the "deconstruction" of our Jesus...

It's been awhile since I posted... I have been trying to separate myself from my laptop for Lent and it has been a journey thus far. Hope you are finding time to reconnect with our Savior in meaningful ways in this Lenten season, and I hope you are wrestling through and reading the book, Jesus Centered Youth Ministry by Rick Lawrence; a challenging read for those of us intrenched in mainline youth ministry positions. Take a look at this quote from Part One, Chapter 4... (pg. 46) "Put another way, too much of our Christian music—actually, too much of our Christian teaching, curriculum, marketing, t-shirt slogans, and even our conventional ways of praying—implies that god is the person behind the crackly voice coming through the drive-through squawk box. we tell the person behind the box what we want while we scan the happiness menu, and then we drive up to the window and this guy we’ve never really met (and don’t really intend to meet) hands us our bag of happiness. Maybe that sounds over the top—it would to me, if i hadn’t been staring at the results of the National Study of Youth and Religion and talking to teenagers and youth pastors about this for the last two years. whatever we’re doing to help kids get to know the real Jesus, they’re somehow not getting it—actually, they’re not getting him."

Is this true for you in your youth ministry at your church? Are your students getting the "real, deconstructed" Jesus of the Gospels, or are we still presenting Jesus as that bearded, white robed, blue eyed, pale skin person calmly knocking at the door with a meek and mild expression on His face as though He would like to enter but does not want to intrude or scare anyone? My question got lost in my "soapbox" episode just now, but I think you get it! Let's make a vow to one another... to get our students into the Gospels and into the story of Jesus, and let them see for themselves the real Jesus; no biases, no denominational slant, no personal input from us to fill in the silence. Let's learn to ask better questions so that our students get to meet the real, dangerous, unpredictable, wild, compassionate, focused, bringer of Good News Jesus during this Lenten season. As I was inspired yesterday from a Catholic priest friend... may we come to understand the kind of love that God has for us that He would give His Son for us; that His Son would pour out every last drop of blood for you and me, to wash away our sins, and to give us a new standard by which to live our lives. Today, may you meet the "real" Jesus!

are you connected?

I was thinking the other day about how lonely ministry is, or can be... and I wanted to know from some of you if you are spending any of your time in connection with other youth workers/youth leaders/youth pastors on a regular basis. Youth ministry is a tough "calling" and many of us fall into the trap of "going alone" for the journey. Why do we do this? For some of us, we are control freaks and things have to go our way; we do not need anyone else's opinion or ideas about what we know will already work. For some of us, we believe we are too busy with our ministry to students that we do not have the time to connect with another youth worker in our area for prayer or networking. After all, we are volunteering our time and our time is precious. What about those of us who are afraid of the unknown... we fear the other youth group in our area because of its size, its purpose, or its denominational/non-denominational affiliation. Many of us just want someone else to make the "first move" to invite us to a network meeting; then, we'll be fine.

My fear is that we are not connected because of our "busyness" and no one wants to take the time to get a youth workers network going in the community. In many communities, there probably is not a strong network of youth workers who meet monthly for prayer, encouragement, support and tips and tools to a better youth ministry. I wish it were different, and I am praying that it is different where you do ministry. I pray that if you are not connected to a network, God will give you the courage to find one or start one! Our ministry to students may be struggling because we are struggling. Make time to connect... connect with Jesus in some quiet time; connect with family and friends who provide encouragement; connect with another youth worker who shares your passion for students. Connection will be the life-giving air you're searching for today! Peace