No, I am not talking about the sticky note lists you might have attached to the computer. I am not talking about grocery lists or Christmas lists. Nor am I referring to the little lists you have on other random pieces of paper around the office or around the house. I am talking about the sermon list. Which is more widely well known as the 3 point "to do" list given in sermons, articles and blogs from time to time.

Ok, confession time. I did, just last nite, look at a marriage book. I glanced at the table of contents and saw one that was about being a good father to children. So I opened up the chapter and noticed it had 5 points. So, instead of reading the chapter I just read the title of each point and got what I needed. The points were good and challenged me as I was weakening in one of them. So I went home and employed it with my son. But other than that...I am an avowed anti-list-ite.

For example, I just read a ministry blog. Two of the more recent posts had to do lists to correct some sort of common ministry problem. As I read them I got this overwhelming feeling. Not that I was overwhelmed by feelings, but rather, I had a feeling of overwhelmness (is that a word?). I also felt a little bummed. I realized that this is common for me. I am busy. You are busy. We are busy. The last thing I need is another to do list for ministry!

The good news is that these lists usually remind me of either how much their is to do and how little time I have. Which, in turn, leads me to the state I am currently in. One of prayerful dependence to Divine Providence.

So...thank you list. Maybe, in some weird way, I really love lists.

Labels: Miscellaneous

On a healthy and beautiful new baby girl! 8lbs 8oz and 20 inches long!

Labels: Family, Miscellaneous, Web Site

I miss them. I think the Lord is spooling them back up again.

We had two really good ones last year that we turned into articles. One with Mark Yaconelli (youth author and speaker) and another with Mark Oestreicher (President of Youth Specialties). For the Fall/Winter I am hoping to do a bunch with such notables as:



Walt Mueller with cypa.org
Dr Chap Clark
Mark Oestreicher (focusing on his upcoming book "Youth Ministry 3.0")
etc...

So stay tuned.

I hope to make them into podcasts as well.

Labels: Book Review, Leadership, Miscellaneous, nuts and bolts, Parenting, Training, Youth Culture, Youth Specialties

I have been asked to present the vision of yamia to the national leaders of the Anglican Mission. This will take place early next week. Please pray. Here are a few nuggets of what I will be sharing:

-the Anglican Mission has been called by God to reach the 150 million lost non Christian folks in North America
-study after study shows that the VAST MAJORITY of people who come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ do so before they ever step foot on a college campus
-in addition, adolescence is the main time we make the most life directing decisions
-study after study is now showing adolsecence is no longer 11-16 years old but 11-25 or so!
-therefore, the PRIMARY mission field of the Anglican Mission is adolescence aged youth
-our primary goals must be reflected in our time, talent and treasure

I will also be sharing our Soul in the City video and inviting all the clergy to send their youth leaders to Winter Conference etc...

Please be in prayer.

Chris

Labels: AMiA, Miscellaneous

From our vacation to Chateau Elan in the North Georgia Hills. Sara and I got away before ministry picked up and the new baby came (due in late October). It was a great time, but too short. Here are some of the pics:








This is a pub (one of 8 restaurants on the winery/chateau) that was styled after a traditional Irish pub and was put together in Ireland and shipped here.




















This is Sara next to some of the grapes in the winery that will soon become...you guessed it...wine.




















This is a picture of one of the common areas within the inn we stayed at on the property. This was taken from the 3rd floor walkway.

























This is me at the tail end of the winery tour where they teach you the process of how they make the various types of wines. All in all it was a great trip...even for a guy who rarely drinks wine.

Labels: Family, Miscellaneous

And it was great. Left Paul with some friends and Sara and I got away to a private Chateau & Winery (Chateau Elan) in the north hills of Georgia.

We also managed to see our beloved Cubs plays the Braves in Atl. That was fun too. Saw a Braves player hit for the cycle and saw a bench clearing altercation. And...the Cubs won!

Hope to have pics from the vacation and some youth ministry thoughts etc... Be praying...Hopefully some BIG news coming:)

Labels: Miscellaneous

I am bloggerfied....blogdead...unbloggerific...

Translation: I have little to no blog inspiration lately. I think it is because I have been away two of the last three weeks at camp. I probably should do a post Soul In The City summary/highlight blog.

Ok, that is my only inspiration. Look for that in the next week or so.

Labels: Miscellaneous

It is a very fun (and dangerous) thing when a pastor gets a chance to go to someone else's worship service.

I got that chance last nite as I went to a local non denom's church at a pub. Here is one take away from it I want to share with everyone. It is something I am sure many of you are already doing. However, I will share it anyway just in case.

During their announcement and sermon time they displayed on the bottom of their tv screens (that is how you watched the sermon at this pub) a line that said this :
"Questions? Comments? Send your text to (850)XXX-XXXX"

I absolutely loved this. Especially for youth. Think about it. If you can have a phone with unlimited texts...you can have that up during, after or before youth group and allow kids to text in questions that come up for them etc... It could be a really cool way to find out where they are at and help shape teaching series you do with them etc...

I am sure you can do A LOT more with it as well.

Labels: Miscellaneous, nuts and bolts, Programs

Been out. Took an intensive Seminary class that was pretty darn good. But alas, I have returned and will have some blogs coming.

On another note, we will be sending out our e-newsletter this week and we will be introducing the world to our two newest team members.

Labels: Miscellaneous

Here is what we are doing this summer for youth ministry at Immanuel.

The Sr High is going through the book of Acts. The Jr High ministry is just starting out so we shall see what happens there. Have to feel that one out first. We are going to continue to meet weekly though throughout the summer.

We are doing a beginning of summer snorkel trip and beach party in a few weeks that is open for all youth.

We are taking our kids to Global Reach Camp in early July and to Soul in the City (our AMiA missions camp) in late July. We are doing a bowl-a-thon to raise money for that in 2 weeks.

Those are most of the big things. My focus is hopefully going to be on seeking God and meeting kids where they are at. I may try and reinstitute a summer discipleship school type thing. I have done it in the past. Where I have kids spend the day with me and I take them through disciplines and we do daily business. It has been VERY powerful in the past.

Labels: Miscellaneous, Programs

Got this from one of our leaders...

"You can debate method, but don't debate motive."

This was both convicting to me and encouraging because it was put in a way that my small brain could grasp it. I really like it as a ground rule for ministry teams and one to live by.

Labels: Leadership, Miscellaneous

I will be away from a computer for a week and a half. I am leading two teams (simultaneously...not real smart I know) into Jamaica. Fortunately I have some exceptional leaders going with. One group is made up of high school students who will be working with kids. The other group is made up of medical folks and entrepreneurial types in an effort to discern a next step in the Lord with regards to our work their.

Please pray for us.

Labels: Miscellaneous

I took the book quiz...

Here I am:

You're A Theory of Justice!

by John Rawls

In the beginning, you lived in a town. The town had many problems!
Rather than moving, you decided to come up with the idea for the best town ever. Going
all the way back to the original position, you created the idea for the best town ever!
Lo and behold, the best town ever looked almost identical to the town you lived in. You
decided to stay in the town. Now you resent people mistaking your refined thought
experiments for "the wall of stupidity" in high school debate
rounds.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Labels: Miscellaneous

If I were Bishop...
Noting the current crisis in ministry, specifically, the first three things to go in a pastors life are diet, exercise and devotional life, I would put in a place a policy for all seminarians to do morning and evening prayer 6 days a week. In addition, I would work on a plan to check exercise and diet habits.

On Parents...
Do we youth workers see them as a resource for our ministry or do we see ourselves as a resource for them? And...which is Biblical? I will hold off on my answer:)

On Youth...
I am absolutely convinced that they can do way more than we give them credit for. Though, they are fairly erratic in their behavior so one week they will surprise you and the next they might disappoint you.

On Formation...
Our tendency is for info dump. What I mean is that we just dump as much info on students (and adults) as possible when it relates to formation/discipleship. I am convinced that the better way is the way of the tradesman...or something like this...Here is an example of what I mean:

Let's say I am an expert carpenter and I have a son. This son of mine is supposed to take over the carpentry business eventually. Here is how I teach him.

1) He watches me do it.
2) He helps me do it.
3) I help him do it and
4) Finally, I watch him do it.

This is much more Biblical (think of Jesus and the Apostles) and it is much more experiential.

On Who the Pastor is...
God is the pastor. You are in his stead. So...do not be afraid to put your students in situations that are really uncomfortable and not necessarily fun. What I mean is instead of teaching them on prayer for 45 minutes and then praying for 10...do a slightly guided time of prayer (even silent) for an hour and then talk about it. This uncomfortable experience (which is easy to facilitate) puts them in a position to wrestle with God and allow Him to pastor them.

Labels: Miscellaneous