Jesus saves us from anonymity...

Zach Force...when you think the name, you think a lot of things?

He is a T-High grad, a great drummer, a good son, Eagle Scout, intern, friend...he hates musicals, has both ears pierced and desperately wants a Tatoo. I might have made that last one up...not sure.

But where does he find his identity?

Zach taught youth group tonight. It was good to have him back at CPCC for a night. He taught on Matthew 4, and Jesus calling the disciples. He showed how Jesus gives us and identity that saves us from being no one. It was really good. He connected well to the students and challenged them to get involved in ministry now, a point that I haven't impressed on the high schoolers like I have the jr. highers. Identity is the biggest problem that teens face. Who are they...where do they fit in? These are questions that haunt every aspect of their lives. Zach showed them where to look and who to go to in order to receive your identity! He did an excellent job.

A couple things were evident tonight:

1. Zach is a great teacher and a great guy...NCC should feel very lucky.

2. Sometimes the things you most dread turn out to be the best times. Both times I arrived at the church today, I spent 30 minutes working up the courage to come into the building. Part of the difficulty with working in a church, is when you begin to dread your workplace, where do you go. You can't avoid church. Each time that I forced myself in here, I became refreshed. These kids really make it fun to do my job.


The youth band started off the night with their rendition of "Take it all" a song done by Hillsong. It went well...they have really grown together as a group. It is a blessing not to have to lead worship...since I lack the ability and know how. The kids have also expressed the blessing of not having to hear me sing.

Side note:

Played some home run derby on Monday with some high school kids. I pitched a while, now my arm feels like its gonna fall off. Tyler Ward hit 12 out...I think his girlfriend beat him though.

Why can't I grow up? Do I want to?

My 9 months at Central Park, have been hands-off easy. No major problems to speak of.

It is a frightening realization to know that you are in over your head. Situations arise where there is nothing to say. Sitting in a hospital room, around a family that has given you support and care for the last 9 months, watching them suffer and grieve...what can you possibly say?

I have read the books on suffering: The Problem of Pain, Where is God when it hurts?, Disappointment with God. Gotta be honest: the books mean nothing in that room. A couple of the girls were crying...once a girl starts crying, I become worthless. I had nothing to say.

I felt like I froze. I don't know what I would have said. I don't know what I could have said.

One of my goals for this blog was to inform parents about the youth ministry; the other was to allow a place for other youth workers learn, comment, and grow, based on my own downfalls. I wanted a place like this during college, where I could read the exploits of other youth pastors, and see the ins and outs of youth ministry. I found myself in that place where advice would have come in handy.

Its times like these that I envy Jesus. He always seemed to know what to say. When hurting people came to him, he never had to call for a line. Paul advises us in Romans to "mourn with those who mourn." I wonder if he ever froze in his own ministry. Job's friends set with him in an ash heap for a week without saying anything.

Concerning the emotions involved in the last 24 hours, I don't know what the appropriate response was. I think the way of Job's friends is a good way to go...plus it doesn't get you in much trouble.

I walked back to my car with a couple people. My nature came out and stupidity flowed forth. The lack of serious response flowed from within me. At what point in time are emotions easy to show? Sometime I will grow enough to face emotions without sarcasm, a reason that I gave one of my girls as to why a guy she knew wasn't showing much emotion.

HUH?

The Gospel with working gloves

At 7.00 a.m. on Saturday morning, Aaron Jones and his family led some of the guys in the youth group to Chapman, Kansas, site of the Kansas Auto Racing Museum and the path of an F4 tornado. About a week and a half ago, the town of Chapman was hit with a large tornado at around 10.00 at night.

Destruction was everywhere. If you look at this picture of the Chapman Elementary School, the missing wall in the middle top is the two second grade class rooms. From the looks of it, the tornado took a swath down the middle of the north side of the town. A lot of the new construction on the far north side of town was untouched. The older part of the town, north of the main business district (and I use the term "business district" very lightly). In the midst of town, the Salvation Army and the local churches set up feeding stations. The Methodist Church from Chapman fed us cheddar brats, and the Salvation army fed us Chicken ala King.

Our job consisted mostly of sorting through piles of rubble. We seperated construction materials from vegitation, and metal from housing debris. It was a mess. There were a few trees left standing, but they had no branches on them. Throughout the day we spent most of our time on two great big piles of rubble. We also hauled a lot of the piles to the road for FEMA to pick up later.

At one point in time in the morning, the guys found a Bible in one of the piles. It was completely untouched.

I don't think any of us shared the gospel with any one...we didn't preach the word, or hand out pamphlets; however, the gospel did put on working gloves that day. It was hard and tiring work, but the kingdom was furthered.

The guys did a great job.

Thanks Aaron for organizing it, and to the Hildebrandts for allowing us to use their van.

The Issues facing our kids...

It is utterly amazing the lengths that some will go to in order to be loved. Undoubtedly by now you have heard about the pregnancy outbreak amongst the teenage girls at Gloucester High School in Massachusetts (article here). The outcries have taken the expected routes: "Media has glorified teenage motherhood via the Spears girl"; "Birth control needs to be more accessible"; "the sex ed classes weren't taught well enough"; "there needs to be a closer womens health facility(the nearest one is 20 miles away)."

The school authorities want to take a biological solution, offering contraceptives to students without parental consent. The parents want to hand out more knowledge. The girls want attention; and former students/now mothers want programs.

What do they need?

One girl named Ireland who is now 18 offered this explanation to explain the pregnancies: "They're excited to finally have someone love them unconditionally." Meaning their babies will love them, trust them, and depend on them. The unconditional love and acceptance of another human is what they crave...and they like much of society, have considered love to be a drastic measure that only surrounds dire circumstances. When love is not found, it is sought elsewhere, in this case through babies.

The lengths that some will go to in order to find love.

Sometimes we hear the problems our kids are facing and quietly relive the simplistic days of our own youth. The next time you sit and listen to your kids, quietly imagine the pressure and problems that they currently face.

Listen more, talk less.

Isolation and Ice Cream

Ian left youth group tonight 75 cents richer, and all of us left with a little less appreciation of the intelligence that he claims to posses. We had ice cream for snack. Mrs. Keen provided ice cream and cones for all the students. Whitney dripped some onto the front patio of the Church. Jason posed a quarter to anyone who would take a lick of it. Ian was the only taker (as he usually is with most of our dares). How did he get 75 cents you ask; the camera wasn't ready on the first two licks. The third lick provided the photo opportunity that we so desired. Three licks, at a quarter apiece, you do the math.

Since it would be negligent and irresponsible of me to allow the kids to eat ice cream all youth group, we had a short lesson on Isolation. Jesus saves us from isolation by placing us in this community of faith where we are all useful and all cared for. Looking at Acts 4 it says that there was no needy people among them. The church cares for each other, emotionally, relationally, and economically.

The lesson went all right...the games too. we played chicken ball. The girls scored a 6 point goal to win it. The boys were mad. The fact there was no 6 point goal prior to that point is irrelevant. Oh well.

Highlights of the night:

Ian's escapade.

I got to play in the youth band...good times.

Ice cream was good.

Jayme's Goodbye

"When you look at a plate of ham and eggs, you think sure the chicken was involved, but the pig was committed." -- unknown

Jayme is didn't want to be an egg, so he became the ham. Alright, the metaphor breaks down there (I assure that the choosing of animals in this metaphor was purely coincidental and was not a shot at Jayme's profession). Jayme took off today. After the impromptu press conference (story here http://www.ktka.com/news/2008/jun/16/officer_rides_nephew/) and a shaky embrace with his wife, he rode into the sunset. He left the Police Station this morning at 11.15 a.m. He was followed by Toby (his brother) in his Ride Support Truck. Here are some of the pictures I took. He does a good job of updating his blog (www.rideforgranton.blogspot.com) so be sure to check that out. You can order this shirt on there and send donations as well.

If you don't know Jayme, he is a bike patrolman with the Topeka Police Department. His nephew has some health issues. So Jayme is riding his bike to Bolivar, Missouri in order to raise money to help with medical expenses.

Just in case you think he is just a soft heart, I assure that his soft heart is surrounded by a lot of big muscles...I saw him tackle a guy once.

Pedal fast Jayme.

Rodeo and Religion...

It has been a long and busy day.

I found myself with a predicament this morning. When I was in college, I was an active attender of Risen Ranch Cowboy Church in Carthage, Missouri. I started goin' cause Lucas Littles told me too, but once I got there it was a good time. While I was there I was able to meet a lot of good guys, that really shaped who I am now. One guy, Johnny Clem, really took time out to talk to me and discuss stuff. The guy trains horses for a living, but has one of the clearest outlooks on ministry that I have ever heard. This morning, as part of the State High School Finals Rodeo, they brought in a singer from Dallas. She was awesome. She sang and spoke from horseback. As she sang her last song, "I pledge of Allegiance to the Lamb", the great Ray Boltz song, she stood up on top of her saddle. It was great to see all the competitors there and their families. There were probably 200 cowboys there...then our 8 kids. I (and Tricia) took our Sunday school classes to Cowboy Church for Sunday school. I think that was the closest many of them had ever been to a horse.

After returning to Central Park, I headed back to the State Finals. This time I had a tag-along. Trey went with me. He had never been to a rodeo. He had three high points: 1) the bull riding 2) getting to talk to the state Runner up Team Roper: Ryan Domer...he was pretty impressed to be standing that close to a guy who was actually competing, 3) his rainbow snow cone that he got in the middle of the goat tying. Good stuff. I think he had a good time.

As for youth group...I led worship. Three songs, half heartedly sung well off key. Nuff said. Afterward we talked about how Jesus saves us from Isolation. We looked a David's isolation in Psalm 8 and 142. They took notes on the feelings that David expressed in these Psalms as I read them out loud. Now they have homework. Psalms has some really cool names for God. "Rescuer" "Provider" "Refuge" They are to find a verse that describes God that goes along with all the feelings they wrote down. We'll see.

We headed to Sonic to play some volleyball...the court was rained out. So we went to Target. Each pair of students was challenged to buy the weirdest thing they could find under 3 dollars. I stood at the front with my Church credit card as teams came up with their weird gifts: ties; medicines; band aides; microphones; baby food. It was interesting.

It was a good night. I was pretty happy with how it went, even though I spent the whole day/weekend at the Rodeo.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:

CSI: Miami might be the worst TV show of all time. Does that guy ever say anything like it isn't earth shattering news.

Jayme Green starts his bike ride tomorrow: Pedal fast Jayme.

I really wished I was able to fight this weekend...