Tue's 2-Cents on Wed...sorry, the last several days have been a bit 'off' so I'm catchin up today!
THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PAST WEEK(END) ~
The weekend was great I had a chance to get away for a bit of a mini-vacation to Kansas City. Steph and I drove down Friday and enjoyed the time to just relax, do some shopping (window that is) and enjoy a few meals. I really enjoyed the mini-break.
THIS WEEK'S TO-DO'S ~
Well, seeing as how it's already Wednesday - my biggest things to get accomplished are work related - I've been out of my office for about a week, so I need to get a few things caught up and finally I will need to be ready for three Student Ministry Christmas parties (one tonight, one Friday and one on Sunday.) Once that is planned it will be on to making sure WAVE for Jan 4th is ready to go.
BOOK I'M READING ~
Going through "The Air I Breath" again (still) and currently in the home stretch of Proverbs.
THOUGHTS ON THE COMING WEEK ~
BUSY, but good - I'm looking forward to finishing things up this week and essentially having the rest of December off - it will be good to have time for family and friends over Christmas. I'm also looking for time to get my sermon written for January.
THINK ABOUT A THOUGHT ~
What is one thing you want for Christmas? & What is one thing you want to do for someone else this Christmas?
SCRIPTURE TO SKIM ~
Romans 5:1-11, let me know your thoughts!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Know the Fish, Not the Boat
The catch phrase for our Student Ministry is "Out of the Boat Into His WATER." Catchy I think (no pun intended), but what does it really mean? How is it that one takes a step or leap outside of the boat anyway? And what happenes when you're out of the boat and in the water? How do you get to know the Fish?
I'm curious what some of your thoughts are to these questions....how do you (or have you) get to know the fish?
Share your comments ~
His,
~C
I'm curious what some of your thoughts are to these questions....how do you (or have you) get to know the fish?
Share your comments ~
His,
~C
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday's Two-Cents
Thought About Past Week(end) ~
The past week was...a bit busy - yet good. Friday I had the chance to catch my first High school basketball game of the season. On Saturday I was able to celebrate my moms birthday with a wonderful dinner and a great night of fun and conversation. Sunday, was Sunday - the youth seem to be a bit "off" right now - not sure why, but I hope they're back "on" soon.
This Weeks To-Do's ~
Work - lots to do in the coming week or so to get ready for a bit of a vacation from work. I have several loose ends to get tied up. Oh, and Christmas decorations still need to come out! :-(
Book I'm Reading ~
Ummmm, right now I"m in the midst of "The Air I Breath" again...., book of Proverbs and hopefully Acts this week...
Thoughts On The Coming Week ~
I'm looking forward to the weekend. Stephanie and I are getting away for a "long" weekend out of town. Lot's of window shopping, sleeping in and RELAXING! Woo Hoo. Also, the 2nd part of a great series at WAVE for Sunday night.
Think About A Thought ~ this is for you to ponder for the week - feel free to share (comment) your thoughts here...
What would you life be like if you had one day this week where you didn't HAVE to do anything? How would your day look?
Scripture to Skim ~
Luke 19:28-40 (what's it have to say to you?
The past week was...a bit busy - yet good. Friday I had the chance to catch my first High school basketball game of the season. On Saturday I was able to celebrate my moms birthday with a wonderful dinner and a great night of fun and conversation. Sunday, was Sunday - the youth seem to be a bit "off" right now - not sure why, but I hope they're back "on" soon.
This Weeks To-Do's ~
Work - lots to do in the coming week or so to get ready for a bit of a vacation from work. I have several loose ends to get tied up. Oh, and Christmas decorations still need to come out! :-(
Book I'm Reading ~
Ummmm, right now I"m in the midst of "The Air I Breath" again...., book of Proverbs and hopefully Acts this week...
Thoughts On The Coming Week ~
I'm looking forward to the weekend. Stephanie and I are getting away for a "long" weekend out of town. Lot's of window shopping, sleeping in and RELAXING! Woo Hoo. Also, the 2nd part of a great series at WAVE for Sunday night.
Think About A Thought ~ this is for you to ponder for the week - feel free to share (comment) your thoughts here...
What would you life be like if you had one day this week where you didn't HAVE to do anything? How would your day look?
Scripture to Skim ~
Luke 19:28-40 (what's it have to say to you?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Trouble
Trouble...my thoughts for today are spawned from my recent reading of Mike Yaconelli's article "The 'Trouble' With Youth Ministry."
It's dangerous...when you and I are trying to follow Jesus, we're going to get into trouble. In making disciples (of ourselves and others) we take on the role of introducing people (in my case, young people) to the life-ruining Jesus who causes nothing but trouble.
Often joked about in youth ministry - did you know if your church doesn't have a rule that exists just because of your ministry, then you aren't letting Jesus have first place in your ministry? What would the session say about that? I've just entered the start of my fifth year with GSPC and no rule...YET! We'll see if we can work on that one in the coming year!
So, what's with the "life-ruining Jesus" part? Isn't this church, Jesus, following business supposed to make everything orderly? Ha! take a look at Matthew 6:33 ("But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness...") - if you want to be a disciple (and don't we all?) but if you really want to be His disciple, a follower of Jesus, nothing can be more important than Jesus.
If work is more important than Jesus, then work has to go. If surfing the internet is more important than Jesus, then the internet must go. If school (or school related activities) is more important than Jesus, (yes, I'm gonna say it), then it's gotta go. If your boy/girl-friend is more important than Jesus, then he/she has to go. Are you getting the picture here? If anything in your life is more important than Jesus, then whatever 'it' is, it has to go!
I know what you're thinking "it's hard to be a disciple!"
ding ding ding - we have a winner! No one, including Jesus, himself - ever said it would be an easy task. What do you think "take up your cross daily" means?
but in the end - being a disciple is the only thing that will really matter.
Youth Ministry causes trouble -- an example: a youth worker with a heart for the lost, was ministering to gang members in her church (a job in which she was specifically hired to do) - long story short - eventually the gang members decided they wanted to go to worship - so they did! When the minister announced the giving of the peace one of the gang members stood up and said "hey, dude, you are cool!" The entire congregation turned around in shock. After the service the youth worker was told to not bring the gang members to church until they learned how to behave.
They should have given the youth worker a raise - they didn't - She was fired!
Unfortunately, many people in the church are more concerned about rules, policies, and procedures than they are about the unbelievable, miraculous, spectacular, unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime event that occurs when someone starts to get well. When people get well, it exposes the sickness of those around them.
Rather than getting mad, there should have been a celebration because a group of gang members miraculously desired to be part of the church. Who are the gang members in your church?
Sometimes I wonder if it's easier for the rocks to cry out in the presence of Jesus than for some church members to celebrate the "trouble" that genuine youth ministry causes.
Woo Hoo, (in honor of the late Mike Yaconelli)
~C
It's dangerous...when you and I are trying to follow Jesus, we're going to get into trouble. In making disciples (of ourselves and others) we take on the role of introducing people (in my case, young people) to the life-ruining Jesus who causes nothing but trouble.
Often joked about in youth ministry - did you know if your church doesn't have a rule that exists just because of your ministry, then you aren't letting Jesus have first place in your ministry? What would the session say about that? I've just entered the start of my fifth year with GSPC and no rule...YET! We'll see if we can work on that one in the coming year!
So, what's with the "life-ruining Jesus" part? Isn't this church, Jesus, following business supposed to make everything orderly? Ha! take a look at Matthew 6:33 ("But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness...") - if you want to be a disciple (and don't we all?) but if you really want to be His disciple, a follower of Jesus, nothing can be more important than Jesus.
If work is more important than Jesus, then work has to go. If surfing the internet is more important than Jesus, then the internet must go. If school (or school related activities) is more important than Jesus, (yes, I'm gonna say it), then it's gotta go. If your boy/girl-friend is more important than Jesus, then he/she has to go. Are you getting the picture here? If anything in your life is more important than Jesus, then whatever 'it' is, it has to go!
I know what you're thinking "it's hard to be a disciple!"
ding ding ding - we have a winner! No one, including Jesus, himself - ever said it would be an easy task. What do you think "take up your cross daily" means?
but in the end - being a disciple is the only thing that will really matter.
Youth Ministry causes trouble -- an example: a youth worker with a heart for the lost, was ministering to gang members in her church (a job in which she was specifically hired to do) - long story short - eventually the gang members decided they wanted to go to worship - so they did! When the minister announced the giving of the peace one of the gang members stood up and said "hey, dude, you are cool!" The entire congregation turned around in shock. After the service the youth worker was told to not bring the gang members to church until they learned how to behave.
They should have given the youth worker a raise - they didn't - She was fired!
Unfortunately, many people in the church are more concerned about rules, policies, and procedures than they are about the unbelievable, miraculous, spectacular, unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime event that occurs when someone starts to get well. When people get well, it exposes the sickness of those around them.
Rather than getting mad, there should have been a celebration because a group of gang members miraculously desired to be part of the church. Who are the gang members in your church?
Sometimes I wonder if it's easier for the rocks to cry out in the presence of Jesus than for some church members to celebrate the "trouble" that genuine youth ministry causes.
Woo Hoo, (in honor of the late Mike Yaconelli)
~C
Friday, December 5, 2008
Walk Full, Don't Run On Empty...
Is your kid "over-booked?" Chances are if you're reading this the answer is a resounding YES!
The rule of thumb according to Dr. Meg Meeker is; one extra-curricular activity per season. This means one sport or one instrument or whatever each season or semester. I tend to agree. For some of you reading this - it's probably hard to hear. Youth today are way over-extended, overbooked, too busy, and plain worn out...it's healthy for them to have down time, time to learn how to deal with boredom. It really is okay! As well, it's becoming even more important for youth to be spending more and more time at home with their parents.
Do you really believe that you (mom & dad) have the greatest influence and impact on your kid's lives? It's not their peers, not society and surely not their youth leaders - it's you as parents. So, then why is it that a majority of parents either overbook, or allow their youth to become overbooked? Don't you want them spending the most time with those who have the most influence over them?
So, is it time for you and your family to cut back on your kids' schedule? Are you secretly saying 'yes,' knowing you're not going to do a darn thing about it? Or, will you really do what's best for them and cut down on their calendar? You know if God wants them to be a concert trombonist - God will allow them to live long enough to figure that out on their own - let them be kids for now. Your kid does not have to "out shine" the neighbor kids. They just have to shine in the way God designed them too. And youth definitely don't need to have any adults "reliving younger years through their kids' activities and lives."
Teens if you're reading this one - it's time to check yourself...are you really running yourself into the ground? How will this really help you in the long run? What do you accomplish? Do you want to run around worn out and empty? It is OK to say no to some things!
And for everyone....where is God in all of this? Why is it that a relationship with God (worship, Bible Study, Youth Group, family discussions over faith issues...) ALWAYS get pushed to the bottom of the to-do list? The next time I hear a youth being grounded from 'God', or that I see 'God is taking second seat to something else - something that doesn't have eternal matter - I think I'm going to scream!
It's time for us to shape up and do our youth a favor - cut back on the activities and really live.
What are you going to do? What are your family values?
His,
~C
The rule of thumb according to Dr. Meg Meeker is; one extra-curricular activity per season. This means one sport or one instrument or whatever each season or semester. I tend to agree. For some of you reading this - it's probably hard to hear. Youth today are way over-extended, overbooked, too busy, and plain worn out...it's healthy for them to have down time, time to learn how to deal with boredom. It really is okay! As well, it's becoming even more important for youth to be spending more and more time at home with their parents.
Do you really believe that you (mom & dad) have the greatest influence and impact on your kid's lives? It's not their peers, not society and surely not their youth leaders - it's you as parents. So, then why is it that a majority of parents either overbook, or allow their youth to become overbooked? Don't you want them spending the most time with those who have the most influence over them?
So, is it time for you and your family to cut back on your kids' schedule? Are you secretly saying 'yes,' knowing you're not going to do a darn thing about it? Or, will you really do what's best for them and cut down on their calendar? You know if God wants them to be a concert trombonist - God will allow them to live long enough to figure that out on their own - let them be kids for now. Your kid does not have to "out shine" the neighbor kids. They just have to shine in the way God designed them too. And youth definitely don't need to have any adults "reliving younger years through their kids' activities and lives."
Teens if you're reading this one - it's time to check yourself...are you really running yourself into the ground? How will this really help you in the long run? What do you accomplish? Do you want to run around worn out and empty? It is OK to say no to some things!
And for everyone....where is God in all of this? Why is it that a relationship with God (worship, Bible Study, Youth Group, family discussions over faith issues...) ALWAYS get pushed to the bottom of the to-do list? The next time I hear a youth being grounded from 'God', or that I see 'God is taking second seat to something else - something that doesn't have eternal matter - I think I'm going to scream!
It's time for us to shape up and do our youth a favor - cut back on the activities and really live.
What are you going to do? What are your family values?
His,
~C
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tuesday's Two-Cents
So, here's is going to be my attempt at a "weekly-update post." Sure, there will be other posts throughout the week - but like other bloggers, this will be a regular format. I may toy with it in the first few weeks (I'm open to suggestions on what you'd like to see here) but it will be "regular" at some point....
Thoughts from the past week(end) ~
Obviously this past week(end) included Thanksgiving - for me we had two thanksgivings and one birthday. Thursday & Saturday saw us with family, and Friday Steph & I had dinner with my family for Grandma's 78th birthday. It was a fun, yet busy weekend. Sunday night we were out for our Leaders Christmas party and ended up at a friends house following for some card playing. I loved the end to my "time out of the office." This year's National Youth Workers Convention landed at the perfect time, I was able to attend NYWC and return home for a day off and then ran straight into the weekend.
This Weeks To-Dos ~
Personally I'm hoping to clean up our apartment and get some Christmas decorations out. Usually we move our kitchen table into our bedroom to make room for our tree. However since last Christmas we have rearranged our room with our new King bed. So, we're thinking no tree this year. Other than that I hope to get some work done on my sermon for next month.
Book I'm Reading ~
I just finished Youth Ministry 3.0, by MarkO. I'm taking a break for a few days from reading to review some of what I heard at the Convention.
Tunes that Triggered ~
In the last four days it's been Lost & Founds Christmas album....if that doesn't put you in the mood...
Thoughts on the coming week ~
This next week should be interesting. I've had a few weeks "off" as far as lesson planning for WAVE and this week I'm back "on." I'm excited about the 2-part series we're doing this month, as well as the annual Christmas party in a few weeks. I've also got a few meetings I'm looking forward to this week.
Thoughts from the past week(end) ~
Obviously this past week(end) included Thanksgiving - for me we had two thanksgivings and one birthday. Thursday & Saturday saw us with family, and Friday Steph & I had dinner with my family for Grandma's 78th birthday. It was a fun, yet busy weekend. Sunday night we were out for our Leaders Christmas party and ended up at a friends house following for some card playing. I loved the end to my "time out of the office." This year's National Youth Workers Convention landed at the perfect time, I was able to attend NYWC and return home for a day off and then ran straight into the weekend.
This Weeks To-Dos ~
Personally I'm hoping to clean up our apartment and get some Christmas decorations out. Usually we move our kitchen table into our bedroom to make room for our tree. However since last Christmas we have rearranged our room with our new King bed. So, we're thinking no tree this year. Other than that I hope to get some work done on my sermon for next month.
Book I'm Reading ~
I just finished Youth Ministry 3.0, by MarkO. I'm taking a break for a few days from reading to review some of what I heard at the Convention.
Tunes that Triggered ~
In the last four days it's been Lost & Founds Christmas album....if that doesn't put you in the mood...
Thoughts on the coming week ~
This next week should be interesting. I've had a few weeks "off" as far as lesson planning for WAVE and this week I'm back "on." I'm excited about the 2-part series we're doing this month, as well as the annual Christmas party in a few weeks. I've also got a few meetings I'm looking forward to this week.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Will You Go With Me?
Okay, I'm on a journey - we're all on a journey....but I'm asking "will you go with me?"
What I mean is, will you go with me into the life that God has called us? Will you follow me even if I open up a topic that is hard to swallow? Will you stick with it?
You know a lot of people have this idea that having Jesus in your life makes everything all nice and organized. The real fact is that having Jesus in your life can ruin it! Take a look at Luke 9:57-62. Really, please go take a look. How is any of what Jesus is saying there "nice and organized?"
What about later on in Luke 14:25-27 - how do we respond to that? Are we taking up our crosses, daily? Would you be willing to never see your family again if that's what it cost to go after Jesus? Are you willing to ruin your life for your Savior, your Creator, for God?
Ask yourself - what you're willing to do...I'm taking a path where I think I'm uncovering some truths - but truths that might be hard for some of us to swallow. I'm going this way because I feel the American Church needs a change...wiling to go with me? Keep checking back here - post your comments, let's open a discussion on where we feel the Holy Spirit is leading us.
See you in a few days,
His,
~C
What I mean is, will you go with me into the life that God has called us? Will you follow me even if I open up a topic that is hard to swallow? Will you stick with it?
You know a lot of people have this idea that having Jesus in your life makes everything all nice and organized. The real fact is that having Jesus in your life can ruin it! Take a look at Luke 9:57-62. Really, please go take a look. How is any of what Jesus is saying there "nice and organized?"
What about later on in Luke 14:25-27 - how do we respond to that? Are we taking up our crosses, daily? Would you be willing to never see your family again if that's what it cost to go after Jesus? Are you willing to ruin your life for your Savior, your Creator, for God?
Ask yourself - what you're willing to do...I'm taking a path where I think I'm uncovering some truths - but truths that might be hard for some of us to swallow. I'm going this way because I feel the American Church needs a change...wiling to go with me? Keep checking back here - post your comments, let's open a discussion on where we feel the Holy Spirit is leading us.
See you in a few days,
His,
~C
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