The Monday brief: Extravaganza edition

September 29, 2008 · 4 comments

The Monday Brief

Highlight of the week: I found out this week that I'll be presenting a workshop at the 2009 Extravaganza in New Orleans. The Extravaganza is a yearly a conference for ELCA youth workers, not unlike Youth Specialties' National Youth Workers Conventions, but on a smaller scale.

Book(s) I'm reading: Still reading How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie and Tom Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution -- and How It Can Renew America.

Music I'm digging: Still enjoying Matt Wertz's Under Summer Sun (link opens in iTunes)

Something(s) that blew my mind: This picture of Barack Obama that was taken immediately before the first Presidential Debate. Reminded me of a Thomas Paine quote: "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us."

Ministry update: Getting ready for a couple of fall events: Church Youth Fest for the high schoolers and Blitz for the junior highers. Unfortunately they're the same weekend, which means I can't be at both. Thank God for killer volunteers.

Seminary/ordination update: Finishing up the application this week!

Looking forward to: A couple of things: William Fitzsimmons' new album releases tomorrow, the Cubs begin their path to the World Series on Wednesday night, I'm getting an iPhone on Wednesday or Thursday, and some amazing things are happening at my church (how's that for vague?).

That's it for the Monday brief. Feel free to leave a comment, and if you're feeling extra frisky, check out the Monday brief archives.

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Tagged as: 2009 extravaganza, barack obama, chicago cubs, church youth fest, iphone, luther college, matt wertz, monday-brief, thomas friedman, william fitzsimmons, ymnet

  • http://mattcleaver.com Matt Cleaver

    What is the topic for the workshop?

  • http://www.jakebouma.com Jake

    Matt: I don’t remember the official title I submitted, but it has to do w/postmodernism and youth ministry. Are you going to be there?

  • http://mattcleaver.com Matt Cleaver

    No, I’m just curious. I don’t have any money to go to the event with seminary and all.

    Does the Extravaganza give workshop presenters free registration and/or a stipend? I’d like to go one year, but don’t have the money in the budget unless the Extravaganza helps out. I’ve got a few workshop ideas that might be interesting I could try out next year.

  • http://www.blackcoffeereflections.com tghali

    We did a series on Lectio Divina last year for Sunday School. We went through Tjone’s Read,Think,Pray Live. Curious to what you’re using.

    Anyway, most of our students loved it and we still practice an adapted group-style lectio on retreats, special services and other moments that present themselves.