Day 1 - I threw a new blog out there yesterday! Yes! Nice job, Holt.
Day 3 - It's only been a couple days since my last blog...I can wait a little bit.
Day 6 - Oh...it's almost been a week since my last blog. I was hoping for more interaction from my last one. Let's see if more than one person bites.
Day 10 - Only one person bit. Hmmm...now I've got to be creative.
Day 13 - Not creative today.
Day 14 - Or today.
Day 18 - When am I ever creative again?
Day 20 - I should really write something since I mentioned it to my friends in Northern MN at the Bemidji retreat.
Day 21 - Wow! Three weeks have past. Does anyone care?
Day 22 - Hey! Someone mentioned my blog today. Oh no! That means that they see that it's not been added to for so long.
Day 25 - It's March. Spring should bring some inspiration.
Day 29 - I was wrong.
Day 32 - Easter is coming up. I can write something on that...
Day 36 - Apparently not.
Day 41 - Maybe people will think my blog about Youth Group during Lent was intended to be pondered for ALL of Lent...
Day 44 - Happy Easter! Jesus is alive!
(Can't use that Lent excuse anymore)
Day 47 - Check my NCAA bracket or write a blog...bracket or blog...bracket! Go UNC!
Day 50 - A blog describing how poor a blogger I am...that's it!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Give Up Youth Ministry for Lent?
Youth ministry does not begin and end with the weekly youth group meeting. That being said, it is a significant piece of building relationships to make disciples of Jesus.
So my question is "What does Lent do to your youth ministry schedule?"
In my visits over the years (within the AFLC and outside of it), I get three general responses:
#1) No Change
The church season comes and the church season goes. The youth ministry schedule stays the same. Blessed be the name of consistency!
#2) Big Days, Big Changes
Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter bring some radical changes (i.e. Ash Wed service is in place of youth group, Good Friday cancels out youth group for the week, etc.) The youth ministry schedule celebrates the big church calendar days with the rest of the congregation. Blessed be the name of celebration!
#3) Complete Shift
A weekly lenten service replaces Wednesday youth group (if that's when you have it) for the weeks leading up to Easter. It's as if we ask teens to give up youth group for Lent. Blessed be the name of lenten services!
I do have some personal preferences, and from years growing up until now I have been involved in, understand the value of, and ministered in all three. But your approach is much more interesting to me.
So, what's going on? What's good and what's difficult?
So my question is "What does Lent do to your youth ministry schedule?"
In my visits over the years (within the AFLC and outside of it), I get three general responses:
#1) No Change
The church season comes and the church season goes. The youth ministry schedule stays the same. Blessed be the name of consistency!
#2) Big Days, Big Changes
Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter bring some radical changes (i.e. Ash Wed service is in place of youth group, Good Friday cancels out youth group for the week, etc.) The youth ministry schedule celebrates the big church calendar days with the rest of the congregation. Blessed be the name of celebration!
#3) Complete Shift
A weekly lenten service replaces Wednesday youth group (if that's when you have it) for the weeks leading up to Easter. It's as if we ask teens to give up youth group for Lent. Blessed be the name of lenten services!
I do have some personal preferences, and from years growing up until now I have been involved in, understand the value of, and ministered in all three. But your approach is much more interesting to me.
So, what's going on? What's good and what's difficult?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
"Super" Applies to New England
My dad delivers mail to Tom Brady's grandpa. He has brought boxes of memorabilia to Tom's grandpa sent through USPS. Being a rural mail carrier, when something bigger than the mailbox is sent my dad gets to navigate the long driveway to get the box to the front door. Hardly a claim to fame, I find it one of the most motivating reasons to watch this year's Super Bowl because New England has been overpowering.
It has been a horrible year for me in making NFL predictions, (my fantasy football team placed last in the regular season for my league) but this one should be pretty clean cut.
Patriots 77, Giants 17
OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but I don't think NY can play with NE. Yes, I know the regular season finale was close. Yes, I know the Giants look like a different team in the playoffs. Yes, I know Tom Brady is limping around...
But NE has been unstoppable (CC: 18-0). NE has broken records left and right (CC: Brady's TDs, Moss' TDs, most points in a season, and so on). NE has experience and talent (CC: 3 other Super Bowl rings).
And New York! They've got the wrong Manning (CC: Peyton won last year). They've got the wrong mentality (CC: Buress' comments about NY WRs equal to NE WRs?!?). They were beat 41-10 by the VIKINGS!
Even Packer fans can appreciate that reality. It looks like "Super" doesn't describe the upcoming NFL Championship but rather the New England Patriots.
My dad should get ready to make another delivery.
It has been a horrible year for me in making NFL predictions, (my fantasy football team placed last in the regular season for my league) but this one should be pretty clean cut.
Patriots 77, Giants 17
OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but I don't think NY can play with NE. Yes, I know the regular season finale was close. Yes, I know the Giants look like a different team in the playoffs. Yes, I know Tom Brady is limping around...
But NE has been unstoppable (CC: 18-0). NE has broken records left and right (CC: Brady's TDs, Moss' TDs, most points in a season, and so on). NE has experience and talent (CC: 3 other Super Bowl rings).
And New York! They've got the wrong Manning (CC: Peyton won last year). They've got the wrong mentality (CC: Buress' comments about NY WRs equal to NE WRs?!?). They were beat 41-10 by the VIKINGS!
Even Packer fans can appreciate that reality. It looks like "Super" doesn't describe the upcoming NFL Championship but rather the New England Patriots.
My dad should get ready to make another delivery.
Friday, February 1, 2008
February Moment
This picture is our AFLC Youth Min "Moment" of the month. Our friends at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (www.cpyu.org) highlighted this Diesel ad that appeared in the February 2008 issue of Teen Vogue (p. 11). It is intended to take a snapshot of the culture and to interact on it as we seek to shepherd students.
What thoughts does it bring to you about today's teens and youth ministry?
Join the discussion!
Join the discussion!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
7 Kinds of Visitors
After we had a wonderful time with some young adults from college in our home, our oldest daughter Susanna (age 9) penned the following words...
THERE ARE SEVEN KINDS OF VISITORS
1) Adults who you enjoy and are sad when they leave.
{This description fit who we had just seen.}
2) Adults who are fun for the first half hour and then get boring.
3) Adults who you have no idea what they are saying.
4) Kids who you enjoy and are sad when they leave.
5) Kids who are fun for the first half hour and then get boring.
6) Kids who you have no idea what they are saying.
7) Salespeople.
If I was smart, I would stop blogging right now and acknowledge that I will never be as good a writer as my precious preteen.
In addition to Jen and I laughing hysterically, I thought of how do students see me as a youth guy. Am I an adult that they "enjoy and are sad" when I leave? Am I building relationships or burning bridges (no slight to Project 86!)?
Should a person recommend a resource they've never read? I've always passed on titles that I've found especially engaging, i.e. "Here Am I, Lord. Send Aaron", so I won't stop now.
Jonathan McKee's book "Do They Run When They See You Coming?" came to mind after Susanna's insightful list. It speaks to this topic.
On the same note, how do you handle what one youth worker friend calls the "dance"? You know, the ways of speaking teen-ese without being seen as a poser. I especially remember about a year ago using "bounce" as in "I gotta bounce" (AKA "I see that it is time for me to depart" for my English major bride) with four teens and one of them didn't know me very well. The three that knew me didn't blink -- the one that didn't know me kind of smirked/laughed and said out loud, "He said, 'Bounce'."
Ahhh, the life of a youth worker...
THERE ARE SEVEN KINDS OF VISITORS
1) Adults who you enjoy and are sad when they leave.
{This description fit who we had just seen.}
2) Adults who are fun for the first half hour and then get boring.
3) Adults who you have no idea what they are saying.
4) Kids who you enjoy and are sad when they leave.
5) Kids who are fun for the first half hour and then get boring.
6) Kids who you have no idea what they are saying.
7) Salespeople.
If I was smart, I would stop blogging right now and acknowledge that I will never be as good a writer as my precious preteen.
In addition to Jen and I laughing hysterically, I thought of how do students see me as a youth guy. Am I an adult that they "enjoy and are sad" when I leave? Am I building relationships or burning bridges (no slight to Project 86!)?
Should a person recommend a resource they've never read? I've always passed on titles that I've found especially engaging, i.e. "Here Am I, Lord. Send Aaron", so I won't stop now.
Jonathan McKee's book "Do They Run When They See You Coming?" came to mind after Susanna's insightful list. It speaks to this topic.
On the same note, how do you handle what one youth worker friend calls the "dance"? You know, the ways of speaking teen-ese without being seen as a poser. I especially remember about a year ago using "bounce" as in "I gotta bounce" (AKA "I see that it is time for me to depart" for my English major bride) with four teens and one of them didn't know me very well. The three that knew me didn't blink -- the one that didn't know me kind of smirked/laughed and said out loud, "He said, 'Bounce'."
Ahhh, the life of a youth worker...
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Youth Workers Retreat
Wow! You guys are amazing!
It was a blast to interact with 64 people from across the country that are investing in the lives of teens. My heart smiled as I overheard conversations about real life personal issues and about heartfelt concern for teenagers. Thanks for being transparent about your needs and your students needs. The prayer times...the worship times (thanks, Matt!)...the break-an-ankle gym times...the laughing times...I must have the best job in the world!
Dave & Rennie -- what can I say?!? Aren't they fantastic? I received comments like "they are so on target" or "they really show heart and give skills" or "can we have them back next year?"
Our planning group will discuss within the next month our 13th Annual YWR -- January 9-11, 2009 (that's weird to see in print) -- including trainers, layout, and location in HAWAII!...just kidding...exotic Wisconsin because of our tremendous service at the ARC.
Do you have ideas? I want to hear them.
It was a blast to interact with 64 people from across the country that are investing in the lives of teens. My heart smiled as I overheard conversations about real life personal issues and about heartfelt concern for teenagers. Thanks for being transparent about your needs and your students needs. The prayer times...the worship times (thanks, Matt!)...the break-an-ankle gym times...the laughing times...I must have the best job in the world!
Dave & Rennie -- what can I say?!? Aren't they fantastic? I received comments like "they are so on target" or "they really show heart and give skills" or "can we have them back next year?"
Our planning group will discuss within the next month our 13th Annual YWR -- January 9-11, 2009 (that's weird to see in print) -- including trainers, layout, and location in HAWAII!...just kidding...exotic Wisconsin because of our tremendous service at the ARC.
Do you have ideas? I want to hear them.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
NFL Playoffs
I'm guessing you are looking for the authority on the NFL Playoffs. You've come to the right place!
The Wild Card round is often entertaining, but tends to not have a big impact on the Super Bowl qualifiers (except the Pittsburgh Steelers of two seasons ago).
Predictions:
This Weekend
Seattle 24, Packers 20
Dallas 31, New York 10
Indy 27, San Diego 14
Patriots 41, Jacksonville 24
Next Weekend
Dallas 20, Seattle 17
Patriots 30, Indy 28
Super Bowl...you'll have to check back!
The Wild Card round is often entertaining, but tends to not have a big impact on the Super Bowl qualifiers (except the Pittsburgh Steelers of two seasons ago).
Predictions:
This Weekend
Seattle 24, Packers 20
Dallas 31, New York 10
Indy 27, San Diego 14
Patriots 41, Jacksonville 24
Next Weekend
Dallas 20, Seattle 17
Patriots 30, Indy 28
Super Bowl...you'll have to check back!
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