My position returned to full-time on January 1, 2010. Thirteen months ago, I told a few trusted friends that I wondered if the Lord wanted me to experience part-time youth ministry in order to better minister to and alongside of so many that have that same situation.
I do not claim to now know the Lord's intent in it all, but I am confident He has been and is continuing to mold me. My status has changed, but so many in this economy continue to be stretched to the point of breaking. A recent article by Group ("2010 YM Salary Survey" in Jan/Feb 2010 Issue) suggests little is changing to bring financial support for those that invest their lives to minister to the next generation.
Out of FULL-TIME, paid youth pastors...
- Only 42 percent received funds for ministry resources
- Only 52 percent received an allowance for mileage/travel
Over half of youth leaders in this survey are underwriting ministry opportunities with their time and with their treasures. If that's true for the full-time people, how much are the part-time and volunteers giving?
A conversation today with a friend reminded me of the tension that still exists for the person called by the Lord to give his or her life to shepherding students. How will I pay for my needs? How will I pay for my families' needs?
The Lord provides...and there is no "but" after that statement.
Instead of a "but" comes a "better". The better place for the Kingdom servant is in the stance of paying for it with one's life. When King David was offered a prepaid burnt offering, he said, "No way!"
II Samuel 24
A no-cost sacrifice is no sacrifice at all.
Maybe the amount to write on the bottom line of youth ministry is not a financial figure, but the John Hancock of your personal signature.
How is your bottom line?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
What's That Smell?
"Would you like insurance on your new cell phone?" asked Chris, the sales guy.
Hmmm...I pondered the question. Since I was strolling in with an aging phone that was baptized by our washing machine, I was about to agree when Chris added, "The insurance covers any unforseen damage to the phone like water or being baked."
Baked? Did he just say baked?
Yes, sure enough. Chris went on to relay the account of a pleasant lady who brought in her iPhone to him. Apparently she was baking cookies and her delicate piece of technology slid onto a corner of the pan without her noticing. A few minutes later black smoke and a really weird smell was coming from her oven.
"She let me take a picture of it," Chris continued. He showed me. It looked like a small black plastic cake. I've heard of 4G before, but not 400 degrees!
After going with the insurance (how could I say "no"), the thought of the smell stuck with me. How are you and I smelling these days?
II Cor. 2:14-16 reminds us -- "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"
Hmmm...I pondered the question. Since I was strolling in with an aging phone that was baptized by our washing machine, I was about to agree when Chris added, "The insurance covers any unforseen damage to the phone like water or being baked."
Baked? Did he just say baked?
Yes, sure enough. Chris went on to relay the account of a pleasant lady who brought in her iPhone to him. Apparently she was baking cookies and her delicate piece of technology slid onto a corner of the pan without her noticing. A few minutes later black smoke and a really weird smell was coming from her oven.
"She let me take a picture of it," Chris continued. He showed me. It looked like a small black plastic cake. I've heard of 4G before, but not 400 degrees!
After going with the insurance (how could I say "no"), the thought of the smell stuck with me. How are you and I smelling these days?
II Cor. 2:14-16 reminds us -- "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"
Monday, January 4, 2010
Skol Vikings
How is it that I can be so discouraged by a weak outing by the Vikes only a week ago AND NOW encouraged a week later by a strong outing against a weak (or "already-ready-for-the-off-season") Giants team?
In the past, I have made regular pre-Playoff predictions. No, the Patriots didn't get to 77 points, but I was close. Based on how up-and-down the NFC has been AND how clustered together the AFC has been, this year I make no calls.
What sounds like complaining is actually eagerness.
I cannot remember a time where all 12 teams in the playoffs have a legimate chance to end up in Superbowl XLIV.
Although I'm not predicting, I know some of you are.
What are you thinking about the Vikings' chances?
In the past, I have made regular pre-Playoff predictions. No, the Patriots didn't get to 77 points, but I was close. Based on how up-and-down the NFC has been AND how clustered together the AFC has been, this year I make no calls.
What sounds like complaining is actually eagerness.
I cannot remember a time where all 12 teams in the playoffs have a legimate chance to end up in Superbowl XLIV.
Although I'm not predicting, I know some of you are.
What are you thinking about the Vikings' chances?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Welcome to the Family
My pastor is kind enough to ask me to preach at my local congregation once in a while. It happens about two or three times a year. I like to think of it as the fill-in for the fill-in. In wrestling with Galatians for January 3rd, I was struck by the sequence in the first part of chapter 4.
Verses 1-3 = Human heritage (spiritually)
-- sin by nature and activity; bondage of the will
Verses 4-5a = Heavenly gift -- Jesus
-- True God and True Man
Verses 5b-7 = Heavenly heritage (in Christ)
-- His adoption, His Spirit, His inheritance
The picture of God's redemptive work through Jesus as His adoption of us is powerful to me. Without Christ, we are 100% helpless under the law. With Christ, we are 100% redeemed by His grace.
Is anyone else finding that the more I take ownership of my sin that the more sweet the grace of God in Jesus is?
Verses 1-3 = Human heritage (spiritually)
-- sin by nature and activity; bondage of the will
Verses 4-5a = Heavenly gift -- Jesus
-- True God and True Man
Verses 5b-7 = Heavenly heritage (in Christ)
-- His adoption, His Spirit, His inheritance
The picture of God's redemptive work through Jesus as His adoption of us is powerful to me. Without Christ, we are 100% helpless under the law. With Christ, we are 100% redeemed by His grace.
Is anyone else finding that the more I take ownership of my sin that the more sweet the grace of God in Jesus is?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year Answer?
Yesterday I raised the tension between social networking and selfishness. It is more than blogging. Rick Warren, of Purpose Driven Life fame, once called Twitter "a narcissistic time waster", but now uses it regularly.
Where is the healthy Biblical stance between self-absorbed and self-control?
Motivation appears to be at the core. "Selfish ambition" is listed in the fruit of the flesh (the sinful nature) in Galatians 5:19-21. Then "self-control" is described as one of the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22-23.
God's grace enables us to see both our need to put the selfish desires to death (v. 24 and 26) and to place our footsteps in line with the Holy Spirit's leading.
How would I describe my motivation walking into 2010?
Where is the healthy Biblical stance between self-absorbed and self-control?
Motivation appears to be at the core. "Selfish ambition" is listed in the fruit of the flesh (the sinful nature) in Galatians 5:19-21. Then "self-control" is described as one of the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22-23.
God's grace enables us to see both our need to put the selfish desires to death (v. 24 and 26) and to place our footsteps in line with the Holy Spirit's leading.
How would I describe my motivation walking into 2010?
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Question?
Happy New Year!
My goal is to post one blog per day for all of 2010. Since I have only a teen-number of blogs to my name, it might not be attainable (as in A in SMART goals...I'll touch on that another day).
My lingering curiosity about blogging is how to be personally engaging without being totally self-absorbed. I can tell you all about my life or ministry -- the number of times in a day I deal with self-doubt or marvel at the grace of God in Jesus -- but even transparency can turn into selfishness.
My thought is by ending each post with a question, then I can truly demonstrate my genuine desire to interact on God's truth in all our lives. So what do you think?
P.S. Did I really start every paragraph with "my"?
My goal is to post one blog per day for all of 2010. Since I have only a teen-number of blogs to my name, it might not be attainable (as in A in SMART goals...I'll touch on that another day).
My lingering curiosity about blogging is how to be personally engaging without being totally self-absorbed. I can tell you all about my life or ministry -- the number of times in a day I deal with self-doubt or marvel at the grace of God in Jesus -- but even transparency can turn into selfishness.
My thought is by ending each post with a question, then I can truly demonstrate my genuine desire to interact on God's truth in all our lives. So what do you think?
P.S. Did I really start every paragraph with "my"?
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