Forward for the Gospel

Last Sunday the church that Lisa and I belong to made a historic and encouraging decision to leave the denomination we had been a part. For me there is a sense of freedom and excitement as we look to the future and Christ's work in this city.  Easter will be extra special for us this year. Below is what our rector Rev. Steve Wood wrote to the parish and posted on his blog...

"Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ.
As you know, yesterday we gathered at 12.15 pm for a Special Meeting of the Parish to consider our way forward.  First, let me say how deeply I appreciated the participation of the 722 people who cast ballots.  This day and this decision was without a doubt one of the most significant days and decisions in the history of this parish.  Thank you for your faithfulness and for your willingness to complete the process we began many months ago.
Today we received the preliminary vote totals from the CPA firm contracted to oversee the balloting process.  There were 722 ballots cast.  The results are:

Resolution 1 (to amend our Parish By-Laws): 709 in favor, 13 opposed – 98 % approval.

Resolution 2 (to amend our Articles of Incorporation): 707 in favor, 15 opposed – 98% approval.

Resolution 3 (to disaffiliate with TEC and affiliate with ACNA or some other Province of the Anglican Communion): 703 in favor, 19 opposed – 97% approval.

I rejoice and give thanks for both the clarity of this discernment process and the unity of purpose within this parish demonstrated by this vote.  Unity and discernment are both gifts worked in our lives by the Spirit.  Having said that, I am reminded that at least 19 members of St. Andrew’s may not be rejoicing in this vote and I commend them to you and your prayers as brothers and sisters in Christ.  Please commit with me to ensure that St. Andrew’s will remain a parish where all are welcome to gather at the foot of the cross; sinners yet redeemed by the wonderful work of Christ."

For the rest please visit treadinggrain.com 

Resolve for Monday

Every Monday I'm going to post one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions. He penned these while still a very young man and used them to guide his life. What am I using to guide me, my family, my ministry???

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell. 

• Pain happens in life. It's just something you need to learn to deal with. Either you'll let it point you to Jesus or you'll let it drive you from him. Pray for grace to let even the smallest stubbed toe drive you to the cross of Christ. 
• To think of the "pains of hell." has break our hearts for those friends and family of ours that live apart from Christ's peace. A friend reminded me today to "Talk to God about my friends before I talk to my friends about God."

High School Alpha Weekend

Heading home from a great weekend. Some amazing time with young people as they interact with their savior and their lives are transformed. I'll post some more when my laptop battery charges back up.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Being Put Out To Pasture....

I know no youth worker/ minister/ pastor who has retired from youth work. It's true. None. The stereotype is that they don't stick around long enough to do so, or that the profession is so young that no one has had a chance to. Do know several people who ask me what I'm planning on doing when I get older. My witty response is to tell them that I plan on cashing in on the same retirement package that Paul cashed in on.

It was really good for me to read several weeks ago an article from David Olshine that appeared in Youth Worker. The article is great and does a good job in talking about the graying of the American youth worker. Here's a taste...

Older Is Better than You Think

In the course of the past four decades, youth ministry has become a legitimate, professional vocation. The stereotype of the immature youth worker who loves Jesus and seeks out kids until a senior pastorate opens up has faded away in America. Youth ministry is viewed largely as a calling, a mission, a lifetime position for men and women. Youth ministry is taken so seriously that tens of thousands of youth workers across the country attend seminars and conferences dedicated to the profession.

 In addition, an academic model for training youth leaders has emerged over the past two decades. Many colleges and seminaries offer bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs in youth ministry. Many classes at this level include adolescent development theory, techniques on counseling youths and families, theology, and models of evangelism and discipleship.

What does all this mean? Youth workers are staying in the field longer, and the average student majoring in youth ministry is getting older. The general assumption regarding what churches are looking for? Easy. Athletic guy in his early 20s who can play games and keep up with the teens and knows all about youth culture and Scripture—or a vivacious woman in her early 20s who can do slumber parties and keep the girls away from bad influences. Yet surveys for the southern states show that most organizations want older youth workers—usually early-to-mid 30s, married, with families. Some churches even want 40-year-old youth pastors—those vets who've tried walking on water, sank through the waves a number of times, got back into the boat and are now stable and wise.

For the rest please click here.

Abbie's day at the park

Sorry it's sideways. It's because I turned my phone while taping. If it bugs you you can turn your monitor and it'll fix the problem.

The Word That Governs Me

Some thoughts for the morning...

"O Son of God and Son of Man,
Thou wast incarnate, didst suffer, rise, ascend for my sake;
They departure was not a token of separation but a pledge of return;
Thy Word, promises, sacraments, show thy death until thou come again.

That day is no horror to me,
For thy death has redeemed me,
Thy Spirit fills me,
Thy love animates me,
Thy Word governs me.

I have trusted thee and thou hast not betrayed my trust;
waited for thee, and not waited in vain..."

The Valley of Vision A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. 

What I've been up to...

 Spent some time with my beautiful daughter.

 Spent some time with my beautiful wife.

Finally saved some pennies to start to finish our shed and turn it into a study. (Also giving my wife back her spare bedroom.)

Resolve For Monday

Every Monday I'm going to post one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions. He penned these while still a very young man and used them to guide his life. What am I using to guide me, my family, my ministry???

9. Resolved, To think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death. 

• There's a happy thought to start your week on. Yet its good to live life in view of its ends. Is your life lived like you want to be remembered? Any discrepancies? 
• The season the church calls Lent begins with a evening focusing on this. On Ash Wednesday when some transitions apply ash they use the phrase "Remember you are dust." What they are saying is "Human you are going to die someday. Deal with it."  Have you dealt with it? 
• I had an interesting question on fear asked me last night. Remember we don't fear falling off a bridge we fear the sudden stop. We don't fear flying we fear crashing. We don't fear relationships or commitment we fear the pain that comes from them ending. Are you afraid of death? 
• Do you believe that your savior is in control not only of your salvation but of this world as well?

The Best of the Best for Middle School Ministry | YouthWorker.com

Here's a great article from YouthWorker.com on middle school ministry. As we begin a process to look at middle school (hopefully ending in a full time staff position with that as a focus) It's great to see some critical thinking on how to use the gifts and talents of such a fun age group.

The Best of the Best for Middle School Ministry

By Jeff Tillson | Junior High Pastor, Grace Fellowship UMC, Katy, Texas. | March 2010

Let's face it—hanging out with middle school (I call it junior high!) students in the hopes of bringing them closer to Jesus takes serious guts. It is an energy-packed, patience-stretching, sometimes smelly, time-consuming, thankless, awkward and overlooked calling. We are clearly the only people on earth who could get away with belching a Bible lesson or having a swim party in the baptistry. Junior high ministry veterans would agree that ministering to young adolescents is a blast, but it also requires a great amount of wisdom and smart ministry on our part. This quick crash course in junior high ministry has been developed after 10 years of good and bad ideas. Some are originals; some have been said before; all are crucial to consider as you seek to reach this awesome age group.
   
Celebrate Their EnergyJunior high students have an abundance of energy. I have met many well-intentioned youth workers who have attempted to contain or correct this trait with little success. The truth is, to minister to this age group effectively we must celebrate and wisely direct this God-given electricity. If we don't, junior highers will be tempted to misuse their energy by distracting people around them, running around with a fire extinguisher or playing floor hockey with the senior pastor's commentaries. I am convinced there is a better way!
 
Strategically Placed Games: Who says we have to teach 35 minutes straight just like the high school ministry? Try the 15-Minute Rule: For every 15 minutes of teaching, include an energy-burning activity or game. Maybe the activity illustrates a point, or it could be completely random. A strategically placed activity might break your flow, but it greatly enhances a junior high student's ability to stay mentality engaged

for the rest click here...
The Best of the Best for Middle School Ministry | YouthWorker.com

Friday Morning

Trying to convince my wife to come with me and go for a walk on the beach. High of 75 today.

High School Alpha Week 7

Topic: What about the Church and telling others.

Dinner:

• Baked Ziti and rolls
  

Favorite Moment:  

• This week we had a bunch of small group time. With fitting Alpha in to our context we often are pressed for time. This week we seemed to have hit the sweet spot that allowed us a bunch of time for small group discussion. 
  • One of the best moments was with some current events happening in our community this topic really resonated with our students. 

Student involvement:

• One of our older students took the opportunity and prayed for dinner.
  

Up Next:

• Next week we will wrap up the teaching section of High School Alpha with a live talk as opposed to the video and challenge them to take it to the streets. 
• The retreat in two weeks.

Fighter Verse

Here's something to anchor your day...

Deut. 10:12-13

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all of his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all of your heart and all of your soul, and to keep the commandments and statues of the LORD which I am commanding you today for your good?"

Deut 7:9

 "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. "

On the Protest Next Week

 

Dear Parents,

            It has come to our attention that a protest group will be present at Wando High School March 23^rd from 3:30-4pm. This group thrives on reaction and media attention. I want to write to you because it provides for us a very important opportunity to talk about true faith with our students. There are two main areas I feel this occurrence can in fact strengthen faith.

            One is that it will provide an opportunity for you to have a discussion with your student about their faith. Your sons and daughters will want to engage this. Take the opportunity to express how sharing your faith in such a negative way actually gets people no where. Be open to their reactions. Ask open ended questions. Point them to scripture and how Jesus shared his kingdom with others. Was it a picket line with shocking slogans or was it eating with prostitutes and thugs? Ask what your student has experienced when they have shared their faith with their friends? Ask how they demonstrate their faith at school? Ask how you can pray for them about this? You have the most opportunity to speak love and discipleship into their lives. Take hold of this opportunity to encourage them in their faith.

            The second area I feel this can strengthen faith is that it provides stark contrast to the message of the Gospel. In an inadvertent way the darkness of it all causes the light of Christ to shine brighter. As this group comes with a message of hate and anger the response of the Gospel is love. Teenagers are willing and ready to stand up for what they believe in. Let’s encourage our students, in the light of these times, to react not with quick tempers which the media loves but with prayer and patience knowing that God is sovereign over even this type of sin. I’m reminded of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 3:14-16…

¹⁴But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

(ESV, emphasis mine.)

           

            I’ve seen it time and time again that darkness is used to bring glory to Jesus. This will provide a challenging time for your students. It will force them to either stand up and say “That is not Jesus let me show you Jesus.”  Or to get swept into the reaction some are hoping for. We are praying for you. If there is any questions we can answer please do not hesitate to call.

David Libbon

Youth Ministry Team Leader

St. Andrews Mount Pleasant

Resolve for Monday

Every Monday I'm going to post one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions. He penned these while still a very young man and used them to guide his life. What am I using to guide me, my family, my ministry???


8. Resolved, To act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings, as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

• Sounds depressing doesn't it?
  
• I think we have a really bad view of mercy as Western Christians. We see God as loving, as just, as full of grace but we speed past the idea of a merciful God on our way to a God full of grace. If God's going to be full of grace then he has to first be merciful. He has to be because I'm not holy. Are you?
• If mercy is defined by "getting what we don't deserve." Then the more we don't deserve something the greater the act of mercy is. If you want to glorify Christ then take a good hard look at your own heart. How do you hold a mirror up to look at your heart? Who do you go to? What process do you use? Do you have a time to check in and ask how things are going?
  

Conviction

A friend's blog post reminded me of a story a college roommate of mine told me.

He said that if suddenly Christianity became illegal in our country and you were hauled before a judge would there be enough evidence for a conviction? More than just circumstantial? Cold hard evidence of us following the teachings of Jesus?


Here's my friends post....

It must be difficult in America…

An American pastor was visiting the pastor of a Church in a country where Christians are under heavy persecution. The US pastor said, “It must be so very difficult to pastor the church here.” The other pastor replied, “Not so, it must be difficult in America. Here we know who the true Christians are.”

Minute to Win It

Props to Youth Ministry Geek for this...

NBC's new show Minute to Win It looks like a blast all with games that are do-able at home. Can you say family game night? Like this one...

High School Alpha Week 6

Topic: What About Evil and Does Jesus Heal Today?
Dinner:

• (Don't remember It was two weeks ago)
  

Favorite Moment:

• I might not remember dinner but my favorite moment of the evening was watching a small group gather around a student and pray for him. All this without any prompting from up front. To see students and volunteers step into that role is great!
  

Student involvement:
This about sums it up...


Up Next:

• What about the church and why we share our faith.
  

Jonathan Edwards and Youth Ministry

This semester I'm taking part in a class at St. Andrews as part of St. Paul's Theological Center. The class covers great theologians over the ages. For me the challenge is to contextualize the information and apply it to my every day walk as someone who works with teenagers and families.

A few weeks ago the class took a fascinating look at Jonathan Edwards. Andy Morgan taught and his transcript can be found on his blog for those interested.  Here are some of the key points I've walked away with and how they relate to and encourage youth ministry.

• I keep bumping up against the low expectations we place on teenagers today. Edwards, who didn't have a fraction of the information available to him as today's young people do, crafted a series of resolutions around the age of 19. I've been taking a look at these resolutions every Monday. You can view the most recent here. There's the common charge the youth ministry dumbs down the gospel and that students have a weak faith as a result. Let's put the hard things in front of our students if we don't the world will. 
• I admire the fact that Edwards had every chance to steal away into the ivory tower of academia yet was so driven by a passion to see the Gospel proclaimed that he continually fled it to be in the pulpit and among the people. As youth ministers it's easy to lose sight of the relationships we have with families and students. I can spend much time in my office hidden away or as some see youth ministry as a stepping stone into "real ministry" I'm encouraged by those who hunger to learn yet feel the necessity to be in lunch rooms living out the gospel.
• Jonathan Edwards saw value and opportunity in youth led awakenings. How messy is that! 
• Jonathan Edwards has to wrestle with God showing up in unexpected ways. I can really resonate with this as it hits very close to home. The Holy Spirit is God and moves to see the kingdom advance. Edwards in the midst of revival had to deal with movements of the spirit and how to reconcile that with scripture. If we read that people in scripture are healed then does that happen when the church gathers today? If the supernatural is in fact moving then do we see that? If we do how do we process that post enlightenment? HUGE questions. Edwards wrestles this and offers us 5 marks  to identify an earnest move of the Holy Spirit.

1. Does it increase faith in Jesus Christ?
2. Does it free people from the world?
3. Does it bring about a great regard for Holy Scripture?
4. Does it lead to truth and oppose error?
5. Does it promote love for God and man?

• One of the great things about working with students is that they are open to the moving of the Holy Spirit. They do not yet have the layers of "experience" that says God doesn't do things like that.   So why not go for it?

Really I gleamed so much more from Andy's teaching. Currently I'm reading a summary of Edwards life. You can find the book in the section to the left if you're interested. It's a good summary for someone new to this great mind.  I'll end with a quote from Edwards wife Sarah informing her daughter of her fathers passing.

"What shall I say: A holy and good God has covered us with a dark cloud. O that we may kiss the rod, and lay our hands on our mount1 The lord has done it. He has made me adore his goodness that we had him so long. But my god lives; and he has my heart. O what a legacy my husband , and your father, has left to us! We are all given to God ; and there I am and love to be. Your ever affectionate mother, Sara Edwards."

Crowd Control Games

One of my favorite youth ministry finds over the last few years has been some flash games from Crowd Control. They're a company that has produced games that interact not with buttons but with crowd noise level. So no matter how big or small your crowd is as long as they can make noise everyone can be involved. I thought it was pretty innovative.  We use them in a few ways...

• A Common Objective : One way is that as students gather for an event it gives the group a common objective and from the moment they walk in are incorporated into the community. We don't give instructions so students continually have to figure out, as a group, when to make noise or when to be quiet. 
• Give Information: Some games come with built in chat feature that allows the person running the projection to put words or phrases up to help direct the group. Stuff like "Only the ladies yell" or "Only the leaders".  There are also some really unique ways to use the chat feature to give out information too.  You can download (for free) a virtual puppet that works great for giving out announcements and  student's attention.

 Here's a clip of our confirmation class getting ready for a chapel meeting on our retreat last weekend. The video quality isn't that great but you'll get the idea.







Another neat feature is that if you are willing to get your hands dirty in some technical stuff you can actually put your own pictures in some of the games.  We have our youth group logo as billboards, leaders head shots as passing motorist in a game that resembles the old Frogger .

Resolve for Monday

Every Monday I'm going to post one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions. He penned these while still a very young man and used them to guide his life. What am I using to guide me, my family, my ministry???

7. Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

• A friend once encouraged me that the most important day of my marriage isn't the day of my wedding but the last day of mine or Lisa's life. Not the beginning but the end because the end is the encompassing sum of all the days leading up to it. If you were to take stock of your life short or long what does it say about you?
  
• What are you afraid to do?
  
• What are you waiting for?
  

Out of town

Blog will be quiet over the next few days as I'll be out of town. This weekend we're leading our annual retreat for the students involved in the confirmation process at St. Andrews. Here's a link to what happened last year. We are excited to see this group of students get away from distraction and interact with their faith in Jesus.

Guard Your Heart

Had a conversation about this verse with one of our high school small group leaders yesterday. It was about some young people in very public relationships. What does it mean to guard or keep your heart? How do we guard our brothers and sisters hearts too?

Props to the Resurgence for this pic

Calvin and Youth Minsitry

Calvin, 

No not my dog but his namesake.

A few weeks ago we looked that the reformer of Geneva during one of the St. Paul’s Theological schools Tuesday evening meetings. Here is how I would sum up my evening. Calvin is not nearly as bad as people would make him out to be but still can stir up emotion in a room.

“However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts.” ~ J. Calvin

            I was reminded the other night why I’m so attracted to this reformer. Calvin’s theology was developed and intended for the border and boundary of Christian thought. Calvin’s world was in constant change and upheaval. Long standing thoughts of the church and society were being challenged. In today’s culture we find ourselves in similar surroundings. Post modernity has placed us philosophically speaking on shaky ground yet has opened up an opportunity to grasp on to that which can not be shaken namely the sovereignty of our creator over his creation and our very salvation.

To think through all the great conversations and lecture points in one blog post would be crazy. So here are my three points that I think refer directly to youth ministry

Calvin and Youth Ministry

• The idea of stability drives and enables mobility. When working with teenagers not much is stable. To be honest that age range is motivated by spontaneity. For Calvin his view of God’s sovereignty allowed and encouraged him to take great risks in pushing out for the sake of the Gospel. So props to the small group leader who wants to take his students into the ER to pray for people coming in. What if no one is healed? What if everyone is?  Props to those who take risks not because danger is cool but because the gospel is precious.

• The idea that “The world in all its squalor and sin is not the less the theater of God’s grace.” There is some dark stuff you run into when working with people. The gospel is messy. Students don’t process risk especially well.

• Finally “27” Calvin finished his first copy of the Institutes of the Christian Religion as an “elementary instruction book for anyone interested in the Christian faith.” when he was only 27 years old. How are we equipping the young believers? Do we as youth ministers even have a firm grasp on what we believe? Are we giving milk from milk or are we giving milk from the meat that we ourselves are chewing on? I’ll leave you with a quote to chew on… “I consider looseness with words of no less a defect than looseness of the bowels.” ~ Calvin

Simul Iustus et Peccator

I've gotten several questions as of late relating to the title of this blog.

First off I realize that it's a very odd title for blog that contains much about youth ministry. Shouldn't it be something about teenagers? Or perhaps four square? Maybe chubby bunny? To be honest I've often thought about changing it to be more pliable yet honestly it reflects me. The term "Simul Iustus et Peccator" comes to us from the reformation period. Luther highlighted the fact that the follower of Jesus is both saint and sinner. Here's a great article from Monergism.com if you wish to go deeper...

To one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

How is the Christian to see himself in this world? "Simul iustus et peccator" - "At the same time righteous and a sinner". Justification is forensic. In Christ, we are declared, counted or reckoned to be righteous when God imputes the righteousness of Christ (an "alien righteousness") to our account. Christ's righteousness ascribed to the redeemed individual without their personal merit. We are declared righteous in Christ, it is imputed to us -- it is counted as ours ... not infused in us. We are counted righteous in God's eyes because of Christ. But this does not make us righteous in ourselves. That will only happen at our glorification when Christ transforms these bodies to be sealed in righteousness. Justifying righteousness is something which always resides in the Person of Christ alone. The imputation of this "alien" righteousness is the only means by which man can be acceptable to God. As long as the Christian lives, he is guilty in himself, but "in Christ" he is righteous and accounted precious.

The Council of Trent itself reveals that Rome considered Luther's simul iustus et peccator to be a most serious threat to the traditional teaching of the Catholic church. The Roman Church contended that “justification” means making a man righteous in his own person. The Catholic reasons, “How can God pronounce a man to be righteous in His sight unless he is actually righteous?” He therefore thinks that a man must be born again and transformed before he can have right standing with God. In this system of thought, a man can have no real assurance of justification, for he can never be sure whether the Holy Spirit has made him righteous enough to be accepted of God.

Righteousness through Christ is called an “alien” righteousness because it did not generate from us. It is not our righteousness; it is his. It is an alien righteousness because it came from without, and now it is in a foreign land. It does not belong here; it is an alien righteousness. In Latin we call it simul iustus et peccator: simul, simultaneously; iustus, just; et, and; peccator, sinful. That is me – simultaneously righteous and sinful. That is my contribution to salvation -- my sin! At the same time that I am a sinner, God sees me as righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ. That is the message of outreach -- it is the message of salvation. You can read the rest here..

For me this rings true. It hopefully is the lens that I work out my callings and ministry to the end that Christ is glorified most.

High School Alpha Week 5

Topic: 

• How and Why to Read The Bible
  

Dinner:

• Mexican!
  

Favorite Moment:

• A British friend John shared his story which dealt much with being hostile to Christ. It was great to hear as most of the students struggle with complacency as opposed to hostility.   This hopefully got some thoughts brewing. 
• Small group discussion time has been cut short as we've had some announcements that needed to get out. At first I wasn't sure I wanted to take time away from this critical segment however it's really primed the pump so to speak for students to get into small groups.

Student involvement:

• This week we ended with some student involvement as we prayed out a key member of our team as Liz Bailey has accepted a position in Jacksonville Fl. working with Christian Healing Ministries. 
  

Up Next:

• What About Evil? Does God Heal Today? 
• We will start to build as we look forward to our retreat weekend. Deadline to sign up is March 10th.

Introducing the Official Basic Impact Model of Evangelism...

The Evangelism Linebacker

Resolve for Monday

Every Monday I'm going to post one of Jonathan Edwards resolutions. He penned these while still a very young man and used them to guide his life. What am I using to guide me, my family, my ministry???

6. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.

• How do we truly live and not just exist? 
• I find that people, especially teenagers, long to live for more then the standard of mediocrity. To prove to you that I'm alive I'd do more than just show you my birth certificate, I'd let you feel my heart pumping blood or my lungs filling with air.  What are you doing with the time that has been given to you? 
• I used to love the Monster.com commercials because they would urge people not just to have a job but to have a passion. So many people live lives that are trapped. What is holding you back, the calling Jesus places on our lives will be hard. If it was for Christ it will be for his followers but it also will be good. 
• I think Edwards would have been a fan of Switchfoot.
•