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A Youth Pastor's Hurt
I wrote this a year ago after some time with some former youth. I’m currently working on a sermon that brought it to mind and decided to share it again. I’m starting my thirteenth year as a youth pastor at the same church. That is a really long time in youth ministry and a really long time as a youth pastor in the same church. I remember my current youth when they were mere babies and the first youth I had in my ministry are now having babies. Over the thirteen years, I’ve shared countless moments with hundreds of teenagers. I…
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Source of Significance
On Wednesday night, I was talking with the youth about our sources of significance. What or who is it that we look to to validate our worth and to prove our significance? There is a lot of similarity between how teens and adults would answer: Relationships. Work or Grades. Success. Money. Popularity. Looks. Influence. There is a long list of fleeting things that we allow to have a lasting impact on our lives. When these things serve as our sources of significance, we live fearful, chaotic lives because we are always chasing that which can’t be caught. It was ironic to me that…
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Lesson Learned
The youth in my youth family teach me a lot of things. There are the very useful things like how to master the Wii, how to SMS bomb someone, how to have fun, how to fart on demand (okay, I already had that mastered.) They remind me that you can make a difference and that it is never to late to start. They remind me that you can have fun regardless of the task at hand. They remind me to relax and that to be present in someone’s life is more important than designing a stellar program or event. They teach me that selfishness is pervasive…
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Reflections on KONY 2012
If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know that I am a supporter of Invisible Children. You’ve been barraged by updates and tweets this week as we prepared to host the IC roadies at our church and as the latest video went viral and discussions/criticisms ensued. If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I’ve been an advocate of Invisible Children since 2006 – showing movies and films, sharing their materials, purchasing their products (shirts, bracelets, MEND bags, etc) and coordinating local events with the Invisible Children roadies. I’ve written letters, made phone calls,…
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I Have a Secret
I want to help my youth live a better story. Some of them have had bad stories written for them and some have chosen bad stories. But God has a great Story for them and I want to do everything I can to help them live a better story. A story of living life abundantly. A story that is a great adventure with God. A story where they realize how beautiful they are because God made them and God forgives them. But in order to move forward and write better chapters, we all need to let go of some of…
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Getting Schooled By My Youth
The youth in my youth group teach me a lot of things. There are the very useful things like how to master the Wii, how to have fun, how to fart on demand (okay, I already had that mastered.) They remind me that you can make a difference and that it is never to late to start. They remind me to relax and that to be present in some one’s life is more important than designing a stellar program or event. They teach me that selfishness is pervasive and that I once was as awkward and self-conscious as they are and I would be wise to not…
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C-Group Aroma
Two weeks ago the weekly high school small group (we call them c-groups) that meets in my home multiplied into two groups. We had 12-14 kids coming consistently and it was too large for a small group. Not everyone could be heard. It was difficult to get through a lesson, etc. We had talked for quite awhile that we would need to multiply one day when our group was large enough and strong enough. And the day came. We planted a new c-group on Monday nights with two youth stepping up to co-lead it. It is so awesome! I love to…
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Passing Ships
We must stop setting our sights by the light of each passing ship; instead we must set our course by the stars. – George Marshall Great leaders like George Marshall know that your gaze must continually be focused on the right things or you will soon find yourself off course. How tempting it is to lose sight of the stars and follow those around you who seem to know where they are going. One of my struggles lately has been the temptation to follow the passing ships in regards to my ministry to young people. It is a battle that…