Youth ministry weekend

Just got back from National Youth Workers Convention hosted by Youth Specialties.  It's one of the best treats a youth worker can have!  It sets you up to hear great bands (like Crowder & Starfield), enjoy insightful speakers (like Kara Powell & Chap Clark), & enjoy belly-laugh funny entertainers (like Skit Guys or Lost & Found).  It was a wonderful time of rest and recharging.
But something that I never remember (I've gone before) is that the time spent with other youth workers is exhilarating!  It's an under-rated selling point.  "Do you want to come be with people like you?  Then join us for NYWC!"  I ignore that pitch 11 out of 10 times, but that's what I'm so thankful for now.  For you not involved in youth ministry you may think we're all nuts... and you're probably right.  But to have a chance to join with thousands of other just-as-nuts people, who immediately get it, without fear of judgment; it's a beautiful thing.

Pothead support group

This community is more than great for a solid weekend, it points to a more central desire inside us all.  Acceptance is often a driving force in our culture.  We wear what we do to maintain or project the right style.  We say what we say to impress or develop the right reputation.  We work and sacrifice to make ourselves provable by our bosses for promotions.  We want to be welcome, we fear being rejected.

A present current inside the conference was stepping away from the programs and focusing more on the point of being the church.  The point was to let go of maintaining the machine and use the new found time and energy to establish relationships.  This would effectively set the church up to be the place of acceptance and relationship that is at the root of our desire.  We want a place to belong and be welcome, the church SHOULD be that.

It shouldn't take five days to remind church leaders of that truth.  But 5 days are a small price to pay if we will come together, remember, and then leave to be different.

PS: Here's the links for the above mentioned artist.
http://www.davidcrowderband.com/
http://www.starfieldonline.com/
http://www.skitguys.com/
http://speedwood.com/

My fellow Americans...

In doing some birthday shopping for my little girl, I noticed that the Christmas season is soon upon us.  And while I can't say I'm looking forward to braving the masses, I am excited about the giving spirit that often overtakes us.

With that in mind, I have started looking for ideas on how to give better.  Not as in better wrapping or finding the right doo-dad or what's-it, but instead to give more than presents, to give presence.  To aim to be with people.  This can certainly include a gift, but maybe a little different. 

EXAMPLE: give a board-game with a homemade gift certificate for a "dinner and game night" at your house.

It's aiming to give better relationally.  This means to invest in someone, instead of something for someone.  I hinge it under the idea that most of us have more stuff than we need, but we could always use more time with people we love.  So how do we do that?

Here's an idea from a friend, cook 30 meals for someone else for 30 days.  Her mindset behind it can be found here: http://amyfmitchell.blogspot.com/

Another great idea is to do treasure hunt with your family.  This takes minimum planning and produces warm memories.  Video tape and share it!  Need help?  Try: http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Free_Treasure_Hunt_Clues


Not the active type?  Get a friend a book that you're reading and plan to meet and discuss the chapters as you go through it together.  Buy the coffee when you're together.


Most of these ideas don't fit under a tree, but they'll certainly keep Christmas cheer alive long after the wrapping paper has been thrown away.  

Have any great ideas?  PLEASE share!

Steal these ideas

It's the time of year where everyone is busy and our calendar apps are in need of vacation... The Holidays. 
To make matters better or worse, It seemed these notions could serve those in youth ministry (or if your willing to take the initiative; life)

1. Sell line waiters-
   This is a fundraising idea that was spawned by theme parks, it sends teens out shopping with (or for) you.  NOT so you can buy them something, but so that you'll have someone with you or to wait in line while you head elsewhere, like to the car for a nap.  If you're trying to get a hard to find/limited quantity item (think Wii a few years back), rent a teen to stand in line for the opening of the store.  They'd be your shopping Go-for the day.
   OBVIOUS PAYOFF: money for the teens
   HIDDEN PAYOFF: the teens spend time serving and with people they don't normally encounter
2. Eating a little differently- This is a idea that we did a few years back at our winter retreat.  For each day, we'd have a *special* meal.  When we talked about being open with the community, we ate spaghetti... without napkins or utensils.  When we talked about how we need each other, we had tacos, but you had to get each part of the taco (lettuce, cheese, meat, etc...) from a different person.  For service, we fed each other sandwiches.
   OBVIOUS PAYOFF: a memory they'll remember
   HIDDEN PAYOFF: they're thinking about the message in new ways
3. Put a 1/4 back- This is a policy idea for fundraisers.  Many churches have big ticket items that require more money than the regular event.  For the Nazarene church, that's NYC, which comes every four years and often cost over a grand.  So why not put a 1/4 of everything raised back towards the cost?  If the idea is communicated enough in advance, there shouldn't be any trouble.  Make it a part of the community and save yourself the headaches. 
   EXAMPLE 1: a fundraiser raises $1000, put back $250 specifically for the big trip. 
   EXAMPLE 2: a teen earns $100 for their work, put back $25 for the big trip. 
   OBVIOUS PAYOFF: trip prices are more affordable
   HIDDEN PAYOFF: the teens are already somewhat committed to the trips before you even advertise
4. A leader per item- This is a program idea.  I love to do things different.  The running joke around my church goes like this, "This week we're going to do our regular thing and do something different".  A great way to get more people involved from your church community is to bring in someone who can specialize in that one new/different thing.  You're not asking them to come with you for every retreat/lockin.  You're asking them for a one-time giving of themselves... which can often bleed into more. 
   EXAMPLE: Bob is a mechanic.  You want to talk about the Spirit's direction in the church.  Have Bob come explain (or better yet, SHOW with an engine) the workings of a car engine and you talk about how the Spirit fuels, steers, etc...
   OBVIOUS PAYOFF: you're not the talking head all the time
   HIDDEN PAYOFF: you can easily evaluate who you would and wouldn't want to pursue as a volunteer

Mega-churches, running, and redemption

I got a new book today!

And yes, it's an occasion that deserves an exclamation point.  A new book is a WONDERFUL thing.  Its loaded with mystery and intrigue: will it surpass/support the cover art? will it contain new insight? will it be worth the $xx.xx price?  New books are exciting.

The difference?

This one is The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel.  The title summary is "Believing in God, but Living as if He Doesn't Exist".  I'm expecting a faith and works take on Christianity and thus far, a fifth into it, I'm rewarded.  Let me swing over to a different subject.

I run.  Not just when someone is chasing me or when there is free ice cream.  I run to argue against my age, to keep in shape, to enjoy fellowship, to have cave time, to pray, etc...  And for the strength, foolishness, and payoff of all of those reasons, if I don't have a race I'm training for, I don't run consistently.  Hold that, let's jump again.

Swinging back to The Christian Atheist, Craig is a pastor at a fairly large, multi-site church in Oklahoma, Lifechurch.tv.  He has authored many books ranging from church planning to a very personal insight on the subject of lust.  I was able to participate for three months in a life group formed out of his church and found the discussions and people seeking to be reformed towards God's image.  Their mission statement is " leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ."

Why bring all this up?

Intention.  When there's intention, purpose, direction then the result is better than when anything goes.  My running is haphazard when I don't have a goal to aim for, a challenge to overcome, or target in mind.  A Christian can easily start living as though anything is permissible if belief in God is all there is.  But when there is a passion to guide, a mentor to follow, or a life pursued then the Christian life quickly distinguishes itself from that of an atheist.

And this points to redemption.  This is the idea of God making all things new, of a new heaven and earth.  This is how we understand the Kingdom come on Earth like Heaven.

Redemption and intention.  They're exciting.  Like new books.

A minister's job description

Let me set this up first.  I'm reading through the book of 1 Thessalonians with a commentary so as to study it more thoroughly.  Feel free to call me names.

Today's reading examined the second chapter where Paul (and others) go about metaphorically describing their role with the Thessalonians.  In twelve verses Paul typifies the relationships as a heavy-hitter, an infant, a wet nurse, as a brother/sister, a father, and an orphan.  Try to find consistency in that!

In as many examples as he offers, he shows the complexity of the relationship.  The leader is dependent, abandoned, and coexisting as they find their way along.  This peculiar detailing shows that in the minister's ways, variation isn't just expected but necessary.

If you're a pastor, this seems all too familiar.  No shock to think about the hats you wear that CERTAINLY weren't talked about in the job interview.  From plunging the toilet to dunking booth at the fall festival, you're not sure what happened, but you're pretty sure that it wasn't covered in seminary.  But somehow the craziness is found in you being both the father and the orphan, it rest some way in the call.

If you're a lay minister, this reality may seem par for the course.  But please, make an understanding face for your pastor when s/he starts mentioning that nowhere in their studying of the New Testament or Old did they cover heating and cooling services on 20 year old machines.

And for all of us in between, may grace cover and love abound.