Remember that scene in Scanners…

Lately, I’ve been feeling a little bit like Garth:

I’ve been dealing with so many moving details about our summer… I feel like my head is going to explode.  I couldn’t sleep last night, because I kept thinking about all the people I needed to call today, what forms I need to fill out, what emails need to be sent.

Thankfully, weeks like this don’t come around very often.  I should have most details nailed down by Friday, and then I can finalize details as they come up.

Do you ever over schedule yourself?  I know none of my fellow Youth Pastors have ever intentionally scheduled a week that  left them wondering when they found time to sleep.  I’m glad I only do it to myself once in a while. (NOT once a month!)

However, times like this make me think of this quote:

“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body—but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride!’ ” Melvin Trotter 1924-2006

Granola Head

If you didn’t know already, cooking is one of my loves in life.  Unfortunately, so is eating.

I’m not the heaviest I’ve ever been… that was back when Janelle was pregnant with Lachlan, and I was pushing 290+.  Now that I no longer wear the green suit, I’m not “encouraged” to do PT every morning.  Plus, as I’ve passed Thirty, the ol’ metabolism isn’t what it used to be.  That, coupled with some high cholesterol and Blood Pressure, and it’s time to get serious about watching what I eat, regular exercise, etc.

The point of all of that is that I’ve been trying to figure out a “healthy” breakfast that I could eat every morning that doesn’t taste like shredded cardboard.

I know there’s stuff in a box out there that fits the bill. (Kashi, Granola, etc)  The problem is simple though- eating healthy is expensive, and I’m a little cheap when it comes to spending money on myself at the grocery store.

I remember Mom making granola from scratch when I was a kid.  Of course back then I was always jonesin’ for Rice Krispies & Frosted Flakes, so in comparison granola DID taste like shredded cardboard.  Now that my tastebuds have matured a little, I can appreciate some things I didn’t when I was little.

This morning I made my first batch of granola, based loosely on a recipe I found on the interweb.  If I hadn’t left it in five minutes too long, it would have turned out awesome!  So tonight I made two more batches, assisted by #2. One is a honey/cinnamon recipe Liam can eat (no nuts).  The other has slivered almonds, dried fruit, and a little extra brown sugar.  That one’s for my yogurt in the morning.

They’re both tasty, and cost way less to make than a bag from the store that’s only half the size.

Tomorrow- “30 Day Shred”… stay tuned!

I’m in love…

I’m in love with my wife.

We’ve been married for 12 1/2 years- pretty amazing, right?  If you’ve known us the entire time, you know that we’ve been through a wild ride.  When Janelle said “I do” I don’t think she could even begin to imagine the adventure that life would take us on over the next decade plus:

Ministry

Kids

Military

Deployment

More kids

Spiritual valleys

Financial stupidity on my part difficulties

Loss

FOURTEEN moves

SIXTEEN different cars (it’s genetic)

Some tough times

Lots more great times

Finally surrendering to OUR calling in life

I’m so grateful to have Janelle in my life.  She truly is my best friend.  I try to love her a little better every day.  Some days I do a great job.  Some days, not so much.  But I’m thrilled to say that at the end of the day, I’m still IN LOVE WITH MY WIFE.

Ok, a serious one…

Ok, I’ll admit that the last few posts haven’t really been deep (or appropriate).  But hey- I’m Just a Youth Guy, right?

So a couple of weeks ago, some of our HS girls had some serious “friend drama.”  Three of my hot wife’s small group girls were pretty heavily involved.

One of them has really been trying to take the whole “following Christ” thing really seriously.

Following is a transcript of our text conversation one night: (verbatim so you get the feel for it!)

C:Ok i opened up my bible and it turned to leviticus 15 i read to lev. 17 and i no what i have to do! it says correct your neighbor and do not hold a grudge

C: So i’m gunna correct her nicely and get over it!

Justayouthguy: Good stuff!  That Bible thing is pretty neat, eh?!?

C: Yup like sometimes i just open it up and read and its preety cool and sometime i open it up and its like ‘he had 30 lambs’ and it doesn’t really help much. lol

jayg: Yeah that’s true for me too!

C: Lol awesome!

C: So i’m gunna correct her nicely and get over it!

jayg: That’s good advice!  That God guy is pretty smart?

C: Yeah! and maybe if I ever come across a herd of sheep ill use the 30 lambs thing to lol

C: So im gunna correct her nicely and get over it!

jayg: Nice.  Gonna go read Leviticus now.

C: K tell me if ya find anything

C: I told C and P ther psyced! this is awesome!

It’s incredible to see a student wrestle through how God’s word applies to their life!