The Magazine Time

I broke down I finally did it. Paying news stand price just seems to be a waste and for 20.00 I bought a whole year’s worth of Time Magazine. Here is why I like the magazine. It’s always current and for a leftist like me I like the view point. Ok I really dont know if they’re a leftist rag I just like saying that. I’ve always been a fan but for some reason I stopped subscribing. I took it back up a couple weeks ago and haven’t looked back. I would say that I’m more of a magazine reader than a book reader. Its because books they like to take their time where as magazines have to get to the point and I like that.  The one I’m in the middle of is about the American woman. I may need some help in that.  The photography is always amazing.  I know I could do all that off the web. But, there’s some thing about not having a load time… All I have to do to go back to another page is to turn. I’ve been thinking a lot about the kindle. Oh and if you dont have the app you need to get that. Its free guys. Well its late and for some reason i’m still up. I will sleep real will today. I saw the liar movie. I’ll you about that later.

Lucky for you on this Saturday morning you get a chappyphoto special. He makes the link of the day.

Threads Session 1

Session 1 complete. I’m doing this a little different. Since I’m doing the study on my own I’m stretching out the sessions. Reading a little bit each day.  The first session was on the Shrewed manager.  Luke 16. What Is real disappointing is that I didnt know this story. Sad I know. I guess I should be reading my Bible more. Tell me about it.  Any way it was a really tough saying (get it) .  I really didnt get it at first.  Why was this story so important to tell. It did seem like Jesus was saying be as cunning as you can and get what you want.  But…. I think what he’s saying is look for an opportunity to reflect, influence allow people to see God in you. Like Michael said you never have “being shrewd” in a positive light.  Well kudos to you.  I wont be giving a play by play of going through this series I just thought I would let you know .

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

going to make this quick

I rode in a van for what seemed an eternity. We loaded into a place in Charlotte NC.  Everything is mostly up. I’m rooming with a kid named Adrian. I dont know anything about him and tonight I went out for a snack and he was asleep when I came back.  I dont know if I’ll run in the morning. Chip may be there I should have said something. I wrote some thing today…well I wrote more….Ben our compassion dude gave me a book. Skeptical guide to poverty…I’ll post a link to it in the morning. I’ve been reading it on the way down here.  I’ve got to go to bed.

ACTOR MALE

Nearly half of the people in the world live on less than $2 dollars a day.  So what.  Tonight we are starting a little different. Don’t worry this isn’t a sneak attack or a guilt trip.  It is my belief that you just didn’t know.  Didn’t know what to do with a problem that’s so big.  You have enough trouble just trying to get through your last semester of school before you came here.  With prom and that history test and whether she was going to be here.  I just have to believe that you didn’t know.  Didnt know the problem of poverty of people who havent heard the gospel.  That you didnt know that there is something that you can do and it won’t cost you a thing but your time and your prayers.

Got to get to bed

Well it’s been a while since I’ve written anything substantial. I think because I realize that I never really take the time to read all the words that someone takes the time to write so…. It’s hard for me to imagine…well..you get the point.  I spent the weekend at conference tour.  I could see a little bit in Travis on how I felt at times when I was on the road last year.  ( oh and this could be just me but it will help me with my point)  When you are us Travis knows what I’m talking about you feel a bit like you’re out there all by yourself.   You’re with this group of people that you actually like and want the best for but they aren’t your friends. Things will end and they will go on their way.  So here you are every week somewhat floating out there.  I know that many times I felt lonely I guess is the word.  At the end of the week you crawl back to your apartment out house only to do it all over again.   That can be exhausting. So you like it when people visit its like having friends over. I got to visit and soon it will be me.  So yeah I think I saw that today.
I also realized something that has nothing to do with what I just told you so suck it up. Anyway. Here’s a 25 things kinda thing.  I still feel like I’m 25…yeah weird right. Mentally not physically I guess.  I wonder if it’s because I started full time around that age at the place I work now. ( I know I never say the name  but most know suck that up too) OK I had a point. Well I went around today meeting people on this conference thing (do you like how I just went back to that) and one meeting stuck out in my mind…It was a girl…She was telling me about where she was in life.  She was here doing this thing and didn’t know if she wanted to do this thing again or go find something else to do. She said she had this degree …History I think and that she didn’t know what she would do with that..maybe business because she thought people like that type of degree because you know research.  (I’m going somewhere with this)  I didn’t give any advice or anything….remember I’m still mentally 25 but if I did here is what I would say….Why Do you feel like you have to do anything….I think she has a little of that already but I’m sure there are world pressures that say “You finished college so what now?” Listen..You have the opportunity right now before cars and debt and houses and all the crap that we pile up on ourselves to take a different route. I would say be the envy of all your friends when you say “Yeah I was helping migrant workers in southern California sign up for healthcare” (I’m the envy of all my conservative friends) or “yeah I taught English in Thialand and now I’m im digging wells in Togo (that’s a place right)  and I don’t even know how to dig a well” Do you get what I’m saying.  Some of us it isn’t too late, I did say “isn’t” too late. We are just too scared I’m too scared….I think coward is the word….Ok this is at the point where I stop reading so how is this for an abrupt ending peace.

Kenya_day 1

OK there is a story behind these pictures I will try to tell them. You may want to skip reading and just look. They tell a whole lot more than I do.

This is a mother daughter who have tested positive for HIV.  I wrote no stigma because one of the things that compassion does is teach people how to live with the virus without shame. This is a strong family.

Here we are being shown the daily regiment of pills that they each have to take. 9:00 in the morning and 9:00 at night.

Jared met his sponsored child today. His name is Paul. They became fast friends.

OK last one. This is how i feel right now. Got to get to bed. I’ll get some more on tomorrow

We saw some pretty cool stuff today. It ended with meeting the LDP students that will be heading our way soon.  Them being excited is an understatement. I spoke with Faith and I’m exhausted. I also had the biggest convicting question asked of me. She asked “What do you do at your church”  I said, “what do you mean?” She replied “How do you serve at your church?” I said “I go” How about that for a kick in the teeth” I would cuss here but I hear that I may have some visitors. . She then ran down the list of what she did. I am a failure.  Faith. How about that?

New reading project

In celebration of not having to read what a professor tells me. I will begin this book.

What I’m wondering is if there is anyone who would like to join me on this journey. I’ve never actually done that before. Ah I dont think I have.  You know I just noticed something. Ive been spelling his name with one “s”  Uh oh I just wrote an article for our newsletter I better check that.  As I was saying.  Wess is the president and CEO of Compassion International and this is his story.  What I know of it is an incredible story.  Let me know if you are in.  I’m going to get into it to night or Friday unless you let me know.

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.