One of the advantages of long car trips over the holidays is that it gives me the opportunity to catch up on podcasts. The one that I listen to most faithfully is the Mars Hill Bible Church weekly sermons. I must admit that I kind of have a man crush on their teaching pastor Rob Bell. While I really his sermons, I actually want to give some thoughts on a recent talk that Don Miller gave at the church. You can download the actual talk here.
In the talk Miller discusses viewing our lives as stories. He asks the question, "What type of story is your life telling?" I found this to be a very thought provoking question. He talked about the power that storytelling can have in our lives. Good books and movies can captivate our attention with their storylines. People love good stories.
Miller challenged the listeners to think about what type of story they are telling with their lives. He believes that one of the best evangelistic techniques a Christian can have is by telling a good story with their life. I think this is really true. We are usually take interest in people who are telling good stories with their lives. He says that one of the ways to tell if you are telling a good story with your life is to ask the question what dreams would die and what things would not happen if you were to die.
I found this talk to be extremely challenging. I think that so often I choose to settle into the easy uneventful story, rather than allowing my life to tell a great story. Even as I choose to do ministry full time, it seems really easy to fall into a life that is a simple and predictable story. I pray that I will continue to be challenged to think about how I can tell better stories with my life.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Happy Happy Birthday
So today is my 24th birthday. I must admit 24 sounds a whole lot older than 23. I think part of it is because I have made the transition from early 20s to mid 20s. In honor of my 24th birthday, I have decided to make a list of 24 things I hope to do before I turn 25. Some of these will be more tangible than others...
1. Love my wife more.
2. Read more books.
3. Spend more time investing in the lives of my students.
4. Go skiing!
5. Improve the golf game.
6. Start doing more writing...whether that be blogging, articles, or something else.
7. Figure out the whole going to seminary thing.
8. Work out more consistently
9. Continue to be disciplined in saving money.
10. Have more opportunities to speak
11. Serve/volunteer somewhere on a consistent basis
12. Manage my time more effectively
13. Go to a STL Cardinals game.
14. Be more encouraging of others
15. Have a better understanding of who I am and what God is calling me to do.
Okay so 24 is a lot...I think the list will stop here for now.
1. Love my wife more.
2. Read more books.
3. Spend more time investing in the lives of my students.
4. Go skiing!
5. Improve the golf game.
6. Start doing more writing...whether that be blogging, articles, or something else.
7. Figure out the whole going to seminary thing.
8. Work out more consistently
9. Continue to be disciplined in saving money.
10. Have more opportunities to speak
11. Serve/volunteer somewhere on a consistent basis
12. Manage my time more effectively
13. Go to a STL Cardinals game.
14. Be more encouraging of others
15. Have a better understanding of who I am and what God is calling me to do.
Okay so 24 is a lot...I think the list will stop here for now.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Engaging The Soul of Youth Culture 1
Mueller titles this chapter, "Reality Bytes: Snapshots of a Crying and Dying Culture." His goal in this chapter seems to display how off we can be about the culture of today's youth.
He states that we have caused many problems by our "inability or unwillingness to hear the nuances of their unique worldview and experience before attempting to answer their cries" (19). He goes on to say that because of our unwillingness to listen they have become a generation full of unmet needs that are "crying out to have their God-shaped emptiness filled" (23).
He goes on to note that people that do marketing have done a better job of speaking to today's kids than the church has done. The media has become the number 1 influence in kid's lives today and has been successful in "providing emerging generations with 'maps of reality' to guide them into adulthood" (27). He then says that, "popular culture give them purpose because it has listened to them" (27).
He points out that the problem with kids trying to fill their emptiness with various forms of media is that, "From a biblical perspective we know that unless media (or any other institution) points to redemption in Christ, it's only a rabbit chase" (28). He closes the chapter by emphasizing that if we want to provide spiritual wholeness, we must be willing to first listen.
A few of my own thoughts and a question:
1. Most adults do a terrible job of realizing the validity of what kids think and feel. Their place in life is often just viewed as a phase that will pass. If we continue to look at this stage of life as just a phase and not seek to meet the needs of each individual student, we will fail to connect with an entire generation. Many teens have been deeply wounded whether we want to realize it or not.
2. It is interesting that the church seems to fail to meet the God-shaped emptiness Mueller describes. I think often we seek to use the techniques of the media, but are not able to do it as well. This creates shallow empty experiences for the student. I hear many students who say that there is not much substance going on in their youth group. Plenty of fun, but the emptiness continues.
3. I think we have to teach kids how to think theologically about the media that is being presented to them. If we do not, it will continue to have quite a bit of control of their lives.
Q1: How do we expose older generations to the hurts of today's youth? How do we begin to allow them to see the validity of the pain teens can experience? Once this happens, we must be able to show how they can trust Jesus with these hurts.
He states that we have caused many problems by our "inability or unwillingness to hear the nuances of their unique worldview and experience before attempting to answer their cries" (19). He goes on to say that because of our unwillingness to listen they have become a generation full of unmet needs that are "crying out to have their God-shaped emptiness filled" (23).
He goes on to note that people that do marketing have done a better job of speaking to today's kids than the church has done. The media has become the number 1 influence in kid's lives today and has been successful in "providing emerging generations with 'maps of reality' to guide them into adulthood" (27). He then says that, "popular culture give them purpose because it has listened to them" (27).
He points out that the problem with kids trying to fill their emptiness with various forms of media is that, "From a biblical perspective we know that unless media (or any other institution) points to redemption in Christ, it's only a rabbit chase" (28). He closes the chapter by emphasizing that if we want to provide spiritual wholeness, we must be willing to first listen.
A few of my own thoughts and a question:
1. Most adults do a terrible job of realizing the validity of what kids think and feel. Their place in life is often just viewed as a phase that will pass. If we continue to look at this stage of life as just a phase and not seek to meet the needs of each individual student, we will fail to connect with an entire generation. Many teens have been deeply wounded whether we want to realize it or not.
2. It is interesting that the church seems to fail to meet the God-shaped emptiness Mueller describes. I think often we seek to use the techniques of the media, but are not able to do it as well. This creates shallow empty experiences for the student. I hear many students who say that there is not much substance going on in their youth group. Plenty of fun, but the emptiness continues.
3. I think we have to teach kids how to think theologically about the media that is being presented to them. If we do not, it will continue to have quite a bit of control of their lives.
Q1: How do we expose older generations to the hurts of today's youth? How do we begin to allow them to see the validity of the pain teens can experience? Once this happens, we must be able to show how they can trust Jesus with these hurts.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Retreat Retreat
This past weekend I helped plan and lead a retreat for the 7th grade boys and their dads at our school. They have always used the theme "Boot Camp" for the weekend. I am not one to get all pumped up about this type of imagery, but I never felt that it was over the top. The retreat was one of those things that I was not particularly excited about beforehand, but once there I really enjoyed it.
The highlight of the weekend for me was Sunday morning when I had the opportunity to lead a session with the dads that I called "Understanding Youth Culture." I began by discussing various aspects of youth culture hoping that the dads would begin to have a greater understanding of what is happening in their children's world. A lot of the information I used came from Walt Mueller's seminars at the NYWC. I really like what that man has to say.
After covering that material, I began to give advice on how they could better relate to their sons. Most importantly we discussed how to help adolescent faith grow. Most of the information for this portion I got from Chap Clark's book Disconnected: Parenting Teens in a MySpace World. I must admit that at times I felt somewhat awkward giving parenting tips when I myself am not a parent yet. I do not want to come across as being critical when I have yet to walk through their shoes. With that being said, I think I was able to present the material with humility and not come across as some inexperienced know it all.
After the session, several of the dads commented on how much they appreciated what I had to say. There were even a few dads who mentioned buying the book. It is encouraging to me to see parents that want to be involved in the spiritual mentoring and discipleship of their kids. I know I have not been doing youth ministry for long, but it is becoming more and more apparent the necessity of parents being involved in the lives of their children for spiritual growth to take place. May God grant wisdom to this generation's parents.
The highlight of the weekend for me was Sunday morning when I had the opportunity to lead a session with the dads that I called "Understanding Youth Culture." I began by discussing various aspects of youth culture hoping that the dads would begin to have a greater understanding of what is happening in their children's world. A lot of the information I used came from Walt Mueller's seminars at the NYWC. I really like what that man has to say.
After covering that material, I began to give advice on how they could better relate to their sons. Most importantly we discussed how to help adolescent faith grow. Most of the information for this portion I got from Chap Clark's book Disconnected: Parenting Teens in a MySpace World. I must admit that at times I felt somewhat awkward giving parenting tips when I myself am not a parent yet. I do not want to come across as being critical when I have yet to walk through their shoes. With that being said, I think I was able to present the material with humility and not come across as some inexperienced know it all.
After the session, several of the dads commented on how much they appreciated what I had to say. There were even a few dads who mentioned buying the book. It is encouraging to me to see parents that want to be involved in the spiritual mentoring and discipleship of their kids. I know I have not been doing youth ministry for long, but it is becoming more and more apparent the necessity of parents being involved in the lives of their children for spiritual growth to take place. May God grant wisdom to this generation's parents.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Overwhelmed
The only bad thing about going to a conference like I did last weekend, is that often when you return you can feel behind. I most definitely feel behind right now. I have a stack of things that I should have already graded, but have not yet. At some point I would like to get ahead in lesson planning, but that has not happened yet either. Another big stresser is that this weekend I am helping lead a retreat for the 7th grade boys and their dads.
I also feel overwhelmed right now about trying to figure out the future. Meg and I are not sure about the right timing for us to move so that I can go to seminary. I seem to have a lot on my mind, but not much time to think about it.
I think I am realizing how very little I actually trust God. At the conference Chap Clark made the statement that any sin or problem that we are experiencing in our life has to do with our inability to trust God. For example, if an individual is worrying about something it is because they do not trust that God really has it under control. It is very rare that I put complete trust in God. I need to learn that I can trust in the promises of God.
These are my thoughts for the evening...
I also feel overwhelmed right now about trying to figure out the future. Meg and I are not sure about the right timing for us to move so that I can go to seminary. I seem to have a lot on my mind, but not much time to think about it.
I think I am realizing how very little I actually trust God. At the conference Chap Clark made the statement that any sin or problem that we are experiencing in our life has to do with our inability to trust God. For example, if an individual is worrying about something it is because they do not trust that God really has it under control. It is very rare that I put complete trust in God. I need to learn that I can trust in the promises of God.
These are my thoughts for the evening...
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
I'm back...
This past weekend I attended the National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis. Being there inspired me to take another shot at this whole blogging thing. I don't think anyone actually reads this thing, but it at least helps me organize my thoughts! Hopefully, I will get more into it this time...
I had a really good time at the conference and had the opportunity to attend some very interesting seminars. I especially enjoyed hearing Chap Clark, Duffy Robbins, and Walt Mueller. I will attempt to summarize some of the discussions in future blogs.
I just started reading Walt Meuler's book Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture. I plan on trying to summarize each chapter on this.
That's all for now...
I had a really good time at the conference and had the opportunity to attend some very interesting seminars. I especially enjoyed hearing Chap Clark, Duffy Robbins, and Walt Mueller. I will attempt to summarize some of the discussions in future blogs.
I just started reading Walt Meuler's book Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture. I plan on trying to summarize each chapter on this.
That's all for now...
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