American Teen, The Movie

I think so.

Any thoughts?

Looks like a helpful movie to get at what school is like for teens; the generalizations and labels that we seem to fall into; and it seems like a hopeful pic, as well. (I love the play off of Breakfast Club!! That was a revelatory movie for me some twenty years ago…)

Today I want to continue to interact with Chris Folmsbee over at A New Kind of Youth Ministry on the topic of Five Dangerous Things. Here is how Chris introduced it,

So, here are five dangerous things I suggest we should let our students do (feel free to comment and add to the list!) Like Gever, I really have 6 but I think that 4 and 4.5 go hand in hand…

1. Dance with doubt
2. Discover truth for themselves
3. Disengage from reality every now and then
4. Dispatch their story, not someone elses
4.5 Determine their own future
5. Deconstruct what they are told, see and come to “know”

Today Chris and I are going to look at the second dangerous thing… helping students discover truth for themselves. Often when I talk with youth workers about their goals for students - they will talk about grand schemes of what they would like kids to accomplish and know before leaving (graduating from) the youth ministry program. They will speak of things like knowledge of the flow of the Bible, about wanting students to know how to “feed themselves” from the Bible, about how to share and defend their faith, and the list goes on - it sounds great! When I push further in this discussion and ask how they are accomplishing this, often the response is some curriculum used on Sunday mornings or Sunday nights where the main delivery of the information is a lecture (okay sermon or message).

I love to speak. I love to prepare and deliver a message. That being said, I know that it is a poor way to help another person come to own and obtain personal knowledge. A spoken message may be a great way to introduce new information. It may be good to survey lots of things - history, theory, interpretations of significant events; but if we want a person to go beyond “book knowledge” to a personal encounter where they know something from first hand experience - a lecture isn’t going to get us there.

Few people learn how to carve wood or play an instrument or paint or quilt or build a fire from reading a book or hearing a lecture (and few people learn to pray or learn to trust by hearing a sermon). These things are passed down from person to person (one to one) in a you watch me, now you do it kind of fashion. We discover by watching and doing it in an apprentice/master kind of experience. I discovered how to muck a horse stall - not by reading a book; but by watching my wife do it and then following her expert example. I had learned in a book and from common folklore - “to never walk behind a horse.” I also discovered in owning a horse that it is nearly impossible to get much work done in a barn full of horses if you never walk behind them! I learned from personal experience how to work with prey animals and come up behind them or walk around them without catching them off guard.

Those things learned in a book or heard in a lecture - I may know. I may understand or be able to sound intelligent talking about them. Those things I have a “personal knowledge” of - these are things I do, I wrestle with, I see shades and nuances about this, I continue to discover variations and subtleties, I experience and live out these subjects and topics. In youth ministry (and throughout the Church) I believe what we are aiming at is that individuals would wrestle with their Faith at the level of personal knowledge. To get to such a place demands that what we know or understand about Christ, God, the World, the Bible and our calling and identity will be truths that we have acquired through “personal knowledge” - not merely a second hand hear-say. That means, no, demands that we must help adolescents discover truth for themselves.

So how do we get teenagers out of circles of chairs or off the rows of couch’s and on the way to discovering truth for themselves? I believe one simple way is helping teens go out and find a mentor who will accompany them through life. The mentor’s job is to help their charge notice various truths and God’s presence when they are together. In the midst of this natural relationship as life happens it will highlight how the Christian faith operates and counters the struggles, inconveniences, celebrations, and mundane occurrences of everyday life. It is one way to help our young people move from a second hand faith to a personal knowledge by discovering truth for themselves in an apprenticeship (if you will).

Not a radical idea. Nothing we all probably don’t know. Yet for some reason there are still a lot of lectures and messages being given as the primary way for “learning” in our churches. I believe God uses sermons. I know that is true. It is interesting to me though that Jesus called the disciples to be with Him (Mark 3:13-14). I think we could help the teenagers in our church have a more independent and personal faith (personal knowledge), if we followed Jesus’ approach.

As I mentioned in the last post - over the next few days or weeks I want to interact with Chris Folmsbee over at A New Kind of Youth Ministry on the topic of Five Dangerous Things. Here is how Chris introduced it,

So, here are five dangerous things I suggest we should let our students do (feel free to comment and add to the list!) Like Gever, I really have 6 but I think that 4 and 4.5 go hand in hand…

1. Dance with doubt
2. Discover truth for themselves
3. Disengage from reality every now and then
4. Dispatch their story, not someone elses
4.5 Determine their own future
5. Deconstruct what they are told, see and come to “know”

So today I would like to explore why I think, dancing with doubt - is a necessary and important risky behavior for adolescents and adults alike to engage in.

It seems to me to be self-evident that to “live by faith” is to also “live by doubt.”

No?

In my limited experience as I look at the topic of faith - the shadow side of faith is doubt. Doubt comes with a healthy dose of faith. For to live by faith is not a life of certainty - but a life where we step into the dark (see Paul - “we live by faith not by sight”). To live by faith is to live a life of hope; a life of trusting that despite where I see things now - I choose to trust in a positive future. A life where we bank on what is to come; not what is. To live in such a way that we trust in what we “see” and believe if only in part; not completely known or clearly perceived.

To live such a life is one where questions, riddles and doubt are surely to arise. For faith is not fact. Facts are hard, provable, testable true-isms. Faith is not necessary in light of such evidence. God, on the other hand, demands faith - for without it we hear, it is impossible to please the Almighty. So it seems that with the life of faith we are destined to encounter moments, seasons or even years of doubt. I would assert though that doubt doesn’t need to be an enemy or foe to our faith.

Those who live a faith-full and authentic life seem to learn how to “befriend” their doubts. They seem to “dance with their doubts” in a sense. They see doubt as a necessary part of growing in their faith. For doubts can:

1. Test us and help us ask questions that lead us to see our own faults or misconceptions, and limitations.
2. Lead us up new pathways to new vistas from where we can see reality a bit more clearly.
3. Show us that our once dearly held values were actually wrong - that some questions are just not that important in the grand scheme of things.
4. Reveal that God’s ways are often hidden to us; but ultimately God’s Character reveals He is worth following.

As we explore our doubts our faith matures. Moving us from a childish faith to an adolescent faith to a young adult faith to a middle-aged faith and so on. It is often our doubts and “faith crises” that serves as the impetus to open our ears, hearts and hands to receive a greater and more vital trust in the Mystery.

Dancing with Doubt calls young people to risk befriending their doubts, to cooperate and even “follow” their quandaries rather than running from an imagined foe. Dancing with Doubt helps adolescents become familiar with the process of interacting with their questions and conundrums; not seeing them as fatal but as opportunities to face doubts faith-fully. For doubt is something that honest and maturing Christ-followers must engage in not just once; but often as they walk after the Master. If you have ever watched “dancing with stars” you can also appreciate that for the “non-dancer” - it ain’t easy; it is a lot of hard work. We need to help folks as soon as they are able to get used to the process and the disorienting feeling of living with and struggling with doubt, as people of faith. It demands that parents, youth workers, and caring adults are honest, reassuring, patient and not too quick to provide 3 steps to overcoming doubts kind of messages. I have found often with kids - listening and “being there” is often a wonderful remedy to helping young people be able to begin to befriend their doubt and realize that the issue isn’t as scary or as paralyzing as it first appeared (the dance begins!).

Let us consider how we can make such a dangerous activity a part of our ministry with adolescents. Let us model how we as adults have faced times of doubting. Let’s take the stigma away from doubting in our communities and let’s celebrate the value of the shadow side of our faith. Crank up the tunes and let’s dance with our doubts (I am doing the “how’d I get here hustle” as I write this!).

Chris Folmsbee has posted a pretty interesting post in which he suggests that those in youth ministry should consider helping adolescents take “risks” as it pertains to their spiritual development. Chris offers 5 dangerous things for youth workers to consider adding as priorities in the spiritual formation of young people, and, in my opinion, it is a mighty good list.

In his words (you can read the whole post here):

So, here are five dangerous things I suggest we should let our students do (feel free to comment and add to the list!) Like Gever, I really have 6 but I think that 4 and 4.5 go hand in hand…

1. Dance with doubt
2. Discover truth for themselves
3. Disengage from reality every now and then
4. Dispatch their story, not someone elses
4.5 Determine their own future
5. Deconstruct what they are told, see and come to “know”

So I have “weaseled” my way in to write some posts with Chris on this list - further exploring the 6 dangerous suggestions. So look over the coming days for this as we explore 5 Dangerous Things. Oh, and consider this an invitation to explore the list as well. We will look at the first item on the list and be posting on it by @ 5 PM on Wednesday June 18.

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.

It is such a beautiful and glorious thing when heaven touches earth. It is always an awe inspiring moment to glimpse some evidence of God’s Kingdom revealed here. It is what I sensed as I read the post written by Jeremy Bouma.

For two years I taught middle school in a rural Virginia school. It was a meaning-filled and life-changing experience - one I treasure to this day, with great memories, so many lessons learned and besides what I gained, I loved teaching. It also gave me a new perspective on what kids (and my child) endure at school - the stresses, the competitiveness, the social pressure and for many the cruelty of their peers. I also witnessed the special kind of rudeness that many kids reserved for the lunch room (often at the expense of those who served them).

So it was especially touching to read Jeremy’s post, here is how he begins,

So about a month ago a high school senior whom I mentor at the church I’ve begun interning at wrote me an email. Here is a piece of it:

Oh! And I have a question for Jon, but I’ll run it by you quick too. I want to organize a dinner for our lunch ladies at school. Do you think it’d be possible to use the kitchen and tables at Fellowship? Cam and I have been chatting about it a little bit, and thought it was a good location, if it all worked out.

I positively melted!

Two graduating seniors from a local public high school wanted to love on the ladies who have served them for four years by providing a dinner at our church!

How
cool
is
that?!

Continue reading Jeremy’s post entitled, This Is Why I Do What I Do here.

ht - light lady

A good friend and I were discussing the need for good spiritual practices this past weekend (I was speaking and he was leading music for a winter retreat for teenagers). As we were talking around a nice fire on a cold afternoon he reminded me of this old prayer and the value of regularly repeating it from the heart - it could do a world of good.

Hopefully I will follow this sage advice!

A Collect for Purity

Almighty God,
unto whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

From the first notes you know this is the david crowder* band. There is so much to enjoy and find and admire and yes emulate on this newest release, Remedy. It is probably a bit more accessible than A Collision. I can hear church’s, youth groups, and fellowships of all sizes putting there own spin on many of the tunes that Crowder and company have to offer this time round. (A Collision was a bit less accessible in my opinion - yet ground breaking in another sense - it clearly took “worship music” to a whole new level and experience.)

What I really find refreshing this time out with remedy…

This is corporate - you find very few references to “me” and “I” and tons of “we” and “us.”

This is a wonderful set of music that tackles both the transcendence and immanence of God. The music is filled with the reality and the implications of God’s presence. Wonderful stuff.

This is missional worship. Worship that helps us thank, exalt, lift up, praise and glory in our God who has come to save us. Worship that challenges and engages us in the part we have to play in the unfolding epic that God has come to save us.

There is hope filling and undergirding the message of Remedy. Check out these lyrics:
“…everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be same.” (from “The Glory of it All”)

“Oh surely we can change something;
Oh, the world’s about to change,
The whole world’s about to change.” (from “Surely We Can Change”)

I felt my whole being swell up with hope as Crowder sang “The whole world’s about to change” - the first time I heard it.

Yes there are plenty of anthems (youth rooms watch out- and they will have all kinds of new treats and feats of loudness in San Diego, St. Louis and Atlanta - YS!) There is also just quality stuff a great remake of one of Crowder’s first (and finest) tunes - Rain Down (from back in the UBC days); and a great song/psalm/prayer in the tradition of Francis Assisi’s Peace Prayer; and a beautiful re-working and amending to a “great Hymn of the church”.

[This release and it’s content also raises a question… so did I miss an announcement - is there going to be an “Everything Changes Tour” with Crowder and McLaren? This disc seems to drip with a message and a tone that is VERY consistent with McLaren’s new book (Everything Must Change).]

So what is the scoop? This is a great gift to the church - may we enjoy, use and celebrate with Crowder’s Remedy.

“Let us be the remedy
Let us bring the remedy.” from the song titled, “Remedy”

I am so glad to be seeing this day (two organizations with a great history and that I am very fond of) - as Sonlife and YouthFront announce a merger!! Celebrate - and read the press release below.

Press Release Thursday, September 20, 2007—For Immediate Release

Sonlife Ministries Merging with YouthFront

Sonlife Ministries, Inc. has merged with YouthFront, Inc. effective September 1, 2007 in order to “maximize ministry effectiveness” of the two organizations. Formerly a Chicago-based ministry, Sonlife will relocate to Kansas City. For more than six decades, YouthFront has brought young people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ through camps, campus ministries, mission trips, creative programming, and leadership development. For nearly three decades, Sonlife has provided Christ-centered training for students and adult leaders through training seminars, conferences, and creative resources.

YouthFront President Mike King and Sonlife President Chris Folmsbee share a conviction that “the youth ministry community is pregnant with expectation and desire for fresh and innovative approaches to youth ministry that are both creative and also theologically and ecclesiologically sound,” says King. Folmsbee adds, “We see youth ministry paradigms shifting away from an overemphasis on programmatic/event-oriented and information-focused styles toward a more robust and holistic understanding of Christian formation. The need is greater than ever to guide young people in discovering how to live as Christ in all areas of their lives.”

YouthFront will continue its tradition of developing innovative youth ministry around the world through its commitment to the development of youth ministry philosophy, theology, and practice. Sonlife will continue to move forward as a church-assisting organization serving youth workers by facilitating networks; developing and providing training; offering coaching, consultation, and spiritual direction; and creating resources and programs for youth workers and students. Through the new YouthFront organization, all present Sonlife training and development programs for youth workers will continue, including Enroute, Shaping a Missional Community, Shepherding in a Culture of Change, Refresh, and Leadership of the Heart. All training experiences for students will continue, as well, including Merge, Awake and Reveal.

“This merger seems natural because of the alignment we have, not just between Chris Folmsbee and me, but also between the organizations that we have led,” says Mike King. YouthFront sees Sonlife’s innovation of a new wave of youth worker participation in training and formational experiences. Sonlife sees YouthFront as innovating new ways to do youth ministry and spiritual formation of adolescents. Consequently, merging together will allow each organization to realize greater ministry impact. Folmsbee states, “I am expectant that God is going to do amazing things through our coming together. I believe we will look back a few years from now to identify many things God has done to strengthen the church through the development of youth workers and students.”

For questions regarding this merger or to seek more information about the ministry of YouthFront and Sonlife, please contact Andy Garlich at 800-770-4769 or AGarlich@YouthFront.com

I had never heard of a “digging bar” till my 39th year. No excuses - I guess I never spent a healthy amount of time on the other end of a shovel. I grew up in Florida and digging there after a minute or two and you struck water… so digging deeper was not much of an option. After Florida I spent 6 years as a professional student and then headed to pushing pencils and keyboards behind a desk (and often a tie). Anyway, digging had not been a regular occurrence.

Then I moved to Pennsylvania and acquired a mini farmette (a little less than 7 acres). Up first was putting in 250 feet of water line from the house out to the stable. During that “project” I was provided with my introduction to the digging bar. And now this past weekend I got re-introduced to my favorite tool as we are putting in fence posts for a future pasture. In both of these projects the magic number was 36 - 36 inches deep, to be more precise. In digging a 3 foot hole (or ditch) - a shovel is great for going through the topsoil and the layer of clay or dirt, but then comes the fun (and the point at which the shovel becomes ineffective) the seam of shale or rock.

It is at this phase where the digging bar gets a work out. The chipping and concussion of the digging bar makes “easy” (or easier) work of progressing through the shale and rock to reach the magic depth of 3 feet. It is hard work, but work made easier with a digging bar. It is great to have the right tool for the right job (I know some of you are thinking - have you heard of a post hole digger - but sometimes it is good to do work that makes you sweat and strain with your own hands!).

As I was pounding away at a particularly stubborn seam of shale with my digging bar I began thinking, “This is why we don’t often progress deeper in our spiritual lives.” It is hard work to go deeper. It can be frustrating. It can be “slow-going.” It can just be flat out rough to progress. It may be made even more difficult without the right guidance and without the right “tools.”

We fly through the topsoil, we sweat through the clay and packed dirt and then we just hang up our shovels in frustration and exhaustion when we hit the shale.

Let me introduce you to the digging bar.