I find it ironic that so many are bashing the POTUS for his non-thought out speech after the Charleston Shootings where he minimalized the 9 lives for the sake of his agenda (an agenda I support but not in that situation). BUT then those same critics are posting as responses, guns are like cars and spoons (yes spoons!) they are instruments that cause death, but not the cause.
How is that any different than Obama's insensitive comments?
A spoon was created to help us eat foods like soup and ice cream. A car was created to get us from place to place in a quicker manner. A gun was created to give us the edge in fighting and yes killing people. So no, I don't think a spoon or a car is the same as a gun. Sorry. Your gun justifying agenda needs more solid examples. The Constitution you say? Yeah, that's better than a spoon without a doubt. But that constitution which some think is the infallible fabric of America, has had how many amendments? Including giving voting rights to women and freedom from slavery for minorities. So excuse me if I don't mind admitting that it can be tweaked or amended from its original form from hundreds of years ago. We had rifles and small hand guns at best back then. Times have changed.
The Charleston shootings were a hate crime. The result of a sick and depraved heart. Don't use it to support either side of the gun argument. Poor parenting and hate, that is what that was, don't get it twisted. Our response should be love. For the families of those slain and a church that has a gaping hole that will never be forgotten or replaced. That should be the focus. Instead of a race war, WHAT IF we embrace race?
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The State of Youth Ministry
This may not be a popular blog post, just warning you. But unlike each President who addresses the condition of the USA or most Pastors who do the same for their churches in early January, my opinion won't be done while wearing rose-colored glasses.
I've been involved in youth ministry in some capacity for about 25 years as a youth, a volunteer, a paid staff, a teacher, coach and counselor. This has been experienced in urban and rural settings and in two different countries. So I'd like to think my credibility is solid. So with that I begin my State of Youth Ministry address.
Yesterday I spoke of dinosaurs which is an apt liaison to today's discussion on youth ministry (YM). YM has become old-school, like Tone Loc, Bell bottoms, mullets and CD's. It was invented in the 20th century largely because the church didn't know how to handle the fast changing youth culture. I'm not sure it was ever figured out. Churches threw money at the problem by hiring Youth Ministers to "work with" the teens, and then 25 years later introduced degree programs for them to be trained. The problem was Youth Minister's were always low-paid, fresh out of high school or college kids who had never held a real job before, unless you counted working full time in the summer as a camp counselor, fast food worker or lawn-mower. So we expected these young adults to help us raise our kids because they were "more connected" to the teen culture. Kind of similar to a teen age mother raising a child if you ask me.
So not surprisingly, YM became about the big event. Pizza, games, laser tag and socializing. Oh yeah and mix in a devotional for good measure. Kids need to know faith is active, alive and that there are cool young adults that believe in the Bible and its principals, don't get me wrong. But the problem becomes if this is ALL we offer the teens. The secondary problem is WHO is offering to lead the studies, a 22 year old. Time for honesty here, much of the events were planned how they were planned because a mid 20 year old was planning them for teenagers with little to no guidance from his or her boss the Pastor in the next office. That Pastor was probably busy with more important issues right? After all that's why they hired the Youth Leader, to lead the youth. So what happens when the young person gets burned out from lack of results or depth or they get married or get a better paying job offer? They roll, just like any of us would. In comes the next person and the cycle starts again. This is the process at 75% of churches with a paid youth leader. The problem? It takes about 5 years to really and truly get a youth program where it needs to be in terms of buy in and trust from parents and students. The average lifespan of a youth minister is about 2 years, some surveys have it as low as 18 months. There is one solution...
That solution is that dinosaur, the veteran youth minister. The person who doesn't see YM as a stepping stone or something fun to do while they are young. Someone who is committed to stay for at least 5 years. Those are a dying breed. They are dying for two reasons. First, relevance. Not the type you are thinking about, I mean they aren't relevant in the lives of the youth and families they minister too. If given the choice of going to group or doing something else, youth will choose something else most of the time...and nowadays parents let the youth choose. That is the big difference, parents allow their teens to choose whether they go to church or YM or not. The only thing that has changed in the teenage mind over the years in this equation is the fact that they get to answer the question. Second, money. Experienced youth ministers deserve full time pay at a competitive level, which usually means goodbye in most churches. Churches give lip service to the value of YM until it means giving more to support a youth minister who is experienced.Instead they encourage that youth minister to "become a real Pastor now, you'd be a great one".
I told you that you wouldn't like this, but at least you made it this far. But maybe not much further. Hang in at least for another paragraph.... Youth ministry will soon be extinct. Have you noticed that mainline Protestant churches are shrinking numerically? Why is that? Partly because of the reason's outlined above, we have failed to reach a generation of people, most of whom grew up their entire life with the ability to have a Youth and sometimes even a Children's minister, but yet we have lost most of them. It isn't the youth or children's minister's fault. The system is broken. I've met a lot of teens and young adults in recent years and what is remarkable in chatting with them is, you can't tell which ones go to church and which ones do not. That is an epic fail by the Church. Also not much of a statement on parents, although they need help. So I propose something new, well its very old school, like stone tablets and square wheels old...say good bye to youth ministry.
I know what you are saying, "Paul you said you gave 25 years to YM, now your saying scrap it?" Yes, yes I am. Better to scrap it than to keep pretending it isn't broken. Like when the "Service Engine" light comes on and the first few times you say, "I'll just keep driving and it will go off". Then one day you break down on the interstate at rush hour and you say "I didn't see that coming, if only I had a warning I would have done something". We've had a generation of warnings, its time to act. Or not only will YM be extinct, so will the church. Youth Ministers are great people, I have dozens of lifelong friends who have been in youth ministry, many of whom are now "out of the ministry" but still great people who have plenty to offer the youth of America. Here is what I propose; a community approach to youth ministry. I told you it was old school. WHAT IF we went back to helping each other raise all of kids in our churches instead of just worrying about ours and letting an ill-equipped 20 something be in charge of our child's spiritual development? The phrase used to be "it takes a village", but apparently that has changed. At the risk of sounding like the village idiot (hope it is not too late!) here is a peak at what I mean.
No more separation of ages. We have age graded Sunday School, age graded programs, age graded sermons etc etc. what happened to religious education? Education is growing someone in the areas you are trying to teach. So dumbing down lessons so "the kids can understand" is the approach? Here is my approach, dumb it down so the adults can apply it, and then teach it to the children. No I'm not espousing watering down the gospel. But I am saying that far too often people in the pulpit are more concerned with how great an orator they are rather then how many people understood and will apply what they felt called of God to say and discuss. I have led many children's sermons but gotten plenty of comments from grown ups of all ages that said "I got something out of that kids sermon today, wink wink". I just don't believe that kids can't handle a more intellectual approach and that adults don't need it a little more simple at times. Let's meet in the middle. Also, can we eliminate youth mission trips and adult mission trips? How about family mission trips? We love going to Disneyland together but we can't serve at a food bank together or travel to a foreign or domestic location for the sole purpose of helping someone less fortunate? What better opportunity to teach our children then when we get out of our comfort zone and let God show up.
Now I'm not saying eliminate youth camp or fun events, those are important for the social component of our faith, but let's call them what they are, youth camp and fellowship events. Grab some parents and young adults and take the teens on a youth trip so that once a year the teens get something different, just for them.
Kids and teens also need fun events, but let's not pretend like they are supplying some great spiritual quotient at the next laser tag and pizza event!
It takes a village to raise spiritual champions, the current system is broken, its time to overhaul and rethink what we are doing.
I've been involved in youth ministry in some capacity for about 25 years as a youth, a volunteer, a paid staff, a teacher, coach and counselor. This has been experienced in urban and rural settings and in two different countries. So I'd like to think my credibility is solid. So with that I begin my State of Youth Ministry address.
Yesterday I spoke of dinosaurs which is an apt liaison to today's discussion on youth ministry (YM). YM has become old-school, like Tone Loc, Bell bottoms, mullets and CD's. It was invented in the 20th century largely because the church didn't know how to handle the fast changing youth culture. I'm not sure it was ever figured out. Churches threw money at the problem by hiring Youth Ministers to "work with" the teens, and then 25 years later introduced degree programs for them to be trained. The problem was Youth Minister's were always low-paid, fresh out of high school or college kids who had never held a real job before, unless you counted working full time in the summer as a camp counselor, fast food worker or lawn-mower. So we expected these young adults to help us raise our kids because they were "more connected" to the teen culture. Kind of similar to a teen age mother raising a child if you ask me.
So not surprisingly, YM became about the big event. Pizza, games, laser tag and socializing. Oh yeah and mix in a devotional for good measure. Kids need to know faith is active, alive and that there are cool young adults that believe in the Bible and its principals, don't get me wrong. But the problem becomes if this is ALL we offer the teens. The secondary problem is WHO is offering to lead the studies, a 22 year old. Time for honesty here, much of the events were planned how they were planned because a mid 20 year old was planning them for teenagers with little to no guidance from his or her boss the Pastor in the next office. That Pastor was probably busy with more important issues right? After all that's why they hired the Youth Leader, to lead the youth. So what happens when the young person gets burned out from lack of results or depth or they get married or get a better paying job offer? They roll, just like any of us would. In comes the next person and the cycle starts again. This is the process at 75% of churches with a paid youth leader. The problem? It takes about 5 years to really and truly get a youth program where it needs to be in terms of buy in and trust from parents and students. The average lifespan of a youth minister is about 2 years, some surveys have it as low as 18 months. There is one solution...
That solution is that dinosaur, the veteran youth minister. The person who doesn't see YM as a stepping stone or something fun to do while they are young. Someone who is committed to stay for at least 5 years. Those are a dying breed. They are dying for two reasons. First, relevance. Not the type you are thinking about, I mean they aren't relevant in the lives of the youth and families they minister too. If given the choice of going to group or doing something else, youth will choose something else most of the time...and nowadays parents let the youth choose. That is the big difference, parents allow their teens to choose whether they go to church or YM or not. The only thing that has changed in the teenage mind over the years in this equation is the fact that they get to answer the question. Second, money. Experienced youth ministers deserve full time pay at a competitive level, which usually means goodbye in most churches. Churches give lip service to the value of YM until it means giving more to support a youth minister who is experienced.Instead they encourage that youth minister to "become a real Pastor now, you'd be a great one".
I told you that you wouldn't like this, but at least you made it this far. But maybe not much further. Hang in at least for another paragraph.... Youth ministry will soon be extinct. Have you noticed that mainline Protestant churches are shrinking numerically? Why is that? Partly because of the reason's outlined above, we have failed to reach a generation of people, most of whom grew up their entire life with the ability to have a Youth and sometimes even a Children's minister, but yet we have lost most of them. It isn't the youth or children's minister's fault. The system is broken. I've met a lot of teens and young adults in recent years and what is remarkable in chatting with them is, you can't tell which ones go to church and which ones do not. That is an epic fail by the Church. Also not much of a statement on parents, although they need help. So I propose something new, well its very old school, like stone tablets and square wheels old...say good bye to youth ministry.
I know what you are saying, "Paul you said you gave 25 years to YM, now your saying scrap it?" Yes, yes I am. Better to scrap it than to keep pretending it isn't broken. Like when the "Service Engine" light comes on and the first few times you say, "I'll just keep driving and it will go off". Then one day you break down on the interstate at rush hour and you say "I didn't see that coming, if only I had a warning I would have done something". We've had a generation of warnings, its time to act. Or not only will YM be extinct, so will the church. Youth Ministers are great people, I have dozens of lifelong friends who have been in youth ministry, many of whom are now "out of the ministry" but still great people who have plenty to offer the youth of America. Here is what I propose; a community approach to youth ministry. I told you it was old school. WHAT IF we went back to helping each other raise all of kids in our churches instead of just worrying about ours and letting an ill-equipped 20 something be in charge of our child's spiritual development? The phrase used to be "it takes a village", but apparently that has changed. At the risk of sounding like the village idiot (hope it is not too late!) here is a peak at what I mean.
No more separation of ages. We have age graded Sunday School, age graded programs, age graded sermons etc etc. what happened to religious education? Education is growing someone in the areas you are trying to teach. So dumbing down lessons so "the kids can understand" is the approach? Here is my approach, dumb it down so the adults can apply it, and then teach it to the children. No I'm not espousing watering down the gospel. But I am saying that far too often people in the pulpit are more concerned with how great an orator they are rather then how many people understood and will apply what they felt called of God to say and discuss. I have led many children's sermons but gotten plenty of comments from grown ups of all ages that said "I got something out of that kids sermon today, wink wink". I just don't believe that kids can't handle a more intellectual approach and that adults don't need it a little more simple at times. Let's meet in the middle. Also, can we eliminate youth mission trips and adult mission trips? How about family mission trips? We love going to Disneyland together but we can't serve at a food bank together or travel to a foreign or domestic location for the sole purpose of helping someone less fortunate? What better opportunity to teach our children then when we get out of our comfort zone and let God show up.
Now I'm not saying eliminate youth camp or fun events, those are important for the social component of our faith, but let's call them what they are, youth camp and fellowship events. Grab some parents and young adults and take the teens on a youth trip so that once a year the teens get something different, just for them.
Kids and teens also need fun events, but let's not pretend like they are supplying some great spiritual quotient at the next laser tag and pizza event!
It takes a village to raise spiritual champions, the current system is broken, its time to overhaul and rethink what we are doing.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Basketball and Dinosaurs
At 38 I feel like an aging athlete. Which, if you know me and have seen me lately that should be a very funny statement. But at age 38 I find myself wearing a similar set of Nike's, they just don't have my name on the side of them. You see I am a dinosaur, prone for extinction like the other veteren Youth Ministers out there, watching as the younger kids rain down the jumpers of fun, party atmosphere, high energy pizza and parties style of youth ministry down on my head as I watch their numbers sail high. Kudos to them, I've been there. But the sad thing is, I wished I had not. Like any wily vet, if I knew what I know now, I would have been so much better then.
But the real reason that experienced youth ministers in their thirties are leaving the ministry in droves, which they are by the way, has more to do with what's broken in the Church these days. It's not a new problem, it also is the biggest reason Pastors get run off; numbers. Unfortunately churches get to caught up with the "noses in the seats" mentality and not in the SUBSTANCE of the noses in the seats. We all like quantity, sometimes over quality. Experienced youth ministers know that what makes your ministry successful is what you see in ten years. TEN YEARS!!! Are you kidding? (Sorry that young 22 year old Youth Minister must have over heard,) Yes son, ten years. What will that 12 year old hyperactive, poorly groomed video-game fanatic kid look like ten years after he leaves your program? Think about that. Let's even move the timetable back to five years. When he is 23 what will he be doing? Will he be in church? Will he be serving? Will he be a leader for the Truth? By 28 he will have a career and most likely a wife and a kid or two, how will he lead that family? Will he be a testimony of Christ at his workplace whether it is teaching in a classroom, finding the cure for cancer or pulling trash at the mall, will he be working "as unto the Lord". That is what youth ministry is about. Sadly, the church doesn't usually count how many counseling sessions you have with your students to try and get them through life struggles. They look at how many events, how many kids and how many new tithing families you brought into the fold. Just to be clear I'm not bitter, I'm sad.
Like most of my professional friends I've taken my trade to the "secular" world. I don't see ministry as having to be done inside the walls of a church. My "former" youth minister friends, of which the list is long, have mostly all done the same thing. The church has worn them down. They have retired to become baristas, marketers, teachers, non-profit workers and more, it is a sad day when we are happier doing ministry outside of the church then inside. It appears a career in youth ministry is much like that of an athlete. By 40 you should have something new lined up. But like the best athletes who don't get depressed when they are replaced by that number one draft pick, experienced youth minsters must realize that ministry is lifelong, whether the church recognizes it or not.
Tomorrow I will blog on the State of Youth Ministry, please check back in 24 hours.
But the real reason that experienced youth ministers in their thirties are leaving the ministry in droves, which they are by the way, has more to do with what's broken in the Church these days. It's not a new problem, it also is the biggest reason Pastors get run off; numbers. Unfortunately churches get to caught up with the "noses in the seats" mentality and not in the SUBSTANCE of the noses in the seats. We all like quantity, sometimes over quality. Experienced youth ministers know that what makes your ministry successful is what you see in ten years. TEN YEARS!!! Are you kidding? (Sorry that young 22 year old Youth Minister must have over heard,) Yes son, ten years. What will that 12 year old hyperactive, poorly groomed video-game fanatic kid look like ten years after he leaves your program? Think about that. Let's even move the timetable back to five years. When he is 23 what will he be doing? Will he be in church? Will he be serving? Will he be a leader for the Truth? By 28 he will have a career and most likely a wife and a kid or two, how will he lead that family? Will he be a testimony of Christ at his workplace whether it is teaching in a classroom, finding the cure for cancer or pulling trash at the mall, will he be working "as unto the Lord". That is what youth ministry is about. Sadly, the church doesn't usually count how many counseling sessions you have with your students to try and get them through life struggles. They look at how many events, how many kids and how many new tithing families you brought into the fold. Just to be clear I'm not bitter, I'm sad.
Like most of my professional friends I've taken my trade to the "secular" world. I don't see ministry as having to be done inside the walls of a church. My "former" youth minister friends, of which the list is long, have mostly all done the same thing. The church has worn them down. They have retired to become baristas, marketers, teachers, non-profit workers and more, it is a sad day when we are happier doing ministry outside of the church then inside. It appears a career in youth ministry is much like that of an athlete. By 40 you should have something new lined up. But like the best athletes who don't get depressed when they are replaced by that number one draft pick, experienced youth minsters must realize that ministry is lifelong, whether the church recognizes it or not.
Tomorrow I will blog on the State of Youth Ministry, please check back in 24 hours.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Running, more then a weight loss plan
Ok so its been awhile. I have to admit there is less of me now then before. You see, I've lost 35 pounds in a little over 3 months by starting a running program. I even ran in a 5K last Saturday! Running has been a surprising blessing for me these three months. It has given me some dedicated "me time" to think and process, as well as scheduled physical work-out time. I have held tightly to my run schedule and my neighbor even told me to write "BUSY" in my calendar during those times.
I bring up my neighbor because that has been one of the sweetest surprises of this 2012 "campaign". That's what I'm calling it, since its an election year. My goal is to drop 100 pounds by election day, a mere 2.5 pounds a week pace. But back to the neighborhood, that is where I run. See I don't own a treadmill and going to the gym requires time AND pre-planning to bring change of clothes, shower etc on the way to work. Plus some days I don't have to go to work, and the gym is on the way, TOO COMPLICATED! So I run the streets of my neighborhood. Here is what I found, people have noticed. The neighbor across the street, different then the aforementioned neighbor who is next door, caught me after my cool down and asked me about the running. I told her the program I was using (C25K) and that it played through an app on my phone, all I had to do was run when it told me too! She said, "I have to start exercising". I told her, "start with walking". Well a week or so later, who do I pass on my run, my neighbor! This time I stop and she says "its my first day, wish me luck!"
Well stories like this continued. I have met more people in my 'hood in these 3 months then I did the first year I moved. Even at the 5K when I was running I came up next to another runner and they turned to me and and told me I was their inspiration! "I see you out there every day and it inspires me!" That last comment is what sparked the thoughts below and this blog post.
How come it isn't this easy to inspire people to live better Christian lives? That was the question that bounced around my head on the next run. The answer for us as Christians is, are we giving people a life that is an inspiration for Christ? A lifestyle that can't be denied as Christian. One that truly models the Master we serve? 1Corinthians 9:24 tells us that all runners run but only one gets the prize, run in such a way that you get the prize. If we want to inspire people to become Christ followers, we have to live lives that inspire them to do so! We don't have to be perfect people to inspire people to want to know about Christ. I told you I want to lose 100 pounds this year, I've only lost 35 so far, you do the math. I don't have the body of a runner, at least not yet. But I am committed to the process and the goal. If we are committed to the process and the goal that Christ has for all believers, that is to inspire all we come in contact with to be like Jesus and serve God, He can use that. Our Christian lives can be inspiring to others. They will stand up and take notice when we are consistently committed to model Christlikeness. It takes hard work and effort. But it is hard to inspire anyone without it.
I bring up my neighbor because that has been one of the sweetest surprises of this 2012 "campaign". That's what I'm calling it, since its an election year. My goal is to drop 100 pounds by election day, a mere 2.5 pounds a week pace. But back to the neighborhood, that is where I run. See I don't own a treadmill and going to the gym requires time AND pre-planning to bring change of clothes, shower etc on the way to work. Plus some days I don't have to go to work, and the gym is on the way, TOO COMPLICATED! So I run the streets of my neighborhood. Here is what I found, people have noticed. The neighbor across the street, different then the aforementioned neighbor who is next door, caught me after my cool down and asked me about the running. I told her the program I was using (C25K) and that it played through an app on my phone, all I had to do was run when it told me too! She said, "I have to start exercising". I told her, "start with walking". Well a week or so later, who do I pass on my run, my neighbor! This time I stop and she says "its my first day, wish me luck!"
Well stories like this continued. I have met more people in my 'hood in these 3 months then I did the first year I moved. Even at the 5K when I was running I came up next to another runner and they turned to me and and told me I was their inspiration! "I see you out there every day and it inspires me!" That last comment is what sparked the thoughts below and this blog post.
How come it isn't this easy to inspire people to live better Christian lives? That was the question that bounced around my head on the next run. The answer for us as Christians is, are we giving people a life that is an inspiration for Christ? A lifestyle that can't be denied as Christian. One that truly models the Master we serve? 1Corinthians 9:24 tells us that all runners run but only one gets the prize, run in such a way that you get the prize. If we want to inspire people to become Christ followers, we have to live lives that inspire them to do so! We don't have to be perfect people to inspire people to want to know about Christ. I told you I want to lose 100 pounds this year, I've only lost 35 so far, you do the math. I don't have the body of a runner, at least not yet. But I am committed to the process and the goal. If we are committed to the process and the goal that Christ has for all believers, that is to inspire all we come in contact with to be like Jesus and serve God, He can use that. Our Christian lives can be inspiring to others. They will stand up and take notice when we are consistently committed to model Christlikeness. It takes hard work and effort. But it is hard to inspire anyone without it.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Love the Sin Hate the Sinner?
I have a weight problem. I am very aware of this as I am currently at the heaviest I have ever been in my life. If you know me well you know that I think there are spiritual roots to every real life problem. You see, it's what sin is. It's also what love is. The oft quoted religious cliche " hate the sin, love the sinner" is fine for the impartial observer. Or even the partial observer. But what about when it is personal?
Those deep-rooted "go to" sins tell us about ourselves and our need for God. I'm not talking about those casual sins, like cursing when you smash your finger in the door, or when you "exaggerate" your role or importance in a given situation to make yourself look better. Unless that's your "go to move". Those aren't mine, my biggest is gluttony. So think about what those are for you, and continue reading with those "go to sins" in mind.
When it comes to ourselves it seems too often we love the sin. I love to eat, I have no problem admitting that, but do I need 3 of this instead of two? Do I need the large milkshake instead of the low calorie water or diet soda? These sins don't sneak up on you like the casual sin does, they are located way down inside of you. The devil knows it, God knows it and YOU know it. Just when we think we have beaten it, watch out!, here it comes! A little taste of it at first, then a bit more and we remember why we loved it so much. Then we look for ways to massage that sin. Bring it up slowly so we can try and fight the urge. Sometimes we fail badly and just completely succumb to it without much of fight other times we fend it off for awhile or dabble around in it, and then there are times that we defeat it.
But when we don't win we usually consciously chose to sin. Sometimes in the middle of the sinning (around the main course maybe?) we might even revel in it. At that point, we are loving the sin, and hating the sinner (ourselves). Sin is not good for your health. Eating salad is. So the next time you indulge yourself in that go to sin, remember you are saying you love that triple cheeseburger more then you love yourself. You are loving those curse words, lies, gossip, anger, lusty acts, or whatever it is, more then you care about your own well-being. For most of us that's a lot. Jesus told us to "love our neighbor as we love ourselves", so clearly He felt that we placed a high value on our own self-worth. Based on the choices most of make, I'd say that's true. The only thing we care about more when we sin, is that item or feeling that is the object of our sinfulness. When you willfully sin you are loving the sin and hating the sinner because sin is never good for you. Think about that, and make a change.
Those deep-rooted "go to" sins tell us about ourselves and our need for God. I'm not talking about those casual sins, like cursing when you smash your finger in the door, or when you "exaggerate" your role or importance in a given situation to make yourself look better. Unless that's your "go to move". Those aren't mine, my biggest is gluttony. So think about what those are for you, and continue reading with those "go to sins" in mind.
When it comes to ourselves it seems too often we love the sin. I love to eat, I have no problem admitting that, but do I need 3 of this instead of two? Do I need the large milkshake instead of the low calorie water or diet soda? These sins don't sneak up on you like the casual sin does, they are located way down inside of you. The devil knows it, God knows it and YOU know it. Just when we think we have beaten it, watch out!, here it comes! A little taste of it at first, then a bit more and we remember why we loved it so much. Then we look for ways to massage that sin. Bring it up slowly so we can try and fight the urge. Sometimes we fail badly and just completely succumb to it without much of fight other times we fend it off for awhile or dabble around in it, and then there are times that we defeat it.
But when we don't win we usually consciously chose to sin. Sometimes in the middle of the sinning (around the main course maybe?) we might even revel in it. At that point, we are loving the sin, and hating the sinner (ourselves). Sin is not good for your health. Eating salad is. So the next time you indulge yourself in that go to sin, remember you are saying you love that triple cheeseburger more then you love yourself. You are loving those curse words, lies, gossip, anger, lusty acts, or whatever it is, more then you care about your own well-being. For most of us that's a lot. Jesus told us to "love our neighbor as we love ourselves", so clearly He felt that we placed a high value on our own self-worth. Based on the choices most of make, I'd say that's true. The only thing we care about more when we sin, is that item or feeling that is the object of our sinfulness. When you willfully sin you are loving the sin and hating the sinner because sin is never good for you. Think about that, and make a change.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Journey From Alien to Citizen: Part 2
The second half of this blog is my reflection on how my immigration journey and how the lessons I learned can impact the church and Christ-followers. I spoke of the lens I use to view my fellow immigrants, in whatever state of naturalization they are in currently. WHAT IF all Christ followers took the viewpoint that I have espoused? That view looks like this:
1) I know as a white, English speaking male I have the most power in the room wherever I go, but I want this to change to make it equal footing.
All to often when new people arrive on the scene in our churches we treat them as "greencard" holders or maybe even as illegal aliens. Now I do think it is prudent to have a bit of a training period for people and of course to exercise caution in letting just anyone work and lead in the church without a basic background check. But I think once all of the legal hoops have been jumped through (matters which are handled by one or two people who are designated to do these things, usually a Staff member or Trustee), are these people fully functioning members? In the USA, once I became a citizen, I had all the rights that those that were born and raised in this country have. Do we as a church extend this same value system to new people in our congregation? I think we too often let them "lead with a leash". That is we tell them they can lead some small upstart ministry or they can help by doing some jobs no one else wants. Or worse still if we give them a real job, we micro-manage it like we are teaching a teenager to drive. Now I agree that the discipling process is important, but many, dare I say most, new people already have the skills needed to lead or they wouldn't have volunteered. Its a trust factor on our end.
2) People have incredible stories that are more than likely better than mine, how can I get them to share and than use the information for the profit of everyone. (Helping to provide equal footing by listening).
The best church growth strategy that is most poorly used is not paying attention to the changing demographics of your ministry area. People that have just come to the faith have been living outside of the the friendly confines of the church and thus have a much better grasp on how to reach those who don't know Him. All too often the church functions like a government agency. The same people from the same background are making all the major decisions and strategizing on how to most effectively reach out to those in the community and sphere of influence that are not like them. The "target audience" if you will. This is like asking a senior citizen how to most effectively bring in children and teens to the church. But this is what we do. If we want to reach teens, talk to and mentor teens. If you want to diversify your membership, talk to those who have diverse backgrounds and come up with a strategy. We cannot just leave it to one demographic, or our church will mirror that demographic. Sound familiar?
3) After observing the special type of leadership personality it takes to venture out from your country and attempt to start new in a foreign land, I realized the foundation of that person is hope. How can the church harvest the seeds of leadership these people have and then teach those qualities to others, so the church can learn more effectively how to grow in this changing culture?
As Christians hope is what drive us. The hope of things to come, heaven. As Christ followers we should be living sacrificially, but all too often we live in great abundance. The drive it takes immigrants to set out from a foreign land is similar to the story of Abram. God told him to go to "a land which I will tell you". He didn't give him a compass, GPS, or Google Earth app, God just said GO, and I will tell you when to stop. For the immigrant, the "GO" feeling is similar to what Abram must have had. Anticipation, paired with fear but nurtured by hope. That "GO" feeling is what can change the course that most American churches are driving. Following God's call, even when we don't know where He is leading or what the end game will be. Immigrants have made that step of faith, and that confidence needs to be tapped into and mined. Hope should be pushing all of our ministry. Hope of rescuing people from troubled relationships with themselves, and others. Hope that God can fill any void and has a path for them to follow, and hope that despite the bumps and bruises we take from the journey, the end of the trip will be worth it.
To many of us have forgotten about hope. Not only is it not driving us, it's in a bag at the bottom of the trunk! Allowing people to lead who are in this country because of hope can lead the Church to new places. Because part of hope involves dreams and visions of things that are better. Isn't that why we "do church"? To make life better for everyone but showing them the pathway to heaven. To grow our churches the right way. To include everyone in leadership and include their ideas and God's plan for them too! Restore hope in your church by including everyone and their stories and passions. Put hope back in hearts of His people.
1) I know as a white, English speaking male I have the most power in the room wherever I go, but I want this to change to make it equal footing.
All to often when new people arrive on the scene in our churches we treat them as "greencard" holders or maybe even as illegal aliens. Now I do think it is prudent to have a bit of a training period for people and of course to exercise caution in letting just anyone work and lead in the church without a basic background check. But I think once all of the legal hoops have been jumped through (matters which are handled by one or two people who are designated to do these things, usually a Staff member or Trustee), are these people fully functioning members? In the USA, once I became a citizen, I had all the rights that those that were born and raised in this country have. Do we as a church extend this same value system to new people in our congregation? I think we too often let them "lead with a leash". That is we tell them they can lead some small upstart ministry or they can help by doing some jobs no one else wants. Or worse still if we give them a real job, we micro-manage it like we are teaching a teenager to drive. Now I agree that the discipling process is important, but many, dare I say most, new people already have the skills needed to lead or they wouldn't have volunteered. Its a trust factor on our end.
2) People have incredible stories that are more than likely better than mine, how can I get them to share and than use the information for the profit of everyone. (Helping to provide equal footing by listening).
The best church growth strategy that is most poorly used is not paying attention to the changing demographics of your ministry area. People that have just come to the faith have been living outside of the the friendly confines of the church and thus have a much better grasp on how to reach those who don't know Him. All too often the church functions like a government agency. The same people from the same background are making all the major decisions and strategizing on how to most effectively reach out to those in the community and sphere of influence that are not like them. The "target audience" if you will. This is like asking a senior citizen how to most effectively bring in children and teens to the church. But this is what we do. If we want to reach teens, talk to and mentor teens. If you want to diversify your membership, talk to those who have diverse backgrounds and come up with a strategy. We cannot just leave it to one demographic, or our church will mirror that demographic. Sound familiar?
3) After observing the special type of leadership personality it takes to venture out from your country and attempt to start new in a foreign land, I realized the foundation of that person is hope. How can the church harvest the seeds of leadership these people have and then teach those qualities to others, so the church can learn more effectively how to grow in this changing culture?
As Christians hope is what drive us. The hope of things to come, heaven. As Christ followers we should be living sacrificially, but all too often we live in great abundance. The drive it takes immigrants to set out from a foreign land is similar to the story of Abram. God told him to go to "a land which I will tell you". He didn't give him a compass, GPS, or Google Earth app, God just said GO, and I will tell you when to stop. For the immigrant, the "GO" feeling is similar to what Abram must have had. Anticipation, paired with fear but nurtured by hope. That "GO" feeling is what can change the course that most American churches are driving. Following God's call, even when we don't know where He is leading or what the end game will be. Immigrants have made that step of faith, and that confidence needs to be tapped into and mined. Hope should be pushing all of our ministry. Hope of rescuing people from troubled relationships with themselves, and others. Hope that God can fill any void and has a path for them to follow, and hope that despite the bumps and bruises we take from the journey, the end of the trip will be worth it.
To many of us have forgotten about hope. Not only is it not driving us, it's in a bag at the bottom of the trunk! Allowing people to lead who are in this country because of hope can lead the Church to new places. Because part of hope involves dreams and visions of things that are better. Isn't that why we "do church"? To make life better for everyone but showing them the pathway to heaven. To grow our churches the right way. To include everyone in leadership and include their ideas and God's plan for them too! Restore hope in your church by including everyone and their stories and passions. Put hope back in hearts of His people.
The Journey From Alien to Citizen: Part 1
Well, on June 6th, 2011 I became a US Citizen. My heart and mind have been in a state of flux since that afternoon two days ago. I am pleased that the journey that I started in July of 1996 has culminated with this wonderful and sought after ending. In a way the turmoil I feel I realize is centered around the feeling that I have turned my back on my homeland of Canada. This is a silly reality, as I have dual citizenship and do not ever plan on renouncing my claim to be from either fine country. Maybe this is how mother's feel when they have post-partum depression. Just like those mother's, it is hard to understand the rationale, because you still have the one you birthed or were born into in my case, but yet you now have the ultimate goal, for mother's the real live baby, and for me citizenship in the country I live. The home of the brave. A place where thousands desire to be but cannot attain because of their life circumstances. So being a touch down-trodden seems silly, I'm sure it will wear off and like a moment I had yesterday, I will stay in the place of shouting from the rooftops "I did it! I'm an American". It's OK to be proud of that, and still be a proud Canadian as well.
I believe it is more of a reflective state then a depression anyway, thus the purpose of this blog post. I have been reflecting on my journey from alien to citizen, and how it has changed me. I was talking about it with a close friend yesterday. Indeed, the experiences of life are the greatest teacher, much more than any book. At least for me they are, and for you as well if you pay attention to the details. You may laugh when I say this, but being a registered alien was the best life lesson I have ever been taught. It is what has made my ministry and my attention to justice issues tangible and not just another high horse for a white pastor to trumpet. For me, it is real. I lived it. Now I'm not so naive to think that my immigration is the same as that of someone who is coming from a third-world country who has no promise of a job, food, lodging or even a common language when they arrive on US soil. Greencard or not, that person has it far more difficult than I did. But it has colored my lens because I feel like I can legitimately have empathy for that guy. With one major Grand Canyon sized caveat, I'm a white English speaking male. Yes, I went there. It is an important fact to note. Why? because no matter how bad my journey to citizenship was at its worst moment, I could always just go to the mall, even though I don't like to shop. What?
When you go to the mall, all you see are faces. Let's face it, I don't stand out, check that I do stand out, as a guy who automatically holds power in the room. "Whoa Paul", what do you mean by that? White males have always held the power in this country, and so just by walking out of the door or through a crowded mall I can feel powerful and in many cases get treated better (or more accurately get treated properly)by those who interact with me. So no matter how difficult it was in the early days, I knew it was better for me than for most of the 78 others who became citizens with me on June 6. Whether we like it or not, white males get the best treatment. I hope and desire to change that, not because I hate what I am, but because everyone else deserves the same treatment. This is America after all.
So I chose to learn, observe and reflect. I am glad that the US government treated me the same as everyone else that was seeking immigration/greencard etc. When I came to the US on a student Visa I was only able to work campus jobs or those approved by the INS, just like some of the guys who became my best friends, Jose, Jose, Timothy and Yuri to name a few. We had a camaraderie amongst us that was special. I worked many hours on campus as a janitor, landscaper,and painter. As I worked my way up the "campus job ladder" it was front desk jobs and cafeteria worker. Most of the time I worked with fellow F-1 (student) visa holders. Of course I had plenty of American friends, but everything came easy for them. Churches sponsoring them, families a few hours away and the ability to work wherever and how much they wanted. Just a different world. I wouldn't change a thing though because as inconvenient as it was sometimes, I learned so much from it. Plus I was blessed to inherit a family in 1998 when I married my wife. I have such a respect for those who are immigrants to this country who either have papers, a greencard, or some other form of valid USA entry documents or those who do not. It takes a special make-up to have the guts to leave your comfort zone, even if it isn't comfortable, and come thousands of miles away and start over because of hope.
Every time I see a landscaper, house cleaner, painter, trash worker, or other manual labor job working person who is obviously of a different nationality, I am applauding inside and I want to ask; "what's your story?" Not just because I know it is probably much more amazing than mine, but I feel like I can empathize with them more than any white person probably ever has. I'm so glad God allowed me to have this journey, it has been life changing for me in such a different way than it is for most of the others who became citizens with me. They knew their lives would be changed forever, I would have never guessed it when I pulled out of my parent's driveway in July of 1996 to go to Seminary. Who knew that the best lesson I would be taught would take 15 years to refine to maturity and would be taught using banana pudding, landscape timbers and mop-bucket. The wonder's of God never cease to amaze me.
I believe it is more of a reflective state then a depression anyway, thus the purpose of this blog post. I have been reflecting on my journey from alien to citizen, and how it has changed me. I was talking about it with a close friend yesterday. Indeed, the experiences of life are the greatest teacher, much more than any book. At least for me they are, and for you as well if you pay attention to the details. You may laugh when I say this, but being a registered alien was the best life lesson I have ever been taught. It is what has made my ministry and my attention to justice issues tangible and not just another high horse for a white pastor to trumpet. For me, it is real. I lived it. Now I'm not so naive to think that my immigration is the same as that of someone who is coming from a third-world country who has no promise of a job, food, lodging or even a common language when they arrive on US soil. Greencard or not, that person has it far more difficult than I did. But it has colored my lens because I feel like I can legitimately have empathy for that guy. With one major Grand Canyon sized caveat, I'm a white English speaking male. Yes, I went there. It is an important fact to note. Why? because no matter how bad my journey to citizenship was at its worst moment, I could always just go to the mall, even though I don't like to shop. What?
When you go to the mall, all you see are faces. Let's face it, I don't stand out, check that I do stand out, as a guy who automatically holds power in the room. "Whoa Paul", what do you mean by that? White males have always held the power in this country, and so just by walking out of the door or through a crowded mall I can feel powerful and in many cases get treated better (or more accurately get treated properly)by those who interact with me. So no matter how difficult it was in the early days, I knew it was better for me than for most of the 78 others who became citizens with me on June 6. Whether we like it or not, white males get the best treatment. I hope and desire to change that, not because I hate what I am, but because everyone else deserves the same treatment. This is America after all.
So I chose to learn, observe and reflect. I am glad that the US government treated me the same as everyone else that was seeking immigration/greencard etc. When I came to the US on a student Visa I was only able to work campus jobs or those approved by the INS, just like some of the guys who became my best friends, Jose, Jose, Timothy and Yuri to name a few. We had a camaraderie amongst us that was special. I worked many hours on campus as a janitor, landscaper,and painter. As I worked my way up the "campus job ladder" it was front desk jobs and cafeteria worker. Most of the time I worked with fellow F-1 (student) visa holders. Of course I had plenty of American friends, but everything came easy for them. Churches sponsoring them, families a few hours away and the ability to work wherever and how much they wanted. Just a different world. I wouldn't change a thing though because as inconvenient as it was sometimes, I learned so much from it. Plus I was blessed to inherit a family in 1998 when I married my wife. I have such a respect for those who are immigrants to this country who either have papers, a greencard, or some other form of valid USA entry documents or those who do not. It takes a special make-up to have the guts to leave your comfort zone, even if it isn't comfortable, and come thousands of miles away and start over because of hope.
Every time I see a landscaper, house cleaner, painter, trash worker, or other manual labor job working person who is obviously of a different nationality, I am applauding inside and I want to ask; "what's your story?" Not just because I know it is probably much more amazing than mine, but I feel like I can empathize with them more than any white person probably ever has. I'm so glad God allowed me to have this journey, it has been life changing for me in such a different way than it is for most of the others who became citizens with me. They knew their lives would be changed forever, I would have never guessed it when I pulled out of my parent's driveway in July of 1996 to go to Seminary. Who knew that the best lesson I would be taught would take 15 years to refine to maturity and would be taught using banana pudding, landscape timbers and mop-bucket. The wonder's of God never cease to amaze me.
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