Of Sickness and Schedules

photo credit: a.drian via photopin cc

This week has been an interesting one for our family. As with most people, we had in mind what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go over the holidays. It all changed on Saturday when we took our 15 month old son to the doctor.

He had not been feeling well and wasn’t getting any better. We decided it was time to consult our pediatrician. We were glad we did as he was diagnosed with Type A flu.

Then Saturday night came.

First my wife go sick. Then it hit one of the boys. Then it hit me. Then, the next day it hit the fourth (or actually) fifth person.

We missed church on Sunday and felt terrible all that day. Within 24 hours, we were on the upswing, although still dealing with some lingering effects.

Because we weren’t 100%, we delayed our departure for our New Year’s plans by one day, but we were ready to go.

We got up extra early New Year’s eve morning to begin our trek to see our friends in Illinois to celebrate the coming of a new year. Within minutes – literally minutes – of waking up our 15 month old and throwing him in the packed car to start the drive, we got a text suggesting we might want to wait.

It appeared the same flu that attacked our home (and many others we knew) landed in Illinois. One of our friends got sick. Then one of the kids in the house. At last report, it had spread to perhaps one other.

Our trip to Illinois was suddenly aborted.

While the discomfort we experienced is really nothing compared to what others have to deal with, it did remind me of a few verses in the book of James:

“Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. we will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? You life is like the morning fog – it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16)

While our plans were changed, we are still grateful for a good year. God is in control of all things and we need reminded from time to time that we are not.

It made us grateful again for good health and access to doctors.  It was a subtle reminder that when we aren’t present, the world does go on without us.

Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World

I (finally) finished reading Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World. It was one of those books that stirred my thinking, but I kept experiencing interruptions in my reading.

I referred to this book in previous posts that have talked about the issues the church faces when it comes to our post-christian culture. In this video, you can hear the author, Brock Morgan, talk briefly about the basis for the book.

In the opening chapters, Brock Morgan shares both his experiences and statistics that point to the fact we are living in a post-Christian world. He referenced a Barna study in the first chapter that speaks to the change that has been occurring in our culture: “The younger the generation, the increasingly post-Christian it is compared with its predecessors. Nealy half of Mosaics (48%) qualify as post-Christian compared with two-fifths of Busters (40%). One-third Boomers (35%) and one-quarter (28%) are post-Christian. These patterns are consistent with other studies that show the increasing percentage of “Nones” [i.e., adults who claim no religious affiliation among younger generations.”

Basically our culture is moving away from the church being the authoritative voice in our culture. With each generation, a larger percentage claim to have no religious affiliation. One speaker I heard describes it this way: the church used to be the majority and speak with authority. Now, we are in the minority and don’t have the same authority.

Morgan offers a unique perspective in his book as he shares about his experiences ministering in New England. When he first arrived at the church he serves, he was described as very “Jesus-y,” which he later learned wasn’t a compliment. Some of his stories would shock those of us who live and serve in the Bible Belt.

While pointing out that we live in a post-Christian culture, Morgan also talks about how to effectively minister to students in this context. He offers some defining characteristics of students who are post-Christian and shares some practical things he has done to connect with students and help them connect with God.

While ministering in New England is a lot different that being in the mid-West, there were several observations Morgan made with which I could relate. This book offers some good ideas on how to serve in our ever-changing culture.

I love what Morgan wrote about our approach in chapter 6: “Our goal should not be helping 15-year-olds become godly. Our goal should be that one day when these 15-year-olds are 30-year-olds, their faith will influence who they marry, what careers they choose, what habits they form, and how they raise their children.”

Whatever generation we serve, our goal should be to help foster a relationship with Jesus that impacts all facets of our lives. Youth Ministry in a Post-Christian World offers some insights to those who are serving students today.

Deep & Wide review

Last night I finished reading Andy Stanley’s latest book, Deep & Wide. It was written to tell the story of North Point Ministries, how they started and why they do what they do. While Stanley doesn’t insist that the way they do it is the best way or the way everyone should do it, he does explain their philosophy, core values and how they evaluate what they do. He also makes a point to explain how they continually look at what they are doing so they don’t stray from their intended purpose.

What I heard most about Deep & Wide when it was first released was the opening chapters where Andy Stanley reveals some of his personal life, including his parents’ divorce, and how his life experiences lead to the start of North Point. It was a pretty transparent telling of events and more than most pastors would reveal. If you have been through a divorce or are close to those who have, you are familiar with the pain and lasting impact it has on those involved. Stanley’s sharing of his story illustrates that God can redeem even the most difficult circumstances.

Deep & Wide shares a lot of good insight for those who work in the church, whether in a leadership role or serving in a specific ministry. Stanley offers some challenging thoughts and intentionally creates discomfort for the reader in some of what he writes. He shares some of the things they have learned at North Point in regards to creating a welcoming environment, communicating to both church and non-churched (or de-churched) people, leading a church through change and the importance of leadership.

Stanley is a good communicator and has some good statements in the book. Here are a couple I highlighted:

“The most ineffective way to begin a conversation about change is to talk about what needs to change. You should never begin a conversation about change by addressing where you are now. You should always begin with where you want to be.”

“Knowledge alone makes Christians haughty.  Application makes us holy.”

“We ask of every environment:  Was the presentation engaging?  Not, was it true?  Churches aren’t empty because preachers are lying.”

Deep & Wide is a good read and a good resource for those involved in the local church.  Andy Stanley’s passion comes through in what he writes and he offers some good insight, questions and suggestions for church leaders to consider and then implement in their setting.

Facebook Changes

So many people have commented about the Facebook changes.  Like how this cartoon captures it:

Defining Decisions…Daily Decisions

While listening to a podcast on the way into the office, I was reminded of a great principle.  At times in our lives we make defining decisions, decisions that change the direction of our lives.  But it is in the daily decisions we make after that defining decision that make the difference.  Or put another way, we make a few major decisions throughout our lives.  It is how we manage those major decisions that make the difference.

I have seen many students and adults (myself included) make defining decisions: I’m committing to this. I’m changing this, I’m starting this, I’m stopping that.  While there is power in the major decisions, if I don’t manage those decisions in the days that follow, the decision doesn’t lead to change.

How many times have I decided to read my Bible more, pray more, spend less, give more, share more?  Maybe I hear a great speaker or am motivated by a cool experience, but if I don’t change my daily decisions, my defining decision becomes a memory of what I wish I would have done.

I know I need God’s help to manage those daily decisions that will then help guide me into that defining decision.

Gotta Love Junior High

I have the opportunity to substitute teach on occasion and today I am in one of our local junior high schools, hanging out with 7th graders.  Being in the junior high is always an interesting experience.

I enjoy observing the students in the hallway and in the classroom.  There is such variety in the middle school years.  Physically you have students that are early bloomers and others that are late.  Many of the girls are taller than the boys.  You can tell that some try to look older than they are, yet many of them could care less.

Socially you can tell right away who the “class clowns” are.  (I have one sitting in my class right now).  Some are just plain loud, while others keep to themselves.  A few just can’t seem to sit still.  While some are very concerned about academics, others are all about sports.  Fashion is a concern for a portion of the students, while others seem pretty oblivious.

Some adults find the junior high years annoying at best; on most days, I enjoy being around them.  They aren’t as “cool” as high school student tend to be, so they are a lot more real.  You usually know what they are thinking because they come right out and say it most of the time.  If they are mad, you know it.  If they are having a good day, you see that as well.

Junior High years are all about change.  They are changing and growing in so many ways.  In dealing with middle schoolers, you not only need to see them as they are now, but who they will be.  They are trying to discover who they are and need some love and grace to go through that process.

A good thing to remember is this – we were all junior high students at one time.  Just as the people in our lives loved us enough to let us survive those years, we need to offer that same chance to today’s generation.