I don't get this "I don't care generation".
I just spent both a fun and a frustrating weekend. Fun, in that going away with a group of people and spending a weekend outdoors tends to be a lot of fun for personality types such as mine. I did have lots of fun.
Occasionally, however, I got pretty frustrated. We had a group of teens that although good overall, occasionally, such as, when we had to do a canoe portage, and anything else that involved "work", let you know they just weren't into it, and weren't worried about letting you know that in no uncertain terms and some very ugly ones. All with the exception of one for sure, and a few maybes...could just sit there and watch everyone else work and even ask why things weren't done yet, or after they were done, why they weren't done to their taste. Very, very frustrating. A few took me to the edge, and one pushed me and found themselves confronted with their attitude, something I'm sure not very enjoyable. What they don't know is that I really held back. I wanted to call them spoiled little brats, but I didn't do that :).
Still, I did connect deeply with a few and the trip really was a lot of fun most of the time, definitely worthwhile. I had the opportunity to wow them with some cliff diving, which made me really cool and accepted in their circle. All of them would jump but diving was another world. It was fun to know that as leaders we still had some things on them.
Anyway...lots of fun most of the time.
Yesterday night we had a youth event.
We volleyball for a few hours, then hockey, then basketball, then soccer. It was midnight by the time we were done. My legs could barely in the end.
On another less personal note, we had 7 or 8 new kids out.
It was a lot of tiring fun!!!
Two weeks ago, as we were about to start the teaching portion of our Tuesday night youth meeting, I was hit by the fact that stuff just wasn't working. This has been a repetitive thing this year, but we've been meeting and planning and spending lots of time on it and things remain the same, or the improvements don't seem to make a difference in terms of geting kids to buy in. So, just as we were about to start, I stopped it all, not as easy since I wasn't the one teaching, I had to pull the plug on what someone else had planned...
Anyway...I laid it all out before the kids and just asked them...what's wrong? What's wrong with what we're doing (is it that?) Whatever it is, what's up? How do you feel about this and so on...
Well, they were more than willing to participate in that discussion...and let us in on Tuesday nights and the whole ministry from their perspective. That lead to last week, a night where I laid out a set of questions to help their minds reflect on the issues they suggested..."Lessons, Events, service - the whole ministry, really" Anyway, at that point the rest of the leaders and I stepped out...that's right, we left the room, and they talked alone.
We didn't know what would come of it, but it was really neat. Their ideas seem to be right on and have a lot more to do with them being involved in a ministry rather than having a program that just runs for them.
Now, I know what some of you might think, because I thought it too, there's a danger in doing this...it's the danger of developing a consumer mentality (ok, maybe you didn't think it) but there's a danger when you say what are you looking for? But it's only a danger if you just go blindly ahead. There's an equal danger in just putting and running a ministry if you don't have a clear understanding of who the people you're ministring to are and how God is moving in their lives. I certainly want to move away from babysitting teenagers and interestingly enough, most of them don't really want to be babysat either.
All that to say that lots of good ideas came out of this process, the greatest one of which is the level at which they want to be involved not only on Tuesday night, but in other areas of our ministry.
I'm looking forward to the next little while, but also looking at how I can pass this on to others who will be able to carry this torch forward.
After my last post on an afternoon with one of our youth, three people (one offline) have asked me to post my answers to the questions.
I was hesitant to do that, still am, we talked for three hours and those four questions were just jumping points for many other questions. I'm also not sure I want to put myself out there on this type of forum where it's not always easy to dialogue through issues. So, I proceed with uncertainty. Just being honest.
I will sum up what I feel is the heart of the issue in each question, rather than trying to sum up three hours of conversation.
1. What is the difference between the different religions. Why should I give my life to Christianity? Why not Islam? Why not Budhism?
It boils down to grace! Every other religion calls you to get yourself out of the mess your in by your own work. Often the religious gods, leaders serve as examples of the perfection you're aiming for but don't offer much in terms of helping you get out of the mess you're in.
Christianity is about a relationship with a God who loved his creation so much that he took it upon himself to do everything needed for us to have right standing and be in relationship with him. Our efforts are no longer to get out of the hole on our own, he's done that...it's about growing in relationship. Unfortunately, sometimes, Christianity is taught in a way that doesn't look much like grace and looks more like works. It's Christ alone plus daily devotions, plus this, plus that. (you can see where this went).
Furthermore...We have to go from what we know to what we don't know. Therefore we must start with Jesus Christ. What do we know about him? What can we discover about him? What did he say about himself? What do you do with his claim to be God? What did his life show? What did he teach? What about prophecy? What about the resurrection? And ultimately, his call to discipleship. These are the things to decide on. It's not about deciding on religions, it's about deciding on Jesus. Start there and move towards the unknowns.
Lastly, in terms of evidence compare religions according to their history...this means doing your homework. Bible, manuscripts etc, etc.
When you had all these things together you have pretty good case...but in the end...it's still all about faith. You can't have a 100% prove to everyone case. And that's the way God would rather have it. God wants your heart as well as your mind.
2. What is the relationship between science and relgion? Are they opposed to one another? Does science really have an agenda against Christianity?
I think much confusion has existed over this. I don't believe science has an agenda vs. Christianity...no more than Dora does (sorry, had to get that in - not in the original conversation) Some scientists might, but so do some Christians have an agenda against science. True Science observes and tries to deduce the most likely scenarios from it's observations. Christianity is about a relationship with God. The Bible is a book that shares the story of God's pursuit of his creation and helps us to discover that relationship for ourselves. It lets us know God's character and the character that he longs for us and how meaning, and fulfillment are found. It points us to Christ and calls us to life in him and through him. Why and what we were created for! (you can see how the converstation went on)
However, back to the issue of the question. The Bible is not intended to be, primarily or even secondarily a science book (although it occasionally makes some scientific observations. Very occasionally.) Likewise, science is not meant to be religion because it's meant to observe and speak to it's observation. (Okay, I know that's simplistic)
Where have we gone astray? When unqualified Christians try to use the Bible as a science text book and present themselves as scientists we miss the point. We should learn lessons from times like those when everyone thought the earth was flat. When science observed it was not, many Christians used religion and the Bible to fight this crazy notion of science, because it threatened the systems they had developed according a wrong notion of how the universe and God functioned.
The point...I know scientists who believe the earth is 10000 years old and those who believe it's 4 billion years old. And I'm convinced that both are true believers. Somebody's wrong or maybe both are wrong...but when we start to just throw out everything science is observing because it doesn't fit our systems we're not just in danger of ignorance...we run the danger of making people feel that if they disagree with us on secondary issues they're not in the kingdom. Ie. If Christianity hinges on a six day 24hr creation, then many people can't in conscience agree because the evidence is too strong for them... The point, Christianity doesn't hinge on that. Again it hinges on a relationship with Christ. Everything else is secondary. In heaven you'll find people who believe the Universe is 10000 years old and those who believe it's 4 billions years old. People who believe creation happened in six, twenty four hour days and those who believe the big bang is God's doing. You'll also find people who are pre-millenial, post-millenial and no-millenial (I know it's a-). Those who believe the flood was local, and those who believe it was worldwide. Those who believe women should shut up in church and those who believe it's time for emancipation.
The point, you won't get to heaven because you were right on all the issues or be excluded because you're wrong on some...because all of us are right on some stuff and wrong on some stuff (we all agree with that except can't think of anything we're possibly wrong in)...but you'll be there not just heaven, but the Kingdom (here and now) for one reason and one reason alone...your relationship with Jesus Christ. Were you living your live training to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and loving others as Jesus loved you. You were? Then you can be wrong on everything else. (some might disagree - that's ok, you're wrong - just kidding, sort of)
3. What keeps you (me) on a steady road with Jesus?
Trying constantly to be surrendered to and in pursuit of loving God first and loving others as Jesus loved me. When I fail ask forgiveness and try again. Constantly look for things that will help me train to be able to do this better.
3b) What about Spiritual Disciplines?
There's only value to any discipline in as long as it helps you to do the above two things. As long as it leads to developing the character God wants to produce in you, as long as it's opening up the door for the Spirit to move in such a way that you're responsive and he has the room to bear his fruit in you. If you're heart is truly for this and a spiritual discipline doesn't help in this process...get rid of it! Try something else...anything can be a spiritual discipline if it truly helps this process to happen in your life.
Piano players don't practice scales so they can be good at playing scales. Don't read your Bible for the sake of reading your Bible. I know Christians who pray more than I'll ever pray and who read and fast and do stuff I can't even get my mind around, all in service of Christ...and yet when it comes to loving people...don't think twice about walking all over someone else. It would be more profitable for them to focus on what will help them to love than spend all their time keeping doing certain disciplines that are obviously not producing the fruit their meant to.
Just some of the tangents we went down.
4. What about the theory that religion exists to help us deal with the fear of the afterlife?
By this time this was no longer an issue for the person in question. Maybe if he'd asked it to begin with.
Again, I feel the issue here as everywhere else boils down to, what do you do with Jesus? Was he real? Prophecy that his life just fit so well into? Teaching? Claim to be God? Death? Ressurection, really? Is so, wow! Call to discipleship?
For me it's all about these things, which makes it pretty interesting...I don't get rattled when anyone questions anything else. Probably because I've questioned it all (and trust me I've questioned it all - creation, flood, bible, end-times, to name just a few) before, and I still have and know I will have many questions to come. But that's cool, because the centre is solid.
Well, that's just some of the roads we journeyed on, there were many more, many I'm sure I don't remember.
My advice to him in the end...Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love others as Jesus loved you!
This afternoon I met with one of the kids from our youth group. He had asked for a meeting to discuss some questions that were not just keeping him awake at night, but were shaking him to the root of his faith. I spent several hours with him , so I won't get into the details of the conversation, but I wanted to mention the questions he brought.
1. What is the difference between the different religions. Why should I give my life to Christianity? Why not Islam? Why not Budhism?
2. What is the relationship between science and relgion? Are they opposed to one another? Does science really have an agenda against Christianity?
3. What keeps you (me) on a steady road with Jesus?
4. What about the theory that religion exists to help us deal with the fear of the afterlife?
Out of these questions many others were birthed along the conversation.
Can I just say, I was really pumped after this meeting? Did I mention he's only in grade ten?
To those of you who are closer, know and have invested in D's. life. You would have loved to have been a fly on the wall, and certainly not because of what I had to say.
This is what I love most about ministry. Sitting here in my office...not so much!
As I mentioned in a recent post, SNOCAMP (our winter youth retreat) sounded a wake up call for where we are, and where we were headed as a youth ministry. Specifically, where we were in terms of seeing relationships formed amongst the young people, or the lack thereof and the negative impact it was having.
But at the end of the day you have to ask why...and so we did. And it wasn't hard to discover why. We had lost track of what we were here to do.
Yesterday we met (youth leadership) and had the longest meeting we've ever had. I don't suggest that as the answer, however, it was incredible to see everyone in on the action. When we left we had the remainder of the year planned out and knowing who was responsible and what was going to be done to accomplish what we've set out to do...as well as what we discovered we shouldn't be doing.
I think beyond the planning and all that stuff...the most important thing we addressed was the issue that we don't do anything just for the sake of doing it. Ie. You shouldn't just have a retreat, because we always do a youth retreat. You do a retreat or whatever because it accomplishes some greater purpose that you believe God longs to see take place in the young people's lives. Whether the issue is spiritual growth, service, relational connection, or several of those together you should be able to measure how what you've proposed to do should accomplish that goal. Most of all if right off the bat, you know that it doesn't, you shouldn't do it. That was hard to keep in focus as we planned, and walking away I realized we missed it on one or two occasions, however, now, we can go back and address that intentionally, and not have to wait 'till it fails to realize that it failed because of our lack of purpose beforehand.
As Matt stated in my last post on this...this is transferrable to any other ministry or even how we do church on sunday morning.
Nothing new here (or under the sun...), but it feels good when as a team you get closer to the goal you feel God calling you to.
This past weekend the youth leaders and a small group of young people took a trip to Muskoka for Snocamp. It was a fun time and truly tiring time. I did things I hadn't done in years. Thinks my body is thoroughly repentant of having done, but that my heart is glad for doing. We did have a great time withe the kids.
Having said that...this weekend was a wake up call for us. Especially for me. Most of our group was not there. Most of all, they weren't there because most of the group really isn't connected. As in relationship and family. Most of the kids have one or two friends in the group, so, when one kids drops off we lose three and this happened this past weekend. We needed the eye opener, it reminded us of our original focus. Connect kids to God to eachother to leaders. We were spending so much time on the first and last that we were missing the fact that if they don't connect to each other, it'll all fall apart.
Yesterday was our first meeting since returning, I agonized over what my approach was going to be in teaching last evening....I settled on Jesus' call to follow him and what it really meant. I thought I was a little strong, but it turned out the kids loved it (I don't mean in the sense that it was so much fun) but they appreciated the challenge to their lives and several even came to me and said things like..."we need more of that!"...not kids I expected to hear it from. We also had an incredible turnout with kids coming that hadn't been around for months. God knows what he's doing.
Sometimes we need to be brought low before we can look to the one who is leading with an attitude and heart that says I will follow you wherever and regardless of the cost.
But I'm still tired. Barely awake right now, and I still have the whole day to go!
Yesterday we started up youth again...I know some of you can't get over the fact that we stopped for the summer...that's not the point...yesterday we started up! I have the glittery hair to prove it - thanks to my wife. We started out with a fun party. I'm looking forward to another year of personal and spiritual growth in all our lives. May God lead us.
(I know he will! - 'cause that's what he does best!)
Last night we wrapped up our youth year with a party.
It was a lot of fun and ended with a bang! I think both the leaders and the kids are looking forward to next year. But I, as a leader, am surely looking forward to the break, however, it's a break that will involve lots of planning so that next year is even more solid.
Interesting to note, even on the last night we had three new kids out. One of them someone who used to come to Richview, 5 years ago.
We have been blessed this year! So much potential wrapped up in each of these lives.
Well, it's over and we're still recuperating. We're not as young as we used to be! For the first time we had a "Lock In" that went 24 hours. That means we had the young people in the church for 24 hours. Planned activities, etc, etc, etc. It was both a great experience. Fun I'm sure. But it was also a learning experience for us as leaders. Going from an overnighter to a 24 hr experience is quite different. But we learned several lessons that will be helpful for the next time. Am I crazy, I'm talking about the next time...
Our numbers have hit about twenty five and we're hanging around there. Although we have about 30 young peope registered. Like anything else, it seems almost impossible to get all of them to the same event at the same time.
What I'm learning this time around, I did youth ministry a few years back, is that even within a short time, the issues these kids are going through, are changing at an incredible rate.
I just found out that my cousin just out of highschool has brought his girlfriend home to live with him and his parents. They have both gone on vacation alone and it's all ok. Parents don't know what else to do, so it just goes on, even though he's already sacrificed University which had been a dream for several years.
After learning this, it helped me to look at our young people and the decisions they're facing differently. Calling them to morals that don't seem to make sense in light of the culture they live within is easy, but helping them to see why it really is a better decision is a much harder thing.
Our group of kids continues to be a group of kids that comes out, is enjoying themselves, is even excited and interested in what they hear, but we don't have very many kids who are committed to anything significant. We do have a few that are sold out, but it's 3, maybe 4 of 25 who seem to be overshadowed by the many.
I'm not sure of what it will take to see something significant happen. Actually, I do, and we keep praying for these kids and for God to intervene. And we wait...
I've included the pictures from both sites that pertained to our group on my page. So, you can see them all together. There you go. And you don't just get the pictures, you get my wit (or not so much) included. Check them out.
SNOCAMP pictures are up! These are our pictures (Richview's youth group). Also, make sure to check out the Muskoka Baptist Conference's SNOCAMP pictures, lots more there.
Enjoy!
Well, it's over as soon as it starts.
Our weekend away with the youth was a hit. It fulfilled our desires in more ways than we could have expected. God was a work, building relationships. Kids to him, to each other and to leaders. It's hard to summarize the weekend in a few sentences. That and I'm lying in bed tired from lack of sleep, although I certainly got more than I have in the past.
I'll just say, it was a great weekend. We had our challenges now and again, but those were small in comparison to the good times.
Oh, yes, we had awesome weather. Lots on snow on the ground, but springtime like temperatures (almost) and lots of sun.
Everything seemed to work for us, this was so important to all of us leaders. All of us came back excited about how things went.
I'll try to have the pictures up on the site tomorrow, I'm too tired to do that tonight. My eyes are half shut.
Oh well, have a great night.
Well we're off...
We're taking 20 kids and 10 leaders away for a youth retreat. I ask you if it comes to mind, to pray for these kids. They need God, they need to get to know each other, and we (as leaders) need better relationships with them. So, even as you read this, if you pray a quick prayer that God would do some wonderful things in their lives.
We're looking for God to do some, well, "God-things" in all of our lives this weekend.
I might check the site while I'm away, but I most likely won't have an opportunity, then again... :)
Have a great weekend everyone!
Breathe deep the breath of God!
We had 20 kids out this evening. It was a great time. Somtimes we want to say that numbers don't matter. But more kids bring in a different atmosphere, a fun atmosphere, an atmosphere of expectation. There were new kids, and there were still kids missing. It was fun and exciting. We are getting to the place where there almost isn't enough room for what we need. We'll see, but if things keep going this way, we might need to rethink space.
Well, it was a good and encouraging night. And also a fun night.
There's so many kids that really don't have one or much of a relationship with God. So much potential, so much hope. We've already seen some significant stuff happening in some lives. Two weekends from now we go on a retreat, we're hoping and praying for God things to happen in their lives.