Musical Prayers

I don't know about you, but some of my best insights come in the shower. I'm not exactly sure why that is, but I would opine that during this season of my life, the shower is about the only place in my home where I can escape from my ever-curious toddler. Something about changing diapers, watching PBS Kids, playing with toys, and reading stories to a baby doesn't leave much room for deep contemplation and introspection.

During my Monday morning shower I had another one of those 'aha' kind of moments. Every Monday night we host a student-led worship and prayer service at the youth center where I work and often I am in charge of leading the music for that event. In the midst of my warmth-induced shower coma, I suddenly had a an idea about how I might lead the students in worship and prayer that evening - I would use the themes from our songs to lead us into intentional times of prayer.

I began by choosing six songs that all had a certain theme that I wanted us to pray about. Then, during our actual time of worship that evening, we would sing a song and then follow that by breaking into small groups to pray over the theme that the song had just addressed. For example, I began by playing the song "Your Grace is Enough" and then we broke into groups to thank God for God's incredible grace and forgiveness in our lives. We went on to sing five more songs, focusing on the themes of love, God's strength and greatness, God's intimate and personal nature, following Jesus through discipleship, and serving the world through justice.

I didn't know how this idea would work and whether the students would enjoy the process, but it worked great and they LOVED it. And I did too. It was a lot of fun and was a really meaningful way of worshiping and praying. I look forward to making this idea a consistent part of these student gatherings, and may even try it with our church in a Sunday worship service. The picture below is my rough outline of the songs I chose and the themes we explored in prayer. I think I'll call this form of worship and prayer "Musical Prayers" (see what I did there?!?).

I'm Not So Young Anymore

For those who know me, you know that I'm back in youth ministry for the second time. Only this time I'm about a decade older than I was when I began my last stint. Last time around, I was young enough that I could really relate to my students and in many ways was more like a peer to my older youth. But this time around, I feel like this:

For the most part I am really enjoying being further separated in age from the students I am working with. But at times I still feel a little awkward when interacting with them, failing to completely understand contemporary teen culture.

HT: Everyday I'm Pastoring

Kids Don't Deserve This

I regrettably report that during my time in youth ministry, I sometimes felt like this was the cry of the students I was working with. Unfortunately they often get forced to the margins in our churches and treated as nuisances. I hope we can see our youth as more than trouble makers who need to behave.

HT: The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus

I Shouldn't Have Said It

They always say in church talk that you shouldn't say something that you won't do because God has a funny way of bringing those things back around. I guess I shouldn't have said that "I'll probably never do youth ministry again."

Mandy and I recently chose the church that we are going to make our home during our time here in Seattle. The church is called Quest, has a sweet vision for social justice in the city, and we really feel we can get on board with what they are doing for the Kingdom. We were researching the church more on their website last night when we noticed that they are hiring a youth director to serve 10-20 hours per week. And thus...another kink in the decision-making process about where I should work.

This really would be a perfect scenario for balancing my school schedule with my work schedule, but we just aren't sure if we want to jump right back into church work yet. I submitted my resume but I'll have to see if I accept the job if it is offered to me. I also have another interview with Stone Gardens Rock Climbing Gym tomorrow morning, so that still may be an option for employment. I'll let you know what happens.

The Busyness Abounds

I'M AN IDIOT!

When Mandy and I decided to move to Seattle, I had this grand vision in my mind of one last month of ministry here in Sioux Falls where I would lead a mission trip, direct a camp, and then ride out of town guns blazing. Let's just say I shot myself in the foot.

While these are enjoyable activities in and of themselves, when you have already rented an apartment half-way across the country, can't wait to move there, and are desperately trying to cram your whole life into a 17' Budget Truck, you tend not to care so much about these once- important activities.

I'm really looking forward to the mission trip I am leading this coming week to New Orleans. I have yet to see the devastation of Rita and Katrina, and am anxious to be part of the rebuilding process. I'm not so stoked about the camp I have to lead for 5th and 6th graders a week after returning from New Orleans. Pray for me.

I probably won't be posting much here for the next 10 days. If you are interested in seeing what our team is up to in New Orleans and reading reflections from teenagers and adults alike, I have set up another blog that you can frequent from May 31 to June 8. We will be posting each night about the things we are doing and learning. Here is the link:

http://asburymissiontrips.blogspot.com/

Another "Last"

As the days tick down until Mandy and I pack our bags for Seattle, I will try to blog with caution and avoid being the guy who only writes and talks about another "last time" doing something here in Sioux Falls before moving. "This is the last time I will use this restroom. This is the last time I will say the word 'bucket.' This is the last time I will hop on one foot." You get the point.

With that said, though, I experienced a pretty big "last" last night. It was our Good Friday Service that is annually led by our high school youth group. This has always been one of my favorite services of the year. Our middle school youth group leads the Sunrise Service, and I would rather stab myself in the eye with a soldering gun than try to motivate a group of Tweens at 6:30am. The Good Friday service is different, though. It is so special to see the spiritual maturation that has happened in the lives of the students. They do such a great job of leading our congregation in worship and it is great to see the older generations finally recognize our youth as vital pieces of this "body of Christ" puzzle.

The students did great last night and I am so proud of them. I am positive that on Good Friday next year, sitting in worship somewhere across the country, I will be thinking about these students and missing them badly. May God continue to work in their lives long past my time here at Asbury.

A 'Fast' Weekend

This weekend I had the great privilege of spending about 24 hours with a fantastic group of high school students as we participated in World Vision's "30-Hour Famine". I was so proud of my students as they sacrificed their weekend in order to experience hunger and raise money and food in an attempt to end it worldwide.

The students and I went without food from Friday at noon until Saturday at 6pm. We spent the 30 hours watching a movie, playing laser tag, studying Scripture on hunger and poverty, and collecting money and food to help end hunger locally and worldwide. As I near the end of my time here at Asbury, I am so grateful for the experiences I have had with the students and parents and will never forget the impact they have made on me. Here's to 3 more months of making memories together.

Another Ski Trip...All Tired Out

One of the perks of being a youth pastor are all the trips you get to take with the students in the youth group. This weekend I was FORCED to take 13 of my students on a ski trip to the Black Hills. We had a blast! It was so great to see them try things they had never done before and the proud look they had when they succeeded. These times away from the everyday routine are such a great time to think deeply about life and I always cherish the trips with my students.

My body, however, did not enjoy the trip quite as much. I still feel young, as I am only 25, but my body just doesn't recuperate the way it used to. Here I am on Tuesday afternoon and I am still feeling the effects of this weekend's activities 3 days later. I had come home from the Black Hills on Wednesday night late and returned on Friday afternoon. After skiing all day Saturday I had to drive 6 hours home through bad road conditions and I am still feeling tired today. I'm too young to be feeling this old! Pray for my body!

A Great Final Winter Camp

Over my last four years of youth ministry while I have been working at my current church, one of the annual highlights of our ministry has been an event on the first weekend in January called Winter Camp. This event started as a little weekend getaway for just our church the year before I came, and has quickly turned into a district retreat with nearly 100 kids in attendance. And it is a blast!

We spend a ton of time having fun, but even more time focused on growing in our faith. This year's theme was "Finding Sacred in the Secular", where we used a number of different secular media outlets to teach truth about God. The sessions included a talk about God's redemption as seen in an episode of the Simpsons, a talk about who we are in Christ as seen through the U2 song 'The First Time, a talk about being the image of God through the use of Ben Harper, Kid Rock, and Sheryl Crow songs, and a showing of Hotel Rwanda.

I think the students walked away with a lot to ponder and hopefully God will continue to speak to all of their heart in the coming weeks and months. I am so fortunate to get paid to talk about Jesus Christ to people. What a blessing it is. I can't wait to see what God can do at my church in the next 6 months before I leave.

A Great X-Mas Party

Last night I celebrated Christmas with the students in our youth ministry and it was a great time. We had nearly 40 kids and we chilled at a restaurant and arcade for a couple hours while eating pizza, playing games, and shooting each other in laser tag (in which I totally dominated).

I am aware that in each youth ministry event in the next 6 months, including last night's party, I will experience the full gamut of emotion, from joy and thankfulness to pain and sorrow. Pray for me and my students during this time of transition that we would be able to say goodbye in a healthy way.