its been a few weeks…actually about 4 since i’ve been here. i’m still processing much that prompted me to jump off and go a bit silent in the interwebs.  but i wanted to get back to it.   i had the pleasure to spend some time today with Dr. Walt Mueller at Malone University. The admissions folks at Malone hosted an enjoyable lunch conversation for the 330 networking group. Walt has been doing some amazing things over the past couple of decades through the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. Recently they launched an excellent tool for parents and youth workers.  according to Walt the site’s purpose is to…

offer information and tools that will help you lead the kids you know and love into living safely, wisely and to the glory of God on the emerging digital frontier.

the site is loaded with all sorts of helpful information to better understand the digital age and its impact on youth and families.

the 330 network prayed for Walt Mueller and his good work thru CPYU.

our lunch conversation was great and although some of what we talked about concerning the culture was troubling…mostly because technology and its impact seems to be snowballing and its not clear where its going to end.  that being said, our discussion with Walt centered on what has become almost the central theme of my thinking lately.  Our (parents & youthworkers) presence matters more than our being culturally relevant.  Although being aware of the culture is important (and the Digital Kids Initiative will help with that so visit it-bookmark it and share it!)…our willingness to be present, literally in the lives of our families and our students matters more.

i’m tired of the mess we have weaved for our children. i’m tired of being in schools the day after a young person has taken their young life…i’m tired of trying to be present in an ER with a young person who’s taken an overdose because the mess of their family leaves them, in their mind, no other recourse. i’m tired of those in the Kingdom not realizing the places we’ve created called “church” where community is anything but. i’m not sure the solution, but the process of restoration is going to be long and hard for our culture.  we’ve got to return to God’s blueprint. in the video, jeremy shares the wisdom of a friend who decided to begin anew. leaving behind the mess of their past, they said “you have to start from here…“  jeremy also shares that…

the trees with the deepest roots grow the highest…

so i’m going to rethink some things…some root things…i told my students this week i was going silent til Easter on the internets…i.e. facebook-texting-allthingssocialnetworks-etc. if they want me i’m available…ring me or come see me in the office or when i visit their schools. i’m going to use the margin to study, pray and learn. see you in april.

Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever.

praying your new year’s eve was blessed and that many blessings come your way in 2012.

I’m not sure how much posting i’ll get to do…i hope daily to journal our exploits, but a couple things you can be praying for beyond the Present:Hope Tour itself…as we got in last night, Jim got a phone call from his bride Jeannie saying that his brother had been admitted to the hospital for chest pains.  Jim left early this morning for the 12.5 hr return trip and is concerned.  I talk to my bride (of 32 years!) melinda and she and our emmah are home sick this morning.

had a short conversation with a mother and her son, here at the hotel from the UK after breakfast, the son is considering attending a local university…but in the conversation she mentioned…”life is really about the journey,  is it not?” yep…heard that before.

i’m headed off here in about an hour to connect with the rest of the team.  several are en route via airplanes and will be on the ground after lunch…then we start training.  grateful for your following and investing more later.

it reminded me of this quote from a smart dude, robert george on marriage. it was part of an interview on national review online a few months ago. the whole interview entiled “sex and the empire state” is worth printing out and reflecting on along with the larger project from an article in the harvard journal of law that spurred the interview.

 Marriage is a profound human and social good; its weakening and loss is a tragedy from which affluent people can be distracted (and protected) by their affluence for only so long. The institution of marriage has already been deeply wounded by divorce at nearly plague levels, widespread non-marital sexual cohabitation, and other damaging factors. To redefine it out of existence in law is to make it much more difficult to restore a sound understanding of marriage on which a healthy marriage culture can be rebuilt for the good of all. It is to sacrifice the needs of the poor, who are hurt the most when a sound public understanding of marriage and sexual morality collapses. It is to give up on the truth that children need both a father and mother, and benefit from the security of their love for each other.

—Interview with Robert George by Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor-at-large of National Review Online.

1. I hate Halloween.
2. We love Halloween!
3. Christian hybrid Halloween.

I’m not quite sure where i land but i always enjoy watching the “little beggars” come by for the treats.  this year melinda and emmah joined up with our neighbors to help make the 1 hour pass by.  here’s some video…

adam mclane had some interesting thots too… 3 Reasons to Embrace Halloween .  this much i know, halloween has taken an established place in our culture.  like it or not its here to stay.  i’m guessing  the Church needs to figure out  a better way to respond.  i know some have…and i’m already thinking about what our outpost should do next year.

not sure exactly what to do with it…but there’s something here.  i’ve not thought enough about it yet.  many stranded thoughts and ponderings.  darrin patrick’s challenge that we need better men and that what follows from that is better pastors is a really interesting statement.