What are we doing?  This question has plagued me for some time now.  Its something that hits you in moments like the stillness of meditation upon a single word in scripture or a song that takes you to those places where everything seems so completely distant. There have been so many books and articles that have called for change, a shift, or fresh perspective.  I am all for that.  However I find myself wondering what is it that must change? Who is it that must change?  If this change is so desperately needed then why can’t we get there?  Why can’t we shed our old ways and head toward the dream of future?

In the 1980’s a local furniture store caught fire by some sparks that were carried out of the dumpster onto the roof of the building.  My brother and I were kids and happened to be passing by on our bikes. We saw a mob of people heading toward the part of the building not on fire.  We threw our bikes down and ran into help. To this day I don’t know what we were trying to accomplish or what all the other people were doing.  But I knew I needed to help.  An older guy grabbed me put a squeegee in my hand and said, “Don’t let the water get to the furniture.”  I grabbed the squeegee and pushed, and pulled every drop of water I could manage to redirect. Well it was hopeless becuase my squeegee was only fourteen inches wide and the amount of water on the floor rivaled a small pond.  That day was the day the furniture store caught fire and most people who live in town remember that day well.  All I remember is my shoes were soaked with black speckled water; soupy soot from the fire, and I could not stop the water.  If I just had a bigger squeegee, or if there were more people to help me squeegee it might have been different…maybe we could have changed the outcome 

I am at the shift conference up at Willow.  The first day was full of speaker’s and their wisdom that seems to resonate in my soul.  Much of what has been shared in the main sessions has been on my heart in the last six months.  The underlying question that has been bouncing around in my heart and mind has been, “What are we doing?”  Yeah, we are doing ministry to students and on the outside it is perceived to be going well.   I guess it is, but there seems to be something missing, or off, or…  I have not been able to wrap my mind around anything that put it all together.  The box top to the puzzle was only half visible…until today.  Brian shared in session one that we are not doing ministry to get students “into” heaven. That will happen, but the essence of ministry is reforming.  We are in a time and have the opportunity to recruit (his word) students to be agents to help conquer the major crises that are destroying the planet.  What a challenge that has global impact and motivation to do all we can to form young people and challenge them to make a difference as we do all we can to be a people of the Kingdom of God.  Student ministries is global and right now like never before we need passionate servants who will point students to Jesus and rally an army of young people to change the world.( And that’s just day one…)  

This blog is was written in response to an e-mail. 

Young Jedi,

 At present I am really re-processing self, life and ministry.  It’s a good process of inner questioning and re-thinking through all that I thought I “knew” about ministry.  Some of it is from my class, some is probably an age thing and some of it is the conversation with the books and materials I have had to engage for class.  (you like the word conversation its sort of hip these days… This leaves me at a place where I am rethinking, criticizing, and wrestling the very principles that I thought I knew for “sure” The…”these are the things you have to do…”  I used to have answers to the question, “if you blew everything up and started over what would you do…”  SO with that I am going to offer you a few thoughts…

Before you say, “I do”

Every church community is different.  Find out from the Pastor or “whoever”  what the non-negotiable are.  Listen to what he says and what he does not say. If the things they hold as high values are not what you heart beats to…don’t take the job.

This is free:  Make sure to ask the Senior pastor or lead pastor eye to eye, “Are you going to be leaving this church soon?”  Then chose wisely.  It is completely fine to say, “no.”

 First Question: What are some key principles for starting out in a student ministry? 

Ministry is never a systematic or logical ordering of tasks.  It’s never 1, 2,3.  But if I were to pick a top three to consider as you transition into a new place of ministry; I would put the following as my top 5:

1. Character
2. Relationships
3. Environment
4. Tempo
5. Humility

 1.  Take care of you.  If you suck the ministry will suck.  Stay close to the Lord He is why you do what you do…nothing is more important than that relationship.

 2. Build/cultivate relationships with the students.   If they don’t get to know your heart they won’t care what you say or what you try to do.  The opposite is equally important, get to know their hearts.  You can’t lead unless you know their stories.  Spend a lot of time with students at the mall, Taco Bell, games, road trips…whatever it takes to cultivate relationships.   This will be the hardest thing you do in ministry (if you do it right) For the first month try not to be in your office for more than a few hours…b/c you are at the schools or with students.  Don’t only see students at organized program events.

 3. Create an identity.  Students care about environment.  Which is why some stores are lame and others are cool.  A logo and a name is important for students to see visually and connect with. 

 4. Take it slow.  Don’t feel like you have to do everything in 6 months…If this is from scratch it’s going to take a good 5 years to “build the program. 

 5. Enter as a servant not a Lone Ranger.  You don’t have to come in with all the answers. The opportunity to start from scratch is great.  But if you come in with gus blazing and were going to do this and this…I think it could lead to trouble.  Enter with a humble attitude that is focused on seeking out what God wants for this student ministries.  What is God doing already in that community and then jump in and join Him on the journey.  Too may times we come in with our ideas, training personality, and knowledge of what to do, that we miss what God is already doing. 

 Question 2) How quickly/slowly should volunteers be raised up? (you’ve done this kinda slowly, but i think the quality has been better because of it).

I like to have quality. Be wise in who you let into the ministry.  These people will e influencing students.  How many times have you ran into someone who used to go to church, but had a “bad experience” and no longer attend.  Students deserve qulity leaders to love and point them to Christ.  

That is just one youth guys ramblings.   The above is a collection of other peoples wisdom and knowledge and I am grateful.  

Sometimes there are not enough hours is the day.  Sometimes you meet a person and think, I know them…how do I know them?  Sometimes we allow others to define who we are, how we think, what we like, and what we do.  Sometimes we measure success in intangible amounts that are measurable easily graphed, charted and recorded.  Sometimes we get obsessed with the score, the victory, and the goal that we forget about the invisible.  Sometimes we think that success is being successful.  When most of the time success is never measurable, tangible, has no amounts and can never be graphed, charted or recorded… it’s always invisible.  

::more later:: 

Driving home from work I pass several new churches each with a crisp new sign that reads, “future site of ______ This is a place and a people with big dreams and big hopes of a new church. Now it does not take long to see another and another and another crisp new sign with the same inscription. There are many new church plants in my town all with a people who have a vision and a mission statement. Now I have to ask, “Is this what God wanted?” Is this the way of the Church? How does a follower of Christ, a member of the “church” know if this is a God thing, or mans ambitions?

What is the test? As a people we may ask the new church about why they think a church plant is the direction God is leading. The responses vary, but the most dangerous and most confusing is to invoke the leading of the Holy Spirit. This seems to be a trump card, a diplomatic immunity, and a get out of jail free card. How do any of us know that this is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the most abused person of the Trinity. He gets blamed for everything. I envision a few people or a group meeting and discussing the endeavor and declaring their intentions to see Gods kingdom furthered as the Spirit leads. The entire time the Holy Spirit is in the corner shaking His head NO! NO! Is this possible? Yeah! It happens every day.

For example, a young college boy meets a girl. Over time he really likes the girl. He works up enough courage to go and declare his love for her. He takes her out to dinner and waits for just the right moment and nervously says, Kate, I really believe that the Spirit is telling me that you are the one for me.” The girl’s response, “ I am not sure what Spirit, but my God has told me you are not the one” How can two people have two different ideas of that are supposedly being led by Spirits leading?

We were in West Virginia for about 10 days. There were many exciting adventures our team got to experience. We had snakes, a crowded bunkhouse for the guys; a bus broke down, Crum Bypass was amazing, and some white water on our last day in West Virginia. All in all it was a great trip.

All of that was exciting, but my favorite part was watching our students love. One of the greatest things our student ministry desires to see in students is to learn to love. To love is the single most important declaration by Christ, Love the Lord your God and love all people (my translation) Our students did a fantastic job connecting with each kid/student that came to the different camps. I was so excited to watch all the “212” students love on the students/kids of West Virginia. These kids were simply amazing! It was Taco Bell in action!

Now I must say that we met some great people who were so fun…. like the teens from Crum! These guys introduced me to Hot Fries! Very Good! I introduced them to naming their youth ministry 212 as one of our first extension sites. I have t-shirts ready to be sent out to make it official…. becuase its not official until there is a t-shirt.

Live Free or Die Hard has surpassed Rocky (all 12 of them) for the best movie ever. I have seen it twice in the theater and both times I left the theater juiced with man crush for John McLain. Many times the anticipation is the best part of the experience. This has been true for many things in my life…. BUT NOT THIS TIME! John McClane was awesome and the action was explosive. I used to want to be Jack Bower, but John McClane has taken over my obsessions. Which brings me to a great question for my new book that I am writing called, “Who would Win?” Who would win in a fight between John McClane and Jack Bower…? Holy crap I would pay cash to see that baby! John McClane is the coolest guy ever! He pulled his daughters date out of the car while she was on a date! I cannot wait to do this to some punk kid who takes my daughter on a date…. if I ever let her date. I will be purchasing the box set that has the entire collection of Die Hard movies. Go see it and like it!

While at Taco Bell with some friends I asked the question, “What would you do if you knew you were going to die next Friday?” Immediately we had to add parameters to the question to satisfy those present. We disclosed that a billionaire has given you freedom to spend any amount money and nothing is out of bounds. I withheld my answer so that I could write it in my blog. So here we go.

First, I would call a press conference for all the major networks including local affiliates and web broadcasts. I would announce to the world that next Friday I am going to die. I would invoke artistic freedom to embellish a little and make up some super rare disease that will end my life. I would call it “Hannakatitus” and for centuries to come people would have to call it by that name. At the conclusion of the press conference I would announce that everyone who wants to see how I will live out my final days can follow the adventure 24/7 on channel 212 which has been purchased and dedicated to documenting every moment.

I would then have to get some new boxers. If I am going to go and do things with the wife and kids and others I want go in comfort. I would get all my friends and family together for a few days of the adventure. We will all be flying on an airbus 747 that is decked out with flat screen TV’s, lazy boy seats, Mickey Mouse, hot tubs and a Taco Bell. Now I would let Amy and the girls choose somewhere they would each like to go. I would love to enjoy seeing the girls laughing and having fun at the places they choose.

Then the rest of my family and friends would all put destinations in a hat and I would pull out a slip of paper and hand it to the pilot. When we touch down we would all get into stretch Hummer limos to go get French Fries at Penn Station…or wherever the best fries are depending on part of the world we currently positioned. Then I would give everyone $1000.00 to buy stuff for an orphanage that would be determined once we are back in the air. While everyone is out doing that I would be at the Taco Bell writing letters to all my friends and family. Each letter is hand written and enclosed is a check for $10,000 for them to do whatever they want. I would also write random checks to various people just for fun.

Back on the plane and off to another anonymous destination. This time we don’t land we all jump out of the airplane with parachutes. TV cameras and all! Once everyone is safely on the ground we are taken to an area where there is a huge fire pit and a super buffet of food. No Taco Bell this time, but steaks, ribs Chicken all BBQ up on the grill. We all sit around the table eating laughing and being together.

As our trip winds to a close my 3 girls and I depart to be together while everyone else gets to go wherever they want with free roundtrip tickets. Now I have a special time to say buy to the girls, which would be excruciating with lots of tears, hugs and kisses. Flashback… What the girls do not know is that I have recorded messages to each of them for the major milestones that will come in their life. A special one to the wife encouraging her to wear black and mourn the rest of her life only thinking of me. I also recorded one for each girl. One for each birthday, middle school years, marriage some tapes just to say I love them and graduations. I also made a special one with dating advice letting the girls know I have hired secret service agents to track all social activates with the opposite sex and not to worry about any boys who disappear.

Once the goodbyes are done I am taken by helicopter to the top of an undisclosed mountain where I strip down to my boxers and die…

We landed safely in Fort Wayne three days ago and have reentered normalcy. The only trouble was on the approach to land. The plan angled toward the ground and I was anticipating to touch down. As we flew toward the ground the bright light shinning in from the windows turned dark and rainy. A few bumps in the air and the plan began to climb back into the sky. I thought that’s not good. I looked over to see if the little one was ok. Typically she would be in moms lap with her head buried in her neck, but this time she was past out with her legs dangling in the isle. It was funny…the kid slept through the whole episode. I love that kid! We circled around to reproached and landed safely…officially bringing our first family vacation to a close.

….So what do I think about the whole vacation experience. Well we went to Florida, Americas vacation spot and Gods waiting room. We did MGM, Sea World and Magic Kingdom. At each place there are hundreds of people, long lines and hot sidewalks. Everyone is walking, pushing strollers, some carrying kids in their arms, standing in line and sweating profusely in the hot Florida sun. Does that sound like fun? It might not be, but when you get past the parking, the lines, the crowds, the sun and you see the eyes of your two little girls grow big with excitement because they got to meet the Mouse and some princess you realize it was all worth it.

The first night for the kids was not one of great sleep. In fact I don’t think they slept at all. I think it was a combination between their excitement and the sleeping arrangements. We have a room with two double beds so we put the kids in their own bed. Latter when mom and dad went to bed I put them into the same bed. You may be thinking great idea! This would be a great idea but the girls are gravitational sleepers. If there is something in the bed to cling to they will and because of this they kept waking each other up. Which would wake us up and then we would have to get them back to sleep. This routine was repeated several times during the night. Vacation is great!
Up early the girls ate some pop tarts, watched some cartoons, and jumped on me to wake me up. We all got showered and changed. We smeared sun-tan lotion all over the girls and off we went to MGM. Now the fun begins…maybe
We arrive at MGM we pay parking and hike 100 yards to catch the trolley that takes you to the entrance. We get through security without any trouble. We immediately get a map and begin walking to the various spots where we will be entertained. Our first stop is to Mickies play house…something like that. We stand in line for short time. We file into the room and sit on the floor. The show begins and it is pretty good. However all the other kids are singing along and seem to know what’s going on and know all the characters when they appear on stage. My two girls are watching with big eyes, but seem to be behind. The show continues and Mimi leans over and says about all the other kids, “these are the kids with cable.” It now made sense why my girls seemed a little off…we don’t have cable.
Next stop Beauty and the Beast. It was outside underneath a huge amphitheater…very cool. The girls espically the youngest absolute loved it. Now at the end of the show when all the actors in the play come out to bow and get their glory, I booed. What? Yeah when the bad guy Gaston came out I booed. I think we should boo the bad guys to show them that they played a great bad guy. If they were not good then we do nothing…. I got elbowed by guess who and began to explain my new theory. Well let’s just say it was not widely accepted…but people used to think the Earth was flat….
Well after a few more stops we headed back to the condo to get our suits on and hit the pool. Now that’s vacation. Sitting in the pool watch my girls turn into fish. That’s hard to beat. Oh then we ate Mexican food! It was goood! Tomorrow we hit Sea world. That Shamu guy better be good, or its seafood for dinner.