Working in youth ministry often leads to a lot of frustration. Usually it is because of the kids. This week, it comes from our executive offices. I rarely disagree with any decisions that are handed down to our department, and even when I don't agree, I see a purpose behind it. This one time, I do not.

About a month ago, our center had our video game equiptment stolen. It wasn't much (just a few old Nintendo 64's and a Playstation), but it was all we had to play with due to our limited finances. However, one of our grantwriters contacted some people about our situation and a company agreed to donate over $2000 to get us new video game systems and games and even TV's to play video games on. We went to Best Buy and purchased a whole van full of electronic goodies. I was getting ready to set up our new equiptment when I was told I couldn't do that. Apparently, one of our big bosses wanted to keep the items looking brand new until the president of the company who donated the stuff could come and visit in about 2 months. I was kind of irritated about that. It was like having someone buy you a brand new Mercedes, and you park it in the garage and continue to drive the 85 Chevy.

So we locked the stuff up in one of our storage sheds. That very night, someone broke into the storage sheds next to the one where we stored our thousands of dollars of stuff. So I thought maybe that will change their minds and allow us to use the video games before it gets jacked again. I would have been happy to just open one of the PS2's we got. But orders are to move the stuff and keep it locked away, while we continue to plug along with our one old Playatation with one game. My worst fear is that something is going to happen to our stuff before any of the kids get a chance to play with it. That would suck more than watching the Giants hit into another double play (I do believe we are on a record setting pace).