If you are at all involved in Youth Ministry, this might interest you. This weekend Willow Creek is hosting their annual SHIFT youth ministry conference. My good friend David Mehrle is there. But even though you're not there you can still checkout the main sessions at these two links:
The speakers include: Francis Chan, Kara Powell, Mark Holman, Bubba Thurman, Mark Matlock, David Kinnerman, Harvey Carey and Bill Hybels.
If you have to watch just one, I recommend Francis Chan's talk on "Breaking Free from Complacency."
by Mark Oestreicher
I recently finished Youth Ministry 3.0. For a little while it was a hard book to get hold of in our area. I was highly interested in it. While writing the book Mark posted various chapters on his blog. I enjoyed those posts and looked forward to the release of the full blown manifesto.
Book Summary: The basic argument of Mark's book is that youth culture has gone through three cycles of emphasis: identity (who am I?), autonomy (what makes me different?), affinity (how do I fit in?). However, he believes youth ministry has yet to transition into the culture of affinity. We're stuck in the past of being unique, different, and flashy. He finishes the book by calling youth ministries to be more relationally present to teens in their settings, sub-contexts and culture.
Pros: I honestly believe that youth ministry is heading to a more relationally and missionally minded future. Its been happening for awhile (I think most of the argument of current youth ministry is an argument about churches from the 80's/90's. As a younger youth minister I haven't seen as much about what these older guys are talking about!). Teens are looking for a place to belong and discover how they can be both unique and still fit into a group. That's exactly what the body of Christ is! Many parts, one body. The other good news is that I believe this is where the entire church is heading. I don't believe that Identity/Autonomy/Affinity are designations for teens alone. It's a culture that adults are trekking through as well (World War 2 wasn't just an identity discover for teens. Adults were discovering their role in our country/world!). Youth ministries have a great opportunity to pave the way through our successes and failures!
Cons: What inevitably will happen, and already has started in some aspects, is that many well meaning people will completely jump on this "new" idea, labeling everything else ineffective and unbiblical. Transition won't happen. It's either, you're with us or against us. I've already heard a lot of people attacking the "attractional model" of mega-churches. What most of them are talking about is one aspect (typically the worship service) of an wider ministry. They judge it by a Sunday morning (like "Jim and Caper"), yet don't consider what's going on throughout the week in the communities, neighborhoods, and schools.
All in all, I believe Mark is pointing in the direction we are heading. This is a book that should be read, and will likely be built upon in months and years to come by various other authors and church leaders.
I mentioned a few posts back that I recently preached a sermon about Jesus' look at Peter, right after Peter denied him. In the sermon I talk about how Jesus stopped and looked at Peter in the midst of some excruciating pain. There were no words. Just a look.Here's the passage from Luke (NLT):
"[Right after Peter denies Jesus a third time] the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter."
That was a week ago. Ever since I've been thinking about that look. Even though it was a look of pain, I keep trying to imagine what it would look like. I would run through these questions in my mind, "I wonder what color his eyes were. I wonder if there were tears in his eyes...or even blood."Those questions led to other questions: "I wonder what he really looked liked. The disciples have no clue how lucky they were to actually see Jesus face to face!" This idea of seeing Jesus' face, and envisioning it plagued my thoughts! Last night as I was falling to sleep, my eyes closed, I kept trying to envision his face and the look he gave Peter. But I could see nothing.
Then it happened. No, I didn't see a miraculous vision. Instead, the obvious was revealed to me. God reminded me that every time I look into a teenager's eyes I see Jesus' eyes. Every time I pass by that guy begging for change at the Intersection of I-70 and 94, I see Jesus' face. Every time I join together with other Christians I see Jesus' body.
I do see Jesus...everywhere.
Then I started to realize how hard it would be to see Jesus in others, if I knew his actual facial features. He would become one man, instead of many. He would become one shade of skin, instead of all shades of skin. He would just be another face in the crowd, instead of every face in the crowd.
I believe the same eyes that Peter saw are all around us. We'll see them if we open ours.
I recently saw this interesting post by Loswhit. Northpoint (Buckhead, GA), ended their Good Friday in an incredibly insightful way. Before the service started, they took polaroid pictures of individuals entering the room. Throughout the service they had a lady painting for 40 minutes the face of Jesus. Here's how the service ends:
Good Friday 2009 - Ending from buckheadchurch on Vimeo.
Good Friday 2009 - Ending from buckheadchurch on Vimeo.
I recently spoke at one of our Good Friday service...on Good Friday. There were four services, with four different speakers (15 min sermons). My topic was Peter's denial of Jesus. I love that passage. So much detail, emotion and subtle nuances. Here is a link to the audio of the sermon (17 mins...whoops!).
And here's the outline:
Thesis: Jesus' pain reveals that we are accepted by him, not rejected.
I. Jesus Looked at Peter
No words were spoken after Peter's denial. It was just a look.
II. Peter's Failure
Jesus' look caused Peter to remember the past few hours. Peter remembered his vow of strength (that he'd never leave Jesus). He also remembered his multiple failures!
III. Jesus' Pain
In the eyes of Jesus there were two pains. The pain of brutality, and the pain of betrayl. Understanding Jesus' pain is essential for us to understand our acceptance
IV. God's Acceptance
Pain does not equal rejection. In fact, it was his pain that proved that we are accepted! God accepts all of us, no matter the pain we've caused him.
And here's the outline:
Thesis: Jesus' pain reveals that we are accepted by him, not rejected.
I. Jesus Looked at Peter
No words were spoken after Peter's denial. It was just a look.
II. Peter's Failure
Jesus' look caused Peter to remember the past few hours. Peter remembered his vow of strength (that he'd never leave Jesus). He also remembered his multiple failures!
III. Jesus' Pain
In the eyes of Jesus there were two pains. The pain of brutality, and the pain of betrayl. Understanding Jesus' pain is essential for us to understand our acceptance
IV. God's Acceptance
Pain does not equal rejection. In fact, it was his pain that proved that we are accepted! God accepts all of us, no matter the pain we've caused him.
I love designing stuff. And my goal is to never become this guy...although I find him hilarious! Who would have thought you could be so passionate about business cards!
(ht to http://human3rror.com)
(ht to http://human3rror.com)
One of the musicians that I've really gotten into this year is a guy named Ray LaMontagne. I'd heard his song "Trouble" before, but had never thought to look up the artist. Then through Pandora, I heard some of his other music. Since them I've bought up a lot more of his music through iTunes.What I like most about him is his smokey-whisper voice. I'm sure some will find it annoying, but I dig it. Its original, and fits his music style perfect. Here are a few live videos of him from SNL:
Trouble:
You Are The Best Thing:
Well, it's over. Today was my first official day back, though I worked from home at the doctor's request. Here's what I accomplished:
Upstairs Bathroom:
- Painted the walls duo-tone
- Replaced the carpet with tile
- Replaced the lighting fixture
- Installed matching hand towel rack and bath towel shelf/rack
- Replaced the hall lighting fixture just outside of the bathroom.
Ashlynn's Room:
- Main wall painted purple
- Secondary wall painted a purple-grid
Laundry Room:
- A bigger shelf installed above the washer/dryer
Miscellaneous:
- Read lots of blogs...as usual
- Finished "IT" but didn't get to the other two books because of the next item.
- Lots of video games between 11:00pm & 3:00am (i know, i'm a loser).
- Visit to Flora, Illinois
- Visit to Windsor Crossing Church (good, but I like worshiping w/people I know).
- And that other thing thing.
Upstairs Bathroom:
- Painted the walls duo-tone
- Replaced the carpet with tile
- Replaced the lighting fixture
- Installed matching hand towel rack and bath towel shelf/rack
- Replaced the hall lighting fixture just outside of the bathroom.
Ashlynn's Room:
- Main wall painted purple
- Secondary wall painted a purple-grid
Laundry Room:
- A bigger shelf installed above the washer/dryer
Miscellaneous:
- Read lots of blogs...as usual
- Finished "IT" but didn't get to the other two books because of the next item.
- Lots of video games between 11:00pm & 3:00am (i know, i'm a loser).
- Visit to Flora, Illinois
- Visit to Windsor Crossing Church (good, but I like worshiping w/people I know).
- And that other thing thing.
As I mentioned previously on the blog, one of my "to-do" items involves a procedure to keep our family small. Today is the day it happens. However, yesterday Rachel had one of her regular "girly" appointments and it turns out the vasectomy is a little late. The doctor told us that we should have gotten it about 8 weeks earlier.
Turns out our family is going to be getting a little bigger in 9 months!
As you can imagine, I was a little perturbed. But, I'm putting on a happy face anyway. Click here to see my face.
Turns out our family is going to be getting a little bigger in 9 months!
As you can imagine, I was a little perturbed. But, I'm putting on a happy face anyway. Click here to see my face.
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