1). Song of the Day: Flatfoot 56 - ♫ I Believe It ♫

2). Leader Profile: Brian Korell

POSITION: Nebraska Youth Alive Missionary

HISTORY: Youth Pastor in Gering at Northfield Church

FAMILY:  Married to Julie with 3 kids

HOBBIES: Enjoys long walks on the beach, tortas, gum

3). Ministry of the Day: Missions Bike Ride - Ride with us the first week of September as we go over 500 miles for Missions from South Dakota to Iowa.

4). Link of the Day: Casket Empty - Easy to use guides for the Old and New Testaments

5). Quote of the Day: 'Public loyalty equals private leverage.' - Alton Garrison

6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Heimlich Maneuver Day. It is also the birthday of Brian Korell (up top!), a distinction he shares with famous American actor Andy Griffith, from 1926. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that Kentucky was admitted as a state in 1792. 

REMINDER - We will resume our regular weekday blog entries in July. The rest of this month we will be posting testimonies on this sight from our Summer Camps in Lexington, NE

1). Song of the Day: Matt Brouwer - ♫ Tonight ♫

2). Blog Entry: Testimonies
     A Chi Alpha leader told the story about when he went on a missions trip to an Indian reservation. They handed out Bibles for students to keep, and he wrote his name and number on the inside cover of the Bibles in case they had questions. Three years later, he got a random call from one of the students and he was able to lead him to Jesus!

3). Ministry of the Day: Youth Pastors Retreat - Come hang out with other youth leaders and pastors in Grand Island this August. Check the link for more details.

4). Link of the Day: Take Lead - Training Sessions for leaders both in the church and in the marketplace

5). Quote of the Day: 'The wife of a careless man is almost a widow.' - Hungarian proverb

6). Miscellaneous: Today is World No Tobacco Day. It is also the birthday of Rich Graeff (pastor in Chappell, NE), a distinction he shares with famous quarterback Joe Namath from 1943. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that Rameses II became Pharaoh of Egypt in 1279 BC

Fine Arts Human Videos

1). Song of the Day: Holly Starr - ♫ Don't Have Love ♫

2). Blog Entry: Leaders Corner
     I recently discovered a great pamphlet with several ways to jump-start your spiritual battery.
     - Go on an ego fast: For 24 hours, don't use the words 'I', Me', or 'Mine'
     - Let God question you: For one week, in your quiet time, allow God to ask you questions
     - Hang out with children: Pray with a small child and observe the simplicity of their faith
     - Take a servant to lunch: Find someone that works hard in your church and bless them
     - Pray through the news: Pray about the people and events you read of
     - Get an eye exam: Ask several people if you are balanced between your emotions and your mind
     - Read outside your comfort zone: Pick up some books with a different outlook than you are used to
     - Be like scrooge: Imagine your life ten years from now on the path you are heading
     - Become a historian: Review your life, and recall the moments God stepped in
     - Take a vow of silence: Consecrate some time without speech to listen to God
     - Write your own Bible paraphrase: Commentary your thoughts on the Scriptures
     - Take a Bible hike: Go for a long walk and ask God for eyes to see what He sees

3). Ministry of the Day: PK Retreat - Join other pastors kids as we travel to Valentine, NE to campout and tube down the Niobrara River in July. Click the link for more details

4). Link of the Day: Wiki Trivia - Play Encyclopedic Trivia games online

5). Quote of the Day: 'If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail.' - Mark Spitz

6). Miscellaneous: Today is World MS Day. It is also the birthday of Julie Korell (youth pastor in Grand Island, NE), a distinction she shares with The Voice judge Cee-Lo Green, from 1974. Finally, it is the anniversary of Andy and Cheryl Korenak, pastors in Blair, NE, from 1987.

Camp Stage Set, Youth Camp 1 starts in 5 days!

1). Song of the Day: God Fearing Rockstar - ♫ Listen 2 God ♫

2). Blog Entry: Bible Trivia
     Unfortunately, we don't have a winner from last week's trivia, so the question will carryover to this week with a $10 prize. Answer must be received by Friday morning to win.
     - Name a verse in the Bible that mentions 'camp'.

3). Ministry of the Day: Camp Workers - We are currently full of staff for Youth Camp 1, but have 39 positions still available for Youth Camp 2 including: 1 lifeguard, 1 Go Cart Mechanic, 2 Female Security, 2 Camp Maintenance, 1 Nurse, 6 Popstand Workers, 1 Kitchen Student Coordinator, 9 Kitchen Workers, 7 Male Dorm Leaders, and 8 Female Dorm Leaders.

4). Link of the Day: Lynda.com - Online software training videos that really work.

5). Quote of the Day: ' There is erosion in young people’s minds whether Christ is absolute and exclusive in salvation. When that shift occurs (pluralism), every other distinctive is open to change.' - Dr. John Easter

6). Miscellaneous: Today is the International Day of United Nations PeaceKeepers. It is also the birthday of Kate Kaufman (youth leader in Broken Bow, NE), a distinction she shares with Connie Williams (pastors wife in Valentine, NE), and the famous American forefather Patrick Henry from 1736. Finally, it is the day after the anniversary of Blake and Susan Armstrong, pastors in Cozad, NE, married in 1988.

My niece and nephews, arm in arm, walking around Glenwood Lake on Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day. Thank you to all who have served! We will resume our regular blog posts tomorrow, but here's a few announcements:

- Today is the last day to get in on the Early Registration Rate for Middle Camp. Youth Camp 1 begins one week from today, and there's still time to get in!

- This is the last week of blog posts until July. We will use this sight for posting daily testimonies from our summer camps

Enjoy the holiday

1). Song of the Day: For A Season - ♫ Get Up ♫

2). Leader Profile - Gary Graesser

HISTORY: Attended AG Theological Seminary and Trinity Bible College
POSITION:  Senior Pastor of Ainsworth Assembly of God
FAMILY: Married to Vicki with adult children
HOBBIES: Christian Music, Being with Family, Fishing

3). Ministry of the Day: Teen Bible Quiz - Challenge your teens to memorize the Word of God in a fun competitive way with other churches.

4). Link of the Day: Youth Ministry Evaluation - Properly assess the health of your ministry for teenagers.

5). Quote of the Day: 'Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leave you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as heaven whispers, "Do you like it? I did it just for you."' - Max Lucado

6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Tap Dance Day. It is also the birthday of American author Ralph Waldo Emerson from 1803. Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that the Gateway Arch Monument was dedicated in St. Louis in 1968.

1). Song of the Day: Go Fish - ♫ Shackles ♫

2). Blog Entry - Testimonies
     - The recent report was given to DYD's from one of our National Youth Alive Missionaries, Kent Hulbert: 'Last year a kid in my science class took my Bible and started to read it and was very interested in what it said, so I asked him if I got him a Bible if he would read it and he said yes. The thing is that it was the last day of first semester so I wouldn't have class with him anymore. I did end up getting him the bible the next day though and he was shocked that I acctually did what I said I was going to do. I had no idea what happened with him and the Bible until acouple days ago he said randomly "I never got to thank you" I had no idea what he was talking about so I asked him for what and he responded "for that bible you gave me last year." He's a christian now and is starting to let God change him. I never could have imagined. God blessed me so much by having him tell me that. He didn't have to say anything about it since it was such a long time ago but he did. God just keeps telling me that every little thing makes a big difference and I know for sure now that it does and I'm so glad I took a step of faith to give him that Bible so God could work in him.'

3). Ministry of the Day: Middle Camp - This coming Monday, Memorial Day, is the early registration deadline for Nebraska Middle Camp, for students entering grades 5-7.

4). Link of the Day: Public Speaking for Normal People - Get some tips on how to make quality presentations, even if it's not something you normally do

5). Quote of the Day: 'Mission is the mother of theology; why theologize about anything unless mission has occurred.' - Dr. John Easter

6). Miscellaneous: Today is National Brother's Day. It is also the birthday of Pedro Sanchez (Youth leader in Bridgeport, NE), a distinction he shares with Beth Jacobs (Children's Leader in Omaha, NE), and my son Eric (12 yrs today!). Finally, it is the anniversary of the day that John Brown and his men killed five slave supporters in Kansas in 1856.

My son Eric and I at Fine Arts, Kearney, March 2012