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What’s your life… in a six word story?

Smith Magazine has “Six-Word Memoir” series and is asking:

“Everyone has a story. Can you tell yours in six words?”

Here’s mine:

I’m asking, seeking. knocking these days.

What’s your six-word story?

Sorry, I’ve been a no show on here for the past few days. We’ve had a sick household this week.

But finally, we’re back to the land of the living…

Up for another round up of great Christian signs?

Here are 5 keys to making a great Christian sign:

1) Try to be clever, but make sure to reference death or sin

[HT: Brian Buchanan]

2) It doesn’t matter if you make any sense as long as you mention Jesus

3) Try to be culturally relevant, but you error, make sure you end up being pervy and creepy

[HT: SaintSimeon]

4) Try to make sure you miss the point entirely

[HT: Lifesigns]

5) If all else fails, ruin your attempted wit by misspelling key words

[HT: CrummyChurchSigns]

[HT: YS]

I think that Craig is on to something here.

Think of this. How much of your youth ministry is “fun and games” and how much of it is discipling teenagers in their faith? Are we just entertaining in the hopes of slipping the Gospel in? Is this the “bait and switch” Gospel? Or simply put… is your youth ministry contributing to the stupidity of teenagers?

I noticed this a few years back. We’d promo a trip by saying it was a snowboarding weekend, but fail to mention that our real [subversive] purpose was to share Christ. Once I realized how we were packaging our faith (90% fun and 10% Jesus) I repented and changed my ways. Do we still have fun? Absolutely. But am I clear about the focus of what we do? You bettcha.

Ministry for us has changed to something more about pursuing life change and less about events and entertainment. Is it an easy switch? No. Are we still refining the process with? Uh huh. Is it a necessary one? Yes it completely is.

What are your thoughts?

A few years back, I worked for a church that was… let’s just say… less than ideal. I’m not going to lie, anytime you get the shaft there’s a bit of hurt feelings and pain that always linger. And recently, with Conan O’Brien getting the shaft from NBC, those ol’ feelings are ruminating up to the surface again in me. I know a bit how Coco feels (minus the $45 million pay off).

Then, the other night, when Conan ran this bit on the Tonight Show, I enjoyed it (yes, it’s banned… so if it gets pulled from youtube… go here). Enjoy it in all it’s $1.5 million “stickin’ it to NBC” glory.

And if you try and play the religious card on me, check out Psalm 69 from David. We’ve got some room for this. It’s one of those, “Oh God, defend me… stick it to the man for me…” psalms. I’m not saying that I want God to go all “Sodom and Gomorrah” on NBC. I’m just saying that I take comfort in the Lord defending me, even when Christians give me the shaft. Sometimes when injustice happens, that’s all you can do… just give it up to the Lord, and let Him deal with it. We just have to keep walking on. But, it’s always fun to see a situation when someone’s stickin’ it to the man…

I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, that’s  no secret.

So, I think instead of making a “To Do List” of things that will probably forgotten by March. Let’s just be honest with ourselves. That honesty should propel us to change instead of the well intentioned resolutions.

You see within each resolution is hidden a shameful truth, and if we were to embrace the shameful truth, then change is actually possible.

Here are some common resolutions and the truth behind them:

Common Resolution 1 :  I resolve be healthier.

Truth: I can’t say ‘no’ to fast food and I own several work out videos… on VHS.

Common Resolution 2: I plan to read the whole Bible in 365 days.

Truth: I feel the need to be more Christian than the other people in my church.

Common Resolution 3: I want to spend more time with my family.

Truth: By declaring this openly it will possibly erode the guilt I have for finding more satisfaction in my job than with my wife and kids.

Common Resolution 4: I’m going to get organized.

Truth: I own a smartphone and use it like an IPod.

Common Resolution 5: I’m going to blog more regularly.

Truth: I like telling people that I blog, but I haven’t updated it since May… of 2008.

Now, you may say, “Stuart, who peed in your corn flakes?” I’m not being grumpy in this plea against New Years Resolutions, I’m just trying to keep us honest. I mean, really, if you really wanted to change things, why wait till January? June is a good month. Change happens one day at a time and we should live this year that way.

You want to change things? Good, go out and change them, but a resolution list won’t do it for you. Let’s just be honest in 2010.

Well, our house had a week long bout with the flu (one with swine and 3 with regular). I’m just glad that it’s finally over.

With Miriam and the kids having days of fever, there was only one suggested cure:

So remember from us. When you get sick in this flu season… you need more cowbell.