Here are the top 10 most popular blog posts from August 2010 here on More Than Dodgeball:
JG
This may make the live bloggers a little miffed, but apple announced they will live stream their event tomorrow. I love that they made this move.
From their site: Apple will broadcast its September 1 event online using Apple?s industry-leading HTTP Live Streaming, which is based on open standards. Viewing requires either a Mac running Safari on Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard, an iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad?. The live broadcast will begin at 10:00 a.m. PDT on September 1, 2010 at www.apple.com.
I’ll be sure to log in, how about you?
UPDATE: Here the link for the live stream: http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/1009qpeijrfn/event. Here are the system requirements: Safari 4 or 5 on Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Safari on iOS 3 or later. Sorry PC friends.
There are a lot of changes happening in our student ministries right now. In the midst of the crazy summer so many other components are moving in different directions. Many of the changes are great, and needed. And it will be exciting to see how God will unfold all that we have been praying for. But there are a few changes that I (as the wife) do not like so much and don’t understand. It is these changes that I don’t know what to say, and not say, and just what to do. My pride wants to shout at my husband, “Hey, did ya think it all through? Are ya real, REAL sure about that one?!” And my favorite, “Listen to me, listen to me, just listen to me!” BUT…..I know I shouldn’t.
I don’t know if I’m alone on this one, or what?? Anyone else fear change as much as me? I totally trust my husband and his call to this ministry. I do believe he is brilliant and gifted and a wonderful leader. Buuutttttt, what do you do when you don’t agree with it all?? Nothing? Pray? Vent, and visit this site?
I did take a big step (for me) this weekend. Our Pastor asked us to choose one area in which we would come to God daily for the summer and ask his guidance. I was certain that I was going to ask for wisdom concerning all these changes happening for us [...]
Yesterday I was on an hour long live radio show with Faith Radio in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We talked about the book I wrote with Reggie and Abbie called, The Slow Fade. They asked me a bunch of questions, people called in and sent emails to ask questions. If you’re interested in listening to that interview via podcast, click here.
We are excited to finally roll out the new SYMC website for 2011. The new site has the speaker line-up (although there’s more to come there), the great Training options, and all the registration details you need to know. There’s so much there you’ll have to check it out what Doug and the rest of the gang have planned.
We are so excited, I hope you join us in Chicago, March 4 – 7 2011.
This past Sunday, my family headed into the heart of Seattle to attend an Ethiopian church as part of celebratingour daughter. We decided that it would be special to have her dedicated at the Ethiopian church. And it was super special and memorable.
As I sat through the 31/2 hour service I thought a lot of being a first timer to church. This church did an AMAZING job welcoming us in- despite that our family was the only whiteys in the crowd they didn’t make us feel like we stood out. They greeted us, sat with us and even translated for us. The ENTIRE service was in Amharic…and though I couldn’t understand a word of what was being said I could understand the heart of worship in the place and it was powerful. After the service, no one was in a hurry to get out the door…they wanted to be together. So, they lingered together over coffee and bread. Enjoying the benefits and beauty of community.
Here’s a few things I learned:
1. Visitors need to be welcomed in a geniune way. It’s not enough to greet them at the door…someone needs to sit with them and explain what’s happening next or how we do this “traditional” activity. I think being insidea church for the first time can feel very similar to being at a church were no one speaks english- overwhelming and confusing but if you sense that you belong- you can [...]
Ur YM has kicked off for the fall or is about to. How’s ur voluntold team looking?
Mark DeVries in his epic book, Sustainable Youth Ministry, says u should have 1 adult volunteer (engaged and relational I would add) for every 5 of ur youth. How’s that going for you?
Some of u are doing great. Skip the rest of this blog then and go back to chatting on FB.
For the rest of you: having trouble getting enough good volunteers?
Three reasons why: 1) Have you asked the right people?
2) Have you given them a specific job description with clear cut expectations, boundaries, plans and purpose?
3) Are you spending more time with ur teens than w ur volunteers?
Let any one of these three facts go awry and that’s a place to start figuring out why ur begging and pleading for help. Why ur pulling out hairs u can’t spare from ur head. Why uve even resorted to asking the SP if he would like to help “chaperon” the MS lock-in. Ur are one desperate YP if it comes to that!
Stephanie
PS-u can always tell when i’m posting from my phone. grammer, spelling and abbreviations don’t seem to matter to me.
- We had an incredible, but really long weekend. On Friday night we hosted our first “7th Grade Retreat” for 7th grade small groups. It was short, sweet and simple. The event started at 7:00 p.m. and went until noon on Saturday.
- After the retreat, we took 150 students to High School Musical 3.
- Then, we ran four youth services that included our annual wrap up to Choctober…THE MUDSLIDE (a massive slip n slide made up mostly of soap and water with a little bit of chocolate syrup added for effect). Historically, we’ve done this event down the center isle of our junior high room, but this year we moved it outside and we built a ramp that ran down our amphitheater stairs which turned out to be super fun. The video was taken after church when one of our adult leaders got a massive running start and caught some serious air pretty much missing the entire ramp!
- I spent much of my day yesterday doing some very basic maintenance on our dirt bikes. Basic maintenance for most people, that is, but for me it took several hours!
- Today actually feels a bit slow which is nice. We are kicking of a new series this weekend called “The Red Stuff” that will focus on the words of Jesus (red letters in the bible…). I’m in the process of trying to categorize Jesus’ teachings in some junior high friendly terms.
Okay, it’s not really a “fest”… just a few links you may find interesting.
SOME FUNNY/STRANGE NEWS
- Racoon Vs. Taser
- Oh, Deer
NEW JH RESOURCE TO HELP STUDENTS SPEND TIME WITH GOD
- 10-minute Moments
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Wildcats Weekend
A SUPER FUN HOTEL IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN ANY OF ITS LOCATIONS
- The Ace Hotel
Today in a meeting, we somehow went down a very fun rabbit trail. We started recalling all the traditions, sayings, activities, approaches to ministry etc. from the churches we grew up in and even from the youth ministries we’ve been a part of. Here are just a few….add your own to the list.
- Singing “In The Round”
- Extending the “Right Hand of Fellowship” to new church members.
- Overhead projectors.
- Being driven around in the back of the youth pastor’s pick up truck while Christmas caroling.
- Hearing the phrase “backsliding” as part of our vernacular.
- Goldfish swallowing contests.
- Showing students “physical affection” in the form of swirlees, wedgies, noogies, charlie horses, pink bellies etc.
Others????
- This past weekend we wrapped up our six-week series, The Face of Love. We rarely do such long series, but it was part of a church-wide emphasis. Two weeks ago, we started having a Friday morning “Talk Through” of our weekend program because it felt like we were showing up on Saturday without a good enough grasp on what we were doing. So far, the results have been tremendous and well worth the extra effort.
- I feel really tired. Since the opening of our building in June, our team has been running 110% all the time. But the end of October looks like it will bring a little bit of down time for all of us.
- Big game tonight! A Broncos win will put them in the driver’s seat of the AFC West.
- My wife and I have been meaning to for years, and today….at the deadline…we officially switched our voting registration to “Decline to State”, which puts us as independents. I feel like I’m betraying my party….and my parents!
- Speaking of parents: I feel like I was a crappy one this weekend. I wasn’t around much, I over-reacted to a situation with Cole, and when I was around, I choose to huddle up and watch too much football. Unlike me, and probably a sign of my fatigue.
- Heading out for a short date day with Rachel. Smiles all around.
Nobody has ever accused me of being a deep thinker, and I’m surprisingly okay with that. I’m a pragmatist through and through….with all the good and bad that comes with it.
After over 20 years of hands-on youth ministry combined with undergraduate and graduate education in the field mixed with extensive reading and writing on the topic combined with attending and teaching countless seminars and workshops dealing with youth ministry, I think I have come up with my own manifesto, of sorts (shout out to Marko…).
This is in no way meant to be a response to Marko’s book or to Chap Clark’s books or to Doug Fields’ books or to Kara Powell’s books or to Mark Yaconelli’s books or to my own books or to…..well you get the point…there are a LOT of youth ministry books with a lot of incredible, important, information about how we can be better at what we are called to do. I’m a proponent of being a life-long learner, and I think the more reading and training and sharpening we can get, the better we become. But with all that also comes a muddying of the waters. Some of the most basic principles in youth ministry can get lost. So sometimes a little simple, pragmatic thinking can be a good thing.
So, my pragmatic youth ministry manifesto is this: Build a team of caring, Christ-following adults who like teenagers, then do whatever seems to work best in your unique setting to assist those adults in building relationships with your students as they walk with them through their journey of faith.
That would be a pretty short book, I suppose.
Youth Ministry 3.0 Update: Apparently the book won’t be available on Amazon or through any other online or physical vendor until early next year. So until then the only place to get a copy is at one of the two remaining NYWC conventions. If you aren’t going, find somebody who is and ask them to buy you a copy.
The crew is working on a brand Simply Junior High catalog and could use your help. If you have pictures of your junior high ministry in action (serious pictures, goofy pictures of kids, pictures of adults interacting with students etc.), we want to put them in the catalog.
Please send pictures to Riley at rhall@simplyyouthministry.com
Thanks!
A few thoughts and highlights as I get ready to head home…
- Overall, the conference has been a great one. From my perspective it feels like there were lots and lots of new topics offered in seminars, the general sessions were solid and as always it was a weekend jam packed with coffees and meals with old and new friends.
- I think my only complaint (complaint feels like way too harsh a word…) is the length of the general sessions that were often THREE hours long. I find it really, really hard to stay put for that long. I typically found myself slipping in later and later each session. Last night I snuck in just in time to hear Tony Campolo. The general sessions have always been long, but for some reason they felt longer than usual this year.
- Tony Campolo: As always one of my favorite speakers because he says a bunch of stuff I don’t totally agree with, and forces me to re-think my theology, my world view and my methods of living out my faith in Christ.
- The exhibit hall was, as usual, a strange mix of publishers, camps, mission organizations, fund raising opportunities, universities etc. However, this year there seemed to be more than the usual amount of just plain weirdness.
* Hume Lake’s booth was an opportunity to ride a mechanical unicorn while people in Elves costumes cheered you on and blew soap bubbles all around you. Your prize was a fake mustache.
It was like an acid trip meets strawberry shortcake meets cotton candy meets that candy mountain cartoon on youtube.
* There was a guy dressed up in a vampire costume promoting some sort of “Bite” ministry.
* Another guy had a huge snake around his neck.
- I felt like the seminars I taught were average. My first one was a 2.5 hour introduction to middle school ministry. I tag-teamed with my friend April Diaz who is a super sharp young youth minister. It was well received but I’m realizing I’m not a great person to teach alongside because I’m long winded, go off on tangents, get out of order etc. and I’m sure it was frustrating for April at times. The second seminar was on the topic of ministering to the parents of middle shoolers. It [...]
My life-long buddy Chris and I rolled into town early this morning and have been going non-stop ever since, although at the moment I can’t seem to find him. A few highlights and observations from day one:
- At lunch we ordered what, without doubt, were the tartest, tangiest, most bitter glasses of Lime aide ever put to lips. Delicious.
- During the opening session Mark Oestriecher said what he always says: “relax, eat a good meal, make new friends, skip sessions…do what you want to do to make the weekend a great one for yourself”. I’ve heard that for years, but this year it really sounded good. I think I’m more tired than I realize and will probably sleep, read and relax at least as much as I do “conference stuff”.
- In that spirit, I snuck out with some buddies to see Body of Lies. Good flick.
- I’m posting from a little internet cafe smack dab in the middle of the meeting hall and worship is in full swing. Feels a little awkward to be online while 3,000 others are engaging in worship (although there are three other people online next to me) so I think it’s time to sign off.
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