This post is titled: "Dan Does Not Really Feel Like Writing Today So He Is Just Going To Post An Old Video"

RENOVATE: Night Number One

Last night...was cool. I case you haven't heard, last night, our student ministry at LCC, kicked off a new season long series entitled RENOVATE. It was also the first official night of IMPACT (our Sunday night student "thingy") in our new schedule format. I must say that in the hours prior to starting, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. I'm glad it wasn't up to me. God did some really cool things. We started off with our Jr High students and all I can say is that I had a blast. They were so much fun to be with and they really responded to our talk about renovation. After that, we had our combined Jr/Sr. High worship. I must admit, I had to do a double take when I walked through the doors to the worship center. There were teens every where. It was good to see several new faces and other faces that I haven't seen much in the last month or so. Worship time was good. Our kids really know how to honor God. Our Senior high talk time was great. Again, it was good to be with them. We had some good discussion and there were times of humor as well as deep contemplation. I think this new series is going to change some people (me included). Can't wait for next week!

Excitement Abounds!

I have not been this excited since High School Musical 2 came out (insert sarcastic laugh here). I can't sleep, I can't eat (yeah right), and frankly, I can't sit still (nothing new there). Why? I thought that you would never ask! This Sunday, the LCC student ministry is kicking off our fall IMPACT season. This year, we are doing a season long series entitled RENOVATE. It is also the first week of our new schedule.

6:30-7:30pm Jr High Only (6th-8th Grades)

7:10-7:40pm Combined Worship (All Grades)

7:45-8:30pm Senior High Only (9th-12th Grades)

If you have no idea of what IMPACT is, I will try to fill you in. IMPACT (Illustrations, Music, Prayer, and Christ Teachings) is our student Bible Study, fellowship, and worship service. Basically, anything goes (that's Biblical). The best way for me to explain IMPACT to you is for you to check it out for yourself. If you have any questions or need more information, please email me at http://dponchot@lovedtolove.org.

Since you are reading this, I feel that you and I have formed a bond that allows me to ask something of you, trust me, it's not money. I would like to ask you to pray for the student ministry. Pray for our students, our sponsors, and our staff. Pray that God's truths will be heard every week this fall. Pray that programming and schedules will not replace the moving of the Holy Spirit. Got it?? I will pause for a moment for you to pray right now....(insert your prayer here).....AMEN! THANKS!!! I really believe that God is going to do some cool stuff this year and that students lives will be changed. Excitement abounds!!!

The List.....

As we approach the time of year when deciduous trees drop their leaves, when kids are back in school, when the air is crisp and clear (except in southern Ohio), and when the local stores have had their Halloween items out for a full two months, it can only mean one thing. Summer is over. As I look back to what was the "Ponchot Family Summer", I am drawn to a mysterious writing that I have never actually seen with my own eyes, but it's effect on our family has been profound. It's called...the List. You see last spring, my lovely (and wise) wife Julie, put together "The List". The "List" was simply a gathering of all the things that she thought that we should do during the summer as a family. Usually, summer flies by without making a sound except for maybe a weeks vacation. Not this year. I think she is on to something. The "List" contained many items. Some were very simple, like buying an ice cream from the ice cream truck. Others were more involved, like a three day camping experience. The "List" also included trips to parks, trips to farms, going to a drive-in movie (I hadn't done that in years), having kid movie night at home, and many others. You might think that it made for a highly regimented , scheduled summer but it wasn't like that at all. I don't even think that we made it through the entire "List" (especially since I have never been privy to read it) but I do know we gave it a run. All I can say is that this summer was great! I highly recommend that you hire my wife next spring to help you make your own "List"(just kidding). I will add a short word of caution to all guys, the "List" was not all fun and games. There were also some home projects on the "List". Be ye warned. Uh Oh....something just occurred to me...is she working on...the fall... "List"?

Wednesday Morning: Spam, Opossum, and Dark Roast Coffee

I love Wednesday mornings! Every Wednesday, I have the opportunity to meet the chairman of our Elders for coffee and conversation. I know that to a lot of you that may seem a little weird. Meeting the "boss" fun? It's actually the highlight of my weekday mornings. I have told other youth ministers about meeting with chairman of the Elders for coffee and its always the same reply, "So what did you do?". I then tell them that I have met with him every Wednesday morning for the last few years and the look of astonishment is priceless. The truth of the matter is that meeting with him has really helped me in my ministry here at LCC. A lot of the spiritually impactful things that we have done in our ministry have come from one of our Wednesday morning talks. I look to him for advice not only in my ministry, but also in just about every aspect of my life. Now don't get me wrong, the talk is not always high brow and intellectual, far from it. In fact, we often change topics of conversation minute by minute. It can go from insights on the ministry of Jesus to what's on sale at Bass Pro shops to how to cook opossum to any other off the wall concept. One thing that you also need to know about the chairman of our elders, he is a Half-Price Book Store "junkie". This year alone, he has probably given me about ten books. Some are very spiritual in nature (maybe a book about Biblical truths), some are not. My favorite is a book titled "SPAM- A Biography". I really never know what we are going to talk about. Probably the best part of the Wednesday morning though is spending some time in prayer. It is a great mid-week pick me up. I am so glad to be at a church where I can be so open with all of our leadership, especially "The Chairman". God has truly blesses our church leadership with some awesome people. Well, I hope that this look into what is known as the Dan Ponchot Wednesday Morning Experience was insightful to you. Hopefully it might explain why I am a little goofy at about 9:30am on Wednesdays. A few cups of dark roast has that effect on me.