He intentado sacar la letra de la cancion y eh logrado grandes partes, pero en general siento ke no lo puedo publicar xk no stoy segura de lo ke eh escrito. Si alguien por ahi la tiene le agradeceria muxo ke me la rolaran :P.

Saludines y a ver ke dia me lanzo y publiko la letra. :D

bye

sono vivo, sto bene, ho mangiato ed indosso sempre la magliettina di lana.

per il resto nulla.. si mette male.. niente lavoro all'orizzonte.. mi trovate su O'Connel Bridge, in basso a destra.

Sono quello con il bicchiere.

Just a nice little wrap-up post for all the little tidbits that did not fit into other posts...

• Take a camera - you never know when great opportunities for pictures will arise.
• Take a video camera - same as with a camera, and you can also put together a highlight/memory video for your teens to help them remember the week, and for your congregation to see what you did. I myself and putting together DVD's with a lot of video on them for our teens and for our church library.
• Establish disciplinary procedures beforehand - We have an annual Medical Release and Permission form that includes our disciplinary procedures on it for every trip we take (the general ones with a clause thrown in that informs students and parents that event-specific rules may be added, and then we inform them what those might be at a meeting prior to the event). This form also details that in the event that a teen does not comply, they may be sent home at the parent's expense.
• Remind your teens of the importance of closing their tents - Our middle school girls left the campsite with their tent wide open on Thursday. Knowing that telling them to close their tent would not work, and I would be closing it again the next day, I removed a bag that belonged to each girl, locked them in the van and left the tent open. I remained at the site so as to watch out for the tent and the girls, and when they got back (after swearing up and down that they closed their tent when I watched them all three walk away from the site) explained to them that I had done so in order to remind them of the importance of closing their tens and to protect their belongings. (They then got their stuff back). Then after lunch one of the guys' tents did the same thing AFTER LAUGHING AT THE GIRLS' MISFORTUNE! And the girls did it again on Saturday!
• Take a white board - Use it for checking in and out of the campsite so leaders know where students are.
• Have students prepare meals - They need to. It helps to have them serve the group, and they just might appreciate others' service a little bit more as a result.
• Don't be afraid to take a portable CD player - You are at a music festival. Your teens will buy CD's. They will want to listen to those CD's. And we did not allow them to bring personal CD players. Everyone wins if you bring a CD player.
• Take ear plugs - This is especially for those leaders who are older or simply want to protect their hearing at the concerts. Or sleep at night...
• Pray - A lot.
• Remember that God placed you in this position for a reason. So make the most of it. Listen to a band you have never heard before with a teen. Accompany them to a speaker. Go swimming with them. Love them. That is why you are there. Don't forget that...

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"We want you back here at 10:00am sharp!"

Ever heard yourself shouting that to a group of teens as they leave your campsite? If you are, then you are not alone. As leaders, we are responsible for our teenagers when we take them on a trip, and if it is a trip like Alive was, then there are thousands of other teens and adults there. Sure it is a Christian Music festival full of youth groups, families and people who genuinely love God, but with that many people in one place, there are favorable odds for people to be there with less-than-pure motives. So we established two items to help us keep our group safe.

• The first was the check-in. We established times during the day when we needed our students to be back at camp in order to make sure they were safe, and to spend time together building relationships with them and finding out what they had been up to. Unfortunately for us, I feel we had too few check-in times. We required them to be at the camp at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then to be in the site for the evening at 1am (the official Alive curfew). This was not a bad system and it actually allowed many of our group to see all the bands that they really wanted to, but it allowed a few of them (our middle school girls) a bit too much freedom. It also tied into the last post in that it did not really serve to help us grow much with our students as much as I would have liked.
• The second item was the buddy system. We required our teens to have at least one other student with them at all times. It worked most of the time, and only a handful of times did we find out one teen had wandered off or was left behind by their buddy. It was good for safety. But it also led to some negatives, specifically when there were two guys in the camp and one did NOT want to do what the other wanted to do. We allowed a couple of our more responsible teens slip out of this rule late in the week but it still sat a little uncomfortably with me from a safety standpoint.

We did not have cell phones to keep tabs on our teens, and may consider it next year (and might not since I was awoken a 7:30am the second morning by a parent wanting to let me know her daughter was apparently texting a friend inappropriately late the previous evening - which would have necessitated her using someone else's phone of course), and we may just use walkie-talkies.

But in any event, the old adage goes "Better safe than sued." We must strive to keep our teens safe at these events, and I feel that there is room for us to improve for next year. This is an ongoing discussion and process, so how have you kept your teens safe in trips?

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Con una voz única y visión musical distinta, Sa Dingding representa una pasión creativa muy original, una diversidad étnica con influencia de un China moderno. A ella le encanta cambiar los idiomas como si fueran zapatos - canta en Sanskrit, Mandarin y Tibetano o en algún otro idioma - quién sabe.

Queda preciosa la fusión entre música tradicional China y música electrónica con influencia de música clásica y Soul. Recuerda por su estilo un poco a Sigur Ros y Nithin Sawhney. El resultado tiene muchas tapas y es inolvidable. Sa Dingding, nacido en la Mongolia y con madre Mongola y padre Chino, estaba interesada en la música tradicional desde pequeña

Toca varios instrumentos, de la Zheng (la ziter China de 25 cuerdas), la batería China, el gong Chino y el Morin Khuur (un instrumento de la Mongolia con cuerdas en forma de la cabeza de un caballo).

A los 18 años debutó con su primer disco "Best Dance Music Singer" en China. En 1998 empezó a tener más interés en el budismo, el Yoga Dyana y el Sanskrit. Aprendió a cantar cantos Tibetanos en la lengua de los Lagu, una lengua en extincción. She became very popular all over China in 2005 and awarded by CCTV-MTV. Sa Dingding, el nuevo export Chino parece ser la nueva Björk del Oriente.

Su último disco "Alive" ha recibido el premio "BBC World Music Award 2008".

"Alive" (versión en Sanskrit)

Lama Chenno (versión tibetana)

This year we wanted to try to reign in our students a bit more and spend some time in group devotions/study/time with God. So we created "journals" chock full of activities based upon the artists and speakers at Alive, reflection pages on the speakers, reflection pages on the bands, trivia and guided reflection based on some of the David Crowder*Band's songs (tying in to both our teens' lives and Scripture, of course), and more. The idea was to gather our group together at least once a day to spend time working through some of this together.

We failed. Miserably.

Here is where we went wrong. We did not establish a set time before leaving for Alive. So each day we would try to work around schedules of bands and speakers that our teens reallyreallyreally wanted to see. I fact, we wound up gathering three times out of four days and simply asking "How has God been speaking to you today?" Not necessarily bad, but far, far short of our desire. And more than once we encountered an "I don't know" answer. A few of our teens seem to have told us what we wanted to hear so they could leave the campsite and get back to the action. We made the reflection pages mandatory to be filled out, but only about half the group did that.

We wanted to help guide our teenagers' faith over this trip. But we did not put the necessary effort into carrying our plan out. And sure, God spoke to many of these teens anyway. But as a group, we did not grow in a Spiritual direction. Relationally yes. Amazing growth there. But as a body, there was almost no corporate Spiritual growth. We did not commit, and there was far too much distraction for us to carry out our plan.

I think that this is an important element of a trip like Alive. But next year we need to be more committed. We need to stress why we are trying to accomplish this. We need to set a time before we leave and remember that we can be flexible, but we cannot be too accommodating. And we need to not hold these times over breakfast. Especially a breakfast that is a bit cold because it took almost an hour to rouse half the group from sleep...

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As the teacher was laying out his reading of the passage, I couldn't help but notice the NET's variant reading of Romans 12:1.  Here is how the NET Bible reads:

Therefore I exhort you brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a sacrifice--alive, holy and pleasing to God--which is your reasonable service.

For me, the reordering of the descriptors "alive, holy and pleasing to God" opened up a door.  Could it be that Paul, in line with his own "therefore", is exhorting his brothers and sisters to present their bodies as a sacrifice--alive holy and pleasing to God IN JESUS?  The difference, if it is there, is both subtle and momentous.  On the one hand Paul is instructing his readers how to be a sacrifice.  On the other hand, Paul is urging those who are already alive, holy and pleasing to God in Jesus, to now cast themselves back on the altar to God.

Having the door thus opened, I have since read through Romans to see how Paul prepares the reader for 12:1.  How has he framed the ideas of human holiness, life and relationship to God?  Here is a quick summary of what I've noted:

"Present your bodies...alive"

Transgression, initially through Adam, brings death (4:25; 5:17-21) and the Spirit (8:2) in Jesus (5:17-21; 11:18) through faith gives life (4:17, 25) as a gift (1:17; 6:23) through our identification with him in death, burial and resurrection (6:4-13) and continual life in the Spirit (8:13)

Key passages:5:17-21; 6:12-13

"Present your bodies...holy"

Left to ourselves, and in Adam (5:17-21), all of humanity is caught in sin (ch. 1:21ff; 3:9-18, 23).  Though righteousness is described in the law (2:13; 10:5) no one is declared righteous under the law (3:20; 9:31-32); only in Christ (5:1) is righteousness granted to people (3:21-24) through faith (4:5-9; 5:1; 9:30, 32; 10:10).

"Present your bodies...fully pleasing"

In sin (see above) all are under God's judgment (2:3) and are therefore opposed to him (5:10).  Through Jesus however, we not only have a means to righteousness (see above), but also to peace with God (5:1; 8:6), reconciliation (5:10-11; 11:15), the removal of condemnation (8:1; 15:29; 16:10), adoption as sons and daughters (9:8) and the acceptance of God (14:3-4; 15:7, 16).  Only in right relationship with God through the work of Jesus are we pleasing to God (8:8-10.

Conclusion:

Over and over again through Romans Paul seems to be showing the life, holiness and acceptableness of those who are in Christ.  Romans 12:1 then both recaps--"therefore" "in view (i.e. all that has been said) of the mercies of God" and "alive, holy and fully pleasing to God"--what he has argued and exhorts response--"present your bodies as a sacrifice".

What difference does it make?  It means that our response is to done as living, holy and pleasing people, not to obtain life or holiness or God's pleasure.  Because we already have these things in Christ our sacrifice is better than it could ever otherwise be and it points all the more to the greatness of Christ who's work has been so great in our lives!

Amen!

Tired, yet quite alive at the same time.. Hmm it's one of those nights where i'm thinking about life and what my future holds.. My thoughts are on my baby.. Well my ex girlfriend..

I love her.. She loves me.. I guess it's my fault why we aren't going out anymore.. I hurt her by lying to her about meeting up with one of my ex's. We weren't going out then but we were still very close.. And was about to go out again.. I "flirted" with the ex that I met up with.. Got myself in a lot of strife!

Hmm just one of those nights where I really miss her.. I mean really really miss her.. I'm so tempted to pick up the phone but I can't.. It would only make matters worse.. I better give her some space

It's now 10:57pm - Hmm better head off soon..

The Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind, located at 1839 Frankfort Avenue, will host a free one-of-a-kind craft workshop entitled “Make a Picture for Your Fingertips” for children ages 6 to 10 on Saturday, July 19, from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Children will learn the basics about why and how pictures are made to be read by touch, use special paper and materials to create an instant touch picture that they can take home, and explore the museum's collection of maps, globes, books, and other educational aids developed for blind and visually impaired persons. This event is free to the public, but space is limited so registration by July 17 is required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call (502) 899-2364, or e-mail arich@aph.org, to register. Visit www.aph.org/musuem for more information.

You knew at least one of these posts had to deal with something negative, right? Well, I did. And I decided to get it out sooner rather than later. If I were to subtitle this one I think it would be called "Or How to Discipline Teenage Girls." Here's the scenario.

During Alive there was a festival-mandated quiet time curfew of 1:00am. We required our teens to be back to our site by 1:00am. No problem, right? Wrong. We had three teen girls who came strolling in 6 minutes late. Sure, six minutes is not a long time, but it is later than they were supposed to be back, and we did not know where they were prior to returning to our site (we have since learned that - by their own admission - they met 27 guys, played spin the cell phone with hugs, and were apparently in tents with other guys from other groups), and once it was pointed out that they were indeed late, there was much attitude thrown around.

I stressed the importance of knowing where they were (we had banned cell phones for several reasons, so there was not a lot of opportunity for a check-in call to camp), and the need to abide by the rules which were set for more than just safety reasons. In seeking an appropriate punishment for the "crime" we settled on an earlier curfew the following evening. Which was met with more attitude and a comment about how the three were late because they were trying to save someone (which a week later, not one of the three has elaborated on to me. Apparently they were trying to take food to a drifter who had hitchhiked to Ohio from Florida and had only been able to buy a one-day pass but had nowhere to stay or food to eat). Had they brought this to me I probably would have been more accommodating. But they were (by one of their own words) too mad at me. I wish this was the only night it happened. But the following night, the group of three blew off the buddy system that we set up, and one of them was again late.

I share all of this to say that it honestly was probably the only big problem that we had (outside of some pretty fierce winds on Saturday). We simply allowed our teen girls too much freedom. They were boy-crazy. They allowed themselves to ignore a few simple rules. And they allowed themselves to be distracted from the point of the week. The questions remains for next year, how can we limit freedom for our less-dependable teens without punishing the rest of the group (who did an excellent job I think)?

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Later.

So I finished school on monday, what a great feeling. I get my report card sometime next week. Once I get that, I have to apply to graduate! :D :D :D You don't even know how exciting this is. I've honestly been waiting for this moment for a while and I'm glad it's finally done. I was supposed to go job hunting this weekend but I got so awful news last night. :/

My cousin Dorothy, who we just found out had cancer last month and only had 6 months to live, died yesterday morning. She only lived one of the months that she was given. :( It's so sad and my mom is so upset. She can't handle losing anymore relatives and it's just awful having to see her go through this. Every year since 2005, she's been losing someone close to her. :( So I have to attend her funeral on Saturday morning. Sighh.

Aside from the sad news, I've been the happiest I've been this week in so long. So many good things have been happening and it's a great feeling. :) I hope this one thing ends up happening and working. ahh :D

PS I use an excessive amounts of smilies, good lord.

Last November, People Magazine named actor Matt Damon the "Sexiest Man Alive". Well, a funny thing happened since then....

More info and pictures after the jump.

Looking like the guy YOU HOPE doesn't show up at your blind date, the Oscar award winning actor from Good Will Hunting is presently in Hawaii filming on location for his upcoming thriller, The Informant. I'm pretty sure the pornstache and the second trimester belly are both the result of the role he's playing -- which seems to be that of a registered sex offender vacationing in the tropics. But, oh how I long for Matt Damon circa 1997....

Thank you. I needed that.

Rico

Fruit Salad Gay Podcast

FruitSaladShow.com

Over the years, I have wrestled with sponsoring/running/encouraging large group youth ministry-related events. Largely my apprehension to get involved stems from a desire not to see teens won over to some glitzy production, only to have the excitement fade a few days after they return home, and any real commitment that they made over the course of the event fade just as quickly. I have been to several events over the years where this very thing has happened, and so I agreed for our group to attend Alive 08 with much trepidation. I am happy to report that so far, the pros have greatly outweighed the cons to this particular trip.

Go to build relationships - One of the biggest boons to your ministry that a trip like this can be is a deepening of relationships with students. We took 11 teens total (8 guys, 3 girls), most of whom I have not been able to build any real solid semblance of a relationship thus far in my ministry. Of those 8 guys (the girls wound up doing their own thing and will be another post), I only had a real pre-existing relationship with 3 or 4 of them that had any genuine depth. During the course of Alive, I was given many opportunities to goof around with them, share concerts and music that they enjoy, eat together (never underestimate the power of a meal together), hear Biblical Truth together, swim together, and really just do life together. We camped out. We laughed. We go to build real relationships with each other using the opportunities and shared experiences of the week. Worry about building those relationships even more than ensuring that one or two students will step forward and accept God's gift of Salvation. (Not to downplay the altar call - or salvation - but with a relationship to back you up, you can speak more into a student's life after they have responded to that particular invitation. Our group did have one student who chose to accept Christ's salvation at this festival, and the relationship that I have built with him allowed e to speak more into his life than the others present who had no relationship with him. More on this thought in a later post)

Now coming home, I have several new buddies that I did not have before. Guys that can now see that I do have things to offer to them, and that they do ant to spend time with. So not comes the challenge of maintaining these new relationships. But you know what? I look to it with great anticipation. Keep the relational fires going with movies and concerts together. Meals together. Times to just talk together. Don't let these activities overshadow your relationship, but feel free to use them as vehicles to enhance your growth together.

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