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Friday Flashback in Youth Ministry...Songs on Transparencies

As graduations finish up this past weekend I thought of when I graduated high school.  I got a lot of money for graduation gifts.   I used part of my money to buy several boxes of blank transparencies, a black transparency box, and a Fender guitar.  I knew that at sometime I would use them when I started in Youth Ministry.   Later that summer before I left to come to the University of South Carolina I went up to my church and spent several hours making hard copies and transparencies of my youth pastor's song box.  I look back and laugh as now I have all my music saved in PDF and view my music on my iPad as we stream it through Media Shout and ProPresenter.  I think back of having to have someone manually move the songs.

To this day I still have my box of songs and my original songbook with all the hard copies of the songs.  I think sometime soon I might do a Sunday Night youth program using these ancient forms of youth ministry!

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together,

as some are in the habit of doing,

but let us encourage one another.

-- Hebrews 10:24-25

For many churches, summer means we shut the doors on all our programs and take a summer break.  So is that a good or bad thing.   We are instructed to spur one another on and not give up the habit of meeting together.  So why do we?

May churches use the time to give their volunteers a break.  Others are afraid of a small turn out during summer months.  And others just don't have the people power to have events all summer long.

For the last couple weeks I've been catching up with a lot of friends in youth ministry and have heard various plans for the summer.   The are several churches that have stopped small group ministry during the summer, but are continuing to have regular youth program time.  Several others are stopping programing and small groups and going the event based summer plans.  Others have some type of program, camp, retreat, or mission opportunity going on all summer every week.   Others are having event based events in place of program and continuing small groups during the summer.  In the past I have tried each one of these a time or too.

For us, we have two mission trips, a beach retreat, Sunday Night events, and small groups meeting every week through the summer.   This is my first summer with this group and we will see if it works.  One important reason we did not stop small groups for the summer is because we just started them in the Spring and things are going great.

I do events, such as pool party, going to the river and lake, bowling, movie nights, and other things to help build our group through fellowship.  I also see it as a great opportunity for students to invite their friends and not feel threatened by the church experience.  Over the years, I have seen many of my strongest leaders come from being invited during the summer. 

No matter which route your youth program goes this summer, take time for your students and remind them of this verse in Hebrews.

Rain

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have

watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. -Isaiah 55:10-11

Rain... We have been all too familiar with it these days as we awake to a grey sky and humid drizzle.  It is uncomfortable to have to endure the weather - the extra coat or umbrella, perhaps a pair of leaky shoes

whose inefficiency is made worse by patches of soggy ground.  Yet as troublesome and depressing as a

sullen, grey sky and falling water can be, in a sense rain is a wonder, too. Where we have built hard surfaces of asphalt and concrete, building roofs and gutters, the water rolls off and is whisked away.  But where there is a space of ground or a bit of growth, the rain sinks in and returns to the earth the life-giving water necessary for growth.

In Isaiah, the prophet compares God's word to the life-giving water of rain and snow.  It is a life-giving word which goes out from God, a word which showers upon the earth to accomplish God's purpose.  Like the rain, God's word comes upon us seeking us in love so that we might live more and more to God and for God. And though in the end God's word will not be thwarted (even the hardest of mountains are, in time, worn away through the power of water and wind), we certainly have a knack for building hard places in our lives that whisk the word away.  Where is the "rain" of God's word falling in your life this week (Where is God in all of this?)?   What are those "hard places" which make it difficult to for the word to sink in?

Inked by Forgiveness

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  “Matthew 6:14-15”

"Inked by forgiveness.   Too often in our lives we are stuck at holding on and not forgiving.  This verse is such a staggering statement, when any of us fail to forgive another person; our lack of forgiveness is a barrier to God forgiving us.  Not forgiving ourselves and others places us outside the gracious forgiving love of God.

BUT THERE IS GREAT HOPE…God wants you to have freedom:

When we realize how much we have been forgiven, it enables us to make the choice to forgive others; it allows the Holy Spirit to do a deeper work in us.

CHALLENGE:  Who in your life do you need to forgive?

Last Stretch

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never

ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:21-24

It seems like we always have so many plans and so many hopes and aspirations for how things should be or how I want them to be. And yet, as we head into this last stretch before another School year is in the books, we find ourselves already tired.  Not just sleepy, but tired.  At times it is as if we are trying to run the 100 meter dash wearing a pair of concrete shoes.  And yet we are reminded of the fact that perhaps our fatigue lies not so much in our busy-ness, but maybe in our poor focus.  

It is not that our daily activities, sports, hobbies, projects, and hanging out with friends, are trivial or are not worth careful attention.  They are indeed important, I believe, a part of what God has called us to do and be at this point in time.  No, the problem is often that we find ourselves trying to do too much, too perfectly, under our own power instead of trusting in the renewing love of the One who is Perfection and Power.

Fishers of Men

“Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”-Matthew 4:19

Remember when you first became a Christian and you were so excited about outreaching and getting everyone you know to come to church.   Often we only get excited about reaching out to others after a retreat. Most of us normally don’t excited about our relationships with God because we fail to cast a vision, and don’t see the big picture of who God is and how much he loves us.

Instead we need be excited!  

We're not just attending Bible Studies; we're preparing to impact our generation for Jesus. We're not just doing a little service project; we're changing our world. 

We need to build our vision and watch the excitement of it grow in our families, friends, schools, and community.

So what is our vision for our: personal lives, youth group, church, schools, and community?  How will put our vision into place?

Are you blind?

Many times in ministry we walk through things blindly.  When we get to new churches, we have no clue what tradition, retreats, annual events, translation of the Bible is acceptable, which rooms the youth are not allowed in, and so forth.  Many times we just go with the flow.  But just like in life, we cannot survive long if we do that.  




“…the Lord Jesus…has sent me that you may receive your sight…” Acts 9:17   


Paul received his sight, he also received the Holy spirit and insight of God and Christ.  From this point on in his life he was filled with the Living God.  Paul never again allowed anything to hold him down and take his focus off of telling others about Christ.  We must learn to maintain a strong will and determination so that we have a new focus and that our vision stays strong on Christ.


We must take the time to discern and see what God is calling us to do in our ministry and in our life.  We must take off our seminary, workshop, daily blog, mega church, YS, Group, or Simply shaded glasses and allow God to give us His sight to see and discern where He is calling us.

Identity

”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Seven years ago, Mandy Moore was interviewed about her role in the movie “Saved.”
She said, “I have faith. It only becomes cultish when people start to think that their way is the only way.  I feel bad for Hilary Faye (Mandy’s character in the movie) ——her whole identity is her relationship with Jesus.”  (Teen Vogue, May 2004, p. 118.)

Wow.  I hope someone can say that about us.  Think about someone might say,  “Their whole identity is in their relationship with Christ.”  Wouldn’t that just been awesome for that to happen.  But sadly that isn’t how we sometimes live and if we do we don’t let others see it.
It saddens me to think that sometimes nobody sees our relationship with Christ is not part of our identity.   Instead it is our favorite music band, our favorite sports team, or our hobbies and all their accomplishments.  And we don’t show an ounce of Christ in our identity.

Is our identity in Christ, or in ourselves?

The world thinks we’re crazy, fanatical, even “cultish” to be so wrapped up in Christ.  My prayer is that the world doesn’t see me, but Christ in me.

Doubting?

“…But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it. John 20: 25   

Just like Thomas, we all feel at times we need more evidence of who Christ is and what He did for us.  Many of us go through life, asking God to give us this big sign that says, “HEY I’M GOD, AND I’M HERE, BELIEVE IN ME!”  


But the majority of the time God doesn’t have that big sign for us.  He has little road signs that say, “I love you unconditionally.”  We are too lazy to stop, or we are too busy looking for that big billboard on the side of the road.  


If you have a doubt, like Thomas, pull up your Bible and read on of the gospels, or go see the depiction of the crucifixion in the movie the Passion of Christ, so you can see it first hand.  God is all around, and has a constant and endless love for us.


Have you seen it lately?  


Have you shown it lately?

Define

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."  Matthew 16:24-25

     How do we define ourselves?  Some of us do it with the company we keep: I'm so-and-so's friend or I'm my parent's kid.  Others of us do it by what we do: I'm an Athlete or I'm a Band Member.  But is that how*God* defines us?

     When Jesus tells us in the verse above to deny ourselves, that means we have to give up the titles and recognition and familiarity that we have and become what God wants us to be.  God called Moses

to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.  Moses was shocked!  He didn't define himself as a "Leader."  But that

didn't matter--God did.

     In fact, throughout the Bible very few people were called to do God's work in the field that they thought they were meant to serve in.  People had to deny themselves, leave their old lives, and often take

on symbolic new names to show their new path in life.  Sometimes we aren't immediately told what the new path is.  God just decides to take away a gift, like speaking ability or physical prowess or singing ability.  Then we have to sit and wait and pray for our new assignment to be revealed to us.  Either way

we've got to be ready for any change of plans that God gives us and set out on that new path.

Dirty Dishes

"Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit." Psalm 51:10-12

I hate doing the dishes. I mean, I really hate doing the dishes. I suppose I could come up with some deep psychological reason why I hate doing the dishes.  Frankly though, I think that the problem is more simple than that. I think that I simply hate doing the dishes. I only do them after either after I run out of creative ways to cook a meal with the pots and pans available or I get tired of eating out!

Our relationship with God is like doing the dishes. Everyone has those little "things" that we don't do for some reason that we should have done or things that need to be done and we don't do them.  Eventually, these "things" that are left undone begin to accumulate. Instead of a mountainous pile of plates and cups, a weaker relationship with God develops, because of those "things" that are in the way.

The awesomeness of God is that God washes away these dishes, if you ask him to.  The dishes are washed away and the counter is clear. Your relationship came beg in again.

What are your "dishes" that you need to have cleaned away by God?

Great Choice

" I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all."   (Ephesians 4:1-6) NRSV

We live in a world where anything goes. Things we counted on suddenly change. People break their promises. What we thought was true turns out to be false.  At times it seems that there's little to hold on to any more. But life doesn't have to be that way.  

We have one great choice. The choice is Jesus. He doesn't change. Jesus never breaks his promises. His words always prove to be true.  You can hold on to him. You can also hold on to the cross. Jesus died on the cross for one reason - He loves you. After Jesus died and came back to life, he made a commitment to you.  He promised never to leave you or forsake you. Jesus has kept his promise and always will.  You can bet your life on it. Jesus only asks for one thing: for you to make the same kind of promise to him.  

Committing yourself to Jesus doesn't mean you won't have any tough times. But it does mean you'll have some help when you do. But you can't do it halfway.  You've got to give it your all.  And don’t forget you have a large family here to support you and help you in your walk with Christ, through Sunday school, Sunday Worship, Youth, Bible study, retreats, and mission trips.

This time of year...numbers go down

After Spring Break and Easter across the world of Youth Ministry numbers seem to go down.  Why?
Some say its because its the end of the year and students have more homework and projects.  Others say that after Easter everyone just becomes busy.  Others blame it on spring fever.  Others blame it on the warm weather.

Every year I have seen our youth ministry numbers go up in January and February and then in April and May they decline.  I hear every "excuse" from sports to homework to forgetting we had youth.   It amazes me how teens and parents just take a break from God when the weather gets warm.  But without a doubt when we start doing "fun" events in June, the numbers go back.  Is it because they get fired up about Pentecost and are ready for church activities again or is it that they have nothing better to do in the summer and so church is the natural hang out spot?

This is just a question I was wrestling with last week with a friend in ministry and wanted to see everyone else's opinion.

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Copy Cats on FB, Twitter, and Ministry..

The other night I posted this on my Twitter account and FB account.


I dislike when people tweet other people's tweets and not include RT ... #justsayin #rude #plagiarism

Just a small pet peeve that I have.  But I also see it in ministry all the time.  I see it in blog posts, hear it at times in podcasts, and have also heard it live in sermons.  And this is nothing new.  I just don't understand why people have to be copycats instead of just saying they heard it somewhere and give the original author the credit.

Why is this so hard?
Why do we have to try to look like the smart person?
And what do we do if we get caught?  I've seen it happen and the person just said, "Oh it was in my nights, I was just in the zone and I forgot to quote them."

I've seen and heard several pastors give entire messages of Andy Stanley's, Doug Fields, Francis Chan, and even Billy Graham where they failed to quote and claim it for their own.  I use other pastors material from time to time, but I make sure to give the brothers credit.  And I hope that you do the same.

Claymation History of United Methodism

I'm currently on our Confirmation Retreat with my students.

When I went through confirmation back in 1993, this movie really helped me understand what the Methodist Church was.

For the last ten years I have made this a part of my teaching to my students. I also used it in my Methodist history class for a project.

Enjoy!

Are we too Connected?

Facebook, Twitter, Smart phones, Apps, Four Square, Linked In, Text Messages....and the list keeps going!  Are we too connected to the world?  When do we turn them off?  When do we say no?  When do we disconnect?

In ministry we use all of these to stay connected with our students, parents, and congregation!  But are we still staying connected with Jesus and our family?

There has been numerous times my wife has asked me to just set my iPhone or iPad down and just chill. She brings up a great point that too often I am too connected.

The first thing I do every morning when I get up is pick up my iPhone, check the weather, my email, twitter, and Facebook.  When I have a free second in the day I repeat the cycle, just to make sure I'm on top of everything.  And at times this causes me to miss time connecting with Jesus and my family.  I'm ashamed to type this, but its true.  And I know many other youth pastors who do the same thing.

I have been working really hard of late to just say no to being connected.  When my wife and I go out to eat or to a movie, I turn my phone off or leave it out of sight.  When I'm spending time with my daughter, I turn it off.  I have been working on waiting till later to return a phone call or text.  Its not the end of the world if I do not return an email, tweet, text, or Facebook message immediately.   I've just learned we have to take time for ourselves and UNPLUG social media and our phones.

Time with Jesus and time with my family comes first.  It is something I'm working to take back.  So if I don't respond to your email, tweet, text, phone call...know that I will.

So how connected are you?

National Youth Workers Convention

Last night I talked with my adults and it looks like we are going to be bringing our entire team of volunteers to National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta November 18-20.  I'm really excited about this, because I have always dreamed of having my adults see, hear and experience NYWC.  

Every time I go, I have information overload and it is hard to express and bring it all back to my adults and get them as excited about Youth Ministry as I am after being a part of an amazing weekend.

It is so awesome that Youth Specialties has lowered the price and the time frame to allow this to happen for not only my group but for others.  Thanks Tic, Mark, Adam, and the rest of the YS staff!

Back to the Future...part II

I have been leading youth worship in my youth groups since 1997 when I first started in youth ministry at Faith United Methodist Church in Lexington, SC.   During that first year of youth ministry I knew only a few chords and played really only 3 songs for most of the year...Light the Fire, Peaceful Easy Feeling, and Lord I Lift Your Name on High.  It was a great time of worship every week.  I think back to other ministries and think of the funny songs and the great worship that happened.  I also look at when the music went from doing it for the glory of God to trying to sound like the CD.
The other night I had the chance to lead worship with just me and my guitar.  I picked 2 songs that I have not played for a while.  It made me think back in time to when it was just me and my guitar leading worship.  It made me think about when I wasn't concerned about my singers singing a three part harmony, having a guitar solo, or having the drums start off as they do on the CD.   It reminded me of the nights sitting on my porch at my dorms trying to learn worship songs.   It took me back to a time where I was running for God and not worrying about who was watching.
We all have those places that we need to reconnect with God.  We need to go back to how we used to run with God, but this time run harder and keep our eyes focused on Him.  There are many great things that we have done right in our past.   Don't forget to review and see what you can reuse or get re-energized!

Be Who You Are Part II

Yesterday I wrote about Be who you are and after reading it, I felt there was still somethings I wanted to say.  I think that too often in youth ministry, we try to be who we are not because we do not take the time or are told to take the time to get trained in ministry.  If you attend NYWC or Simply Conference, you can go around to all the exhibits grab some free curriculum or even buy every single one.  You can pretty much pick up everything in the exhibit hall including entering to win a free iPad, iPhone 4, Macbook, and more.  The only thing you can't pick up is the stylish youth pastor goatee, the Rob Bell hipster glasses, and the designer clothes of Steven Furtick.

You can take all these things, go back to your local church and try them out.   But most fail to look at the demographics and needs of their own groups.  We get all this free stuff or buy the latest and greatest series and videos and try to pass them on to our group.  Too often they fail, because they were not made for our group.  We do not take the time to adapt them to our group.  We hit play and we hope for the best.  

Instead we need to take the same time we do to build relationships with our students to understand their spiritual needs.  

I admit, I have been caught in this trap.  I have a book shelf of resources that I bought, tried a couple weeks and failed with them.  I was too caught up in the hype of the product, book, or video series to see that my students did not need this.  Or if they did I did not adapt it to my group.   It was a tough lesson to learn. 

So where do we go from here?  What do we do?

I'm not saying boycott Simply Youth, Group Publishing, or Youth Specialties and just write your own resources.  I'm saying, take the time to know your group, know your students, and know your leaders.   Take time in prayer to see where God is leading you to lead your group.   Take the time if you buy a resource to adapt it to the lives of your students.  Take the time to explain to your adults why you are using this resource.  Communicate with the parents and get them involved.  Take the time to let God shape and mold you to the youth worker He wants you to be, not a carbon copy youth pastor who has a goatee, Rob Bell glasses, designer clothes, carrying a shoulder bag with your Mac Book, iPad, and iPhone.

Be Who You Are Called to Be....YOU