I’ve been spending the bulk of today with some new friends from the Diocese of South Carolina. We are staying at a really cool retreat center outside of the Charleston, SC area called St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center.

I was invited down to share some of our training in hopes that we might be able to establish a partnership for years to come. I look forward to investing into the youth workers as I have found them to be particularly engaging and unbelievably open to new ideas and practices.

Dave Wright is the Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Diocese. He is from the Chicago area so we have that going for us. He formerly worked in the UK and over time there has been a few of his friends that have crossed the pond from London and the surrounding areas to contribute to the movement here. Some fascinating stuff. Over the past few years I have spoken to or trained a lot of youth worker networks. I confess, this one might just be the most closely knitted one I have bumped into yet. They seem to have the partnering/collaborative thing down. Of course I am in town only for a day and obviously don’t get much more than a snapshot. I have, however, been moved by their hospitality and generosity toward me and toward one another. Dave has built something very special here.

Today I spent the day training the youth workers out of our Enroute content and also some bits and pieces from some other stuff I have developed out of our Shaping a Missional Community and Shepherding in a Culture of Change modules.

It has been a great day. The weather has been great. The conversation in the training has been very enriching and the highlight of the day was sitting under some of Bishop Lawrence’s teaching and storytelling. I was also blessed as the group prayed over me requesting safety and deeper levels of holiness in my travels and training. They also prayed for my son Luke who is soon to get his hearing aids. It was very encouraging.

Bishop Lawrence has just begun here in South Carolina as the new Bishop. I am not sure all of what it means to be a Bishop as I am not tremendously familiar with the Episcopal Church. The Bishop is a fantastic storyteller and a very well read and insightful communicator. I am looking forward to sitting under him again tonight in our final session.

Yesterday I spent the day in Denver, CO facilitating our Enroute Training. There were about 25 youth workers there representing about 8 different churches spread across 3 states. Several of the youth workers drove all the way from Custer, SD to be with us.

I always enjoy facilitating our Enroute Training but yesterday’s experience was especially cool because I got to hang with Dan Luebcke who is the pastor of student ministries as Southern Gables. I met Dan a few years ago at some training we hosted in Chicago. Since then we have been developing our friendship and it was a pleasure to continue that through partnering to host our training.

Dan has been at Southern Gables for 12 years. He actually grew up in that church as a kid and now is privileged to lead the youth ministry. Dan serves on the Student Ministries Council for the Evangelical Free Church denomination and has really helped (along with the entire SMC) shape a beautiful training partnership between Youthfront/Sonlife and the Ev. Free. We are excited to see the partnership unfold.

If you are from Denver and you missed the training yesterday, no worries… Dan is hosting us again this Fall.  Dan and a team of youth workers from the Denver area will also be hosting our new weekend event for students called Reveal.

I also had the chance to reconnect with Rich Van Pelt who has been a great friend to me since I first met him a couple of years ago at the Youth Ministry Executive Council meetings in Washington DC that the National Network of Youth Ministry hosts. Rich has been a breathe of fresh air for me as a long-time youth ministry veteran and expert who is longing for fresh, innovative approaches to youth work. He isn’t stuck. I love that about him. I also love what he does with Compassion International. Rich has given many years of his life to connecting people with resources and children in need around the world. Who doesn’t love that?

I am headed back to KC today for our Youth Worker Appreciation Dinner. The YWAD is an informal time for Youthfront to say thanks to the KC Metro youth workers for all they do to help shape the lives of teens. I am excited to experience this gathering for the first time.

I have been a baseball fan my entire life. My dad was a minor league pitcher (lefty) and I played Little League, Babe Ruth, High School and even college baseball. I loved every second of it. I can’t get enough baseball.

Of course living in Chicago I have the privilege of seeing two good teams (Cubs and White Sox) every night of the week on TV. Yesterday, however, I enjoyed the KC Royals home opener in front of a big screen at a local pup here in Kansas City watching the game with some friends I work with at Youthfront. I don’t care who is playing… I’ll watch it.

I was a Mets fan growing up. When you grow up in NY you pick the Yankees or the Mets. I chose the Mets and can vividly remember the 1986 World Series in which the Mets beat the Red Sox continuing the curse of the Bambino.

The Mets were great that year. They won 108 games during the regular season and won their division by 21.5 games. They beat the Astros 4 games to 2 in the NLCS and then went on to “trickle” past the Sox in 7 games in the World Series.

Of course, probably more note worthy than the Mets winning the series was the error by Red Sox first baseman named Bill Buckner. The error ultimately led to the Mets extending the series to seven games and then going on to beat the Sox.

At the time of the error I was thrilled that the ball had trickled past Buckner. Some years later, however, I hated that about the Series. As I got older I realized I would rather see my team loose (after all it is only a game for grown-ups) than see any human being endure what Bill Buckner had to endure.

For years Buckner has been shunned from the City of Boston (and not the Dwight Schrute shun on Andy kind off shun either) and has been the target of mean-spirited jokes, literally had people try to take his life and some report he even tried to take his own life –all because of an error that some say lost the series for the Sox. True baseball fans know however, that there was an error before the error. But as it is in life, you remember the last one not the one before the one that really matters…

Ahhhhh. But the beauty of baseball and the grace and reverence on which the very game stands prevailed on Tuesday at Fenway Park in Boston as Bill Bucker, the very one that made the error, was redeemed by the city of Boston. For 20 years people have shown hatred, disgust and absolute distain for the man. However, 2 championships later, yesterday Boston redeemed Bill Buckner and welcomed him back. Here is the clip…

I am sure that most of you are already familiar with www.youthnoise.com, a website designed as a “…social networking site for people under the age of 27 who like to connect based on deeper interests than Paris Hilton’s wardrobe and want to get engaged within a cause.”

If you aren’t familiar with it or haven’t been by there in a while, check out how adolescents are engaging in various causes around the world. You can check out the causes here: http://www.youthnoise.com/MyCauseIs/ It is very cool stuff…

Thursday night I was in Kansas City speaking at a church for my new friend Casey Kapple. Casey is the youth minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Overland Park, KS. Before his current position at Emmanuel, Casey was on staff at Youthfront for almost 4 years. It was great to get some input and feedback on some of Youthfront’s initiatives from someone who knows the organization well and is also a local youth worker.

I spoke to some of the parents of the teens in Casey’s ministry. I was encouraged by the parents’ strong commitment to helping their teens develop an authentic faith. I did some of the training from our Shepherding in a Culture of Change learning module. It was great fun and I was blessed to be a small part of Casey’s ministry, if even only for a night of training.

From Kansas City I flew to Ocean City, Md. What a beautiful place! I have never been to Ocean City but have had many friends who vacation there in the summer. The view (as seen below - not my pic) from my room was stunning - especially in the morning as the sun came up. Very cool…

I was speaking at a YFC event called Impact. There were about 4000ppl there from all over the east coast. I facilitated the youth worker training and had a few consulting appointments as well.

It was great to see Dave Rahn, as it always is. Dave was leading a seminar for students who want to explore God as well as reperesenting the national YFC office.

It was a pleasure to finally get the chance to meet Ruth Barton who I have wanted to meet for a long time. Ruth is the author of a couple of books (one called Sacred Rhythms in which my wife and her close friend Michelle are using these days as a “guide” of sorts for conversation, etc.). Ruth used to be at Willow a few years ago but now she is a spiritual director and retreat leader through the ministry she founded based in the Chicago area called, The Transforming Center.

I am thrilled to spend some time tonight with my good friend Dave Michener. Dave was the first one to hire me for a youth ministry job and continues to be a great friend and mentor to me and my family (Dave performed the wedding ceremony for Gina and me!).

Dave is the executive pastor at Bridgeway Community Church, a multi-cultural church outside of Baltimore in Columbia, MD. I always love talking with Dave about stuff going on at Bridgeway. Bridgeway is an innovative church that is in many ways leading the way forward for churches desiring to be intentionally multi-cultural.

Leave Baltimore early tomorrow morning and head home — can’t wait to see my family!

We have (Youthfront/Sonlife) been doing some work with Barefoot Publishing. Barefoot is what I (a non-expert in the pub world!) would call an emerging publisher. They have been around for a while but I think some of their most recent products have really helped them emerge from being viewed as an average publisher to a innovative, expanding publisher.

I really love their new series of products for students called, Undercurrent. HERE is a link. Most recently I read, “Living Justice” by Jamie Gates and Jon Middendorf. This is a great book to give to your students on the topic of justice. Along with the product they have a free download — a discussion guide for small groups, etc. — on their website.

The book is only about 80 pages and it covers a lot of ground in a very engaging way. I love how the book begins. Within the first two pages there is a lasting tension created using two, very to the point and relevant examples of divergent perspectives on God, justice, and our role in God’s mission. Very thought provoking…

I have become good friends with Jeff Edmondson, the publisher. We are working together on a couple projects — one in particular I am really excited about. We are launching a new weekend missional living training experience for students in 12 locations across North America in the Fall called, Reveal: Joining in the Activity of God. Good stuff. More on that later. Anyway, in the meantime, you might want to check out Barefoot’s line of products for your students.

Walter Rauschenbusch was a theologian and baptist minister. His theology, specifically around the subjects of biblical literalism and atonement, have always concerned some folks and have been held in question by many. Whose theology isn’t in in question by someone somewhere?

Never-the-less, Rauschenbusch is most remembered for his outspokenness against a word-based sharing of the gospel. Instead, Rauschenbusch and many of his friends (known as the Brotherhood of the Kingdom) preached a gospel filled with words but built upon Christlike actions of compassion and justice.

In his book entitled, Christianity and the Social Crises (1907), Rauschenbusch says,

“…no man shares his life with God whose religion does not flow out, naturally and without effort, into all relations of his life and reconstructs everything that it touches. Whoever uncouples the religious and the social life has not understood Jesus. Whoever sets any bounds for the reconstructive power of the religious life over the social relations and institutions of men, to that extent denies the faith of the Master.”

In doing some reading/research for my current book project I came across one of Rauschenbusch’s prayers. I thought I would share it with you all as I found it very inspirational and compelling.

“O God, we thank you for this universe, our home; and for its vastness and richness, the exuberance of life which fills it and of which we are part. We praise you for the vault of heaven and for the winds, pregnant with blessings, for the clouds which navigate and for the constellations, there so high. We praise you for the oceans and for the fresh streams, for the endless mountains, the trees, the grass under our feet. We praise you for our senses, to be able to see the moving splendour, to hear the songs of lovers, to smell the beautiful fragrance of the spring flowers.

Give us, we pray you, a heart that is open to all this joy and all this beauty, and free our souls of the blindness that comes from preoccupation with the things of life, and of the shadows of passions, to the point that we no longer see nor hear, not even when the bush at the roadside is afire with the glory of God. Give us a broader sense of communion with all living things, our sisters, to whom you gave this world as a home along with us.

We remember with shame that in the past we took advantage of our greater power and used it with unlimited cruelty, so much so that the voice of the earth, which should have arisen to you as a song was turned into a moan of suffering.

May we learn that living things do not live just for us, that they live for themselves and for you, and that they love the sweetness of life as much as we do, and serve you, in their place, better than we do in ours. When our end arrives and we can no longer make use of this world, and when we have to give way to others, may we leave nothing destroyed by our ambition or deformed by our ignorance, but may we pass along our common heritage more beautiful and more sweet, without having removed from it any of its fertility and joy, and so may our bodies return in peace to the womb of the great mother who nourished us and our spirits enjoy perfect life in you.”

Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918)

I have always wanted to learn another language. I have played around with French and Spanish, never sticking to either one of them, so I know enough to sound stupid. I also learned a few cuss words in German from my old man too. Now (starting tomorrow night), however, I am beginning to learn sign language.

My wife and I just learned that my son Luke (he is soon to turn 3) is hearing impaired. Luke is most likely 100% deaf in his right ear and the doctors think he has about 30% capacity in his left ear. A few months ago we began noticing that he wasn’t hearing us real well and his speach development was a lot further behind than his bigger brother and sister at this stage in their lives. We decided to take him in a few weeks ago for testing and sure enough, we heard from the doctor what we thought we might. We have since learned that there is a possibility that his hearing is progressively getting worse, therefore, we decided it would be important to learn sign language.

My wife Gina has been signing for years. She learned it while ago in high school in order to serve in the deaf ministry in her home church. The class we are taking will be a refresher for her. For me, it is a brand new thing. I am a bit anxious about it to be completely honest.

Anyway, I would appreciate your prayers for my son and if you have a hearing impaired child (or first hand experience with a parent, sibling, friend, etc.) I would also appreciate any advice you might be kind enough to give.

Although saddened for Luke, we are grateful that he is healthy, well and such a wonderful kid! We are blessed…

On Saturday we hosted about 230 youth workers and students at Youthfront in cooperation with Youth Specialties for their CORE Training. It was great to connect with so many like-minded people!

Dave Ambrose was the presenter. Dave did a very good job. His flight was delayed a couple of hours so we began a couple hours later than the anticipated 9AM start time. It was all good… The youth workers in attendance, as you would expect, were very cool about the delay making the most of it by being flexible as only youth workers can by connecting with others in meaningful conversation and participating in a Lectio Divina experience that one of our staff (Jamie Roach) led from the gospel of Luke. It was very cool.

(Me, Dave Ambrose, Rivers Partin, Jamie Roach, Mike King)

I had heard from a few that the CORE: Generation Change content wasn’t that great this year. I disagree. I didn’t sit in on all of the training but the training I was in on was very good. I think the content was meaningful, helpful and very effective. If you haven’t already taken your volunteers or student leaders and you are in a part of the country where they haven’t yet been, you should consider taking them.

I was pleased to see how closely aligned (thematically) the Generation Change content is with what we are doing with Enroute, our one-day training experience. I love that so many of us are thinking similarly and that the thinking is working itself out into training that inspires and equips volunteers and students toward an aligned passion and cry for change.

Dan Webster is a friend, mentor and coach to me and countless others. There have been numerous occasions where I have found myself picking up the phone to get a word of advice from Dan. Dan’s words aren’t always what I want to hear, but they are always honest and what I have needed to hear.

Dan has been investing in leaders for more than 30 years. He founded a leadership development company called, Authentic Leadership in 1994 and since then has been passionately committed to train and inspire leaders to live authentic lives of great impact.

A few months ago I participated in an experience that Dan has aptly named, Pause. Pause is a a one day experience to gain clarity for your life and work. It was a fantastic experience on many levels. I experienced it with some friends — Mark Matlock, Tic Long, Nathan Vawser and Rick Lawrence. The venue was incredible too (see pic below). And — of course — the content was very helpful as well.

As you await the renewal of the earth for this spring, take a minute and ask yourself if you need to gain clarity on your life and work and renew your personal vision. It is always helpful for me to discover again and reflect upon just what it is I am to be, become and do.

You can get all the information you need at: http://pausenow.net/