Anybody have that one person who keeps them focused and alert to what's happening? It could be at work, home, church, or school- but that one person who just knows everything? (And NOT in the annoying 'let me tell you cause I'm smarter than you' way). Well my person is @ work, and her name is Colleen- she happens to be the office coordinator @ CE- Mid Atlantic, and someone with whom I've had the priviledge of working with over the past 2.5 months. Colleen literally knows everything & ANYTHING I would need to, and she is my contact person for when I need instant access to whatever project I happen to be working on next. Colleen has helped me learn the complicated (NOT) phones @ the office, find numerous documents within the work server, and cuts out newspaper articles and cartoons ('funnies') and leaves them on my desk. She is NOT a morning person (but remains cheerful without caffeine!!) so my job as Intern does not include fetching coffee, but if you ever need anything, I'm sure a Grape Soda would work well, too. :)
I am getting married this weekend, & from then until the end of my Internship w/ CE, I will be working from home- as the commute of over 1 hour would probably cause me to physically harm someone on the road (not to mention hurt my wallet!), so I won't get to be just a few flights of stairs away from Colleen like I've been. So I thought I'd post a youtube clip that she loves in honor of how GREAT CE's awesome office woman is!!
Who'se the person in your life that keeps you on task?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Book Review Friday!
Good morning, everyone! Today I am proud to present Christian Endeavor - Mid Atlantic's FIRST EVER book review! Today's feature is Matthew Paul Turner's newest (&in my opinion, his most profoundly beautiful) release, Churched. I am so pleased to be able to not only review this hilarious tale, but also to suggest that you GET UP and get your own copy- it's that good, my friends.
As I read this book (ahem... devoured it in less than two days is more like it!), it not only reinforced my beliefs (and doubts) as a Christian, but by reading this, I feel less alone in 'growing up Christian.' While I did NOT grow up Baptist, I was (and still am) part of a similarly fundamental church. At times, in my younger years, it has been hard to eloquently express my exact feelings on Christianity, as it's been all but handed to me. Forming your own opinions outside of the church can be hard, and many of us choose to leave the church for some time, as we spread our wings & rebel. I did that for awhile, and upon realizing I couldn't do it anymore, found myself again on the fringe of church, religion, and faith. Finding where I stood, and the continual search for meaning within religion, culture, and where Jesus wants me to be, can be an all-consuming life. But taken in increments every day, it is the breath of life that keeps me going- I'm a learner, and I enjoy these new things, no matter how hard the struggle may be @ times.
This book was absolutely hilarious. Structured into a series of vignettes, Turner is able to give brief glimpses, snapshots even, into his life and what he has been taught. Many of us will be able to laugh with knowledge at the almost extreme ways young people were taught about Jesus, heaven, hell, and salvation- a la burning Barbies.
My favorite part of Matthew's book was the end. There is nothing preachy about Matthew's writing style--no 'prayer' at the end to pray, no epiphany--and yet his final sentence just solidifies why Matthew is an excellent writer. He leaves questions, thoughts, and time for the reader to ponder exactly what is happening, and form their own conclusion. I like that about him- he clearly has learned from his 'turn or burn' younger years, and chooses to create stylistic rhetoric for engaged reading.
If you are looking for a book--whether you are 15 or 50--I highly recommend this book. You will laugh, heck you might cry, and you definitely will be touched. I know I was.
Make sure you take some time to check out Matthew's blog, and of course, hop on over to Amazon and order your copy now.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
As I read this book (ahem... devoured it in less than two days is more like it!), it not only reinforced my beliefs (and doubts) as a Christian, but by reading this, I feel less alone in 'growing up Christian.' While I did NOT grow up Baptist, I was (and still am) part of a similarly fundamental church. At times, in my younger years, it has been hard to eloquently express my exact feelings on Christianity, as it's been all but handed to me. Forming your own opinions outside of the church can be hard, and many of us choose to leave the church for some time, as we spread our wings & rebel. I did that for awhile, and upon realizing I couldn't do it anymore, found myself again on the fringe of church, religion, and faith. Finding where I stood, and the continual search for meaning within religion, culture, and where Jesus wants me to be, can be an all-consuming life. But taken in increments every day, it is the breath of life that keeps me going- I'm a learner, and I enjoy these new things, no matter how hard the struggle may be @ times.
This book was absolutely hilarious. Structured into a series of vignettes, Turner is able to give brief glimpses, snapshots even, into his life and what he has been taught. Many of us will be able to laugh with knowledge at the almost extreme ways young people were taught about Jesus, heaven, hell, and salvation- a la burning Barbies.
My favorite part of Matthew's book was the end. There is nothing preachy about Matthew's writing style--no 'prayer' at the end to pray, no epiphany--and yet his final sentence just solidifies why Matthew is an excellent writer. He leaves questions, thoughts, and time for the reader to ponder exactly what is happening, and form their own conclusion. I like that about him- he clearly has learned from his 'turn or burn' younger years, and chooses to create stylistic rhetoric for engaged reading.
If you are looking for a book--whether you are 15 or 50--I highly recommend this book. You will laugh, heck you might cry, and you definitely will be touched. I know I was.
Make sure you take some time to check out Matthew's blog, and of course, hop on over to Amazon and order your copy now.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The 'bait & switch'
This article really resonated with me today.
Sometimes it's hard for me to find perspective, whether it be in my regular Christian life, or within ministry here at work. It's always nice when I find it, somehow.
How do you find perspective?
Sometimes it's hard for me to find perspective, whether it be in my regular Christian life, or within ministry here at work. It's always nice when I find it, somehow.
How do you find perspective?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Website Wednesday
Like most nonprofits, much of the work done @ the office & on site would be IMPOSSIBLE to get done in a days/week/month/throughout the YEAR without volunteers. The help of volunteers, whether it is cooking @ a work camp, helping with phone-a-thon, or simply stuffing envelopes for direct mailings, frees the hands of staff members to complete other tasks. Like last week, when the Youth Today's arrived, and needed to be in the mail by the end of last week.
This task, that took the better part of a week, would have been impossible to get out on time if not for the help of people like Garnet, Verdella, and the many people who have offered their time and services to Christian Endeavor - Mid Atlantic. We cannot thank them enough for the hours they have given in service to the needs of youth & young adults throughout the Mid Atlantic region; even if you didn't know it, volunteers are the lifeblood within this place, & we want to make sure we ALWAYS show you how great they are, and how much we appreciate their help.
There are numerous ways that you can help out CE - Mid Atlantic. Often, it could be as much as making some phone calls to new churches, telling them about CE's activities. We think word of mouth is the most important way YOU can tell others about CE. So if you had to tell people about Christian Endeavor... what would you say? Leave a comment & let me know.
In other news, I'm going to shamelessly promote CE today (ahem.. like always, you might say!) and direct you to a great website you might not have ever stopped at: OUR OWN. We're in the midst of a HUGE redesign campaign, complete with new logos, graphics, and an updated website- and we want YOUR input! What else would you want to see on CE's website? What can we do better with? We consider ourselves on the peak of a great change around here- God has blessed the hard work of the past year, and is about to push CE into a new threshold of ways we can help youth & young adult become strong & faithful leaders for Christ. That doesn't happen unless we have your support.
Support comes in four different ways: prayers, presence, gifts, & service. In which way will you be motivated to help us in 2009?
This is Garnet. Not only is she a dear friend, but she's pretty talented with direct mailings.
This task, that took the better part of a week, would have been impossible to get out on time if not for the help of people like Garnet, Verdella, and the many people who have offered their time and services to Christian Endeavor - Mid Atlantic. We cannot thank them enough for the hours they have given in service to the needs of youth & young adults throughout the Mid Atlantic region; even if you didn't know it, volunteers are the lifeblood within this place, & we want to make sure we ALWAYS show you how great they are, and how much we appreciate their help.
There are numerous ways that you can help out CE - Mid Atlantic. Often, it could be as much as making some phone calls to new churches, telling them about CE's activities. We think word of mouth is the most important way YOU can tell others about CE. So if you had to tell people about Christian Endeavor... what would you say? Leave a comment & let me know.
In other news, I'm going to shamelessly promote CE today (ahem.. like always, you might say!) and direct you to a great website you might not have ever stopped at: OUR OWN. We're in the midst of a HUGE redesign campaign, complete with new logos, graphics, and an updated website- and we want YOUR input! What else would you want to see on CE's website? What can we do better with? We consider ourselves on the peak of a great change around here- God has blessed the hard work of the past year, and is about to push CE into a new threshold of ways we can help youth & young adult become strong & faithful leaders for Christ. That doesn't happen unless we have your support.
Support comes in four different ways: prayers, presence, gifts, & service. In which way will you be motivated to help us in 2009?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
They're Baaaaack!
CE- Mid Atlantic's 2008 Fall Work Camp participants are back and pumped up from an exciting long weekend in Laurelville, PA. From the looks of things, it seems as there was a lot of demolition & roof climbing this year...
This video, and TONS more--from this past weekend's events to Summer Assembly & Life Builders Work Camps--can be found on Christian Endeavor- Mid Atlantic's youtube site. You can find us by searching youtube.com/ceinpa. (Seriously? I JUST found out that CE-Mid Atlantic has a youtube site. Now that I know? You better believe I'm going to be posting on THAT too!) You can also find pictures from this weekend by going to the website - or simply click here & it'll take you directly to where the pics are.
Today has been one of those 'miss my mouth and spill my coffee' kind of days- must be the fog. I'll be back later with some other fun stuff. How was everyone's weekend?
This video, and TONS more--from this past weekend's events to Summer Assembly & Life Builders Work Camps--can be found on Christian Endeavor- Mid Atlantic's youtube site. You can find us by searching youtube.com/ceinpa. (Seriously? I JUST found out that CE-Mid Atlantic has a youtube site. Now that I know? You better believe I'm going to be posting on THAT too!) You can also find pictures from this weekend by going to the website - or simply click here & it'll take you directly to where the pics are.
Today has been one of those 'miss my mouth and spill my coffee' kind of days- must be the fog. I'll be back later with some other fun stuff. How was everyone's weekend?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Somebody's got a case of the Monday's...
It's Monday... I'm out of the office running errands, but had to post this because it has made me laugh alllllll weekend. If you're having a hard time jumping back into work today, take a look at this and hang in there, folks. Four more days & it's the weekend!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DmtmmFEVo
Coming this week: CE-Mid Atlantic's FIRST EVER book review, more website reviews than you can possibly handle, pictures from around the office & a staff meeting, plus a chance to win blogger/writer Matthew Paul Turner's newest book, 'Churched.' Stay tuned for an exciting week!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0DmtmmFEVo
Coming this week: CE-Mid Atlantic's FIRST EVER book review, more website reviews than you can possibly handle, pictures from around the office & a staff meeting, plus a chance to win blogger/writer Matthew Paul Turner's newest book, 'Churched.' Stay tuned for an exciting week!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Website... Thursday!
I almost just said oops, I did it again... until I realized how teen pop star that would sound. (Thanks, Britney, for ruining what used to be an acceptable catch phrase!) Anyway, yesterday my mind went completely blank in remembering that it was supposed to be WEBSITE WEDNESDAY, so this week, again, it's happening on a Thursday. Today's website is courtesy of Colleen, who reminded me of this missionary-to-be couple.
I do not know B.J. & Rachel Whitaker, but for those of you who do, you might remember that B.J. was the featured speaker at one of the weeks CE was in Findley, Ohio, this past June. (He even gave us a shout out this summer!) Their blog, appropriately titled "The Whitaker Wire," has been chronicling their adventures in raising money and support as they prepare for the missions field in Spain. A quick peek through their blog shows a list of where they will be speaking/appearing next, how much support they have raised so far (92%- awesome!) and other general information about where they are headed. I know the staff was so thankful for B.J.'s willingness to speak this past summer, and I'd like to encourage everyone reading this to add their blog to your blogroll's NOW, so you can stay up-to-date on this young couple and their desire to serve God OUT on the missions field. Of course, I'll add a link to the right side of this blog, so you can always access them from here- I for one LOVE when I find an exciting blog to keep watch on- join me in prayer for the Whitaker's as they continue serving God, here and abroad.
I'm also going to plug another website today- it's is beautiful outside and I'm just loving life and feeling super generous this week, I suppose. The other website I'm talking about is one that used to be on my radar SO MUCH as a high school student. Relevant Magazine is a great resource for ANY person- high school, young adult, or the young @ heart- I'm continally pleased with their coverage of both Christian & 'secular' events. They have three main categories that you can search within- God, Life, & Progressive Culture, but there's also TONS of other multimedia things you can see. Not to mention BLOGS galore! (love em', can't help it!)
So check out these sites, mark em', keep em' & read em'- and have a great day!
I do not know B.J. & Rachel Whitaker, but for those of you who do, you might remember that B.J. was the featured speaker at one of the weeks CE was in Findley, Ohio, this past June. (He even gave us a shout out this summer!) Their blog, appropriately titled "The Whitaker Wire," has been chronicling their adventures in raising money and support as they prepare for the missions field in Spain. A quick peek through their blog shows a list of where they will be speaking/appearing next, how much support they have raised so far (92%- awesome!) and other general information about where they are headed. I know the staff was so thankful for B.J.'s willingness to speak this past summer, and I'd like to encourage everyone reading this to add their blog to your blogroll's NOW, so you can stay up-to-date on this young couple and their desire to serve God OUT on the missions field. Of course, I'll add a link to the right side of this blog, so you can always access them from here- I for one LOVE when I find an exciting blog to keep watch on- join me in prayer for the Whitaker's as they continue serving God, here and abroad.
I'm also going to plug another website today- it's is beautiful outside and I'm just loving life and feeling super generous this week, I suppose. The other website I'm talking about is one that used to be on my radar SO MUCH as a high school student. Relevant Magazine is a great resource for ANY person- high school, young adult, or the young @ heart- I'm continally pleased with their coverage of both Christian & 'secular' events. They have three main categories that you can search within- God, Life, & Progressive Culture, but there's also TONS of other multimedia things you can see. Not to mention BLOGS galore! (love em', can't help it!)
So check out these sites, mark em', keep em' & read em'- and have a great day!
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