Copies EVERYWHERE!

Well, feel free to look at the time of day I'm posting this... 5:15 AM on Friday morning... that's early.. no wait, that's late! I've been working hard on the notebook (replaces the little program from years past) for NCYM, the National Conference on Youth Ministries, which starts this next Sunday. The notebook has 70 pages (front and back, so actually only 35 pieces of paper)... and I have to do 600 notebooks! You do the math to find out how many copies THAT is!!! I started at midnight last night with 27 reams of paper and I'm almost out. I have to go to Office Depot first thing this morning to pick up 15 more reams!!! And, I have to beg some of my youth group kids to come help me insert the printed materials into the binders.

Of course, once I'm done with that, I get to work on the videos of the pioneers of youth ministry that will show each night of the conference (beginning Monday night). And, I get to load up 18 eight foot tables a giant corkboard and the NCYM banners to take with me when I leave after church this coming Sunday morning.

While all this is going on, my poor, yet still lovely wife, Kristi, is still fighting being sick. Fortunately, last night, Jake spent the night at a friend's house and all she had to do was deal with Molly.... which is a task for anyone! HA!

Why do I do this? Because I love what I do for a living. I love challenging kids to love God. I love to challenge youth ministers (most of whom are MUCH younger than me) to quit whining about their lot in life and do what God made them to do! It really is true that the grass really is NOT greener on the other side. I've been there and done that one.

Lastly, I'm pumped about the upcoming college national championship football game.. you know, the Orange Bowl, with my mighty OU Sooners taking on the hated freaks from the west, the Trojans. Do I even need to comment on THAT mascot??? Please... anyway, keep me in your prayers so I'll have the stamina to make it through the next week and that many lives will be touched because of the hard work of ALL of the NCYM board.

Feel free to make a comment... so far thanks to Tess, Carrie, Gabe, and Mike are the only ones to leave comments so far... gee, am I that bad at trying to stir up your emotions? Oh well...