We all make mistakes

In 1999 (almost ten years ago) I was a volunteer youth staff member working with Matt Wilkie at a church in Springfield, MO. As a youth ministry we took a fun trip to a theme park called Worlds of Fun in Kansas City.

Matt is the guy who says the funny, yet appropriately awkward, comments to strangers. Like, when we were traveling in Poland and trying to buy tickets at a train station, he would just keep saying, "We aren't from around here." At Walmart, he always comments to the checkout person about the latest tabloid trash news and gets their opinion on the matter.

At the theme park Worlds of Fun, there is a drink station called Pagoda Soda. Matt went up to the cashier and ordered a "Pagoda soda."

"We sell Coke products" was the response back.

Matt replied, "Well, I'll take whatever is on your sign.. P A G O D A soda. I can wait if you are out." (This conversation took place for at least 3-5 minutes.)

Then we watched a high dive competition. The guys in their pink Spedos did a great job--especially the little framed man. So as we were leaving the show and shaking their hands, Matt gave the little pink-Spedo wearing guy a big bear hug and tells him he did a great job.

By this point in the day I'm thinking to myself.... "I can do this. I can be this funny."

Then it began to rain. We decided to leave the park and head to the mall. By chance it stopped raining, we could come back to the theme park.

So as were leaving, you had to get your hand stamped for re-enrty.

"Here's my chance," I thought to myself.

(Let me set the scene: It's raining. The guy is wearing a poncho. Everyone is trying to get through the hand stamping area.)

I walk up to the guy. He tries to stamp my hand. ... I move it.
He tries again. ...I move it again.
He tries again... I say... "Too slow..."

By this time a security guard walks over to me.

"Is there a problem here?"

I see that I went overboard. I say no. I get my hand stamped. I leave the park.

As soon as I walk through the gates all the youth staff and teenagers jump all over me and say, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT."

I think.. "What, I was just trying to be funny."

They say, "Didn't you see that he was mentally challenged?"

*Cold Sweat. Awkward feeling running through my bones. I feel horrible.

"I DIDN'T KNOW!"

That was ten years ago. Yesterday I pulled a similar mistake. We all deserve to make a mistake every 10 years. I'm due for another in 2018.

(By the way, I deleted Wednesday's picture post. Like the hand stamper story, it's one of those "oops...I wish that wouldn't have happened" moments"

Upon Further Review...

So I eagerly showed my wife my blog post from earlier today. I had lots of hits and good comments. I thought it was a pretty funny "Google image" find.

My wife works in physical therapy with children. She took one look at the picture and said, "Oh My Gosh! You're making fun of a physically challenged child! I can't believe you."

I said...."um...um...um....no..it's just a funny picture."

She said, "Find me the website this picture came from."

I searched Google images again...found the pic, and then went to the original website.

Yep. A Healthcare products website.

*face began to sweat.*

"I had no idea."

This is not the first time I've made this mistake.
(To Be Continued....)

Happy birthday dakota!

Dakota's birthday is today. We gave him a train ride for his gift. He's loving it.

Pastoral Nominating Committee Announcement

Quite the announcement at First Assembly on Sunday.
LISTEN HERE

Iron Man: is this good?

Is Iron Man worth seeing?

We love this place.

Family Night Out.

What do you do for fun?

More Orange

Here's a few more sessions/breakouts at Orange I didn't get around to blogging about when I was there:

Andy Stanley showed up for a session to do a Q and A.
My fried Erik Scottberg jotted down some notes on it HERE.

Carrie Nieuwhof: Five Parenting Tips
1. Start with the end.
• Think about the end before you start anything. What do you want you kids to end up like?
• What do I want this little baby to be like when he’s 18, 28, 45, 70?

2. Fight for the Heart
• Rules can win out over relationship. Be careful.
• Parents love rules. Pharisees loved rules. Hmmm... make sure rules aren’t more important that relationship.
• Sometimes get too frustrated at what they see int heir kids..then they hammer down with the rules...and lose their hearts. If you have their hearts, they will get the rules.
• God is fighting for your heart. We need to fight for our kids’ heart.

3. Lead with your LIFE
• An inheritance is what you leave FOR your kids A legacy is what you leave IN your kids.
• What does your life say about how much you care about your kids?

4. Create a Ryythm
• You can be present, but still absent. You can be home at night, but if you’re on the laptop, then not really.
• It’s not the quality of time, but the quantity of quality time that makes a difference.
• The rhythm is daily, weekly, monthly and geared to life stage.
• A priority is a pre-decision about your time.

5. Multiply your influence
• grab some men in the church and let them build into boys. Same with women and girls.

Louie Giglio challenged us to be a transcendent Church
Some of his points:
1. Tell the gospel AND do the gospel
2. Tell supernatural stories AND experiencing supernatural acts
3. Movement AND walls.
4. It’s about the future MORE THAN the past. The church should always be leaning forward.


Other bloggers who captured Orange:
Worshipcity
Erik Scottberg
Evan Courtney
Reverseyourworld.com