Myth's We Teach

We tell them stories of David slaying his Giant, of Moses leading the children out of Egypt, of Samson, Gideon, Jericho, Mt Carmel, The feeding of the 5000, The resurrection, deliverance from jail, and the triumphal return of the King; the destruction of His enemies. Then having heightened their senses and hopes, after we’ve delivered such grandeur, we offer them a mere shadow of existence in this life, living as beggars, and slaves; the sounds of their own “spirituals” rising from fields of their slavery. Enslaved to forms of Godliness with no power.
It’s no wonder our students are leaving the body in droves. No wonder God, His body or mission gets little more than a cursory glance.
My God (Yes I’m invoking His help!)! As His messenger, remove the veil. Hand up to them the very “mission” of the King, filled with the passion of love, war, rescue and redemption. Give to them a life of noble purpose. Help them by intimate knowledge of He, His word, and themselves, define their calling. Don’t hide the difficulty, but don’t you dare obscure the joy of the journey, victory and prize!

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

Offer them Life now! They don’t have to wait for eternity!

They didn't know what they were doing; How about You?

I sat in the back of my canoe while the “leaders”, spent the better part of the day bumping into the shore of every side, of every lake we were on, as they looked for their destination. A destination by the way that was fuzzy at best in their recollection. After all with all their playing around that morning at camp, the instructors to get their attention gave them 15 minutes to look at the map, figuring out where they were and where they had to meet these instructors by mid-day. The scrambling was intense and the confusion of the day more so. Individuals who thought they were so in control and self-sufficient suddenly were face to face with their inability and a gnawing feeling they should have paid more attention to the map.

How well do you know your map? Working with students, are you giving them the absolute, concrete truth? As they’re navigating the waters of adolescent life, are you giving them clear direction from God? How do you know? You can’t give what you don’t have.

A recent event in my own local church was a painful reminder of the consequences when individuals don’t have a clear grasp on the word of God. Having a relationship with Christ that is superficial, not interacting deeply with Him, His voice a distant sound; all manner of delusions and problems ensue.

Having events that hold a student’s attention is so important, great music will open their soul. The question is, will you have the message of the Holy Spirit to fill it with? If you aren’t spending as much if not more time listening to His voice through His word you won’t! Go ahead stay abreast of the latest greatest but by all means live in the voice of His word. Know your Map!

Looking for Baby Doe's

We were to meet the rest of the family at “Baby Doe’s Matchless Mine Restaurant” for a graduation celebration. We drove around for more than an hour trying to reach the restaurant we could see from the highway, now late and no closer my Uncle stopped to ask for directions. In front of Mile High stadium was a Hispanic gentleman. After relaying our dilemma and asking for help the man scratched His head for a moment and then with a look of bewilderment said in a thick Spanish accent: “I doan theen you keen geet theer from ear!”

As I listened to a guest speaker challenge students with the cost of gaining real life, I thought of two things.

First: How often value is shown in terms of cost. Unfortunately what is often heard, is not the value but cost.

Second: If something of truly high value is acquired or offered to you at a substantially reduced rate, or at no cost to you (though it’s care and use requires much attention), this is value not cost!

You long for your Students and staff to chase God wholly. You can see the destination and outcome you desire clearly, but you’re constantly frustrated not being able to reach it.

When you share Christ, what are you offering? Only the cost? Have you read the book of Hebrews lately? It hammers home the fact that Christ is a value far above the Jewish system of faith and avenue to God. It says, he is "more excellent." Do you hear that, "more excellent", that's value! Scripture tells us, we love God because he first loved us; value! Matthew tells us the kingdom of God is like a man, finding a treasure in a field, and for it great value, he sells all to obtain the field; value! There is little to no motivation to pursue a course of action, if the only thing offered is cost. There has to be a value above the cost. The "value" will be something tangible, even though it looks altruistic and very personal, it will be of great worth to the individual. Make sure you identify it clearly. Be honest about the “cost” factors of acquisition and use but,

Drive home the value!

Cost over value = You can’t get there from here! You’ll never reach your destination (Goal of your students and staff chasing God) with this formula!

My Daughter Started JR. High

Once in a while I pull a post from my coaching blog I feel addresses an issue of import for any dealing with youth and their lives here's one that has hit close to home.

My daughter started Jr. High and I’m fired up. Every Dad worth his salt, parents his daughters different than His sons. Our sons are our warriors; scraps, bruises, stitches, etc… are all part of the package and we want them to excel! Our daughters awaken in us that desire to champion, protect, and love. We want them to excel but our hearts view it in a whole different manner. If you have daughters you know what I mean. All this has been simmering in my “pot” for a while and I do believe I feel a boil coming on!

I, some time ago, turned over the reins of our local Youth ministry to a capable young couple I thoroughly love and know they love God; I am grossly aware of generational and cultural differences when it comes to vision and execution for students today. Some of it certainly has to do with style, but some it is far more intertwined with our world’s moral decay; what we have tolerated, become desensitized to and what we have bought into. Two areas stand out right now, though I know there are more. The first area that should be no surprise: sexuality!

This horse has been rode, beat, killed and resurrected until it looks like the old nag in the stable no one wants to saddle. As a father I’m ‘gonna’ not only put a saddle on it, but give it it’s head and watch it as it unleashes a fury of speed, fire and power likened only to Sam Elliot’s steed in “Ghost Rider” making its last ride. This is a ride with one mission; my daughter’s heart and purity!



“Walking into the classroom, I turned to notice back in the corner, one of the ladies; a freshmen on the lap of a young man she was “in a relationship with”, seeing me, she quickly, with red face got up.” Now a year later, the “marriage” is struggling and my daughter gives the impression of being bombarded with “instructional teaching on the drama of teen love.”

I have noticed for some time an unwitting pension for those dealing with youth to not only accept our cultures view of the awakening of sexuality, but assist it! I’m not saying the encourage gross immorality, but in conversation, teaching and activities there runs a theme akin to the “coarse joking”, innuendo and lack of decorum the world displays in this area. All of this fuels the process of sexualizing our kids including My Daughter! Every TV show, every song, movie and media ad aimed at our kids, specifically our daughters displays kids, 8,9, 10, etc… as sexually active and knowing. Let me back track a moment. When I use the term “sexuality” I am not limiting it to the act of intercourse. I am speaking of the entire gamut from the first thought and look that says; “hey, interesting”, the first touch, holding hands, hugging, caressing, a kiss, making out, etc… , all the way to the act intended as the ultimate doorway for intimacy, giving yourself to another fully! It’s all part of the package and the world in it’s search for answers and fulfillment, not knowing, hearing or accepting the voice of the creator, has constructed it’s own view. There are no longer protective standards for contact and relationships. Students are driven to be physical with each other; hug, wrestle with each other while horsing around, sit on one another’s laps, lay and lounge with each other, to enter relationships, couple up, be in love; date etc… all as a part of growing up normally. As individuals charged with assisting parents in rearing “fully devoted followers of Christ”, (can someone please come up with a new mantra?) even if the parents aren’t crying foul, we should! Where in all of scripture do you find support for accepting such a view of student sexuality and “dating”? Where do you find any notion from a Christian worldview that it’s good, healthy, innocent, or remotely wise for students from 12 to 14 to couple up as defined by today’s standards? Society with great care used to hold special events under the watchful glare of leaders sharing a strong biblical moral base simply to introduce students to the opposite sex, not to mention all the modeling of appropriate behavior; the judgment and ostracizing of any who would ignore the boundaries. Today there are still events, some in the church, yet as I have said the underlying assumption is kids will fool around, be curious, explore there sexuality, cross moral lines and “fall in love”.

I will be candid. I believe the problem is not with simply the culture but our own lives. Like so many areas of truth, if we really became radical about following the heart of Christ it would convict our own lives and behaviors. Is it possible that those in Youth ministry, many of them still kids themselves, savor with a nostalgic view their own experiences sexually, their own discovery and interaction with the opposite sex. That memory of a time in the bleachers at the game, or in the car when things became heated; God for the moment was only a Sunday school lesson left in the basement of the church and the overpowering effect of our raging hormones, glazing our eyes, rapid, shallowed, shortened breaths as we inhaled the essence of a lovers lips, is a thing to treasure, instead of being rejected as a moral failure, of moving us farther away from personally finding the true fulfillment we were longing for.

I know I said I would address two things and if sexuality was the horse in “Ghost Rider”, than the premature push of “dating” relationships is the saddle. They are so closely related they go hand in hand. Sons and daughters encouraged by leadership or lack of, are fed a steady diet filled with the false assumption; “you need to be a couple and if not, there is something wrong with you. After all this is the norm!” Really?!

Youth Pastors, Directors, Student Pastors, and the parents who should hold them accountable; would you take a moment and become again students of the Master. Look into the heart and word of our Father; discover His desire for our sons and daughters. Can you honestly say as you look at what is going on around the lives of our students; we are giving them God’s best when it comes to this part of their being? Their response to it; well that’s another matter. For your part; open the scriptures and shine it’s light on this area. Take time to express it not in the guttural terms of the day even if they are anatomically correct. My daughter doesn’t need to be cajoled into a world of premature “sexuality” and dating. Between “The Secret life of an American Teenager and “the Kids Choice Awards”, (so many to choose so little space.) the world would have her jump in all too quickly. In her movement from child to adult, which is inevitable, help me teach her what it means to chase God, having relationships with boys that are pure. Right now they truly are still “boys and girls”. Help our students to embrace and enjoy it, as you, with the aid of the Holy Spirit reveal God and His love to them.

Well my pot has boiled over and the contents spilled out. Unfortunately as my daughter continues this journey and the world ply’s it’s trade, even worse, someone under the guise of ministry reinforces this ungodly position, it will refill and spill out again. In fact the next thing on the menu found in my jungle already steeped in the iron pot? Missionary! Missionary dating that is! So throw some more wood on the fire, stoke the pot. Lets get this water rolling!

Let me provoke you to read anything on dating and relationships by J. Budziszewski. You can dig in a web sight titled “boundless.org” or google him he writes on the collegiate level but will give you a great understanding of culture; where sex, relationships and dating are and where they need to be.

Happy Fourth of July!

How did we inherit such a great nation?

Oh yeah, great ordinary people who beleived; diversity was choosing, a different than normal path home or which side of the bed you jumped out of; you didn't have many choices, life was hard and it was okay. Tolerance, was putting up with relatives who stayed to long; it was a effort to visit or be visited and special, beside, everybody knew what was appropriate, moral and noble even when they failed at it. Mostly, in-spite of the re-constructionists, all held at least a mental adherence to and acceptance of Christianity as the standard; a belief in a natural law with God as the author.

We've come a long way baby!

As I celebrate this Independence Day I will cherish not just what is, with all it's great benefits, but the lives of all who made it possible through out history; moved by a sense of mission and purpose destined and delivered by their creator! What about you? What will you share with your students about this great event in our history? Do you believe God still has a great mission that demands personal sacrifice; one that's nobel, right and electrifies your soul?

If you're looking for some entertainment that will; challenge and focus your heart on what's important, Check out Curt's web page .... schedule him for an event he won't disappoint!

The Lazy Days of Summer

Does your ministry slow down in the summer? Depending on where you live it may. If you're like one youth pastor who lives in farming country, his students stay fairly busy through the summer until after harvest. In metropolitan areas or suburbia students are much easier to engage during this time. Where ever you're on point (yes I believe you are; large, in charge and on the front lines of students lives!), I will bet your Students have "down" time they don't typically have during the school year. Are you capitalizing on it?

One of the frustrations that comes with this season; administratively it becomes more difficult and time consuming. Scheduled ministry; times like Sunday services or youth group are simple to oversee and justify. Plan, schedule and office prep; they being trained show up and it happens; simple! I see many YP's who aside from a major missions push do little else. What an opportunity to dig into your students life with some "incarnational discipleship." A day long bike ride, a weekly lunch at a park and some frisbee golf, scheduled hang time, there are so many chances to impact a life now that school doesn't command their schedule! A job you say? Great! Now they have more discretionary income. They can pay for the time with you at the local ice cream shop! It's hard you say; you have no curriculum for such meetings.

Suddenly I find myself in farm country; I smell a lot of cow pies! Good grief you're a Shepard! Your call, not your job, unless your a hireling is to spend time with your sheep, know them and have something of value to impart.

As a Shepard you need to be so adept at your knowledge, skill; so much so you don't need a curriculum. You need to become the manual, a master at real life application of absolute unchanging truth and the life of the "Son". Even if you've accepted this responsibility as a stepping stone to a "real ministry"; tending the lambs until you can move on to the adults (God Forbid: in fact please quit now!)you need this same ability in a pulpit ministry. Your call isn't about maintaining a shop where people show up to be wowed by your goods and services! Your call is to lead daily with the whole truth of God as the parameter in the life of your people. Summer is a time to ramp up the heart of ministry. Don't treat it like a teachers schedule and figure it as "summer vacation" use it! If you need some ideas contact me I'd love to help!

You Owe It to Them

Great, you can draw a crowd. Your events are legendary, your technology keeps them glued, soaking in all they see and hear. Each time you announce a new one, you know there will be a throng of attendees; familiar faces you can count on. You’re a master at presenting a challenge to grip the heart only the most hardened soul will ignore. So powerful the crafting of the call, some respond who have done so several times before. Your group continues to grow in size and reputation. You assure yourself your numbers for service projects are a good percentage, given the nature of student’s schedules. With hundreds attending the events, the ten or so who show up for discipleship and prayer represent a “solid core”. You’re sought after to speak to others about your ministry and how they might craft such a successful effort for their churches. Lead Pastors talk of your accolades in hushed reverence, secretly scheming how they might entice you to their church; at the very least coveting the idea.

It’s one o’clock in the morning. The emergency room is busy but you hardly notice; the relentless gaze of her parents will not let you. They have voiced the question. You have not answered. It hangs in the air. You would like to assure with conviction; you can’t. “We don’t understand. Why would she do this? She was so involved in your ministry. She brought all her friends. Her relationship with God was real wasn’t it? There it is yes she was at all your events, sang your praises loudly, a real fan, but God? Your mind races for something but you simply cannot manufacture this answer. The destination of her soul was in God’s hands. As faithful as she was to your youth ministry, she’d shown little difference in her life from her friends and they had absolutely no relationship with God at any level.

In the quest for impact, is there transformation taking place or are you merely a master programmer? Is your ministry as deep as ii is broad? Here are some questions that might help you answer honestly:

How much time do your students spend in personal devotion to God; reading His word, praying?

Do they talk as easily about His work in their lives as they do the latest school activity or movie?

Do they regularly confront sin in their lives frustrated by its presence?

Would they be as content to talk about Jesus or to Him even if it meant no media blitz to lead it?

Do they know God as much as they know about Him? (In this age this is a loaded question for many know little about Him!)

You owe it to your students to take them deeper. You can’t take them where you haven’t gone. Let us help.