Finally…I am back!
It's been months since my last post. In my last post I said I was going to try and find more time to begin blogging again. That didn't happen. Actually, I carved out time to post, I just couldn't get into my blog. However, with the help of my friends over at Infusion not only am I in, I have a new look. Thanks, Matt and company!
I am still planning to post some ideas related to my current book project (a free digital download called, God Is Loud and designed for MS & HS students) for all of us to interact with. By this weekend I hope to have the wiring for the book posted for us to look at together and for you to comment and make suggestions.
I am looking forward to interacting with you!
God is Loud
I've had a hard time finding opportunity to blog the last few months. When I have posted it has been a commercial for some of the new things we are launching at Barefoot - a la $5 Youth Ministry Training. I don't feel bad about plugging what we are doing at Barefoot in the least ... I just wish I had more mental energy and daily space to give to writing about day to day youth ministry topics and issues. I hope to try and free up some space in the coming days to write more here.
I am working on a new book for students called, God Is Loud. I'm intending for God Is Loud to be a book that inspires middle and high school students to participate in God's mission to restore the world to its intended wholeness. I am planning to offer the short book as a free download. I am also hoping to post some of the book here so that all of you can interact with me on the content and make it as helpful as possible. (I love how Marko did that with Youth Ministry 3.0.) Anyway, that is part of the reason why my posting has been sparse.
BTW - if you haven't picked up and read Eric Venable's new book, A Tale of Two Youth Workers, you need to do so. It is a great book (fable) that will undoubtably cause you to question what you've always known and done. I've read the book twice and it really has helped me think about the ways that I am calling students to lean into and live out the story of God.
Chasing Francis by Ian Cron
Around the office at Youthfront there are a few legendary stories of people who have either been on staff or have merely stopped in a time or two over the years for a meeting or an inspirational talk or to partner in an event, say a prayer, etc.
I think most of the stories I hear about from days of old, obviously long before I joined the staff, are more myth than legend. Probably not unlike most organizations who typically remember the past as more profound than it may have actually been.
One person in particular, Ian Cron is one of those stories. There is no doubt in my mind, he's a legend for sure. I heard stories about Ian since the day I arrived. Often in a conversation Ian's name will come up and someone will undoubtedly refer to his participation in one of our weekend retreats we hold at our South Camp called, Altar. Apparently Ian just ripped it up one day speaking about divergent paths of leadership, creativity and holiness. I was not there but that is what I have repeatedly heard.
For months I have wanted to read Ian's book called, Chasing Francis: A Pilgrims Tale. I finally stole one from my co-worker Dustin's bookshelf. It is a fiction book about a pastor (named Chase Falston) who is 'struggling' with his faith and his role as pastor in his church. One day, after speaking with a mother who had just lost her daughter, this pastor gets real with his congregation and is ultimately asked to take a mandatory leave of absence. The rest of the book is about Chase Falston on a pilgrimage of "chasing Francis of Assisi" to regain his faith.
I know I am late to the party on this one (published in 2006), but if you haven't read Chasing Francis, you might need to put it near the top of your stack. It is a masterful work that takes actual events of Francis' life, real places and a unbelievable compelling story that is weaved together to move your soul, at lease mine. Here are a few of the nuggets that have really helped me deeply reflect.
"...a pilgrimage is a way of praying with your feet. You go on a pilgrimage because there's something missing inside your soul, and the only way you can find it is to go to sacred places, places where God makes himself known to others. In sacred places, something gets done that you've been unable to do for yourself." (page 42)
"Sarcasm is confusing to the pure of heart." (page 63)
"Francis had no new theory to offer, but an old practice -- the practice of Jesus Christ." (page 47)
I strongly encourage you to find a copy of Chasing Francis: A Pilgrims Tale and take it in. Perhaps you'll find yourself somewhere in the story as I have done at several different points. Perhaps you'll find freedom, as I have found. You might even find that this book is more for you than "your friend who needs some encouragement these days."
Writers Summit and Holy Nice Day Batman!
Yesterday I spent the day at Barefoot Ministries participating in a writers summit with a wonderful group of people from all around the country. Some of the summit participants were old friends and current co-workers at Youthfront while a couple of the participants were people I met for the first time.
My friend Jeff Edmondson recently resigned as manager of Barefoot so the folks over there asked me if I would facilitate the day as I have been doing some consulting with them on various projects over the last couple of months.
It was an honor to facilitate the summit as there were some really smart, creative and progressive thinkers and doers in the room. It made for a really fun day full of ideation and conversation.
The gathered team of writers is developing a new kind of curriculum for small groups, Sunday school classes, etc. I think the content will prove to be very impacting. The team is committed to taking a proven method of applied learning (think: Kolb - Experiential Learning) and creating some fresh ways to help transform most of what happens in traditional Sunday school classes from teacher- centered to learner centered. I am really looking forward to seeing the end product and working with the team of writers.
Holy Nice Day Batman!
Today was an unbelievable day. The temp got over 70 degrees so I spent the day outside shooting hoops with my kids, playing soccer, going for a walk and a bike ride. I even brought out the ole grill and fired it up for some hot dogs. Crazy nice day today... Tomorrow it is supposed to dip back down a bit and then get nice again on Monday -- like up into the 60's. There might be some rain, but it sure beats the cold!
Prelude 2009
Last year Mike King and I hosted the first of what we hope becomes many micro-conferences called, Prelude. There was about 50 youth workers or so that gathered at our Youthfront Camp South to dialogue around Andrew Root's book entitled, Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry and Sarah Arthur's book entitled, The God-Hungry Imagination. It was a great time of co-learning and collaboration.
This year, because we are all Scot McKnight freaks here, we are discussing some of Scot's most recent works. We also have another host this year named Erik Leafblad. Erik is one of our newer staff members and has become a fast friend and valued co-worker. Mike and I are thrilled to have Erik hosting with us this year.
You can check out Prelude 2009 here: http://www.preludegathering.com/. We know that the economy is putting a damper on many of your training budgets this year so we've done our best to keep the cost low and give you a positive experience. I hope you will consider joining us!
Shaped By The Story, by Michael Novelli
I read Michael Novelli's book, Shaped by the Story: Helping Students Encounter God in a New Way a few months ago when it released. I'm finally getting around to posting about it. Don't let my tardiness be a reflection on his wonderful work. After all, there were nearly two months when my blog was dark.
Before you read my review you need to know that Michael and I worked together for nearly three years when Sonlife still had its operations near Chicago. So, needless to say, I am a bit partial to the way that Michael thinks and writes. I've really grown to miss Michael's talents and gifts as he now works for the organization he founded called Echo The Story, LLC and I now work at Youthfront some 500 miles apart.
Michael is a rare mix of creative genius and operational guru. I've met few people who can create wonderful ideas and at the same time find a way to get them implemented. He's a freak. Michael brought many great ideas to Sonlife and helped cultivate a great environment for creativity and learning. Much of what we did in reculturing Sonlife was done through Micheal's leadership and organization. Today, much of what I do through Youthfront is in some way influenced by Michael.
I read his book having known him as a person, watched him lead and having witnessed first hand the impact of what Michael refers to as "Storying". I confess my personal connection with Michael makes me approach the book through the lens of belief and optimism as opposed to a sense of immediate criticism -- as I often find myself approaching most books.
Let's start at the very beginning:
Title: Great title and true to the content of the book.
Cover: Sweet! In my opinion, one of the best covers YS/Zondervan has done in a while.
Part One: True to the nature of the book -- narrative. I especially like Michael's transparency. It's easy to see his passion for the spiritual formation of students drive his desire to create new ways of helping students encounter God.
Part Two (chapters 5-7): In my opinion, these three chapters are probably the most helpful for the reader. Michael does a great job helping the reader know the why's and how's of storying. His attention to topics such as statistics of literacy and media, the shift from oral to digital communication and a few pages on the helpfulness of storying as opposed to reading straight from the Bible give great insight into how storying can be helpful with our students.
Part Two (chapters 8-11): In these chapters Michael clearly explains the process of storying. First, he helps the readers with great reminders on the divergent learning styles of our students, the means of creating learner-centered environments and using experiential learning methods with our students. I especially like how Michael has adapted a proven method of applied learning (read: Kolb) and overlaid his process of storying onto it; giving the reader greater clarity to the implementation of the storying process. Second, Michael helps the reader understand the opportunities for spiritual formation in our students through the articulation of a process comprised of several stages that foster within students a sense of illumination and and active engagement in the imagination. Finally, in chapters 10 & 11, Michael gives practical helps on storying essentials and facilitating dialogue that will allow for vast and immediate impact.
Conclusion and Resources: Michael provides a plethora of resources that will assist you in your storying experience. These resources include a DVD that I hear (I didn't actually look at it) is a complimentary tool that will allow the reader to use the book as a training guide for their teams of youth workers. Michael calls it a "mini-workshop".
I think this book can be a very helpful tool for you as you help your students more deeply engage in God's narrative and mission. Shaped by the Story is a great tool to help you shift your teaching methods and practices without leaving the power and purpose of God's narrative behind.
Going Dark For December
I am turning in my manuscript to YS/Zondervan tomorrow. Therefore, I am going dark for the month of December to focus any and all of my writing (mostly editing at this point) to my forthcoming book, Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms: A Narrative Approach to Youth Ministry.
Depending on how I like not blogging during the month of December, I may be back in January. Peace. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The Cow Of No Color
I came across a book I think many of you might find helpful. It is called, The Cow Of No Color: Riddle Stories and Justice Tales from Around the World.
As far as I can tell, it is a fairly obscure book (Amazon rankings don't always mean a book is or isn't obscure -- #423,247 as of right now). It is a simple book really, but it isn't an easy book. In fact, the riddles and stories are quite thought provoking and very challenging. Each story in the book sent me through a mixed range of emotions and led me into deep thought.
(Artwork from HERE)
I think it might provide you and your students with similar experiences. Not to mention, I am quite sure it will get your students talking about issues of love, compassion, forgiveness, greed, peace, burden, ethics, equality, etc.
Here is an excerpt from the back cover of the book...
Two men are traveling through the desert. One of them carries a flask filled with water. The desert stretches out before them. Both men know that the closest oasis is a hunred miles away. They also know there is only enough water to keep one man alive until he can reach the watering hole. If the owner of the flask keeps the water for himself, he will reach the oasis with the spring water. If he gives the flask to his companion, he friend will live and he will die. If they share the water, both will die. (The Cow of No Color, by Jaffe and Zeitlin.)
Who should drink the water?
Story, Signs & Sacred Rhythms
For a couple of years now I have been developing the framework for a narrative/missional (missio dei) approach to youth ministry. We’ve been articulating this approach in our one-day training experience called, Enroute all over North America.
The framework (shown below) is not only the root of the training experience but it also provides the basis for much of the content in my forthcoming book called, Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms (YS/Zondervan).
Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms draws from the work of notables such as David Bosch, Arthur Glasser, Leslie Newbigin, Scot McKnight, Darell Guder, Craig Van Gelder, Chris Wright, Michael Frost and a bunch of others. While the book is steeped in narrative theology, I intend for it to be very practical knowing that generally speaking, theory without practice is void of substance, influence and ultimately impact on the lives of people.
I am geared up to teach some of the content and elements of Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms at YS's National Youth Workers Conventions this fall. Next week at this time I’ll be in Sacramento and then on to Pittsburgh, Nashville and Toronto (CYWC) later this fall/winter. Perhaps some of you will pop into my seminar and exchange ideas and thoughts with the others and me. The actual title of the seminar is "Exploring a Missional Approach to Nurturing Adolescents." You can read the description HERE.
BTW – If you are interested in digging into the framework above, you can contact Matt Wilks our director of youth worker initiatives at Youthfront and find out where there might be a training experience near you. We do about 50 or so of them a year so you are most likely to find one within driving distance. You can reach Matt at mwilks@youthfront.com or just go to http://www.youthfront.com/enroute to learn more.
“Lives To Offer” by Baker and Mercer
A few years ago I bumped into a series of books in a collection from The Pilgrim Press called, Youth Ministries Alternatives. Youth Ministry Alternatives provides "resources of theological integrity rooted in real congregations." It is a good line of books and I have found the books to be just as they suggest they provide.
I have been inspired and challenged by all of the books in the series that I have read. Two books in particular have really made me think more deeply about my role as a youth worker and as one who trains youth workers. One of the books is called, Practicing Discernment with Youth by David White and the second is a most recent read entitled, Lives To Offer: Accompanying Youth on Their Vocational Quests by Baker and Mercer. I have posted on White's book before so I'll just confine the excerpts in this post to the book, Lives To Offer.
The following excerpts are from the very beginning of the book. Honestly, the entire book is worth your time but for me, the most influential and thought shaping writing came in the first few chapters.
Excerpt # 1
"...we talk about vocation theologically, as the practice through which people offer their lives in response to God's call, amid a world in need. This means that vocation is more than a job, more than a career, more than a religious office." (Page 9)
I confess this made me think a lot about me. I pondered some significant questions about my job, my life and my faith when I read this. Far too often I have a job and that's not good.
Excerpt # 2
"Vocation refers to theological ways of making sense of everyday actions and experiences, framed in the light of a God who calls people to particular ways of being in the world. Soccer coaches, Sunday school teachers, foster families -- even soldiers and war protesters -- all may be sorting through their actions in a world in relation to God's call. This theological view of vocation speaks to both the private or inner discernment of individual gifts, and also to the deeply public quest, fostered within a community of others who also struggle to live lives of meaning in relation to God's call." (Page 9)
I love that Baker and Mercer highlighted the communal aspect of determining ones vocation. And in doing so, I also love that they didn't suggest that a community of people determines your vocation. Rather, a community of people fosters one determining their own vocation. In other words, determining ones vocation(s) is most certainly an individual quest but it is a failed one in isolation, outside of the community's shared experience.
Excerpt # 3
"We envision churches as communities of practice in which believers accompany one antoher in living out their baptismal callings -- callings that take them into pockets of brokenness and need in an at-risk hurting world. We invite readers of this book to imagine with us a church in which adults are companions of young people in their vocational journey's." (Page 11)
Ah. Here in lies the challenge. How do we do this? I can see it. I am moved by the image conjured up in my mind after reading this passage but how do we make the vision a reality? Do you and I really believe that we can re-shape youth ministry into a ministry in which our colleagues, team mates and volunteers really are companions of young people? Is anyone doing this? I don't mean are we or our adult volunteers helping to shape the spiritual formation of adolescents. I know that is happening. But are we really becoming companions -- people who accompany and travel with students on their quests? Are we providing that community that fosters the ability to determine vocation?
I'd love to hear some stories of where we see this happening. Or ... I'd love to hear some theory on how to make it happen.
I think you should read Lives to Offer. You'll be better for it and so will your adult volunteers who I am sure are consistently looking at those of you who lead the youth ministry for equipping and development. Of course, ultimately your students will be impacted as well and that is what it is all about.
