Mag report - GROUP (Nov - Dec 2009)

The newest GROUP magazine has come out and I’ve got some thoughts about it.

Something I liked: Rick Lawrence and GROUPS “exclusive Survey report” has some great thoughts from this past year’s survey. I strongly agree with the idea that our kids (and everyone really) need to have a real and personal relationship with Jesus to grow. I loved what he said after reading John 6:55, “A lot of people, not just teenagers, who want to merely fit Jesus into their lives, are repelled when they learn the price for following him…everything.” As I said on this GROUP mag post – “The need for our middle schoolers to understand their need for Jesus in their regular daily life is so key to them taking spiritual steps forward.”

???: Jeff Dunn-Rankin’s “lost at school” article made me think but also go “huh??” I like where he went on this article but I think there is so much more that needs to be done to help kids who have “behavioral challenges” then what was said. I know this is just an article but I wish there was more urls to look at then just a book recommendation in this article.

Key Statement: Rick Lawrence said this in his review of the exclusive survey report, “Give kids practice, practice, practice in articulating their faith. The best way to do this as a regular part of your ministry “diet” is to talk way less while asking way more questions.”

Creative idea: I didn’t know about this resource but I do now thanks to GROUP mag,
www.youthministry.com/webextras

Book Review - Youth Ministry in the 21st Century by Rick Lawrence

I’ve wanted to read Rick Lawrence’s book “Youth Ministry in the 21st Century. ” for a couple of months now but have been wading through “Desiring God.” But finally I’ve finished Pipers book and got a chance to dive into Rick’s book. Wonderful stuff and the interesting thing to me is that a lot of what Rick talks about is things happening here at NCBC. Here are two things that hit me:
First thing that hit me was the need to have a place that kids can be themselves. “If students know they can stop pretending and be who they actually are, with people who actually want to know them and love them… well, they’re in.” I’m always talking with my sponsors (our adult volunteers) that they need to spend time with the kids outside of our “regular” time together. Rick points to the fact kids need caring adults in their lives. If the adults are willing to share their lives with the kids - real youth ministry happens. Rick said, “At the heart of modeling is a desire to make your life a story worth telling” and I would add hearing. This reminds me of one of Kurt Johnston’s jr hi ministry “formulas” –

Middle school students + caring adults = good ministry

The other key thought that hit me was the huge impact parents have on their kids. There has been so many times in my ministry where I thought parents were the enemy. I was so wrong in thinking that way and Rick really makes a strong point about this. “Parents are, by far, the best faith sharers, evangelizers, and outreachers.” As a dad of a middle schooler I’m starting to understand this even more – my 7th grade daughter does watch my wife & me – like a hawk. This also means the youth ministry needs to poor ourselves into the parents. Rick put it this way, “it’s just as important for you to invest in parents’ spiritual growth as it is to invest in your students’ spiritual growth.” This is probably the weakest part of our ministry – we really need to work on this more.

Book Report - Desiring God by John Piper

I try to get a book recommendation each year from my good friend, brother in Christ, & mentor Mark Forstrom. This year he suggested “Desiring God” by John Piper – oh my! What a recommendation. Ever since I have had the privilege of being the middle school guy here at NCBC my spiritual life has be on a constant growth & I believe that I have matured in my faith more than I have ever in my life. Piper’s book has put me in my place of realizing that I’m really not that mature – at least not as mature as I thought I was.

I didn’t know how to put down my thoughts from the book so this time I’m going to put down a number of key thoughts that John Piper said in his book. The goal is for those thoughts are there for me to reflect, pray, and think on as my life continues:

“The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.”

“I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise…” quoted from C.S. Lews

“Praise is not an alternative to joy, but the expression of joy.”

“The aim of the Christian Hedonist is to be happy in God, to delight in God, to cherish and enjoy His fellowship and favor.”

“Because God is unique as an all-glorious, totally self-sufficient Being, He must be for Himself if He is to be for us.”

“The first thing we learn is that worship has to with real life.”

“The Word of God is not a trifle; it is a matter of life and death. If you treat the Scriptures as a trifle or as empty words, you forfeit life.”

“God is not looking for people to work for Him, so much as He is looking for people who will let Him work for them.”

“The great encouragement from John 10:16 is that the Lord Himself will do what is impossible for ‘poor and helpless worms’ like us.”

“This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world.”

“The deep things of life in God are discovered in suffering.”

“If we do not communicate that He is the goal and the ground of our joy in suffering, then the meaning of our suffering will be lost. The meaning is this: God is gain. God is gain. God is gain."

“The proper understanding of everything in life begins with God.”

Prayers and Review of Oct 09

Spending time in October and November to read through John in KJV. I like looking at a number of different translations of the Bible because I believe it makes me think and strengthens me. These prayers came from of my reading so far:

Lord, may I be holy because you are holy

Lord, may you be my life so your light may shine from me.

Lord, may I be only who you want me to be and no other.

Lord, may I follow your order of things.

Lord, may I receive your truth always - may it penetrate deep into me.

Lord, may I desire spiritual food over physical food.

Lord, may you stir my heart so that I might follow you even more.

Lord, I want to be all about you.

Lord, thank you for all the miracles you have done and are going to do - may I always remember it is to bring you glory that they are being done

Lord, may I come to you when you call - even if you are calling me to walk on water.

Lord, I don't even pretend to understand you but I know that I desire you with everything I have - may I never stop chasing after you.

Lord, may your spirit flow over & out of me.

Lord, my I pay attention to you

Lord, may I hear you the first time and act as you want me to.

Lord, may I only follow you - my Father.

Lord, you are I am.

WOW!! Lord, thank you for my mind may I use it only for you.