LOVED this picture. had to put it up!
Help-Portrait countdown
on work and living...
For my one, follower, and anyone else who reads, if you don't know, I'm a youth pastor by profession when I quit slinging coffee. And I love what I do, in spite of my awkward and sometimes jaded upbringing in church and church culture.
So, I missed out on the national youth worker's convention this year, which usually bums me out, but what I saw of this year, I think skipping might have been a win for me. That's a topic for a different time probably, though part of why I am so excited is that I get to go see THIS GUY with my buddy, THIS GUY. A much better deal by far methinks.
Anyways, I have been streaming some of the general sessions from nywc just so I can hear part of the conversation that is going on, and the last (?) session had Francis Chan speaking, who is a super cool guy that I respect a great deal, because he is a lot more honest than I think most people working for churches would ever be, without fear of some committee coming and asking him to leave since he seems so disinterested. Again, another blog for another day.
Here is my point: he said this thing that is so encouraging, and so challenging all at the same time, so here it is:
The old me used to cry because of the lost, and then I became a pastor and now I don't cry..I want the old me back" - Francis Chan
I LOVE this quote. LOVE it. And here is why. This is life for a pastor, or at least that has been my experience. It is SO easy to get lost in planning for the next meeting, going over curriculum for the next small group, planning worship, scheduling events and transportation while considering security and volunteer roles/involvement that we completely miss the point of our jobs. It makes me wonder if there is something fundamentally wrong in the way we do our jobs. And, I think that this spreads to other jobs too, I don't think this is some "special privilege" for people working for churches. I think we all get lost in the small things, the over thought, over complicated things of life/work and we miss out. I mean, what if (for me as a youth pastor and you as "insert your job/time consuming responsibility here") we totally miss Jesus because he is in the slumped shoulders of a sad student that I miss because I am planning my report for the next meeting?
I think he brings up a great point, that while ministry is a job, and we definitely have responsibilities and stuff to do and get finished and such, is it worth doing if we are so wrapped up in it that we have no joy in our job? No interaction with our community? I can relate to that idea a lot, as I struggle with having a sense of community in my present location. I have a great youth group community, but my family has youth and youth sponsors, and that's our tribe. Which is great, but is not a group we do a lot with outside of youth stuff, which I step into as a youth pastor, as a staff person. I don't really get to be at church and be IN church. I'm always the youth guy, which means I get asked about computers, why teenagers are so noisy, why did I decide to do youth ministry and not go to seminary to be a "real pastor?" I never really go to worship to worship. It's like my worship time gets sucked up by the job. I wonder, if all us pastoral types were really honest, would we admit that we get to worship or not? and REALLY worship, not just sit in a worship service/experience.
Put it another way, do we go through the motions of worshipping and living out our relationship with Jesus, or is it a formality to serve our careers? Do we weep at things that God weeps for? Are we moved with compassion for those in need, or do we pat them on the back, say Jesus loves you, and offer them a bus ticket to the food for the homeless program down the road?
"...I became a pastor and now I don't cry..." that hits hard. I wonder if I'm the only one who feels like the job sucks out the life from the calling. I don't think I am, but I don't know how many would be honest and say that. I expect most would acknowledge that it happens, give a good theological argument for it being a "time in life where ______" followed by a bible verse or two about it, a couple verses about how God wants to change that, and an offer to pray for me, which would all feel kind of trite in a way because I think it takes a BIG thing that is deeply embedded in our hearts, and reduces it to an almost greeting card-like thing. Which frankly - no offense to those that do this - offends me deeply.
So I find myself glad I didn't go, but still considering things/conversations from NYWC. And praying that I work quickly and effectively, so that I can get the "work" done that I need to, but still be free and available to do the "ministry" that is what God really called me to.
live deeper
So, I missed out on the national youth worker's convention this year, which usually bums me out, but what I saw of this year, I think skipping might have been a win for me. That's a topic for a different time probably, though part of why I am so excited is that I get to go see THIS GUY with my buddy, THIS GUY. A much better deal by far methinks.
Anyways, I have been streaming some of the general sessions from nywc just so I can hear part of the conversation that is going on, and the last (?) session had Francis Chan speaking, who is a super cool guy that I respect a great deal, because he is a lot more honest than I think most people working for churches would ever be, without fear of some committee coming and asking him to leave since he seems so disinterested. Again, another blog for another day.
Here is my point: he said this thing that is so encouraging, and so challenging all at the same time, so here it is:
The old me used to cry because of the lost, and then I became a pastor and now I don't cry..I want the old me back" - Francis Chan
I LOVE this quote. LOVE it. And here is why. This is life for a pastor, or at least that has been my experience. It is SO easy to get lost in planning for the next meeting, going over curriculum for the next small group, planning worship, scheduling events and transportation while considering security and volunteer roles/involvement that we completely miss the point of our jobs. It makes me wonder if there is something fundamentally wrong in the way we do our jobs. And, I think that this spreads to other jobs too, I don't think this is some "special privilege" for people working for churches. I think we all get lost in the small things, the over thought, over complicated things of life/work and we miss out. I mean, what if (for me as a youth pastor and you as "insert your job/time consuming responsibility here") we totally miss Jesus because he is in the slumped shoulders of a sad student that I miss because I am planning my report for the next meeting?
I think he brings up a great point, that while ministry is a job, and we definitely have responsibilities and stuff to do and get finished and such, is it worth doing if we are so wrapped up in it that we have no joy in our job? No interaction with our community? I can relate to that idea a lot, as I struggle with having a sense of community in my present location. I have a great youth group community, but my family has youth and youth sponsors, and that's our tribe. Which is great, but is not a group we do a lot with outside of youth stuff, which I step into as a youth pastor, as a staff person. I don't really get to be at church and be IN church. I'm always the youth guy, which means I get asked about computers, why teenagers are so noisy, why did I decide to do youth ministry and not go to seminary to be a "real pastor?" I never really go to worship to worship. It's like my worship time gets sucked up by the job. I wonder, if all us pastoral types were really honest, would we admit that we get to worship or not? and REALLY worship, not just sit in a worship service/experience.
Put it another way, do we go through the motions of worshipping and living out our relationship with Jesus, or is it a formality to serve our careers? Do we weep at things that God weeps for? Are we moved with compassion for those in need, or do we pat them on the back, say Jesus loves you, and offer them a bus ticket to the food for the homeless program down the road?
"...I became a pastor and now I don't cry..." that hits hard. I wonder if I'm the only one who feels like the job sucks out the life from the calling. I don't think I am, but I don't know how many would be honest and say that. I expect most would acknowledge that it happens, give a good theological argument for it being a "time in life where ______" followed by a bible verse or two about it, a couple verses about how God wants to change that, and an offer to pray for me, which would all feel kind of trite in a way because I think it takes a BIG thing that is deeply embedded in our hearts, and reduces it to an almost greeting card-like thing. Which frankly - no offense to those that do this - offends me deeply.
So I find myself glad I didn't go, but still considering things/conversations from NYWC. And praying that I work quickly and effectively, so that I can get the "work" done that I need to, but still be free and available to do the "ministry" that is what God really called me to.
live deeper
game time with my local friend
As you may or may not know, I am a fan of local art, and think it's good for a person to be about supporting the locals. That said, one of the local guys I love put a couple songs online, in game format. It's pretty fantastic. So, I said to myself, why not share?
Here it is! Enjoy! (And trust me, I will ACTUALLY write something soon!)
Here it is! Enjoy! (And trust me, I will ACTUALLY write something soon!)
Just to say hey!
So, I'm really trying to think of something good for you, but I am having a hard time getting my brain to get firing. It's been a long day. Good, but long. So, I'll leave you with a picture of luke from the other day. He is a huge fan of the outside. I think that's so great. Hopefully he can keep that going. Anyways, til I have something useful to say, here ya go:
calling all shutterbugs!
Hey gang,
so I have a, guess he would be a facebook friend? we know a few of the same people, and have swapped an email or two...
anyways, so my facebook buddy Jeremy was a guest on another photographer's blog the other day, and posted this video. I'll put it below here in a second. Check out Jeremy's full website too.
But, here's what I think would be awesome. What if we did this? What if we all participated in this deal? It could be the coolest way to give someone a great Christmas, I think. I have some ideas in my head, but I would love to make it a big crew project. What do you guys think? Let me know! Here's the vid:
I am absolutely LOVING this idea. Let's do it! Who's in? If you're up for it, go check out http://www.help-portrait.com/ and get on board! I think this could be awesome.
Live deeper.
so I have a, guess he would be a facebook friend? we know a few of the same people, and have swapped an email or two...
anyways, so my facebook buddy Jeremy was a guest on another photographer's blog the other day, and posted this video. I'll put it below here in a second. Check out Jeremy's full website too.
But, here's what I think would be awesome. What if we did this? What if we all participated in this deal? It could be the coolest way to give someone a great Christmas, I think. I have some ideas in my head, but I would love to make it a big crew project. What do you guys think? Let me know! Here's the vid:
I am absolutely LOVING this idea. Let's do it! Who's in? If you're up for it, go check out http://www.help-portrait.com/ and get on board! I think this could be awesome.
Live deeper.
it's been so long!!!
Wow, so I apparently haven't even stopped by my own blog in a REALLY long time. Not to do anything but check my blog and make sure it was still working at least. It seems I have survived the summer. School is back in session now, and I feel like I can take a breather for a couple of minutes. I loved my summer, don't get me wrong, but being gone for 4 out of 12 weeks is a LOT, especially for a guy not used to that many weeks gone.
But, that said, it was a challenge for me to be gone, to be on the move, and to still be a husband/dad/youth pastor/barista. Parts of it I absolutely loved, other parts I never want to repeat.
But, coming out of the summer, I have had a LOT of thoughts floating around in my head. Thoughts about who I am, who I am wanting to be, and how to re-learn living out of the deepest parts of my heart.
Part of what I realized this summer is my need to be bold. Listening to people speak at camps, I watched people speak boldly about their love of Jesus, and not be concerned with stepping on toes, or over-simplifying the gospel. I don't mind offending people because I think at it's core the gospel is quite offensive, but I sometimes try to make the idea so easy to grasp that I overdo it and strip out some of the depth and meaning unintentionally. I need to change that. So, I find myself in a place of retooling what and how I say things, and making sure that my trying to get the point across doesn't get lost in translation.
Another thing I have found from the summer that I need to fix is my being consistent, and living on intentionally. My wife, who is AWESOME at pulling out her "crap detector" has worked me over in a good way with that thing. Here's what happened: we got into a couple of "normal" spouse-ly brushes this summer, and I found myself saying the phrase "well, I didn't mean to _____" which in my mind was true, and not all bad, right? When out of the blue God jumps in my wife's mouth and smacked me upside the head with the point "yeah, you're not meaning to do ______, and you're not doing anything at all." BAM.
So, I find myself now in need of some changes, but changes for the better. I fight as much as I can to be genuine, and to live out of my heart, but it seems my heart needs a bit of work. I need to "not try to do ____" and "do _____" and be more a person of action. And even more so than that, my action needs to be rooted in love, which it wasn't always this summer, as I got caught up in being too busy, and not saying no to things.
Fortunately, I have found some friends to give me food for thought, and inspiration, they're called heartsupport. and they are awesome people. I have local friends to hang with for sure, and I need that community, but I love HS because it's a group of people who are there on purpose to be people seeking hope, love, and to live deep and from the right place. You should check them out, you might like them.
Well, off I go, to see a good friend and talk life and such. I love OkC, and this buddy of mine is deeply embedded in some amazing things in OkC. I am looking forward to what we can do together in the fall. Should be awesome.
live deeper. (for real, and from the right places)
But, that said, it was a challenge for me to be gone, to be on the move, and to still be a husband/dad/youth pastor/barista. Parts of it I absolutely loved, other parts I never want to repeat.
But, coming out of the summer, I have had a LOT of thoughts floating around in my head. Thoughts about who I am, who I am wanting to be, and how to re-learn living out of the deepest parts of my heart.
Part of what I realized this summer is my need to be bold. Listening to people speak at camps, I watched people speak boldly about their love of Jesus, and not be concerned with stepping on toes, or over-simplifying the gospel. I don't mind offending people because I think at it's core the gospel is quite offensive, but I sometimes try to make the idea so easy to grasp that I overdo it and strip out some of the depth and meaning unintentionally. I need to change that. So, I find myself in a place of retooling what and how I say things, and making sure that my trying to get the point across doesn't get lost in translation.
Another thing I have found from the summer that I need to fix is my being consistent, and living on intentionally. My wife, who is AWESOME at pulling out her "crap detector" has worked me over in a good way with that thing. Here's what happened: we got into a couple of "normal" spouse-ly brushes this summer, and I found myself saying the phrase "well, I didn't mean to _____" which in my mind was true, and not all bad, right? When out of the blue God jumps in my wife's mouth and smacked me upside the head with the point "yeah, you're not meaning to do ______, and you're not doing anything at all." BAM.
So, I find myself now in need of some changes, but changes for the better. I fight as much as I can to be genuine, and to live out of my heart, but it seems my heart needs a bit of work. I need to "not try to do ____" and "do _____" and be more a person of action. And even more so than that, my action needs to be rooted in love, which it wasn't always this summer, as I got caught up in being too busy, and not saying no to things.
Fortunately, I have found some friends to give me food for thought, and inspiration, they're called heartsupport. and they are awesome people. I have local friends to hang with for sure, and I need that community, but I love HS because it's a group of people who are there on purpose to be people seeking hope, love, and to live deep and from the right place. You should check them out, you might like them.
Well, off I go, to see a good friend and talk life and such. I love OkC, and this buddy of mine is deeply embedded in some amazing things in OkC. I am looking forward to what we can do together in the fall. Should be awesome.
live deeper. (for real, and from the right places)
stream imogen heap's new album!
Okay, so, shameless plug, just because I think her music is that good.
Check it:
