henry clay's home in lexington, ky - the Ashland

its been a whirlwind month since my last post. (and to add i had a bug in my blog and lost access for a week…thanks to the amazing tech team at bluehost… i’m back)and we’ve traveled to FL to support one of melinda’s students who competed in the national health occupations students of amercia conference.  then back for a week long “home” mission trip with 25 students and then jumped off for a 36 hour jaunt to the first ever “children’s ministry expo” hosted by the good friends at kidzblitz.

the trip to FL was great and a good time away.  we visited Disney World for three days… a trip there is always good to prime the “creative” pump.

this was our second year partnering with our mothership, berean baptist on a local home-based mission trip.  our students joined another 60 from three other churches and got some real mileage in helping several non-profits leverage their impact…habitat for humanity, homelessness coalition, salvation army.  all were great places for these teens to find their place in serving others.  great stories still being told.

the kidz blitz expo was a good time away…short, but had a chance to connect with several amazing kid’s ministry folks… old friends like jim wideman, alan root, michael chanley and the team from kidz blitz. got a chance to meet and spend some time with ronnie caldwell and doug & linda tidwell.  it was good to see what’s coming up the ladder from the kids ministry folks.  good stuff.

on my way home i drove by a cool historical place, about 3 minutes from the convention center.  when folks ask me where i’m from they always think that “ashland, ohio” is named after “ashland, kentucky”, but the truth is our hometown takes its name from the estate of  famed orator, and Kentucky son, Henry Clay.  his home sits today as a museum and testimony to a great statesman.  fun stuff.

been working through some “stuff” – the weight of past decisions, agreements and spiritual attacks so this video popped up this morning in the excitement over the world cup.  am humbled by nick’s amazing story of hope and how he is approaching life.

First Story: about 5 years ago i met an interesting young man named Xan Hood. we became friends.  Xan and his partner Cory Smith have been doing some great Kingdom stuff.  Training Ground has impacted the lives of literally dozens of young men who are finding their place in the larger story.  Now they’ve stepped off with an another impacting ministry called buffalo and company.

Second story…I have an amazing job.  part of the job is walking with students to encourage them.  two of these students Ian and Cotie and I spent part of our afternoon doing some volunteer work at Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center…just a way to wrap up the school year.

After a good time of working, for the sake of working…doing good, we all got a chance to try out the new 500 ft zip line that PHOC just installed.  Thought it was a perfect way to begin what will be a few ways that i get to help students find their place in the Story.  So enjoy the video.

For both Ian and Cotie it was their first expereince (and mine too) on the zip line.

i didn’t see the zip line on Xan’s list of their new challenge called Honor Your Wild…but the three of us stepped off in a whole new way…literally…i think its exactly four steps off the launch platform…fun stuff.  so check out Honor Your Wild and see what adventure you can step off on.

josh needs your help.  he’s submitted the photo as part of morning’s with brant photo contest for an Ipad.  so hop over and offer your vote.

the stories…the lives impacted.  comments like…i’ve never been able…i’ve never felt special before.  53 yrs old…never had a picture taken before except at jail…

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tu1XrBn3A[/youtube]

got a camera…got a God-given eye…give your time.  more here.  ht to @amysorrells

i was able to connect  for the first time with some good “twitter” friends and reconnect with others like lv hanson from catalyst. lv posted some helpful links to the various speakers and their presentations.

the workshops that followed on day two were hosted by pastor scott hodge and his amazing team of volunteers at orchard valley community church. both days were worth the trip in themselves. i’m still processing the two days.  more information than i’ve pondered in awhile. one of the most amazing elements was the combination of so many different “artists” of sorts focusing on how to better communicate the Story.  plans are already underway for story2010 this is a conference you’ll want to definitely put on your calendar for next year.

ht Shirley Jahn Parrott