What a month!

This has been one of those testimony-laden months. Getting back in the saddle, and looking forward to writing.

The good news is that I am back!

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Arrested.

I read this touching account from the blog of John Maxwell, an influential author and speaker, who recently was arrested (yes... arrested).

Sorry... I found it refreshing: a public figure who, in my opinion, makes no excuses for an occurrence, and takes the responsibility for it. He scores high marks in the integrity sweepstakes in my book.

Thanks to fellow Alltopper Ron Edmonson for the post that revealed the story to me.

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People I dislike: Derek Turner

I dislike Derek Turner... for a few reasons:

- Derek is truly one of the most sincere people I know. You really want to see that your pastor is a bit insincere. As my pastor, Derek abjectly fails here.

- Derek has looked pain and horror in the eye and come out with a closer relationship with God. He continually makes me feel like I can deal with the petty things in my life with more joy. This makes me mad.

- Derek truly loves people. He reaches out regardless of how it makes him look. Again, he makes me shine the light on my own life. Not cool.

- Derek was a phenomenal soccer goalkeeper at ORU. Now I have nothing to boast about.

- Derek uses a BlackBerry, and references the Bible from it. See previous bullet.

- When asked about Diversity, Derek's answer is, "What Would Love Do?"

Whatever. I truly dislike this guy.

Derek Turner is Pastor at The Branch Family Church in Charlotte, NC.

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Nobodies

In christian social networking circles, name recognition means everything. The worlds of FaceBook and Twitter abound with ministry heavyweights. Getting involved is a sign of being connected.

Still, behind the scenes, underneath the celebrities, there is a network of quieter folks, no less inspiring and with compelling stories -- folks that blow you away with their sincerity and friendship.

These "nobodies" (a group which I humbly fall in to) are what make social networks what they are. I know that I can get with Danny with a quick tweet, or shoot the breeze with Pamela, or argue with Karen. I can TokBox with Amanda, Richard, Scott, Ms Michelle and the rest of the Rowdy 180 till the wee hours of the morning.

I know that Waalien is always available; JennFelt is just a call away; I can plan a lunch meeting with Jace, Justin and/or Antoine on the fly. I can talk poetry with Sarah, cyber-box with Paige and call on Ron for some back-up. Cool thing is that I can pray with any and all of these people at any given time.

I could go on and on. I could shut down Blogger if I took the time to detail how my social family affects me and my ministry. From 180 to CB to beyond, I am grateful for the friendship, and for being celebrities in my life.

As a tribute, I am starting a segment... starting with a couple people you may or may not have heard of, called "People I Dislike..."

Stay tuned...

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Street Cred

In ministry, you need street cred.

It's a simple concept, and everybody knows it's true. In youth ministry, the need is even more pronounced.

For instance, everybody knows that in youth ministry, you can "up" your rep with a few add-ons. You can also knock yourself down a few notches with misconceived ideas.

For example: a motorcycle gives you instant credibility. And specific motorcycles give different vibes. A senior pastor on a Harley is uber-cool; on the other hand, a youth pastor will want to get a two-wheeler that sacrifices comfort. Yep, you guessed right: the youth pastor who is serious about projecting street smarts will only ride a crotch rocket. Preferably in neon coloring.

Another instant-rep-giver that may be a bit more ubiquitous is the tattoo. Nothing proclaims "downness" like inked skin. And no, I am not talking about christian symbols like the cross, or ambiguous etches like thorns on the biceps. Dude, I am referring to confusing symbols that originate in the Far East. No youth pastor is complete without at least one. Trust me, youth ministry search committees will ask to see them. Going forward, I suggest going to interviews with tank tops and sleeveless mesh muscle shirts to portray seriousness.

No budding youth pastor is complete without body piercings. Abundance is key. In fact, the "maler" one is, the more exposed piercings are needed. Lips, eyes, elbows -- anywhere and everywhere. If you walk by a microscope and it it does not need to be recalibrated, you are simply not dedicated enough.

Yeah... it's true. Unconventional is in. It is trendy to be atypical. Shoe shines are not enough. Maturity can be a minus. Youth ministry is like gymnastics. 25 yrs of age makes you a senior citizen.

I am in trouble. I married wrong. The woman is perfect... but each time I brought up getting a bike, she ominously presented me with new life insurance policies. I finally gave up. I am not big on tattoos, and henna just doesn't give me the juice I need. The joke, however, is on y'all; I can get all the piercings I want.

Hmph.

Images courtesy of Wiki Commons.

Praise God

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BlackBerry-less

So, I have been cranky... the USB port on my 8320 was ruined, and thus, I couldn't charge or sync my phone.

I had a few options. I could get a refurb unit from Tmo for free, but that would mean getting a new PIN, and switching over the tons of apps to a device that wouldn't be new. I could upgrade to the 8900, but then, I'd have the same problem as above (plus, an expense I could not justify).

I even flirted with the idea of getting a new device and/or carrier, but in the end, I decided thatmy 8320 was too good to let go, and no current device was an upgrade by my standards.

So, I sent in the phone to BBRepairshop. Can't wait for the device to get back.

Stay tuned. I am.

Praise God

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Women and self-worth

Now that I have a daughter, I can authoritatively comment on women and self-esteem. I can authoritatively say I still know nothing: except to listen to my wife and do my darnedest to ensure she understands how she should be treated and how she should view herself.

This post is from dear friend Jen... I absolutely loved it.

Burn away!

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Soccer Keeper Uses iPod

As a soccer coach and former keeper, this bit of news from Reuters caught my eye... a keeper using an electronic device (in this case, an iPod) for on-the-field analysis that arguably helped him and his team win the coveted League Cup via penalty shoot-out.

Ben Foster, goal tender for powerhouse Manchester United, watched penalty kicks previously taken by opponent Tottenham Hotspur designated kickers. He watched the clips with United's goalkeeping coach as a tactical move prior to the shoot-out.

In youth soccer, I think one of the most under-utilized tools is game film. Having film, in my opinion, is priceless. Ever talked to a 12 yr-old about a mistake he/she made on the field ten minutes earlier? Chances are he/she won't remember. Have the same child watch herself on video... they practically troubleshoot themselves. Pointy ball coaches have been doing this forever; you wonder why we, as coaches of a game as fluid as soccer, do not routinely film games for future reference.

It is relatively easy to get parents to tape a game, too.

Hopefully, The FA and FIFA won't overeact and ban the use, though an argument could be made that allowing some electronic aids on the pitch opens the doors to abuse. Still, it goes to show that real football goalkeepers are the smartest folks around.
Praise God!

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That pesky concept known as faith...

Faith is:

* a very, very disconcerting topic. Lord, you're telling me to rest on You? Completely?

* the ultimate log/speck talking point... easy to troubleshoot in others, not so much in self

* is a very humbling concept.

* can be contagious. Sometimes, it takes one faithful person to effect change

* is extremely energy-efficient. A speck does wonders.

* does wonders for mental health.

* is phenomenal when paired with sister pesky concept "love."

Praise God!

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Injured good Samaritan ticketed for jaywalking

Seriously? Please give this guy a break... (and someone finally did).

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The Source

I had gone over to my parents house this weekend to look at a problem they were having with their wireless network. I had installed it a few weeks earlier, and Mom reported that all of a sudden, it had quit working.

I was able to isolate the initial problem fairly quickly, but for the life of me, I could not get it up and running. The cable modem was working fine, and after resetting, it was broadcasting "online" and the router seemed fine. I just could not continue the connection to the world wide web.

Stumped, I decided to take a break and start another project for my Mom: getting her Wii console fixed. My mom had shocked us all by purchasing the gaming system a few weeks back, but for the kids, it made Nana's home even more welcome.

While looking for the Wii serial number, I noticed that my parents were now on DirecTV. Impressive, I thought.

It wasn't till later that the answer to my initial problem jumped at me. I called my Mom.

"Mom... when did this problem start?"
"In December" she answered.
"Well, when did you cancel cable and go to DTV?" I queried.
There was a pause. "In December."

Voila! Problem solved! The folks had cut off cable. There was no internet source.

The teaching moments are analogies are plentiful for every facet of ministry, personal and church. Basically, it can boil down to asking, particularly in lean times: what is your Source? Is it constantly refreshed? Is there something blocking it?

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Prison Break.

In this story from Reuters, we hear about the sad case of a prisoner who requested that the police actually re-incarcerate him. Life in the real world was not pleasant. He needed a break from freedom.

It actually tugged at my heartstrings. I admit it.

I was thinking of the first of the Matrix movies, where a group of rogue humans fought to free other humans from a captive facade created my machines to keep them (humans) under control. A subplot was the idea that some people freed from bondage actually preferred to be returned to the empty existence. In the movie, one of the humans was so intent on returning, he betrayed and killed most of the crew.

How do we present ourselves (as ministers)? Do folks come in all green-eyed, and yearn to get away from our fellowship as soon as possible? Do we really work to maintain the relationships we have, versus letting the newbies fend for themselves?

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Want a mistress? Think again...

In this story that blurs the line between real and incredible, we get yet one more reason why having a mistress is generally not a good idea...

I blame this on Twitter Pal Ben Cotten, who made the tweet that brought it to my attention.

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Sweet tea, me-way and ministry.

I am a sweet tea addict.

Sweet tea defines my identity: in it, I am proud southerner. Nothing gets me out of a funk like some ice cold sweet tea. Now, I like to consider myself smarter than Esau, and I truly believe that lentil soup would never make me sell my birthright, but in my more lucid moments, I have to admit that a pitcher of liquid brown goodness would give me pause.

Now, along with this love of sweet tea comes an absolute disdain of iced unsweetened tea. Just typing that pushes me to the edge of insane anger. Would adding some sugar really be that hard? It gets worse when you go to a restaurant an ask for sweet tea, and they offer you the unsweetened, poisonous version. Then, they rub salt in the wound by offering to mix in sugar for you. Really? It should be criminal. People have been jailed for less.

It's just the way things should be. Sweet tea should be sweet, and it should be cold. When I say sweet, I mean it should hit the brain on the first mini-sip. When I say cold, it should threaten the esophagus with frostbite from beginning to end. Yeah... that's how it should be. As Mr Nezzer of Veggie Tales fame would say: bland, lukewarm, barely-any-sugar "sweet" tea is for sissies!

So, I think something is clear. I couldn't really explain the pros and cons of the latest stimulus bill, but when it comes to serious issues like the chilled consumption of Camellia sinensis, I am very, very passionate. The Boston Tea Party holds extra special significance with me, homie...

Hey, Don't judge me. We all have our individual passions...

It's funny, though, how my way becomes the "right" way. Almost imperceptibly, my way becomes THE way. And, despite my good intentions, that becomes dangerous when it supersedes what should be my true Guide.

When it comes to ministry, it can be a tricky balancing the need for open-mindedness with the requirement of unyielding ethics. On the flip side, we have seen when the "me-way" leads astray when it is paired with an unfettered desire to think outside the box... and that, my friends, is a discussion for another day.

Images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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True Life

Experiencing true life is the name of the game for '09 at The Branch...

Come join us as we talk about how to do just that...

9AM and 10.45 AM Sundays at Mallard Creek Center in Charlotte...


Praise God!!!

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Heat

On Sunday, our pastor shared a simple testimony that really struck home.

When the church moved to its present location (a rec center), the new spot did not have air conditioning. In NC, that is a congregation killer in the Summer.

To have a system installed would cost about $75K... not a small amount. The human way of thinking would have been to find a new place (or even shelve the idea completely).

As God would have it, someone stepped forward and paid for most of the install of the A/C.

Now, at first blush, this is the end of the story. The Branch Came, It Saw, It Conquered. God wins, and the needs of His people are met. The assurance of such is almost anticlimactic.

But then, Derek pointed something out that was so profound in its simplicity, it had me in deep meditation afterwards.

Now, when the funding was provided, BFC could have done what a lot of us (self humbly included) would have done by instinct: looked up, said thank you, and used the money to find better digs. In fact, the blessing almost demanded it. And why not? It was the logical thing to do.

However, it is a good thing to just sit pat and listen sometimes. Because BFC stayed at the rec center and allowed itself to be used as a tool, goodness was performed. Look at the big picture... now, everybody in the county will enjoy the fruits for years to come.

This is not a thread to declare how holy an individual or church is; it's an admission that even when we mean to do well, we have to understand that human vision is almost always shortsighted when compared to God's.

The truth of that should be sobering AND reassuring.
Praise God!!!

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Sunday blues.

So, we dropped our Sunday game today 1-0.

At some point in my life, I won't get as testy after losses. Not today, though. For now, I am gonna go try my hand at Chicken Diavolo and drown my sorrows in some root beer.

Sent via my BlackBerry.

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Things they didn't tell you about youth ministry

Through the years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the best kids and youth (and parents) on earth. I have had the privilege of being able to do so in pews and on the pitch.

Now, I see some of my wards having getting married, having kids, and even becoming ministers themselves. It makes the rough times even more worth it.

Along the way, I have picked up some lessons on the way. Some I have learned by making mistakes; others by seeing peers make missteps. Either way, you learn very quickly that youth ministry will change you. It will eat you up or enrich your life, and it really depends on your walk with You Know Who.

Here are some non-finite life lessons:

1) Leave the ego at the door. Get this song out of your head. You're not hot. You're not fly. Yeah, you think you are, but you don't have all the answers. Trust me: one way or another, you will be humbled.

2) While leading the horse to the pond, replenish yourself. Burnout is a real concept.

3) You know the older guy who is around the church all the time? You know... the one who hired you, does your reviews, and gives you feedback and helpful criticism? That is the s-e-n-i-o-r p-a-s-t-o-r. Believe it or not, he is not your enemy, or a stumbling block to your ministerial greatness. The wise youth pastor leans on his lead pastor for advice and vision. You CANNOT be successful if your head honcho does not buy in.

4) A true sign of genius is possessing the intelligence to network with tenured ministers. Make friends. Pick minds. You and your youth program will be better for it. The old Baptist deacon that comes from the church that does not have the budget for a youth pastor can be your biggest asset. Put your nose down. It helps you see better.

5) 40 hours? Funny. Part-time? Ludicrous. Really. Look, it would be nice if youth needed help from 9-5, but in the real world, it does not happen that way. You're gonna get those midnight calls, and you need to realize that the call is a true blessing. Think about it.

6a) Hold your youth to high standards. Make the rules, have the senior guy approve em, and enforce them... this leads us to...

6b) Compassion and grace must be a part of your ministry.

7) Be authentic, because, while you can fool the senior staff (and even parents) some of the time, the youth themselves will see through you very, very quickly.

8) The Brady Bunch, Ministry is not (now that I have confused both of us, what I am trying to say is that there is going to be conflict). Also, just because someone does not agree with your visionary ideas does not mean he/she is an atheist.

9) Treat your volunteers like gold. Fawn over them. Praise them. Background check them too. Train them. Why? At some point, you will realize that you can't do it alone.

10) Don't forget the most important question. Who are you doing this for? Hint: look up...
Praise God!!!

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Revolutionary Love

Here is a novel idea from LifeChurch.tv: what would happen if people not only believed that love can change the world, but actually armed the belief with action?

This is the premise behind an innovative, cheeky experiment from LC: Revolutionary Love. It's all about paying it forward without necessarily waiting for the love to passed on to us first.

*** thanks to Amanda for pointing out the truth: the love was freely given to us in the first place.

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Out of bounds...

Well, by now y'all know I am sucker for feel-good sports stories. You know, stories that show class and honor the game without sacrificing competition.

In this story from AP (courtesy of Rivals.com), we hear about how Illinois DeKalb High School chose to honor a grieving player during a game against rival Milwaukee Madison High School.

DeKalb High senior Johntel Franklin had lost his mother, and his team was playing without him. After the game started, in need of support from his team, he made the trip to join his team directly from the hospital.

There was one problem: Franklin was not on the pregame roster, and playing him would cost his team two technical free throws in a close game.

The opposing coach actually tried to decline the shots. The referees conferred, and (in what I believe to be the right decision), decided to stick to the rules. In a testament to how honor can exist within the rules, the coach decided on a way that would not contravene the rules, allow the young man to play and honor his mother.

He had his player (who volunteered) to miss the free throws. On purpose. Out of bounds.

In a time when stats rule our collective consciousness, when athletes use drugs to create the facade of excellence, when Ws are the only measure of worth, it is refreshing to see folks who still understand that respect looks most regal when it is given away freely. Compassion is never a sign of weakness when it is doled out in an honorable manner.

Hats off to the coaches, players and officials involved. I have never met Dave Rohlman, but is an honor to share the title of "coach" with him.

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