Youtubesday - Culture Shifts

Both of these videos are nice little perspective gainers... Very similar statistics shared. I think they are both produced around 2006, so there's already significant dating to the information presented, but it's a great reminder on the changing world we live in.

Poll Results for March 22-28, 2009

YOU CAN LISTEN TO ONLY ONE GENRE OF MUSIC THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (TAKE THE GENRE VERY BROADLY):

CCM	18 (34%)
Rock	21 (40%)
Pop	7 (13%)
Country	6 (11%)

Votes: 52
*I'm surprised Country scored as low on this poll as it did. I'm happy to see my readers know good music, but still surprised.


GOSPEL READING PREFERENCE:

Matthew	18 (39%)
Mark	3 (6%)
Luke	10 (21%)
John	15 (32%)

Votes: 46

DID YOU FILL OUT AT LEAST ONE BRACKET?

Yes, for money	3 (6%)
Yes, for fun	19 (40%)
No	25 (53%)

Votes: 47

One More Worth Watching

(last post for today)

ABC's Nightline has run a series of "Face-Offs" centering on topics that I see as significant to Followers of Christ.
The first was Does God Exist with Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort facing off against members of the Rational Response Squad (my blog thoughts here)
The second was America Addicted to Porn? with Craig Gross and Donny Pauling facing off against Ron Jeremy and Monique Alexander (my blog thoughts here)

This past week, number three in the series took place.

The topic was "Does the Devil Exist" with philosopher Deepak Chopra and Bishop Carlton Pearson facing off against Pastor Mark Driscoll of the Mars Hill Church and Annie Lobert, founder of the Christian ministry "Hookers for Jesus"

This one took place at the Mars Hill Church, and the crowd was clearly pro-Driscoll. This one definitely took on a fairly argumentative tone, but that's Driscoll. He held his own very well and actually As usual, it is very intriguing to watch this and see the differing worldviews represented. Check out the debate (as well as the previous two) HERE.

American Teen - Why You Should Watch It

For some reason, I never got around to watching American Teen this Summer.

It's a documentary that was filmed at and around Warsaw, IN in 2005-06 and followed 5 Seniors and their experiences. We have several students who attend Warsaw, and several who were potentially going to be a part of this film. In the end, they show up on screen every once in a while, but none of them have speaking roles.


I think if you fit in any one of the following categories you should watch this movie:

• Youth worker (volunteer or paid)
• Parent of preteen or teen
• From Michiana
• School Teacher or any kind of educator
• Grandparent of a preteen or teen
• Have a teen or preteen you care about in some way

As a film, it's honestly not all that great.
I think it's because I could see how poorly they put the chronology together, yet tried to make it look like a smooth running year.
There are elements in the movie that move to fiction. For example, Colin is depicted as hitting the game winning last second shot for the Sectional finals when Warsaw actually won that game by 8 points. Recognizing some of these elements kind of bothered me, but didn't completely turn me off. These were still real kids living out their real senior year on film.
I think it's also because the sights (noa noa restaurant, Benigans, the High School, NorthWood's gym, etc.) and people (Colin came to our Hayride Outreach) are so familiar I felt like there was too much story missing.

So why would I recommend it?
Although I wasn't an enormous fan of the "format" of the movie, the focus of the movie is so valuable. Here's why I think you should sit down with a pen and paper and watch this movie.

• You are given a fairly unfiltered look into the life of the American Teen. Obviously they know they are on camera, and that would seem to limit what you see, but if you are getting a tame look, it may break your heart even more to think what some were doing with the cameras "off".
  
• Warsaw is not a "troubled town" with "troubled kids". If you're reading this blog, it's more than likely a great snapshot of "your kids."
• Because of length, the movie does take a bit of a "stereotyping" approach by making each of the 5 characters an archetype (the jock, the geek, the rebel, the heartthrob and the princess). This is not necesarrily a bad thing as these labels are present in the school.
• The kids are likable. In watching, you want to pull for them. You want to see them succeed. As a follower of Christ, I desperately want them to discover who they are in Christ, and what they can accomplish in following him.
• There is much to watch and learn as the scenes in the lives of these students unfold.
• (*edit: thought I had this in my original post, but left it out... read comments to see why I put it back in). There is some great insights to be gained as you watch family dynamics (specifically parental roles). If you are watching as a parent, ask yourself how you would look on screen (something that was incredibly sobering for me in 2004 while watching the Youth Pastor in the movie Saved.)
  

Also, as you watch this movie, watch the Bonus Features. Two of the best scenes were deleted from the movie.

One is the hilariously uncomfortable "long kiss goodnight" scene with Jake (the geek) where he and his date are standing at the door, knowing they want to kiss but both struggling with the boldness to lean in and do it. This is worth watching solely for the amusement of putting yourself personally in that time frame. It's eerily humourous, yet a valuable reminder of the relational pressures and emotions that are present in those years.

The second involves Megan (the princess) and her best "guy friend" as they are in her basement watching pornography and drinking. The conversation and actions are heartbreaking, but all to common when it comes to the "non-commital" nature taken toward sexuality.

Rob Henschen commented on my Facebook about this movie...
good film...but it makes me a little sad if that kind of behavior is common place...I guess I'm a little too old and out of touch....

There are probably some extremes depicted in this movie... yet as I said when I responded to Rob, it's probably more common place than we realize. It's easy to, as Rob said, "become too old and out of touch."
90 minutes out of your life to watch this movie could help bridge that gap a little.


Trailers for the movie:

*You may have to work a little to find the DVD. It wasn't available at Red Box, but it was at Movie Gallery. I actually bought a used copy there.

Walt Mueller - Saturday Morning Sessions

As I mentioned Saturday, the computer I was typing "live" from Friday Night crashed, so I was unable to blog live while Walt shared with us during our morning sessions, but here's my notes I was able to write down.

POP MUSIC & MEDIA

What's Currently going on:

1. More Pain & Brokenness: Where pain and brokenness is greater, the need for healing & wholeness is greater (reference to American Teen documentary... filmed in Warsaw, IN.)
2. Younger and Younger: Kid's recognize brands @ 18 months (this is true, Katylynn recognizes Mickey ears and Mickey gloves immediately).
   AGE COMPRESSION - Kids are dealing with issues at ages 9, 10, 11 that 10-15 years ago were dealt with at 17 or 18
3. Any Kid, Any Time, Anywhere: Homeschool/ Christian School/ public school; non-Christian or Christian Family... it doesn't matter; culture will affect them.
4. Sooner or Later: They will encounter, brush up against, or find themselves swimming in the midst of it at some time sooner or later.

Top 4 Institutions of Influence (research by Jr Achievement).

1960:
1. Family
2. School
3. Friends/Peers
4. Church
- At this point in time, these institutions were pretty much in unanimous agreement.

1980:
1. Friends/ Peers
2. Family
3. Media*
4. School
*1980, MTV enters the picture. Music changes from something you listen to into something you watch.
-A significant shift.

NOW:
1. Media*
2. Friends/Peers
3. Family
4. School
*Media has gone viral. MTV no longer shows videos, but there are over 16,000 videos available to watch any point any time.

Media as a life shaper:
In 2006 (meaning this is dated already)
Daily total media exposure of 8-18 year olds: 8 hours and 20 minutes.
Daily time spent in media exposure: 6 hours and 21 minutes

8-18 year olds are masterful multi-taskers.

Perscentage with medium in their Bedroom:
TV - 68%
VCR/DVD - 54%
Video Game Console - 49%
Cable/ Satelite - 37%
Computer - 31%
Premium Cable - 20%
Internet - 20%

From this point in the seminar we went into a time of watching several music videos, ads, and discussing specific Media (the Twilight series, Chris Brown and Rhianna were some hot topics).

One video showed was Asher Roth's I Love College (currently the most watched online music video).



We spent much time considering the messages that are being presented in the various media out there.

The Keys Approach:
RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP... They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

A 3-Fold Response:

1. Prophetic - Take any lies being communicated in culture and proclaim the truth in it. Consider Jesus approach in the sermon on the mount... "You've heard it said..., But I say to you..."
2. Preventative - Speak ahead of where they are currently (don't speak over them, but give them a heads up of what's to come). What are you going to do to when...
3. Redemptive - "As Christ is to me, so will I be to my children." (didn't catch who said that, but Walt was quoting some really smart guy).

OVERALL, I believe Walt caught as he went that he needed to play the role of informer... make parents, teacher, grandparents, youth workers aware of what is out there, and the messages being presented. I believe, although some parents may have walked out a bit overwhelmed, I think they can be sure that there is a need to be engaged as a student of the culture in order to help navigate their students through it. BIBLICAL REALISM.

The More You Know - I loled (does lol have a past tense?)

I love the Student Ministries guys over at Granger Community Church. They are currently doing a series (I think they may have finished it last night) called "Love Lockdown". Jeff Myers posted this video over on his blog. It made me laugh hard, and I think it got a point across.


Check out DC Curry (director of GSM) and his blog here.
Check out Jeff Myers (Student Ministries Creative Director) and his blog here.

Conference Done

The computer I blogged live on last night crashed this morning, so I was unable to write. I will post my notes from this morning's session at a later point.

In promoting this event, we said that it would be one of those that, if you weren't here, you'll hear about it and wish you were here. I believe this was the case.

Walt didn't a fantastic job at framing the current cultural context, the media and technology that is influencing youth (as Walt said, birth to 20).

CPYU is a great organization. Walt is a great and personable guy. Very fun to work with. I hope we will continue to have relationship and am exciting about what we can do in the future to partner with parents and youth!

Walt Mueller - Friday Session

Walt is from Lancaster, PA. (that creates a cultural connect with Nappanee, IN)
Parent of four kids... youngest 16, oldest 25.

Walt is 51 years old.

"Facebook is a fabulous thing. What a wonderful way to communicate... more on that in time."

What is the posture you need to take when approaching this current generation?

There is a cultural generational gap.
In the 60's, nobody wanted to come together.
In the 80's, both sides wanted to come together more.

ABC Family added a little subtitle a year ago, "A New Kind of Family."

By the way, you still need to watch "The Breakfast Club". Get the DVD, watch the full unedited version to get the full effect of the language.

We often want to get kids saved, circle the wagons, protect them from the outside, and every once in a while to fire a shot or throw out a life vest. We keep ourselves in that posture until we die or Jesus returns. By the way, that's not a Biblical approach to the world.

I think Walt effectively stepped on some major toes with those last two statements.

Individuation - The phenomenon where youth seek to create their own uniqueness from their parents.

3 postures we tend to take toward youth culture:

1. Unrealistic Optimism: The teenage years are just a stage. I just need to weather it. The problem with this posture is we neglect the significant impact a culture will have on a person.
2. Alarmist Pessimism: Everything in the world is evil. Nothing good can come from it. All we can do is remove ourselves. It's escapist... when taking this approach, we rob our kids of the opportunity to fullfill what God has for him.
3. Biblical Realism: You evaluate everything in light of the Bible. Understand that with sin everything has come undone, but the scriptures lay out the way everything is meant to be.
   Who did this? Paul. Jesus. but also...
   "... the men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do."I Chronicles 12:32
   We need to understand the world and engage it in the same posture as the sons and daughters of Issachar.

Introducing them to God's Story:
Chapter 1: We are created by God with a desire to live in relationship with him.
Chapter 2: Everything falls apart due to sin.
Chapter 3: The story of redemption.

How do you introduce a child to God's story?

1. Know God's Unchanging Word.
2. Know changing kids and their changing world (know your mission field).
   Each face has a story, and you need to know that story.
   2 questions to ask...
   What is happening in that child that should not be happening?
   What is not happening in that child that should be happening?
   
3. Take the unchanging word to changing kids growing up in an unchanging world.
   If a person were to come to the pastor and say, "I'm called to be a missionary in China." The worst thing we could do is buy them a ticket and send them out the next day. That person needs time to train and become a student of the culture in order to adequately engage that country for the sake of Christ. This is no different than a parent or youth worker seeking to engage the youth culture.
   

Culture is...

1. The soup they swim in everyday.
   
2. A Map.
3. A Mirror.

Culture is:
Art, music film, philosophy, books & magazines, language & slang, television, ideas, hobbies & interests, extracurricular activities, modes of transportation, values, beliefs, peer group & social organizations, habits, gesture & mannerisms, dress, tatoos, body modifications, hearoes & role models, rites, web sites, spending habits.

Don't be threatened by what is out there!

Every one of us who are followers of Christ should do dual listening...

We listen to the word in order to discover even more of the riches of Christ. And we listen to the world in order to discern which of Christ's riches are needed most and how to present them in their best light.

-John Stott, The Contemporary Christian

We're back at it tomorrow morning!

Friday 5: The Weekend

5 Things I'm excited about for this weekend:

1. Baby Resale: My friends over at Wakarusa Missionary Church have an awesome event they put together. Janelle volunteered this year and gets to head out tonight to do some shopping at it before everyone else does tomorrow!

2. Understanding Today's Youth Culture: Walt's here. The room is set and ready. We have around 240 parents, youth workers, teachers, and grandparents coming in to discuss and learn together.

3. The In-laws: Nana Pat and Papaw Dave (as Katylynn is learning to call them) are coming to town to watch our daughter while we're at the Mueller Conference. We'll head out to eat dinner with them tomorrow night.

4. Sunday a.m.: This Sunday, several friends connected to the Abandoned Baby Center in Kenya will be here for our worship services. Also present will be to of the adopted babies from the Center. It's going to be a celebration!

5. Tribulation Time: Sunday Night Pastor Dave will continuing the Sunday Night Bible Study we are doing on Revelation: "The End of the Beginning". He'll be focusing in on the Tribulation. I just hope I don't miss my car ride and get "Left Behind".

The Eagles - A Tweetline

I woke up yesterday to a text message from one of our super cool volunteers letting me know they had two tickets to The Eagles Concert in Chicago. They couldn't go, and wondered if I would want them.
Called Janelle, and we headed out at 5:00 p.m. We got home at 3:00 a.m. Below are the tweets (updates on Twitter) I sent over that period of time...

Going to see the eagles in Chicago tonight!11:15 AM Mar 26th from txt

Driving by Gary. Chicago, here we come!about 22 hours ago from txt

Ah traffic jam. How I loathe thee.about 21 hours ago from txt

15 minutes to show time and we're stuck in line waiting to park. Hope the opening act takes a loooong time.about 20 hours ago from txt

We're in no cell phone in arena.about 20 hours ago from txt

Nevermind. Evrybody has their cell phones out. Just did Hotel cali and peaceful easy feeling. super tight.about 19 hours ago from txt

You can't hide your lyin' eyes. Absolutely fantastic sounding. Janelle's getting a kick out od the old drunk guy in the 4th row.about 19 hours ago from txt

Glen frey - "Our wives call this the credit card song... TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT"about 18 hours ago from txt

I think don henley has played nearly every instrument on stage.about 18 hours ago from txt

Joe Walsh deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as eddie van halen, stevie ray, Edge, keith richards, etc.about 17 hours ago from txt

Couldn't figure out why they were making everyone stay seated. Looking around, I get it. There's a lot of old knees in here.about 17 hours ago from txt

Encore time! Glen looks like he has one foot in the grave, but his vocals and playing are strong.about 17 hours ago from txt

..... Aaaaand Desperado.about 17 hours ago from txt

We caught all the encore and still beat all the traffic. A great show. A great experience.about 16 hours ago from txt

They've gone acoustic.

Our view for the eagles as they sing Hotel California.

Some Major Annoyances...

(All fairly petty, and of little eternal value)

1. The volume of TV commercials v. the Volume of TV shows.
2. Sports fans who blame the outcome of a game on officiating.
3. The SR 19 stop light in Wakarusa by Interra Credit Union (formerly FBCU).
4. While we're on that road, buggies on SR 19.
   
5. The NBC promotion hype surrounding ER... ("the last episode before the season finale... seriously??)
6. Gas price fluctuation.
   
7. The Religious Right.
8. Anybody who wears a cell phone ear piece without speaking on it (unless driving).
9. The Old Navy Commercial with the mannequins.
10. "Dressing Up."
    

Rwanda Night - The Check

I just realized I never posted some results from Rwanda Night.

As a product of our students efforts with Dodgeball, T-shirt sales, silent auction, bake sale, and their own personal giving, we are sending a check to Unusual soldiers for $19,500 to put on the Exodus Conference that will be taking place in the end of June!

We're excited to see what God does through these different kind of Exodus in the country of Rwanda.

Katylynn Speaks

Want to see what's going on in the life of Katylynn? Check out Janelle's new post.

YouWednesday - Flawed Education

We've been working on various media for this weekend's "Understanding Today's Youth Culture" Conference. This video (made in 2007) is focused on college students, but is just too fascinating for me to not share somewhere. Watch, think, enjoy, and comment if you'd like.

Special Guest Tonight

I'm excited to have our NLF Lead Pastor Brad Bullock in to share with our Senior High tonight. Brad is an NMC grad, a former intern, a friend of God, and an all-around quality fella. He'll be sharing on living out your faith at home. His personal story is one of inspiration, and I'm sure his teaching from the word will be insightful and challenging.

Some Strong Opinions:

1. Baseball has sadly become the Orient's (Japan and Korea) pastime more than America's pastime. I think we've lost something more significant than a game.
2. Office pools are a form of gambling.
3. As a club, the Cubs are stronger this year than last. This is the year.
4. Although LOST has lost some steam, it's still the best show on TV, and might be the most creative show ever.
   
5. The body of Christ should be more generous than ever in the midst of financial crisis.
6. As a whole, pastors in the American Church are doing far too much "ministry", and parishioners are doing far too little. Both "p"s can shoulder the blame for this.
7. The implications of text messaging are far more significant than we are thinking; and I'm afraid those implications are largely negative.
   
8. The greatest detriment or assistance to a teenage girls spiritual growth is the relationship with her father.
9. We are far less busy than we think, and far more frivolous than we realize.
10. I am too afraid of what people think of me.
    

Youtubesday - Cat Lady

The first 15 seconds of this video are worth watching again and again. The rest is a semi-interesting news story.

What's Happening at NMC: A Quick Update

Last night, I showed up to the Connection Gym at 6:00 p.m. to discover a packed house. Pastor Chris Knight and Pastor Dave are doing a study on the book of Revelation: "The End of the Beginning".
1 hour of teaching. Diving into the text. Keeping out of the speculative ditches. Chris nailed it as he laid down the groundwork in the first week. The study continues on Sunday nights through May 3 (break April 11 for Easter & April 25 for our volunteer appreciation event).

This Friday evening and Saturday morning, youth culture specialist Walt Mueller will be here for the "Understanding Today's Youth Culture Conference". This is going to be some top-notch training for parents and grandparents of teens and/or grade schoolers, teachers, youth workers, or anybody who has a passion to invest in this next generation! The ticket sales ended yesterday, but if your interested, you can contact me, and I just may be able to get you in!

Last Wednesday, we started a three week series for our Senior High titled "Homeland Security". In it we are looking at the battleground of the home. Here's the breakdown.
Last Wednesday: The Battleground. (Terry Bley) Laying out an ideal of a healthy family, and asking what the "threat level" for a family meltdown is at your home.
This Wednesday: Behind Enemy Lines(Brad Bullock) Looking at the dynamics living out your faith with a non-Christian parent and/or divorce situation.
Next Wednesday: The Battle Lines (me). Rules and regulations for healthy family conflict.
Terry started us of with some great nuggets of wisdom and insight. I'll post some of those thoughts in the next couple of days.


Some good stuff, and I didn't even get into our PhillyGO Evangelism training team, the location switch to the Dominican for our High School IMPACT team, Summer Camp (Brace Yourself) promotion being sent out, and a great Sunday Morning teaching series (God really moved yesterday).

Poll Results: Week 16 and 17

With last weeks travel and shortened work week, the ol' blog took a back seat. We're back this week, and first up is the poll results from two weeks ago...

I HAVE BEEN A PART OF MY CHURCH

Less than a year	6 (10%)
1-2 years	4 (6%)
3-5 years	12 (20%)
6-10 years	10 (17%)
10+ years	16 (27%)
All my life	10 (17%)

Votes: 58


BASKETBALL VIEWING PREFERENCE:

High School	13 (25%)
College	36 (70%)
NBA	2 (3%)

Votes: 51


DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME:

Love It	9 (16%)
Like It	17 (31%)
Dislike It	15 (27%)
Despise It	13 (24%)

Votes: 54

The greatest dessert creation ever... The Hacienda mudslide!

Minnie won the staredown.

It's go time!

Ready for game time!

A Pilgrimage of Sorts

My dad loved Basketball.

He loved to go to our front driveway and shoot free throws (and he rarely missed).
Growing up, he would take on Robby, Jamie and I in many games of "shooters 21" (a different and much more pure version of barbaric version of action 21 played by many).
We went to tons of NorthWood boys games, and several NorthWood girls games growing up.
I don't think we missed a single game of Robby's (oldest brother) Junior and Senior years at NorthWood.
That was followed by Robby's Bethel College years, where we rarely missed a game (exceptions included a few trips to Florida and California where he couldn't get off work).
I think one of dad's proudest moments was watching Robby lift Bethel College's first National Championship Banner (NCCAA National Championship, 1992).

After Robby was done, he didn't stop going to games with mom. I'm not sure anyone has attended more NorthWood and Bethel games over the past 15 years than my parents (and remember, Bethel's head coach had two sons that played for NorthWood).

He payed attention to the game. He thoroughly enjoyed following the players and their development both on and off the court. In fact, many of our conversations over the past 10 years centered on NLC (NorthWood's conference) and MCC (Bethel's conference) players who were a part of NMC Student Ministries.

Before his death, my mom and dad had made plans to head to Branson, Missouri if Bethel would make it to the NAIA National Championship tournament. They went last year, and had a great time cheering on the Pilots as they made it into the "Elite 8" but fell short in a 4 point loss to Belvue Baptist. He knew this was a special team. We had many conversations in his last months concerning the chemistry of this team...
The great leadership and hustle of Kory Lantz.
The amazing ability and steadiness of William Walker.
The athleticism and improvement in Ryne Lightfoot's game.
The value of the Laidig boy's bench play.
He's sit back, give that signature smirk and just say, "They're really good this year."

Tonight, I type this post from the Angel Inn in Branson, Missouri. Janelle is nodding off to sleep next to me, Katylynn is fast asleep in her pack-n-play, and mom is sleeping soundly in the bed next to us.

Tomorrow night is the Final 4 game where Bethel will take on College of the Ozarks (the host team). The gym will be packed. Bethel is the higher seed, but the crowd will be heavily favoring C of O. It will be the type of game my dad might have considered leaving the book in the car.

I'm excited to be here to cheer one 2 NMC student alums, Kory Lantz and Ryne Lightfoot. I love those guys.

But in all honesty, I'm most exited to simply enjoy this game, and hopefully one more on Tuesday, in remembrance of one great man who loved one great game!

Friday 5: Quotable Students

Statements made to me by students in the past week.

1. Are there going to be notes handed out, or should I bring my own notebook?
   -A text received Sunday before the On-Fire Rallies from a student. I love the hunger to learn in that statement!
2. When you sent me that card saying you wanted me to go to PhillyGO, did you really pray about that and feel like God told you I should go?
   -Freshman guy I'm specifically encouraging to consider this Summer's evangelism training trip. I love the accountability in that statement.
3. Sorry to bug you, but could you pray for me? I feel like I'm supposed to be a youth pastor and I'm just not sure what to do with it.
   -Text from Junior guy who is leaning into his post-high school path. I was saddened that I may have given him the impression that this type of request would "bug" me, but I love the mystery and intrigue in the text and following conversations that have happened.
4. I think I've realized what the root lie is that I've bought into.
   -A college student who has been battling through depression and spiritual attack. A huge step!
5. hey I just wanted to let ya know that I'm still praying and thinking about ya.
   -Message sent through facebook by a college student who lost a father. It really meant a lot.
   

Friday 5: Posts worth reading

1. David Cramer comes out of the closet (a different closet) here. (his follow-up posts on this topic have been excellent as well)
   
2. Marko with a intersting chart and comments concerning the rapid growth of recent innovations here.
3. Kurt Johnston talks current youth ministry, bias, and shows some refreshing optimism here.
4. Donald Miller gives some great writing advice here.
5. Neatorama gives you the 14 weirdest video games in history here.
   

Summer Camp Theme/Logo

Two Ladies I Deeply Love

(and two guys I think rather highly of in the background)

Come to Us or Go to Them?

Elkhart County Unemployment at 18.3%. (Elkhart County is home to NMC)
Lagrange County Unemployment at 18%. (Lagrange County is home to NLF)

So, people should be running to our worship services, crying out to God in this time of need, right? Well, I'm not convinced they are. Our average attendance shows a slight decrease during this time. I don't know what all the factors are in that, but it has made me think, Is this the time for the church to say to those in need, "Come to us," or is it time for the church to say to itself, "Let's go to them."

Thanks to Feed the Children, we were able to see both those things happen yesterday at NMC. The churches in this community went out to 400 families in need, handed out vouchers for a week's worth of food, and those families came into our parking lot and picked up those boxes yesterday.

This happened in locations all around the county yesterday. It was especially exciting to watch at NMC as members of our NO GREEN BEANS initiative served as the volunteers to hand out this food. Those in the NO GREEN BEANS initiative are unemployed/underemployed, and are volunteering their extra time to serve.

Here's NBC News story about the activity in the county yesterday...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Youtubesday - Dog meets wall

Our dog runs in his sleep to, but he's never run into a wall...

Poll: Week 16

WOULD YOU RATHER GO "TUBING"

In the Winter	14 (26%)
In the Summer	33 (62%)
Never	6 (11%)

Votes: 53


BREAKFAST

Every Morning	17 (31%)
Most Mornings	12 (22%)
Some Mornings	19 (35%)
Rarely/Never	6 (11%)

Votes: 54


NUMBER OF ACCUMULATING SNOWFALLS YET THIS WINTER:

0	16 (32%)
1	8 (16%)
2	13 (26%)
3 or more	13 (26%)

Votes: 50

Grieving... One Month Later

• It becomes more real.
• There's no "going back to normal." It's finding the new "normal."
• Mornings tend to be tough.
  
• There's times I think I'm okay, and I feel a little guilty about that.
  
• It hits at weird times, in weird ways.
• Others haven't forgotten, but they are able to move on a lot faster.
• A random note/text/"I'm thinking of you" goes a long way.
  
• The one month anniversary point stunk.
• It is incredibly beneficial to have a rock to stand on. (actually, it's essential)
  

On Fire Rallies

Every year in late February/ Early March, NMC takes 4 evenings to hit the pause button on everything else, and seek the heart of God. We offer various Age Specific "tracks" to what we call "Fanning the Flame" week (based on I Timothy 1:6).
In our Student Ministries world, we call it The On Fire Rallies.

It all starts up tonight. For High School age, 0ur good friend Jason Miller will be speaking, and the Connection Band will be leading worship. In Middle school (5th-8th Grade), Tony Schwartz will be speaking and Jason Lee will be leading worship.

To catch a glimpse of the significance the event can play, check out Jeff Simpson's post - 8 miles.

New U2 Album

I really like it.
I don't know that I'd go so far as to say I love it.
The last album (How to Dismantle the Atomic Bomb) took a few listens before I was into it.
This one had me hooked on the first listen.
Hoping a tour date works out for me.

Friday 5: Responses to Questions

5 Questions asked yesterday... Here are my responses:

1. Want to play HORSE sometime?(Thought I'd start you out with an easy one)

First of all Dan, thanks for the easy one, they definitely got tougher. I'm in. Maybe we take a lunch sometime and duke it out in the old Aux Gym.

2. Are family devotions (Bible reading & prayer) important enough that the wife/mother should take the lead in doing them if the Christian father does not lead the family in this?

I'm trying to keep responses when doing this brief. This is a tough one to keep brief because there are multiple layers to look at in this question.

A few thoughts on several of those layers...

Definition of Family Devotions... Is it just bible reading & prayer, or is there more implied (frequency, form, etc) in the term "Family Devotions"? Although valuable, I do not see a biblical mandate for the family to sit down daily at the kitchen table/in the family room, and open the Bible, read, pray, etc. Spiritual family dynamics (including Bible reading & prayer) can happen both intentionally and unintentionally in the car, working on the car, in the yard, at a ball game, eating dinner, at bedtime,

Taking lead... Questions about sex roles; Does it really matter who takes lead? How does Ephesians 5:22-33 (look at question 5).

Marriage dynamics... To me, the most significant (and base) issue to address in this question is the discussion, attitudes, and motives leading into whatever is decided in this situation. I don't think this is a "you" or "me" discussion. If both father and mother are Christians, I think it's a "we" discussion.

Bottom line, I don't feel I can give a clear cut answer to this one. Sorry.

3. What responsibility does a youth pastor (or director of student ministries, or whatever guys like you are called) in the Missionary Church have to teach and train students in the theological and historical distinctives (what makes us unique; why we're the Nappanee "Missionary" Church and not something else; who are we?) of the denomination?

Once again, seeking to be brief on this is tough. I think that a youth pastor has a responsibility to do so. I think a key question is more in the whens, hows and to what levels?
At what age? Should we walk a 5th grader through the historical distinctives of the anabaptist movemnt? Should a 10th grader read the constitution of the Missionary Church? Should we hand out our doctrinal papers on "The Assurance of the Believer" on Wednesday Nights to High School students? (please note hyperbole)

A few thoughts...

• My (our) primary responsibility is first and foremost to seek and advance the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), or the Church (big C).
• My (our) responsibility to denominational lines is secondary, and I would even go so far as to say honorary in it's nature (oh, I just stepped in a big pile of something there). We seek to honor and uphold the historical and theological distinctives in all programming. At the same time, we are rare to stop and literally say, "this is a key point of being a part of the Missionary Church."

At the same time, I regularly will do this in more mentoring situations or discipling circles. A few examples.

• Talking War. Most often when this conversation takes place with 16-18 year old guys. I will regularly bring up the Missionary Church's historical stance of pacifism that took a strange twist during World War II.
  
• Believer's Baptism. I regularly will be in discussion with a student who comes out of a background where infant or childhood baptism took place. I'm able to explain what a significant role "re-baptism" has played in Missionary Church History.
  
• Charasmatic Wack jobs. Speaking in Tongues, healings, etc. When students run into a more supernatural world than their traditional, fundamental upbringing has allowed them to be exposed to, I love to explain to them how the supernatural work and gifting of the Holy Spirit is one of the main reasons (along with 4 part harmony, and translation from German to English) our denomination is who it is and where it is.
• Driving down CR 11. At various times, I will be driving toward Dunlap or Elkhart, with friends or students and we come up to the intersection at CR 38 and CR 11 where two churches sit (neither a Missionary Church). I love to tell them about how much of the history of the Missionary Church can be traced back to that very intersection, and another church (this one a Missioanry chruch) that is about 2 1/2 miles away from there. I tell them about Daniel Brenneman, and the rocky point of church splits that took place in the early 20th Century.

A couple on the larger scale:

• Filling of the Spirit/Sanctification/ Baptism by Fire. Whatever you call it. We regularly preach it, push it, pray with students to receive it (continually receive it).
• "Missionary". It's the denomination name we chose, and a significant cornerstone of her focus. I believe the body I am involved with lives, breathes, teaches and involves itself significantly in the act of "missions" work locally, regionally, and globally.
  

4. What is the most impactful book for your ministry that you've ever read? (I mean, what book has made the greatest impact on your ministry....good thing I'm not a writer...sheesh...)

Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields gave me a great programmatic framework for youth ministry.
Red Moon Rising by Pete Grieg was a book that I read and truly believe God spoke to me directly about steps for our youth ministry to take in 2007.

5. What's your feeling about the assumption regarding sex roles that underlies the second question?
Thanks to my brothers (source of questions 3 & 5) for continuing to play the role they did so well while growing up... couldn't just ask me if I'd prefer to watch Football over playing Softball, or if thought the Cubs could win the World Series. (geesh!)
I utterly despise the way I have seen Ephesians 5:22-33 and other passages of scripture concerning sex roles misinterpreted in a variety of manners. Without going into a historical, exegetical, and contextual critique of this passage and others, I will simply state...

• I believe there is a call for men (husband/father) to take a spiritual lead in their house. I do not see that as negating women (wife/mother) from taking a lead.
• I believe there are fundamental physical, emotional, and spiritual differences in how God created woman and man.
• I believe there are roles that a man can often play better than a woman, and the reverse is just as true.
• I can't think of a leadership role where I would be uncomfortable with a female.
• I'd be fine having a female as my senior pastor.
• I see no problem with a wife/mom taking lead in "family devotions", nor do I see that as a failure of a husband/dad to fulfill his "Christian Role."

There you go.
Thanks, Dan for asking me to play HORSE.

U2 on Letterman: Top 10

I laughed really loud several times and woke Janelle up.
Especially when The Edge knocked Sting.

5 Question/ 5 Answers

In preparation for tomorrow's Friday 5, I'll answer the first 5 questions left in the comments section of this post.

Just a couple rules to be observed:
1. One question per comment.
2. One comment per reader.

What is God's Will For Tonight

In the shadow of "The Pit" (NorthWood High School Gym) and Indiana High School Sectionals, we gather tonight with what will likely be a smaller-than-normal crowd to close up our "You Fill in the ________" series with the question, "What's the Deal With God's Will?"

This is probably a topic that, as we leave, may leave more questions than answers. Yet, my ultimate goal in this topic is to have students walking out more hungry than ever to seek HIM!

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Youtubesday: Sham Wow Song

I first became aware of Rhett and Link when somebody showed me their MTV spoof Pimp my Stroller.

They crack me up regularly. Their recent song in honor of the Sham Wow Commercial is a total winner.

A Couple Quotes I'm chewing on...

"God, there are no borders on your map." (prayed by a godly man last night at NMC)

"Cultures don't come to Christ, individuals do." (Dr. James MacDonald in this post)

My Baby Girl at 16 Months

Playing Saturday Night in a friend's bouncy room. She lit up, laughed, and rolled. She also got a little scratch on the side of her face. I have a feeling she's going to like roller coasters.



Sent to me today from Janelle. She was playing around at the Doc's office before going into her appointment. She is totally a toddler now. Personality coming out. Saying words. Inquisitive. Ask to take something and throw it in the trash, she'll do it.

She's growing up, and we're loving every minute of it.

Poll Results: Week 16

WOULD YOU RATHER?

Never Watch TV Again	51 (75%)
Never Read Again	17 (25%)

Votes: 68



THE SHACK BY WM. PAUL YOUNG:

Read It, Love It	25 (35%)
Read It, Didn't Like It	2 (2%)
Read It, Heresy	3 (4%)
Haven't Read It	37 (52%)
Haven't Read It, Heresy	4 (5%

Votes: 71


THE MONTH OF MARCH:

Love It	14 (20%)
Like It	28 (41%)
Live With It	21 (31%)
Dislike It	4 (5%)
Despise It	0 (0%)

Votes: 67