Quiet

So the blog will be quiet this week. I'm heading off to Camp St. Christopher for a week with our middle school students. Traditionally camp was offered apart from the community students worship in. So for example you as a student would sign up for one of several weeks of camp. This year St. Chris is offering a week where whole youth groups can come down as a community. This not only has all the great things about summer camp. Jesus, the beach, teaching, songs, sailing, games, cabins, etc.. but also has the added benefit of being done in the same community which the students are connected to through the school year.

Gospel as Centeral

This is part of a series of articles from The Resurgence...

"A gospel-centered church does not just preach the gospel. The gospel is not an addition to our ministry or even a beginning point; rather, the gospel must saturate every part of our church's life. A gospel-centered approach to discipleship is necessary to produce healthy Christ-followers and healthy churches. Each stage of our discipleship process should also be gospel-centered. From assimilation, to preaching and teaching, to counseling, to leadership development, the gospel must be central. Even our worship should be gospel-centered.

The church should reach lost people with the gospel through community outreach, personal evangelism, and missional living. The church should develop and grow disciples with the gospel through small groups, Bible study, service, and the teaching of spiritual disciplines. It should seek to reproduce disciples grounded in the gospel through leadership development and the mentoring of godly men who will become elders and deacons. Let the gospel be the heart of your church from beginning to end."

• What does this look like in youth ministry?
• What does it mean to center a family around the gospel?
• How's does this affect the status quo?
  

What if church was like this....

Thanks to my friend Todd of River Church for asking what if our celebrations were like this...

Hungry students

One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing a hunger develop in students. Now it's common to hear of the hunger teenagers have for food. This week however I had two great conversations with students. One dealing with a hunger for relationship with their savior and one dealing with a hunger to pray. My advice to the future prayer warrior was to 1. Get around people who pray and 2. Pray like Jesus prayed.

Letter to Parents

Dear Parents,
I was in a local store the other day picking up a few items when, to my surprise, I was confronted with isles and isles of binders, pencils, notebooks, and markers. Back to school supplies were being put up as that fateful day approaches that marks the end of summer. I was so unprepared to see all of this marketing that I actually had to check a calendar and breath a sigh of relief once I realized that it was still only mid-July.
School to many students still seems a long way off yet it may be closer then they think. For example, next week holds already the sign ups for fall rec. activities. I’ve had several conversations with parents who are truly struggling with how much to put on their family’s plate as fall approaches. If I may I’d like to offer a few guidelines I’ve seen families use to help provide some healthy boundaries for their extra curricular activities.

1. Realize that time is a limited gift. Lisa and I are already feeling this as our little girl turns six months old tomorrow. We feel that it was only a few sleepless nights ago we were bringing her home and wanting her to reach that next milestone of life... sitting up. Time is a gift God has given us each day and doesn’t guarantee us tomorrow. So when planning out our fall calendars let’s prioritize the important stuff.
2. Realize that gathering is better than scattering. The University of Alabama recently conducted a study of 10,000 teenagers and found some amazing things in the lives of students who’s families gathered on a regular basis for a meal. What if for a season we focused on gathering as a family
3. Worship as a priority instead of priorities getting worshiped. I love asking “What if...” type questions. They invoke in me a sense of wonder and awe at what God could do in my life and the lives of those around me. What if we as a community said that we will prioritize worship. Not just the singing aspect of it but also the reading, praying, and engaging aspects. This doesn’t mean you have to be at church with your entire family every time the doors are unlocked but I do think it means that once a week the family gathers for worship, and once a week we gather with a life group. Time and time again I see real life change happen in the families who consistently clear the schedule on Sundays for these things.

As all the sign ups, camps, and opportunities ramp up for the fall I realize there is a very real temptation to make church just another item on the list of things to do this week. This results in stress. When we view worship like that then we also open the door for guilt to flood in when we miss that week. The Gospel isn’t about guilt. That was nailed to the cross. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Which in turn is the reason that our lives become ordered around Jesus and the result is life! (John 20:31) Thanks for taking the time to read this. Please know that it is an honor to partner with you in seeing the life that Jesus gives in the lives of your students.

Dave Libbon
Youth Ministry Team Leader

Episcopal General Convention

For those of you who either care about or are involved in the Anglican world. I wanted to offer my friend Rob's perspective on the recent happenings that have grabbed headlines as of late.

"I have been receiving a lot of e-mails, phone calls, and unexpected drop -ins asking me what I think about General Convention. It seems that there is a high level of anxiety out there and I thought it might be worth my time to tell you why I’m not concerned nor anxious over the events at General Convention.

1. I’m not concerned nor anxious about General Convention because I know that Jesus reigns...."

You can and should read the rest here.
For more on this subject blow by blow check out Rev. Steve Wood's blog here. Or pick up today's New York Times to read his comments.

Tribes

As the summer of reading continues i picked up a little book called "Tribes" by Seth Godin. It's a shorter read that mainly deals with corporate America and gaining followers in a world of networks. It's based on the premise that we as humans naturally operate in a tribes mentality. So for example I have a bunch of followers on Twitter, or a trillion friends on FaceBook.com these people are my tribe. They've made the choice to follow me. I'm also a member of a bunch of tribes. Lisa and I like an Irish place down the street Madra Rua. We're there a few times a month and could be considered part of their tribe. A person can be a part of several tribes. However the passionate tribes become more dominate. The current of the book is how to you more your tribe from the status quo to the dominate passionate place that in turns generates desired results. In a business case $ in a non-profit case that's a little murky to define. In the Church's case it can be hard to define but should be a life changed into the image of Christ. (2 Cor 3:18)

For me personally the book was a hard read. The author seemed to have had way to much caffeine when writing it. The fact that the book has NO CHAPTERS is unexpectedly maddening. Instead there are maybe 3-4 paragraphs grouped together under a heading.

I get it. People , myself included, are sheep. Give us a vibrant shepherd and we follow. The task becomes figuring out if what we are seeking provides us with the Truth or just a warm fuzzy. The book had the undertone of "If you just try hard enough or want it bad enough you'll get it." Sorry don't mean to be a downer but that (for our own good) is not always the case.

Ministry perspective I think it holds some challenges which are worth hearing. Especially when he talks about movements...Transparency, bigger than you, grow, made most clear when held against the status quo, excluding (defining boundaries) pg 105. Where as our community has adopted the language of a movement this is helpful in context.

Like I said it's a short read would be a good flip through if you're spending some time with a cup of coffee in a book store. Not sure I'd buy it however.



This clip is of the author explaining the concept. What does this look like in ministry? ?

Good Night States

Really amazing concept. If you're in or around Pittsburgh check these guys out.

Good Night States

Train a child in the way they should go...

What Exactly is Church?

Total Church

Recently I finished another book off my list. Total Church by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. Both are Brits who helped plant "The Crowded House" I'll provide a 10,000 foot fly over then offer some thoughts (for whatever they're worth). I was given this book at the Advace 09 conference and have to admit was a little skeptical at first due to it's free nature. I guess one to many nut jobs have thrust into my hands their manifestos. However I trusted this source plus have previously heard of The Crowded House so I cracked the cover.

The book is divided into two parts part 1 looks at and defines the Gospel, and Community. Two words which have gotten dragged thorough the mud lately and could use some cleaning up in order to be defined. From that foundation they launch into part two. Part two holds basically a dissection of the church looking at everything from World Missions (Ch6) to Social Involvement (Ch4) and ends up with a look at "Children and Young People" (Ch12). Recently I've come across so many authors and speakers who pride themselves on their ability to deconstruct the establishment. The thing that Chester and Timmis aim for in this work is to avoid such pitfalls. (To completely destruct something leaves one with nothing but a pile) Instead they base their views off of the truths established in part one. So all pastoral care (chapter 8) thoughts are passed through the filter of the Gospel and Community, as are all thoughts on apologetics and spirituality. (Ch11 and 9) All of which are complimented by first hand accounts of how all the topics are addressed in the context of the local church. Mostly stories from people who have been in contact with or a part of The Crowded House. I really appreciate the tangible nature of this book.

Here's a quote from the chapter on the Gospel that I'd love for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to read as they meet this week...."'We talk about applying the Bible to our lives. What would it mean to apply our lives to the Bible instead, assuming the Bible to be the reality- the real story- to which we are called to conform ourselves. " (page 35)

There's much more i'd like to say about this book some good like the chapter on success, somethings i'd rather sit down with the men who wrote it and ask for more explanation. Things like the chapter on spirituality seem more like a reaction to culture then what is prescribed in Scripture. Where I think much or our disagreement would come from would be the fact that Christianity has co-opted some terms that at their roots would mean something different. Namely Eastern concepts worked out in a Biblical model. The chapter on Spirituality addresses things like "silence" and "solitude" as opposite to the Gospel which encourages petition and community. I don't disagree with that it's just that I see Jesus finding solitude (Luke 4 Matt 26:36) and silence (in the places we see Jesus withdrawing to pray. I'd define silence as a description of the person and their mind not however their soul) (hope that makes sense) Anyway it's not hard to see how culture defines spirituality, just go to the mall.

What i would like to point at is the chapter on "Children and Young People". Working with young people myself this chapter really stuck out and I must confess was actually the first chapter I read. In it the authors contrast two stories of the vibrant flashy para church type youth gathering vs. the diligent consistent long-suffering small group leader. As someone who has fallen into both camps at various times in my ministry I was cheering. He goes on to make a statement I'm not sure i fully agree with in practical..."The key to successful youth work is the Bible this is how God does his work in youth people. And the measure of success is not attendance but gospel fruit in their lives." (pg184) My hang up is that the key to successful youth work is the Bible and the correct exposition of the Bible will lead to the family as the power to turn that key. More and more I'm convinced and convicted that for far to long the church (myself included) has neglected raising up parents to disciple their children. This is God's original "Youth Group". They do go on to talk about "wider community" and what young people can bring to the broader church. They end the chapter with the challenge that: "... If we would do this as a family, we can do it as church; if we would not do this as a family, why do it as church..."

Some of the greatest conversations I've had in my life have focused around the concept of what exactly is church? This book does a great deal to bring some of that into focus. Not an easy task. I do believe that it sheds light on the connecting and necessary factors of Gospel and community. It was an enjoyable read.

Lost Disc Golf 8th hole of Park Circle.

Lost a driver (yellow) on the 8th hole of the Park Circle Disc Golf course. Rt side in the shrubs. Anyone sees it let me know.

More from our students @ New Wine

What He Must Be... If He Wants To Marry My Daughter

I finished this book a while ago and felt that i needed some time before posting my thoughts on it. It's by Voddie Baucham who if you've read anything else by him know that the one word that describes him is "pointed". He does not dance around issues or hint at things. In this book he removes the kid gloves to approach marriage and the role of a husband. He is unapologetic of his analysis of the current state of things when it comes to holy matrimony or the fact that fathers have in fact focused more on espousing their sons to be academically and athletically strong at the cost of being morally weak.

"Every governor of a family ought to look upon himself as obligated to act in three capacities as a prophet, to instruct; as a priest, to pray; as a king to govern, direct and provide for them" ~George Whitefield

After laying a solid Biblical foundation of what marriage is in the first few chapters he goes on to spend the rest of the book outlining the role of a man in all aspects of life. He must be a follower of Christ, He must be prepared to lead, he must lead like Christ, he must be committed to children...(these are not suggestions they are chapter titles). Finally the last chapter in the book says it best..."If you can't find one.. Build One." As someone who still feels in many ways like i'm in Act one of marriage (4 years into it now) and who only has 6 months of parenting under his belt Voddie's straight forward tell it like it is style appeals to me. It's at least a breath of fresh air in the world of 5 steps to your best life now which is what most of Christian publishing has become.

As the father of a daughter I'll share my favorite part of one of the closing chapters...

"It was a cold winter night Jack was sitting in front of the fire carefully lining up the pieces from his gun cleaning kit. He had cleaned his gun before, but tonight was different; tonight the cleaning had a dual purpose. One purpose was to see that his weapons were all in working order; the other was to scare the living daylights out of the sixteen year old young man who was scheduled to arrive at his door in the next half hour.

Jack was a tall athletic man who kept himself in good shape. He often joked that he worked out constantly in preparation for his moment. He knew the day would come when a young man cam calling. That day had finally arrived. Jack's mind flooded with images. He smiled as he remembered the day he brought her home. No man had ever been happier or more proud. No in just the blink of an eye young men had begun to come knocking.

At 6:45 the doorbell rang. It was Scott. he was right on time. Jack opened the door and greeted the young man, who had to wipe the sweat from his palms before shaking Jack's hand...As he ran his bore snake through the steel, matching grade barrel, he asked Scott, "Do you have any idea how much she means to me?" Scott managed to not his head. Good, Jack continued. "I just want to make sure we are on the same page". Scott shook his head more vigorously. "Do you remember what time I told you to have her back?" "Yes Sir- 11:30" Scott blurted out, finally able to produce audible sounds. "I'll take good care of her and get her back long before that."

Jack stood up, walked up the stairs and disappeared. Moments later he reappeared. This was the moments Jack had waited for. He could barely contain himself. Resolved that he had done everything he could to impress upon this young man the importance of taking great care and showing the utmost respect for his baby, Jack turned around, raced into his pocket and handed the young man the keys to his brand -new 6.5 liter, 12 cylinder All Wheel Drive, $354,000 Lamborghini Mucielango. "I want her back without as much as a scratch," he said as the young man started toward the garage."

"Of course, the story above is completely absurd. Who, you ask, would give the keys to a brand new Lamborghini Mucielango to a 16 year old young man? Well, I have a better question. Who would be foolish enough to think their daughter was worth less than any car? "

Admittedly this book is not for everyone. However it struck a chord with me and sets the bar high.

Daniel on the beach praying for people...

Daniel is one of our youth who participated in the New Wine Conference this past June...



props to Steve's new blog if you haven't yet check it out over on Treading Grain.com

Babies on roller skates

You read that right. Here's what we hope for little Abbie someday soon!

(click on the video)

Man Foul

Thought I'd share an epic man foul i witnessed today. No it's not the picture to the right however it was almost as bad. You see a few years ago several friends and I began a discussion during the summer as to what exactly does the Bible say about a being a "man". After several challenging and encouraging conversations we, jokingly at first, developed the "Man Foul"

A "Man Foul" is committed when a man is seen doing something that would contradict his created nature. So for example...

• Not holding a door for a women pushing a child in a stroller = Man Foul
• A man ordering a drink from a bar that contains a blue glow stick in (personally have witnessed this) = Man Foul
• Mullet = Man Foul
• Not understanding moderation = Man Foul
  

Well today I witnessed an epic Man Foul... While at a pool with several friends one young man who had been drinking a light beer for the past few hours was swimming around the pool in a loud voice singing Alanis Morrisette at the top of his lungs along with the radio. As I sat there mouth open holding my daughter and thought "How did it come to this?"

So men let's do each other a favor and up the ante at least a little. Please

Oh Media...

Check out this link for 15 of the most creepiest adds of all time!




*props to KemMeyer

Lex orandi, Lex credendi

"Lord Jesus, Great High Priest, Thou hast opened a new and living way by which a fallen creature can approach thee with acceptance.
Help me to contemplate the dignity of thy Person,
The perfectness of thy sacrifice,
the effectiveness of thy intercession.

O what blessedness accompanies devotion,
when under all the trials that weary me,
the cares that corrode me,
the fears that disturb me,
the infirmities that oppress me,
I can com to thee in my need and feel peace beyond understanding.

The grace that restores is necessary to preserve, lead,guard,supply,help me.
And here thy saints encourage my hope,
they were once poor and are now rich,
bound and are now free,
tried and now are victorious.

Every new duty calls for more grace than i now possess,
but not more than is found in thee, the divine treasury in whom all fullness dwells.

To thee I repair for grace upon grace, until every void made by sin be replenished and i am filled with all thy fullness.

May my desires be enlarged and my hopes emboldened,
that i may honour thee by my entire dependency
and the greatness of my expectation.

Do though be with me, and prepare me for all
the smiles of prosperity, the frowns of adversity
the losses of substance, the death of friends,
the days of darkness, the changes of life,
and the last great change of all.

May i find thy grace sufficient for all my needs. "

~From the Valley of Vision pg 116