Funny game with funny people

Last night, Laura and I went to dinner at Oregano's and while sitting and waiting for our table we had some soda pop. In the midst of our conversation, I stopped and said to her "Worst thing you would want to hear your PILOT say..."

She paused and responded "Ladies and Gentleman, good to be with you today. Where we going anyways..." (imagine a drunken slur). Then we continued to pick people we would not want to hear aweful things from... A very easy way to pass and hour or so.

I am pretty sure we stole it from Who's Line Is It Anyway...

A lesson learned... Maybe.

I met with a good friend yesterday and was talking about feeling "drained". He told me that after hearing what has been going on in my life between Young Life, leading 3 bible studies, training a group of HS kids to be leaders, coaching track and field 5 days a week, staying out til midnight on thursdays - that it is no surprise I am tired.

"It's a simple math formula" he said, "You give out and don't get filled back up - therefore after a certain amount of time - you will run out of what you got to give" Hmmmm... thought I. Why didn't I think of that?!

It amazes me how much I allow my world around me to dictate what I want to do with the most precious resource I have - my time.

So tonight, I spent about 45 minutes doing some things I wanted to do...

Here's what occupied some of my thoughts:

I really wish I wasn't a SUNS fan, because then this guy wouldn't bug the crap out of me so much! UGHHHH! Why can't he figure out how to call timeouts, manage the greatest PG of all time and figure out to beat this pizza faced freak!

I also gangked some newbs in some XBOX live with some of my YL guys! (Laura played too... she's really good with a sniper rifle...)

I spent a few minutes continuing my search for a new car... I am pretty sure I want this box lookin' thing - they are sick and get great gas mileage.
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All in all a good night of relaxation.

Upside Down World

Once a month, Young Life forces me to take a day and be alone. I am not good at it and in fact I rarely am able to take an entire day and just be. I am pretty sure I have a mild case of ADD... but I think most people in youth ministry have it too...

Anyways, I was studying the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 and a bunch of things stood out to me. Too many to write... but here is one from this small passage.

Matthew 6:19-34
Matt. 6:19 ¶ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Matt. 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matt. 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt. 6:22 ¶ “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
Matt. 6:23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matt. 6:24 ¶ “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Matt. 6:25 ¶ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matt. 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matt. 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matt. 6:28 ¶ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Matt. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Matt. 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matt. 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
Matt. 6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
Matt. 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matt. 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Thoughts from an Italian Man:
Why do I waste so much time worrying about money? How to get it? How to spend it? How to give it? How to spend it?

Why do I waste so much time worrying about my daily needs? How to care for them? How to pay for caring for them? What would be best to care for them?

I am annoyed that our view of things is so skewed... Why? I have no concrete answer. I just know that God's world and my world are opposites.

It's like God's world to my world is the same as Superman to Bizarro!!

Here's what I am left with:
1. We must run hard after God with everything we have in our being
2. We must not care HOW but know that our needs WILL be taken care of.

At least this guy knows what's going on...

Random pictures

The best one...

Where's the Love

Video I used in a club talk tonight. The Black Eyed Peas say some crazy things, but when you illustrate their words with photos from life - it is unbelievable to watch kids track.

Drama for yo' Mama...

Mrs. Colletti, the beautiful, talented, wonderful Mrs. Colletti is no longer going to teach at Horizon High School or Sunrise Middle School... Wahh Wahh...

Rather, as of today, April 7, 2008 - she has taken a position at Centennial High in Peoria. The drive is a bit further (79th ave and Thunderbird) but the job security, pay and ability to do what she loves to were all too many benefits to pass up.

The lesson is clear: God provides. Not what we think we want, but what HE knows we need. I am thankful to watch my wife process with her God about what her life will hold and I am blessed to see his faithfulness to her.

Minister Colletti?!?

As of January 2008, I am an ordained Minister. I can marry if you need this particular task taken care of... I have a good friend who is getting married on Saturday and I am officiating the wedding. I am scared... humbled... anxious... excited... but most of all I am glad. I am glad because this has given me new eyes to see my heart, my marriage and my wife in fresh ways... Prepping this wedding has been very convicting - in marriage you see the best and worst of yourself lived out before your eyes. You say things, do things and act in ways you would never allow yourself to and if your lucky this will only result in a short "discussion". ;)

I love my wife. She is amazing. She supports me. She forgives me. She gets me. And I blow it... often. And she forgives me. I love her and am thankful for her being such a blessing in my life.

Ahhhh... Marriage. :)

How to stop good leaders...

Satan v. Church Leaders

by Jonathan Leeman

Southern Seminary professor Chuck Lawless imagines what he would do if he were Satan, trying to ensnare pastors and church leaders. The whole article is here, but his seven basic points are

First, I would attack those who are most gifted . . . by reminding them that they are gifted.

Second, I would encourage leaders to talk about accountability . . . but not be personally accountable to anyone.

Third, I would challenge leaders to emphasize spiritual disciplines . . . but only for others.

Fourth, I would focus the leader’s attention on tomorrow . . . rather than today.

Fifth, I would encourage ministry by e-mail . . . especially with those of the opposite gender.

Sixth, I would not hinder ministry success . . . as long as “success” results in few changed lives.

Seventh, I would stress failure . . . and then lead the church to do the same.



I was very sad when I read this because I feel like I can identify with 5 of the 7 things mentioned here in my personal walk with Christ right now. Then I prayed... Then I thought more about my Lord... Then I thought this: I am thankful for a GOD that is bigger than I can imagine, more powerful than I can fathom and more loving than my mom... Satan, you're in trouble buddy.

Marcus and I Snowboarding

Trying to Snowboard... Fun times.