Leaving later today (Sunday), probably around 4pm or so. It's been good, relaxing, fun, challenging. Weird to think that this is my tenth convention.
Saturday was fun. Slept in a bit then went to the morning general session. Phyllis Tickle was the main speaker and I was excited to hear her speak again. I first got a chance to hear her at an Emergent Convention about four years ago. Great stuff. She did another good job this time. Really made the case for a big shift in the way we do church by looking at the various 500 year cycles of the church. Amazing to look through church history and see how there are these major shifts that redefine everything we do and how we do it. I think she probably made the best case for the legitimacy of the emergent church movement that I've heard (without really mentioning it). She did it with humility and with great information and development. Good stuff.
Went to Chris Folmsbee's Stories, Signs, and Sacred Rhythms seminar. Good, as expected. It's been fun to get to know Chris a bit more with him speaking at our district retreat last weekend. He's definitely taking his ministry in a good direction, at least in my opinion and hey, that's what a blog is all about.
Got to go back to Landmark Diner for dinner with Jeff, David, Shoup, and Jennifer. Service wasn't great but I'm pretty sure our waitress had about 15 tables so it gave us about 2 hours to eat which was nice. Good burger, good cheesecake, and good conversation.
Came back to the room afterwards to read for school. Now I'm just doing the blog thing. Three entries in three days. That's some kind of record for me.
I'll be going to the morning general session and then to Jeanne Stevens seminar on conflict. She usually does a good job and I really think this will be good for me to hear. Several things I've come across this weekend have emphasized our need to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit to move in the lives of students, to not just push things on them. I want to get some perspective on balancing allowing the Spirit to deal with people and situations and stepping in to deal with conflict when necessary. I'm worried about how some of the girls in the group are treating each other and I'm not sure how to address it; how much to pray and allow God to convict them and when to put my foot down and say enough is enough. They are such a great group of girls but can get petty and mean sometimes (which in and of itself is realtively normal but seems to have increased a bit lately) and it's just not healthy. I don't think that any of them want to be that way but it's so easy to get carried away. I pray about it frequently and pray for wisdom to guide them in the way of Christ. Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are key to any community moving in a healthy direction and I pray that those things will reign in ours.
Looking forward to getting home and having the week off. Used some vacation to get Monday through Wednesday off to spend with my wife and kids. I miss them a bunch. Then we're on to Orlando for Thanksgiving with the family and Disney World Friday through Sunday. Can't wait for Ethan to see Mickey Mouse. The kid dances every time the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on TV and points and babbles incoherently when Mickey comes on the screen.
I think Ethan may have said "I love you daddy" on the phone today. He's still not really clear but definitely progressing and the syllables were there so I'll take it.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
he stood up and read three chapters of Matthew...and then left
Didn't go to see Crowder. Gave the tickets to Shoup and Jen as I thought they would have fun going together. Now I'm really glad I didn't go because wow. Seriously, I just had to say wow at the end of the main session tonight (Shane Claiborne was the main session speaker). I'm not sure what I was expecting but I was interested because Shane has traveled and had some pretty amazing experiences. So he started off breathing fire and doing a back flip which seemed to set the tone...but then he did something unusual for a main session speaker, he read the Bible.
I don't mean that sarcastically, but really, most of these guys pay a passing glance at Scripture, some use stories, some don't, and it's not that one is better than the other, it's just that most of the messages are there to challenge or encourage us and it is usually their words. Shane, evidently, decided to do something different. So he picked up the Bible and told us he was going to share with us the greatest sermon ever spoken. He read Matthew 5-7, Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount", perhaps my favorite passage of Scripture. I typically focus on chapter 5 because of how Jesus just completely redefines the nature of God and God's kingdom, but the whole thing is truly amazing, especially with the passion with which Shane read it. And then, when he finished, he said, "That's the greatest sermon ever written. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen." And then he left.
I have a tendency to overstate things and be a bit dramatic, but that may have been the most courageous and most meaningful message that I have seen in ten years of Youth Specialties Conferences. I've heard Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Duffy Robbins, Doug Fields, Andy Stanley, and a whole bunch of other inspirational, challenging, and powerful teachers. And it's sad that to just read Scripture is a "brave" move, but that's exactly what it was. We all have expectations when we walk into these sessions and we are all judging what we hear. No one has had the creativity or the guts perhaps to read us a wonderful, lengthy Jesus sermon and let us rest in the text.
I watched some people walk out of the room while he was reading this passage. Not to go to the bathroom, but because they couldn't believe that this was what he was doing (some I overheard, others I watched shake their heads). I know it is not my job to judge (especially after hearing this passage of Scripture) but seriously, shame on you. These were the words of Jesus, the words of our risen savior whom we claim to serve and love that you walked out on, not Shane. It was about 20 minutes long, sit back down and listen. We need to hear those words everyday, all of us, me included, you included. I wanted to shout and jump out of my seat when he finished because of his courage, his willingness to let Jesus speak for himself instead of mucking it up with all kinds of interpretations.
I love a good message. I love giving a good message. I love interpreting Scripture and teaching its truths. But this was such a good reminder that sometimes the words of Christ just get to speak for themselves and the Spirit can do what needs to be done to help us understand it. For me, Shane's courage (and I say courage because I know a lot of people are going to be critical of him for this, saying he didn't really do anything other than read and get paid, and I'm sure he anticipated that) reminded me that Jesus was even more courageous when he spoke these very words 2000 years ago. Jesus faced rejection, assumptions, and expectations when he said those same words.
So thanks Shane. That was fantastic. I had tears in my eyes when you finished and as soon as you were done I went out and called my wife to tell her how amazing this was and she agreed. Keep doing what you're doing.
I don't mean that sarcastically, but really, most of these guys pay a passing glance at Scripture, some use stories, some don't, and it's not that one is better than the other, it's just that most of the messages are there to challenge or encourage us and it is usually their words. Shane, evidently, decided to do something different. So he picked up the Bible and told us he was going to share with us the greatest sermon ever spoken. He read Matthew 5-7, Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount", perhaps my favorite passage of Scripture. I typically focus on chapter 5 because of how Jesus just completely redefines the nature of God and God's kingdom, but the whole thing is truly amazing, especially with the passion with which Shane read it. And then, when he finished, he said, "That's the greatest sermon ever written. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen." And then he left.
I have a tendency to overstate things and be a bit dramatic, but that may have been the most courageous and most meaningful message that I have seen in ten years of Youth Specialties Conferences. I've heard Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Tony Campolo, Duffy Robbins, Doug Fields, Andy Stanley, and a whole bunch of other inspirational, challenging, and powerful teachers. And it's sad that to just read Scripture is a "brave" move, but that's exactly what it was. We all have expectations when we walk into these sessions and we are all judging what we hear. No one has had the creativity or the guts perhaps to read us a wonderful, lengthy Jesus sermon and let us rest in the text.
I watched some people walk out of the room while he was reading this passage. Not to go to the bathroom, but because they couldn't believe that this was what he was doing (some I overheard, others I watched shake their heads). I know it is not my job to judge (especially after hearing this passage of Scripture) but seriously, shame on you. These were the words of Jesus, the words of our risen savior whom we claim to serve and love that you walked out on, not Shane. It was about 20 minutes long, sit back down and listen. We need to hear those words everyday, all of us, me included, you included. I wanted to shout and jump out of my seat when he finished because of his courage, his willingness to let Jesus speak for himself instead of mucking it up with all kinds of interpretations.
I love a good message. I love giving a good message. I love interpreting Scripture and teaching its truths. But this was such a good reminder that sometimes the words of Christ just get to speak for themselves and the Spirit can do what needs to be done to help us understand it. For me, Shane's courage (and I say courage because I know a lot of people are going to be critical of him for this, saying he didn't really do anything other than read and get paid, and I'm sure he anticipated that) reminded me that Jesus was even more courageous when he spoke these very words 2000 years ago. Jesus faced rejection, assumptions, and expectations when he said those same words.
So thanks Shane. That was fantastic. I had tears in my eyes when you finished and as soon as you were done I went out and called my wife to tell her how amazing this was and she agreed. Keep doing what you're doing.
Friday, November 16, 2007
NYWC Atlanta, first two days
Hanging out here in Atlanta at the National Youth Workers Convention. It's been nice to get away though I miss my family. The past few weeks have been crazy. Two retreats/trips in three weeks along with multiple tests and projects due in class and trying to keep up with the ministry stuff. I've been looking forward to getting away and so far it's been nice. Some stuff that was interesting, fun, or weird.
1. My friend Jeff got in Wednesday night around 9:00 or so. We hung out in the room, chatting it up as usual and then around midnight figured out that we were a) not tired and b) hungry. Found this 24 hour diner place (Landmark Diner) about four blocks away. Got a late dinner, grilled cheese, and hung out watching the rain just pour down outside. Something about late night food, hanging with a good friend, and just talking that is really nice and relaxing. Got back to the hotel around 2:30am and slept until 11:00am Thursday. I never sleep that late.
2. On Wednesday night I dished out probably $10-$12 to homeless folks I came across. Basically ran out of money and had to turn the last guy away. It's strange really. In one sense I really want to help, I want to talk, I want to make eye contact, I even made sure to ask names, shake hands, etc. Not because I'm condescending but because I'm trying to break out of these walls I build so frequently to keep some people away. One guy actually said,"It's just nice when someone makes eye contact with me and says hi." His name was Kevin and he was from Boston. Nice guy. On the other hand I was a little frustrated that I couldn't walk 100 yards without someone else asking me for money. Frustrated with them for constantly interrupting my conversation (I'm not saying this is fair, just being honest). Frustrated with me, society, etc. that this is still a problem in a country that is so rich. Not sure how to feel about this. I'm glad that God is helping me to realize how dehumanizing I can be and is helping me to step out a little bit. But I still struggle with the fact that I was heading back to my $100 a night hotel to sleep in a warm bed. I don't know.
3. Good Critical Concerns Course. Probably one of the best I've been to. Did the "Retreat for the Youthworker" with Mike King. Really enjoyed the discussion and the times of prayer and silence along with the contemplative music. Exciting to see how our youth ministry is already moving in some of the directions he was pointing out. Also got some good ideas and such for possible future moves.
1. My friend Jeff got in Wednesday night around 9:00 or so. We hung out in the room, chatting it up as usual and then around midnight figured out that we were a) not tired and b) hungry. Found this 24 hour diner place (Landmark Diner) about four blocks away. Got a late dinner, grilled cheese, and hung out watching the rain just pour down outside. Something about late night food, hanging with a good friend, and just talking that is really nice and relaxing. Got back to the hotel around 2:30am and slept until 11:00am Thursday. I never sleep that late.
2. On Wednesday night I dished out probably $10-$12 to homeless folks I came across. Basically ran out of money and had to turn the last guy away. It's strange really. In one sense I really want to help, I want to talk, I want to make eye contact, I even made sure to ask names, shake hands, etc. Not because I'm condescending but because I'm trying to break out of these walls I build so frequently to keep some people away. One guy actually said,"It's just nice when someone makes eye contact with me and says hi." His name was Kevin and he was from Boston. Nice guy. On the other hand I was a little frustrated that I couldn't walk 100 yards without someone else asking me for money. Frustrated with them for constantly interrupting my conversation (I'm not saying this is fair, just being honest). Frustrated with me, society, etc. that this is still a problem in a country that is so rich. Not sure how to feel about this. I'm glad that God is helping me to realize how dehumanizing I can be and is helping me to step out a little bit. But I still struggle with the fact that I was heading back to my $100 a night hotel to sleep in a warm bed. I don't know.
3. Good Critical Concerns Course. Probably one of the best I've been to. Did the "Retreat for the Youthworker" with Mike King. Really enjoyed the discussion and the times of prayer and silence along with the contemplative music. Exciting to see how our youth ministry is already moving in some of the directions he was pointing out. Also got some good ideas and such for possible future moves.
4. Took a break from the convention this afternoon and went with Jeff over to the Georgia Aquarium. I've wanted to visit it for a while and I'm always a fan of a good aquarium, plus I thought it would be good to scout it for a possible youth trip stop. My observations:
- a little pricey at $27
- good exhibits, they've got whale sharks which I've never seen anywhere else so that was cool
- pretty interesting stuff, I definitely enjoyed it
- not a youth group stop, we were done in about 1.5 hours and between the price and no real shows or entertainment, it's not going to catch a lot of teenagers
So now I'm hanging out in the hotel room blogging and soon transitioning to some school work. We are meeting Shoup and Jennifer for dinner and I think Jeff and I will be going to the David Crowder concert tonight across the street from the hotel with some Ortega folks who have been nice enough to lay a couple of tickets on us.
Looking forward tomorrow's stuff. Phyllis Tickle is the main session speaker in the morning which is cool and Chris Folmsbee's afternoon Super Seminar looks really interesting. TTFN.
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