Still trying to figure out how/what to blog.  I think all I’ve figured out is the “when”.  The answer is, “right after I hit the ‘post’ button.” (lame, I know.  That’s why I’m in student min).

Supposedly blogging is about writing whatever you feel like talking about today.  But with such great blogs out there, it’s hard to enter the conversation.  Still, the interent can afford one more lame blog and so feel free to start one.  No, no,  I mean, happy reading.

Today, I’m airing out some of my thoughts on tonight’s lesson on unity, why I am teaching it, what I hope to avoid and what I hope to land on. 

Given my context, my interests, our recent history, and present circumstances, here’s some of the why.

1.  We had a number of influential seniors graduate this past May.  This year’s class is less than half their number, their personalities are more introverted, and my impression is that they “don’t feel like seniors” (whatever that means). 

2.  On the flip side, we have a good amount of new 9^th graders.  Almost enough that I feel we have a “young youth group” in relation to high school age.  Also factor in the beginning of the school year (which in some ways is the toughest time in the inner dynamics), their insecurities, and the potential snobbery of the upperclassmen.  

3.  Like most youth groups, we are susceptible too clichés.  Not like “Mean Girls or “Gossip Girl” (not even like “Golden Girls”)  but we talk about community and many times we have a culture in our student ministry that not only impairs community but does the opposite and encourages clichés.  That’s a longer story. 

As it worked out, the first seminary class this fall is about relational community.  Reading Organic Community by Joe Myers has been a great blessing to me.  I wished I had listened to Charles Zimmerman and Todd Hiestand before. 

Tonight we’ll be covering the second part of “Our Unity.  What It Is and Why We Need You”.  Among communicating the Scriptures, keeping their attention, setting up small groups (which will happen in tandem with the lesson.  Which every time I see this at a conference, I love it.  Every time I try it, I regret it.), etc.  I also want to  avoid overboarding on our unity that we make ourselves even more inward focused.  Judging from our few visitors (although last week we had quite a few), we seem to have the inward thing already focused.  Nor do I want to go on the other side of being so outward focused that we lose our identity and our bonds.  Truthfully, I don’t see a risk of that actually happening anytime soon but I think that message but be a turn-off, reject the message, abandon their faith, become drug addicts and fundamentalists and thus be, counter-productive.  

I joked on my twitter that I don’t want to use “missional unity” because I was fasting from using that adjective.  I am tired of it but it is a great adjective.  

Our senior high student ministry, Fusion, kicked off this past Wednesday night. Most days, I love what I do, and I had been looking forward to this night for the last half of the summer.

Let me tell you a youth pastor story that isn’t true. After spending a solid 10 minutes or so (but each moment was prayerful), God spoke to me and said, “Tim, my favorite son, I want you to tell my students that I love slightly less then you because you’re such a good Christian and youth pastor, that they must experience a reawakening.”

In my best King James heavenly language, I spoketh forth and replied, “Yea Lord, thy servant heareth thee.” I went to explain that I was ready to share a series on Jesus being awesome. I had a whole bunch of passages from Paul that I was ready to use. (Didn’t really want to use the Gospels since it gets soo complicated and who wants to study the text?  Don’t want them me or them to think too much, you know).  Anyway, I digress.

I guess I write that because I have an extra 5 minutes to share my angst with my impression of how youth ministry has been done years ago (and still is in some places). Indeed, I did pray, meditate, etc. on what we should discuss this fall. Most of our students have been raised in the church. Many of them feel lonely in their faith while walking through their high schools, they complain of feeling somewhat sheltered, and generally, they know God is good but admit to being frustrated from the clichés, the need for discipline, their failure, their youth pastor, their parents, the self-righteous kids on the other couch, and about 248 other teen-age related reasons. I feel we as believers, as a Church, specifically ours in Montvale, are in need of a season of “Renaissance”. Though I typically conjure up feminine and other related ideas of that time period, after some time, I’ve come to appreciate it’s meanings, “a new beginning” and “rebirth” (among a few). Yes, I need a “renaissance”.

My hope is that others connect to this too.

Hey youth workers,

In case youth speciatlies has not found you, I highly recommend the YS Core Training Day.  Our youth leaders enjoyed going last year and were excited about the new theme this year.  It’s called “Generation Change” and it is obviously seeking mission, justice, and your ministry.Budget money well spent if you follow up with the purpose of it.  Besides, you know how it goes, you announce to your youth leaders that you need to be more missional, there’s yawning, protests, accusations that you’re not fun.  Let the YS guy say it, they’ll love it, you’re still lame but your ministry is better.  Win-win.  Seriously, sometimes people need to hear the right thing from a different source.     

Info here.

I truly enjoyed my time during my seminary retreat with my wife and fellow cohorters.  Felt that I was able to get to know them a little better and was glad that Susan could gain an appreciation of what our group is like.  Glad you came along, Honey. 

While I was away, our Jr. High group went to Metro Maryland’s “Alive” Retreat.  The group was led by some fantastic youth leaders who I am very grateful to have them.  Not grateful because it’s Thanksgiving; I’m sure that I’d feel the same even if it was in May.  

Like everyone, I teach that our ministry isn’t just about what the youth pastor can do (regardless of how wonderful and charming he is), and so I am glad that we have able and enough leaders to make these kinds of contributions.  

 I could say more but since I am not in the habit of sharing these blog posts …