great sunday

So I went back to Christ the king Anglican church today. I think I have another reason. I havent given many to why I returned. here are a couple.  This sunday we had a processional that started in the commons area of the chapel. Just a bunch of people stuffed into a little room. They gave out instructions on what to do. here is the part that was great. it was awkward and weird and different. another thing was that we werent putting something on for anyone. You see the whole congregation was in there.  So the church building was empty.  Anyway we make our way out singing awkwardly and different. And then something really cool happened. Dr. Dorsett said Hey Drew Good to see you.  Last week I had emailed him thank you for praying for me and he emailed me back saying anytime.  Yeah its hard getting in touch with a CEO of a large corporation. There is a story herebut it doesnt need telling. So we continue with the service in song scripture reading from the old and the new. Today I said I would take communion. I didnt last week because I was a little nervous about what to do. You see you go up row by row and then they say something to you and you take the wafer and then dip or drink from the cup.  Well I didnt want to screw up so I watched people before. I know that has more to do with me than with what I had to do.

What happened to symbolism? I think we forget sometimes that we follow this Jewish guy who lived by certain stuff. I dont have this part all figured out yet so I’ll get back with you.  The connection to Rwanda is also another story I need some find out about. So I did the church thing.

Then went down to samford trail to do the run thing. It was great running in the rain.  Right now I’m working on the floors in the house and then on to laundry. Oh I did find some new music.

Adele and Artic Monkeys and Kings of Leon (that was care of taylor) Going to wait until pay day then buy a couple albums.

Oh I have a story about my mother but I will need to tell you about that later.  Spelling sucks

Peace,

Drew

Confessions

I have to admit something.  Its very personal but I think I should share it with the world. I love the Sound of Music. I’m not talking about listening I’m talking about the Nazi saga about a family of singers that meet up with a nanny who falls in love with an Austrian captain. I like listening to the music I love watching the story unfold even though I know what’s going to happened. I love the sound of music.  I was going to call it a guilty pleasure but there is no guilt in it. I’m a black man who loves to watch Julie Andrews dance across the screen. I get teary when they sing that good night song. Why? Why is that? Maybe because its my earliest memory of watching movies is with the family. (that took a turn) or Maybe its because I just love it. It is luv. There I said it Erin. It is so luv.  I feel a bit of my masculinity fade away but I must share this with someone. If anyone out there would like to take just a few hours out of you day and watch this with me it would bring me joy to bring you joy.  I now present to you drum roll then soft trumpet C…the sound of music …

The Fish Company Newsletter

Ok folks out there. I’ve got a little issue. I have no idea how many people find their way to this blog that would cause any 4th grade english teacher to jump off the nearest cliff but I’m in need of your help. I have decided to take an unconventional route in writing a news letter for Student Life. For some of you who don’t know that’s who I work for. Anyway put that out of your head and forget about that. Anyway our department was asked to take on News letters for lets use a code name “The Fish Company.” So as you will read in the brief description below I’m taking the fish company’s newsletter more towards a sort of online magazine. This could pretty much bomb but hey life is filled with risk right? Well here I am. {Oh dont worry there is a copy editor.} Anyway. I’m looking for people from the blogesphere who should have their musing and insights brought to light. I have already asked for and commissioned some of you for help. Aaron Ivey, Steven Bush, Dustin Beasley, Taylor Robinson. I am at the moment working on my article called “Im thirty and haven’t changed the world…yet” Let me know if you would like to be part of this endeavor. Lets help each other as we navigate not being quite dead yet. “Figure that out” I want us to be heard and I want to give you a voice. So let’s talk. Feel free to pass this on. I’m looking for some ladies.

The Fish Company Newsletter

Why a newsletter?

A couple of weeks ago I was approached to take on the task of revitalizing the newsletters for The Fish Company. These newsletters will go out to Youth Ministers and adults who are involved with The Fish Company in some way. The first question I asked was what’s the age group of our audience? I knew the groups we were sending the newsletters to, but I needed to know the age of the typical reader. They then asked me what age group I would like to target.

I thought about it a bit and answered, “Mine.”

What does that mean you ask? It means this: I can pretty much write—and direct others to write—for people 20-35 years old. Any older than that and I start to get out of my area of expertise. They agreed, so here we are.

So why this newsletter? Simple. The Fish company would like to communicate with the leaders they serve. I believe there is an age group of ministers, both male and female, that have many of the same struggles and joys that we here at The Fish Company have. But, honestly, we don’t talk about this enough with each other. I believe that ministers my age are looking to connect more and more with each other and with the world around them. My hope for this newsletter is not just to show you the new things going on at The Fish Company, but for it to be a place where you can be challenged and educated about the world around you.

What’s in it?

I want this to be more than a newsletter. Whereas normal newsletters let you know the happenings of an organization, this newsletter will show the heart of an organization. Many of the articles you’ll read will either be written by people at The Fish Company, or people I have met in the blog world. My hope is that as this continues to grow we can solicit people outside of my circle. The first few issues will rely heavily on story ideas from the Fish Company staff. As the newsletter evolves, the goal is for readers to contribute to stories, expressing their collective desire to communicate with this generation of youth workers.

I want this newsletter to be informative and entertaining without being too heavy. My thought is that a person should be able to read every article in one sitting. That’s why the length of the articles will only range from 400-600 words. But the newsletter won’t just be writing. Here is what we are planning in terms of structure.

There are four distinct sections that we will always have in each issue.

Media— The media section will cover all things media, from how to use it correctly to what it accomplishes. During our events we get a lot of ministers that ask how we did a certain video or set, and what type of equipment to they need to do it. In the media section we will give users a little peek under the hood, and also give a little advice how to meaningfully use media.

World— We believe the world is our community. We can no longer only consider things that happen in the US as the end of the story. In the world section we want ministers outside of the country to have a place to be heard. We want the newsletter to be a place where we highlight the work they are doing. We want to encourage ministers to guide their students towards lives of servanthood. The world section will be used to expand minters’ and students’ worldviews.

Message— The message section is in tended to be the voice of the twenty-to-thirtysomething youth worker. After all, we are part of a unique place in history. We grew up watching technology make incredible strides. We watched as computers became integrated into our daily lives. We saw the start of the worship movement. And in our professional lives, we are transitioning from being managed to being mangers. In the message section our hope is to deal with issues that effect our students . . . and us.

Truth— It seems over the past few years there has been a resurgence of the Bible not just being what we open to teach our students, but a book central to our daily lives. During the truth section, we will always come back to what the Bible says about a particular issue. I believe we sometimes forget how truly practical the Bible is. We assume that “teaching and rebuking” is only meant for our students. In the truth section we will tackle big issues and work through them together.

Marketing— The name says it all, right?

Waste of Time— The waste of time section is just that. From Youtube clips, to podcasts, to interesting websites, to flash video games . . . you’ll find it here. Listen, we know you are busy. Everyone needs a few moments of down time to unwind. You’ll find plenty of options for doing just that in the waste of time section.

Extra— The extra section will be a sort of bonus section for us. We want to keep you in the loop of the cool books we’re reading, blogs that have affected us, music we are listening to, and so on.

So there it is.

another 2 am

I woke up to music playing in my head.  You ever hear music in your head and its so loud its deafening. Well that is happening right now.  its the song  that goes something like “you got me trip’n stumbling blah blah.” something like that.  Aaron had a suggestion of how to get to sleep but I wont use that. ok back to bed.

“I followed the music”

So Im watching this movie right now. I kinda hate it when stories effect me. This one is doing a umber on me. Its getting me on two fronts. One…what music does to you. The feelings and memories it makes you have. Two…When we search for home, acceptance. I’m the not a player of music but do allow it to change me. Its kind of a goonies…peter pan…rent…Mr Hollands’ Opus…kinda thing. Ok back to it. I’ll be back. So how does a story do that to you how does it do that to me. I wonder if I see stories like someone sees music. From as long as I could remember I have had a tv in my room. The first vcr movie we ever rented was South Pacific we had to rent the vcr to. That was back in the day. We had cable ever since I could remember. The earliest tv shows that I remember are the Jefferson’s and Sanford and son. Trust me there is nothing like it in the world. I guess that’s why I dont see my self doing anything else. When I was teacher I ended up telling stories to them. I left the teaching to others I think. I’m alwasy thinking scenarios in my head Im not a very good writer I always need others to do that for me. I wonder sometimes if I live my life as if it were a movie or a play. Visuals are always something that get me in trouble because they linger way past when the should. Oh and I dont really care what you say you have to suspend your belief. That sometimes our stories can have a happy ending and sometimes just sometimes when you least expect it a story can talk to you more in 5 mins than your entire year. That when you least expect it for just that brief moment you forget about the list of responsibilities that plague you all year long. That you realize the power of picture is amazing the sensation that sound gives you the rush of the creator and creation. That art is more than just a passing fad. That such a creation is more…its more than life. That we has humans do poses the ability. You can live in your world cynicism that art is a thing for someone else who has the time to waste. I’ll tell you this I cant live in that world. Its hard enough to live in this one.

Oprah’s big Give

The show is starting soon but Im right in the middle of across the universe. Ive never really listened to Beatles music. Anyone willing to share their music let me know. Any way. I will be joining Oprah as soon as the movie is over.

Ok so I ended watching the movie and dont really want to go back to it.  I had thought that i coudl live at that time that this movie was made. I think I woudl have like to watch I think.   I have realized something about myself. This isnt a recent thing.  I dont really write too well and not really good at math.  The stuff that Im good at. I think about that sometimes. What are those things that im good at. I Think that many times we assume that the things that come easy are the things we are good at I dont know i’ll have to think about that.  Many of the songs that were in this movie were song that i like and its sad to say that I didnt know that there were beatle songs.  Eric a friend of my is a great lover of the beatles.  I never really thought about it. I actually bought the album because of this movie.  I wouldnt say it was a good movie but it was a good sound track.  So Im working on a project for my church right now.   I dont know if its something Im good at.  So I enjoyed the movie. I really enjoyed it I did the old vod really made it easy.  I return to work this week.  It will be a good time I think.  In fact this week will be a good week. I havent spoken with some friends for a bit so I will try to reconnect with them.  The porch is still a great place for me. You dont buy a house for a porch right.

Well I guess oprah will have to wait.

Day 1

Ok after a long hiatus from the track. Drew returns 2008

Today’s Play list

Never Let Go

Never Ending

Ater tehmusic stops

Jesus Muzik

Low

Remember the name

Slip out the back

Apologize

Toxic

Since U been Gone

All the same

Money maker

Stronger

Touch it

Jesus Walks

Oprah big give

8:00 She intros saying what if we gave you some money

Lets see if they get some bucks to give away.

Oks so this time they get 4800 bucks to give away. This is pretty good challenge the boys are teaming up the girls are independent. Miss America is asking the Librarian what she would do.

Miss America is doing the single mom route pay off school.

Black American dude is working with the military guy. slomo shots of the kids.

Wheel chair girls just asked a guy on the street.

You know there was a show that did something like this. Well it wasnt a show until someone saw them and turned it into that. I’ll see if I can find it.

Boys are at a childrens home.

I found it it was called Random 1 one of their rules was they won’t just give you money.

8:15 Wheel chair lady (this may be rude I’ll get her name soon) is helping out a family whose child is handicapped.

I do have a samll story about a guy I met this weekend. His name was Lou. Lou was a little different. He was looking for the actors and I couldnt find them so I talked with him for a bit. Once I got over my own issues we talked for a bit. He said he was a clown and a juggler. And yes he was a juggler. Because he talked a little different and looked a different i automatically talked real slow and got uncomfortable. Why is that. I got to get over crap like that. So that was Lou. good kid. not like the rotten little kid I caught stealing from the store. then lied about it. Ugh.

8:30 Ok the english I think black guy is giving out 400 bucks at a time at the hospital neo unit. Pretty creative huh. Just hand out cash.

Miss america gave up and is just getting stuff from Target. Plug Plug. and is going to give it to the homeless.

OMG. I just saw an ad for a show what wold you do. I will be watching that show.

8:45 Ok the wheel chair lady is a TV producer.

Country girl got on a radio station. She Did a great job. Helping out an auction. The groups that are doing the best is the ones that use the money to help them give more and not just handing out cash.

Oh and the surprise they had was that they need to give away the car

Ok we are in the wrap up the music is playing and let the tears ensue

The black woman gave a spa day to women infected with Aids. Platt said it right it will not have the last word. The wheel chair lady helped her family communicate with their daughter and sister. I think I know who is going home. handing out cash…lame

The dudes working on the denver children’s home. that’s a big deal. they raised in two days 248,000 dollars. that’s huge. That is a big give. Go big or go home.

The dude giving cash to the Military guy. Lame it was even less than how much oprah gave him.

One of the black guys are going home.

well well the military guy got kicked off for giving the car to the manager.

This was not a bad episode. Keep it coming oprah.  here is what I liked. They had to find someone. Someone at random. I think I hope what it shows is that need is usually just a couple blocks away.  What ever you think of oprah anything that we can do to shine a light on pockets of hope will change lives.  It seems so daunting.  I’ll see you next week.