The following takes place from 8:30 am to 11:30 am

We started off by going in to small group same as last night. We had to pick the top 5 from 12 of the make your move section.

My group picked
Agenda Driven to Service Oriented
Attractional to Missional
Church to Neutral Places
Centralized to De-Centralized
Big to Small

We had to give practical things for each one.

We had to think as if we had the chance to do anything with the board letting you do it.

It is awesome to have a steering committee that does this!

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place from 7:00 am to 8:30 am

Got up at 7:20 am shower and got dressed.

Had breakfast at the hotel.

Then we got in the van and head over to conference.

My critical concerns course started at 8:30 am

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place from 12:00 am to 7:00 am

The following 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

So I started my critical concerns course: Rethinking Traditional Youth Ministry Models with Mark Helsel and Brock Morgan.

The first section we looked back at youth ministries from 1800's all the way to the present. (We did it really fast).

We looked at the movements, the target, goals and fears.

After that we moved to section 2: Finding the Real. Who are these teens?

First we looked at teenagers in the 1950's vs. 2008

After that we made small groups and wrote down some buzz words defining teenagers in 2008.

Each group shared their top 5.

For there we moved to section 3: Make Your Move (Youth Ministry Movements)
(Here are the notes)

"Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what God's people should do." I Chronicles 12:32

Youth Culture is about movement so our ministries must move with them in order to speak to the emerging generations

Where youth ministry needs to move:

1. Programs to People
stop feeding the monster

2. Attractional to Missional / go and make...
What does a Missional Youth Ministry look like?

1. Programming and money is directed outward
2. cutback on programs leave space for living
3. Giving away of resources
4. Spiritual formation is a rhythm a way of life
5. No barriers between sacred and secular
6. Passionate Activists

3. Centralized to De-Centralized
Put everyone on center stage

4. One Eared - Mickey Mouse to Fully Integrated
Assimilate = the key

5. Big to small
grow your group smaller

6. Agenda Driven to Service Oriented
ym model = cause driven

Questions to ask:

1. What are the needs of my community

2. What are they doing well we can celebrate, thank them for and support

Discipleship happens around a cause...

Look for a Cause
Prepare for a Cause
Do the Cause
Repeat

7. Separatists to Collaborators
blur the lines...

8. Salvation to the Way of Jesus
Salvation about heaven?

9. Individual to Communal / Individual
Moving beyond personal faith

10. Church to Neutral place
City on the hill - get off the hill

Meeting students in their third place. What is a third place? As defined by Ray Oldenburg

- It is neutral ground
- It is inclusive and promotes social equality
- Converstion is the central activity
- It is frequented by regulars who welcome newcomers
- It is typically in a nonpretentious, homey place
- It fosters a playful mood

11. Orthodoxy to Orthopray
Right thinking to right thinking and practice

12. Proclaiming to Guiding

Mike King uses the "guide" language in his excellent book "Presence - Driven Youth Ministry"

Guides are on a journey and participating with followers
Guides interpret the culture around them
They are bilingual (image, language, story and technology)
Guides will be healers
Guides will be theologians, philosophers, and artists

End of notes

During this section I was thinking it is great to see Soul as a community of faith already doing this things and not just the youth ministry. Which I was bring up tomorrow in the open discussion we have. It is great to be on a staff that thinks differently about doing "church" and great to have the steering committee on the same page. I am happy to be a part of the Soul community!

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

At 12:oo pm some people from Master's College showed up at the hotel. We got our rooms.
I went to two of the guys rooms and we watched some tv.

At 2:00 pm we loaded up in the hotel van and got a ride to the Strip district










We had lunch at some place do not remember the name. It was weird my sandwich came with fries in it. Yes it in!

After lunch we walked around the strip looking at the different stores. I got a pair of shoes for $15.00

We walked over to one of the bridges and could see more the city.

At 4 pm we had the van come back and get up and bring us to the hotel. At 5:15 pm we left for the conference.

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

I had to check out of the hotel room. I am still waiting at the hotel for the group I am meeting up with. There was a tv in the room I was waiting and this show called the DRs corner






What I learned from the show the Drs...

Is sushi safe?

How safe is the sushi you eat? A common concern with any fish is that it may contain mercury, a known neurotoxin, which harms neural (brain) tissue. Dr. Lisa warns that pregnant women should be especially careful of contaminated fish because it puts the brain and nervous system development of the fetus at risk. Gastroenterologist Dr. Jeffrey Sherman from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center dishes on whether sushi makes for a healthy meal or a raw deal.

A raw deal

Dr. Sherman explains that raw fish often contain parasites that will burrow into the small bowel and cause severe abdominal pain, cramping, nausea and vomiting. Although the reaction is not life-threatening and will only last two to four days, some patients will experience months of irritable bowels as a result of the experience.

Parasites are killed when fish is stored at 10 degrees Fahrenheit for five days, but not all restaurants adhere to those regulations. Is it worth the risk? Dr. Travis chides, “I’ve eaten sushi, my friends have eaten sushi … I don’t really have to worry about it, do I?”

Dr. Sherman counters, “Well, you’re gambling with your own body. I personally don’t eat sushi, knowing what I’ve seen in my patients!” (http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/show_synopsis/67?section=synopsis)

Should I try it now?

Going to sit here and wait for the group.

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

I shaved and showed.

Now I am going to eat some left over pizza.

Watch some tv and check out of the hotel room.

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place from 7:00 pm to 9:00 am

I ate some pizza!

Watched the baseball game and some basketball. I also played some poker on facebook.

11:00 pm to 7:00 am


Watched some sports center.

Listened to the Oasis CD I downloaded yesterday.

I am also getting some podcasts.

Be back soon!

Howden Matt Howden

The following takes place on Wednesday Oct 29

4:30 am (CST) - 1:30 (EST) pm

When the alarm went off at 4:15 am (CST) I did not want to get up. After only going to sleep at 12:00 am (CST).
I got to the airport good. Then the fun started. I was dropped off at the airport. This time I thought I would try something different and do my boarding pass with my phone. It worked but the security patted me down (nice think to have done at 5:05 in the morning). I thought it was because of the boarding pass on the phone or maybe I liked look I need it at 5:00 am (CST).

We boarded the plane at 6:00 am (CST) and I was in Toronto at 9:30 am (EST) (Time change now starts).

On the plane I watched some A&E. (love the westjet little tvs)

My sister met me at the airport. I did not know what terminal I was at so I told her 1 and it ended up being 3. It was so cold out and there was SNOW!!!!!! It was -6 and I only had a light coat on.

At 10:00 am we headed out for some food at Perkins. We were there till 12:50 pm

She dropped me out at the airport now I am waiting till 5:17 pm when I board the plane to fly to the Burgh.

I wanted to check my email however I could not connect to a wireless network. They had two at the airport and I had to pay not doing that lol.

The Following takes places from 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Oct 29th

So I thought I would make my way over to the computer to print my boarding pass. I printed my boarding pass and made my way to desk to check in. I had to fill out a card and head to the US customs. I guy was not very happy he could not understand we I was going to Pittsburgh for a youth workers conference. Also that I would be there till Monday and it not business. Maybe I should have checked business for the reason for my trip (next time I will).

I got passed the security this time with out a patt down this time.

I got some magazines from the relay. I got Maclean's, Time and Q. I have looked though the Q. Most of it was about Oasis (because they are back with a new album). I looked though the time, I read a good article about the economy: credit crunch.

Also I got some fuzzy peaches for the flight.

I boarded the plane 5:00 pm we left Toronto at 5:20 pm and landed in the Burgh at 6:25 pm. Then I had a cab ride to the Best Western hotel.

Now I am waiting for my pizza!!!

Then I am going to watch some basketball and baseball then bed. I will be back tomorrow.

Howden Matt Howden

Ipod pillow...

"If you love your iPod and can’t bear to be parted from it even when asleep then this is the solution, the MP3 Pillow, a pillow shaped like an iPod.

Not only does the pillow offer traditional pillow functionality it also incorporates a speaker so you can listen to tunes while you snooze. To finish things off and make this one of the coolest iPod accessories going, the buttons on the pillow actually work, so once connected to your player you can control it by poking your pillow.

The MP3 Pillow is available from Think Geek for $19.95.

WARNING: Probably advisable to remove your music player before getting involved in any pillow fights." (http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20061006/the-mp3-pillow/)

• Speaker
• FM radio
• Volume control
• On/Off switch
• Zippered pouch holds MP3 player in place
• 3.5mm stereo lead
• Size: 16” x 9”
• Runs on 2 AA batteries (not included)
• Price: $24.95

Oh, and so the boys don't get left out it's also available in blue (with really cool silver stars). (http://x1brettstuff.blogspot.com/2007/08/ipod-pillow.html)

Who wants one for Christmas?

Howden Matt Howden