2 months of no blogging hurts my soul. Maybe for Christmas break this will pick back up, but I doubt any of you actually check this any more. I hope you find this and really put some thought into it, though, because this is seriously important to me.
My blog for today is a paper which I turned in a week ago. This is my philosophy of youth ministry. This goes on my permanent resume, and I plan on giving it to the church that I ask to be hired by. I seriously plan on implementing this as my plan to affect the lives of youth. So please, critique me, affirm me, and really read into what I am saying. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers as I embark upon this.
My Philosophy of Youth Ministry
The main goal of a youth ministry that I design would be to help youth understand that, at every point in their lives, whether young or old, God has a purpose for them as a part of the body of Christ. While God does call us to this, he does not need us; he has given us the privilege of being included in his plan. As such, the adolescents of today's culture must recognize that they have potential to serve in the church and be part of the body, but that they also must seek wisdom and maturity in order to be a more capable servant. It is important to see that all Christians can contribute. God has called the church as a whole to recognize that students, while they do have disadvantages and weaknesses, are every bit a part of the church, and must be trained and brought up with discernment in order to guide them into a full life of Christian leadership and service.
One intermediate goal is integrating the youth with the church while maintaining their respect for the elders of the church. I believe that, to an extent, the whole youth group should be allowed to participate in the activities that the adult church body takes part in. This includes, and is certainly not limited to, baptism, communion, worship, service, prayer, and social events. This is not to say they need leadership positions there; they do not. I contend that the youth must be a part of the church in order to fully engage in their relationship with Christ, because the church community is a web of support, and they should not be denied the diversity of that body simply because of their age. Another goal is developing a public faith that emerges in every location of their lives. I am not necessarily saying that the youth need to become apologetic masters; instead, I would encourage them to be in regular discussion with peers, adults, and younger youth about spiritual issues in a casual, sincere way. This means I would focus on developing boldness and honesty as spiritual characteristics, as well as their identity. My last goal is to give them necessary skills for continuing their faith after they leave adolescence. The students would need to know how to find a church that matches up with their beliefs, how to be part of a body, and have a general understanding of the major issues of Christianity and the history of the church. This would include a fairly high level of cognitive development.
In the pursuit of the completion of these goals, there are several events I would like to see regularly occurring. In order to pursue integration with the church, I think it is appropriate for the youth to participate in contributing to the main events of the general congregation. This could include having youth read verses for the liturgy or assist in worship, perhaps even sharing from personal experience as part of the worship service. To develop a public and honest faith, I would assign "homework" (without the expectation of immediate success) for the youth to speak about a certain issue every month with at least one person. For the purpose of giving them skills for their strengthened and lifelong faith, I would teach sermons not necessarily targeting key issues in their lives, but speaking about what the church is and what the Christian life is. Topical sermons occasionally have their uses, but the truth of the Gospel and the wisdom from the history of the church contribute much more to long-term faith.
In order to ensure the greater success of all of these goals, I plan to have a network of discipleship, consisting of the support of the rest of the church. At most events, whether or not there is teaching, I intend to have adults (hopefully some parents) who are mentoring, engaging, and worshiping with the youth. This would ensure integration with the rest of the church, and since I alone cannot answer every objection or question of the faith to every youth, constant discussion with these volunteer adults about the lessons would create a greater understanding. Also, if the adults share their own stories of developing faith into adulthood, the youth will have a greater understanding of what is necessary to maintain strong faith even after leaving high school. Since adult volunteers cannot be expected to eternally pour out in a perfect way, I would also disciple and guide them in their leadership with monthly meetings to lift them up and teach them. This way we would all pursue the same specific goals.
The success of this plan could be determined in several ways. For one thing, the adult volunteers, who regularly interact on a more personal basis than I do, could inform me of the spiritual progress they witness, as well as the students' ability to interpret and respond to what they hear and see and do. Also, at the end of junior high and again at the end of high school, I would take one Sunday with that specific grade of students, and ask them to write out for me a summary of what they believe as a Christian, and determine their ability to do so. It would also be easy to determine how well the students are integrated with the rest of the church, based on how regularly and how well they engage the adults and the rest of the body.
The purpose behind the youth ministry that I envision is not to entertain students, or make them into morality angels with perfect Bible memory. The purpose is to make them part of the modern church and raise them up to be leaders of the future church.
12.09.2009
10.03.2009
Insufferably Loveable
Today is my lovely girlfriend's birthday. You should all have wished her a happy one.
For the occasion, her parents drove up and we all went to see the Freshmen Play, together. This year they chose The God Committee, a play based on a heart transplant committee at a New England Community Hospital somewhere.
The main point of the play was that we as people do not have the means (or the right) to decide who does or does not deserve to live. We simply don't. There is no quantitative way to assign value to a person's life. And yet, we all do it. When I meet a guy who lives on the street, as compared to a successful, kind-hearted businesswoman (I'm assuming they exist) I instinctively decide who has a more valuable life.
Hospitals try to account for this by saying that whoever is the most likely to live longer (and fuller) deserves to do so.
This still doesn't make up for the fact that we can never know who WILL use the heart better, but only who is more LIKELY to use the heart better.
I am a firm believer in the idea that 5 seconds well spent by an ungrateful, unsuccessful, ugly, dirty person can be infinitely more valuable than years of the life of someone who society admires. I believe this, in large part, because I see some of all of those bad characteristics in myself, and I want to know that significance can come to my life even if I am not capable of intentionally creating it.
So, let's just say I don't envy them the responsibility. Because regardless of the fact that we're unable to make an informed, just decision, a decision still has to be made.
That, my friends, is the human condition.
For the occasion, her parents drove up and we all went to see the Freshmen Play, together. This year they chose The God Committee, a play based on a heart transplant committee at a New England Community Hospital somewhere.
The main point of the play was that we as people do not have the means (or the right) to decide who does or does not deserve to live. We simply don't. There is no quantitative way to assign value to a person's life. And yet, we all do it. When I meet a guy who lives on the street, as compared to a successful, kind-hearted businesswoman (I'm assuming they exist) I instinctively decide who has a more valuable life.
Hospitals try to account for this by saying that whoever is the most likely to live longer (and fuller) deserves to do so.
This still doesn't make up for the fact that we can never know who WILL use the heart better, but only who is more LIKELY to use the heart better.
I am a firm believer in the idea that 5 seconds well spent by an ungrateful, unsuccessful, ugly, dirty person can be infinitely more valuable than years of the life of someone who society admires. I believe this, in large part, because I see some of all of those bad characteristics in myself, and I want to know that significance can come to my life even if I am not capable of intentionally creating it.
So, let's just say I don't envy them the responsibility. Because regardless of the fact that we're unable to make an informed, just decision, a decision still has to be made.
That, my friends, is the human condition.
9.24.2009
Unbreakable
Has anyone ever noticed the extreme amount of correlation between things that are expensive and things that are fragile?
For instance, I spent almost a third as much money on the case for my guitar as I did for the guitar itself.
Why does it seem to be that, the better something is, the easier it is to destroy?
Now, this isn't the case with everything. My crappy, $15 shoes are falling apart, whereas nicer ones would probably not have holes in the soles that let the rain drench my toes from below.
But part of the utility of shoes is that they are durable. So, for anything that is not designed to be durable, the more valuable it is the more fragile it is.
Instruments, gold is a soft metal, plasma screen tvs (Have you seen the video where the guy breaks his tv by throwing a Wiimote at it? Classic.) and most other expensive, material pleasures are extremely non-durable.
I wonder why this is.
It's even true in nature. Endangered species, the rain forests, rare plants, even ferocious, beautiful creatures that are still vulnerable to human destruction (see also: TIGERZZZZZ YAY) are become scarce because they simply aren't durable. The only things we know would survive a nuclear holocaust are that stupid creeping vine from China and cockroaches, and nobody likes those.
Now, this leads to the question, are things that are high quality by nature fragile, or are things considered high quality because they are fragile?
Obviously, the harder something is to replace and the easier it is to damage, the better we will take care of it. But I still think that it is kind of a rule of the universe that all things that are valuable and good require you to take good care of them. God made it that way.
I'd like to think that, in heaven, nothing valuable will be fragile. This will be part of the reparation from the fall. Human bodies will not be so breakable, and they are obviously valuable, so why not the rest of the New Earth?
I think it's interesting to note that most of our made up "superheroes" from comic books and the like are considered powerful primarily (or at least in part) because they are insusceptible to gun fire or fist fighting or rocket launchers, etc.
It then becomes one of the saddest qualities of human nature that all of the things we value are destructible. We are in a futile struggle against corruption to maintain any form of beauty in the world, but it is all to fragile to survive without some serious help.
For instance, I spent almost a third as much money on the case for my guitar as I did for the guitar itself.
Why does it seem to be that, the better something is, the easier it is to destroy?
Now, this isn't the case with everything. My crappy, $15 shoes are falling apart, whereas nicer ones would probably not have holes in the soles that let the rain drench my toes from below.
But part of the utility of shoes is that they are durable. So, for anything that is not designed to be durable, the more valuable it is the more fragile it is.
Instruments, gold is a soft metal, plasma screen tvs (Have you seen the video where the guy breaks his tv by throwing a Wiimote at it? Classic.) and most other expensive, material pleasures are extremely non-durable.
I wonder why this is.
It's even true in nature. Endangered species, the rain forests, rare plants, even ferocious, beautiful creatures that are still vulnerable to human destruction (see also: TIGERZZZZZ YAY) are become scarce because they simply aren't durable. The only things we know would survive a nuclear holocaust are that stupid creeping vine from China and cockroaches, and nobody likes those.
Now, this leads to the question, are things that are high quality by nature fragile, or are things considered high quality because they are fragile?
Obviously, the harder something is to replace and the easier it is to damage, the better we will take care of it. But I still think that it is kind of a rule of the universe that all things that are valuable and good require you to take good care of them. God made it that way.
I'd like to think that, in heaven, nothing valuable will be fragile. This will be part of the reparation from the fall. Human bodies will not be so breakable, and they are obviously valuable, so why not the rest of the New Earth?
I think it's interesting to note that most of our made up "superheroes" from comic books and the like are considered powerful primarily (or at least in part) because they are insusceptible to gun fire or fist fighting or rocket launchers, etc.
It then becomes one of the saddest qualities of human nature that all of the things we value are destructible. We are in a futile struggle against corruption to maintain any form of beauty in the world, but it is all to fragile to survive without some serious help.
8.27.2009
Collection
Tonight was the all-dorm meeting, which was big and manly and such. But afterwards we broke down into our individual suites. 30-Cinco Met with 36ia and we all got to know each other by sharing some random crazy story about ourselves.
While I think one-liners are funny, and sarcasm can make me laugh, the best kind of humor is definitely personal anecdotes. It's great in groups because you can relate to it, it seems so intimate because you're sharing something.
I consider myself a connoisseur of stories, in a way. I love hearing and memorizing stories that me and my friends have, because being able to share a story is the single best way I have found in connecting with other people. You can be in the most awkward situation ever with a complete stranger, but by sharing a personal memory that makes them laugh, or at least feel comfortable, can open up doors in people's hearts that otherwise take months to dig into.
The more I learn about public speaking, the more I hear that sharing personal stories will radically change the response a speaker can get. If a speaker does not connect with his audience, they decide that they have no reason to listen to him or take his advice and expertise, even if he is otherwise qualified.
So, by collecting these stories, I have a small little tale on almost every subject, in order to relate to people as quickly and as deeply as possible. This is great for a youth pastor, who will meet tons of new people weekly and need to create an atmosphere of comfort.
The only problem is, while they relate to me better, it does not actually create intimacy. I am sharing a story, but they are not actually getting to know me, and I am certainly not getting to know them.
So, the real problem with only sharing stories is that interaction and personal response plays less of a role. It makes me a better speaking figure but a less intimate person.
I have to make sure that the personal me is not just a collection of stories.
While I think one-liners are funny, and sarcasm can make me laugh, the best kind of humor is definitely personal anecdotes. It's great in groups because you can relate to it, it seems so intimate because you're sharing something.
I consider myself a connoisseur of stories, in a way. I love hearing and memorizing stories that me and my friends have, because being able to share a story is the single best way I have found in connecting with other people. You can be in the most awkward situation ever with a complete stranger, but by sharing a personal memory that makes them laugh, or at least feel comfortable, can open up doors in people's hearts that otherwise take months to dig into.
The more I learn about public speaking, the more I hear that sharing personal stories will radically change the response a speaker can get. If a speaker does not connect with his audience, they decide that they have no reason to listen to him or take his advice and expertise, even if he is otherwise qualified.
So, by collecting these stories, I have a small little tale on almost every subject, in order to relate to people as quickly and as deeply as possible. This is great for a youth pastor, who will meet tons of new people weekly and need to create an atmosphere of comfort.
The only problem is, while they relate to me better, it does not actually create intimacy. I am sharing a story, but they are not actually getting to know me, and I am certainly not getting to know them.
So, the real problem with only sharing stories is that interaction and personal response plays less of a role. It makes me a better speaking figure but a less intimate person.
I have to make sure that the personal me is not just a collection of stories.
8.25.2009
Selective Memory
Moving in was fun and eventful, for those concerned. I missed the dorm. I get a lot of great fellowship here. And my roommate is one of my best beds, which helps.
Complete change of topic time.
I have tons of songs memorized. Lyrics, melody, all kinds of things. But recently I've realized that I hardly know any of the lyrics to all of my favorite songs. Mostly songs that I have only started listening to in the last year or so.
At first I thought this might be due to me just getting a weaker short-term memory or something. I was really paranoid for a while that I was growing stupid. I think the paranoia over that was more stupid than anything.
Then I realized that I remembered so many details about those songs that aren't lyrics.
I was in choir up until 10th grade. Singing was my big thing, and I was decent at it. I'm still a decent singer for a guy without any musical training. But my singing days were the same time period where I was learning all the songs I have the lyrics memorized for.
At this point in my life, I have probably spent more time studying guitar and music as a whole than I have singing, since I quit singing way back then. I've spent dedicated time practicing and training my ear and my skill for guitar. So that has become almost entirely what I focus on in music. It actually makes it harder to listen to non-guitar music just because I'm so used to listening to it and figuring out how to play it with my ears.
Because of this, I have to really concentrate to learn lyrics from songs and I naturally pick up the guitar and instrumentals in them. I could probably sing you the guitar solo of most songs I've listened to in the last year, but I could barely recite any of the lyrics, compared to the perfect memory I have of songs from way back when.
It's not better or worse, just different. I really do think it's interesting how much my ability to memorize songs has changed over the years.
Complete change of topic time.
I have tons of songs memorized. Lyrics, melody, all kinds of things. But recently I've realized that I hardly know any of the lyrics to all of my favorite songs. Mostly songs that I have only started listening to in the last year or so.
At first I thought this might be due to me just getting a weaker short-term memory or something. I was really paranoid for a while that I was growing stupid. I think the paranoia over that was more stupid than anything.
Then I realized that I remembered so many details about those songs that aren't lyrics.
I was in choir up until 10th grade. Singing was my big thing, and I was decent at it. I'm still a decent singer for a guy without any musical training. But my singing days were the same time period where I was learning all the songs I have the lyrics memorized for.
At this point in my life, I have probably spent more time studying guitar and music as a whole than I have singing, since I quit singing way back then. I've spent dedicated time practicing and training my ear and my skill for guitar. So that has become almost entirely what I focus on in music. It actually makes it harder to listen to non-guitar music just because I'm so used to listening to it and figuring out how to play it with my ears.
Because of this, I have to really concentrate to learn lyrics from songs and I naturally pick up the guitar and instrumentals in them. I could probably sing you the guitar solo of most songs I've listened to in the last year, but I could barely recite any of the lyrics, compared to the perfect memory I have of songs from way back when.
It's not better or worse, just different. I really do think it's interesting how much my ability to memorize songs has changed over the years.
8.17.2009
Kawaru
It's amazing how a single week can remind you what makes a story really good.
Sure, big events can be fascinating, but the real joy of history and stories is the way we connect with the quiet thoughts from within someone else.
I have a week's worth of fun memories, but the only thing that has changed about me because of this week is only visible on the inside.
I spent a week watching, listening, and observing, and as a result, I changed on the inside. I just had to constantly remind myself to shut up and soak in.
And I did.
Now here I am, ready to face something that would have terrified me 8 days ago.
By the way, I totally jumped off of that waterfall.
Sure, big events can be fascinating, but the real joy of history and stories is the way we connect with the quiet thoughts from within someone else.
I have a week's worth of fun memories, but the only thing that has changed about me because of this week is only visible on the inside.
I spent a week watching, listening, and observing, and as a result, I changed on the inside. I just had to constantly remind myself to shut up and soak in.
And I did.
Now here I am, ready to face something that would have terrified me 8 days ago.
By the way, I totally jumped off of that waterfall.
7.05.2009
Ode to Texas
I love living in a culture within a culture.
The fact that foreign countries know more about Texas than any other state really says something. We have our own stereotypes, and really an entirely separate element of our culture separate from the rest of the country.
I recently read some funny "You know you're from Texas when..." things I'd like to share.
You know you're from Texas when...
It's so hot that potatoes cook underground and all you have to do for lunch is to pull one out and add butter with trimmings.
It's so hot farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.
You only know five spices: salt, pepper, Ranch dressing, BBQ sauce and ketchup.
You no longer associate bridges with water. (*cough* TRINITY RIVER *cough*
You can say 110 degrees without fainting.
You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
You discover that in July it takes only two fingers to drive your car.
You attend a formal event in your best clothes, your finest jewelry and your cowboy boots.
People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.
Baptism is referred to as "branding."
Finding and returning lost sheep isn't just a parable.
You know what real Mexican food tastes like.
Most of the rest of them were mostly about our accents. Seriously, world, get over the word "y'all." It's not that big a deal.
Also, did you know that it is illegal to urinate on the Alamo? This is important knowledge. Good thing it's not a college town...
Anyways, while this is all fun and good, it brings up something that I've noticed. With the advent of the internet and mass media, things like accents and state cultures are starting to become less and less significant.
I realized that other day that I know exactly how to speak in a Texan accent, and I choose to do so when around the right influences (see also: Grandparents) but I fit just as comfortably into the "American" accent. As large as the United States is, the fact that we all see the same media, and our kids are raised by the television, individual accents over small areas are starting to disappear.
I'd be all tore up inside if I didn't have a little slice of redneck to call home anymore. As it is, Dallas is hardly Texan.
I guess on the whole it means that technology has made a "one world culture" possible.
You know, I was just watching Star Wars, and they differentiate people groups by what planet or even what solar system they come from. Is it possible that our planet could become just one single culture, with hardly any differences except in remote areas?
I would be sad if all of those mini cultures were to disappear because of technology.
What's funny about all this is that America takes pride in its ideals of individualism. Yet the individual disappears when everybody watches all the same TV.
The fact that foreign countries know more about Texas than any other state really says something. We have our own stereotypes, and really an entirely separate element of our culture separate from the rest of the country.
I recently read some funny "You know you're from Texas when..." things I'd like to share.
You know you're from Texas when...
It's so hot that potatoes cook underground and all you have to do for lunch is to pull one out and add butter with trimmings.
It's so hot farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.
You only know five spices: salt, pepper, Ranch dressing, BBQ sauce and ketchup.
You no longer associate bridges with water. (*cough* TRINITY RIVER *cough*
You can say 110 degrees without fainting.
You learn that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
You discover that in July it takes only two fingers to drive your car.
You attend a formal event in your best clothes, your finest jewelry and your cowboy boots.
People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the ark.
Baptism is referred to as "branding."
Finding and returning lost sheep isn't just a parable.
You know what real Mexican food tastes like.
Most of the rest of them were mostly about our accents. Seriously, world, get over the word "y'all." It's not that big a deal.
Also, did you know that it is illegal to urinate on the Alamo? This is important knowledge. Good thing it's not a college town...
Anyways, while this is all fun and good, it brings up something that I've noticed. With the advent of the internet and mass media, things like accents and state cultures are starting to become less and less significant.
I realized that other day that I know exactly how to speak in a Texan accent, and I choose to do so when around the right influences (see also: Grandparents) but I fit just as comfortably into the "American" accent. As large as the United States is, the fact that we all see the same media, and our kids are raised by the television, individual accents over small areas are starting to disappear.
I'd be all tore up inside if I didn't have a little slice of redneck to call home anymore. As it is, Dallas is hardly Texan.
I guess on the whole it means that technology has made a "one world culture" possible.
You know, I was just watching Star Wars, and they differentiate people groups by what planet or even what solar system they come from. Is it possible that our planet could become just one single culture, with hardly any differences except in remote areas?
I would be sad if all of those mini cultures were to disappear because of technology.
What's funny about all this is that America takes pride in its ideals of individualism. Yet the individual disappears when everybody watches all the same TV.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
