So many things to discuss...like the Rapture that didn't rapture?
May 21, 2011
No. I'm not going to wax about that whole fiasco that was "going to happen". No thanks.
Nevertheless I am prepared to talk about 1 thing pertaining to the "end of the world". I as a follower of Christ am very interested in what is happening to and in Israel. I am not at all excited about the "powers that be" that believe that Israel should go back to it's borders before the 1967 war. To many, Israel is no big deal. It is though-- I am grafted into the original vine according to Romans 11, therefore Israel, the Jewish Nation is very important to me and to many other followers of Christ.
You see, I believe that Israel is on the chopping block. That the Scriptures actually speak of the world's hatred toward Israel, and that Israel will show the world some day how much God really loves and cares for Zion. As the P.C. word Peace continues to be used, as the world continues to cry out for peace, Israel will be lifted high and the world will see first hand that the word peace has been a ploy for "others" to try and rule.
All that is not what is actually on my mind tonight. Really? Yep. I am concerned about students from ages High School through college young adult that are missing from their lives those that can mentor them with some very important life skills. There was a day when "youth pastors" were the mentors. But that could only go so far. 1 guy with 5 students working with them about life things along with parents that interacted for the future of their student. Sadly, those days are pretty much gone.
Students have a hard time listening to parents and adults. For some reason they (students) actually believe that they are smarter... or really that the "old way" is out. When in truth, parents aren't dumb (some have just been bamboozled) into believing that old school is not sufficient. Example: the whole P.C. ideal about not keeping score in a Pee Wee game. Really! Competition is a very good teacher. Winning is not a bad thing. The apostle Paul said that he was running a race to get the prize. Sorry to say, many have lost the ideal of competing for good things.
The old way of doing things is not bad at all. Honesty matters, Authority is important. After all, don't we submit to the Lordship of Christ? I know I must. But, what student is being mentored about such "minor" things. In truth because many of the minor things have been thrown under the bus it is no wonder why the major things are totally missed. Major? What is major?
Here is a major. That being discipled is not an option period. That when a person comes to Christ, says yes by faith to His work on the cross and His raising on the third day that the next step is discipleship. Training if you will in not lofty things-- not religion, but on following Christ. I dare say that major issue is not something that many students are interested in sadly.
So, I am thus committed to praying for opportunities to find mentors for the students in the NextGen ministry. I fear for their future. I fear for the future of the local church and it's movement in the culture now and into the future. I have seen so many disasters over the past few years and I know that I can only do so much. 1 voice will not cut it. Pray with me on these matters.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3.12-14
Do you ever get tired of competing? Striving? Pursuing? Pushing? Trying hard?
Is competing? Striving? Pursuing? Trying harder-- wrong?
To many today the idea of competition, the meaning for competition is considered a bad thing. Not keeping score is in. Leveling the playing field so all can be equal is in. Why compete? Why work harder than anybody else? Why? Afterall shouldn't everything be at least easy? At least for everyone? Why should someone compete if their veiw or what is being said today is that all things are for all people equally.
One of the problems I am seeing more and more of with those considered NextGenners? Apathy. A non desire to compete. Oh I know, I was once a student in High School. I didn't always study, I didn't always work hard. I didn't push. I did work hard at the things I liked though. I was passionate about the sports I was involved in. I did pursue the things I thought were important.
I believe it is thoroughly part of righteousness to compete for doing righteous things as unto the Lord. I do believe that it is Biblical to pursue the goal that Paul speaks of in Phil. 3 I do believe that I, those around me doing ministry must spur this NextGen on to pursuing hotly the things of God. I do believe that I must help those that follow Christ to compete for the prize.
Problem: We the followers of Christ are now in a sketchy situation. For the world says to compete for good this and that... Grades, money, looks, all the stuff that the college students in the 60's rebelled against and now it is literally completely p.c. to talk badly about those that pursue anything. Yes, I do agree with those that understand that pursuing, competing for money, and all that goes with the competition out there is at best a striving that never ends. I agree that some overdo the hot pursuit for things and status and all that.
But is pursuing the crown, pursuing Christ, pursuing good, righteous things the same striving? It is not. Paul speaks of life as a race. Paul says he "buffets" his body so he can run a race without being encumbered. That is a good thing. You see the problem-- opting out of the race because it is hard, it is pushing, it is not fun, it is not enjoyable is not the same is opting out of the race the world has thrown us into. But who is teaching students to hotly pursue the prize, or who is telling students to contest for a Godly life? This is a very important message for this day and age.
Oh that students and parents would turn back to hard work for the right reasons. That people today would work hard at righteous endeavors. That students would have many models of people that have gotten past the status race, the money race and see those that work hard for Godly things.
Paul continues in Phil 3 with the word matue-- that those that have such a view, such a lifestyle are mature. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
I believe for this day, the message of competing for the sake...
As I begin putting my thoughts about writing a book about 20 years or so of "Doing Student Ministry" I have many thoughts-- running through my mind and hitting the pages of my note book. No doubt there are many many aspects of 20 years of being and doing student ministry. One of those aspects is the fact that I am not only a student ministry pastor, I am also a father. So....
So, back in the day 20 years ago, all I had was an experience view from my dayz of being a student in a youth group that moved to student ministry, being a son in a "church" family view, being a student in a Christian University and so on. Then I started the Youth Ministry career.
I realized right away, that parents were a big part of youth ministry. As I worked at trying to teach and show students about a relationship with Christ that had meaning there seemed to this one step forward 2 steps backward motion with a majority with students. I couldn't figure it out. I would see, literally see students engage with the living Christ only to by the next meeting be right back where they were 1 week prior.
I began to see and realize that it is true-- the most influential people in the lives of students is parents. As parents go so go students. As families go, so go students. If parents feel, show, that a relationship with Christ is "too" hookey or "too" extreme-- the student most likely will "hold off" if you will jumping into the "unseen", the life of faith if you will. Example: If the church is merely a place "you must go" from the home-- then reasons to not go become a way of life for students...i.e., work, or extra curricular stuff or even homework-- supported by parents of course. Simple, I know, but true.
Well, part of that is true, because-- I am now also a parent. And my 2 students have not always gone the direction of me, my wife and our home. As a matter of fact, there came a time when both of my sons were heaviley inviolved in hockey every Sunday... so Sunday morning was missed. I was going through change myself though, I was beginning to see life now as a parent first, not a Student Pastor. I began to see how difficult it was to live out my faith for the benefit of my own students. I began to empathize with parents in their journey as parents.
I went through a tough couple of years-- durning that time I was very aware that my sons were watching. I didn't always do life right back then. I was angry, I was tired, I was hurt and many times, my guys saw my behavior. Sometimes, I'm sure they wondered-- "Your relationship with Christ is doing you so well." They told me that. Nevertheless, I pushed through, stayed the course-- and God broke through. I was learning that Jesus was more to me then going to heaven. That my relationship with Christ was much more than church. That knowing Christ was more than a text book, or theory.
As my own 2 students faced tough times, I could share with them how actually God got me through... and they saw it. So the journey back to Student Ministry has changed drastically. How? Being a parent has helped me to understand much more than a classroom, a text book or a title. Student Ministry is tough, but parenting is tougher. I am convinced more now then ever that parents are the best influence for their students. Parents are the role model, the wisdom present in the life of their student.
More to come on this matter.
If you are a parent of a student. Find some time to get alone with the Living Christ and ask Him for wisdom on the matters of your student. He will help... after all the Scripture teaches..."If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask..." I have spent more time over the past few years asking for wisdom.
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found this lil quote....
May 10, 2011
"Wherever there is authority, there is a natural inclination to disobedience" - Thomas Haliburton
I've been thinking alot about leadership, authority, the local church, management, you know the kinds of things that people in my position think about. I lead a team of leaders. I lead a team of leaders committed to Christ, committed to the church, committed to one another, committed to doing what is right. The longer I live the more I see, feel, sense all the connections-- leadership leads, managers manage and authority is found in all the above... really. Oh and leadership in the local church ain't easy. It is true, leadership is authority and "wherever there is authority there is a natural inclination to disobedienc."
Now, I'm going to approach a subject that many would not appreciate-- Authority.
I'm going to start this year writing a book about 20 years or so of doing Student Ministry. It's been a dream I have had for some time now... I think it's time. Interesting that I have worked in and for the church for 20 or so years but I have also been around the church since the day I was born. I grew up in the church from nursery on... so I can speak and write about my experience first as a church goer and as a pastor. I believe that God has called me to ministry. I believe God has shaped me, gifted me for ministry. Contary to those that want a certain type of person. I believe I am right where I belong and now while still raising 2 boys about to become an empty nester, I know much more now than I knew back when I started. Although, some of the stuff going on today is much different than it was just 20 years ago.
Growing up in the church and in a christian home was interesting to say the least. I still to this day find it interesting that my mom loved to complain about the pastor or people in the church, and I know people today just like my mother always complaining, always finding something wrong with a sermon or a person or something. On the other hand, my father was steadfast. He didn't get involved in the gossip, he served on boards, served pastors, served the church until he died. When I was a kid we had a great man of God as a pastor-- author of several books, a real exegete, a prayerful man, a real man of God. As a kid, I wondered, how could anyone complain about him? How could anyone distrust him? How could anyone speak badly about him? But they did. When they did, interesting that my mom could jump at it.... but my dad would not. Even when the whole discussion to vote for Jimmy Carter a born again man, "everyone should vote for him" days, my father would not bite at it. He may have disagreed but I never heard him speak badly about the pastor. Maybe because my dad was grateful for his church. Maybe because my dad didn't grow up in church. Maybe because my dad came to Christ late in life and saw how important the local church was to him. Or maybe my dad was the kind of person that didn't have the need to have everything revolve around him.
But, my mom and her group would find a way to moan about everything. Sunday school, people, the board, leaders... sheeeesh, I really did wonder back in those days-- why does she even go? Now after years of ministry I see the same thing over and over. My mom didn't like authority period. It was part of the problem in our house, it was part of the problem with others-- submitting to authority was not something my mom wanted to do-- at 92 she is still the same... authority is to be tested, even disobeyed.
Interesting that the issue of authority is a reality to many in the local church today. In my book, I'm going to do a chapter on parents that cut down leadership, speak badly about pastors and ultimately ruin their students, thus the...
"I discovered later, and I'm still discovering right up to this moment, that is it only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith. By this-worldliness I mean living unreservedly in life's duties, problems, successes and failures. In so doing we throw ourselves completely into the arms of God, taking seriously, not our own sufferings, but those of God in the world. That, I think, is faith." — Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Well, this month I will be 52 years old. Not too old, certainly not young. I have most likely lived over half of my life, I have seen many things good and bad, I have experienced both good and bad. I have sinned little and I have sinned very big. I have been hurt, I have hurt others. I have done things I wish I never did, I do have regrets.
I will admit this: growing up going to church. Being saturated in "christian views" some Biblical and some strictly opinions I have often gone down a path that others scolded me. Some of the paths were good, some of the paths were very bad, and some of the paths I had to take. Living in the world didn't give me an option at a choice sometimes. I had to work, I had to go to school, I made choices on the paths that were not always to my benefit or a benefit to those around me. Nevertheless, over the years of my life I can say-- Bonhoeffer is right-- living in this world I have had to throw myself completely into the arms of God... thus the reason I do student ministry-- students right now, families right now, the humanity of the world is suffering and the answer is found in Christ Jesus.
I am concerned that the message of the Gospel has been slowly moved from what a relationship to Christ can and will do... to giving people things, material things, to offset poverty and the suffering of the world, while the Gospel, the power in the gospel is diminished to us doing God's business--- that is the change of heart that only He can produce.
I know, I really do get it-- not many will hear it though. You see, Bonhoeffer watched the Jews of Germany rounded up and murdered-- and he, Bonhoeffer saw, felt that it was God suffering in the world as he watched the chosen killed for being God's chosen. Today, this day it may well be that God is suffering due to those that have taken Him completely out of the equation to save this world and have placed the saving power in man's efforts. I am not sorry about this view, I am sorry that many followers of Christ have abandoned the Power of the Gospel for "doing" without ever sharing the message, the Gospel.
I live by faith now more than ever. For I know that the answer for me, for others for this world is not in the doing, but in the believing in the One, the Christ, the Risen Savior.
"work ethic, first; structure, second; and skill, third"
May 8, 2011
I just watched an incredible comeback in a hockey game between the Sharks and the Red Wings. The Red Wings down 2 goals come back to beat the Sharks 4 to 3. While I watched this comeback-- I was pulling for the Sharks, I marveled at how hard the Wings worked and worked and worked. Then at the end of the game after the win a Red Wing was asked how did they do it? The answer was an exact quote from his coach..."work ethic, first; structure second, and skil, third." Exactly right?
Yes. It's true. Work hard, always work harder than your opponent. Don't rely on skill first, rely on a work ethic-- go to work and out work your opponent. Then work hard on the system, the sturcture that is in place to help the team out work the oppenent... and finally skill can work for you.
Isn't that the way it really is? Now I have worked with students and my own children for over 20 years-- and in my humble position-- too many are relying on skill before hard work without a system in place what so ever... and this is a huge problem. If a student could, would understand and begin to practice hard work at whatever it is they want to accomplish-- grades, job, relationships, whatever-- they would find that working hard brings much in the end.
The other issue at stake right now for this generation is there is no system or structure in place-- so the young student today may not know what to work hard at... i.e., a structure of study habits, charactier development, choices that are for the future... this really is missing with this generation and I see it. Rely on God given gifts to just get bye-- no need to work hard, just do the easy way with the skills that a student knows they possess and that is all.
The question-- how do I help? How do I try and help this generation to see... some of the structure that has been dissed, put down, trampled on is actually not garbage. That caring for people, that caring for the future, that being honest, that having character is actually a great structure and that working hard and whatever they do-- bushing a broom, working on a paper, cleaning windows, doing home work...doing "it" with a hard work ethic has huge value.
The skill factor thus will have a huge background by which to grow and grow and grow. Looking for the right opportunities to help.
