In my last blog entry, I talked about how the Transformer 12-2 concert came about. Now I owe you a report of how it went. In a nutshell, it was wonderful, just an all-around wonderful experience!
The name of the concert is based on Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds".
Leading up to concert day, our youth were thrilled to have a concert at Olivet, and helped tremendously with the publicity. One of our students got approval to put up posters at CASH. When I visited CASH for “See You At The Pole”, I was told by one of my students, “The posters are up all over the school, everyone is talking about the concert!”.
Finally, on September 26, Olivet Church became the venue for the final stop of “The Color’s Tour” and hosted our first Contemporary Chirstian Music (CCM) Concert. CCM concert is “Christian-speak”, for rock concert. The bands, Leo, and Shine Bright Baby, gave an awesome high-quality performance and were absolutely the nicest group of outstanding young musicians you could possibly ever want to meet. Our adults and youth also did an outstanding job “working the concert” by selling tickets, taking tickets, selling merchandise, cooking and selling hot dogs and beverages, serving food, working with the bands and the sound engineer to load equipment in and out, move and store furniture, work the lights and DVD player, provide wireless internet service and a green room for the bands, and provide security personnel to keep the high-school group of about 70 youth, from wandering into back-stage or office areas of the church. The bands raved about Harvey’s home-cooked meals for lunch and dinner.
In addition to band merchandise tables, Good Works, TWLOHA, and Compassion International had tables setup in the Garden room. Compassion even provided a speaker for intermission, with a video to show. I briefly talked about TWLOHA and we also presented a dynamic Rob Bell video during intermission. TWLOHA, (To Write Love On Her Arms) is an organization that works to help people in self-abusive habits of many forms.
There were not enough attendees to quite cover all the expenses but Olivet church was financially isolated with the exception of providing the venue, heat, and electricity.
We only had 70 youth show up, but, WOW, WE HAD 70 youth show up! We didn’t cover expenses but after the first song and I saw all the kids get up in front of the band doing “their concert thing”, I knew that my primary message was getting across, “You can be a Christian and you can still listen to rock music and have fun!”
The bands were wonderful to work with and expressed that they were doing what they do, for Jesus. I love when bands express that from the stage! My favorite quote of the night was from our senior pastor, when the fog machine set the fire alarm off. Someone was running to answer the call from the fire department, and Joe said, “Tell ‘em the youth set the church on FIRE!” Yes, I think, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they did!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Monday, November 1, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
A Train Ride and a Concert
It’s 10:20 pm and I’m sitting on a train just out of 30th Street Station, on my way back to my family shore vacation after an afternoon and evening class at seminary. Tidings input is due tomorrow morning. I’ll walk into our rented apartment in Ocean City, NJ after everyone is asleep, a few minutes after midnight.
There are lots of things I could blog about. I could complain about the life of a half-time seminarian, full-time engineer, and round-the-clock father, grandfather, and husband. But then, I signed up for all of that. So I have no right to complain, after all, most of the time, I love it all. At least, I can definitely say I love seminary after I finish each semester. You might say that’s like saying it feels good to stop hitting yourself too. But, as I’ve told many of you many times, I can truly look back on each semester and be thankful for the changes I see in myself from every seminary course I’ve taken. Changes that I have a responsibility to take into the ministry God calls me to. It is my privilege and joy to do that.
Now, some courses I am excited to take, and some courses God drags me in kicking and screaming. “Theological Field Education”, known to most of you as “internship”, is close to the latter. The course only earns 1 credit per semester even though it requires 10-12 hours of work at my assigned church. I choose to apply for a “home-church waiver”, so I could do my internship at Olivet. My assumption was that I could do what I do now, most of the time over 10 hours most weeks already, and all I have to do is show up for the weekly class and mentor meetings.
Not so fast. I received a reminder letter stating that I am expected to do something new with my internship time. This isn’t what I’d planned. I can’t spend another 10 hours a week. I don’t have another 10 hours a week in addition to what I’m already doing.
But God had something in mind.
Not long before I received the reminder letter, I was working on the Main Stage Crew at the Purple Door Arts and Music Festival. I’ve been doing that every year since about 2001. In a conversation with one of the bands they suggested they come to my church for a concert. This is not the first time that has happened either, and it’s not the first time I brushed it off, this time saying, “you guys are too big for us”.
It was a week later that the letter came, and I began to realize that God may have created this opportunity for a reason, to take advantage of the opportunity to do something new in my ministry. So, I have literally now become a rock concert promoter/producer.
By the time you read this blog entry in tidings, the concert, on Sunday, September 26, will probably be over. You will probably know what went wrong and what went right.
Conversely, I’ll get off the train tonight without much of a clue of exactly what God has in mind for this concert. Will anyone show up besides a few faithful curious church members or will our sanctuary be filled to capacity at 500 attendees?
I pray God will be glorified and that people are drawn closer to Christ through this concert. I pray some of our church members are blessed to be a blessing in providing hospitality to the band members. I pray someone who attends learns something new about what it is to be a Christian. I pray someone walks away with the realization that Christians are real people, some of who enjoy good rock music with good lyrics. I pray they develop a seeking personality because they’ve realized maybe some of the other generalizations they may have come to believe about Christians may not be true either. I pray that God’s love shines through the bands Shine Bright Baby and Leo on September 26.
And for my immediate future, I just hope someone remembered to leave the side-door of the shore rental unlocked because there wasn’t a spare set of keys to take with me tonight and everyone else will be asleep when I arrive!
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
It has been a great ASP summer.
It has been a great ASP summer. I thought I'd share some of it.
As well as the youth trip during ASP week-5, July 10-17, Jay Widmayer made a special trip during week-8, August 1-7, especially due to a special need that ASP encountered mid-summer this year, namely, "Bobby".
Here is a compilation of Jay’s Widmayer’s Texts, and final STATUS from ASP staffers Jill Thrasher Hauserman and Kat Reach, after Jay’s ASP2010 week-8 excursion –
Following that is a Final Summer’s County Update message from ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
JAY’S TEXTS –
RT JW@1230sun- “I have safely arrived in Hinton wv” – Reply with “YES” to get on distribution for Jay’s texts
RT JW@550pmMon: Hey Allen great first day go to meet little Robbie and chuck today awesome people just wanted to put out a prayer request for chucks wife Stacey she in the hospital and having trouble regulating her EKG numbers and keeping her until that happens
RT JW@701pmTUE- So kat’s dad put the oil line thru Coatesville and down business 30, 2 ny volunteers have ties to the area one from Boyertown the other grew up in wc and met 4 sisters at dq one living in Hershey and the other near Chester weird coincidence
RT JW@839WED: I’m with a first time church-by helping them out and bouncing around finishing up small stuff for the staff, Bobbys house has 3 teams working on it, the goal is get the addition Bobby start weather tite anymore that gets done is a bonus and it looks like it should be that way by tomo
RT JW@818wed: It’s hot down here but had a big thunderstorm come thru tonite should cool things off and it’s a bit odd walking around the center and not have any olivet people running around but it’s going well
RT JW@1001wed: Yea they’re great(team jay is helping) and yes I’ve been out there making a lot of their deliveries(staff’s) so I’m not on the job I’d like to be but I know I’m where god wants me to be
RT JW@943PmThurs: 3/4 rain tight and I’ll probly work late tomo & then leave sat morning-(see allens fb 4 pic jay took-robert@asp picnic2dy)
RT JW@832AMsat: Just passed James Madison univ
RT JW@1005AmSat: Made it back to Pennsylvania
RT JW@1015AmSat: I’ve been thinking about that past week, it feels like I’ve only been driving for 30 mins
RT JW@1242pmSat: Asp 2010 excursion has come an end, I’m home --- Thank You Jay for your service & your reports- welcome home & God Bless!
JILL THRASHER HAUSERMAN FB STATUS ABOUT 7:57PM SUN: today, i watched bobby use running water for the first time! thanks to all who donated to make this possible!
KAT REACH FB STATUS ABOUT 9:55PM SUN: was with a man when he watched water run from his faucet for the first time. Thanks to all who gave him that opportunity.
ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Summers County West Virginia"
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:43:28 AM
Subject: Final Summes County Update!
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all having a fantastic summer! I wanted to send you all one final update from Summers County: As of right now, we have finished all of our homes! We have been so blessed by the hard work that you gave to our families each week, and consequently we have been able to complete more on each of our projects than we had anticipated. And thanks to your generous donations, we have been able to get Bobby and his brother David running water and a septic system! The gifts you have given to all of our families mean the world to us, and we are so grateful we were able to serve alongside you all this summer. We hope that we will get to see you all again sometime, and we pray that you will be a blessing to your community just as you were to Summers.
Pictures of our county and work sites have been posted and will continue to be posted on our website: www.BuildANew You.org. Click on the Login button on the top right of the homepage, and you will be able to create an ASP profile, then join the Summers, WV group to see all our photos and updates!
Again, I wanted to thank you all for the amazing work you did while here in Summers. You were a blessing to the staff and a blessing to the families, and we sincerely hope that you will return next year to continue sharing your gifts with the deserving families of Appalachia.
God Bless,
Kevin Lynch
Summers County
As well as the youth trip during ASP week-5, July 10-17, Jay Widmayer made a special trip during week-8, August 1-7, especially due to a special need that ASP encountered mid-summer this year, namely, "Bobby".
Here is a compilation of Jay’s Widmayer’s Texts, and final STATUS from ASP staffers Jill Thrasher Hauserman and Kat Reach, after Jay’s ASP2010 week-8 excursion –
Following that is a Final Summer’s County Update message from ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
JAY’S TEXTS –
RT JW@1230sun- “I have safely arrived in Hinton wv” – Reply with “YES” to get on distribution for Jay’s texts
RT JW@550pmMon: Hey Allen great first day go to meet little Robbie and chuck today awesome people just wanted to put out a prayer request for chucks wife Stacey she in the hospital and having trouble regulating her EKG numbers and keeping her until that happens
RT JW@701pmTUE- So kat’s dad put the oil line thru Coatesville and down business 30, 2 ny volunteers have ties to the area one from Boyertown the other grew up in wc and met 4 sisters at dq one living in Hershey and the other near Chester weird coincidence
RT JW@839WED: I’m with a first time church-by helping them out and bouncing around finishing up small stuff for the staff, Bobbys house has 3 teams working on it, the goal is get the addition Bobby start weather tite anymore that gets done is a bonus and it looks like it should be that way by tomo
RT JW@818wed: It’s hot down here but had a big thunderstorm come thru tonite should cool things off and it’s a bit odd walking around the center and not have any olivet people running around but it’s going well
RT JW@1001wed: Yea they’re great(team jay is helping) and yes I’ve been out there making a lot of their deliveries(staff’s) so I’m not on the job I’d like to be but I know I’m where god wants me to be
RT JW@943PmThurs: 3/4 rain tight and I’ll probly work late tomo & then leave sat morning-(see allens fb 4 pic jay took-robert@asp picnic2dy)
RT JW@832AMsat: Just passed James Madison univ
RT JW@1005AmSat: Made it back to Pennsylvania
RT JW@1015AmSat: I’ve been thinking about that past week, it feels like I’ve only been driving for 30 mins
RT JW@1242pmSat: Asp 2010 excursion has come an end, I’m home --- Thank You Jay for your service & your reports- welcome home & God Bless!
JILL THRASHER HAUSERMAN FB STATUS ABOUT 7:57PM SUN: today, i watched bobby use running water for the first time! thanks to all who donated to make this possible!
KAT REACH FB STATUS ABOUT 9:55PM SUN: was with a man when he watched water run from his faucet for the first time. Thanks to all who gave him that opportunity.
ASP Staffer Kevin Lynch –
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Summers County West Virginia"
Sent: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:43:28 AM
Subject: Final Summes County Update!
Hello Everyone!
I hope you are all having a fantastic summer! I wanted to send you all one final update from Summers County: As of right now, we have finished all of our homes! We have been so blessed by the hard work that you gave to our families each week, and consequently we have been able to complete more on each of our projects than we had anticipated. And thanks to your generous donations, we have been able to get Bobby and his brother David running water and a septic system! The gifts you have given to all of our families mean the world to us, and we are so grateful we were able to serve alongside you all this summer. We hope that we will get to see you all again sometime, and we pray that you will be a blessing to your community just as you were to Summers.
Pictures of our county and work sites have been posted and will continue to be posted on our website: www.BuildANew You.org. Click on the Login button on the top right of the homepage, and you will be able to create an ASP profile, then join the Summers, WV group to see all our photos and updates!
Again, I wanted to thank you all for the amazing work you did while here in Summers. You were a blessing to the staff and a blessing to the families, and we sincerely hope that you will return next year to continue sharing your gifts with the deserving families of Appalachia.
God Bless,
Kevin Lynch
Summers County
Thursday, July 1, 2010
On The Threshold of a Dream ...
In the Beginning (Graeme Edge) -
I think...
I think I am.
Therefore I am!
I think...
Lovely to see you again my friend (Justin Hayward) -
Now that you're here, you're going to stay, cause it's...
Lovely to see you again my friend
Walk along with me to the next bend
Turn up the volume!
I once heard a great preacher (H. Joe Tyson) express that the Christian life is an endless series of three major movements: Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action. Of course every individual is very complex, and this sequence, or thread, can be operating in different phases in many various aspects of our lives all at once. I’m pretty sure each of us has hundreds of these threads running simultaneously.
Sometimes several of these strands line up together when a significant event occurs such as a wedding or a graduation. Such “rite of passage” events are markers in our lives. Life on either side of the marker is very different. It’s as if the life you lead coming up to the marker has a little death, but leads to new horizons spreading before you as you embark on the new life just on the other side of the marker.
Spiritual events can be markers too. Accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior is an obvious one. As we lead our Christian lives there may be other times when we sense the presence of God in special ways such that we are no longer the same. An experience at summer camp, ASP, the Creation Festival, a retreat, an Emmaus Walk or Chrysallis experience, a seminar, a word said during a sermon, an inspirational reading, or perhaps God speaks to us in a way we’ve never noticed before through God’s word.
The first set of markers are somewhat predictable. Graduation, a wedding, your first full time job, have fixed dates we know when they are coming. Conversely, significant spiritual events are not predictable. Who can know when a person will respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit?
As this summer begins, we have a lot of graduations and weddings to celebrate! Hallelujah! These major rites of passage provide natural times for reflection and vision, as we anticipate and prepare for our next actions to follow.
I am very excited about the graduates and newlyweds that I know and I’m sure they are enjoying wonderful, and sometimes appropriately teary, times of reflection. I am also very excited for the spiritual rites of passage that we cannot see but I believe will be happening in the lives of many of our youth as they spend time at summer activities where I know the Holy Spirit will be hard at work in their lives.
In my ministerial life, the beginning of summer is a very exciting time for me to be reflecting on the lives of our youth, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my vision as I prepare for the very active spiritual events of the Creation festival and ASP. On a different “thread”, I also must be appropriately open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life. As I move into the action season I can all too easily fall into the mindset of a busy, consumed, work-a-holic, and I could completely miss the “movement of the spirit”.
I pray God invites every one of us to appropriately slow down our minds, to allow a space for the Holy Spirit to take residence, to grow, and to transform our minds.
So graduates, newlyweds, church camp lovers, Creation enthusiasts, ASP team, lovers of the Holy Spirit, may we ALL reflect, and dream, as we prepare for action. But let us dream big dreams, colossal dreams, appropriate for our awesome God to fill. Let it be with you as Luke puts it in God’s words in Acts 2:17, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
I am a product of the Hard Rock Music Generation of the 60’s. Please excuse the slightly new age sound of these lyrics. I read them as a Christian and I read what I want to read. To the pure, all things are pure. Intended or not, I see God in these lyrics. So, as the Moody Blues put it in April 1969, I think we are at every moment, but most especially at the beginning of this summer, “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
What dream is at YOUR feet? Reflect, Vision, and then take Action! Put your foot “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
The Dream (Graeme Edge) -
Just as new life will come from death
Love will come at leisure
Love of love, love of life
And giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn
Of a promise almost seen
Live hand-in-hand
And together we'll stand
On the threshold of a dream....
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
I think...
I think I am.
Therefore I am!
I think...
Lovely to see you again my friend (Justin Hayward) -
Now that you're here, you're going to stay, cause it's...
Lovely to see you again my friend
Walk along with me to the next bend
Turn up the volume!
I once heard a great preacher (H. Joe Tyson) express that the Christian life is an endless series of three major movements: Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action … Reflection, Vision, Action. Of course every individual is very complex, and this sequence, or thread, can be operating in different phases in many various aspects of our lives all at once. I’m pretty sure each of us has hundreds of these threads running simultaneously.
Sometimes several of these strands line up together when a significant event occurs such as a wedding or a graduation. Such “rite of passage” events are markers in our lives. Life on either side of the marker is very different. It’s as if the life you lead coming up to the marker has a little death, but leads to new horizons spreading before you as you embark on the new life just on the other side of the marker.
Spiritual events can be markers too. Accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior is an obvious one. As we lead our Christian lives there may be other times when we sense the presence of God in special ways such that we are no longer the same. An experience at summer camp, ASP, the Creation Festival, a retreat, an Emmaus Walk or Chrysallis experience, a seminar, a word said during a sermon, an inspirational reading, or perhaps God speaks to us in a way we’ve never noticed before through God’s word.
The first set of markers are somewhat predictable. Graduation, a wedding, your first full time job, have fixed dates we know when they are coming. Conversely, significant spiritual events are not predictable. Who can know when a person will respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit?
As this summer begins, we have a lot of graduations and weddings to celebrate! Hallelujah! These major rites of passage provide natural times for reflection and vision, as we anticipate and prepare for our next actions to follow.
I am very excited about the graduates and newlyweds that I know and I’m sure they are enjoying wonderful, and sometimes appropriately teary, times of reflection. I am also very excited for the spiritual rites of passage that we cannot see but I believe will be happening in the lives of many of our youth as they spend time at summer activities where I know the Holy Spirit will be hard at work in their lives.
In my ministerial life, the beginning of summer is a very exciting time for me to be reflecting on the lives of our youth, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my vision as I prepare for the very active spiritual events of the Creation festival and ASP. On a different “thread”, I also must be appropriately open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my own life. As I move into the action season I can all too easily fall into the mindset of a busy, consumed, work-a-holic, and I could completely miss the “movement of the spirit”.
I pray God invites every one of us to appropriately slow down our minds, to allow a space for the Holy Spirit to take residence, to grow, and to transform our minds.
So graduates, newlyweds, church camp lovers, Creation enthusiasts, ASP team, lovers of the Holy Spirit, may we ALL reflect, and dream, as we prepare for action. But let us dream big dreams, colossal dreams, appropriate for our awesome God to fill. Let it be with you as Luke puts it in God’s words in Acts 2:17, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”
I am a product of the Hard Rock Music Generation of the 60’s. Please excuse the slightly new age sound of these lyrics. I read them as a Christian and I read what I want to read. To the pure, all things are pure. Intended or not, I see God in these lyrics. So, as the Moody Blues put it in April 1969, I think we are at every moment, but most especially at the beginning of this summer, “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
What dream is at YOUR feet? Reflect, Vision, and then take Action! Put your foot “On The Threshold of a Dream” …
The Dream (Graeme Edge) -
Just as new life will come from death
Love will come at leisure
Love of love, love of life
And giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn
Of a promise almost seen
Live hand-in-hand
And together we'll stand
On the threshold of a dream....
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
ASP Olympics Report
The Olivet ASP Olympics were held on the afternoon of May 16, 2010.
A MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who was there and to those who support our ASP team. It was a great day!
I love God’s coincidences. Unbeknownst to me until I heard it on KYW that morning, it was 20 years to the day after the passing of Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets. I believe it was actually the day after he passed, May 17, 1990, I was at my daughter’s elementary school, waiting to be the starter for the 75yd dash at their Field Day event. One of those “you-know-where-you-were-when” events.
Back on that day in 1990, I stood in the Rainbow Elementary School gym while they played their school theme song over the PA system, “The Rainbow Connection”, by Kermit the Frog, in tribute. All of this came together, in my head at least, in the midst of a gorgeous day for our first ASP Olympics, at the moment when Libby Snyder pointed out a beautiful rainbow in the sky, on a sunny day. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a thing before. A rainbow, with no rain. Go figure!
Here are the official standings for our two major events -
Official Standings: Quarter-Mile
Gold - Wayland Washington (finishing at 1:30, a 6:00/mile pace)
Silver – Beau Wilson (only a few seconds behind)
Bronze - Josh Kuhn
Runner-up – Danny Kuhn
The gold metalist will receive a $15 iTunes card. The Quarter-Mile Race consisted of 4 quarter-mile heats, followed by a quarter-mile final.
Official Standings: Obstacle Relay
Gold - Team Turtle 11:21
Silver - Team Beau 11:23
Bronze - Team Hannah 11:29
Runner-up - Team Short 11:37
Racing Order:
Team Hannah 11:29
Team Short 11:37
Team Turtle 11:21
Team Beau 11:23
The obstacle race consisted of a joist walk, wheelbarrow-walk, under-the-house crawl, board-walk, ladder-climb-for-a-nail, saw-a-board, nail-a-board, level-a-board, run-like-the-wind, relay race.
Team Turtle was Josh Kuhn, Wayland Washington, Laura Selin, Georgie Snyder, and Brandon Moore.
- they were so proud standing on the podium it looked like a statue of Iwo Jima!
Team Beau was Stephen Kuhn, Ashley Moore, Anna Kuhn, Beau Wilson, and Bryan Esworthy.
Team Hannah was Hannah Reczek, Taylor Wilson, Megan Sandoe, Abby Sauer, and Libby Snyder.
Team Short was Danny Kuhn, Christine Moore, Millie Dorminy, Zachary Patterson and Josh Wagner.
Becca Tritt, sidelined with a ski injury, served as judge for the level-a-board obstacle. Thanks Becca!
Mindy Esworthy, budding professional photographer, served as our photographer. Thanks Mindy!
I apologize for trashing any names with misspellings!
Other events included Frisbee, eating Hot Dogs, Bananas, Pink Lemonade, Water, cheering Spectators, Sunning, Walking, and Spotting. Thanks to all the group leader adults who participated and to our spectators!
As the Olympic Theme played at the beginning of our “games”, Hannah Reczek proudly carried the Olympic torch (a battery operated candle). The torch for us symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit living amongst and in us, drawing us to Christ, and drawing us into Christian community.
I believe God has instilled every person with a yearning to know something that is beyond ourselves. As the song goes, “Someday we'll find it, that Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me”. I think if you’re one of those whose already found the Rainbow Connection, then you have already recognized the life-giving breath of God - The Holy Spirit of God Almighty the Creator of the Universe, living within you - breathe deeply!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
A MAJOR THANK YOU to everyone who was there and to those who support our ASP team. It was a great day!
I love God’s coincidences. Unbeknownst to me until I heard it on KYW that morning, it was 20 years to the day after the passing of Jim Henson, the man behind the Muppets. I believe it was actually the day after he passed, May 17, 1990, I was at my daughter’s elementary school, waiting to be the starter for the 75yd dash at their Field Day event. One of those “you-know-where-you-were-when” events.
Back on that day in 1990, I stood in the Rainbow Elementary School gym while they played their school theme song over the PA system, “The Rainbow Connection”, by Kermit the Frog, in tribute. All of this came together, in my head at least, in the midst of a gorgeous day for our first ASP Olympics, at the moment when Libby Snyder pointed out a beautiful rainbow in the sky, on a sunny day. I can’t say I’ve ever seen such a thing before. A rainbow, with no rain. Go figure!
Here are the official standings for our two major events -
Official Standings: Quarter-Mile
Gold - Wayland Washington (finishing at 1:30, a 6:00/mile pace)
Silver – Beau Wilson (only a few seconds behind)
Bronze - Josh Kuhn
Runner-up – Danny Kuhn
The gold metalist will receive a $15 iTunes card. The Quarter-Mile Race consisted of 4 quarter-mile heats, followed by a quarter-mile final.
Official Standings: Obstacle Relay
Gold - Team Turtle 11:21
Silver - Team Beau 11:23
Bronze - Team Hannah 11:29
Runner-up - Team Short 11:37
Racing Order:
Team Hannah 11:29
Team Short 11:37
Team Turtle 11:21
Team Beau 11:23
The obstacle race consisted of a joist walk, wheelbarrow-walk, under-the-house crawl, board-walk, ladder-climb-for-a-nail, saw-a-board, nail-a-board, level-a-board, run-like-the-wind, relay race.
Team Turtle was Josh Kuhn, Wayland Washington, Laura Selin, Georgie Snyder, and Brandon Moore.
- they were so proud standing on the podium it looked like a statue of Iwo Jima!
Team Beau was Stephen Kuhn, Ashley Moore, Anna Kuhn, Beau Wilson, and Bryan Esworthy.
Team Hannah was Hannah Reczek, Taylor Wilson, Megan Sandoe, Abby Sauer, and Libby Snyder.
Team Short was Danny Kuhn, Christine Moore, Millie Dorminy, Zachary Patterson and Josh Wagner.
Becca Tritt, sidelined with a ski injury, served as judge for the level-a-board obstacle. Thanks Becca!
Mindy Esworthy, budding professional photographer, served as our photographer. Thanks Mindy!
I apologize for trashing any names with misspellings!
Other events included Frisbee, eating Hot Dogs, Bananas, Pink Lemonade, Water, cheering Spectators, Sunning, Walking, and Spotting. Thanks to all the group leader adults who participated and to our spectators!
As the Olympic Theme played at the beginning of our “games”, Hannah Reczek proudly carried the Olympic torch (a battery operated candle). The torch for us symbolizes the presence of the Holy Spirit living amongst and in us, drawing us to Christ, and drawing us into Christian community.
I believe God has instilled every person with a yearning to know something that is beyond ourselves. As the song goes, “Someday we'll find it, that Rainbow Connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me”. I think if you’re one of those whose already found the Rainbow Connection, then you have already recognized the life-giving breath of God - The Holy Spirit of God Almighty the Creator of the Universe, living within you - breathe deeply!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Earth Day #1 – 1970 – and other ramblings about a 17 year old kid (me) .…
I better start off saying that if you expect some great theological insights here or a great reflection on “Earth Day”, then you better find another article to read. But, you might find this mildly entertaining, and it does have a point of practicality.
Earth Day #1 was in 1970, 40 years ago. I was 17. Sure, do the math. I’m 57 now. It’s all-good. :-)
That first Earth Day in Lower Bucks County, PA was celebrated by a 26 mile walk.
I was a Senior at Neshaminy High School and I had been accepted at Drexel University. I loved High School. I was in concert choir. We did tons of concerts every year in and out of the school. When I was a Junior we went to Florida to sing at the DeSoto Celebration. That was awesome, except for our train crash on the way down. I was in lots of school plays. Each year I was in the school musical, a drama, and the musical we would do in summer stock. I never had anything close to a lead role, only a few speaking parts here and there, and “chorus”. A part in the chorus was what everyone got who tried out and didn’t get a real part. Kindof like the “participation” ribbons everyone gets today. It was still fun taking part, dressing up, and on show nights some girls would put makeup on you. Always enjoyed that part.
I was a volunteer fireman, so I had equipped my dad’s Dodge Polara with a CB, a PA, my fire radio receiver, and blue emergency lights. I kept my “dress uniform” fire hat on the dash. The girls thought I was pretty cool. Well, I guess actually, I thought I was pretty cool. Not sure about anyone else. I had not yet met my wife. I did not even go to my High School Prom. Still, an inflated ego. Somehow, I lived through it.
So, being the fine volunteer, civic minded young man I was, I volunteered to help out at the Walk. In case you missed it, that’s an exaggeration. I was no different from most of any other high school guy – I just wanted to have fun – especially anything with a car.
So at Earth Day #1, I was a go-fer. I visited various aid stations along the route through the day, bussing some of the organizers around. Honestly, the day itself didn’t really mean much to me. Of course I thought it was a good thing. But, I certainly wasn’t passionate about saving the Earth. I was too interested in cars, girls, electronics, and fighting fires. Not much intentionality in my life. Somehow, I lived through it.
One of the kids at my school ran the whole 26 miles, literally a marathon distance. I thought he was nuts.
Somewhere along the way I pulled up behind a guy (a real adult) on a ramp to route #1 South. His brake light was out. So, I just thought I’d be a nice guy and let him know, while we were waiting to get onto route #1, so I got on my PA and told him his taillight was out. So he opens the door and walked back toward my car! I had no idea what was going to happen. He walks up and starts apologizing to me for not getting it fixed yet. I regained my composure, straigtened up a bit, told him it was ok, but he should get it fixed as soon as he could. This man was probably 20 years older than me. I was a kid in my dad’s car. I had no authority. I guess the fireman’s hat (which was actually, yes, on my head at the time) made him think I was some kind of authority. Well, I never did that again. Not sayin’ I didn’t have other fun with my PA though. Youthful craziness. Somehow, I lived through it.
Years later, I did find out my wife was one of the participants in the walk! Also found out years later, she also lived next-door to the church I went to as a kid. Right next-door! We figured out we were probably both at VBS together at least once or twice, as little kids. Feasterville Baptist. A few years ago when my in-laws were moving out I had the chance to spend some time in the old sanctuary there. The pews weren’t there. The church was changing hands and being completely renovated. So I had to imagine where I was sitting when I responded to an altar call the “first” time, when I was about 7.
Gotta say, it was kinda cool to be there in that room again after all that time. I felt like I was looking back at myself 50 years ago. I’m glad my Aunt suggested to my mom that I go to that church with her and my cousins.
So today, of course I do care about the Earth. It’s God’s Creation. I care immensely about my faith and I value the place and day it began, and all the Saints who tried to guide me along the way. My old Sunday School teacher was a pretty cool guy. He used to take us to Phillies games, at Connie Mack Stadium. Maybe he’s one reason I do what I do today.
Funny. He used to try to tell me rock and roll was the devil’s music. But I loved it. My parents didn’t know it, but, I used to sneak-listen to a transistor radio I bought, under the covers after I went to bed. Now I love Contemporary Christian Music and work at some of the concerts. I was a little off the mark from where my mentor wished I was. Somehow, I lived through it.
Somehow, maybe God is at work in spite of everything I do. And, maybe somehow, God was able to work in and through everything my mentor did, whether it was exactly the right approach or not.
Maybe that’s a good point to end with. Youthful craziness, just how critical should I be of the youth I pastor? As a youth pastor, it’s really hard to figure out what you are doing right, exactly where to take a stand, without alienating kids. Maybe it doesn’t matter so much. Like parenting. I’m no authority, but I don’t think it’s the day-to-day decisions individually that make that much difference. Just that we are there, to bring God into a kid’s life, and make them think about God once in a while. Maybe what really counts is what God makes happen between God and each kid. Maybe I should not be so concerned about making all the right calls like a good umpire. After all, the Pharisees probably would have been great umpires, but they couldn't recognize the Son of God.
Maybe sometimes at least, I just need to stand to the side, get out of the way, and let God in.
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Earth Day #1 was in 1970, 40 years ago. I was 17. Sure, do the math. I’m 57 now. It’s all-good. :-)
That first Earth Day in Lower Bucks County, PA was celebrated by a 26 mile walk.
I was a Senior at Neshaminy High School and I had been accepted at Drexel University. I loved High School. I was in concert choir. We did tons of concerts every year in and out of the school. When I was a Junior we went to Florida to sing at the DeSoto Celebration. That was awesome, except for our train crash on the way down. I was in lots of school plays. Each year I was in the school musical, a drama, and the musical we would do in summer stock. I never had anything close to a lead role, only a few speaking parts here and there, and “chorus”. A part in the chorus was what everyone got who tried out and didn’t get a real part. Kindof like the “participation” ribbons everyone gets today. It was still fun taking part, dressing up, and on show nights some girls would put makeup on you. Always enjoyed that part.
I was a volunteer fireman, so I had equipped my dad’s Dodge Polara with a CB, a PA, my fire radio receiver, and blue emergency lights. I kept my “dress uniform” fire hat on the dash. The girls thought I was pretty cool. Well, I guess actually, I thought I was pretty cool. Not sure about anyone else. I had not yet met my wife. I did not even go to my High School Prom. Still, an inflated ego. Somehow, I lived through it.
So, being the fine volunteer, civic minded young man I was, I volunteered to help out at the Walk. In case you missed it, that’s an exaggeration. I was no different from most of any other high school guy – I just wanted to have fun – especially anything with a car.
So at Earth Day #1, I was a go-fer. I visited various aid stations along the route through the day, bussing some of the organizers around. Honestly, the day itself didn’t really mean much to me. Of course I thought it was a good thing. But, I certainly wasn’t passionate about saving the Earth. I was too interested in cars, girls, electronics, and fighting fires. Not much intentionality in my life. Somehow, I lived through it.
One of the kids at my school ran the whole 26 miles, literally a marathon distance. I thought he was nuts.
Somewhere along the way I pulled up behind a guy (a real adult) on a ramp to route #1 South. His brake light was out. So, I just thought I’d be a nice guy and let him know, while we were waiting to get onto route #1, so I got on my PA and told him his taillight was out. So he opens the door and walked back toward my car! I had no idea what was going to happen. He walks up and starts apologizing to me for not getting it fixed yet. I regained my composure, straigtened up a bit, told him it was ok, but he should get it fixed as soon as he could. This man was probably 20 years older than me. I was a kid in my dad’s car. I had no authority. I guess the fireman’s hat (which was actually, yes, on my head at the time) made him think I was some kind of authority. Well, I never did that again. Not sayin’ I didn’t have other fun with my PA though. Youthful craziness. Somehow, I lived through it.
Years later, I did find out my wife was one of the participants in the walk! Also found out years later, she also lived next-door to the church I went to as a kid. Right next-door! We figured out we were probably both at VBS together at least once or twice, as little kids. Feasterville Baptist. A few years ago when my in-laws were moving out I had the chance to spend some time in the old sanctuary there. The pews weren’t there. The church was changing hands and being completely renovated. So I had to imagine where I was sitting when I responded to an altar call the “first” time, when I was about 7.
Gotta say, it was kinda cool to be there in that room again after all that time. I felt like I was looking back at myself 50 years ago. I’m glad my Aunt suggested to my mom that I go to that church with her and my cousins.
So today, of course I do care about the Earth. It’s God’s Creation. I care immensely about my faith and I value the place and day it began, and all the Saints who tried to guide me along the way. My old Sunday School teacher was a pretty cool guy. He used to take us to Phillies games, at Connie Mack Stadium. Maybe he’s one reason I do what I do today.
Funny. He used to try to tell me rock and roll was the devil’s music. But I loved it. My parents didn’t know it, but, I used to sneak-listen to a transistor radio I bought, under the covers after I went to bed. Now I love Contemporary Christian Music and work at some of the concerts. I was a little off the mark from where my mentor wished I was. Somehow, I lived through it.
Somehow, maybe God is at work in spite of everything I do. And, maybe somehow, God was able to work in and through everything my mentor did, whether it was exactly the right approach or not.
Maybe that’s a good point to end with. Youthful craziness, just how critical should I be of the youth I pastor? As a youth pastor, it’s really hard to figure out what you are doing right, exactly where to take a stand, without alienating kids. Maybe it doesn’t matter so much. Like parenting. I’m no authority, but I don’t think it’s the day-to-day decisions individually that make that much difference. Just that we are there, to bring God into a kid’s life, and make them think about God once in a while. Maybe what really counts is what God makes happen between God and each kid. Maybe I should not be so concerned about making all the right calls like a good umpire. After all, the Pharisees probably would have been great umpires, but they couldn't recognize the Son of God.
Maybe sometimes at least, I just need to stand to the side, get out of the way, and let God in.
Happy Hiking and God Bless,
- allen
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Great Olivet ASP Olympic Obstacle Race
I am pretty excited about this new ASP event this year. It will be held at the South Brandywine Middle School Track on May 16, starting at 1PM.
Each participant will have the opportunity to compete in 4 quarter-mile races (that's 1 mile total), with a final run-off of the winners from each heat. There will also be an obstacle race with some simulated exercises such as crawling under the house, walking on rafters, ladder work, and a construction exercise. I'm pretty sure God will give me some other nifty ideas before the day arrives.
Of course, sensitivity is one of the 3 S-'s at ASP, so this event will be as competitive or as non-competitive as each individual makes it. We never force anyone at ASP to do something they are really uncomfortable with. A little uncomfortable, well, then we might help you push yourself.
I'm taking requests for "Olympic competition music" to play during the events, so if you know any great songs to get us moving, please let me know! I wonder if I can get a hot dog vendor, or, at least a gatorade table, maybe some banannas! This is gonna be so much fun! :-)
I'm planning on having chairs available for plenty of spectators to watch so please come on out and cheer on your Olivet ASP Youth Trip Team!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
Each participant will have the opportunity to compete in 4 quarter-mile races (that's 1 mile total), with a final run-off of the winners from each heat. There will also be an obstacle race with some simulated exercises such as crawling under the house, walking on rafters, ladder work, and a construction exercise. I'm pretty sure God will give me some other nifty ideas before the day arrives.
Of course, sensitivity is one of the 3 S-'s at ASP, so this event will be as competitive or as non-competitive as each individual makes it. We never force anyone at ASP to do something they are really uncomfortable with. A little uncomfortable, well, then we might help you push yourself.
I'm taking requests for "Olympic competition music" to play during the events, so if you know any great songs to get us moving, please let me know! I wonder if I can get a hot dog vendor, or, at least a gatorade table, maybe some banannas! This is gonna be so much fun! :-)
I'm planning on having chairs available for plenty of spectators to watch so please come on out and cheer on your Olivet ASP Youth Trip Team!
Happy Hiking, and God Bless,
- allen
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