New Job

It was decided last night by the Session at Central Presbyterian Church of Longmont that I will be there next Youth Director. I am pretty excited about it! There is going to be a lot to learn and a large work load getting to know new faces, families and processes, but that is the kind of stuff that energizes me. Hope to keep you posted on the transition from Escondido to Colorado.

Balancing Act

Do you ever feel like when do you are doing the thing you love, you go all in, never looking back to see the wake that you are creating? Well, that is kind of how I have felt in ministry lately. Lots of looking forward and pushing to get better and learning how to be the best Youth Pastor me that I can. But, recently I have noticed how this pushing act can wear you out.

As a part of the Youth Ministry Coaching Program that I am currently a part of, I have been searching for answers on how to be a better balanced person. A Better balanced husband, youth pastor, son, friend and so on. I am searching for opportunities that allow me to disconnect from the ministry world and go do something completely different. Yesterday I got my first taste of what this is like when I had the opportunity to go quail hunting for the first time. It was an afternoon filled with gun fire, dog barking, "Bird Up" and Thanksgiving leftovers. But no ministry talk. And it was glorious.

It is this type of balance that I truly will set me up for longevity in the profession and calling that I love. The trick now is finding more opportunities for this freedom, the kind of freedom that makes even better at what I do. So, what else should I consider in my search for balance?

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Yesterday was Columbus day, which in itself could probably be a post of its own. But to public school students across Escondido, this meant a day off of school. I am not always the greatest at remembering the days that students have off school and I am also not the greatest at taking advantage of the hang out space that is possible on such days. However, yesterday I was ahead of the curve and got to spend time with 3 of my high school guys.

Now, if you have hung out with High School guys in the last ten years, or really at all, you will know the kind of joking and language that is commonplace. I have preached the message for the last 2 years with my students that I want them to be who they are, everywhere, and not just curbing actions to fit certain situations or expectations. The example is usually regarding language. Now, I admit that I am not someone who is pure in his speech. Curse words come off my lips every now and then, but with my high school students, I notice that this type of language seems to have replaced EVERYTHING they have learned in their English classes. It is everywhere. And it was present yesterday too. And these are my guys who have grown up in the church.

When those words were spoken, I noticed it but didn't react and just kind of let it fly. I don't want to be known as the guy who majors on the minors, and in the grand scheme of things, I think language is pretty minor. And here is why:

Thirty minutes into our time together, the boys wanted to go to In N Out for round two of carboloading. As we were pulling into the parking lot we passed a man who had a cardboard sign, looked rather dirty and had a huge beard. His sign said "Anything Helps". I drove right by, and we entered into the restaurant. The boys ordered and I found a seat as I didn't need more food on top of my already hearty helping of Yogurtland. Eventually the boy's food came. We were sitting enjoying conversation when another number was called. One of my guys got up and I said to myself, "More food? You have already eaten so much!" But he didn't bring that food back to the table, but instead took that double-double and fries out to the man with the sign.

I tried to hide my excitement. I was so proud of this young man for making such a huge, unsolicited choice to help some one who needed it. But this was the same kid who was using the poor language earlier on in the afternoon. But he was demonstrating his grasp of one the majors! He was thinking outside himself! It was an intriguing juxtaposition and demonstrated the tension that parents, teachers and youth workers have when it comes to the kinds of choices our students make.

Should we continue to harp and try to control every little thing or pray and hope for the major choices to be right? I for one will stand for those major choices to be right and pray that our actions will always speak louder than our words. That our actions will shout that we intend to have a positive impact on this world and that we are doing so in the name of Christ.

Is that a bad thing...?

I came out of my office today just as our church secretary got the mail. In that pile of mail was the new Worship Facilities magazine. On the front was one of most beautiful modern buildings that I had seen in a long time. Then I realized that it was a church building and that beauty turned into disgust and frustration.

This was a massive building. Like huge. It happens to be in Texas, which I guess means that it is taking the motto of Texas seriously. This was a huge, brand new, sterile, yet charming place of worship. It looked more like a hunting lodge to me than a church.

My mind started to spin with reactions. Is this wasteful? Is this really important? How has our culture in America influenced the church enough that we feel that this is important and necessary? The more I started to ask those questions, the more upset I was getting.

And then came the question of the day: Does God get angry with this type of building?

I think we have seen through history that God has blessed some large buildings, but he has also reacted terribly to others (i.e. Tower of Babel). But I think that those reactions were not based on the buildings themselves, but rather the intentions behind the building.

But the sheer amount of money that went into that building is flabbergasting. I don't know what it cost, but it could not have been cheap, and there seem to be some bigger issues out there than building a brand new, amazing, awe inspiring building that this type of money could have been poured into.

I share my reaction because I am not really sure what to think about it. I had my gut reaction, but at the same time, the argument could be made why this is a good thing. It will continue to be something to think about.

Let's Worship Together!

I grew up in very evangelical, pretty much Baptist style churches. My work experience has been for a non denominational camp and a Baptist church. I have a pretty good handle on what the mainstream church culture looks and feels like, especially from the point of view as a youth worker. So, when I hear the current conversation circulating about how we as youth workers need to be directing and training our families to worship together, I get the context in which the question is being asked. There are some many churches that have separated all of their programming, and as a result have created competing entities under one roof.

When I got to my current church I expected a similar mindset. However, I quickly realized that I was wrong. My Presbyterian church didn't have this mindset. In fact, they not only encouraged family worship, but expected it. Every service has an announcement along the lines of "your kids are welcome here, we want families to worship together". I have learned a whole new perspective. It is a perspective that is often oblivious to the trends and shifts of popular church culture, but in this particular area, it seems that we are actually ahead of the curve.

I also lead a local network of youth workers, and as I have had conversations with many of our "mainline" youth workers, I would even say that those that specifically come from a more Reformed tradition, I have found that many of them already hold this ideal in high regard. So, my question would be, if this is the "future" of youth ministry as it is being described by the experts, then shouldn't we be utilizing this resource? There are ministries that are already practicing this as a regular part of their programming and don't have to make a major shift in thinking, planning or communication... do we have these people at the table?

Summer Time

It is the first week of summer for my high school students, and I have already noticed the different pace that this summer is going to set. Less time in the office, more time spent with students, and even some time spent where students might "potentially" be, like malls, movie theatres and the local In N Out.

I am enjoying this new pace that requires more space...

Questions of the Week

When building from the ground up, what are the indicators to know that your youth group is stable?

How do you know when you are doing work that is making progress and not just spinning wheels?

What does a volunteer team look like when it is hitting all cylinders?

What does it look like to just focus on the areas of responsibility as opposed to looking at the big picture and getting frustrated?

What are the impactful events/programming elements that are not just for fun?

Church Work vs. Church Attendance

So, I have one simple question. Is it possible to work at one church while attending another? How have we seen that work, and how have we seen that not work?

Is that type of system healthy?

Robbie B.

I got to hear Rob Bell speak in person for the first time yesterday as he was participating in the Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University yesterday. I have always been a Rob Bell fan, as I think he is a great communicator and has successfully targeted my age demographic.

But as my wife and I were driving home from the full day event, we were talking about something that troubled us. People treated Rob Bell like he was God's gift to everything spiritual (pun intended) and he was seen much too much like a celebrity and a lot less like a pastor. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Rob has done some great work and deserves the props that he gets, to a point.

I guess I struggle with Pastors as celebrities. I struggle with turning my favorite pastoral authors and thinkers into celebrities. But I also feel like they should just get to be normal people who are there to give glory to God, and not themselves. It will be interesting to see how these trends continue and who will be the next hot, up and coming celebrity for Jesus. What an ironic statement...

Great Question

My wife just asked me, "Do you ever think about how much of our lives revolve around using screens?"

And I responded:

"I can't imagine what it was like to do youth ministry before the kind of technology we use every day..."


Thanks to those who went before and paved the way.

Rally Week

This week in the community that I serve, there are hundreds of students gathering at lunch to hear the Gospel. It is all student organized and led, and it is pretty amazing. I have had the opportunity to speak at one such gathering already this week, worshiped on a campus today and look forward to another time to be used to bring the word again tomorrow. I am in awe of how this has all gone. Today, it was reported that over 50 students at one of the local high schools came forward because they wanted to turn over their life. That is a staggering numbers for those of us who are not Greg Laurie, Luis Palau or Billy Graham. Over 70 this week, throughout the school community, have said that they wanted to turn their life to Christ. What a great God we serve indeed.

I am excited and energized by news like this. I can only imagine what the conversations, relationships and other opportunities that the students who are organizing these rallies will have in the coming weeks with their peers. And it is movements like this that remind me that I love my job and my calling. But most of all, it reminds me that I am a vessel, a tool to be used and I can only hope and pray that I will continue to be blessed in order to keep being a blessing.

Little Ol' Ladies Prayer Circle

One of my ministry mentors, Brian Aaby, is always hammering home the point with me that Youth Ministry is a three pronged approach. Students, Leaders, Parents. Even though I have seen glimpses of this in my first year and a half of full time ministry, I didn't fully grasp the full idea until about Thanksgiving of 2010. It was also hammered home last week when Kara Powell was presenting her information about the intergenerational "sticky" church. It was in these conversations and presentations that I realized that they were speaking from experience and research, and so instead of being bull headed and trying to do it my own way, it would probably just make sense to follow their advice.

And so, I have been trying harder to do just that. And today was a break through moment for me. Every Wednesday afternoon, some members of our church gather religiously to pray for the hurts, needs, and desires of our church. It is usually older members of our congregation and I very rarely doesn't revolve in the those participating. This means that for an hour every Wednesday, the same small group of people are praying. Every Week. Without missing a beat. Only two weeks of for the Christmas break. And I had never attended....I just walked back to my office and close my door to get work done. I would sometimes pop my head in and ask for a request here or a praise there, but I never spent the time to sit and pray with them. Until today.

I decided it was time to get more three pronged, get over myself and enter the unknown of the Little Ol' Ladies Prayer Circle. And it was one of the most refreshing spiritual experiences of my week. Earnest and consistent prayers, asking for healing on behalf of others, Scripture as prayer and praises for the Creator of the Universe. All I can say is that it was awesome. It also opened up there door for them to pray for me, which was unexpected. All of this to say, I think I am headed back to the Prayer Circle next week.

On Point

Do you ever have one of those days where feel like you are exactly where you need to be? Well not only did I have one of those days, but I had one of those weeks. During the Communities of Hope Summit with the NNYM this week, I had this feeling of "this is what you were created to do, go and be the best Youth Worker you can be." When Kara Powell was presenting, she made me feel like I was at least in the right ballpark when it came to may thoughts and premonitions about Youth Ministry. And then Sunday School happened today...

I would say that most of my students don't really know what the job of a Youth Pastor actually looks like. The day to day "office work" idea doesn't seem to click. Most of them seem to think that I sit in my office twittling my thumbs and cruisn' Facebook. Although some of that is true, I tried to express that my job is so much more than that. We talked about the trips to campus, staff meetings, the events that have to be planned, the two lessons a week that they experience and so on. But then I came to the bottom line: a combination of emotion and Proverbs 22:6. "I love you guys and I care about your souls, I am here ultimately to be some one to help guide you on your own path of faith." The light bulbs went off for many of the students. From there we were tracking...and we had a great time of discussing this years plans and calendar, exploring Matthew 22:34-40 as our theme and loving on each other.

It is after Big House sessions like the one today that reminds me that I am exactly where God wants me and needs me and that I absolutely love my job, even with the downsides. I love my students at WPC and they are growing on me more and more.

The Future of Michigan Football

Some of you may know that I am rather large college football fan. I chose at an early age to be a Michigan Wolverine fan, rather it pretty much chose me. The early years were the good years for the Wolverines. There were Heisman Trophy Winners, plenty of beat downs on the Buckeyes and of course a National Championship.

Well, fast forward to the previous three years of Michigan football...I almost don't want to talk about it. It isn't all coach Rich Rod's fault, but the Wolverines have been terrible. But now we are at a crossroads. Rich Rod is out and we are waiting to hear who is in. Needless to say, I am nervously anticipating the announcement and hope for The Rise of The Wolverine. Back to Big 10 domination PLEASE!

All of this to say...my life isn't all about Youth Ministry. I love my sports too. I love my wife a lot as well...

The Link

I have spent the last few days with several great Youth Ministry minds pondering the idea of Communities of Hope for the National Network of Youth Ministry. There is so much information to work through that it is going to take some time for me to unpack it all, but there were two major themes that kept coming up throughout the summit: 1.)The role of the parent as the first line of Youth Ministry and 2.) The support of the Senior Pastor for the Youth Worker.

These ideas are not new concepts, but we seem to be in a perfect storm at this point in the timeline for these ideas to actually gain some traction and help rework the current state of Youth Ministry.

I am grateful to have a Senior Pastor who loves and supports me in what I do. He doesn't blog. He doesn't have a Facebook. He hasn't written any books (although, I am sure he could). Instead, he focuses on his flock and truly is a shepherd that loves his congregation, all while giving glory to God. I am blessed to be in the position that I am and to have the full support of my Senior Pastor.

I am still working on the parent piece, as I think that there will always be room for us to get better incorporating and equipping our parents in our ministries.

It will be interesting to see where these ideas lead...

Holidays as a newlywed

Can I just say that I love being married? I mean I know that it has been just over three months since that momentous day...but I am truly in love with my wife and really enjoying being her husband.

And this was very evident in our first holiday season together. We got to enjoy family time with both sides, had several house guests and had a very solid time together over the winter break.

And now, we get to go back to the regular work schedule...with a new twist. My present to Marla was passes to 24 hour Fitness for the both of us...and I agreed to go with her whenever she goes. So, looks like I will be adding several doses of gym time to my weekly schedz.

Communities of Hope Day 1

So,

I am at the end of my first day for the Gathering of Communities of Hope that is being hosted here in San Diego by the National Network of Youth Ministries. Today was just the warm up to what promises to be a packed next two days of discussion and brainstorming with some Youth Ministry vets. I hope that I have valuable information to bring to the table as I am interacting with Youth Workers who have a lot more experience and wisdom than I do. However, we all share a passion for reaching young people for the Kingdom and I feel that I have a great deal to learn at the feet of these "experts". Here are a few highlights/Things I learned from today:

- Got to go to Petco Park and hang out with the VP of Marketing
-The Padres are actually a very cool organization, despite their inability to field a decent team on the diamond.
- Speed dating with Youth Pastors is a loud endeavor
- It is possible to be civil with Ohio State fans in the room, something that I didn't think was going to be possible
- I am starting to believe again in the Communities of Hope and I truly believe that there is going to be fruit from the conversations over the next two days
-It is possible to be in Youth Ministry for a long term career. Old Youth Pastors are super cool! Seriously!



I will return with my thoughts over the next few days...