Yesterday was my birthday. 32 big ones for Ryan. My wife planned some festivities to celebrate the occasion. We went Ruby Tuesday’s with some friends where I enjoyed my favorite hamburger in the world (it’s a close tie with In and Out): the Triple Prime Burger. After dinner we headed back to our house for a movie outside. I clamped a big white sheet to Luci’s swingset, hooked up my video projector and some sound, and poof, we had an instant drive-in theater (minus the teenagers making out on the back row). It was so much fun. A cool summer night, smores on the fire-pit, popcorn, and ice-cold Pepsi.
Big is always cool. What’s not cool about sitting outside and watching a movie on a big sheet under the stars? Why do we get so excited about big things? Remember when you were a kid and you saved enough money to buy a king-size candy bar and a 32 ounce Polar Pop? Now you’re an adult and you get excited about a big house or an iPod that holds a big amount of music. There’s something about big that lures people.
Remember this tomorrow morning when you teach. Take whatever you are doing and make it big. Make it explode. It might just be the next big thing the kids talk about.
Hey Ryan, the party was awesome ;). My personality has always said “go small, small is cheap!”. But as I’ve worked in ministry I’ve began to realize that people aren’t going to remark on a mediocre product. They’re going to remark on something incredibly bad or incredibly awesome. And if we hover in the middle, so will our results. See you in the AM!
I’m glad you enjoyed the party Evan! See you at 7:20am. I’ll bring coffee
Happy Birthday, Ryan!!! Can we really be in our 30’s now? It seems like yesterday we were showing off our driver’s permits to each other and cruising around in cars tht 16 year olds drive
Thanks for the challenge to make it big. Guess I better get to work!!!
i want coffee too. btw… carmen and ryan… y’all are getting OLD!
(carmen, this is briana p.:) guess i’m not getting coffee for that comment huh? lol.
Ryan–Brad may not like your challenge to make it big. He wants to know why when I have an idea he always gets roped into it! We kicked off a Jonah unit today and I wanted a boat, but didn’t have luck getting one lined up, so I just made a small one out of cardboard, but then read your challenge and went on a hunt for an inflatable raft type boat last night. I found one and the kids LOVED it! They loved getting inside and acting the story out. I can use this boat for many more lessons and it will really pay off in the future. Brad had to go with me on the hunt (I took him out to eat though!!) and he had to inflate the thing and help me set up a boating dock and all (at 10:30 last night with two VERY sleepy little girls!!) The whole family sacrificed for going BIG, but it was worth it and we all took naps this afternoon
That’s awesome Carmen! I bet those kids loved getting in that boat. Thanks for sharing this story. Enjoy your nap
Happy Birthday Ryan,
I think I talked to you on your birthday but you didn’t tell me it was your birthday. You can’t withhold that kind of scoop. Big is always cool. Not only should CC be the biggest event of a child’s week. People respect and want to be a part of things that are bigger than them. I think the reason children’s pastors use to resign their churches and move to Tulsa and help me is because they wanted to be a part of something bigger than them. Here’s a question what if your church’s commitment to reaching kids was the biggest thing in your city? I think you’d have all the workers and kids you’d ever want. Bring on the big. I say big up!
jim