For a long time I have been desiring to get back into the theology of the soul. I have received some good classical education on the topic from a Christian perspective but it has been awhile and the soul is something I rarely hear taught on or spoken about (in any circles in the church) and one in which I have not really taught on:) So I can't point a finger at anyone...

Anyway, I have begun a study on it again and I wanted to share with you a quick point that I was reminded of while I was researching today. It is taken from Thomas Oden's third volume "Life in the Spirit" of his 3 volume systematic theology work...which I highly recommend. A good compliment to Gruden's "Systematic Theology" which comes from the opposite orthodox evangelical theological perspective.

On p287 Oden writes:

"Scripture speaks constantly of abundant life in Christ, not first of all about correct ideas about life, or emotive feelings or activities, or laws, or the moral obligation to preserve life, but rather to receive and live it. This is why the truest theologians are the saints. One cannot think of life or feel alive without first being made alive."

I will take this point a bit further. For the saved, the more of the life you are experiencing (i.e. the more sanctified by the Holy Spirit that you are), the better the theologian you are.

What does this mean for us, the church, the community of faith? A lot, I think. If this is true then that means formation is absolutely essential for everyone. Sanctification can not be separated any more from the life of the mind or...the life of the pen. If you want to be a better teacher, pastor, preacher, evangelist to students and their parents you would have to be growing in the life of the Trinity. You would have to be in the process of becoming....(gasp)...holy.

For your kids...this means that you teaching them is good but it also means they need to be given opportunities to be put in a place to interact with the Triune God. The spiritual disciplines need to rear their heads again:)

Much more to say...much more to say...but you will have to wait for youth quake.

Labels: Formation, Leadership, Prayer, Scripture

I have developed a relationship with a seasoned pastor lately. A really cool guy who has been used by God to successfully plant four churches. He is a strong leader who has been shaped and formed by God over many years of ministry. Recently, we shared a plane ride together and he shared with me what he thought the two types of leaders that there are in the church. Here goes:

Relational Leader
God is all about relationships right? This is the leader who is all about relationships and he leads relationally. On a good day this leader helps people sacrificially fulfill the vision of the church. On a bad day, the vision of the church gets run over due to the primacy of the relationship focus. People feel ok but the mission is completely lost and the church dies of lack of vision etc...

Mission Leader
God is all about the mission right? This is the leader who is all about fulfilling the mission. They have a vision (or have been given a vision from their superior) and they will stop at nothing to fulfill it. On a good day this leader values people for who they are and helps them fulfill God's mission...they advance God's Kingdom. On a bad day they value people for what they can give them and when they are no longer valuable to the "mission" they discard them...leaving a carnage of hurt, bitter and used people along the way.

Which are you? I am a missional leader who has been forced to learn how to be relational. I actually feel pretty good about this one...I think God has brought me to a good place of balance between the two. But pride comes before the fall so if you see me lying in the ditch somewhere because I ran over someone on the way to fulfilling a mission...pick me up:)

Labels: Leadership

I certainly enjoyed my time in Nashville at the Youth Specialties Conference. Here are some of my take aways:

I enjoyed the talk by Yacconelli. He spoke about the soul. This is a big topic for me because in my Christian experience nobody talks/teaches about it. However, I did have one HUGE pause with his talk. I swear that he said the soul is innocent. If he did, then he is not sitting in orthodox Christianity on that one. And to be a main session speaker and say that....not good. Even worse, nobody noticed:( I need to buy the talk and re listen to it to verify for sure.

Another take away was that they really seemed to deal with social issues this year. That is good. I do value the poor but I do think that we are all "poor" before God and that God does not value the poor more than anyone else per se. Liberation theology is heresy:)

Sounds like a lot of critique eh? In reality it was really well done. Marko and the gang did exceptionally well as usual. The workshops were wonderful and they had a real wide variety of offerings. Here are the highlights of two that I sat in on:

1) How to get along with your sr pastor. This one was great. Unfortunately, I have learned most of the lessens taught on the hard way. But I have learned them and that is the most important thing right? The session helped youth workers look in the mirror and see if they are "being the change" that they want to see in their sr pastors. Are they modeling the humility and character etc. that we are seeking in our sr's? They asked us if we were expecting too much from our sr's? In they end, I walked away with two big things....listen to your sr pastor, get to know them and...pray for your sr pastor...daily.

2) Marv Pennar taught about teaching that transforms. It was good, simple and to the point. Basic stuff really...things like embody the topic/message yourself in your life...be consistent and hold the students accountable to what is being taught etc...

Got to hang with many of the yamia folks as well. That...is ALWAYS good.

PS Just finished the second installment of our new Frontier Foundations podcast that we will be launching very soon (I am VERY excited about this)...this was with YS Nashville Workshop teacher Walt Mueller (author of Youth Culture 101 etc...). It should be up on the podcasts in the next few weeks.

I like the new Frontier Foundations podcast because they are short (usually under 20 minutes), they are thorough and they are done with exceptional folks. Again, we are looking at the intersection between the DNA of the Anglican Mission (reach the 130 million lost in America primarily through church plants) and the foundations of exceptional youth ministry. Hopefully it will bless you in the Lord.

Labels: Youth Specialties

I am excited. Get to hang with the yamia family...that is ALWAYS fun. Get to see my buddies Harry and Todd etc... Also, for a special treat, I get to harass Sheryl as she teaches one of the workshops.

The best thing, though, is that I get to connect with my aunt and uncle and cousins whom I have not seen in a long time (5+years).

I am sure I will have some post convention blogs. Until then....God bless you.

Labels: Youth Specialties

A.C.T.S.

Here is the key (or acronym) to your success:) Never again will you have a bad fit with a adult leader on your team! Never again will you have any conflict! Never again will you get thrown under the bus! And most importantly, never again will you want to quit!

Yes, it is that easy. Simply memorize the acronym I am giving you, put it into practice and life will be perfect. So here it is:

A-affinity. Do you have things in common? Is it someone you can hang with?
C-character. Do they have a good one? Is it better than their competency?
T-teach-ability. Are they teachable? Can they say they are wrong or sorry?
S-spiritual giftedness. Has God given them the gifts necessary to complete the task? If not, this is probably not their call or task.

Labels: Leadership

Trevor James (TJ) Zoephel
10lbs 10oz's 22inches long
Born at 11:20pm on Tuesday, October 28th

Lord, may you use this child for your glory. Help us to be good parents and to embody the gospel of the Kingdom in our lives and in our words. Help him by obedient to his parents as we offer him to you as Hannah did Samuel. In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Labels: Family