Flyleaf is one of my favorite bands. I have utilized their songs several times when I teach the Bible to students. Their lyrics are powerful and their sound is incredible! Lacey Mosley (the lead singer) has a powerful testimony of where she's been to where God has brought her. The lyrics are very honest and often times filled with intense emotions. They have only put out one album (although it was re released with some acoustic songs and several music videos), but the music world has taken notice of their talent.
However, one part of the music world that should be supportive of this band has not taken notice for whatever reason. I have not heard their music on Christian radio in this area. One reason for that may be that the types of Christian stations around this area do not play a lot of music that is more aggressive. Their lyrics are distinctively about faith in God and knowing Jesus Christ (more so than The Fray who have recently been adopted by Christian music radio stations). RadioU may be playing flyleaf, but I don't know because their signal is not very strong in this area.
I guess what has brought me to think about this is that sometimes when I am driving home late at night from the juvenile detention center that I work at I flip through the radio stations and I have noticed this show called "X albums you should own." Twice on that radio show (very much a mainstream radio station) I have noticed that the entire flyleaf album was being played. I could not see that happening on our local Christian radio stations (one reason is that they don't have much variety for their programing). They just don't fit the style of music that is common there.
It was amazing to see this as an example of bringing Jesus into the culture (instead of just making another sub-culture for Jesus music). It is amazing to hear lyrics of praise to Jesus and the love and power of God and faith in Him in the middle of commercials for strip clubs and the DJ talking about how "hot" he thinks Lacey Mosley is. Flyleaf is not shy about their faith in God. They talk about their faith on their websites and I have heard that Lacey has several scriptures written on her arms during her concerts.
To me this is Christ-like. Jesus did not come into the earth to make another sub-culture. He came to bring God to people where they were at. He changed and affected the culture and dramatically changed the course of history. I believe that Christians should share Jesus in the culture that we are in and that we should be influencing culture for the glory of God!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
learning from those younger than me
I recently rode in the backseat of a teenager's car. I don't think that I have done this since I was a teenager. While it brought me to pray (because people drive a little differently when they are first learning how), I began to think about somethings. I also had some thoughts provoked from getting kick-boxing lessons from a high school student recently.
I spend a lot of my time working with middle school and high school students. While I am always looking to see what I can teach them, very often I learn from them and am encouraged by them. Sometimes I hear people say things like, I need more depth of learning from Bible teaching. While I do appreciate depth in teaching, I think that sometimes we are missing the point and just don't get it. The truth is that we can learn from anyone if we are really looking to. How often do we actually pray, "Lord teach me." I have had the blessing of several years of formal theological education. I still need to hear continually that I need to share my faith, love God more, and avoid sin. There is a subtle temptation to become arrogant in our faith. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. The vital truth is this:
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)
I spend a lot of my time working with middle school and high school students. While I am always looking to see what I can teach them, very often I learn from them and am encouraged by them. Sometimes I hear people say things like, I need more depth of learning from Bible teaching. While I do appreciate depth in teaching, I think that sometimes we are missing the point and just don't get it. The truth is that we can learn from anyone if we are really looking to. How often do we actually pray, "Lord teach me." I have had the blessing of several years of formal theological education. I still need to hear continually that I need to share my faith, love God more, and avoid sin. There is a subtle temptation to become arrogant in our faith. The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. The vital truth is this:
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)
Friday, May 29, 2009
each end of the spectrum
I know I have a habit of using annoying words. I digress (I'm doing it again). A couple of weekends ago, I experienced two complete opposite kinds of physical contact with youth. I'm not a creepy weirdo so I don't seek out physical contact with minors. Anyway, I am employed at two places which have similarities at times, but are usually very different. They both involve working with middle school and high school students. I work at a church where I do things like teach the Bible, plan events, and much more. I also work at a Juvenile Detention Center. At the church students come because either their parents made them come or because they want to be there. Youth come to the Juvenile Detention Center because they were arrested. I really like my job at the juvenile detention center. I really love my job at the church.
Most Sundays I am at both places. A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of just how different these jobs can be even though they both give me the chance to try to care for students. In the morning I performed my first baptism. It was a big honor, nerve racking, and a humbling experience to baptize someone. I had not been in a baptismal pool since I was nine years old when I was baptized. I can't really put into words, but it was a great privilege to baptize someone. I did it mostly right. I thought the waters were higher than what they are and didn't go down quite enough. I love how we do baptisms. The person getting baptized tells why they want to be baptized. The answers are so bold and exciting!
I experienced the opposite when I was at detention that night as I was involved in my first board restraint. At the Juvenile Detention Center sometimes we have to physically restrain youth if they continue to insist on being a threat to themselves or others. Occasionally, it progresses to a point where we need to strap the youth down to a restraint board if the situation isn't really improving after a long enough time and they are still a serious threat to themselves or others. After physically restraining a youth (out of nessecity and not because I wanted to) we had to strap his entire body straight onto a board so that he would not harm himself. Every 10 or 15 minutes that he was calm then we would take a strap off. I imagine that would be a traumatic experience. Anyone who would need to be put on a restraint board has likely already been threw many traumatic experiences. It was a very emotionally intense experience for me. I was glad we were able to stop the boy from trying to hurt himself for the rest of that day.
Both experiences involve caring for youth and wanting good things for them. However, these experiences could not be much more different. I am so blessed to have two jobs that I really enjoy where I can care about adolescents. They give me such a rich variety of experiences. Life is such an adventure!
Most Sundays I am at both places. A couple of weeks ago I was reminded of just how different these jobs can be even though they both give me the chance to try to care for students. In the morning I performed my first baptism. It was a big honor, nerve racking, and a humbling experience to baptize someone. I had not been in a baptismal pool since I was nine years old when I was baptized. I can't really put into words, but it was a great privilege to baptize someone. I did it mostly right. I thought the waters were higher than what they are and didn't go down quite enough. I love how we do baptisms. The person getting baptized tells why they want to be baptized. The answers are so bold and exciting!
I experienced the opposite when I was at detention that night as I was involved in my first board restraint. At the Juvenile Detention Center sometimes we have to physically restrain youth if they continue to insist on being a threat to themselves or others. Occasionally, it progresses to a point where we need to strap the youth down to a restraint board if the situation isn't really improving after a long enough time and they are still a serious threat to themselves or others. After physically restraining a youth (out of nessecity and not because I wanted to) we had to strap his entire body straight onto a board so that he would not harm himself. Every 10 or 15 minutes that he was calm then we would take a strap off. I imagine that would be a traumatic experience. Anyone who would need to be put on a restraint board has likely already been threw many traumatic experiences. It was a very emotionally intense experience for me. I was glad we were able to stop the boy from trying to hurt himself for the rest of that day.
Both experiences involve caring for youth and wanting good things for them. However, these experiences could not be much more different. I am so blessed to have two jobs that I really enjoy where I can care about adolescents. They give me such a rich variety of experiences. Life is such an adventure!
Friday, May 1, 2009
some more thoughts on last weekend
Sunday morning I taught on the topic of Joy to the High School at The Edge. It is probably my favorite topic that I had not taught on before (I have only somewhat mentioned it as it came up in scripture). I am not going to recap what I said or what we discussed, but I would like to add a couple of thoughts.
1. You don't need to be an extrovert to express joy. It is deeper than that. It may just be easier to notice joy in an extrovert.
I know there were some other thoughts that I wanted to add on the topic of joy, but I can't recall them right now.
At Crossroads Kevin taught about how the church should be selfless for one another. I experienced examples of the church being selfless for one another as kind things were done for me the day before Kevin taught as well as the day after. I was at Chipotle picking up dinner for myself on Saturday night and a woman from Fairhaven Church (where I am a member and am on staff at) who I was talking with in line paid for my dinner. Also, on Monday I was at Speedway and a man from Fairhaven paid for my lunch that I was going to get there. I did not ask these people to buy me food, but I felt so blessed that they did. It was nice to have free food, but what is really meaningful is the heart behind the gesture. It was just an unexpected wonderful thing to do for someone. I am truly blessed to be a part of a church where people are selfless for one another.
1. You don't need to be an extrovert to express joy. It is deeper than that. It may just be easier to notice joy in an extrovert.
I know there were some other thoughts that I wanted to add on the topic of joy, but I can't recall them right now.
At Crossroads Kevin taught about how the church should be selfless for one another. I experienced examples of the church being selfless for one another as kind things were done for me the day before Kevin taught as well as the day after. I was at Chipotle picking up dinner for myself on Saturday night and a woman from Fairhaven Church (where I am a member and am on staff at) who I was talking with in line paid for my dinner. Also, on Monday I was at Speedway and a man from Fairhaven paid for my lunch that I was going to get there. I did not ask these people to buy me food, but I felt so blessed that they did. It was nice to have free food, but what is really meaningful is the heart behind the gesture. It was just an unexpected wonderful thing to do for someone. I am truly blessed to be a part of a church where people are selfless for one another.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Parenting advice (not from me)
This is some parenting tips from teen life ministries:
1. Explain "As You Love Yourself."
With so much talk of humility, most teens think that means to hate
yourself. Denying self and hating self are two entirely different
things. Explain how God wants teens to "love your neighbor as
yourself." Loving self doesn't mean being in love with yourself. It
means that we have a good self-image, a God-image. We are important
not because of who we are, but whose we are.
Whether the world thinks we're geeks or freaks, weirdoes or wackos,
only God's view and vision of us counts. And to Him we are worth
the price of His Son hammered to a cross.
2. Admit Your Insecurities.
As a parent, you may appear larger than life to teens. They may
look at you and think, "I'll never have it together like that." We
know the truth. We're not together. We have struggles, bad hair
days, and poor complexions at times.
When it's appropriate, share the things that cause your self-esteem
to shrink. Share as well the ways that the Lord strengthens you
when you don't feel so hot.
3. Encourage Self-Talk.
Tell your teens to stand in front of the mirror every morning and
night and repeat, "God don't make no junk," or "I'm made in God's
image." It might sound silly, but we really do believe what we say
to ourselves.
It may be impossible to get your teen to repeat that phrase out
loud because of the risk of being teased. Write a few God-esteem
sentences on a 3 x 5 card and give to your child to carry with him
or her.
4. Help Teens Challenge Themselves.
Get your teens proactive in the war against insecurity. A girl
might decide that she will stop buying magazines that promote the
"perfect look." A guy might choose to stop listening to music that
degrades God's creation by elevating suicide over life.
In place of those negatives, your daughter may want to start
reading a Christian magazine for young ladies, while your son might
toss out his CD collection and replace it with Christian artists.
We are what we absorb, so challenge your teens to challenge
themselves.
5. Provide Ways For Teens To Give Of Themselves.
It's tough to feel sorry for yourself when your eyes are on others.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4 that we should look not only on
our interests, but also the interests of others.
Keep a list of area organizations that use teens for volunteers.
When your child comes home looking low and using terms that beat up
his emotions, send him down to the area children's hospital and let
him share his life.
(Zone members get the other 5 ways on this list to send parents here:
http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/read/helping_your_teen_with_self-/
Blessings!
Paul and Al
www.teenlifeministries.com
Get in The Zone TODAY... www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone
236 Foxdale, Montgomery, AL 36109, USA
1. Explain "As You Love Yourself."
With so much talk of humility, most teens think that means to hate
yourself. Denying self and hating self are two entirely different
things. Explain how God wants teens to "love your neighbor as
yourself." Loving self doesn't mean being in love with yourself. It
means that we have a good self-image, a God-image. We are important
not because of who we are, but whose we are.
Whether the world thinks we're geeks or freaks, weirdoes or wackos,
only God's view and vision of us counts. And to Him we are worth
the price of His Son hammered to a cross.
2. Admit Your Insecurities.
As a parent, you may appear larger than life to teens. They may
look at you and think, "I'll never have it together like that." We
know the truth. We're not together. We have struggles, bad hair
days, and poor complexions at times.
When it's appropriate, share the things that cause your self-esteem
to shrink. Share as well the ways that the Lord strengthens you
when you don't feel so hot.
3. Encourage Self-Talk.
Tell your teens to stand in front of the mirror every morning and
night and repeat, "God don't make no junk," or "I'm made in God's
image." It might sound silly, but we really do believe what we say
to ourselves.
It may be impossible to get your teen to repeat that phrase out
loud because of the risk of being teased. Write a few God-esteem
sentences on a 3 x 5 card and give to your child to carry with him
or her.
4. Help Teens Challenge Themselves.
Get your teens proactive in the war against insecurity. A girl
might decide that she will stop buying magazines that promote the
"perfect look." A guy might choose to stop listening to music that
degrades God's creation by elevating suicide over life.
In place of those negatives, your daughter may want to start
reading a Christian magazine for young ladies, while your son might
toss out his CD collection and replace it with Christian artists.
We are what we absorb, so challenge your teens to challenge
themselves.
5. Provide Ways For Teens To Give Of Themselves.
It's tough to feel sorry for yourself when your eyes are on others.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:4 that we should look not only on
our interests, but also the interests of others.
Keep a list of area organizations that use teens for volunteers.
When your child comes home looking low and using terms that beat up
his emotions, send him down to the area children's hospital and let
him share his life.
(Zone members get the other 5 ways on this list to send parents here:
http://www.teenlifeministries.com/site.php/arti/read/helping_your_teen_with_self-/
Blessings!
Paul and Al
www.teenlifeministries.com
Get in The Zone TODAY... www.teenlifeministries.com/thezone
236 Foxdale, Montgomery, AL 36109, USA
Thursday, April 9, 2009
One more thought on comparisons
Almost every (or possibly every time I present a talk to students there is something that I feel that I forgot to say or should have said. God works in through me and in spite of me at times. I know His truths can be recived even if I don't present it as well as I should. However, one of the great things about a blog is that I can share things that I didn't mention when I am speaking in front of everyone.
Last night I was talking about the dangers of comparisons. One thing that I don't think I mentioned is that everyone is on a journey that is not exactly like that of anyone else. God has a specific plan for you that He does not have for anyone else. So there, those are my extra thoughts about comparisons and it is out of my head and onto my blog.
Last night I was talking about the dangers of comparisons. One thing that I don't think I mentioned is that everyone is on a journey that is not exactly like that of anyone else. God has a specific plan for you that He does not have for anyone else. So there, those are my extra thoughts about comparisons and it is out of my head and onto my blog.
Monday, April 6, 2009
YS Student Newsletter
You may have seen previous youth specialties newsletters on Kevin's blog if you read it. You can subscribe to it yourself if you want to. Here is the most recent YS student newsletter:
YS Student Newsletter #388
April 6th, 2009
Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
=================================
Competitive Christians?
"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.' " (Luke 19:24-26)
How seriously do you take the idea that there will be rewards in heaven for those who have served Christ well during this life? Does it motivate you to try harder? Does it ignite your competitive spirit? Does it make you willing to sacrifice more, to get up earlier, to dig deeper?
We're not talking about your salvation here, necessarily. However, this servant's inaction could have been the result of not really believing the king would return. In Matthew's version of a similar story, the inactive servant is thrown out of the kingdom. But many immature believers also seem to have decided that since works can't save us, God doesn't care about works.
That could not be more wrong. God created good works for us to do before we were ever saved. Paul describes his whole life as a kind of fierce competition to serve God faithfully for which he would be rewarded. And Jesus' story here strongly suggests that some will receive more than others for their effective work for Him.
Think: How are you investing your life, the one He gave you?
Pray: Thank God that He rewards those who serve Him. Ask Him to help you to be motivated by that in the best possible way.
Do: Make a quick list of the top 3 rewards you've earned so far in your life. Think about what makes those rewards valuable to you.
**
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.
2. SURF REPORT
- The Audacity of Hope Book Review
It is possible to debate President Obama's politics all day, and it is clear that we at PlanetWisdom are in strong disagreement with some of President Obama's policies, most notably his pro-abortion stance. However, President Obama's political campaign was based on finding commonality instead of criticizing differences, and so we will try to do the same.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/books/reviews/audacityofhope.php
~ The Haunting in Connecticut Review
"Some things cannot be explained." Such is the tagline for "The Haunting in Connecticut," complete with a claim to be based on true events and a Discovery channel documentary on the incident.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/movies/hauntinginconnecticut.php
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
By feeding hens certain dyes they can be made to lay eggs with multi-colored yolks.
4. POTENT QUOTABLES
"The price of greatness is responsibility."
~ Winston Churchill
"Teachers: two kinds: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move and the kind that just give you a little prod from behind and you jump to the skies."
~ Robert Frost
5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
A magician was driving down the road, then he turned into a driveway.
YS Student Newsletter #388
April 6th, 2009
Contents
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
=================================
Competitive Christians?
"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.' " (Luke 19:24-26)
How seriously do you take the idea that there will be rewards in heaven for those who have served Christ well during this life? Does it motivate you to try harder? Does it ignite your competitive spirit? Does it make you willing to sacrifice more, to get up earlier, to dig deeper?
We're not talking about your salvation here, necessarily. However, this servant's inaction could have been the result of not really believing the king would return. In Matthew's version of a similar story, the inactive servant is thrown out of the kingdom. But many immature believers also seem to have decided that since works can't save us, God doesn't care about works.
That could not be more wrong. God created good works for us to do before we were ever saved. Paul describes his whole life as a kind of fierce competition to serve God faithfully for which he would be rewarded. And Jesus' story here strongly suggests that some will receive more than others for their effective work for Him.
Think: How are you investing your life, the one He gave you?
Pray: Thank God that He rewards those who serve Him. Ask Him to help you to be motivated by that in the best possible way.
Do: Make a quick list of the top 3 rewards you've earned so far in your life. Think about what makes those rewards valuable to you.
**
A Daily Devotional from PlanetWisdom.com, copyright 2009 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission.
2. SURF REPORT
- The Audacity of Hope Book Review
It is possible to debate President Obama's politics all day, and it is clear that we at PlanetWisdom are in strong disagreement with some of President Obama's policies, most notably his pro-abortion stance. However, President Obama's political campaign was based on finding commonality instead of criticizing differences, and so we will try to do the same.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/books/reviews/audacityofhope.php
~ The Haunting in Connecticut Review
"Some things cannot be explained." Such is the tagline for "The Haunting in Connecticut," complete with a claim to be based on true events and a Discovery channel documentary on the incident.
http://www.planetwisdom.com/movies/hauntinginconnecticut.php
3. FORGETTABLE FACT
By feeding hens certain dyes they can be made to lay eggs with multi-colored yolks.
4. POTENT QUOTABLES
"The price of greatness is responsibility."
~ Winston Churchill
"Teachers: two kinds: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move and the kind that just give you a little prod from behind and you jump to the skies."
~ Robert Frost
5. UH, THAT'S FUNNY?
A magician was driving down the road, then he turned into a driveway.
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