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.

In 2003, the Department of Justice established a cooperative arrangement with NNYM to lead a nationwide effort to recruit adult mentors. Through this partnership, they launched MentorYouth.com, which was/is very successful. Now, federal funds have expired. Their resources are excellent…and they could use our help click this link and give them your support as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Let me tell you why I take this so seriously, and so personally. I’ve spent a decade working in the music industry, a business in which the big guys block out the rest of us. Creativity and innovation take a distant back seat to money, and everyone loses, even the big guys themselves. They have insulated themselves from change for so long, they’ve dug their own grave.

Both as a musician and as a music fan, I’ve always wanted to see the best and most exciting musical ideas rise to the top. But we all know the story of the music business: Success is bought more often than earned. Smart money looks for low risks, so the safest, blandest music attracts the most investment, and only the safest, blandest music makes it to the airwaves and the shelves at Wal-Mart. Creative, innovative artists toil in obscurity, the public is fed rubbish, and, for decades, the industry contentedly made its way to the bank.

the web is a powerful tool…the free market rewards those who can leverage things virally on the net…and for those can’t they get the proverbial boot.

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it was  a great conversation.  marko spent the time as a our facilitator and offered some keen insights.  all that to say the nyt magazine this weekend had another really interesting article on a similar topic.  it seems that a week doesn’t go by where i’m not engaged in several conversations with parents concerning their 20-something children.  something is afoot, not sure what, but this article is worth the read…here’s clip to prime the pump…

We’re in the thick of what one sociologist calls “the changing timetable for adulthood.” Sociologists traditionally define the “transition to adulthood” as marked by five milestones: completing school, leaving home, becoming financially independent, marrying and having a child. In 1960, 77 percent of women and 65 percent of men had, by the time they reached 30, passed all five milestones. Among 30-year-olds in 2000, according to data from the United States Census Bureau, fewer than half of the women and one-third of the men had done so. A Canadian study reported that a typical 30-year-old in 2001 had completed the same number of milestones as a 25-year-old in the early ’70s.

you can read the whole article here.

ht to joel daniel

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Scratch the last checkin…the student I'm with wanted meat…not ice cream…. (@ Burger King) http://4sq.com/bE5sXn #

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this time it was a horrible auto crash that claimed Jake’s life.

today the community showed its respect at a celebration of his life.

this picture is an intersection that i drive past twice a day on my journey to and from the outpost.  and it was at this intersection that jake ringler lost his life.

Jake was an amazing young man.  he was his own person.  I first met him when he attended a halo tournament  i was hosting at the outpost…almost 4 years ago.  he was a friend of parker selby.  he visited about a dozen times over the next couple of years.  i always had sense that he was a special kind of guy.  so today i offered some thoughts during the sharing time.  it was odd for a moment as i stood in front of a family i hadn’t ever met.  it was sobering. it was humbling how hungry grief can make anyone for words of encouragement.   just before i spoke another of jake’s friend’s followed through on a promise to play at the funeral.  although the young man didn’t realize it was going to be so soon.  he apologized for not having a prepared song.  yet he sat down on his amp and played and offered his talent.

most of my words were the thoughts and words penned by jake’s best friend, parker selby.  parker  is completing his schooling as a an national guard airman on the west coast.  I was reminded as the pastor began the service how hard funerals can be…especially when you’re mourning such a young life.   there were good words shared, but the stark reality of the fragile nature of all of our lives was brought home many times.  there were sobering yet consoling words offered by the presiding pastor.  he used the scripture from luke 2 where simeon reminds mary in vs 35

so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

a sobering reminder of the pain that is shared by all who are human.  Life is indeed a short trip