds of that happening are most likely slim. So I may never have the opportunity to say, "Your honor, the jury finds the defendant guilty on all charges!"

Too bad...

TV

I love TV. I'm not ashamed to say it. You will meet many people in your life that will say, "I don't watch TV" or "I don't like to TV." News flash: THEY'RE LYING. If you have a TV, you watch it. If you watch it, you like it. So tell them to shut up. They're idiots.

Again, I love TV. I'm pretty picky about what shows I enjoy. Most of the time, if a favorite show isn't on, I'll just tune to Food Network or Discovery because the shows there are all good.

With the exception to cooking and scientific shows, I despise reality TV. Big Brother, Amazing Race, Survivor, The Bachelorette. YUCK. I won't watch that garbage. But Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes, and Top Chef? I'm all in!

Here are my top shows:
1) Psych - it's on USA and it's hilarious!
2) Burn Notice - also on USA, amazing show
3) Lost - who doesn't like Lost?
4) 24 - Jack Bauer is the man
5) Leverage - just a cool show
6) Ace of Cakes - I love Duff
7) Cake Boss - I also love Buddy and a bakery full of Italians
8) Gilmore Girls - don't make fun of me, it's my secret vice
9) Top Chef - been hooked since Season 1 and not just because of Padma
10) Heroes - show about people with super powers? I'm in.

Tonight Shannon and I have a Leverage and Psych marathon. The DVR is very full. I'm totally pumped!

"My name is Ichabod Fletchman. Sticky Icky to my boys."

Thunderstorms

There's a Calvin & Hobbes comic strip where Calvin is outside playing when a thunderstorm rolls in. Calvin gets angry and yells at the storm for ruining his day and in defiance, says he'll stay outside anyway. Then it starts to downpour and Calvin taunts the storm, saying it's just like taking a bath and proceeds to strip down and play in the puddles. Then there are huge claps of thunder and Calvin says, "Ooh, is that the best you got?!" And then it starts to hail and Calvin runs for cover, accusing the storm for playing dirty. It's pretty great.

I think thunderstorms are so cool. I love watching them out on the deck behind the house. The louder and crazier, the better. I like watching them in the daytime, I like watching them at night, they are just so cool.

But I will never, EVER run around outside naked in a hail storm.

Kari Jobe

Shannon and I watched a bunch of YouTube videos yesterday of Kari Jobe from Gateway leading worship. She's very anointed, very talented. And she started as a no-name.

It brought me to realize that anyone on my team could be the next Kari Jobe. Who knows? No doubt I'd love to have the opportunities that she has. I want to make it big as much as the next guy. But it's not really something I'm actively striving for. But there are a whole lot of people I know that have that talent and anointing and have the potential to go far with their gifts.

It's amazing to think that God really does use anybody and everybody!

My only hope is that we remain humble and aware of who gave us our talents to begin with. That has been my prayer since the day I realized I could play and sing.

Christian Bachelor Parties

The question is...is there such thing? Without booze and strippers, is a bachelor party just another guy hang out? Probably. Not that I'm upset. Strippers aren't my thing. Any guy that likes that sort of stuff screams two things: pathetic and lonely.

But alcohol in moderation is no sin. But I can respect Christians who choose to not drink at all.

So tonight I'm off to "another guy hang out" for a friend who's getting married on Saturday. This better be fun...

Irony

They say the only people who claim money isn't everything are people who don't have any

...

And people who say winning isn't everything are people who never win.

And if you have to ask how much it costs, you probably can't afford it.

How true that all is

I'm cynical today

the problem with having a lot of singers

I am the leader of the band at my church's youth group. A lot of talent. The problem? There are 12 singers not including myself. I have spent weeks trying to come up with the perfect rotation schedule so they all get their fair share of stage time. Unfortunately, the best scenario I can come up with, they all have a period of 4 weeks where they won't be on stage at all.

Two solutions: (1) Just do it, and see how they react to that
OR (2) do what I'm doing now and hand pick the singers night by night depending on several factors

Possible hiccups to Solution (1): They won't like it. 4 weeks of no singing - why be on the team at all???
Possible hitches to Solution (2): A lot of work on my part. And the singers will never know when they're on next until I tell them.

I think solution (2) is the only one. I will have a lot more work to do but I didn't mention the factors that will go in my decision. I will have the ability to reward those who work hard and have a good attitude by giving them more stage time and I can admonish those who are bringing the team down by withholding stage time.

Integrity in leadership

I forgot I had this. Here I am trying to be thoughtful and philosophical (probably a redundant phrase) and I can't even remember my venue for doing so.

My girlfriend and I had coffee with a couple of friends yesterday. It's nice being older. Grabbing a cup of coffee with some other young adults & having an intelligent conversation leaves me feeling good. Sometimes, I walk away from hang-outs feeling like my IQ dropped 50 points.

I've been thinking a lot about an issue I never had to face before but now is very real - especially in today's philosophy. Here's the premise: I am a 20-something young man who is a leader of youth from the ages of 12 to my age. It has become very important I maintain the appearance AND reality of being full of integrity and trust. I can't just hang around young women anymore. I'm not 18 hanging out with a 16 year old girl! It's something every man in a position of leadership has to face sooner or later. Now it's my time.

Luckily, I had the foresight to see this coming and I have put some solid young women around my age on my leadership team that will be able to have a close relationship with the girls that I lead. That way the girls can get advice, encouragement, and friendship from leaders without any compromising of integrity. I'm a genius.

As a leader, you need to know where the line is. Not mentioning any names (P.T.), there are some grown men that think it's ok to hang out with young people, specifically younger girls. They may have done nothing wrong but it sure LOOKS wrong! So I stay away from that. I'm 23 so hanging out with a 18 or 19 year old is not creepy or weird but a 43 year old should stay away!

It might be time to have a little talk with someone...

Oh and I think I found a topic for my sermon - LEADERSHIP