Yesterday I began a review on reTHiNK by Steve Wright - you can read what I thought of the first third or so of the book here.

In the second half of the book (2/3rds to be fair) Wright takes up his prescription - co-championing the institution of the Family and the church. A partnership between parents (the primary discipler of Children) and the church (purpose to exalt, edify (disciple?), and evangelize). He then states that the key is to strike a balance where we are focusing our efforts in helping our churches be more family-centered (a good word!). His prescription goes on to help reshape our model of youth ministry helping set up parents as the primary influencer/discipler for their children.

Here is my struggle. This sounds great. It plays into the focus on the family agenda of many Evangelical churches. It even “sounds” biblical. From my understanding of culture, ancient stuff and a few years of studying the Bible - this is more of a programmatic reaction than a precise scriptural reading. I think my perspective on reTHiNK is that there is a lot of helpful suggestion (REALLY) but I don’t think it is a more “biblical framework” than many other newer ideas out there which also have the same premise* but different (equally biblically grounded) prescriptions (say Folmsbee’s “New Kind of Youth Ministry,” M. King’s “Presence-Centered Youth Ministry” or Yaconelli’s “Contemplative Youth Ministry“).

I think where Wright sells a bit too hard is in his conviction that parents are to be the primary discipler of their teen. I believe that a case can be made for this idea as it relates to children (I think their are a number of scriptures which would point to this), but to carry this idea over to one who is beyond puberty is not something that I think you can argue from scripture. In the ancient world (actually up till the middle/late part of the 19th Century) there was no appreciation of this “time between.” There was no time between childhood and adulthood. The Bible doesn’t have a word for those after puberty - other than adult. The Bible has words for infant, young child, and child. The Bible recognizes young adults, adults and older adults. The Bible writers know not a teenager (the term adolescence doesn’t appear in English till 1904).

It is anachronistic and reading our world into the text to suggest that parents are to be the primary spiritual care-taker of their teen. In biblical times once a youth goes through puberty - they had a party and ushered the “now adult” into the world of work, child-rearing and becoming contributers to the larger community. This meant the young adult often left their parents home (the ancients understood the fireworks that often occur between parents and their post puberty offspring) to enter an apprenticeship, a relationship with a “master” or Rabbi/teacher, or into the home of a new spouse (and their extended family).

In fact their seems to be more precedent from the lessons of the ancients that what human beings who have crossed over the threshold of puberty need is not more influence from their parents (they should have gotten that from the previous 11-13 years); but reinforcement and new perspectives from other experienced adults.

Wright does a good job with diagnosis. His prescription for championing the twin towers of parents and the church sounds good - but I don’t think it is the winning combination long term in most churches that he envisions it to be. The church does need to champion/help/serve/equip parents to negotiate the new relationship they have with their teen - but not as primary discipler - it is a moving slowly from being the authority to over time acknowledging each others adulthood while still being the parent - no easy task (as their young person struggles with independence, identity, and intimacy). Parents need to help their teen find other adults who can reinforce how they have been “training up their child” and move from being a primary discipler to being a primary modeler (actions over words). I think Wright does a great job identifying some of what I think are critical values for a healthy youth ministry; but I think he really focuses on one of those values far more than the others. I would have probably focused on another one to the detriment of the others - that being the value of “championing the church.” But, I probably mean something different than Wright when I say that. I think Youth Ministry must become an advocate for the integration of all ages into the life and purposes of the church. It is here that more genuine relationship and mentoring and “discipling” can take place. It is here where I see a more wholistic and Acts 2.42 kind of picture of how what we call adolescents can be best cared for.

It is worth a read. Wright is to be commended for raising the issue. I am sure it will cause many a healthy discussion in classrooms and family rooms among youth ministry practitioners trying to do their best for “their kids.” If you haven’t read it - give it a go - and then as Wright challenges us, “decide for yourself.”

*I read Wright’s premise as - those in youth ministry must rethink about the values and priorities of youth ministry because our current way or approach in ministering to teens is fundamentally flawed.

So I came across the book, reTHiNK (is student ministry working?) by Steve Wright on the recommendation of a friend. Have you seen it? I think it is worth considering. It is a book that has gotten me thinking about new approaches and new priorities in the field of ministry to adolescence. His basic premise - those in youth ministry must rethink about the values and priorities of youth ministry because our current way or approach in ministering to teens is fundamentally flawed. His prescription: create a true church/parent partnership for the purpose of spiritually impacting young people (ala Deuteronomy 6)

In this portion of my review I want to focus on what I think Wright has done well.

1. He has raised a fair argument to suggest that youth ministry and it’s current dominant models of attractional evangelism, event oriented programs, and being an alternative to secular society aren’t working (as seen through numerous studies.) He also shows that youth workers are not adequately trained or prepared to carry out the demands that the current dominant models of youth ministry (as seen through studies that suggest youth worker retention, satisfaction and health are poor).

2. Wright does a good job identifying and evaluating the current values that inform the dominant models of youth ministry operating in the Evangelical Church of the West. He then offers alternatives. Here I think Wright is at his strongest. He suggests the following values as a correction:

moving from separation from parents to partnership

moving from student ministry to student development

moving from cultural relevance to biblical faithfulness

moving from internalized ministry to championing the church

Now - to be fair Wright sets these up as “either/or” options. Which probably is not realistic in every case. And the terminology does need some explanation - but here is my perspective (probably diverting a bit from Wright) on his 4 youth ministry values (revalued):

Family Ministry - a reframing of our purpose to embracing the whole family unit

Spiritual Formation - we must reconsider our role moving from program directors and communication specialists to spiritual directors and mentors who accompany youth through life.

Immersing Teens INTO the Story - adolescents don’t need bleeding edge technology (they may want it or it may be hip initially) what they are looking for ultimately is a story or narrative that makes sense of their past, present and future. Young people need to find an embracing epic that inspires, informs and is worthy of their investment. What students need is what we all need - not facts, figures, and statistics about the Bible - what we need is to be read by the Bible, to be immersed, caught up in, to find ourselves in the story.

Youth Ministry as a ministry OF the Church - no more is youth ministry done in isolation in the church. Youth ministry must be integrated into the life of the church allowing for a natural process of intergenerational ministry; mentoring; “on-the-job” training; and real-life experience of the ways, joys, and struggles of Christ’s Church. Young people need to both give and receive as vital members of the church - youth ministers need to be advocates for integrating young people into the life and ministry of the church.

To be fair, I am not sure if I have fairly represented Wright’s values in the four points above. But after reading the book and reflecting on it - this is my “reTHiNk.” What do you think?

So the first 1/3 or so of this book is what I have presented - Wright’s research on the dominant models of youth ministry (they aren’t working) and a revaluing of what youth ministry should be about. I think much of what he suggests in this part of his book is worthy of consideration. The book is a helpful read for this alone. His remodeling of youth ministry follows over the remainder of the book (I have mixed feelings about it) and I will look at that tomorrow.

For the past five or so years I have been enamored, intrigued and maybe a bit obsessed with things benedictine. There is something about it that just “feels right” to me. There is something about the push toward “always changing” and stability; prayer and work; and this intensive spirituality that is both mystical and everyday that is alluring. I have had the pleasure of visiting with benedictine sisters and have also read extensively from their great tradition. I am even considering following this “passion” into a more official relationship (becoming a benedictine oblate).

I was reading the other day and came across this interpretation of Benedict’s view of silence, and I must say I find it to be one of the most profound, relevant and challenging paragraphs I have had the pleasure of reading. Michael Casey quotes the following in Strangers to the City as he considers the topic of “Leisure”.

Silence, however, stands outside the world of profit and utility; it cannot be exploited for profit; you cannot get anything out of it. It is “unproductive.” Therefore it is regarded as valueless. Yet there is more help and healing in silence than in all the “useful things.” Purposeless, unexploitable silence suddenly appears at the side of the all-too-purposeful, and frightens us by it very purposelessnes. It interferes with the regular flow of purposeful. It strengthens the untouchable, it lessens the damage inflicted by exploitation. It makes things whole again, by taking them back from the world of dissipation into the world of wholeness. It gives something of its own holy uselessness, for that is what silence itself is: holy uselessness.” - Max Piccard from The World of Silence pp. 18-19

Casey builds on this by saying - “[The tradition of Benedictine leisure] means living gently; it is the opposite of being driven or obsessed It involves getting on with the job at hand and detaching oneself from it when it is time to move on to something else. To some extent leisure invites us to cultivate the virtue of inefficiency.”

Holy uselessness… the virtue of inefficiency… what a prescription for 21st century westerners (and churches) who seem to lift up and celebrate being driven by purpose, vision, effectiveness and efficiency.

Them benedictines! What a breathe of fresh air… breathe it in - leisure, silence, doing nothing, holy interruptions that move us into holy uselessness.

I just finished Ian Morgan Cron’s, Chasing Francis - what a DELIGHT.

It is a quick read. A well-written story. A refreshing little book. A great introduction to Saint Francis. It also happens to be a wonderful prescription for our churches in the west (at least from where I sit). I hope you will take time to join the chase! You won’t be disappointed as you follow after the “little poor man.”

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Sometimes in life we need to hold onto a prayer. Sometimes it accompanies us for a season, sometimes for a lifetime (I think the Jesus Prayer will accompany me for a lifetime).

This past weekend at Rebound I was given a gift by Fritz Dale, Executive Director of National Ministries for the Evangelical Free Church of America. Really unexpected - and what a wonderful gift! He presented me with a book of Puritan prayers entitled, The Valley of Vision (how did he know I collect books of written prayers?!). Well the introductory prayer looks like it will be one of those accompany-ing prayers - it captures my current state, thinking, hopes, and fears beautifully. It really is a bouquet of all the stuff in my current state presented in a prayer to God.

Here is that introductory prayer written by the editor of the rest of the prayer manual, Arthur Bennett:

LORD, high and holy, meek and lowly,

AMEN.

For years I have been searching for a bible that one could just read. Not another study bible or a bible that featured commentaries, just the black words (no small numerals or arbitrary chapter breaks) on a white page. I really resonate with Brian McLaren’s entry in A is for Abductive entitled, Versus Verses. I never cared for the breaking up of the text in verse thoughts - I understand it helps us get on the “same page” in the midst of the myriad of versions/translations, though. [Don’t even get me started that the publishers prevailed against Eugene Peterson’s wishes on not having verses and chapters as part of The Message.]

Imagine my surprise when I learned that the International Bible Society is releasing a new version of the Bible - with “readers” in mind! This is in my mind - a GREAT and greatly needed resource. An uncluttered version of the scripture with no extras (footnotes, translation notes, etc.), no chapter breaks, no verse markings in the text - merely a translation of the Older and Newer Testament. It is welcome to my eyes. Here is how the IBS is talking about this new resource entitled, The Books of the Bible:

The Books of the Bible project encourages better Bible reading, particularly by emphasizing the reading of whole books. The result is an inviting and clean visual presentation of the Bible, in Today’s New International Version (TNIV), that can be understood and enjoyed more easily. The Books of the Bible differs from the format of most current Bibles in significant ways:

Chapter and verse numbers are removed from the text
(A chapter and verse range is given at the bottom of each page)
Each book’s natural literary breaks are shown instead
There are no notes, cross references, or section headings in the text
Text is presented in one column rather than two or more
Books that have historically been divided into parts are restored
Books are presented in an order that gives readers more help in understanding

I think that this would be an excellent resource to help individuals, teens, and churches to approach the reading of the scriptures in a fresh and helpful way. Those in ministry desire for people to read, know, and live out the story of God and often complain about the lack of results. This resource holds promise for people to be able to approach reading the bible in a new way. As a result of its format and focus on the books, as wholes - it may encourage people to feel less intimidated in picking up the Bible (especially if they are exposed to it first using it in ministry settings - youth groups, small groups, christian education setting, etc.). I hope that many youth ministries will take the time to review the potential of this ministry resource. I look forward to experimenting with this new and fresh “readers bible” personally and in ministry contexts.

I spent some time reading some of the samples from this new resource - I would encourage you to check it out.

Here are somethings that have garnered my attention of late as I have had a chance to wander the web.

I caught this on Sunday’s broadcast of the White Horse Inn - an interview with Anne Rice (author of Interview With The Vampire) - it was very interesting and a helpful look at what brought her back to faith in Christ.

Chris Folmsbee gets honest and challenges all of us in this post, entitled “The Highly-edited Version” based on a quote from Buechner.

Monty the Nazarene writes a wonderfully reflective (not to mention somewhat humorous) post on The Jesus Prayer at his well-written blog.

Mark Riddle poses a great question worthy of thoughtful consideration in this post on youth ministry.

Bob Hyatt (a blog I visit daily) has a great personal reflection on the value of “stepping away” and the need to “Be in the moment.” A very good post… don’t miss it.

Mike King shares an overview of the curriculum (entitled The Way of Jesus) he helped present at Youthfront South’s camp - this is GREAT STUFF! Thanks Mike!

Congratulations to my good friend over at Calacirian! On July 7, 2007 (7/7/7) she celebrated two years of blogging. What a great day to have begun sharing with us her thoughts, dreams, frustrations, hopes, triumphs and fears (by the way on 7/7/7 I was grooving to the greatest rock ‘n roll band too few have heard - the 77’s!). In her 2nd year anniversary post don’t miss a great quote and her declaration to write with honesty and a desire to be authentic.

My wandering ends with a call for those who meander by to be praying for the McCoy family (from the blog Reformissionary) as Steve’s wife undergoes surgery this week. I pray that God will encircle this family with His mercy, love, peace and healing touch. Over, under, in front, behind and beside may the McCoy family know the mysterious presence of the Almighty One.

———— this just in one more great FIND!!——————-

Check out Len Evan’s new blog - Youth Ministry Interviews!! His first interview is with Mark Yaconelli… great stuff! Excellent new blog!

One of the contemporary writers on things celtic that I truly enjoy is J. Philip Newell. This quote from him is one I haven’t been able to shake. It gets at this issue in our age - our fascination with future casting (what does this mean for tomorrow) and planning and gathering information and resources for next week, month or year. We live for tomorrow and, as a result, fail to be present and available - right now.

In gazing at the horizon we walk right by many a “burning bush.”

So J. Phillip Newell challenges us to see that every moment of our day is an opportunity to encounter the Living God of the Universe. Maybe you will be struck by the simple complexity of his observation.

“God is to be found not by stepping aside from the flow of daily life into religious moments and environments, or by looking away from creation to a spiritual realm beyond, but rather by entering attentively the depths of the present moment. There we will find God, wherever we may be and whatever we may be doing. Our times of religious observation and meditative practice are not alternatives to encountering God in the ever-flowing stream of life. Rather they are moments of preparing ourselves to be alert to the One who is always and everywhere present, closer to us than we are to ourselves”

J. Philip Newell, The Book of Creation
Paulist Press, 1999, page 7 & 8

The quote buzzed through my mind as I went buzzing around my property on my compact tractor yesterday - I was overwhelmed by the carolina blue sky here in western PA and I couldn’t help but reflect on Jesus’ final words, “all authority in heaven and on earth have been given unto me… and lo, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:18-20) May we become more alert, attentive and available to God’s voice calling out within us and from without.

This newest Prayer Book release is definitely going in my wish list for sure - this is great! I love the layout and comprehensive “everything in one place” value of Phyllis Tickle’s The Divine Hours. Now a great companion for travel is released! Check out the promo and excerpt from the introduction:

This past month, Oxford University Press has published The Divine Hours™ Pocket Edition by Phyllis Tickle.

From the Introduction:

“It is important to remember, as pastors frequently remind us, that it is not the prayers we do not say, but rather those we do say, that matter to God.”

When Phyllis Tickle’s marvelous devotional trilogy The Divine Hours™ appeared, readers responded with gratitude, praise, and a great many requests for an edition of hourly prayers that they could easily carry with them—an edition that would make this ancient form of Christian worship compatible with the pace and mobility of modern life. Now, in The Divine Hours Pocket Edition,™ Tickle has gathered one full week of fixed-hour prayers, providing an ideal companion for travelers, office-workers, people on retreat or pilgrimage, as well as newcomers to this age-old spiritual practice. As Tickle writes in her introduction, “prayer is always a place as well as an action, and the daily offices are like small chapels or wayside stations within the day’s courses.” For all those who want to carry a “small chapel” of prayers with them, The Divine Hours Pocket Edition™ offers a convenient, easy-to-use, and deeply spiritual guide to a devotional practice that extends all the way back to Christ and the twelve Apostles.

ht to Jordon Cooper

I have a problem - many of you can probably understand or appreciate, I can never have too many books. There is always one more or another that is calling to be read. It really isn’t a serious problem, but I do love books. I love everything about them - I enjoy them in libraries, bookstores, and probably most of all stacked by my chair in the living room, and next to my bed! I don’t think I will ever be one to adopt reading books on electronic pads or listening to books on my ipod - I enjoy too much the feel of a book in my hand and turning pages!

I acquired three new friends in the past 12 hours. Well, to be truthful, they aren’t “new” friends - they are new works from old friends. I have acquired the following books:

Chris Folmsbee - A New Kind of Youth Ministry

Chris is the CEO and President of Sonlife Ministries and is already at work on his second book (tentatively titled, Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms). I am looking forward to reading this book (besides Chris being a close friend, he is also a great resource for those working with youth in the church) - this is a book I have anticipated reading since it came out at the YS Convention in Cincy this past November, and one I look forward to reviewing. I have already scanned the contents and know I will be encouraging my church youth ministry team to go through it as we dream, pray and consider how to improve our ministry with/for youth.

Thomas Merton - A Book of Hours (edited by Kathleen Deignan)

This is meant to be a daily guide for leading a person in contemplative prayer over the course of a week with the pre-eminent 20th century spiritual guide, Thomas Merton. I have found Merton to be extremely challenging and often his writing has caused me to ponder a thought for days… and that is a good thing. The book is designed beautifully and has readings and prayers for prayer at Dawn, Day, Dusk & Dark for Sunday through Saturday.

A small taste: “I only have time for eternity.”

Think on that nugget from Merton for more than a second.

Dr. Bruce Demarest - soul guide (Following Jesus As Spiritual Director)

The third and final book came to my attention as a recommendation from a friend. It is right up my alley and the things that I am thinking about these days. It looks like a helpful and enjoyable read. What I have read so far is engaging and produces a lot of nods of the head and agreeable sounds.

A taste… (a bit more than Merton!)

As Christians we confess that Jesus the Christ is the fullness of God, come to us in human flesh to offer us the example of a life lived perfectly under the guidance and direction of God. As such, Jesus Himself is the perfect paradigm for completed humanity and the pattern for Christian ministry. Looking to Jesus as human beings we find answers to the questions and issues with which we all struggle. Looking to Jesus as disciples we find in Him the perfect pattern of how to minister grace to spiritual seekers.

Looking foward to gleaning more from these new books from old friends! Hope to share a full review of each of these selections with you!