WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS BLOG!

 

     I love writing this blog. It has been well over 5 years I have sat behind my laptop writing and blogging whatever is on my mind. Before you all panic and think "Oh No! He's going to quit blogging!" Not to worry. This guy is not quitting the world of Blogging!  Let me put your mind at ease. I love to write, and I still have hundreds of blogs left in me. What I wanted to share with you all is simple. I would like to start taking my foot off the gas, as they say, and work on another project. Something I have wanted to do for years.

     When I was in High School ten years ago...okay more than that...I took a class on filmmaking. I loved using my creative skills in yet another "outlet" and I thoroughly enjoyed the class. This was well before VCR's were in every home and well before YouTube. We used a 5 mm camera, and we had the splice film together. It was fun but it took a lot of practice. I do wish I continued somehow doing this after high school but as I entered bible college I had other interests. 

     When I was a children's pastor and videos were the thing, I enjoyed making commercials for the kids doing a lot of goofy things on video using puppets, dressing up as Coward Bozell (my version of Howard Cosell) and teaching the bible using toys. Last Wednesday when I made a video and spoke to my Facebook friends about the fact that we had barely any snow, yet my job was closed along with Panera Bread and other places, it made me laugh but also made me think. I did post the video it on Facebook, and I got a great response. While I was working out in the gym, I got a great idea! I said to myself, "Self, you do get a lot of crazy ideas, but this one does sound really cool!  How about you create a YouTube Channel where you can share all about your experience as a New York guy living in the south?" Not many people know this, but I do have another YouTube channel through my Puppet Guy ministry where I post many of my puppet characters, preaching opportunities and other kids ministry programs. This new YouTube channel will be me chronicling my experience here in South Carolina and how I am adjusting to life here. It will be fun, informative and will give everyone the opportunity to see life here through the eyes of a veteran New York guy! I will not be posting videos every single day, maybe twice a week and as far as my blog, yes, it will continue but will not be every week, maybe 3 times a month when I get inspired. I will not be writing long blogs, and my videos will not be long either. I realize not everyone has time to read or watch. We all have busy lives! This new YouTube is called "A New York Guy living in the South." I will be posting my very first video tomorrow morning on Facebook in hopes that many will subscribe and will join me on my journey. 

     I know it will take time. As they say, Rome was not built in a day, and neither was a YouTube Channel! Like I said, it will be fun, and we will learn a lot about South Carolina together as this New York guy learns to adjust. Stay tuned....and have a blessed day everyone!   

      

BRINGING SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY UP NORTH...REALLY?

 

     I will never forget my first orientation with Chick Fil-A Port Jefferson, my first Chick Fil-A job. Our owner/ operator Stan met with our entire team in the restaurant on a Saturday and he made a comment that always stuck with me. He said, "We want to bring Southern Hospitality up North to Long Island." I thought to myself 2 thoughts. The first one was "Seriously?" The second one was "Good luck with that one!" The goal was to show people how we can spread kindness in a chicken restaurant on Long Island in a place where "kindness" was foreign to many. If you live on Long Island and maybe go to a McDonalds or another fast-food place, you will probably not hear "My pleasure" or "Thank you" very often. I would have to guess not at all! I will never forget guests at Chick Fil-A asking me if I was from the south being that I was so kind to them. When I told them I was born and raised in the Northeast, they were shocked! All they kept saying was, "But you are all so nice here!"

     When we opened Chick Fil-A Port Jefferson, I was amazed how the trainers, who were sent to us from all over the country had patience, understanding and didn't let people get to them. I will never forget a gentleman screaming at one of the trainers about how they incorrectly made his salad. This man went on and on complaining. You would have thought someone in the kitchen purposely made his salad wrong to just annoy him.  I was shocked when this one trainer just smiled and told this gentleman he was sorry, and they would make his order right for him. WHAT? If I had the nerve, I would have told this man "Dude, just chill out. It's a mistake. People make mistakes. Stop acting like you are 10 years old. You are a grown man for crying out loud! Get over it! Why do you feel the need to yell!" Seriously, when you are dealing with the general public, you are not encouraged to use words like "Can't, "Won't" and "Never." But as a Chick il-A Team Member, you are encouraged to show Southern Hospitality 24/7. But in New York? Can it be done?

     So, what exactly is this thing we call "Southern Hospitality/" Chick Fil-A does have one thing they teach that I find very fascinating. It is called the "Core 4." There are 4 things they require from every employee whether you work in the Front of House or Back of House. The core 4 is this:

1. Share a smile

2. Speak enthusiastically

3. listen attentively

4 Give good eye contact  

     Being trained at Chick Fil-A, it was ingrained in all of us as team members to practice The Core 4 on a daily basis and yes, even to our fellow New Yorkers. Was it easy? Absolutely not! One thing I did find is many New Yorkers came to Chick Fil-A not only for the food, but because they wanted to be treated well. They wanted to experience Southern Hospitality in New York. I will say in my 9 years working at 2 Chick Fil-A'a in New York, every team member, manager, assistant director and directors certainly did their best to see to it that we did in fact show Southern Hospitality to our fellow New Yorkers. It did not come easy, but we did all we could to see it happen! So, can it be done? Yes, but it certainly did not come easy!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK! THANK YOU FOR READING MY BLOG!!

IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES

 

            I know in the past I have blogged about many of the frustrations I have encountered in my life and in ministry. If there is one thing I have learned, it is to be more positive and NOT reflect on the negative but the positive. The truth is, there has been a lot of great things that with God's help I have accomplished in my ministry career in New York. I have grown A LOT these last 11 1/2 years, and I have learned a lot about myself and why God put me on this earth. I look back at my 40 years serving in children's ministry in New York with fond memories. Memories of allowing my creative muscle to grow. Memories of "test driving" some of my fun, crazy, creative and wild ideas. Some that worked and were a masterpiece. Some that were total "bombs" that deserved to be thrown in a "ministry dumpster." Forget about those! Let's talk about the victories!

     Before I start sharing about "my accomplishments," let me first say right off the bat that I want to give all the glory to God who is the author and creator of creativity. He is the one who has given me these gifts and He deserves ALL the glory! There are many accomplishments I have had working in the children's ministry in New York. I have always appreciated the open doors I have had working at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle (1991-2013), Christian Church at Holbrook (2017) and Lift Jesus Higher Fellowship (2022-2024). I have always said from the very beginning that Pastor Robert Forseth, my first Senior Pastor took a huge gamble on a shy, quiet 27-year-old kid who had no pastoral experience. He saw potential in me, and I was hired part time in 1991. I worked 3 days a week not including Sunday. I had no prior training in children's ministry. I had a heart to reach kids for Jesus! I literally had to teach myself how to be a children's pastor! It only took me 9 months to get promoted to a fulltime children's pastor. Let me share with you 4 of my greatest accomplishments, mostly while I served at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle.

     1. Kids in Missions - Growing up at SGT, missions had always been preached from the pulpit. It was always Pastor Forseth's heart to honor our missionaries, to host a "Missions Convention," and to send out short term mission teams around the world. He always said, "Missions isn't taught, it is caught!" We had a few pastors from our staff leave to go on the mission field. I always wanted to teach kids all about missions. God put it on my heart to develop a class but there was one problem. There was no materials or curriculum to use. I knew in my heart we needed to have a class so I took a step of faith and announced we would have a class called "Kids Mission Bridge" that began in January 1996. I used my college textbook to teach the class, and we taught the kids puppet ministry and dramas they would do on outreaches we had on Long Island, in New York as well as New Jersey. 2 years later the name was changed to Kids in Missions (because Kids Missions Bridge was partially copyrighted already). This ministry lasted for 17 years. I always proud of the fact that my two older kids got to minister with me. They did a fantastic job coming up with dramas, helping with the puppet ministry and they even taught the first-year student class for a few years. I would love to see this ministry be resurrected one day!

     2. Memorial Day Parade - For 23 years, SGT was well represented in the Town of Smithtown Memorial Day Parade. Each year we build a float for this parade. In fact, we were the only float in the parade. In the beginning, I would use the theme of our King's Kids Club as the theme for the float. Eventually, I used the VBS themes. We borrowed a trailer from various church members who had either landscaping or demolition companies. The floats were made of either air Lyte panels or plywood and were attached to the trailer. We did several different themes throughout the years including a castle, a treehouse, a western town, a game show, a jungle, a beach theme, a train and a rocket. As we came down Main Street in Smithtown, we would have music playing with puppets lip syncing out of the windows. My kid always helped with that! We handed out gifts to the kids to promote our summer activities. It certainly was a lot of work but worth every second. I always appreciated so much the men and women who helped design, paint and build the float which began in early May. The assembly of the float was always the Saturday before. Sadly, the last time SGT has had a float was 2013, my last year!       

     3. Fall Fun Fest - One goal I set in 1991 when I became the children's pastor at SGT was doing outreach. One of the greatest opportunities to do this was October 31st, Halloween Day. There were a few members of the church who were not happy we were doing an event on an evil day, but my feeling was this was a great opportunity to reach out to our world and create at our church a safe environment for kids and families. Fall Fun Fest was birthed in 1992 and lasted 20 years! We tried different things and what worked the best was renting carnival games, castle bounces, selling food, giving a way candy and lastly having a program at the end of the night where we would present the gospel. For a few years, I hired some outside people and sometimes I did a program. One year we even did a "Puppet Musical." It was a great way to reach out to our neighbors in Smithtown, but also let our community know we love them and are here for them! It always made me proud to know my family was there to not only help me but support me!

     4. My ventriloquism - It wasn't until 10 years after I was a children's pastor that I began doing ventriloquism. I was a puppeteer and loved being behind the stage. I truthfully felt insecure about doing ventriloquism for several years. I knew I needed a new method to reach kids. It was hard to talk to kids, run behind a stage and do a puppet then run back around the front and talk to the kids again. I decided early in 2001 I would give ventriloquism a shot after attending a conference in San Diego for children's pastors. I looked in a catalog and saw an old man character whose name in the catalog was "Grandpa Floyd." I asked my kids what name I should call this character, and they suggested "Grandpa Lou." He made his debut about 5 months after I bought him and let's just say the rest is history. As of right now I have 16 characters I use, and I am hoping for one day to premiere "Pete the Talking Pizza." After that I will take a break from making new characters and focus on developing new ideas for the ones I have! 

So yes, it was "The Best of Times" for me! I look forward for more great times here in South Carolina for whatever the Good Lord has for me to do!

THANKS FOR READING! HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!!  

  

"I DON'T CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!!"

 

     I couldn't believe I heard those words. Of course, they did not come out of my mouth but the mouth of someone here in SC. Did I hear her correctly? Her family really does not celebrate Christmas at all. Seriously? I understand there are people in our world who do not celebrate Christmas such as Muslims, Buddhists, Jehovah Witnesses, Atheists, Satan worshippers and other weird and wacky religions. I know our Jewish friends may not believe Jesus is the Son of God and do not recognize his birthday, but they do admit He does exist and that one day He did live on this earth. 

  

     To think about many people here in America who refuse to celebrate Christmas just really boggles my mind. It makes me wonder if this young lady had some type of tragedy happen in her life or maybe her family had some type of bad experience in a church or a community event. I doubt very much it has to do with Santa Claus not bringing to her what she wanted when she was young. My family knows I am totally over Santa not bringing me Lite Brite in 1970!! To think that on December 25, 2024, it was NOT Christmas Day but simply Wednesday. I doubt they had a Christmas tree in their home and certainly no presents or decorations outside along with Christmas music playing in their home. Statistics tell us that 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas, but only 55% regard it as a "religious holiday." That tells me that the almost half of Americans do not look at Christmas as a day to celebrate Jesus's birth, but they reflect on all that other "stuff" which I know is fun and enjoyable, but truthfully that's not the real reason why Christmas should be celebrated...period!   As I am writing this blog, Christmas was 9 days ago. Thinking about what this young lady said, "I don't celebrate Christmas" gives me a desire to pray more for people and believe that hopefully one day, they will experience God's love during a season when we do experience his love! It makes me want to be a "Light in the darkness" wherever I am! Happy New Year everyone!! Let's make 2025 a fantastic year!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!