Unexpected Ministry

I love those unexpected ministry opportunities...you know the ones I am talking about; the ones that you can't plan for...the ones that are out of the blue...the ones that only God can place in your life.

Tonight after 701 I had the chance to connect with a new student in our ministry (he is actually a high school student who was pretending to be a jr higher to be with his girlfriend...haha). He came across as one of those tough guys that would not want to talk with someone like me. Initially, he seemed closed off and hard to get through to. Anyway...I offered to give him a ride home with another student and he actually said yes. I was pleasantly surprised. We decided to swing by Starbucks for frappuchinos. It was a cool opportunity to connect with this new student. This was definiety the highlight of my night...maybe even my week. It is situations like this that make me love what I do. Praise the Lord for sweet opportunities!

Ephesians 5:15-17- Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Trust...

Recently I have been thinking about the concept of trust. Do I trust people? Do people trust me? Am I willing to open up to others? Do I need to open up more? What are the benefits of being open? Do the benefits outway the risk?

It can be so difficult to share about your life with others. It can also feel really good. Do I allow myself to be known by others? Does anyone really know me? Why is that so scary?!?!

What are your thoughts?

Great Soundtrack and Great Movie

Recently I have fallen in love with the movie Dan in Real Life and the Soundtrack. I especially like the song To Be Surprised by Sondre Lerche. Actually this Sondre guy did the who soundtrack. It has a good mellow feel to it. Check it out!

I stole this "Book Quiz" from Melissa...

This is me...They say I am "very short and a little furry"...Hmmm.

You're The Hobbit!

by J.R.R. Tolkien

All you wanted was a nice cup of tea when some haggard crazy old man
came into your life and told you it was time to do something with yourself. Now you're
all conflicted about whether to stick with your stay-at-home lifestyle or follow this
crazy person into the wild. While you're very short and a little furry, you seem to be
surrounded by an even greater quantity of short folks lately. Try not to lose your ring,
but keep its value in perspective!


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

My Preppy Party

Awhile back I was deciding between having a Preppy or Gangtsa Theme to celebrate my 28th birthday. Well...As you can see I decided to go with the Preppy.

"So pop that collar and put on those pearls!"

I think it was a pretty big hit. We celebrated my special night with croquet, sparkling cider, and dancing at the Simpson home at Balboa. It was a night to remember!

Keep Breathing

Life is tough. Sometimes I feel like the song by Ingrid Michaelson "Keep Breathing." Basically all she does is keep repeating the same phrase over and over, but I still like it.
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing.
I can relate to this song. Sometimes life is too complicated and overwhelming, so all I can do is focus on my breathing. At the time, it seems to be the only thing I can handle. Do you ever feel like that?

Anyway, I am really into her music right now and I recommend you sample it. Her songs are pretty simple, yet relaxing and sometimes thought-provoking. I have four of her songs on my ipod (Keep Breathing, Breakable, The Way I am, Corner of Your Heart)...I like each of them.

Days Off

Sometimes I feel like I just work work work. After a long stretch of working I find myself longing for a day off. Especially after a hard trip like Camp Surf, I need a day to relax and unwind. Nod your head if you look forward to your days off.

However, recently I have found myself getting bored on my days off. Unless I am hanging out with my friends, I end up just sitting around in my living room watching TV, going on Myspace, or eating junk food. When I am alone I also start worrying about life (I think work and busyness can be a nice distraction from the realities of life). By the end of the day I sense that my day off was a waste and I am left feeling bored, lonely, unrested, and disappointed.

Some would suggest that I need to find more activities to help me relax and revive my soul. I love watching movies or playing games with friends, but what do I do when no one is available? I enjoy art and architecture, but for some reason it seems meaningless now. I think I have lost my sense of dreaming and passion.

Do you ever feel like me when it comes to days off?

Drowning

Do you ever feel like you are drowning? Not literal drowning, but as a metaphor.



Now that summer is here, I am getting swamped with jr. high events and all the issues that go with them. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who feels the weight of the issues that go on within the ministry. Parents complaining, students getting into trouble, problems with logistics and administration stuff, and the list goes on. The best way to illustrate the way I feel is the image above.

I am not depressed or anything, but a bit overwhelmed.

Potential Birthday Party Themes...

Ok...I know my birthday is not till November 18th, which is like 5 months away, but I am starting to think of themes for my next birthday bash. (I will be turning 28 by the way...Ahhh!)
Last year my party theme was "A Tacky Birthday." It was really fun, especially since everyone dressed up. We played pin the tail on the donkey, we decorated with toilet paper, and we served Twinkies as the cake...It was awesome!

This year I am considering a few birthday party themes...

Option #1: "A Preppy Birthday"


Option #2: "A Gangsta Birthday"


What's your vote? Do you have another suggestion for me?

I love this video...

I love this video...because I happen to be a white gangsta myself. Enjoy!

Massage for the Mind

I love being relaxed.
Last week Dan Coombs was giving a knife sales presentation to Kate Yates in the Student Ministries office. As he was giving his shpeal and demonstrating the effectiveness of the knives, I became very relaxed. I couldn't see what they were doing because I was sitting in the office next door, but just hearing his presentation I felt so peaceful.

This week I hung out with Alex Armstrong (former Jr. Higher) and he showed me some of his new magic tricks. As I was watching him demonstrate his card and coin tricks, I became very relaxed. I think it must have something to do with the tone of his voice or something.

So for whatever reason, magic tricks and knife presentations are like massages for my mind. I love them!

What relaxes you?

Get Dressed

The summer theme for the Calvary Jr. High Ministry is Get Dressed.
The theme comes from Colossians 3:12-14, So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

We are focusing on the attributes that God wants us to "put on." Obviously goldy virtues are more important that clothes, but I am curious...What is your favorite clothing item? Maybe it is a pair of jeans, or a cool hat, or a spiffy T-shirt, etc.

My favorite thing to "put on" are my Rockford sunglasses...technically sunglasses are an accessory, but I don't care. I feel so cool when I wear them...They are my stunna shades!


What is your favorite clothing item?

I'm A Gangsta!

Yo Yo Yo! Waz up my peeps? Some of you may not know about my secret identity as a gangsta. Today I am publicly announcing that I am thug. Holla Back!

I am a pretty big fan of rap and hip-hop. I have Power 106 set as one of my radio stations in my car. My secret ambition is to work for the station and meet Big Boy. I love to dance and "walk it out."
Are there any other gangtas out there?

The Perfect Girl...

What does it take to find the perfect girl? Who is the perfect girl? What is she like?

Is she like Reese Witherspoon from Walk The Line?


Is she like Donna Reed from It's A Wonderful Life?


Is she like Cinderella from Cinderella?


I would appreciate any wisdom or advice on the topic.

Your Single Friend- Josh

I am getting old!

Ok...I have deciding that I am getting old and it is starting to show. My age never bothered me much, until I turned 27.

This is a picture taken last Thursday. Please notice...

#1 My belly. I never had to worry about my diet, but now I am getting "soft" or "flabby." Some of my pants don't fit anymore and I definitely don't look as good in a bathing suit.

#2 My receding hairline. I now have what my Jr. Highers like to call "cul-de-sacs" My forehead seems to be growing on a daily basis.

#3 My wrinkles. Every time I smile, squint, or raise an eyebrow I add to my canvas of wrinkles. I have what is known as "crows feet."

In case I every forget about my bodily misfortunes, my Jr. High students are constantly reminding me. You gotta love their brutal honesty. If anyone finds the fountain of youth...give me a call. Haha.

My Roommates...

Well...The time has come for me to introduce you to my roommates...David and Luke.

DAVID is a unique guy. I have known this kid for about a year and a half. We met through Wyldlife at Santiago Middle School. David is a good roommate...he is clean, organized, and curtious. He has a shrine to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in his closet (I don't get it). He sometimes thinks he is "all that" and a Brad Pitt look-alike. He is currently single, but has a crush on Amanda Bynes (Good Luck with that buddy). David and I are both youth pastors...It is nice to live with someone who understands me. For the most part David and I get along, although we have our occassional tiffs.
Fun Fact: Did you know that if you take the vowels out of DAVID's name it becomes DVD.


LUKE is not only my roommate, but also my younger brother. Luke is one of the funniest and coolest guys I know. He is one of those guys who listens to underground music and goes to shows (I am lucky he even aknowledges me). His buddies call him Rolland (I have no idea why). Luke and I have had our ups and downs as kids, but now we are mature adults and work out our issues with guns and knives. Luke is single, but is looking for a rich and beautiful girl who knows her place. Luke works for KFI radio and takes the train to Burbank several times a week. Keep your eyes on Luke, because one day his name will be in lights.
Fun Fact: My family and I used to pretend that Luke was a dog named Rover...ruff ruff.


Those are the boys. Come by and hang out sometime!

They call me JCORNDAWG

They call me JCORNDAWG. I know you are all dying to know, "What does Jcorndawg mean and why does Josh go by that?" Allow me to shed some light on the matter.

It all started back in high school...late 90's. I was searching for for the perfect screenname and email. I sought out the counsel of some of my close friends. They said that I am a "dawg" (in a cool gansta way), and since I am blond they added in the "corn." I liked the name, so I tried to plug it in as my new AOL name. But sadly, no luck, it was already taken. So...I tried a "J" in front of it (because my name is Josh). And that is how the all magic happened...I became "Jcorndawg." Now many years later, I am still the JCORNDAWG.
The End

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream!

On Thursday night we had our annual Ice Cream Club for WyldLife. This is the craziest club of the year. We meet up at Lemon Heights Park in Tustin/Santa Ana and play a ton of games involving ice cream. Kids are told to dress in grubby clothes, because by the end of the night they will be smothered in ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and bananas. It is a fun night and the kids love it!

Me and my boys!


WyldLife Leaders!


As I was looking back at pictures from last night, I started thinking "Wow! WyldLife has the coolest ideas. I wish the Jr. High group at Calvary would do exciting stuff like that." Then I realized "Wait a minute...I am the Jr. High Pastor and I should be planning cool things like that!" I have decided that I can learn a lot from my relationship with WyldLife. Never stop learning.

My Friend Melissa

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about someone very special to me...My friend Melissa.

To put it simply...She is one of a kind. Melissa and I have been working together in the Jr. High Ministry at Calvary Church for the last four years. We are the Jr. High power team...I affectionately call us The Dynamic Duo. Sometimes we act more like an old married couple, bickering with each other and finishing each other's sentences. (It takes awhile to make a connection like that.) Melissa has taught me so much about ministry and even more about myself. She has encouraged me to be more confident in myself. She has become one of my best friends and I am so thankful for her.
You need to get to know this girl...She is PHAT!

Cell Phone

Ok...Here is the deal. People make fun of me and my cell phone use for two reasons.

#1 People think I answer my phone with a question, "Heelllloo??" They (mostly Eric) say I act like I have never answered a phone before. Like I am saying "What is this strange device ringing from my pocket? Is someone on the other line? Heelllloo??"

#2 People also think I talk on the phone way too loud. They (mostly David) say I almost shout on the phone. I just want to make sure that I am heard. People tend to ignore me unless I speak up.

By the way...This is a picture of my beautiful phone. I really only chose it because it is green...I think it suits my personality.

You know that you love it and that you are jealous of my phone!