Do You Take Advantage of Your Downtime?

Here is an honest question for you to ponder over the holiday season. Are you taking advantage of your downtime? I do not mean are you thinking about next semester's curriculum? You are prepping for your next sermon? Are you glued to your computer writing emails?

What I do mean is are you spending quality time connecting with your family? Are you spending time with Jesus? Are you using this time to recharge?

Conviction. Guilty. It's hard for me to halt my chaotic life to stop and relax. Relax? What is that? However, we have to add rest to our rhythm. Hopefully everyone had a great holiday!

Tips to Make Your Website Impressive!

Ok, if you have created your background for your website, then you're ready for the info.

Here are a few tips: 
- If you want your article to stay up front, date it to 2020. It will be sure to stay front and center.
- You can't figure something out, google it!! Google helped me so much. I took off the top bar. I removed the "older post" "newer post" buttons. You can figure out how to make labels. It's amazing.
- Make a google calendar and embed it. It look really nice on the website and it's super helpful for parents and students.
- Add a slideshow. It make your website personal and fun.

Do you guys have any advice or option on what makes a website impressive? What do you have on your website?

Blogger is Your Friend!

The great thing about 2010 is that (almost) everyone blogs (this is obviously including myself). What's great about blogging is that you can make it into a website. That's right! I made our website using blogger.com. I'm not kidding.

Here are some tips for starting a website for your youth ministry from blogger.

1a. Template: You can use Artisteer to design a template. You do have to buy it. However, it can be so worth it. The software is awesome, super easy, and fairly affordable ($50 for a home license). The website is: http://www.artisteer.com.

1a. Template: You can't spend $50? Well blogger has free templates that you can somewhat customize. You can make it work.

2. Add Gadget: There are some cool Gadgets! You can add your twitter account. You can add a slideshow. You can add links, polls, videos, a header, and so much more. This really spices your website. This is a must-have for a cool website.


These 2 things will help you be on your way to making a super cool website. Any questions I had, I just googled it. Without a doubt, some tutorial came up.

What is your website like? Post a comment with the URL so we can all see it.

Make a Website

So recently, Rev made a totally new website from scratch, and I did it myself (with the help of Katie Goulet who made one too). You're probably thinking, "Whattt! Anyone can make a website??" Well, believe it.

Here is the great news! I'm not a graphic designer. I'm not a website maker. I'm not super computer savvy. So that means you don't have to be either! Yes!

This next week, I will be give you all the secrets on how to make a free (super cheap) website! If you would like a sneak peak, you can see our website at www.vineyardrevolution.us.

Welcome to nine2twelve.

    
Hello Leaders and welcome. Like us, I'm sure you are on a journey of discovering the secrets of high school ministry in an ever-changing world. Join the club. We have to be as hip as Lady Gaga, always be connected to facebook, know everything about Edward Cullen, and watch every episode of Glee. Not to mention, you have to be a good teacher, come up with the craziest games, be up on the latest worship music, be a good counselor, stay up late, spend quality time with God, plan fun events... and the list goes on. Ahh!


What's the purpose of this blog?
This blog is meant to be an ongoing conversation where we share our secrets and you share yours. We are all in this together! So yes- steal our ideas. Give us your ideas and we will steal from you. :)


What's with the name?
The name came from a great verse:

Psalm 92:12 "The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon."

Haha. Just kidding. That was my attempt to be spiritual. The name is simple. We love the nine to twelve grade students. They are so awesome and such a joy to work with.

So I hope you enjoy this blog. I hope it becomes a place where we can bounce ideas off one another and that we all become better pastors and leaders because of it.