Shootin' the breeze...

This last weekend was filled with what guys do...blowin' up stuff and burning things. Saturday afternoon while the girls were playing games (see right) the jr. high boys and I made the journey north to the Johnson's house where we proceeded to shoot things. Two boxes of clay pigeons and a case of shells later; our arms were hurting as well as one of our egos. Last time I checked birds have brains and cunning, clay pigeons do not; but for some reason these clay pot rejects were unhittable. For the life of me, I could not hit a thing. Some of the boys had no problem. Tyler and Eli seemed to shoot fine. Jacob, Chris, and Trevor put holes in a bunch of them. A couple of the boys shot their first clay(Jake, Xavier, CJ). There was absolutely nothing falling down because of my shooting. It was embarrassing.

We had a pretty good time. Jim and Dan helped out a ton by giving the boys instruction (I was going to help but I had my own shooting problems to worry about) and throwing the clays all day. We drank IBC root beers; ate hot dogs; and played in the creek afterwards. You know: guy stuff. No one came out injured and I like to think that the sport of hunting was furthered by this little excursion.

One thing that I am learning about youth ministry is this: The idea that you have to plan things that they like is a farce; why spend time planning something that you know nothing about so that one or two kids will have fun. Instead plan things that you like to do and bring kids along. They like to do everything; involve them in what you do.

Sunday night we had a bon fire at Terry Barnes' house. It was a pretty good time. Town and Country came out as well. The high schoolers had a rousing game of Red Rover going on. All in all I was impressed with both youth groups. It was a pretty good time. After T&C left we were setting around the campfire being led in worship by Chris Maddock. I borrowed his guitar and played a couple diddy's. I felt somewhat convicted when I was asked to play a worship song. I know Greenday, Blink, Beyonce, Bon Jovi; but not a single worship song. That is pathetic. I leave you now to practice a worship song.

P.S. I can't wait to see how the High school girls do with shooting? Ireland and Aleesha with a gun: go ahead, picture it!

Oh the connections I have...

Not many people on this earth could guarantee the arrival of a Latino World Wrestling Heavyweight Champion; I am one of those people. El Fantassimo Forcina showed us the ultimate power that is him. He arrived to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger" made famous by Rocky Balboa and the Seaman Cross Country team. Upon arriving he spoke to us of his unusual hobby of breaking things: peoples faces, boards, and bottles just to name a few. He impressed us all by breaking a board in two and breaking a bottle on his head. He is a large man with large ability.

This question was posed during lesson time: How big is your God? As we have been talking about worship, I have been reading If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. John Ortberg poses this very question: How big is your God? The size of your God directly affects the way that you live your life. I proclaim on Sunday mornings through my worship that I believe in a big God; however, often times throughout the week I live more like a secular humanist than anything else. Worship is the act of reminding ourselves how big our God is. The question of why God needs to be worshiped is tied into this remembering. God is not a self-conscious being who is desperately in need of an ego boost and a kind word. He doesn't need our worship to affirm him; we need our worship for him to affirm our faith, for us to remember who he is and what he has done.

On a side note: As we were messing around afterward, I was able to watch Jason, Tricia, and Angela interact with some of the kids (we were missing Aaron that night: it didn't really seem like youth group with out him). I am very thankful for the work that they do. They have saved me a number of times; so if you see them, let them know you appreciate what they do.

What is a youth minister to do...

As the events of the day transpired, I found myself feeling more and more helpless,
lest the fact that the previous day only proceeded to make me feel more and more inadequate to do this job. Burrito day seemed to point out my own understanding that I am not a planner. I prepared for 1350 burritos only to have Tim bale me out by going to get more stuff (about 2 times more stuff). Needless to say, I did not start this day with a high view of my abilities and gifting.

Sunday morning made this fact all the more true. I can remember not to long ago that my Sunday mornings were a very relaxing experience. It had gotten better, but today was just a reminder that I tend to overlook things, especially concerning Sunday School. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't as if an entire class was forgotten; however, I don't feel like every thing was covered up to the needs of the teachers.

After church I had a discussion about a student. Knowing this student and seeing them here this last couple weeks, I can't help but feel responsible as well as completely idiotic for not noticing the problems.

Finally, Sr. High youth group. It is no secret that I love doing Middle School Ministry. I think it is the fact that it things go down haphazardly, you have an escape alibi, sighting their age and immaturity for the reason that things did not go well (I'm sure this is not actually all of it; however, this is part of the appeal). The Sr. High group is mostly bucolically taught and solid kids. Meaning that my lessons need to be deeper; however, deepness is not my strong suit. So for another week, I feel as though my lesson was not up to the level it should have been.

Then the aforementioned game. Let us just say that it did not go particularly well. A nose was broken; not on a child, but a sponsor. It was an accident, a freak thing, but I still feel strangely responsible. I am blessed with great sponsors that do amazing things. He was just one of the many great teachers here. He is a great guy, who frankly just loves being here. He always participates and hangs out with the kids. It was a bad situation. Sorry man.

It is in these moments that I am thankful for the words of Revelation 5..."Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living elders." John is engrossed in heavenly worship...he is seeing what is going on in heaven. It is a wonderful sight. Four living creatures, bright lights, loud noises, it was perfect. But the Lamb that looked like it was slain. The place that is perfect has a couple imperfections: sadness v.4; fear of the scroll not being opened; and the lamb looking slain...how can this be?

The only imperfect one was the perfect one in life. The reason that this place exists, the very reason there are people there in the perfect place is the imperfect one. This mark is not a badge or a prideful scar, but a necessary one for the reason we are able to stand before him, the reason John can see him. It was three nails, a spear gash, thorn marks on the forehead; that he wears as a mark on him allowing the imperfect who have now been made perfect to stand in his presence.

Knowing my imperfections are laid on him for eternity, and that his perfection will be transferred to me, is the only reason a resignation letter has not been signed and a faith left behind.

Allow me now to apologize for my imperfections...

I'm trying to figure out the appeal of Relient K...

Today was burrito day. As a youth group, we managed to turn out 3,100 burritos. That is really quite a large number. I was prepared for 1300, so as you can imagine it was a troublesome day for me really. I hooked up my laptop to the K'motion sound system so as to have music on this little escapade. That was a gigantic mistake. I admit that according to many people my choice in music is not so great (I am a country fan); however, at no point in time did I ever try to push my own brand of music. For some unknown reason, my computer was continually switched to Relient K. Every other song it seemed like was Relient K...spinning me off into a level of pissed off rarely seen by those closest to me.

Someone tell me the appeal of a band:

-That basis most of its writing off of puns...for crying out loud no one with any kind of writing ability uses puns anymore. Most of us cringe at puns, yet for some reason we are glorifying the disuse of creativity. Case in point: "I flew in from Springfield, and boy are my arms tired." Just now, everyone of you cringed. Relient K titles: "Let it snow...let it reindeer;" "Deck the halls...bruise your hand;" "The vinyl countdown." Seriously...why?

-Their lead singer was born in Canada (Ontario, 1980)...nuff said.

-Most of the members are past any age of being misunderstood. You can whine into the mic all you want about crazy things that have nothing to do with real life as long as you are still young enough to be considered rebellious. Sorry guys once you pass the age of 24 (Theissen is now 27) you are a middle of the road white guy in the midst of a country run by middle aged white guys. In the words of Homer Simpson, "I am a white male, aged 18 to 40, everyone listens to me no matter how stupid I am!" Well...people do listen...maybe they should try saying something more than, "Marilyn Manson ate my girlfriend?"

-who names their band after a Plymouth? The only good thing that ever happened to Plymouth was Richard Petty racing in one.

-Most of the members are not at the period of life where punk music still resonates. I am so glad when Blink fell apart a couple years ago...a bunch of married (Hoopes is married and has a daughter) guys singing about being rebellious and then getting in their minivans seemed a little hypocritical. Make sure your rhinestone belt and wallet chain don't scratch the upholstery.

Don't get me wrong here...I do not hate Christian music. I just think that there are other bands that could be listened too, if only for a couple seconds. I do realize the automatic cool points that are awarded for knowing that Theissen's favorite animal is the penguin, and that Hoopes enjoys playing golf...but at some point in time give Leeland a try, or December Radio. Heck Point of Grace is the only other Christian band where every song sounds the exact same: try them.

I guess my attempt at understanding the appeal of Relient K has a long way to go...just one more question:

Do you really like my sweater? (this is an obvious plea for acceptance stemming from the bands obvious lack of self esteem and a dire request for affirmation from their following).

In the presence of greatness...

Thank God it is warm again. One more night of trying to do games in the sanctuary. One more night of trying to eat snack in the foyer and I was going to strangle one of the little ones (by little ones I mean one of the 6^th graders, not one of Jeff’s kids, they would make too much noise). Games were played outside and snacks were done in front of the Church which immediately made the night go smoother.

To acclimate the students to the presence of Greatness, were visited by the Latin American World Champion wrestler, who has literally ripped thousands of peoples faces off: Fantassimo Forcina (Pictured Here) He was carried in by his faithful followers and greeted by a fabulous round of applause:

The students were allowed to ask questions of him and were really blessed by his presence. Most (Ramsey and Whitney) were awed by his presence and some (Jacob, Ian, Eli, and Aaron Jones) found themselves trembling in the face of greatness. Some (Tyler, CJ, Kosten and Gage) were stupefied by the hulking muscle on display and the obvious power he possessed.

We talked about worship tonight, settling on the understanding that God must be present for worship to happen. For perhaps one of the only presence greater than that of Fantassimo, would be that of God. We looked at Genesis 3: Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. They were able to look upon God, to see him, to experience him everyday. We looked at Revelation 21: God and Jesus dwelling in the midst of the Celestial City…the New Jerusalem. So in the beginning (at creation) man dwelt with God; and at the End (heaven) man dwells with God. What happens right now? How do we experience God right now?

We worship. We come into his presence when we worship. We talked about the purpose of our life being worship. Psalm 19 talks about creation declaring the glory of God. Simply put, our purpose for life is to bring glory to our Creator, through worship.

The students split up into groups and discussed times in their lives when they felt God’s presence. Hopefully, this gave them the understanding that worship can happen with anything they do. “Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10.31. Some were able to find new ways to worship him.

I am excited about this series and how they took part in the discussion groups; how they interacted with each other; and how they paid attention during the lesson.

Mad props to the winner of the Trashcan game and to Miranda for getting in her Jr. High Camp registration.

Games are fun...

Since the Youth Band played this last Sunday (and did a very good job I might add), and I had been meeting with people non stop since Sunday morning, neither entity (the youth band or I) were in any kind of position to put together anything that would resemble organized. Therefore, I decided that we would play games all night.

We started out the night with womp'um kickball...which is essentially kickball, but you get to hit people with fun noodles. It was a good time. No bones were broken and no cars were destroyed. All in all I consider that an accomplishment. After kickball, we played a game called joust. Basically, you have a beanbag like bowling pin attached to your helmet and with a fun noodle you try to knock everyone else's off. Barbaric and childish I know, but still a pretty good time. Finally each team was given a rope. I would yell out a shape or a letter and they would try to make that shape with their rope. I was very disappointed in the lack of geometric ability displayed by the 8th graders in this game.

So few words to describe such great emotion...

I am currently speechless...

A special thanks goes out to the Wards for opening up their home to me.

Thanks:

Mario Chalmers for allowing me to get in touch with my feminine side...with out you my tears would not have fallen and I would still be hoping.

Luther Vandross for penning such a wonderful song "One Shinning Moment."

My words escape me at this point...and my joy overfloweth.

Cuts, Scraps, and Bruises...

Sr. High youth group night. What to say...

The Youth Band did an acoustic set tonight...a lot of their songs just sound good acoustically. Dillon and Garrett played some cool accompaniment guitar. Jenni Meade kept the Jimbae pounding and it was a really great worship set.

The kids broke up into groups and answered some questions about the worship service this morning. I am not a very good question writer so I'm not too sure how that went.

The lesson tonight was about worship. More specifically, losing focus of yourself in order to worship. I was challenged by David Erickson's message from Ozark Chapel, speaking of worship he said: "You have to be in it to know it...and the moment you try to describe it, you have lost it." Revelation 1.9-20 talks of John's worship at the moment he receives his message from Jesus. Somewhere in the middle of that text, the pronouns change. John goes from talking about himself in verse 9-10 to immediately talking about Jesus. He can't even mention himself after Jesus arrives. He says "I" but it is always talking about what Jesus is doing, or has done. It really challenged me to lose my arrogance, self absorption; to glorify Christ.

David Erickson asked this question: "Why would we spend time worshiping another when we are so stuck idolizing our self?"

The cuts, scars, and bruises, were from our game of chicken ball following the lesson...very good game, very poor environment. The sandy asphalt of the community center caused many of injuries and downfalls. FINAL SCORE: Boys 4 -- Girls (and sponsors) 3.

We will get them next time.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

We Goin' to the 'Ship! What!
We Goin' to the 'Ship! What!
We Goin' to the 'Ship! What!
We Goin' to the 'Ship! What!
We Goin' to the 'Ship! What!

Current thoughts

Sherron Collins just took on 4 defenders picking up another foul.

Rush has shot a jumpshot (going 0-4) the last 4 times he has touched the ball.

Not one man has even tried to go inside the three point line, which was what got them to this point.

Mix that with 7 turnovers and you have a horrible start to the second half and a 12-0 run for North Carolina.

How can something fall apart so quickly?

Aldridge, do something!

Slow the ballgame down...

KU was up by 28 points with 5:07 left in the first half (KU 40 - UNC 12); however, poor shot selection, poor mental decisions, and overall lack of execution, has brought them to halftime with a 44 - 27 lead. My prediction: If KU loses, then all the media, pundits, and all of history will look back to the 15 to 4 run the North Carolina put on in the last 5:07.

Some Negatives:
-KU's decision making in the first 15 minutes was great...any other team in the country would have been forced to set their top 2 big men. Hansborough has done an amazing job at staying out of foul trouble, but still they went away from this strategy too early.

-Sherron Collins has made some horrible decisions...which can be attributed to youthful exuberance, but as men before me have said: "There is no such thing as a freshman in April." For six months he has been playing D-1 basketball, if he has not learned yet, he will not learn.

Some Positives:
-Who is this guy by the name of Cole Aldridge. At the half he has 6 points, 6 rebounds (3 of which were offensive), and 4 blocks.

-KU seems to have more energy, heart, and hustle, than North Carolina. This is good.

-Rush has stayed quiet. He has 12 points, but a quiet twelve. The games where you notice how good he is, are the games that KU has struggled in the past.

-KU has taken the fight to North Carolina. For the first 14 minutes, KU made them play their game. I expect to see KU reinstate their tempo.

-KU got their hands in every passing lane, and on every single ball that was on the floor. Defensively it was their best half of the year.

My prediction: KU will take over the first part of this half with their defensive intensity. UNC will make a couple runs both early and late...with KU hoping to hold on. If KU continues to attack, they will take this game by 10 or more.

To answer your question

To answer your question: Yes, I have been living under a rock. For the first time this week I have read an article concerning the KU-UNC match up this weekend, that for all intensive purposes decide who wins the National Title. Undoubtedly, the last week of newspaper clippings, Internet articles, water cooler banter, and blogs have been concerning the match up of Roy Williams versus that team that gave him his chance 2o years ago. "Benedict Williams" as he has been called, left KU in 2003 for North Carolina, only after a rejection of UNC three years earlier. Ever since then the Jayhawk faithful has taken time to rip him, mock him, and chastise him for going.

Many years ago, I had a crush on a girl. She was on the basketball team at Ozark. As number 12 in the rotation, she was not entitled to much playing time, an idea that absolutely killed her. At her small Christian school she played every minute of every game, scoring nearly 90% of her teams points. To be relegated to scrub status was a change in scenery for her. During the winter months, basketball engrossed her life, or should I say sitting on the bench engrossed her life. She began to feel really down. Her birthday was coming up, so I saw it as an opportunity to get her something to cheer her up.

I wrote Roy Williams a note explaining her situation. Within a week I received in the mail an autographed picture of Roy along with a note. During a busy basketball schedule at a top university, and what would eventually be a birth in the National Title game, he took time an wrote me a letter and sent an autographed picture.

He has said that after leaving Kansas he would wake up in the middle of the night (on the very few nights he got sleep) and throw up. It has been said that his hall of mementos at his Chapel Hill home is full of Kansas stuff. He golfs, he runs, and he wins. Everything a Kansas fan wants in a coach...it just so happens that his tie is a lighter shade of blue than we would hope.

I want to see a KU victory this week...but if the unthinkable should happen...I will break out my Tar Heel Blue on Monday and root for a good man.

If Steve Prefontaine were in my youth group...

Many years ago, Steve Prefontaine said this: "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." How true.

At the risk of alienating my high school students...I would like to make a confession. I love Jr. High youth ministry. High school is fun...but it really can't hold a candle to that of Jr. High ministry. You get more tears, more laughing, more gross stuff, more stupid stuff going on than any other job in the world. I am seriously considering inviting Mike Rowe to do a Dirty Jobs episode during Wednesday night youth group. Jr. High age is a blast.

I particularly love the challenge of it. High School students will give you the benefit of the doubt. They will go along with stuff. If an element fails, they can fill in the gaps and understand what you meant. If an illustration or lesson bombs, they are still able to get something out of it. They walk in wanting to hang out with their friends and wanting to learn for the most part. At this point in their lives, if they don't want to be there, they don't have to be there.

Jr. High kids on the other hand, you have to WOW them. Everything has to look thought out. You have to earn their trust. You have to make worship an experience for them. Simply put, you have to entertain to teach. They will tell you what they think. If it sucked, they will let you know. If it was great, they might not say anything.

We live in an age where mediocrity is celebrated, and sub par is idolized. William Hung, YouTube, and Anima are all examples of shoddy productions making it big. This works fine for video, but when it comes to real life stuff, Jr. High students expect the most of all. However, Youth ministry for some time seems to have forgotten that. Forgotten them. To be honest, most high school youth group kids will look past below average worship or lesson, but middle school kids are pickier. Whether it be their natural tendency towards ADHD or their lack of focus, in my experience the greater the level and quality of worship the better the kids will worship. It takes little to get a Jr. High mind off track, so I guess my job is to eliminate those distractions (be it below average musical worship, building noise, poor lesson structure, or a booger hangin' out of my nose, or an element gone horribly awry).

Let's face it, they are not the crowning jewel of ministry. At Jr. High age they are no longer cute to work with (children's ministry), beaming with the future in mind and the next world changers(high school/college age), or voting citizens who keep their problems to themselves (adult ministry). They are the middle men, past the age of innocence, but still waiting to become important (as youth ministries some times portray them as).

My question is this: Why does Jr. High get relegated to things? Don't they deserve our best?

Jr. High ministries commonly have less sponsors (if you have ever been to a Jr. High YG you have realized they definitely need more than High School; but what CPCC might lack in quantity, we make up for in quality), a not as talented band leading them, second hand lessons brought down from the High School meeting last week. Believe, a CIY event, challenged me to really think about Jr. High ministry. They showed me that a student ministry with Jr. High in mind can do wonders, can in fact change lives at a much more accelerated rate than say an adult ministry or children's ministry.

This is my call to all youth ministers out there who will ever read this:
Middle school students feel lost all the time...they feel constantly that better things await them and it is a travesty to treat them that way in ministry. They feel looked over by churches all the time: too young to do the cool high school stuff, but to old to get the candy and attention at children's church. The last thing they need is for churches to treat them the same way that society does.

I am have been thinking these last couple weeks about the quality and effort that I put forth when it comes to Jr. High ministry...It is my hope that no Jr. High student will ever say what I heard on student say a many years back at a former church of mine.

Riley (age 12), just after hearing his youth minister was leaving: "Just when I was finally going to get to spend time with him he is leaving."

For those whose best is yet to come, let us give our best now.