National Youth Workers Convention 2009:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Monday, November 3: 10:17pm
I am safely back home in the Hills! Today was a great day. My week was a mountain top experience.I slept in until 10:30am. I completely missed free breakfast but, I needed the rest. I packed, showered & checked out at 12:07p. I had some time to kill before my flight (at 4:08p) so I headed towards the Creation Museum (where else?). On the way I stopped at one of the few places to eat around there; Chick-fil-A. I have never seen a place so busy (even at In-N-Out). The drive thru line wrapped around the building twice! I went inside & was served quickly by Lisa (name-tag!). At the Museum, at 1:00pm, I just missed a tour of 3 busses full of teenagers. I was super encouraged by that. I got to see even more details of the Creation Museum & I am sure I missed so many more. It was painful to leave…I walked so slow it took 6 actual days to walk to my car…I rested on the 7th…I headed to the airport & dropped off my rental car. The shuttle driver was a believer & I had a pleasant conversation with her. At the airport I got in the wrong airline check-in line. I had flown on that airline there, but my flight to Denver was on a different carrier. Thankfully, the correct airline had self check in & I was on way in the time it took me to advance 2 customers (in a line of 20) with the other carrier. At the security check point I was strip searched…no…just seeing if you were paying attention.As I headed to find my gate I noticed a person who shines shoes, sitting & reading. As I walked by he called out for me to wait. I turned around (in my tennis shoes) to spend the next 35 minutes talking to a fellow believer named, Bryant Williams. Bryant noticed my Christian Hip-hop artist T-shirt (the same one God the Holy Spirit led me to wear that day---I even took a picture of it at my hotel for an unknown reason, at the time). I know everybody reading is aware that God works in amazing ways, but consider the following: More people have seen Elvis alive than know about Christian hip-hop, let alone can recognize one particular Christian Hip-hop group’s, one particular T-shirt in a crowded airport. Bryant was reading from the prophet Isaiah (he had 2 Bibles there with him at his job). He wanted to tell me his testimony & I was glad to listen. Bryant was saved 2 years ago. Bryant was a criminal, drug user, womanizer & was still struggling with some of those issues. His wife’s name is My-key-la. This 23 year old father has 3 children. A gentleman came up for a shoe shine & Bryant kept uplifting the name of Jesus while still talking to me & shining shoes. The shirt I was wearing was from the 116 Clique (One-One-Six-Click…as in Romans 1:16). Bryant was not ashamed of the Gospel. I left him my card with my contact info., took a picture of him (to remind me to pray for him) laid my hand on him & prayed with him in the terminal. Writing about it still gives me goose bumps. I wonder how often we miss people like Bryant because we are headed somewhere or we don’t listen to God the Holy Spirit. Pray for him as God continues to work in his life. You can pray right now…I’ll wait…do it now please…thank you…The flight was long for such a small plane. Les Christie was in the first seat, first class (his books are on my office shelf). I sat in the last row next to a businessman named Scott on his way to Denver. Like all small plane rides, I get to sit next to very tall people. He was headed home to Seattle.Denver had snow on the ground & it was a chilly 38 degrees. What a huge airport! I grabbed some pizza & headed to gate C31. I sat at the window seat & had one of the only empty seats on the plane between me & a lady whose name I forget (she didn’t have a name tag on). She was headed from South Dakota to Scottsdale for some training. She was nervous about leaving her 10 month old twins (boy & a girl) home. It was nice talking to her & having space to spread out a bit.
Adjusting to the 50 degree change in weather, I stepped off the plane in Phoenix ahead of schedule! I had all my bags & waited for Rikki & the 4 kiddos. They had made a few banners to welcome me home. It was good to hug & kiss them all.God did some amazing things for everyone at the National Youth Workers Convention. It will take some time to process it all. It has & will have an eternal impact on our church & this ministry. Thanks for reading my free-flow of consciousness & praying for me. I love & appreciate you all.-david
SONday, November 1: 11:59pm
Big Room #6 was so powerful. A series of people, some famous & some not so famous, gave their testimonies of Why I am here…Their stories centered on the positive influence of youth workers. Youth Ministry is a seed sowing ministry that nurtures the unseen roots. It is tempting to desire shallow, quick results ministry, but Jesus warned us about the importance of roots. This is an unseen & longsuffering task. I am so encouraged.Doug Fields (surprise ‘cameo’) was impacted by his youth pastor remembering his name on his 2nd visit. A simple task I fail at so many times. A Broadway actress (i forget her name-no name tag) gave a moving monologue on the life change of child sponsorship that drove me to tears. The quasi-famous Worship group has helped keep the focus on God.The Skit Guys were great during the Main Session & drop on the floor amazing during late night. There are so talented & I almost hurt myself laughing. I had this lady behind me with that 'Missy' kind of laugh...which made ita ll the better.Tonight I went to Indiana so I could say I have been there. It is strange to be able to be in 3 states all in one 30 minute drive.I am not looking forward to packing but looking forward to seeing my family. My first flight to Denver, CO is at 4p & God willing I will be home at 8:20p.SONday, November 1: 5:30pm
So I went back to the Creation Museum for an hour since it’s only minutes away. I missed so many details the first time. I did not realize there were so many armed security guards. I knew about the dogs. I missed so many details in the exhibits too. I am taking my family there when God allows. Amanda (name tags!) at the Dragon Bookstore remembered me (yes, I bought a DVD for SONday School). Sunday afternoons (12p-5p) are “slow” & only about 100 people go thru. So I got to chat with her for a second. Pray for her engagement & a recent change of churches.Lab 3 was: Losing My Religion: The Tragedy of Adolescent Faith Abandon. Very good. I learned so much. God spoke to me. I know students are leaving…some are there but soon will be gone…I knew some of why & I know I don’t know all of why. I learned more. Lab 4 was: Real-Life Discipleship: The Ministry of Nurture by the funniest PhD in the world; Duffy Robbins. Discipleship is a passion of mine & hashing out what that looks like in the life of teen was exciting.I went searching downtown Cincinnati for dinner in hopes of catching a TV showing the Cards game. I was unsuccessful & ended up at Arby’s. 5 interceptions Kurt…say it ain’t so. I am still behind you Cards, win or lose. What’s with A-Rod suddenly showing up in the post season? At least some of my favorite Norwegians will be happy.God spoke to me tonight about the homeless. 38 degrees at the time & 31 would be the low. It has been too long since I’ve walked among & talked to the homeless. Shame on me. My heart was not soft enough towards them. I’m thankful God loves me enough to correct me.SONday, November 1: 11:22am
It is appropriate that this KY morning is clear with the Sun shining. Today ourobjective is clear: we celebrate the risen SON. I went to 7 Hills Church this morning; missing my own church family. Thankfully, the body of Christ gathers together today all over the world. I went to the first of their 4 SONday services. I drove by the parking attendants, KY police directing traffic & parked in a parking spot reserved for guests (visiting their first 3 times). I would not call it seeker friendly but welcoming & I know the difference. My wife would love the free coffee. I was greeted by no less than 10 people (2 named Bob-name tags!). I sat in row 3, seat 3. They had ropes on the outer sections trying to fill up the center ones first. Worship had 2 songs I didn’t know but was full of spirit & truth. The church leaned towards many of my preferences, although it was a little performance driven. God is light & a consuming fire, but the smoke & lights were not my taste. The church was led by a former youth pastor who had ‘moved down’ to senior pastor : ) He was a great communicator. He used videos, drama & great illustrations. The message spoke to my heart & challenged me. The head pastor called the devil’s work in our life not ‘bad circumstances’ but our “serpent-stances”. He challenged us to live without fear & face the guaranteed difficult times with God’s strength & faith. God said we would face storms & that we would never have to face them alone. I thought it was funny his wife was recording him on her iPhone. I met their youth pastor who had the same short fohawk as the head pastor. He was unable to attend the NYWC because of church duties. The offering at the end was a neat element during the video announcements (“news”). The church said they had 1,100 people last Wednesday night for a Halloween outreach; 44 made faith decisions for Christ. Praise God! They wanted to give me a starbucks gift card for turning in my visitor’s card but I told “guest services” they could use those kingdom resources on someone else. Occasionally I practice what I preach, even when I’m craving a venti double chocolaty chip blended crème frappachino / double blended…starbucks should rename that to ‘liquid chocolate manna’. I accepted the blessing of a package of sweet tarts though. I have 2 elective Labs today. I like to learn, just not decide which 2 of the 29 options I’ll choose. The Memorial registration was supposed to go live today but it’s not…I’m 2 hours ahead & eagerly awaiting…GO CARDINALS!!!I talked with Mark Pittman from Inter-linc tonight. I got to enccourage him in all the ways his ministry is touching the lives of Pulse students.SONday, November 1: 1:04am
Late Night Comedy was such a refreshing time of laughter. The Daraja Africa Children’s Choir was a God moment. Very moving. Day Light Savings Time falls back at 2:00am. I wanted to stay up just to experience the time travel effect. Fitting, that the Convention theme is Time. So I will be 2 hours off AZ time now. Some of my fellow youth workers dressed up tonight. Several people liked my shirt. Gonna hit a local church 2 miles from my hotel tomorrow. I will miss FBC & the PyG. Thankfully the AZ Wildcats are on a bye. I am glad the Bengals are on a bye too. The Convention is very near their stadium. I am sooo tired & need to sleep to be ready for church so more on the Creation Museum later. Goodnight.Saturday, October 31: 7:12pm
I cannot capture the emotion, encouragement & awe I felt at the Creation Museum. I arrived at 11:00am & left at 3:33pm. It was not hardly enough time to see it all let alone read half the exhibits & view a quarter of the videos. The Blind cave fish along with the dart frogs were my favorite animals there. It was like the good things about Disneyland (except for lines everywhere) & church combined; in the sense there was the Gospel, fellowship, teaching, quality, security, beauty & joy. I got to hear some of Dr. Menton's lecture. I will write more about the Creation Museum later today. The raw captionless pictures will have to do for now. Just a few miles from the Creation Museum: Idlewild DGC: A true par 72 professional course that ate me alive. It has been a while since I have scored a 9 on a hole (& never four 7's in a round). I didn't lose a disc though. It's been a while sense I played a 1,000 ft. hole & could not birdie a 134 foot hole. I left at 5:55pm. I am off to Big Room #4 & the Late Night Christian Comedy Club. Did I mention how blessed I was at the Creation Museum. I may try to find time to go back even for an hour. I saw several fellow NYWC attendees there.Saturday, October 31: 9:25am
My tri-state area Halloween morning begins with the revelation that it will only be 53 degrees today. That’s the LOW for today in Fountain Hills! I also have been watching some local election issue commercials. That reminds me to encourage all the voting age people to vote in the over-ride on Nov. 3rd. It’ll be the first thing I do when I get back to the Hills. I would tell you how to vote but, I am David Taylor Jr., not your Holy Spirit Jr. Voting is so important. I’ve been voting since I was 18 (even in those special & primary elections). I am headed to the Creation Museum & then Idlewild DGC this morning. I may even slam a Monster energy drink in honor of so called ‘Happy’ Halloween. We’ll see if my “This Is My Costume" T-shirt gets any laughs at the Convention today.Friday, October 30: 11:12pm
If the convention was over today it would have been worth it. And I have 3 days yet to go! I have so much to process on so little sleep. Big Room #2 was great. I sat in a different spot. But everyone should be tired of hearing me recommend we sit in different spots in church. Worship has been special. The speaker was a well known Baptist pastor with a heart for God and the poor. I am thankful for all the voices in the body of Christ, even ones I disagree with sometimes. I am thankful for the discernment that God the Holy Spirit gives. I appreciate most of what he said. He is a very intellectual & knowledgeable speaker. His theology, however, is shaped by man made ideas that are here today & gone tomorrow. Not surprisingly, his cosmology (evolutionary) was out of date. But he was well versed in Einstein & many different theologians. The “To Save A Life” movie was better the second time! About 100 of my new friends joined me. I hope everybody in America goes to see this movie in January. The youth worker next to me said that the movie spoke to so many issues her teens are facing. Well, duh! The mother next to me had a funny laugh. It rained tonight. I thank God I remembered my umbrella. I feel covered in prayer.Friday, October 30: 7:02pm
My hotel internet connection is not working again & I’m even having trouble on free wi-fi hot spots. It may be my issue now. Sorry I have not been able to get the reports & pics up the 3 times a day I would have liked but everything should be good now. Lab 2 was amazing. I met some local Ohio youth workers. We discussed how youth think, learn & communicate differently than the generation before. We also discussed how our church gatherings need to reflect what we value. Big Room #2 & “To Save A Life” movie screening tonight 10pm-12am. The movie is SO good that I want to say I’ve seen it twice before it comes out in theaters January 22nd, 2010.Friday, October 30: 3:51pm
I got to walk in downtown Cincinnati a little during the lunch break. They have a place called Fountain Square that made me think more of home. They were having a costume contest, judges, prizes…it was even being shown on a Time Square kind of jumbo tron sreen. I almost entered the contest as Jesus but realized that being Jesus was not about clothing but actions. Youth Group discussion questions: What would it ‘look like’ to be Jesus for Halloween? How would it ‘play out’ to be Jesus everyday? Papa John’s Pizza phone number is 333-0303. I have a “thing” for the number 3 & Papa John’s Pizza. It was a sign from God (neon to be exact) that I should eat there. Rikki does not like their pizza so it was a special treat I do not get very often. I sat in row 3, seat 3 for Big Room #1. The Big Room #1 message was exactly what I needed. The Macintosh computer illustration brought the message home. I used to support Mac software for a living. My heart was so encouraged & challenged. The speaker spoke on the dynamic challenge that churches face in defining what is core (eternal) and what is cultural (temporary). He was challenging us to evaluate what we do & how we can improve it. I stopped by the Creation Museum booth in the Exhibit Hall to encourage them. They were surprised to meet a Charter Member from Arizona. They gave some good advice for my planned visit to the Creation Museum during free time Saturday. Lab 1 on ministry volunteers was great. I learned some great stuff from a youth pastor of 22 years. I am off to room 204 for an elective Lab called: Re-Imaging Gathering in room 204.
Friday, October 30: 8:52am
So my day begins at 4:30am Arizona time. I slept very well. After I check in the convention, I am hoping to make the first Lab: How to Find, Equip, Retain, & Occasionally Dismiss Adult Volunteers. The key to the youth group growing & getting stronger is directly proportional to our youth leader team growing & getting stronger. I was pleased to find out the Creation Museum has a display in the Exhibit Hall (booth 318). I'll hit that after class. I am so excited for BIG ROOM #1! I am so in the front row of this main session event.Thursday, October 29: 11:41pm
My “travel day” started ruh-DONK-u-lous-ly early (2:30am AZ time). Who scheduled this trip like this anyway? Oh yeah, me. After coming home from youth group @ 10:15pm last night, I got 3 hours of sleep. I have never seen Sky Harbor so, NOT busy. At 5:40am I was in the air. I got a little sleep here & there on the flight to NC. The two ladies next to me were on their way to the Florida Keys & I appreciated their kindness to me. Everything went so smooth travelling. My second (tiny) plane hop went by quick. The guy squeezed next to me was on his way to his 40 year old cousin’s funeral. Please remember his family in your talks with GOD, as they grieve. Once I got the rental car from Michelle (name tags!), I was off to check in at my hotel. Leslie (name tags!) told me about this amazing hotel with free breakfast & an indoor pool. It was also half the cost of a downtown hotel next to the convention center. The only small glitch today was the internet connection not working. I had to call tech support (their issue). I used to work phone tech support for AOL so I was trying to avoid it & figure it out myself. I then went to check out Convention headquarters across the river (in another state KY->OH). God has some amazing things in store for us youth people. Note to self: Parking garage person (no name tag) does not want you to pay a $1.00 fee with a $20.00 bill. I then went to Mt. Airy Forest Disc Golf Course. It was pretty much even more amazing than the hype. I met a guy at a tournament in Scottsdale (5 years ago) that said if I was ever in this area it was a must. I even met some recreational players that knew him…small world. I missed an eagle putt & had a good time. I am glad I was able to squeak it in before the rain comes…I must sleep…(3 hour time difference - for now - ahhh.) - david
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Pulse Youth Group 2009
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