Some days you learn more than others.

I've had a tendency in the past few years to distance myself from those closest to me. I think ministry does that to people sometimes but it's no excuse for entering into meaningful relationships. An issue came to the surface today between a colleague and I today and I'm thankful for it. I needed to see that I've been guarded and I've allowed a bit of stress to creep in on me. I want to be careful to give stuff to God. I don't want to be bitter. I want to be open and vulnerable so others can feel free to be themselves...I've learned a lot today. Days like today are liberating. I'm thankful for the hard things, they really do make us better.

Hamburgers

One of the coolest things you can ever do as a junior high youth pastor is to take a bag full of McDonald's double cheeseburgers to school with you. Today was one of those glorious days when I saw the value of Mc-lational youth ministry. Good times.

Totally insane burritos

Awhile back I met up with Coy at a little surf dive for burritos after a joyous session in the water. He arrived sandy, sun tanned, happy, and hungry. It's been awhile since he's been able to catch some waves and it was a beautiful day--it was great to see someone I love so much so full of life. What made our afternoon even better was eating at this amazing burrito joint right off of A1A in Satallite Beach. DaKine and Diego's...AMAZING...if you ever get to the east coast of Florida you must eat a burrito here. For real.

Relational ministry through the lens of ought.

I've only read two paragraphs of this book by Andrew Root: Revisiting Relational Youth ministry, but they were worthy of inclusion because of it's relevancy today:

Relational ministry has too often been seen as an ought...Incarnational youth ministry can induce a vicious cycle of guilt, I should be spending time with kids...the burden becomes too heavy to bear because it is never over; adolescents always seem to need more relational bonds, and once one group graduates there is a a new group of students...It may be that relational ministry has become a burdensome "ought" because it has become a tool for ministry rather than the ministry itself...In other words, relational ministry is something that youth workers do rather than something that youth workers are...relational ministry should not be practiced as an ought but from the core of ourself...

Amen anyone?

Getting students to show up.

Jonathan McKee recently wrote a book titled, "Getting students to show up: Practical Ideas for any outreach event - from 10 to 10,000. I love the fact that he gives youth workers the chance to learn from his own mistakes. It's a wonderful thing to be able to learn a lesson before going through the painful process of "learning the lesson." Many of the ideas are reinforcements of good things that youth workers learn but soon forget in the busyness of ministry. And there are so many new and practical helps that could really revolutionize any youth groups outreach mindset. I've been doing youth events for a long time and this is a book that make sense to me. It's a good one.

McKee's book.

Hope in the dark

There's a quote in my office, it was one that inspired me during a particularly difficult time in my life. I found it on the back page of relevant magazine, the last word section. If I remember correctly it says something like, "Hope is born in the dark, we watch we wait, we never give up." (Anne Lamott) These words mean more to me now than ever. One of my students attempted suicide last night. It's insane how much a middle school student can change from fall to spring in a single school year. It's unthinkable the amount of despair a teenager can feel at such a young age. I'm feeling the weight of youth ministry and wondering if we are doing things right. God knows we give our very best. I pray that we can be a light and a connection to hope. The words of Lamott remind me to watch and to wait, and to never give up.

Are you down with G. O. C.?

Ok, so the new Passion cd is being released tomorrow. Have you heard the story behind the song "God of this City"? My assistant drove to work in tears this morning as she heard an interview with Chris Tomlin talking about how this song came about...I can't wait to see how God works through this amazing release.

Here's where you can get the cd.

Etymology

What do these words mean to you?
Believe
Belong
Become
Just wondering...