Is it a Christmas miracle or that which will doom February to the doldrums of the year?

Today as I was driving into the church, I found myself relishing in the fresh powder that was all over the place. For just an instant I was warmed by the illusion of warm fires, hot chocolate, family, friends, stockings hanging from the mantle, presents, the smell of mint, and presents of gold, myrrh and frankincense.

It came to an abrupt end as I was forced to slam on the brakes as some soccer mom in a minivan was completely disillusioned by the presence of snow on the

road. Apparently, green lights are only applicable in dry road conditions! This pericope brought to mind the attitude that Kansans take toward snow. Most Kansans that I have spoken with associate snow with family gatherings; gingerbread cookies; and various other Yuletide amenities; but what happens when there is no light at the end of the tunnel? Where does this affinity for the flakes go when the hope is gone?

It is my contention that the only thing that makes snow suffer

able is the understanding that Christmas comes directly following it. Where is your Christmas carols in February? Where are your presents in January? And during the final unexpected snow in March, to what portly man in red pajamas will you turn? Rest assured the man you wish was there, Old St. Nick, has abandoned you and left you with a cheap imitation known as the Easter Bunny (other than as slippers; he owns no heart warming capabilities!)

Understanding that snow is a great idea now and an inconvenience in February does well to hedge our emotions now. So if you run into me and expound on the beauty of snow; the crispness of the air; and the joy of catching snowflakes on your nose; chances are good that I will remind you of all the negative aspects of snow during your spring break (swimming suits + snowfall = frostbite); slipping on the ice and busting your face; or I will remind you the back breaking shoveling that comes with it?

Persecution in Central Park

For the last couple weeks in Jr. High Youth group, we have been studying thankfulness (see my last post). Two weeks ago we discussed how Paul was thankful for the community that he was a part of.

This week we discussed Paul's thankfulness for salvation. I think Paul had a little bit better grasp on salvation than we do. Why this is I can only speculate; however, I think it is because getting saved by God was an every day occurrence. If you read through Paul's list of tribulations in 2 Corinthians 11.24ff.:

Five times lashed by the Jews

Three times he was beaten with rods (Acts 16.23)

Once he was stoned (Acts 14.19)

Three times he was shipwrecked (Acts 27)

He was in danger from Jews (Acts 9.23ff.; 9.29; 13.50; 14.5;

He was in danger from Gentiles (Acts 14.5)

He was thrown in prison or under guard (Acts 16.23; 23.35)

Paul seemed to be saved by God a lot during his work. I wonder if that is why Paul seems so much more thankful for the work of Salvation. Salvation, for Paul, is a constant occurrence.

This is what I wanted our jr. highers to understand when we talked about being thankful for salvation. On Wednesday night, our jr. high students met at the north end of Central Park Park. Each group 0f 4 or 5 students was led by a sponsor or parent. Their job was to make the perilous trek 800 yards to the south in to the back room of our church. The room has no windows and only one entrance. Their enemies were 8 of our high school kids with the mission of persecuting our jr. high kids to no end (purple nurples, chest taps, noogies, whatever it takes). Once our students entered the back room I spoke to them about being thankful for their salvation, not only for their evading the persecution, but for their eternal salvation.

I played some gunfire in the background and the muslim call to prayer to let them experience what other Christians are going through around the world. It was a lot of fun. We took communion to end the night; as a celebration of what Jesus did for us to save us from our sins.

Thanksgiving and the Epistles

What was Paul thankful for? On what occasion did he find to give thanks to God? And what does it matter to Jr. Highers?

Tough questions that will all come to a head in the next couple weeks of Jr. High youth group.

Paul was thankful for all these things and it was very clear that he understood the place of thanksgiving in his life (the attitude not the holiday). It is a constant attitude and action. Paul mentions it third in his list of continual actions in 1 Thessalonians 5. It isn't the only time that he looks for thanksgiving in every action. Colossians 3.17 says: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Paul not only saw thanksgiving as an attitude for life but also an integral part of prayer life. It is interesting how often thanksgiving is attached to our prayer life. Paul reminds us in Phil 4.6 to present our prayers of thanksgiving to God. All to often our prayer lives return to our needs and concerns; but time is rarely spent on thanking him for the work he has already done. But what did Paul really have to say about thanksgiving and what was he thankful for:

(1) Paul thanks God because of the community he is in. In many of the letters that Paul writes he affirms the community of believers with thanksgiving for them. Granted, he upholds different aspects of that community in his thanksgiving (to the Romans he is thankful for their faith [1.8]; to the Corinthians it is the grace God has given in his dealings with them [1 cor. 1.4]; to the Ephesians he is tankful for their faith and their love for one another [1.15]; to the Thessalonians not once but twice [1.2; 1.3]; to Philemon [1.4-5]) but ultimately it is the chance to be in a loving community to of faith that Paul is drawn to. He instructs Timothy to pray and give thanks for all people during the course of his worship (1 Tim. 2.1-2).

(2) Paul is thankful for the gift of salvation. Romans 6.17-18: "But thanks be to God that, through you used to be slaves to sin...you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 7.25 seems to echo that same sentiment. Thankfulness for the gift of salvation is rampant through the works of Paul. The life that he was saved from through his encounter on the Damascus road is a gift that he is thankful for.

(3) Paul is appreciative of the grace that God has lavished upon him (2 Cor. 9.15). Paul is no stranger to the grace of God. He refers to himself as the "worst of sinners" (1 Tim. 1.12ff.). He holds himself up as an example of God's patience and grace. The same can be said of us. We have tested and expended the grace of God...and if God weren't all that he is our lives should have ended by now. Paul understands that the gesture of grace and the gift of grace is a call for thanksgiving.

Paul's thanksgiving was foundational to his contentment in life (Philippians 4.12) and it is key to our own contentment. If we are able to give thanks where thanks is due, it shows that we understand who is in control which allows us to recognize the provisions of God. Contentment lies in knowing the effort; love; and lengths to which God has striven for us. This isnt just a problem for Jr. Highers but for all of us.

My Sister and Jared

My Sister and Jared are now in Okazaki, Japan (and have been for 2 weeks) working for Mustard Seed Global Fellowship. If you want to keep up with them here is their blog....

http://thefareastforus.wordpress.com/

There is a link to the right for it as well. Check it out for some cool pictures and video of Japan.

"YOU...

follow me!" Its an imperative command that Jesus gives to his disciples. He might not use the word "you" but we all know who he is talking about.

Mark 1.17: "Come, Follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

So much has been written about these verses. Some would argue that it was a massive struggle for these guys to drop their nets and follow him. Others contend that it was a great honor to be called to follow a teacher.

Some point out that Jesus wanted these guys to follow him based on their specific skills; others think Jesus picked them explicitly because of their lack of skills.

I don't know about either of these contentions; however, I do know that Jesus called these guys to follow. But Why? Not "why these guys?" but "why follow?" So much learning today is passive, sit in a desk and listen up. So much of the learning then was passive, set in synagogue and listen up or copy this (until later in life when they would learn from a rabbi). Why does Jesus give these guys in-life training? A couple reasons:

(1) Discipleship is a journey. When you look at the book of Mark much of Jesus teaching comes on the way. Life isn't lived at a desk. Theory would only take these guys so far and definitely not through the trials that these guys would face later on. The only way to expect that these guys would come through the trials in life later would be for them to follow someone through their own. Theory just ain't gonna cut it. Mark continually mentions things on the way: his three passion statements in the book of Mark (8.27-9.1; 9.30; 10.32) come "on the way"; he asks the disciples who he is (8.27); he even healed people on the way (10.46). Disciples move and discipleship is a journey.

(2) Discipleship is a reordering of life. It is a placement of his ideals and vision above your own. Take up your cross is a command to relinquish your own desires and personal security to embrace that which is called of you.

(3) Discipleship has no end. A disciple can expect no better than his teacher. His demise will to be yours. And for many of the disciples it was. Discipleship is continuous expectation for the rest of your life...there is no terms and there are no release dates.

The False Worlds We Create (if you don't have time to read it all, just read the last paragraph)

"Today's youth want to be challenged" -- Wayne West, Jr. High Sunday school teacher, bullfighter

In the last three years as I have been in youth ministry, coached athletics, and worked at bull ridings for adults and youth, I have come to basically the same conclusion.

However, this conclusion has now come to fail me. I find that as I look at many of the situations around me, challenge is not the word I would put with it. Today, many people want security, a quality that we continually provide for our children (often longer than is needed). Here are a couple examples:

My soccer team has actually been in some games this year. I have pushed these kids harder than they really needed pushed, but for the first time in 3 years they are actually a decent team that has a chance of winning when they take the field. Some of these kids have taken me yelling at them as a negative. This year many parents have taken yelling at their precious suzy or timmy as "too aggressive" and "not very nice." Kids are complaining to their parents; parents are complaining to each other. It is not a good situation.

When I was growing up, I played all kinds of sports, excelling at none of them. I have been yelled at many times and in a couple different languages. Why? Because my coach knew I could be better than I was playing. Expecting the best out of people is the only way that you can get the best out of them. Me aiming low is not helping any of these kids get any better at soccer. Me patting tommy on the head and telling him that he is good at soccer isn't helping me, the team, or our chances of winning. If we want to eliminate competition lets get rid of everything that is laborious: instead of "hide and go seek" with its hiding and searching, we could let every kid run free in search of himself. What about instead of "tag your it" we could play "tag your special" with no designated tagger allowing each kid to remind himself or herself (we are going for equality here) that they are special in everyones sight.

That is one of the reasons I love being around the sport of rodeo. If you aint any good...you know pretty quickly. There is absolutely no way of hiding it. If you don't want to try...then you lose every time. And when you lose there is no one back there pointing out moral victories. Yesterday I saw a dad tell his kid to get up and walk out of the arena after being stepped on by a calf. Why is this? Because him lying there in the arena wasn't doing him any good and wasn't doing anyone else any good either.

What worries me is this idea that in sports everyone deserves a chance to play and everyone deserves equal playing time, and no one should get yelled at! We have spent so much time creating these false worlds that protect our kids from all aspects of real life. Upward! basketball and other places where everyone plays equal amounts are for those learning the game and should remain outside the box of common thinking when high school sports comes into play. Pissing and moaning about Johnny getting to play more or a coach yelling is not the correct way to go about anything.

The correct way is to get your butt in the gym, put on a game face, and figure out how far your heart will take you. If it is a matter of skill, a coach can help out, but if it is a matter of the heart then the ball is in your court.

I refuse to say bad things about a coach for this very reason: I have not been at their practice all week to see if little timmy has an ounce of fight in his blood for the ball. I have not been to practice all week to see if he has any kind of coachable spirit. I have not witnessed whether or not my kid has any kind of respect for his teammates or coaches. Therefore I will keep my mouth-shut.

People may disagree with me on that; but as I have seen both sides of coaching and parenting (at their best and at their worst); I cant help but feel uncomfortable about how many people have an opinion about the way coaches handle their business. If you look at them as people who are trying to achieve their own acclaim through the accomplishments of others you might be right. But also remember that they are preparing your student to work hard for everything that they get; to be part of the team even when it is hard; and to find the depth that they have to reach to excell at something. If you ask me, in this no-child-left-behind-world where many graduate and still cant read, sports seems to be the final real preparation for that hard-to-get-along-with-boss, the unfair workplace; the disappointing grade on a college test; or the rejection that comes with life. We don't need less sports; we need more.

PBR Questions

This might be my fault but I doubt it.

My association with the PBR is small, but my interest in it is great. My home page on my computer is www.pbrnow.com. I get e-mail updates about recent activity within the organization and during competition. This may be my fault for being on the ground floor of all the pbr information.

But I do not know when the PBR became so much like the WWE. One thing that bothers me is the amount of trash talk during the World Cup of Bull Riding. The CEO, Randy Bernard, talked bad about team Canada; JW Hart (team USA's captain) talked bad about Adriano Moras (team Brazil's captain); Team Brazil and team USA talked trash to each other; Cody Lambert talked bad about everyone. It was crazy.

One thing I have really liked about bull riding is the understanding that they are not competing against each other necessarily; but against their bulls. I fought in a freestyle contest the other day, a couple of the guys were talking trash to each other before hand. Not the playful stuff, but the getting in their face and talking smack. Both of them got run over (I refuse to talk trash because Im not good enough to back it up). There is the unwritten rule in my mind that "if you cant beat your bull, you cant beat anyone else." The trash talking didn't need to be there in my mind.

Something else that bothers me about the current state of the PBR is the Television contract with Versus. PBR fell into the same trap as the NHL. Each of them signed a more lucrative contract at the expense of viewership. The PBR would have been better served to take less money and less televised events for the opportunity for greater exposure. To be bumming around on Versus when less primetime, but greater exposure (without having to pay extra for it) is the smarter move.

Other things that bug me is the talk about coaches and the big deal that comes with it. There is nothing wrong with having some one coach you (I would actually endorse it, thanks to Bennie Bob), but the whole discussion came about because of a reride controversy by JB Mauney. He was awarded a reride on a bull, that was a questionable decision by the judges. With the instant replay rule, anyone can hit the button to have a replay viewed. This replay could have overturned the reride option. Having a coach to make the decision for a rider to hit the button seems to be a little to much micromanaging. Bullriding schools have furthered the sport (I was helped out a ton at the bullfighting school). Older riders mentor younger ones all the time, but when it comes to competition, your ability and decision making in competition needs to be all your own.

I think the PBR is the best bullriding in the world. As much as the CBR wants to rival it; the PBR has the best bulls and the best riders in the world. The CBR is on the right track to gaining equality by not bogging themselves down in the trash talking crap; and video replay controversies; and sponsorship for every single aspect including the bells ringing on the underside of the bull.

A thought..

I was trying to get to soccer practice the other day. I hadn't eaten anything all day, so I decided to stop and get some sustenance at my friendly local Dillions Market. I walked in and grabbed a box of fruit snacks; 2 pizza lunchables and a gatorade.

As I approached the lines at the front of the market in order to pay for my items, there seemed to be a bottle neck at both of the lines that were manned by humans. Each line was filled with 4 or 5 people. I am currently reading a book called Are We Unique? which lays out the differences between human and animal intellect; the last chapter of which lays out the inadequacy of Artificial intelligence. With or without the book I still do not like using the self checkout lanes for four reasons: (1) There is nothing that beats reading the name tag of the high school girl that sacks your groceries and watching her face freak out wondering how this creeper in line knows her name; (2) I saw the Matrix (and in the off chance that robots do actually take over the world, I want to be on the ground floor so you can say that you read it here first), I think that by checking out at the unmanned lanes is simply leading to a machine dominated world; (3) Many have hypothesized that I do not get enough human interaction anyhow, so secluding myself even farther from society is not a wise decision; (4) cant beat human interaction.

Since I was on a deadline and had to be somewhere, I decided to forgo my addiction to human operated conveyor belts and lazers and go with the readily available self checkout lane. As I walked up to the only open lane (should have been my first clue). The nice lay who did the voice overs continually reminded me that I should remove all items from the scanner. After a couple minutes of muttering to myself quietly to myself, but also loud enough for the attendant to hear that the scanner was clean, I decided to move over to one of the other occupied lanes. I move to the only line with one person in it. As a quick reminder underneath the title "Self Checkout" reads the subtitle "Express lane," meaning quicker than others.

The woman in front of me scanned her items in a timely fashion. The problem lies not in her speed of scanning but the fact that she possessed a coupon for every item that she had purchased. Her need to scan each and every coupon that had not been sorted from a coupon book roughly the size of the unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo is really what slowed the whole process down. Half of them didn't scan, so the number had to be typed in manually. The 10 minutes that this was going on the whole world, meaning every line around me, was all moving in the direction I desire; my line remained stuck. Luckily after all the waiting she was able to pay for her groceries. Swipe a card; nope. She started placing coins and bills into the slots until she had covered the cost. I did the math in my head. All the time wasted saved her almost 30 cents. Book the cruise and make the down payment on the BMW.

My transaction with 10 less items lasted a total of one minute: the definition of express.

The Struggles of Jr. High Ministry:

Every now and then a great idea for a series comes into my head. I feel like this series on community is a good one. The thing is, during these series there is usually one lesson that is extremely difficult to teach.

One thing I have realized in my work with Jr. High Students is that they have trouble comprehending really abstract thoughts. How do you explain faith; or hope; or love to Jr. High students?

As a matter of fact: how do you explain them to me?

Word studies just wont cut it. Most of the kids could care less that I can conjugate "elpis".

Its a different world in the days of Middle School ministry.

Long Day

No matter how much you shove into a day...there are those that expect more than can be alloted for in 24 hours.

Perfect example:

I got crap done this morning at a leisurely pace. Around 11:45 this morning my day got much more hectic. I met Josh Woodard for lunch at Taco Bell where we discussed Oasis conference and the upcoming fiasco that it will inevitably be. I look foreword to working with those guys with it, but trying to do a conference in a place that you cant visit right now is a difficult proposition; especially in this case where those that above me in the ladder have not put as much thought into it as I have and are not in as big of a hurry to get crap done.

Left that meeting to head into the church where I really didn't accomplish much; aside from plugging in my computer and answering questions that I didn't really know the answer too.

Soccer practice started at 4:00 this afternoon. I arrive half an hour early and answered more questions that I didn't really know the answer too. Coached soccer (or what at least could be mistakened for soccer if your eyes were crossed in just the right way) for a couple hours and then went to a coaches meeting.

I was told then that I needed to design a hooded sweatshirt; grade kids for soccer; and that some families had complained that I did not go to meals with the team last year. To this last one I reply that I do not have the money to spend $30 every time we have a soccer game. McDonalds, Taco Bell, or Arbys all fall into my price range and if they would like to accompany me there I will gladly oblige.

After the coaches meeting, I was supposed to stay for the parent meeting. I walked in and introduced myself and then left. The meeting hadn't started yet but my schedule was becoming ever-looming so I decided to speed along the process.

Left there and gassed up my truck. Then went to Tractor Supply to get some 2-4-D broadleaf weed killer to kill weeds at my land. Since it was going to rain tuesday, wednesday, and thursday this week tonight was going to be my only chance to spray this week, seeing as I have to Manhattan on Friday and Joplin on Saturday.

Got the weed killer and drove home. I was home long enough to go to the bathroom and pick up the chainsaw. I drove to my grandma's house to get a sprayer for my weed killer. Tested all of her sprayers and shot the bull for a couple minutes.

Showed up at the land at 7:15 and sprayed weeds until 9:00 p.m. I don't know if it is illegal to spray past dark, but I did. Don't know if it said anything about it in the directions but who knows. Found an infestation of poison ivy, bind weed, lespediza, and johnson grass up there. Killed the first three; but need to get round up for the johnson grass.

I decided to go see my girlfriend at this time. Ate a frozen pizza (my first meal since noon) and watched a half an hour of CSI: Miami. That dude who says the serious stuff all the time is a real piece of work. Left her apartment at 10:30ish to arrive home, where I was promptly questioned about: my whereabouts; my financial ability; my current agenda; my mail; and many other things, which lead me to believe that although I had a quite busy and, in the grand scheme of things, successful day, there are those who would believe that more was to be asked of me. Long Day!

God should have made the day longer like he did in Joshua 10. His was a little more action packed though!

Fredonia Rodeo

This last weekend was the Fredonia Bullriding.

It was the last chance for a while for Quentin and Colby to ride so we took advantage.

For those of you that were wondering why I was walking funny at church, in the middle clip you can see the calf shove his horn into my stomache and slam me agianst the slide gate; hence the limp and purplish bruising all over my lower back. If you don't understand what you are watching, here is what happened: when Quentin slid down on his calf, it laid down in the chute, and upon returning to its feet he slammed me into the slide gate. End of story.

It was a good time. I cant wait to get my arena built so we can practice up for next season. The Central Park Rodeo team has done well so far without the practice, so I expect great things when we can do this weekly.

Thank you very much to the Kansas Jr. Bullriders Association for all that they do. If you want to see results or a schedule of upcoming events, go to their website at www.kjba.org. It is a great organization for kids to get experience with rodeo. It is a rough stock only organization that puts on shows all over the Central and eastern part of Kansas. If you are interested in rodeoing and from around Topeka, give me a call or shoot me an email and we can make it happen.

Thanks. Great job Colby and Quentin!

A buddy of mine now

A couple weeks ago, I was in Falcon, Colorado at Rodeo Bible Camp. Most of you are shocked that they even have one of those things. Yes, it was a legitimate bible camp. Throughout the day each student would do chores; attend worship service, study and practice their rodeo events, and spend quite time with God. Looking back on the things that we had to get done; it is easy to see why I was up 5:15 or 5:30 in the morning to do chores. I wasn’t even aware that God was up at 5:15; but that hour or hour and a half before the kids were up was a blessing to my life that I would rank second amongst his blessings that week. The first was a conversation that happened between the other bullfighter and a student.

The students name was Cody. He actually wasn’t a student. About 3 weeks ago, a bull stepped on his ankle, crushing it. Goodbye rodeo scholarship; Goodbye professional rodeo. He will be out for about 2 months, until he will receive a full ankle replacement at the age of 18. At one of Grandma Jeanie’s four course dinners at camp, Cody was attempting to glorify his injury. The last statement he made was this: “If that bull had killed me that day, dying in the arena doing what I love. I am glad I knew where I was going.” Zac, the other bullfighter called him on it.

“Really?” Zac asked. Cody said yup. “You are really sure you knew where you were going?” Cody was unsure of the follow up question. “Are you positive?”

Zac was like a shark with blood in the water. Zac would be the first to tell you that he didn't always live the Christian life. One fateful night he met the God of this universe very intimately. Since that life-altering night; Zac has been on fire for God. He shoes horses now, and is one of the best farriers in SE Colorado, but there is no question about what (or should I say whom) he has really given his life too.

Cody’s faith had really been circumstance and fluff up to that point and Zac called him on it. He could tell that Cody was fooling himself with his own false bravado. Zac shared his faith with Cody that night. I sat at that table for an hour and a half without saying a word. Cody went foreword that night, was baptized later that week. Talking to him later that week, there was an assurance to his voice about where he was going and whom he was living for.

Zac is one of those guys whose passion has challenged me to rekindle my relationship with God. Funny how you go somewhere to teach and end up learning!

The Mulvane Rodeo

Colby and Quentin rode down in Mulvane this weekend as part of the Kansas Jr. Bull Riders.

Colby rode his sheep for a score of 64 points. Quentin got bucked off of his holstein calf. It was a pretty good time.

Invocation was given by Jess Pope who also took it to a steer later on with score of 81 points.

Soccer Camp

Soccer Camp is happening at Boswell Park. In a couple weeks (July 27-31st) there we will be putting on soccer camp for grades k-5. Cost is $15 and each student will receive a soccer ball and a shirt.

Burlington Rodeo

Colby, Trey, and Quinten Rodeod in Burlington this weekend here's the video.

Restore: Hope

Today was a very good day.  We started it off at morning wake up, with underwear races.  The kids were significantly better at it than the sponsors; but we held our own.  The band once again was awesome and did a great job of leading worship.  During d-group each student was told to write down some pressure, stressful thing in their life, or a sin on a piece of tile.  They were told to carry the tile around with them all day.  At night in closing his message, Cody challenged them to bring foreword their tile and lay it at the front of the stage, like they are giving it over to Jesus.  Cody once again did an excellent job of challenging them from Nehemiah 4.  We ended the night by beating each other up on the hanging log.

Restore: Vision

We are in the middle of our first full day of camp here at Horn Creek.  We arrived yesterday at 11.30.  The kids are having a blast.  So far this has been a great camp.  The worship last night was phenomenal.  The kids are doing awesome and I think that they are having a lot of fun.  Our group is growing very tight so far, this is a great thing.  

The first nights theme was Restore: Vision.  They were challenged to see the world around themselves and to open up their eyes to the suffering in the world around them.  It was very powerful.  Ben, Storm, and the band led some rocking worship to start the night off.  Cody came in and really challenged them from Nehemiah 1 and 2.  Then we hiked up to the tubing hill where we looked up at the stars.  It was a great night. 

RESTORE: Jr. High Camp 2009

I am ready to go.  I finished the book today.  Finished my sign and mosaic last week.  Now Jr. High Camp is a short 12 hour bus trip away.  WOO HOO!!!

Do you ever get that feeling...

Its not really of discontentment or regret; dissatisfaction or of worthlessness; but more a curiosity about life.  The last couple weeks seem almost like an out of body experience for me.  It is almost as if I have been watching my own life unfold like a television show.  You can watch the highs and the lows, hearing the music subtly rise and fall with the change in energy level.  

I have been able to take a vacation and fight bulls; seen a lot of kids activities; taught some lessons; and even get ready for the summer; over the last couple weeks.  Still there is a question of unfulfillment surrounding everything that I do.  I reading the other day and one thought kept running through my mind: "I don't even know who I am anymore."  So many things have been happening that are out of my element, it seems as though my personality and who I truly am have been swept aside in the currents and rip-tides that life seems to hold.  

Hear me on this; this is not a crisis of confidence or a question of belonging or worth; but simply a look into the depth of soul.  Charlie Brown is the only other person I have heard voice these thoughts.  It cant be just me and big headed charles brown!

Along the Dividing Lines of Hostility

A school not to far from the church is having an end racism rally this next weekend.  I really don't know why, but they keep sending stuff to me.  Its not that I don't care about racism or that I am racist, I just find it interesting that schools, by whom most are attempting to free from all relgion, would ask me to come to an end racism rally.

Here are my thoughts on this issue.  Any school that teaches the merits of evolution and attempts to free itself from religion, should see the repercussions of racism via this teaching.  Race was a vital factor within the rise of evolution.  Hear me on this, I am not trying to absolve the church from any wrong doing in the manner of slavery during the 1800's.  I know that many churches in the south preached slavery from the pulpit and defended it with the biblical text (some have even gone so far as to suggest black skin as the mark by which we can identify descendants of Cain in Genesis 4.15).  However, when you look at the movements for equality and civil rights, it is impossible to distinguish them from religious movements during those times.  The civil rights movements of the 60's and 70's were championed and birthed from the pulpit (and possibly stunted and starved by social groups like the black panthers, who based their movement upon Marxist philosophy, and other religiously unaffiliated groups).

My point is this: The only equality that can ever be found, arises in our relationship with God.  Only when we view all people as created by God, can we ever begin to put aside the petty differences that we have between men.  The ACLU cannot provide equailty; neither can Legislation.  Marches and hearings can only change things, if the views behind them are equally founded.  The issue at hand is not of rules or actions, but of world-view.  

So any school that would like to end racism or any other problem for that matter; please make sure that your own teachings with in the walls help your cause, not hinder them.  

The only reason to ever view each other equally, is if we all began at the same point, in the same image, with the same purpose.  Without an equal beginning, we will never live in equal living.  Only when we we realize that we ALL were created in the image of God (Gen. 1.27); that we ALL have sinned and fall short of what we were supposed to be (Rom. 3.23); and that God desires to have relationship with ALL of us.

Generational Gaps

I would argue that the world cannot continue to change at its current pace.  Interestingly enough the generational gaps are widening, while the generations are narrowing.  A look over the last 15 years has brought remarkable change to technology, relationships, and life as we know it.  While I do think the rate of change can quicken, I believe that at some point the pace will cease to be improved upon, such as the natural limits for a sprinter in the 100 meter dash (The record can still be improved upon, but will never be 7 flat).  Along with technological advances, generations have been mutating faster than we could ever have imagined.  From the 1830’s to the 1930’s roughly the same style of dress was worn and the same values adhered too.  Likewise, there was little change prior to 1830.  Fashion and values have change greatly over the last decade, at constantly increasing rates.  Technology, in the same way, has slowly been changing quicker and quicker over the last decade.  Cassette tapes held on for 20 years, CD’s are becoming obsolete after 15 (kind of makes you rethink the $300 you dropped on your new ipod, knowing that it might be obsolete in 5 years).  VHS tapes went strong for a long while until usurped by DVDs, only to be supplanted by Blue Ray (if you don’t know what that is, ask your kids). 

            Why the sudden influx in advances and the constant need for change?  Walt Mueller in his book Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture, would attribute the change to a fateful day, November 22, 1964, when Kennedy was assassinated.  Between the atom bomb and Kennedy’s assassination, the world (and most prominently America) no longer believed in the rise of civilization and the upward trend of humanity.  He accredited the rise of postmodern thinking to this twenty year period in America. 

            I say all this for this very reason, the generations are changing at an ever increasing pace due to a lack of respect for truth and a constant Technological advancement.  If the church is unable to keep up and stay applicable; our churches are one generation from dying.  The search for answers; hope; and meaning are what the very church was created for.  

Just something to think about.

 

Trey's first ride

This was Trey's first ride on 1604.

Soundtrack is provided by the PBR Allstars.

We drove to Kingman, Kansas for the Kansas Jr. Bullriders Association on Saturday.

  

It was a pretty cool experience for him and for me.  

Next up: Burlington, Kansas at the end of May.

The kids aren't my whole life...

so I have decided to write about other things today.  

NEW STUFF IN THE WORLD OF TRAVIS!

I am trying to buy a house.  My uncle wants me to buy his house in May, but I was looking elsewhere until then.  I found one that I thought was cool.  It was on three acres in North Topeka. It was 2 and a half acres of pasture with a barn.  The people who live it now had horses back there.  The house was fairly small but that is all I really need.  My Realtor and I were concerned about the sagging of the plaster ceilings.  Someone else put a bid in on it this week.  I was pretty disappointed.  Overall Im sure the decision to wait was a good call, but now I am on to "plan B."  My uncles house is here in town.  Not sure how much I would like living in town.  

My plan was to live in the house I was looking at for 10 or 11 years then move to the Alma pasture.  My Family has pasture down there.  I would like to buy it from my parents and build down there.  If I was to move in town, I think I will try to expedite the process and move down there in 7 years or so.  I have to have room to breathe.

As for the relationship status that rocked the world (at least it did in my youth group), I am dating Tricia.  Most of you probably bet against me dating someone, so in your face.  Don't really have much to say about that.  

The house; the relationship; what else?

Went to the PBR in Kansas City on Sunday and got in for free.  Good stuff.

Getting ready for our High School all nighter this sunday night.  I'm looking foreward to it. Should be a good time.

That is pretty much all that has been going on.  Not really much.  I played bass in youth band tonight.  Its good to have new challenges.

There is nothing like being convicted

Conviction has a weird way of coming and going.  Conviction is not universal.  It doesn't even happen every time that something that comes up.  You can be perfectly fine with something on Sunday, but convicted on Monday or vice versa. Tonight I was convicted.  Though I don't know whether my conviction is in regard to a sin or not, I guess it depends on whether you would call it a sin.

I am herby repenting of "hurry."  I had this same feeling a couple weeks ago (see here), but tonight's conviction was worse.

I have succumb to the idolatry of hurry.  I call it idolatry for lack of a better term.  The symbol could be a watch or something (we already have them in gold, so it would save us the time of making one: dang it I did it again).  Sure others might have it worse, or struggled with this type of idolatry longer, but I have now made a life of it.

We talked about hurry tonight at youth group.  John Ortberg in his book The Life You've Always Wanted says this: "Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day."  If there is one group that struggles with it more without noticing it, I think it is High School Students.  Trying to balance a social life (both friends and more-than-friends); athletics; work; family; and school; their life can turn into post-it-note calendars and be reduced to reheated meals.  Without noticing, my life had turned into this mockery, where I bowed to nothing but my calendar.  24 hours in a day just wasn't enough.  

My biggest problem was this: I didn't realize what it was doing to my relationship with God.  

After reading through some of Luke, I saw two stories back-to-back that can explain the effects of hurry.  In Luke 10.30ff. Jesus tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  I wonder about the Priest and the Levite.  Did they pass by because they were on their way somewhere and didn't want to be bothered?  Did they pass by to protect themselves?  Why did these men skip this guy?  It doesn't really matter, I guess.  They skipped him because to stop would have been to waste time.  They had better things to be doing.  The Samaritan; however, apparently had time to kill.  He came to the man (33); bandaged him up (34); poured oil and wine on his wounds (34); took him to an inn (34); apparently spent the night with him; came back the next day (35); and apparently came back one more time to see him because he said he would (35).  Serious time invested in this guy for no better than he new him.  I'd say he pretty much cleared his schedule to be with this guy.  Ortberg says: "Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don't have."  When you look at Jesus in the book of Luke, he is constantly interrupted by people.  I am not sure, but I can't think of a single time Jesus hurried.  Not once did he not have time for people, or rush through something.  Everything seemed to happen at his pace.

If the Samaritan had been me, my agenda would have come first, and that guy would still be lying there.  Hurry gets in the way of us loving people.

Second thing hurry does: takes our focus off of God.  The never next story is about Martha and Mary.  Martha is distracted by all the preparations that had to be made (40), but Mary is was sitting at Jesus feet (39).  A person hurrying is a person missing the presence of God.  Hurry makes us buzz through the blessings of God.  Hurry makes us miss the work of God.  Hurry preoccupies us from seeing God's movement, feeling God's heartbeat, and hearing God's words.

2 stories with remarkably similar people: some who were too hurried to see God and his work; some who sat aside their own agenda for his sake.

Sadly enough, I know which one(s) I am in these stories.  But in the words of Dan Aykroyd's character in Tommy Boy: "The first step is identifying it the second is washing it off."

Celebrate Jesus, Celebrate

"I am joy impaired." John Ortberg first said it, I live it. Sure enough my joy level is not what it should be. Augustine said the "Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot." I have a little celebration in my right pinkie but thats about it. As I have been preparing for our youth group lesson tonight, I found something interesting.

Any contact that you have with the trinity has as a byproduct: joy.

Luke 15 tells the story of the wayward son. When he reunites with his Father, joy leaps off the page.

John 15 has Jesus explaining the purpose of his statements. He told the disciples this so that his joy in them might be complete.

Galatians 5 lists the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is the second one mentioned.

This finding raises some questions in my own life?

Is my lack of joy due to the limited contact I experience with God? If joy is really a byproduct of that realtionship, what's wrong with my relationship?

BELIEVE CONFERENCE

Last weekend, 19 of our kids and 4 of my sponsors took the long trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma for Believe Conference.

It was a great weekend. Our kids love going on trips like that. Believe is a 24 hour event that is solely devoted to teaching to Jr. High Students. Everything from programing to material is centered around short attention spans. I love it because I think like a Jr. High student, and learn like a Jr. High Student. This year they studied through Jeremiah 1, and the call on his life. The theme was "Speak." Following Jesus was easier for me in Jr. High than really doing anything with it, so I thought it was an awesome theme.

What the kids got out of it, I cant be sure. Call me pessimistic, but I think most of my kids have heard most of it before. A majority of my kids had grown up in church and Christian school, so this was nothing new to them. I was really challenged by it, but many of them seemed almost immune to the fact that anything was going on. The worship was really good and they liked that. I don't really know a good way to prep for a conference like this, so Im not sure how this stuff really effected them.

Honestly, I felt my high schoolers who went to help got more out of it than anyone. They seemed to have grown closer and talk about this experience constantly. I have one who wants to be Brent the Stunt guy, and another who is a little "Eric the Painter."

Between Jared Hall the illusionist (who was awesome), the Rubyz (good stuff too); and the aforementioned it was a great weekend. I thoroughly recommend it for everyone.

It was a great week, and our kids came back fired up to worship, but I am not sure how fired up they were to "Speak."

The Political effect on Jr. High Ministry

I knew it was coming; however, this soon was a surprise. Party affiliations are just one thing that has now crept into Middle School ministry. Didn't see that coming. I thought we were going to have a fight tonight about it.

Every now and then you have one of those, What-on-earth-am-I-doing-with-my-life-moments, in youth ministry...just another one happened tonight. They arn't as often now as in the beginning, but still so hilarious.

Here at Central Park, we are somewhat diversified congregation on Wednesday nights. Every other day of the week we are a middle class white congregation. Wednesday nights bring in families with money, without money, or somewhere in between. We have hispanic kids, white kids, and black kids under this roof every Wednesday night. For a brief glimpse, the Church looks like the ethically-barrier free, non-culture-bound entity that it was made to be. It is awesome.

Tonight we discussed obedience, out of Daniel 1. The purpose was to show them how obedience in small things allows us to become more obedient in larger things. Daniel 1 practices Daniel for the Lions den in Daniel 6. Daniel 1 sets the stage for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3.

The question was simple: What is obedience? They answered swiftly and correctly.

Is there anyone who is difficult for you to obey? Suddenly a more conservate student raised his hand.

"Caleb, lets hear it." I said.

His response was fitting considering his infatuation with war and history. "Obama!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

I began to laugh. "Why, Obama?"

"Because he wants to take our guns and distribute wealth."

I composed myself briefly, in order to move on. Question time at jr. high youth group, is always and adventure, that I try to move through as quickly as possible. But in less time than it took you to read the last statement, one of our more "fiery" (for lack of a better term) neighborhood girls named Mykayla shot a glance his direction that slightly resembled the way Frodo looked when possessed by the ring, shot her arm over the back of the pew and yelled, "Don't you be talking about my Obama." I thought she was coming over the pew at him. In rage and in muscle, I think she had the upper hand.

I would have been worthless protecting him, because the second the words came out of her mouth, tears came out of my eyes. I fell onto the floor, writhing in my own laughter. For the life of me, I don't remember what I said in response, but whatever it was, it came in the spurts of breathing. I don't know where the lesson went from there, I honestly cant remember, but I am sure it wasn't good.

Afterward we had cinnamon rolls and shot army men with rubber bands. Fitting.

Post Script:

Watched all 3 Lord of the Rings films this last week on the advice of a couple of my high schoolers. I have one question: the stares between Frodo and Sam seemed awful seductive? It seemed like every time they looked at each other, it was awful long and awkward.

Started reading The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. It is a phenomenal book. Great story and great apologetical study. I love it and can't wait to finish it tonight.

Super Bowl Party!

The day of the Superbowl was only more busy for the men who suited up tonight. It is fitting that my last blog was on hurrying, because that is what I felt like I was doing all day. Did Kurt Warner have to build sub sandwhiches before church? Did Troy Palumalu pull his groin playing flag football?

This morning we as a youth group made 144 sub sandwiches in order to raise money for CIY and Jr. High Camp. I showed up later than I wanted, and did not have enough tomatoes. Stress level 8.5

I was counting money right after church, waiting for the last person to leave, so I could deliver the only 2 subs I sold. Stress level 6

I drove home (15 minutes) and dropped off two sandwiches (taking 3 minutes) and then drove back into town (15 minutes). Stress level 7

I stopped at Walmart to get a couple things for the party and to grab a football for our youth group superbowl football game. Stress level 3 (the people at Walmart get me)

Football went well; however, trying to spread the ball around to 12 people on your team is difficult. Stress level 2

The party was ok; we moved a couch into the balcony, since our seating is gone. We kicked empty two liter bottles at a make shift field goal assmbled on the stage. We tailgated in the balcony...it was awesome. There are times when I don't connect well with some of our kids. I don't know what to do about that. I want to do my job well, which stresses me out. Stress level 9

After most of the kids left, I was able to hang out with someone I have grown fond of. After talking to her, I felt alot better, plus it was much anticipated on my part. I needed that. Stress level 1

All in all it was a good day.

Hurry up and read this!

I have been reacquainting my self with an old friend. I first read John Ortberg's book, The Life You've Always Wanted, my sophomore year of college. If you are looking for a solid book on the spiritual disciplines, that is a pleasure to read, this is the perfect book for you. He takes a real simple approach in showing the effect that spiritual habits have on your life.

I have been reading a couple books on the disciplines in preparation for an upcoming series in both Jr. and Sr. High Youth Group. I was reading the chapter on "slowing" last night. Ortberg lumps this idea of slowing down into the realm of a discipline. I was first greatly intrigued that he would put something like this in there. First I was confused, then I was convicted. Jesus often withdrew and I can't think of a single example of him rushing through something. Ortberg makes three great statements about hurry:

"Love and hurry are fundamentally incompatible. Love always takes time, and time is one thing hurried people don’t have."

"Following Jesus cannot be done at a sprint. If we want to follow someone, we can’t go faster than the one who is leading.”

"Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart."

My life is hectic, by no other fault than my own. I realized this as I swung around the fourth straight car on Topeka Blvd. for no other reason that she was going 2 mph under the speed limit. As I muttered under my breath at her, my thoughts went back to this chapter.

Ortberg gives homework in this book. One of the tasks for this section was to deliberately drive in the slow lane and stay there. Making a conscious effort to slow down is a task that is easier said than done.

Jeremiah and the middle schoolers

Worship was a bit different tonight. Instead of having our youth band lead us it was a hodgepodge of different sights, sounds, and sanities. We started out tonight with a little kids worship dvd with all the smiling people. Second we moved on to Shackles; a song about the freedom we have in Christ, in not so big of words. Lions and Romans 16 rounded out the worship set. Singing Romans took me back to King Solomon Christian Camp with Harold Pittman on lead vocals.

In our small groups, the kids looked up different passages of scripture that talk about one aspect of the word of God. Its like a sword (Hebrews 4.12); its like lamp and life preserver (Psalm 119.105-107); its like food from God (Deuteronomy 8.3); it is eternal (Matthew 24). Exodus 4.11-12 is God telling Moses that he will speak for him.

Jeremiah is an interesting character, who has a conversation with God about the words he will take to his people. The words that we speak when we are performing God's will are the words that God has given us. That amazes me! The words that we speak when performing the tasks of God, are the words that God speaks through us. If you look at the life of Jeremiah, he faced some issues that face middle schoolers. Peer pressure and bullying in Jeremiah 28. Ostracization in Jeremiah 38.

Afterward we played flour Jenga. Essentially you build a sand castle out of flour, with a sweet tart on top. Each kid sticks a toothpick into it, trying not to demolish it. Which ever kid knocks it over, they have to pick up the sweet tart with their mouth. We made a mess of the sanctuary, and many of the kids' black shirts, but all in all it was a success.

BTW: We still need a gym or large area...or a big warm front.

Advocacy: Who's side am I on?

I have always seen my job as a cultural go between, with the hope and ambition of working myself out of a job.

I understand that this is a mouthful, but as you break it down, it makes more sense. The way I see my job as youth pastor is not as a go between from parents and teenagers, but as a cultural bridge builder, whose purpose is to understand both cultures and teach both the methods and techniques to relate. The working myself out of job is my hope that as adults and youths learn how better to connect so that I will become unneeded.

Of course the other half of my job is leading kids to fall in love with Jesus, but for the time being I would like to focus on the previous statement.

Part of my job is to understand facebook, the social hierarchy of middle school, the appeal of halo, and exactly why punching is flirting in Jr. High.

Part of my is also spent informing parents on facebook, the struggles of high school, teenage relationships, and other things that their kids are dealing with.

So it begs the question: If the parents don't know these things, is it because the kids don't want them to know?

I am not talking about any particular circumstance at all, but the overall understanding that parents have of the teenage world. It is just like when your parents came to your grade school when you were a kid. For all you knew, they didn't have a clue what went on there; but suddenly the world where you can be your own person, smashes headfirst into the world where you will always be a mama's boy. See what I mean? The teenage world is very mysterious (and way overblown in movies) and I wonder if that is how the teens like it?

Last week, Jason Hildebrandt and I gave a workshop for parents about FaceBook (very few showed up, but that is a different article for a different time). I was reprimanded by a couple students for teaching their parents this teen-only tool.

Part of the teenage appeal, is that fact that parents will shake their head in frustration as they try to understand.

So who's side am I on?

I don't really know!

Infamous and famous mean the same thing

My students have an inflated view of me. Those surrounding me at the church are in the same boat.

Once and for all, I would like to set the record straight.

Last year was my first year on the Oasis Conference planning board. As we were looking for a speaker, I had mentioned something about Steve Carter from Mars Hill. Some how, word got out that I knew Rob Bell (from the Nooma fame).

I do not know Rob Bell; have never met Rob Bell; and cannot ever see myself meeting Rob Bell.

This whole puffed up view of me as a person was only continued at CIY. This year at CIY, we had Matt Bayless as our band. Me and Matt got to spend a whole summer together a couple years ago, working for CIY. He's a great guy, who is very talented.

My kids would see me talking to him and immediately understand me as cooler than I really am.

Most of my girls at CIY had a crush on a guy by the name of Brandon from St. Louis Christian College. In order to embarrass them, I walked up to him to point my girls out to him. As I reached him, I ask, "Are you Brandon from St. Louis?"

He answered, "Yes, how did you know?"

To which I replied, "You're kind of a big deal!"

At this point, Tommy the drummer walked by and shouted "Hey, T-Long!"

Brandon looked at me and asked, "Are you T-Long?"

I said, "Yes, how did you know?"

He answered, "you're kind of a big deal!" We proceeded to have a pretty good talk after that.

Why do I tell these stories? Because last night I was trying to defend my anonymity. I reassured someone that I fly under the radar most places I go.

We walked into Starbucks and a guy from behind the counter yelled out my name. I hadn't seen him in a while so I talked to him for a minute. I chalked it up to random chance.

We left there, because the saxaphonist sounded like he was dying, and went to Barnes and Noble. As I approached the counter to pay for my books, the woman behind the counter, whom I have never seen before, said, "Who are you? I see you at every Seaman event, and people are always trying to talk to you?"

These two events did not help my anonymity defense. For my kids that read this...I assure you that most of the world is oblivious to my existence. Though you have seen me rub elbows with some of the finest people alive, I promise you my life is relatively small compared to the greater existence of the human race.

To all those concerned:

As I write this, there is a countdown timer inside my head ticking ever faster until six o'clock tonight. What happens at six o'clock you might ask: a convergence upon Central Park Christian Church by all ages; young and old alike. Jeff's childrens celebration downstairs is a Wednesday night dinner and lesson for area kids from 5th grade down to pre-school. He has at his disposal the fellowship hall and 3 class rooms. Our fellowship hall is the only large room we have in our 80 year old building. In the balcony, the womens bible study will meet in one of our class rooms. Across the street, the mens bible study will reside in one of their class rooms. Sandwiched in the middle of this mayhem will be me, alongside 25-30 rowdy jr. highers. I say middle because it is literally the middle of the building. Our second floor consists of offices; a parlor (a long narrow room with carpet); and an 80 year-old sanctuary, that looks as though Martin Luther could have graced its pulpit. As Churches are prone to do, our people protect our sanctuary. There is to be no running, eating, puking, drinking, aerobic exercises, smelling, pinching, or any other acts of non-reverence.

Paul talks about contentment in Philippians. I doubt the coveting of a gym was really in Paul's mind there, but I guess it applies. I am not saying the church needs a gym; however, for the sanity of the youth pastor i.e. me, a large room or any structure where energy can be expelled would greatly prolong my mental capacities as well as my patience.

To all those who are considering a $500,000 offering this weekend and still setting on the fence about it, I hope this plea finds you. Just know that you will not only be furthering God's kingdom, but saving me a butt-load of psychiatric bills and anti-depressants in my old age.