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.