Blog My Sojourn Live

I thought I would take a moment to let my blog speak for me about what a day in the life of the Next Gen pastor looks like.   I was going over my day oh about the past few minutes and thought I would write it out—sometimes even I can get lost in what it is I do.

So—today was a typical day to a degree.  I got up took care of all the hygiene issues, took the dog out and headed into work down good ole construction laden I-75 which was absolutely packed this morning.

While I was driving I called my assistant Jane and left a message.  Called Kevin’s cell phone which is not good because the reception on campus @ Fairhaven is brutal—so we didn’t connect.  I tried both again and found them in Kevin’s office via the receptionist—and talked with Jane about some good news for her and then to Kevin about good news for the total budget for the remainder of the year.  Great opener before even getting into the office.

By the time I was in—the day was rolling along.  Met with Kevin, Dave and Jane over lunch and talked about several areas of the Next Gen ministry.  Sr. High, Middle School and then where we may launch the College Ministry and when.  During lunch I got a call from Glen in order to meet with all the tech guys so that we could all get on the same page for the upcoming usage of the worship center for Sept. 13 uprising.  Great meeting with staff—nothing better than good team work, and honest interaction in order to accomplish total church movement together.

By the time all that was done—it was 2:30 and I needed to put the finishing touches on the Sunday a.m. talk for the Sr. High.  As I cracked open the Scriptures to engage—my thoughts and the direction of where I was headed for Sunday mornings I was reminded of my total dependence on material from the Scriptures.  I was reminded on how much fun I have writing and developing all of my own stuff to speak and to influence Students.  Most don’t know that I actually write and develop my own talks—I don’t get material from others—I actually just think through there where I want to take students—and then build on each talk from the theme that I believe God is showing me through His leading as I spend time and abide in Him.  Plus, I am also working in my mind at the same time-- my talks for uprising-- based on my reading and love for the book uprising by McManus.  The thing about "uprising" is that yes while I am using McManus's writings for some of my talks-- the talks are developed as I then go to experience, my Biblical interp and how to apply for High School Students.

So the Sunday a.m. is about moving through life by faith as a High School Student.  Uprising is about persuing the way of Jesus as the model by which one one purues life.  Lots to work with, but much more to work from-- Biblical truth, experience, life!

I worked on the final copy of the talk for Sunday a.m. finishing around 4—and then got the team ready to head to Cedarville for the volunteer student fair with Kevin and Dave.  We had a great time as we drove together, met many students and drove back together.

We left Cedarville campus and was back to Fairhaven by 8, which means I was home by 9 p.m.    Now that I have been home for a couple of hours my attention has turned to Alex in Australia, Cooper living at mom and dad’s in Dayton and Marcie at home with a pile of things on her mind.   We took Harley for a fast walk, got Cooper signed up for...

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I was talking to a graduate student today that used to volunteer for student ministry.  She was exceptional with students—finishing school this past year and now completing her summer job.  Now what?  What is she going to do?  We talked today on the phone about all her possibilities.  1 possible new job might be a little over her head—but she could learn it and do it for sure.  1 possible can’t begin till 2010.  So what should she do?  Transition is not easy for us that is for sure.

Is it the insecure feeling?  Is it the possible opportunity that one may fail?  Is it the lack of knowing how it will all shake out?  Probably, any of the above at anytime in all of our lives.  It seems the whole world is in transition especially where we live—the United States of America—in transition.  And where will it go?  Pretty scary for sure.

Transition—ahhh transition.  Transition is all around us.  I think that it is good depending on where I sit or you sit.  Change brings transition.  I sometimes wonder if change just for change has value.  But I do know that change because of something moving the change—that is God moving to change is very good.  Understandable?  Easy to understand?  Easy to do?  No not at all.  But if God is moving—then change is inevitable.  Change then becomes a movement of God—regardless of how one understands or gets it—God’s movement is good indeed.

And the movement sometimes starts within me.  The movement may begin within a leaders mind and heart—nevertheless God’s movement is more valuable than staying the same at anytime—don’t you think?

This transition time that we all are in—produces some fear—“perfect love casts out all fear.”  Transition may bring confusion—“God is not a God of confusion.”  So what about transition? 

How bout the words from this old Hymn--- 

Leaning on the everlasting arms by Eli­sha A. Hoff­man

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Or the words of David in Psalm

Psalm 16:5 

 ⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
       you have made my lot secure.

Yes, transition is tough—but in Him we can know we are secure in His everlasting Arms!

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Well, another chapter in the Solin continued transition.  Our house continues to be on the market—I think we are no in day 46 or so.  Centerville High School starts Wednesday and Cooper was really hoping to tryout for Centerville Hockey—so we are renting an apartment in Centerville so that Cooper can get started on time, and we can be a little closer during the week for work and school.

So the saga continues—during my time at FarHills Community Church it was really tough on Cooper not being able to connect with other students in the ministry.  It was also tough on all of us to be back and forth—sometimes staying in Dayton for hours for an hour meeting and then head home—long days for sure.

It is a little much right now—watching Alex fly to Australia a few weeks ago—today watching Cooper drive to Dayton to stay at mom and dad’s so he can get up to start Centerville while Marcie and I live here—very weird.  I have wondered today if God is preparing my boyz to be independent.  Has Marcie and I prepared them for being on their own?  I don’t think so—but there is no other way around this—it has been a long couple of years—lots of twist and turns and really pointing me to Trust in God about everything… everything. 

Trusting in God goes beyond the typical daily things—yes—this is about trusting Him with the big picture—the whole picture--- my life, Marcie’s life, my 2 great boys life.  The how, the why, the when, the where—everything—and I will admit, it is not always easy.  Today was one of those days.

Yes God has a plan.  Yes I am supposed to be back at Fairhaven.  Yes there is a reason for all this—but, really?  Yes it is time to trust in Him hugely.  Trust Him for every detail.  To trust Him not only with eternity, but with the next year and more years to come till eternity.  Tonight is one of those nights when I think I have a garage full of stuff that the realtor told us to move out in the garage—you know to sell the house—I am still moving boxes to my office at Fairhaven… the boyz are in transition, I am still in transition and trusting Him with His plan isn’t so easy. 

But, I’m sure that trusting Him is where He wants to be… trusting Him with and for everything.

Psalm 37:4-6 

 ⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this:

 ⁶ He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
       the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

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Matt. 6.21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt. 6.28-34

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Today was a day for me to consider the continued struggle with what I would call along with  many—the externals.  You know?  The stuff that we all are concerned about—

Clothes, looks, passions all the stuff on the outside—all the stuff that we consumers get consumed with—

On the other hand—I actually believe that many look the other way when considering the above mentioned and pass it off as—I’m o.k., I don’t do the big outside stuff—I don’t cheat and steal and whatever else on the outside is big—so I can seek after money and nice clothes with labels and I can pursue whatever I want as long as I’m not committing the big ticket items.

Here is my personal deal for the day as I read Matt. Chapter 6.  First, I did not read it with other people in mind—I heard from the Lord today as I wrestled with “my treasures”.  Yes, I considered my treasures, my heart, my passions, my stuff on the inside that is lived out the way I pursue my life.

I do very much want to build a ministry built on the “right” things.  I thought about my passions, my heart and came away moving past ministry and into my ego.  Is my student ministry working toward reaching campuses, students, moving from group to ministry about my ego?  Is it about big?  Is it about large for me?  I came away from this day of contemplating Matt. 6 evaluating the reason why reaching students is my passion and my heart and dealt with this:  That I am about reaching students because it is right.  That reaching students and building a ministry that is focused outward is right—why?  Because reaching students is not about big—although big will be the result—it is about all the students that are unreached because in truth not many have thought beyond themselves.  I want students to see and learn first hand that where their treasure is-- will show itself-- in the how and what they pursue-- 24/7 and hopefully they will be more like the one they call Lord and Savior.  That is my passion, that is my heart, that is where my treasures are.

Selfishness is actually a very large part of Matt. 6   People, myself included that only think about themselves think and move toward the externals as the fix—the clothes, the stuff all the trimmings somehow make us happy.  The Words of the Christ prove the sadness of selfish living.  Selfishness is based from a heart that is all about the person.  People that struggle with the stuff have not yet trusted Christ for all of their needs and wants.  In truth, my treasure is where my heart is—and reaching students is my heart.  Why?  I think I know the truth to this—its because, I have seen first hand...

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I was thinking today about reputation.  Of course, I know the rep I have as a student pastor, a pastor and a follower of Christ.  My reputation is based on things that I have chosen to purposefully pursue.  Yes, it is true, I have a reputation that I have purposefully developed because of my passions.   I think it is very telling that when I grew up in Chicago, going to a great church for sure, going to a very different High School, getting involved in sports and other things… My rents often talked to me about reputation.  My reputation they worried as a Christian was in their  mind all about what others my perceive or think of me—but it was not about how I lived this following of Christ—it was more about how I looked first.  That would lead to the question my mom would and still asks “What will people think?”  The question was 9 times out of 10 about me not doing this “Christian” things the way their peers at church did it or the way they thought those same Christians lived their Christianity out in front of others.

I found myself as a follower of Christ worrying about the same things at first… at first.  I found myself looking over my shoulder constantly.  Was I doing it right?  Was I good enough for those people my parents worried about?  Was I good enough period.  Was I doing it right?  I know full well that the above questions are real and true.  I felt it.  I lived it.  I know that many, many others feel the same way.  I worked in a bike shop, I have neighbors, I worked in corporate world.  Every place, work and hood, people would say to me something like this—“I don’t go to church, I don’t fit.”  “I don’t go, people will judge me.”  “ I can’t be around Christians, they are so judgmental.”  “I’m not good enough.”  “I’m whatever….”

I often think about reputation.  I often think about what is the ministry I am doing’s reputation?  I certainly don’t want it to be about some other person’s idea of ministry.  I certainly don’t want it to be the reputation of somebody else.  I certainly don’t want it to be all about me.  No—quite the contrary.  I want it to be the reputation of Christ.  After all, those that follow Christ—ummm follow Christ.  Hopefully, I am a good rep of Christ.  Hopefully I represent Him in all I do—at home, when I am alone, when I am in my hood, and when I am at church.  Hopefully all the time.  But and this is a huge BUT—I don’t want my reputation to look like what others think it should be—ever.  And that is the rub for me.  I have given up on that along time ago.  Why?  Because I lived that life for my parents and those in the church where I grew up.  Truthfully, it did absolutely nada for me and for my relationship with Christ.

I found out long ago that the crowd is not worth living for—ever.  Funny, how parents will talk about the crowd and not pleasing them… of course that is the crowd—the worldly crowd, but on the other hand—the other crowd—well that is o.k.—the Christian crowd—now that crowd has something to say.  Should they?  Should the Christian crowd be the determining factor?  Not for me.  Why should anyone worry about what others think when one is following Christ?  (by the way, I asked when they are FOLLOWING CHRIST not, when they call themselves a christian but don't follow Christ)  Why do we give so much power to people?  We shouldn’t and that is the rub. 

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I believe that the most valuable activity that I can do as a follower of Christ is this:

Is be in the midst of living a life of FAITH.  (Hebrews 11.6)  My mindset comes out of a long couple of years of what I know now as my time in my Joseph pit.  Exactly where I began to learn the lesson of trusting God – through circumstances that I could actually blame on myself, others, the world and on and on… I could have also claimed to be a victim of all the stuff.  The Joseph pit is a great place to learn the lesson of FAITH.  Why?  Why call it the Joseph pit?

Genesis 37

 So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. ¹⁸ But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

 ¹⁹ "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. ²⁰ "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams."

 ²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. "Let's not take his life," he said. ²² "Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don't lay a hand on him."

Remember the story?  Not only was Joseph thrown in a well, the pit, but he then was sold into slavery.   Oh man—did he deserve this?  No.  Was it his fault?  Not really.  Was this God’s plan?   Hmmmmmm now that is a great question.  For unjust activity was thrown on an innocent man.  According to some Christians—this should not happen.  When you follow Christ all is well—not.  When you  believe in Christ—suffering stops.  Not.  When you live for Christ the unjust never win.  Not true. 

Joseph was thrown into a pit and sold as a slave—and yet years later as he serves the King— becomes the King—goes through many, many things—and the reveals himself to his brothers—and says this:

Genesis 45

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Joseph learned through the awful situation—that God’s plan was the main point.

Joseph also states in Genesis 50—the God’s purposes as he lived a life of faithfulness before God, his people and his family—

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

The injustice and jealous of his brothers—turned out to be good, very good indeed.

The point.  The point is that living by faith will not always look good, or feel good, or always be good.  But, the person of God will grow as they live a life of FAITH believing that God’s purposes are the issue.  Not comfort, not what everybby ody else thinks—ummmm including the family of God i.e., Joseph’s brothers. 

My time now at Fairhaven I am...

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²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Philippians 1:21-22

I went to Paula Lithander’s memorial service today.  I didn’t get to know Paula, only by association with her husband.  Today I go to know her—yes, I got to know her very well indeed.

I thought all day today after the service about an interesting part of the video in which Paula spoke of her faith journey.  How transparent she was of how she as a young girl came to Christ—for the obvious—fear of eternity in hell.  The part I so enjoyed of her video was the truth that her life after the acceptance of Christ became much more about how she lived her life by faith.  How her faith prior to her cancer treatment was beginning to take on a “new” aspect. 

Yes, Paula was telling all of us—the value of living by faith with purpose.  Her purpose became more and more of serving people, telling others of a relationship with Christ and the value that He brings to life.  This will forever prove the point--- that as one grows in faith in Christ—it has an incredible affect on the way we live—which ultimately points to the way in which we die.  Is it all about us, or all about others?  Paula’s life and death answers that question beautifully!

Oh I have never faced cancer or death—but I do know that the past 4 years has brought me to this place—

That even if heaven were not promised—I would still follow Christ period.  The why to that statement can be found in the way I live my life.  Not for getting to heaven, not for trophies, not for accolades, not out of guilt or because I was told to...  No—I follow Christ—because He is Christ and there is none other that brings meaning to this life.

The Apostle Paul and Paula both got it—while living here on this earth—there is much to do.  The what to do is what most people don’t really get.  Paula got it—I’m getting it.

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What a great week—I wanted to meet with – face to face as many students as I possible.  All told I met 36 students.  It was great to put names with faces and to hear directly from each student.  I found it interesting that each 1 I talked with wanted to experience Christ in a real and honest way.  Whether it was to trust Him more, or find out more, learn more, or simply find the path by which to grow in Christ—all were at a point in their lives that they were eager to move forward.

That is the thrill of student ministry.  Yes, the thrill of seeing students responding to the simple way of Christ.  “To follow me” as he stated to the early disciples and their eagerness to drop their nets and follow, and so I met similar followers all week.  Eager to drop their “nets” and follow.

Which brings me back to Hebrews 11.6—

 ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Many students want to please the Lord.  They do, they want very much to please Him with their behavior, their “being devoted” their spending time with Him, their prayer lives.  Many voiced a real desire to follow the Christ in a way that is more than the same ole same ole.

Isn’t that like all of us?  Those of us that love the Lord want to follow Him in a more dedicated, life changing way.  The question—is how?  Is it more time in devotions?  Is it more time praying?  Is it more time in church?  Is it more commitment to the ministry?  What is it?  How does one truly follow Christ and get it?

Let me talk experientially first.  Looking back over my years as a follower I was taught that it is all about the doing—more of this more of that, more more more.  But then as I have lived this life committed to Christ—I have found that more more more is not exactly what is important.  More doing does not take care of the sometimes wondering was it enough?  Did I do enough?  When circumstance arise that are not so good—I found myself thinking because of what I was taught, to Pray more, read more, be more involved.   That was not good for me, or for those that want to follow the Christ.  Doing more and such actually moves into a works mentality or by doing more “I can fix it”  or even “I can by my doing, be the one to earn the fix.”  Possibly moving a person from faith producing good works-- to good works producing what I think I deserve because of what I do.  This is a problem for all that are honest because we all know by experience that doing more and more does not fix us or the circumstance surrounding us.  

No—the issue of living the life of Christ follower is actually about—now the Biblical and experiential --- living the life of following Christ is about faith and faith alone.  Really?  Yes really period.  I have found that faith in the one I follow brings much peace and joy in the midst of life.  And that is where our God wants us to be—living by faith, obey not out of duty, but out of our sheer trust in God, in Christ, in his work in and through us.

Living by faith starts inward and then turns outward.  How?  As a student learns to live by faith suddenly doing for the Lord is not the means to pleasing Him.  The sojourn, the journey becomes one of total dependence—based on the true understanding of...

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²²And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."   Mark 2:22

O.k.   I had another great day meeting with students.  Like I said in yesterday’s little diddy—I love meeting with students.  The major reason why I love Student Ministry—Students will say it—they will say it point blank.  One reason is because they know I won’t judge them—at least they know they can say it to me—I’ve seen hundreds of students over the years—hundreds.  They come from different family backgrounds, church, school, many, many different places—and most know—I get that.

Let me tell you what it is like to be a visionary.  Some may think that a visionary just gets a vision and goes with it.  Some may think a visionary will just do the vision without any kind of affirmation—just somehow they know and it will happen.  Let me tell you how it happens with me.  I believe what makes me a visionary is that I feel, see, sense, understand a bigger picture—that big picture is Student ministry.

The vision has been developed through years of interacting with students, parents, reading, my relationship with Christ, my relationship with other student peeps, my experience and so on.  The vision is not a picture per se—but an outcome.  Really—I see the outcome first and then I develop the how to get there with the tools and all the stuff I mentioned above.  Yes--God has gifted me for just that-- and believe me-- I cannot claim nor will I claim that it is me or about me-- I know-- this is God period.

Today was affirmation as I met with students for the past few days.  Personally, I know that my blog has been a little—you know maybe about my personal worry of acceptance or maybe even my fear of the future.  I am human.  Yes, I believe that this is where God wants me-- again-- this is relationship with God through Christ is all about living by faith-- All along, I have seen where this ministry can go—I see the opportunity as students give their lives to Christ—the impact that will have on not only themselves, the ministry as a core—but on the whole area—the surrounding area of Fairhaven.

Today and yesterday as I met with students I got the deep sense that we are on the right track—that a new thing must happen.  That a new movement of God is going to take place and I am responsible to its design.  That I get—and I am so excited.  I am so excited that God is going to move through our students.  I get the sense that there are so many ready for a new movement.  Ready to hear the Lord speak into their lives.  Ready to let the Lord lead their lives.  Ready to move.  It is going to happen.  

The fun part?  “What is that which brings my joy?”  Knowing that I am not worthy of such a vision.  That I am not a great person, or that I am a great youth guy—no—the reality goes back to the day when I told they Lord—I’m yours—use me.   I’m yours, I will serve you.  He is about to do an incredible thing.

Sunday night “Uprising” is going to be absolutely a new thing.  As we go through “The Way of Jesus” students will CLING to following Him for all the right reasons.  Not because of me, not because others attend, but because they are actually hungry for Him, and because this is the forum that He is going to use to shape a new movement.

Oh yea baby—I am so stoked—

^22...

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I love meeting with Students 1 on 1.  Why?  Because they get to tell me their story.  I so desire to hear from them, to watch them, to hear their hearts.  No matter what they might say or what they may think or where they may be—I love to hear from them.

This week I have arranged through Jane meetings every half hour to meet with 1 or 2 students at a time to find out from them—all the above and today was a (in my mind and heart) a great beginning.  Always a joy to hear directly from students—awesome!  I am looking forward to a full week getting to know students not just by name, but also by their story.

Which reminds me of the Words of Jesus in John chapter 15

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. ¹⁷This is my command: Love each other.”

I am reminded while meeting with students today of Christ’s –

First—being loved by the Father.  The Son could love because He was loved.

Second—that love produces obedience

Third—that love toward one another MATTERS!

Yes—loving one another is hugely important to God.  To Jesus.   So important that Jesus tells His followers to love each other as He has loved them.

How easy is it to love someone you don’t know as opposed to loving somebody you do know?  Actually loving somebody you do know is quite simple.  Loving somebody you don’t know means you don’t have to know their baggage, issues, downfalls, or STUFF.

But Jesus tells us to love one another because He knows He loved them with all their issues—so we can do the same.  And the reason we can do the same is because He showed us and taught us—going to the cross was the ultimate love toward people that certainly he knew and yet had the ability to love.

And so goes the student ministry.  The Next Gen Pastor toward the staff, the students, the parents.  I know people that really love me—and they really love me because—umm they know me and know my shortcomings  and STUFF.  Now I can do the same as I meet with students.  They can learn to be totally free to let me love them.  Baggage and all- those that don’t have baggage?  They do, I do—I needed the Savior not because I could do it myself (the list) but because I couldn’t period. 

Yep, student ministry is a great trip because students are loved by God… not because of what they do or don’t do, but because they are by His choice—loved and loved because they are part of His creation—and therefore because I know the example of Christ who loves me—Students will be loved by me.

Crazy this thing called Student Ministry!  Crazy! 

“Love one another.”  Lets try it.  It may...

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Starting off at a new place is never easy.  Speaking to students for the first time is not easy either.  That being said—before I went to sleep last night—the above endeavor was on my mind.  I knew that many if not most of the students at Fairhaven have never heard me speak.  These same students have no idea what I stand for, and they have no idea what drives my daily to do the work called Student Ministry.

I thought today was a good day with the High School Students.  I thought that for the first time—they were able to hear from me about the things that matter to me.

1. I am called to do a job called Student Ministry
2. I am responsible to the elder board and David Smith
3. I am here to build an effective Student Ministry
4. I love students because they were created in the image of God period.
5. I will not micro manage their relationship with Christ
6. I will give them opportunities weekly to engage God, the Savior, the Scriptures

These 6 important factors drive me.  They cause me to soberly engage God, The Christ, The Spirit and the Scriptures so that I can offer newness to not only myself, but to the students and staff that God has entrusted to me.  The value of the above?  I am not about telling students how to do this thing called Following Christ "right"—at best-- I will help them to move forward from whereever they are at this time —I work very hard at trying to meet students where they are spiritually at any given time and to let the Spirit work deeply and to speak into the lives of Students.  I know first hand listening to people tell me-- this is how to do it "right" only to find through the tough turns and twist-- highs and lows-- that nobody has a corner on that-- nobody-- David didn't do it right. Paul didn't do it right, Peter messed up-- c'mon-- students need the freedom to fail, the freedom to move forward for all the "right" reasons-- what are they-- Heb. 11.6  

After all, this sojourn called Following Christ is just that—a sojourn.  A journey, a process that I am not in charge of, nor am I responsible to fulfill.  No, that is what the students must decide.  They must be the ones that choose daily to Follow Christ.  So I must provide for my students the reasons and the truth so they can make great choices toward Christ and thus to follow Him with all their heart, soul and mind.  And when they do that—

They come to the second part of my purpose statement—to Love God and Love People.  See, when a Student loves God with all his heart, mind and soul, they really have already decided which way they will follow.  I will be there for help, but if they love God with all their heart, soul and mind—then they will ultimately—live out the second part of the purpose statement… To love people.  That is right—think about it—when a person loves God, then living as unto God becomes their passion, their life, their world. 

²⁷He answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and 'Love your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 10.27

Think about it—when people love something—they live for it—nobody has to tell them to be passionate about it—no one—it becomes their passion, their life, what they are all about—same for God.  When a person loves God with their all—really—think about how much do you have to tell them to do?  Not much—just help in ways to do it.

Interesting that Jesus moves to the second area—Loving God produces loving people—really?  Yes, really. ...

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Well, tonight was interesting to say the least.  I met with parents and students in the new MAC building at Fairhaven Church.  I must say that Kevin and the team did a great job setting up and getting everything ready.  David Smith did a great job telling the group (200 or so) the make up of the “New” team which I am a part. 

Now, I must say that the Vibe was very interesting.  The vibe—you know the atmosphere from my perspective was a little shall I say cold.  My guess is that many are still feeling the departure of the former youth guy, and that is understandable.  The vibe toward me?  Now that was a little more ummmm shall I say disheartening.  For I felt as if some of the people that new me back when I was at Fairhaven have already prejudged me.  Some of my “old friends” were aloof or stand offish if you will.  I don’t know if that is because when I was at Fairhaven back then they really didn’t care for me—that is they really didn’t care for what I stood for or in reality who I am—and they were never honest.  Or if they are jazzed about the former guy and aren’t happy with the new—and I am lumped into their hurt, angst or what have you?  

I don’t know, but I didn’t feel too embraced.  I guess that may well be what it means to do ministry in this day and age.  For if I am judged by my past—which I thought and will continue to think was a pretty down to earth, real student ministry--- then I am o.k. with that.  I did the best that I knew how and am actually proud of the ministry years back then.  If people were happy with the direction of the student ministry over the past couple of years and didn’t want a change—that is not really my problem.

I was asked to come in set a new direction and build a new student ministry.  So?  Well, I can understand to a degree their trepidation.  I can understand their fear to a degree.  What I don’t understand is the kind of disdain that I felt.  The disdain that says—“I don’t care for you.”  “I am not interested in what you bring to the table.”  “I certainly don’t know you, but people have said this or that about you and you will have to prove yourself to me.”  "Your reputation Don is this or that and we don't care for a guy like you."

You know, I am a little ummm not real good with that kind of stuff.  Really.  I guess only time will tell.  My fear?  The only fear is that people may not be trusting God in this.  I saw it at Far Hills over time.  People didn’t trust leadership, which was a reflection of their trust in God or lack thereof-- and that ultimately made leading very hard for the board and the staff.  It also made it very hard to get people to engage in the right stuff ultimately missing out as they stood on the sidelines and said—“prove it.”

That very well may be the sentiment of the students and the parents at this time.  So?  So what to do? 

First, I will serve like I know to do.

I will pray and pray and pray for a breakthrough for the ministry.

I will do as unto the Lord and not worry about being liked or cared for.

I will live my call to ministry no matter what.

I will do what is right.

I will care about people all people.

I will let His light shine through me.  I will continue to...

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Philippians 1:6 

⁶being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Wow—my 18 year old son has left the building.  He has landed in Australia—and he is on his own period.

Oh I had a very hard time watching him walk through security all by himself.  I instantly thought of all the times I carried his goalie bag—his hockey equipment—while he tailed along carrying his stick.  I thought of the games he was back in the net all by himself taking shot after shot—sometimes winning the game due to his determination to stop every puck.  I watched him become a leader on his teams as he would yell orders from the goalie crease.  Was I a proud dad back then?  Absolutely.  I was even more proud as he walked through the security gate carrying his guitar case looking back and waving goodbye.      

Yes, I wept.  I wept because I missed him.  I wept because I knew he had made this choice to go.  I wept because I let him go.

But in truth, I let him go a long time ago.  I let him go when it came to knowing Christ.  That needed to be his choice.  I let him go when it was time to choose who he would befriend.  I let him go along time ago.  Why?

I have been in student ministry for 20 years.  I have watched and seen what smothering parents do to their children.  I have watched what parents do to students—by wanting them to have their relationship with Christ like they think it should look like.  I have seen what it means as parents try and fineness God on their student.  I have seen what it means for parents and their students to live as if their life is actually theirs.

No—I knew the day Alex was born, this boy was God’s to mold and shape—I am his dad and I am here to help, and to train, and to nurture and to discipline, and to love—but not to hang onto.  Yes—he flew away and yes Alex is in good hands.  My prayer is that Alex will find the life of Faith to be his all.

That story—that picture is how I treat student ministry.  I am there to help students find the Lord, and to learn to trust Him.  I am there for parents to help them learn to live by faith also.  Way to many Christ followers are stuck in mandating behavior—all the while pushing following away and learning to trust in the past.
 

I am confident that when God does a work in a person—He will do His work in them period.  I just get to be there for a little help.

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Matthew 25

 The Parable of the Talents

 ¹⁴"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents^[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

Interesting this parable—very interesting.

A couple of observations---

1.  The talents were given.
2.  The talents were given to Servants
3.  2 Servant put what was given to them to work
4.  1 Servant actually did more than nothing—He hid his talent.

So?  So what?

Well—Question?  Is salvation a free gift? 
If so?  Why do so many “followers of Christ” believe somehow that they must earn salvation?  Or if not earning salvation, earning the extra adage, well done my good and faithful servant.  Does well done my good and Faithful servant go with following Christ?  Or is salvation free as a gift as well as the talent given?

The answer to the last question is absolutely   YES!    Salvation is a gift—not earned—and the talent was given—not earned.

So?  So, when a follower of Christ acknowledges these 2 gifts, they have the most important, spiritual matter at their disposal—the choice to follow and live as both gifts were exactly that—gifts.

Or the follower of Christ can continue to treat both gifts as something that they have earned therefore….

Become arrogant as they believe they have earned the gifts

The follower can do absolutely nothing with the gift and treat the gifts with much fear.

Fear?  Yes.  I know many, many followers of Christ that are so afraid of screwing up, taking chances, being honest…. Why?  Because the gifts aren’t free.  If they were thought of as free they would experience much opportunity, much freedom, much in exercising the joy of both gifts.

No.  You don’t believe that?

Well, notice the excuse the 3^rd servant gives burying his gift

 ²⁴"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

He tells the truth. 
He doesn’t believe that the giver of the gift is good—but hard—some followers of Christ believe that about the heavenly Father and they are stunted in choosing to experience the gifts.

He also admits his fear—His fear of believing that in the end—he either could not do enough with the gift or he didn’t want to put to work the gift—being lazy with what he was GIVEN.

Proving the point that the gift was not earned but given and he (we) have the choice to do or not do with what has been given.   So?   Well, let me get real here.

I know what I have been given. 

1.  A great Salvation. 

2.  Gifts that God has given me to multiply the gift.

What I choose to do with those gifts says everything about the giver of those gifts to me.  I hope my life reflects much joy in the giver...

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“For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.”

1 Corinthians 3:9

 What is on my mind?  What is on my heart?  Obviously my work ahead.  The work of building a Student ministry.  The work of developing people to participate in building… and that is always happening.  God’s building never stops—never.

 Some want to call it evangelism.  Some want to call it Discipleship.  Some want to only build up people.  Some think it’s about reaching people.

 How silly that Biblical truth, the Words of Paul, the call of Christ to reach all the world has been compartmentalized into one or the other—absolute nonsense. 

 “We” all those that know Christ are “fellow workers”  --- not fellow takers period.

I have been living the lifestyle of following Christ since the day I came by faith to follow Him.  I have no idea why I feel alone in this.  But I was discipled to build up people to participate in God’s building.  I was discipled to live in this lost world by being “light” in darkness.  Oh, I am not great at it—and I fail many times—but I am so glad that I was not taught to dismantle discipleship and evangelism.  Discipleship is not about retaining knowledge and doing nothing with it.  Sorry, I am so tired of watching and listening to all those with “knowledge” leave behind those that need what they (with the knowledge) have.  In full it is really more about the knowledge of the living God through Faith in Christ Jesus that those with knowledge know-- but may not live.  Nevertheless, at least they can offer a glimps of God.

 How can a person come to Christ by faith—learn from Him, read the Word, daily talk and walk with Him and treat evangelism like it’s something for someone else to do.  That is false.  Actually that is poor discipleship period.  One cannot follow Christ and not feel and learn His heart for people.  I have no idea how this happened—but the state of Christ followers building little “groups” of protection is plain ole sin.  One cannot love and follow the Christ and treat lost people like a scourge or less than human.  That is a lie from the devil himself.

 No--- we that know Christ—we that call ourselves Christ followers--- we that believe so strongly in “discipleship” and neglect the fruit of discipleship are nothing more that 21rst century Pharisees. 

 Student ministry in this day and age—must teach students that following Christ is dangerous, it is difficult, it is selfless, it is many things—but not all about knowledge.  Knowledge produces fruit.  Knowledge produces good works.  Knowledge produces an awareness of how much one is lacking--- and how much one needs to know Him more.  Anything less—knowledge then “puffs up” and becomes meaningless—and a reason for many to think exactly this—  that following Christ is merely a heady thing—a lesson in theology—when in truth—Following Christ is all about Faith and Faith alone.  I dare say, that you could take away the Bible from me and I could still follow the Christ.  How you might ask?

 The great mystery that Paul speaks of in Colossians—“Christ in you”   Give me Christ.  Give to the Students of Fairhaven Christ.  Give them Christ—for it is Christ we follow.  It is Him and Him alone in which we stand and will stand.

 Yes—the future is God’s building—the field, the building… people!  All people!

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I’m going to share my heart.  I have know idea who reads this, so that’s o.k.  After today, I feel a little overwhelmed.  I think I am overwhelmed with a few what I would call red flags and issues.

When I started at Fairhaven in 1991 I came to a church that was doing youth group period.  It was comfortable, students had little events for themselves, Bible studies, and other such youth group things.

My education, plus my background from the ministry I came from in Chicago—it moved from youth group to student ministry back in the 70’s  plus, my education BA was in youth ministry and I had been successful moving the groups to ministries in 2 churches.  Interesting that I had faced the same cynicism and criticism in both previous churches.

“Reaching out to students leaves the church kids without discipleship.”  Which isn’t true—effective discipleship teaches students to care about others over themselves—that is the Jesus way.

I heard this—“our church kids will be effected by all the rif raf.”  Well that is true if the church kid hasn’t owned their relationship with Christ and thus is easily persuaded into a lifestyle not of following Christ, but of following others.  The best thing that could happen is that students will get honest.  Honest about not what they don’t know, but their lack of living by faith.  I have seen it for 20 years and their downfall is really just that—theirs to own.

I have heard—“I only care about the unreached.”  Couldn’t be farther from the truth.  I care so much about the Christian that I want them to engage all of the Bible—all of Jesus—all of what it means to be in process.

Can God lead the way?  Will He lead the way?  Will he help those that are closed to effective ministry?  Will He guide the nay sayers – will he work on their hearts?  Not if they are not open.  Not if they already are set – that I am not the right guy.  That they want a youth group.  That effective youth ministry is too scarry.

Yep, this new but old endeavor is going to be a rough ride—I just need to make sure that I am up to the task.   Seems like in order to live for Christ, the hardest place to do it is when one must convince people of the right things.

I can only say this tonight—the red flags of reaching students when a 2.5 mill building is being built dose not make much sense—I would have thought that the student ministry, parents and the whole church was ready to get aggressive at it sole purpose—discipling students is the same as reaching students.  If one is discipled correctly, they have the desire to reach their friends, their campus period.  I fear I am in for a long beginning.

Psalm 40

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