Latest You Tube Love

I would like to be friends with these guys. My absolute favorite is that the Taco Bell guy repeats the order and totally wows them. I wonder if the little Eminem look alike at our Taco Bell would enjoy something like this.

Anyone know if they are the milk and cereal guys? Or what happened to them?

Chazown

Sorry for my absence in blogging. I've been exhausted! I've been flooded with opportunities to learn and grow in the last months, which has left me little time to write something I feel useful for the public to read. But, this morning, as I drink my coffee I hear the words of my dear friend Jason, "When you stop to learn, you must also stop to teach." I wish I could tell you more about Jason, but I wont because I don't have his permission and writing more could jeopardize the beautiful mission God called him to. Just know, that there is more wisdom and drive in what his quote about learning and teaching than I will ever fully grasp.
Calling is a beautiful thing. I've been studying Chazown by Craig Groeschel with my gal pals. Chazown is the Hebrew word for dream, revelation, vision. Everyone was born with Chazown, but it can easily be ignored. As I've been stretched to learn and grow in the last few months, I am eagerly studying what is my calling and Chazown.
In the meantime, I stop my busy morning to share with you this video clip I remembered this morning. It has so much to say in such a little bit of time. Enjoy and keep focused, it moves pretty quickly.

As an FYI, most of this info was already outdated by the time the video was published. So, do not expect accuracy, but that fact alone I believe adds that much more to the purpose of the video.

Don't Think Twice

I'm going to see Brett Dennen tonight! Many thanks to Evangeline for hooking me up as a birthday gift. I can't wait. For those of you reading who do not know the wonder of Brett, I've posted my favorite song ever being sung by him. Note, this is a cover of a Bob Dylan song. But, it rocks and I had to share it.

God in my home space

My professor, Dr. Drane (a genius when it comes to interpreting culture and applying it to theology...read his stuff, it's amazing) asked me to write on the topic of our home and it's influence on our spirituality. Interestingly enough, I have recently had a series of conversations about this, so I decided to share.

I grew up in the country so the idea of being near cornfields brings me a lot of joy. I grew up where nature is every where and you can hear nothing at night but the stars twinkling. Outside may have been quiet, but inside was the opposite. My childhood home resembles some kind of cross between a funky coffee shop and a thrifty antique store. My mother is a starving artist deep in her soul, so there were always eclectic “projects” lying around. My father, a starving musician deep in his soul, so someone was always playing the guitar, the piano, or CDs (which is what we used before iTunes ). My brothers were rough and tumble, dirty country boys that neighborhood children feared and envied in the same heartbeat. Our home was never dull, never clean, never closed to passersby, and there was always an abundance of caffeine and conversation.

Now, I’m single, 20 something and living alone in a 2 bedroom townhouse and hundreds of miles from “home”. I’m getting used to the idea of not living with clutter (both literally and figuratively), but it’s tough. The home my parents built for my brothers and I had an openness towards community. It’s something I haven’t seen much of in Illinois. Friends were treated no different than family. I don’t always see that kind of community in my peer group. I’ve been blessed recently by the open doors of friends, but I still haven’t found that same balance of intrinsic and extroversion I had growing up.

So, because I long for that community, I’m torn. Do I stay somewhere that lacks the community that tugs so desperately on my heartstrings? Or do I leave the place where my roots have sprouted and gifts and opportunity abound? Community inevitably affects our spirituality. Everything we do in community is linked to the author of relationship, the graphic designer of community. When we experience a deficit in community, we are not experiencing what God has designed for us from the beginning. He creates Adam, gives him land in abundance and the fulfillment of work. Then, he looks and says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” From the very beginning God was drafting neighborhood block parties.

Listening to God

For the last few months my church has been on a Stewardship Journey. That is, we've been trying to raise the funds we'll need to expand from one site to two sites. It's an exciting time and I have seen God help many leaders and contributors step up for this mission. I believe in the mission of our church and the leadership of church. I'm excited about the multiplying that will be done at Trinity in the next 12 months. We are about to embark on an awesome journey!

That being said, throughout this ministry series I've been praying and asking God to reveal to me just the right financial commitment to make to Trinity. Over the last months I have heard a number of testimonies of how God has revealed a financial commitment to members of our congregation and others. Through all the jounaling, praying, reading, and trying to listen God has remained silent. Today, I read an e-mail update with the total financial commitments already received. Frustrated, I thought, "Where are you God...why are you talking to so many and not to me?"

So, I'm still waiting to hear from God. What do I learn from this scenario? I think God let's us wrestle a bit here and there. Struggles build character. So, I'm attempting to wait it out and keep listening.

Animaniacs and the MAGL

Last week, I spent 2 weeks in a very beautiful and warm LA. Unfortunately, I spent 45 hours each week in a basement with no windows. I did however, spend it with these amazing leaders from all over the world. My "assigned" seat for the week was right across from a world map, which was at least nicer to look at then the back of my new friend David's head. I tried to post some crazy photo of us all pointing to the map, but I can't figure out how to. I'm lame.



David and his wife Brittney live right near the Warner Brother's Water Tower. That water tower cracks me up because apparently, the Looney Toons staff were so obnoxious to work with, their coworkers banished them to a separate building by the water tower. It is from this piece of history that the idea for the cartoon, Animaniacs, was born.



On that cartoon were two lab rats, Pinky and the Brain, who conspired to take over the world. Matty my big brother, tells me that the grad program I am in, Masters of Global Leadership, makes it sound like I have something in common with the Animaniacs. It's all strangely fitting together. I'll let you decide...

Looking for a date on Valentine's Day?

I just read a blog by a girlfriend warning other gal pals of the peril of Valentine's Day. For the single woman, Valentine's Day can be the equivalent of being the only kid without a date to the first big dance. For years, I've seen single gals wane into the background and ignore Cupid's special day. As a single gal in the so very subburban outskirts of Chicago, that could be me. And, chances are if you've been bummed on the LOVE FEST day you've felt that way too.

That won't be me this year though. The reality is, St Valentine is an unknown historical figure, most likely a Christian martyr. Rumor has it he met his death on Feb. 14. There other clouds of mystery surrounding the holiday, like forbidden marriages and bloody massacres. But, basically, dear old Valentine died for serving others. Not a bad way to show the world you care!

In the spirit of serving and loving others, I'll be heading out to the Joshua Center in Chicago to serve some wonderful ladies dinner. Joshua Center is a ministry to homeless women. It has a very dear place in my heart because every time I'm with these ladies, I'm reminded of how blessed I am and how special we all are. If you are dreading the lonlies of V-day or just simply want to love out loud, let me know...I'd be happy to take you along!

Children of God

1 John 3:1 (NLT)

See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don't know God, so they don't understand that we are his children.

When I think of this verse, I think about the senior year of my undergrad. Undergrad was not a positive experience. I made wonderful friends and laughed in the midst of many moments there, but overall there was a dark cloud of persecution. I was not Lutheran enough and too female to really battle theology with the presem boys. Worse yet, the faculty and staff cared little abut the character formation of their young leaders. There was, however, a deep concern for obedience and the rote memorization of Lutheran writings. In those days, if I could cross-reference Kolb and Walther enough, I may have actually been heard by another student. There lives within me though a spirit that loves to rebel and in the midst of my all academic faith, I began to wonder about the relational Christ I dreamed of. I read about a Christ who loved rebels and acted radically towards authority. I was drawn to a Christ that loved whores, tax collectors, and Torah dropouts. In emulating such a nature I was typecasted as liberal, reprimanded, and told I would never find a church willing to let me preach about this Jesus.

I wish in those days, someone would have looked at me and said, “God cares more about what is doing in you than what he is doing through you.” God cares more about the state of my heart in leadership than the numbers of youth I reach. In fact, I am bold enough to say that God would withhold my ability to reach and teach others if my heart’s motives were not in communion with God.

In leadership, so often I catch myself crying: “I’m good with God because I’m right.” But, really God could care less about what I’m doing if my identity is not in my relationship with him. I didn’t work to be created or born, I am a child of my parents because of work they did. My identity in Christ is not dependent on my work; it is because of work God has done.

Continuing Well

I've been so intimidated by the leadership words, "finish well." Maybe that is because only 1 in 3 leaders actually finish well. I dare not consider that I could be one of those leaders who does not. As a young leader, I recognize that God is doing things in me and testing my character. I will say this, my integrity is being tested over and over again. I pray that as I take time to work on my character that God gives me the courage and foundation to succeed in these character checks.

1 Cor 9:24-27
I am serious about finisthing well in my Christian ministry. I discipline myeslf for fear that after challenging others into the christian life I myself might become a casualty (Clinton Paraphrase).

Bobby Clinton teaches that the key to finishing well is continuing well. Today, in honor of studying along Bobby Clinton, I'm posting as he teaches!

Barriers to finishing well:
Finances - their use and abuse.
Power - it's abuse.
Inordinate Pride
Sex - illicit relationships
Family - Critical issues
Plateauing - lack of continued growth
Emotion and Psychological wounding

These are stumbling blocks to finishing well. Recognizing them before they hold you back is a part of building a firm foundation in leadership. Chess expert Marcus Weeks suggests winning in the middle game. The beginning of the game is exciting, but much can change as the pieces move on the board. The middle game takes strategy and much is lost in the middle game. Leadership is much the same way. The middle of ministry and leadership matters! What happens in the middle of ministry takes strategy, future planning, and more.

A secret he shared with me today:
"All leaders will go through deep processing. Deep processing can blindside you so that you will question God. A SOVEREIGN MINDSET WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE WHETHER OR NOT YOU MAKE IT THROUGH DEEP PROCESSING. DEEP PROCESSING IS ONE MIDDLE GAME SIDELINER."

So, how do we travel well in the midst of ministry:
Have a sovereign mindset: Asking what Lord are you doing to do through me.
Ask yourself rhetorical questions: Take a look at the Apostle Paul's writings and see just how important these questions are in the Word of God. Know yourself very well.
Discipline yourself Spiritually : Are you in the word? do you have spiritual habits?
Develop and take a lifelong Learning Posture: learn from all of life's sources: experience, other people, formal training, informal training, personal projects.

Assuming I even make it through the middle game (Lord, please help me get there!) Finishing well characteristics are:
Vibrant, personal relationship with God
Maintain learning posture
Christlikeness in Character
Lives a life of conviction and promises from God
Ultimate contributions
Growing awareness of self identity

At the MAGL

This morning, I trekked back to school. My lunch packed, my first day of school outfit, my bag ready by the door. I felt the way I have felt so many times in the past…eager to learn, hopeful of what the next horizon brings. I am so blessed to be in an “intensive learning environment” as they call these two weeks. I think I’ve approached every learning opportunity as intense. Yet this opportunity is particularly powerful. So many of God gifted leaders approaching the same topic; we are leaders, what’s next?

In some ways I’m so excited and encouraged at how BIG God is. In other ways, I’m mortified.


One of the things I find so encouraging about God is that he never gives up on us. Here I am sitting amongst authors, former business owners, so catalysts for change in other cultures. Several of my new classmates have been imprisoned, have left their homes, have fled in persecution. God's hand is clearly at work in lives around the world. I am learning to take my time climbing the ladder I am on because at the top of the ladder, is just another ladder to climb. So I must learn to climb this one well, rather than quickly. I have felt from time to time the loneliness that comes from standing on the ladder of leadership and know others have as well. Here in this program I hope to learn to support other leaders. I want to ask God not, what can I do for you? But, rather, what can I do for your people?

Shout to the Lord

One great joy in youth ministry for me is teaching Confirmation. I find this ironic because I swore I would NEVER want that job. I love working with jr. high students because I find there is this incredible tension in their lives as they go from innocent and at times naive children to independent and aware adults.
Last night I had the joy of teaching about the fruit of the Spirit to 50 or so 7th and 8th graders. To open our teaching time we sang Shout to the Lord. I have long thought this is a great jr high praise song, but last night further proved my point. So there I was last night standing next to a 4' 11" twelve year old boy, his eyes shut and he is belting out, "ASKING for joy at the work of your hands."
If I make a mistake while singing a song, I am immediately embarrassed. Jr high kids don't care. What's even better is that often when kids or youth sing the wrong words or change the phrasing, there is wisdom in that. The lyrics to song are, "I sing for joy at the work of your hands." But, I like my twelve year old friend's rendition better. Here's why, how often do we try to find joy ourselves? We buy something in hopes that it will bring us happiness. We do something becuase it makes us feel good. So often, our thought is that we can create joy in our lives. Joy, however is a fruit of the Spirit. As in, a gift from allowing the Spirit to work in and through our lives. Are you trying to create your own joy or are you trusting God to provide joy at the work of His hands?

Culture and Leadership

I’m currently enrolled in the Master of Arts in Global Leadership program at Fuller University (MAGL). I’ve struggled to articulate to people why I believe culture has significant impact on leadership. Generally, people just give me a cross eyed look when I say I’m studying global leadership instead of education or theology which seems to be what most church leaders study.

To me, every leadership environment is a culture. Every culture has artifacts, values, and a much harder thing to title, stereotypes. Artifacts are tangible. These are the outcomes and measures of a culture. For example, in the same way a business meets regularly to understand how to increase profit margin, I meet regularly with my team of leaders at Trinity to discuss our outcomes and measures, which in my case would be the number of students serving in ministry and the number of students worship regularly and committed to a small group. If this were the only part of leadership, I’d simply be able to state, “I’d like to see 100 students at the next Large Group for confirmation.” Unfortunately, a healthy system doesn’t happen simply because I am willing to measure it or even by what we see. Growth is the result of combining the artifacts with a more systematic approach, or values if you will.

Values are not tangible, they are the result of what people in a culture are doing. This is who we say we are. In youth ministry at Trinity communicate this value as SHINE: share Christ, help others, ignite Christlike friendship, nurture faith, and exalt God in all we do. Everything we do in ministry at Trinity is stabilized by our values. No event or activity, or dare I use the word program, comes into being without being rooted in our values. Combining these two thoughts on artifacts and values leads me to these thoughts on stereotypes.

Stereotypes or assumptions are hard to title because how does one title something as slippery as opinions and feelings. Though, I challenge you to argue that this last piece is not a significant contribution to culture or environment. Positive stereotypes in a ministry culture happen when what
we see happening combines with what we say we want to see happen.

Advent Conspiracy

Together, the folks at Trinity raised closed to $70,000 for the people of Liberia. A huge praise God for spending less, giving more time, and thinking about the real needs of others. So often, we are stuck in the rut of feeling as though we cannot solve the problems of this world. Today, I remind you that God is big. Take a moment to chew on that in your mind and your heart. God is big. Now, watch this video and praise Him for his greatness. It is God who gives us the desires of our heart.

More on

Communicating with Youth

One of the most exciting challenges in youth ministry is creating lessons that are experiential. I rarely have a student come to me and say, "that lecture on Luke chapter 2 really challenged me." I do however have students repeatedly say, "last year's mission trip was amazing, I can't wait to go again." Or, "ever since we went on that retreat, I've been trying to recognize how I can share my faith with others." Experiences teach.

The Bible is filled with stories that teach experiences. The disciples were first challenged by the experience Christ presented. Students today are longing for community, they long to be a part of a story that they can personally make their own. In order to meet that need as a youth minister I need to also recognize that the world today is Post everything! It is:
Post National: It is more diverse than every before. Students go to Japan for class trips, they play video games with students in other countries, and restaurant menus are offered in Spanish and English. Globalization is a huge influence on this generation. There is no longer the fantasy of a land far, far away.
Post Rational: Truth is trumped by experience. If students do not experience God's presence in their lives, the authenticity of the Bible as God's Word is not understood. Science is no longer air tight seal. Mystery and myth are just as easily accepted. They do not want a God that can be dissected and defined.
Post Sexual: Thanks to programming like MTV and several reality based TV shows on sexuality, youth don't recognize the same taboos of previous generations. It isn't uncommon at all for a student to sit at the same table as a bisexual, a homosexual, and a heterosexual and everyone can voice their opinions openly and with little judgment.
Post Racial: Subburban students listen to rap, hip hop, and other music that traditionally was popular in a more Urban setting. Color and culture is a means of identifying personality types, but it is no longer a class definition.
Post Traumatic: Students are not easily shocked. Horror films outsell comedy. They've experienced war, suicide, depression, cancer, hurricanes, tsunamis and more. Their reality is often more abrasive and awestruck than fiction.
Post Contemporary: There is a preference of one worship style to another. An issue current church leaders spend hours debating will be completely irrelevant in the years to come. Worship is about response and community not preference. Spirituality meets them in nature, online, in texts, in a coffee shop it is not bound to organs or chord charts.
Post Christian: Church is no longer the starting point. Students have friends that practice spirituality through a variety of religious traditions. Religions have have sub branches, i.e. "I'm a Christ follower, not a Christian" or "I'm a nonpracticing Muslim" or "I'm a nonkosher Jew."

What trends have you seen in youth ministry? I'd love your opinions, challenges, thoughts on the above.

Reflecting on 2008

Because I've been reading so much lately and because I have a deep gratitude for iTunes, I'm going to try to begin each post with a book I'm reading and what song is on iTunes.

Listening to: Fireflight, "Waiting"; and Casting Crowns, "Masquerade"

Reading: The Ascent of a Leader

2008 was a great teaching year for me.I learned a variety of things about youth ministry.I had opportunities to grow as a leader through conferences and servant leadership community called KINDLE. I was blessed with teaching experiences on Sunday nights (some of which taught me more than I taught others!) and asked to speak for other youth ministries.I started grad school and began learning the balance of being graded for work I’m pouring every ounce of free time into. I climbed two physical mountains, pushing my own endurance and accomplished a few life goals along the way.

Learning is something we often take for granted. A friend of mine, loves getting B's and C's in her undergrad classes. These grades are often the result of taking classes that have little to do with her major, she finds the courses challenging. They push her to wonder about the world outside or her interests and passions. She loves getting those average grades because she believes she learns more in a class she earns a C in than a class she earns an A in because her learning is challenged so greatly. She informed me she learns every bit of that B or C. To her, it is not necessarily about the mark, it's more about how the learning changes or challenges her thought process on a matter. Success in learning is not always measured in an A's or F's. It's measured in the outcomes.

In college, I used to take the first two weeks of every semester to focus on recognizing one theme in my life. My first semester was zeal, learning to see the zeal of the Lord in my everyday life. The semester of my first big break up was love. I focused on learning to love even when your heart is tender and broken. Post college, it has been harder to find breaks that encourage reflection and this kind of premeditated recognition. Thankfully, New Year’s naturally causes reflection. So, 2008’s theme can be summed up as: learning.

What did God teach you in 2008? What A, B, C, or even failed learnings did you glean from 2008? What classes or themes will you pursue in 2009?