The Lost American Idol Audition

Okay, many of you have been wondering where in the world was the fourth installment of the American Idols series audition from church this past Sunday.

Well, due to technical difficulties we weren't able to show it, however, here it is for your viewing pleasure.

Welcome to the World, Kylie!

Well, here she is...Kylie Violet Schroder.  

She was born on Monday January 28, 2008.

Her parents are Jennifer and Patrick, two really great friends of Cyndi and Mine.  She also has a big sister, Lilly!

Mom and baby are doing great!  I'm sure Patrick is stoked about having all of his girls home!

Sunday Night Flash Back

Ok, yesterday was an pretty good day.

However, I'm just going to say...WHERE WAS EVERYONE?

Middle Schoolers, seriously where were you...you missed a great time! 2 Liters of Soda being drunk in 2 minutes...belching contests, and a really cool message.

High Schoolers, come on now! You guys missed the flying eggs.

Anyway, last night was a really good night. We were just low.

But I need your help...we want to reach as many teenagers as possible. It's the biggest reason we split Middle School from High School. We need your help:
1. What can we do on Sunday nights that would make it the highlight of the week for you and your friends.
2. What can we do to get your friends here.
3. Do you know anyone in a band...we're looking for a worship leader.
4. INVITE your friends.

We are trying to be a lot more creative in what we do and you won't want to miss it!

If you have any thoughts or ideas on the above things or anything at all leave a comment.

Encounter 2008 Video

What A Weekend

Well, it has been a few days, since my last post but I am back.

I got back from Gatlinburg, TN yesterday about 5pm and am totally worn out!

We had a great time while we were up there and here are a few of my thoughts from that trip:

• I hate driving in the mountains while it is snowing  (it snowed all the way from Asheville, NC to Gatlinburg).
• Van Rides with students are always fun...High Schoolers are way more quieter (and not as smelly!  Sorry Middle Schoolers, but your van smelled aweful!).
• I love sleeping in a King Size bed...I just wish my wife was there with me.
• Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort is really a great place to take students.  The staff is friendly, the slopes are good, ski school helps, and processing is simple!  If you go, ask to see Rick Claude, definitely the best guy to talk to about skiing.  And if you want to take a group see Kathy Doyle, she'll hook you up.
• Don't eat the snow
• Our kids were awesome!  They were so polite, and really watched out for one another.
• CONNECT was a great theme for this trip.  Students really CONNECTED with God and with one another.
• I had the best volunteers ever!

Okay, after 2 really intense days of skiing, and after a day of driving I am half dead...so off to bed I go.

By the way, check out Ryan and Caleb's blog...

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again ~ okay, not really!  We are actually leaving in 15 passenger vans aka "Packers" (thanks Enterprise...we'll pick you up).  

In just a few short hours myself and 6 other adults are heading to Gatlinburg, TN in 3 vans with 22 teenagers.  That's right, today is our day we leave for our annual winter ski retreat.

This is probably the highlight trip of the year.  And I am sooooooooo excited!  I'm hoping to be blogging and maybe have some video blogs from some of the students... I pray we have internet.

Anyway, needless to say I am pumped and ready to go!

I Love Movies

I've been reflecting on the las few weeks on some of the things I've done, and I realized over the Christmas/New Year's time I went to a lot of movies.  

• I Am Legend - GREAT Flick!  Cool twist, definitely one I will own on DVD.
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets - I loved this movie...I love treasure hunting type movies so this really got me excited.  Probably not as good as the first, but one I could watch over and over again!  So many secrets...
• Sweeney Todd - what can I say about this movie?  Actually a few things: Johnny Depp-singing, a huge cast from Harry Potter, and lots of blood.  Actually, it was Cyndi's idea to go see this one.
• P.S. I Love You - yes, a chick flick.  However, I walked away from this movie saying, WOW!  I want to love my wife like that.

What movies have you seen that you would recommend I see?

Sunday Night Mind Dump

Well, tonight we kicked back our student ministry in full  gear with a new series called Hmmmm...tackling some of life's most difficult questions.  What a night it was!  Here are some of my thoughts for tonight

• It was awesome to be back and hanging out with students
• Speaking on Creation vs. Evolution is kind of difficult but important, and my voice is nearly gone now.
• I'm kind of worried about next week's difficult question.
• I love "Name that Tune"
• I'm looking forward to some of the series that are coming up soon, and the time and effort we are going to be putting into them!
• Our annual winter ski retreat is just 9 days away!!
• We had a lot of students both in Middle School & High School tonight, but not all of our regulars were there...we miss you guys (Dylan, it was great to see you as well as the new ladies, Caroline & Hannah!)
• This morning in Big Church we kicked off our American Idols series!  It was awesome, Pastor Chris did an awesome job bringing the message & the band really did a great job with the music today!
• In just a week from Wednesday I will be heading up to Tennessee with about 30 teenagers for our annual winter ski trip...I CAN'T WAIT!
• I can't believe how much my Mom put up with me as a kid...I am so ADD & Hyper it's unbelievable!  I hope she feels sorry for Cyndi.
• I love students!
• We kicked off two morning services for our church today...9:30am & 11:15am, and it was great!  I cannot wait to see us continue to reach people who have never been to church!
• I can't wait to ski...matter of fact, I'm going to go and find my ski bibs, my gloves, my hats, and a few other things.

Have a great night!

Highlights from '07

Well, I have been challenged by a good friend of mine to think of what my highlights of 2007 were.  So here they are:

Jeremiah's Top 7 of '07

7.  October 2007 - Splitting our Student Ministry into Middle School & High School

6.  Hanging out with Bill & Susan Brown on their boat.  And Bill nearly killing me while I was tubing.  I love boating, I grew up on the lake and so this was a great time just hanging out.

5.  Summer 2007 - I think this has been the best summer ever with our students, camp, Atlanta, and so much more!  

4.  December 2007 - Being completely suprised by some of our High School students and their families, with a PS3 for Christmas!

3. June 2007 - My little sister, Mallory Renee, graduating from high school.

2. July 2007 - spending an entire weekend with Monicea, the little girl Cyndi and I are adopting from Jamaica.  It was cool being Daddy for a weekend!  A highlight for me was anytime we got in the car she would fall asleep on me :)

1. May 12, 2007- I married the girl of my dreams.  And then I got to spend an entire week with just her in one of our favorite places on this planet...the Caribbean.  We went on a cruise and are already making plans for our next one.  Cynthia Michelle Lee Brown completes me :)

Happy New Year

Wow, what a night!  

Last night Cyndi and I partied with several of our students and friends at the church.  We totally transformed the auditorium into a pretty hoppin club and we celebrated the coming of the new year.  

Not doing to much today, just hanging out with Cyndi...I made her breakfast in bed (french toast-mmm one of my favorites!).

Anyway, have a great day!  And HAPPY NEW YEAR!