Archive for August, 2005
T-Ball
Camber had her first T-ball practice last night….what a riot. The coach is great.
My favorite line -
“Parents, I don’t care if we win a game or not. Your child will know how to properly throw a baseball, hit a baseball, and catch a baseball when this is all over. I’m all about teaching fundamentals of baseball, not winning at this level.”
I about fell over in praise and worship…but I resisted.
New Families!
I keep meeting new people every week but no contact cards or info are turning up. Is that odd?
Actually, it’s pretty typical. I mean, let’s face it…who of us wants to fill out that stuff. We get enough spam as it is, we get enough phone calls that we don’t want to get as it is and filling out a guest card just feels like an invitation for more invasion.
After church this Sunday, I had family write down their email address. I got home. Couldn’t read the writing. I tried 4 different variations of the email. I got 3 mailer-demons back. Hopefully it got through or some random family got directions to Lake Nixon.
So what exactly is the solution? The first lesson I learned is get multiple contact points from people. Like a phone number would have been smart.
The other piece is ya’ll as leaders. It’s easy to get the first part of meeting someone new out of the way – like name, school/work, new to town, new to Grace? The second part is risky but I think worth it.
“Are you interested in checking out a LIFE Group?” “Can I get a number and email address to reach you with directions and times?”
It’s a little thing, but I think it’s a start. And no – not every one is going to be peachy keen on giving out their info. But I think more people than not are going to be flattered to even be invited.
I’ve got more random thoughts about what happens after they show up…but I save that for a later post.
More on Dating
Jer made a comment on this post. I love Jer – even though he’s Canadian. I’d thought I’d share our e-convo thing we’ve got going on because…
Well, it’s fun and I hope insightful.
Okay, I’m not sure about the insightful part.
For my dear Canadian friend Jer,
I’m not anti-dating at all. And I wouldn’t classify my thoughts/comments as even convictions. More like….I enjoy curly fries over regular fries kinda category.
Important – but not life threatening.
In college, I finally figured it out that dating at its best was about getting to know someone – the true self while I was being my true self. If it fit, keep going. If it didn’t – move on, no harm, no foul. But that was hard to do in high school.
First, I (and most others) was in “please the other to extent that it changed who I was” mode….not good. not healthy. So you really couldn’t get to know the true self OR be your true self.
Secondly, I was more focused on “gettin’ some” than anything else. And when the physical gets involved – it’s impossible to walk away without hurting or being hurt.
ahhhhh….So the truth comes out.
And yes, I dated my future wife because she was hot, intelligent, loved the Lord, and athletic. Plus she drove a red ’85 IROC Camaro. (That thing was impossible to get in and out of but it could haul asphalt.)
I’m NOT going to tell you in what order of importance those WERE to me. I WILL tell you that the list has changed little (no more IROC) but their importance has.
HOT has now moved into the top spot.
Katrina 2, Superdome 0
If haven’t heard about Katrina by now…I’m sorry to tell you that your medication is wearing off.
And of course they’ve got around 9,000 people in the Superdome in New Orleans. From the beginning I thought this was a bad idea. I realize that the city is in deep water (pun intended) and had to use what was available. But of all the things that could go wrong with a building that size – to be in it in a hurricane is just not something I think I’d risk.
Fears justified. This is only going to get worse.
A Moody Rant
After 15+ years of hanging out with teens there is still one thing about the youth culture that I still don’t get…couples.
Dating. Going out. Going Steady. Beau. Girlfriend. An item. Significant Other.
I mean, I get it on a philosophical level. Most high schoolers date because they either don’t know who they are and their trying to figure it out.
It looks like this -they try to be like someone that the someone they like likes while the one who they are trying to impress is also trying to be like someone that the person they like likes… (are you following all of this??) and it’s only a matter of time before it all crashes and the clock strikes midnight.
and they say they are never going to do that again…
until someone they like comes by and they start pretending to be like someone who they think the person they like likes….(still with me?)
And of course, when you (as an adult) talk about it the filters and blinders come screaming down from the sky so that the teens that you are speaking to get this look on their face that basically communicates “Whew….good thing I’m not like that.”
It’s like the WW II joke. They tell the soldiers that 2 out 3 soldiers weren’t going to make it to the beach. Each soldier looks at the ones on the right and the left of them and says “Sucks to be you guys.”
Or you get the anger/denial/silent/avoidance treatment. You can see the symptoms/fallout fairly easily.
Complete loss of the capability to invite or engage others on any level because of complete and total consumption of the “other.”Withdrawing from normal events like hanging out with friends or going to the movies.
Illogical, defensive reactions when questioned about anything, particularly the “other.”
Normally there is accompanying blindness to anything on the planet except the “other.” Including God, parents, friends, activities, food, and oxygen.
The couple scene. I am becoming more and more convinced that dating in high school – my experiences included – are/were a complete waste of time and energy.
And no, it’s not so much a ‘spiritual/biblical’ reason for me. And no, it’s not really something I’m going to die on the hill for…
Just some observations from someone who’s been down the road a bit and is getting a little reflective at this rest stop.
Draft Day Done
Just finished the first of 2 drafts I have this year. Overall, I’m pretty pleased. Only really threw away one pick that I wish I had back…
For those who care, in order they were taken:
S. Alexander, RB Sea
A. Green, RB GB
M. Harrison, WR Ind
R. Brown, RB Mia
S. Smith, WR Car
J. Plummer, QB Den (might regret pick, but QB I wanted had just been taken)
I. Bruce, WR Stl
Philadelphia, DEST
J. Elam, K Den
B. Leftwich, QB Jac (mean pick, guy behind needed another QB)
K. McCardell, WR SD (throw away pick)
J. Putzier, TE Den
A. Thomas, RB Dal
J. Wilkins, K Stl
J. Chatman, RB SD
Now – who the heck to start?
My Complete Lack of Planning
Guess who forgot to get a babysitter?
That’s right…the youth pastor can’t get a babysitter…
this just sucks….
Even I can’t penetrate the Friday night teenage world with the promise of riches beyond their wildest dreams.
The Drama of Men
From Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion…
Out in front of us is the drama of me and of nations, seething, struggling, laboring, dying. Upon this tragic drama in these days our eyes are all set in anxious watchfulness and in prayer. But within the silences of the souls of the men an eternal drama is ever being enacted, in these days as well as in others. And on the outcome of this inner drama rests, ultimately, the outer pageant of history.It is the drama of the Hound of Heaven baying relentlessly upon the track of man. It is the drama of the lost sheep wandering in the wilderness, restless and lonely, feebly searching, while over the hills comes the wiser Shepherd. For His is a shepherd’s heart, and He is restless until He holds His sheep in His arms. It is the drama of the Eternal Father drawing the prodigal home unto Himself, where there is bread enough and to spare. It is the drama of the Double Search, as Rufus Jones calls it. And always its chief actor is – the Eternal God of Love.
Amen.
The Gallon Challenge
We used to do this all the time – bet you can’t drink a gallon of milk at once -it got this kid suspended from bat boy duties with the Florida Marlins.
All is not lost – he’s got offers from other clubs.
Odd Night
Last night was the first night I haven’t done youth stuff in 15 years. Instead, I played legos and cars with my kids. I also taught Cooper and Camber how to play chickenfoot.
Overall – it was fine. After the kids went to sleep, I had to compensate for the chick flick I watched last night. So Episode I of Band of Brothers was watched. So far I have asked Amy 12 times to watch this with me and I have 12 no’s.
She’s gotta break at some point, right?
Sure Is A Lot Of Singing In This!
I watched Phantom of the Opera last night. It’s my mom’s favorite musical/story/opera/movie. It is the reason she bought a house with an extra bedroom. She’s seen the Broadway version probably a half-dozen times.
First of all – this is definitely a chick flick. Having never seen the musical on stage, I was impressed with the movie. Even with all the singing. It was incredibly filmed and acted. The costumes and feel of the movie was incredible.
This film is definitely going on the tolerable chick flick list.
The New Series…A Life That Rocks
Ever wanted to know exactly where the teaching was going to go so that you had a heads up of what to do with your LIFE group? Me, too.
So here it is. The basic overview is this is how a life that rocks is achievable. We are going to talk about the answer from Jesus’ perspective. A life that rocks is one that is on the journey with Jesus and taking others along.
There will be hindrances along the way to be sure, but there are things to help us. Practices, if you will, disciplines that help us experience Jesus. I think there are 6 key Inner Disciplines and 5 LIFE Group (Communal Disciplines) that have to take place if we are going to experience life-change on the journey.
Below are the dates and topics of the Sunday morning encounter.
Sept. 4 Prayer
11 Silence/Fasting
18 Meditation (Marination)
25 Serving
Oct. 2 Worship
9 Transparency (Confession)
16 Application & Accountability
23 Guidance (Counsel)
30 Encouragement
Nov – Missions Month
Dec – Narnia Outreach Focus
My Measured Response
As much as I wanted to delete and ignore this, avoidance has hardly every produced something valuable…
So, for your reading pleasure and critiques….my response.
Dear X,
I read the manuscript. I do have some thoughts that I will try to communicate via email. But email has its limits so I’ll not be as thorough as I want and hopefully you can understand my tone as well.
Let me first say this – I do not wish to enter a debate over the role of student ministry at Grace Church. We – elders and pastors – have decided it is biblical, practical, needed and good. We believe the WAY we are doing student ministry now – lifewalking discipling relationships with adults and teens – is precisely the call of God on us as a body.
I think the WAY most youth ministries are run should be questioned – not necessarily the ministry itself. Therein lies the rub with the document you sent – not only did it question the legitimacy of student ministry, but it used highly charged and emotive statements to do it.
There are so many things I disagree with the author just from a biblical perspective, let alone a practical one. I disagree with how he handles scripture. It is unwise to pull one or two verses out of context, completely ignore the biblical cultural setting, then apply what he thinks it means to today’s context.
One example – 2 Kings 2. He claims that the result of youth groups is atrocious based on the actions of 42 youths. What about the company of 50 prophets just before those verses? How did there come to be a company of prophets? Jewish culture would disciple groups of youths, ages 12-14, and teach them scripture AND military tactics for the purpose of these men to be prophets, leaders of men. So you have a group of teenagers coming together to study the scripture…that’s a youth group.
The Jews functioned like this for centuries. Rabbis would call to them followers to learn more of God. Jesus functioned like this. How old does he think the first disciples were? The common age for disciples to follow a Rabbi was 13-18 years old. A basic understanding of Jewish culture undermines most of what he writes.
Secondly, according to his hermenuetical principle, only things that are explicitly in scripture are allowed. That would mean the church should abandon children’s ministry, men’s ministry, finance teams, prayer teams, women’s ministry, men’s bible study because they too are NOT in scripture. We should also stop educating our girls and women because the scriptures plainly say fathers to sons.
The third point I’d make is the teaching practices of the Bible itself.
Jesus used agriculture stories to teach because that was the culture he was in. In John’s gospel, miracles and signs were used because the Greek culture it was written too valued signs and miracles. Matthew’s gospel was written with lots of OT quotations because it was sent to Jews to prove Jesus was the Christ. Luke was written to an outsider – a Greek doctor – to show how Jesus loves and saves outsiders. Paul uses philosophy and poetry to communicate the truth of God to the Greek cultures he was speaking to.
If I want to reach a culture with the story of Jesus, I need to know their language, customs, traditions, and values. Not all of those things will be God-honoring but not all of them will be sin either. My job then is to incarnate Christ into that culture.
One last thing, I think the author gives away his bias in one line in the document. He says “I am confident that God is able to use these kinds of ministries, but it is clear from simple observation, that in the midst of the feverish activity of the church, much of the apostolic model has been lost.”
I would gently point out that maybe what needs to be questioned is the apostolic model of leadership in the church. Every church planted in scripture had a plurality of leaders, not one man calling the shots. Timothy and Titus and Paul were church planters who established a community of qualified leaders to lead the church in that local setting. Those men taught spiritual leadership and guidelines, then would leave to plant a church in a different city.
These are my thoughts, limited they may be.
Lifewalking with Him,
Grant
Why Youth Ministry
I am completely at a new level of torquenessed.
Got an email from someone who is NOT AT GRACE that wants my thoughts on the attached document.
I should have deleted it.
The document asks three questions of every youth group.
Where does the idea of youth group comes from?
What are the results of modern youth groups?
What is a biblical philosophy of youth ministry?
Some of my favorite items:
The only example of youth groups in the bible is in 2 Kings 2 – the youths that insulted the prophet. The “obvious” conclusion then is this, and I quote:
“The results of youth groups are atrocious, and they are not worthy of repetition.”“He calls all churches in all generations to look to His Word instead. When the
church does this, I expect that she will abandon her youth groups.”
Well, we better get rid of the finance team, women’s ministry, men’s ministry, children’s ministry, missions team, committee on committee AND after school care programs AND small groups. Because none of them are explicitly mentioned in scripture either.
I’ve got a truckload of scripture I want to shove back in the face but the only one that the Spirit is whispering to me right now is 2 Timothy 2:23.
New Comment Feature…
There is a recent increase of spam comments going around….and just when I was about to seriously look at leaving Blogger for something else – I notice this.
Actually, Virginia Steger noticed it.
So – you’re comments are welcomed, except from now on going to do the word verification thinga ma jig.
Golf Balls
Played golf yesterday…at Western Hills and pretty much stunk it up. Of course it was the same temperature and the melting point of rubber so not much is to be expected.
Camber last night, in the course of playing with a golf ball in Coopers room accidently sent it through his window. Yeah. That was fun.
And the Home Depot guys were a lot of help…NOT.
So right now – we are redneck fixing the window until tomorrow. In other words – duct tape over the hole.
Will upload pics later…
A Life That Rocks…
Our next sermon series after Ephesians will be called….
A Life That Rocks…
At some point I’ll post the schedule, but it’s basically a journey through the Inner Disciplines and the LIFE Group/Community Disciplines. We are going to ask every LIFE group to pause on what they normally do, and let’s all go through this one together.
Good idea, or not? I normally don’t like “everybody is doing the same thing” approach. In fact, I loathe it. It’s often a lazy way of leading…relieving the leader of discerning and discovery the story that God is weaving in the community in front of them.
But I also recognize that there are times when the corporate community of God needs a common place to engage Him.
Hopefully, this will be one of those times.
Uniforms…retooled
I just got done watching ESPN Sportscenter and I saw some VERY disturbing things.
1. This:
Oh.
My.
I am hoping that this is just a preseason/training camp practice uni and the ‘boys aren’t shifting to a white helmet. It’s not that I don’t like the white helmet…okay – it is that. Plus it looks like a bad fantasy football team helmet.
2. Then this:
I didn’t think it was possible to screw up the Bengal uniform anymore.
I was wrong. Leave it to Cincy to pull this out of the dryer…Let’s see, the hideous tiger stripes? Let’s put them on the pants and on the shoulders of the jersey. And instead of an all black shirt – let’s put white down the side straight out of the arm pit…
Are they getting fashion advice from Zoolander?? Is there anyone inside the city limits of Cincinatti that has a brain concerning their team’s uni?
I’ll keep you posted…..
Well That Just Sucked
I think I preached the worst sermon of my life this morning. I felt like I was wrestling a pig in a vat of oil and NOT ONLY was I losing but the pig was enjoying the struggle.
The really frustrating thing about it was – all the stuff was there. All the insights, definitions, and points (if you can call them that) were in my dome, were on my notes but I could not form a cohesive train of thought to save my life.
This was one of those sermons you just delete.
And you’ll notice that you’re not going to be able to leave comments on this post…
I don’t want to hear either the false praise OR the agreement.
Last Night
Well, I thought it went well. Started the evening off with a Mr. Bean clip. If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Bean…your loss. The Church skit – oh my gosh…how many times has that been played out in our churches????
If you’re interested, drop me a note and we’ll watch it together. I have every episode on DVD.
My Agenda
Tonight is the first confab. Telling folks about it has been quite funny.
“So what are we going to learn?”
I’m not sure.
“Well, what are you going to talk about?”
I’ve got about 10 questions I want to ask.
“And what are some answers so that I’ll have an inside track!”
I can tell you the questions, how about that? I’m hoping to get some answers after the weekend.
So here are my questions for the night….
What is so important about LIFE Groups that we demand a night a week for them?
What’s been the most frustrating experience the past year in LIFE Group?
What does a sucessful LIFE Group leader look like? How is success measured?
If you could change one thing about your LIFE Group instantly, what would it be and why?
What has been the most encouraging experience this past year in LIFE Group?
What is one thing you wouldn’t change about your LIFE Group? Why?
What is the biggest obstacle facing your LIFE Group? What issue is the biggest distraction for the LIFE Group having a life-changing experience with Jesus?
What feeds your soul best?
Where are you in your journey with Jesus?
What image or picture of Jesus has been the most encouraging to you lately?
See – lots of questions. Don’t have a clue where this will go…but it’s going to be fun.
A Blessing for the Journey
This is going to be one heck of journey, full of messes, unexpected turns and miracles. And we are on it together…I think exactly the way God created us to walk.
A Franciscan Travel Blessing
May God bless you…
with discomfort at easy answers,half truths and superficial relationshipsso that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you…
with anger at injustice,oppression, and exploitation of people,so that you may wish for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you…
with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
Framing
There is a danger for us leaders to be so intent on having a life changing encounter with Jesus that we start manipulating our meetings just to ‘have one.’ There is a temptation to force things to happen in LIFE Group or create unauthentic experiences just for sake of having an emotional ego trip.
Obviously, that’s not what we want. But I think we can do some things to avoid the hindrances. I think we can also do some things that will peak the spiritual eyes of our folks so that regular, routine things suddenly have deep spiritual meaning.
For example, let’s say your LIFE Group always has snacks or food at the beginning of your meeting. Instead of just milling around and small talking around the chips and salsa, through out a couple of questions that everyone has to deal with. What one question about this week’s sermon would you ask if you knew you were going to get an answer to it? What are you thankful for? What one thing did you do this week that you wish you had done differently?
The questions are just examples, but by asking folks to risk just a little bit over the snacks, you’ve just framed the evening’s discussion.
Framing is asking the participants to view something a bit different. It’s setting the table for an encounter with the Holy. It’s an invitation, not manipulation.
The Disciplines function this way – they are a kind of framing as well.
As leaders we always want to frame the evening or a meeting, but we never want to force or manipulate anything.
Next Session: Inner Disciplines
Back To Why Are We Here?
Back To Intern Track
Back To Life Group Leader Track
How To Use This Stuff
I want to talk about airplanes for a second.
What? Yeah – airplanes.
Which wing is your favorite?
The Right Answer: Both.
Everyone realizes that you need two wings to fly, so favoring one wing over another is not only ridiculous, but it can get you killed.
Let’s transfer that to developing a leader. A LIFE Group Leader needs both skill and heart. The danger of putting this stuff in writing is that it tends to focus mostly on the skills. Without a heart that is growing with Jesus, the skills are worthless. We are best ministering when we do so out of the overflow of our relationship with Jesus.
That’s why we spend the entire first half of the Intern year focusing on spiritual disciplines. You will only be as strong as your relationship with Jesus.
So – let’s get started. This site has two main purposes.
Purpose 1: Provide a foundational set of knowledge, skills, and vocabulary for our leaders at Grace. It’s designed as a tool for Life Group Leaders to take Interns through, and Coaches to help Life Group Leaders.
Purpose 2: A “Virtual Coffee House” to unpack Life Group Issues for us all. To see what God is doing in the groups, to unpack issues and gain some insight and wisdom from each other.
Let’s Lifewalk…