New blog/website

For now on, please go to…

www.beyondyouthministry.com

for my blogs and other postings

iPhone or iRatherNot?

Believe it or not, it actually took me a couple minutes to come up with that “clever” title, sadly enough, many of you would definitely believe it.  Lately I have been contemplating on jumping onto the iPhone wagon. Let’s be honest, it’s much more sleeker then any other phone, it has a full Internet function rather than the mobile browsers which are next to useless, and it’s an Apple product- how can you do wrong?As I asked myself that question, a friend of mine sent me this humorous image

Now, I do not pretend to be a gadget wiz, as a matter of fact, I am fairly clueless when it comes to current technology but I do know what I need in order for my life to function to it’s greatest efficiency and those that share the youth ministry world with me will understand that we need all the help we can receive.

iPhone with no MMS? That is shocking, even low level entry phones has that function. To many, this may be a useless function anyway but I appreciate it because I can take video, photo’s or  media oriented option and send it immediately to the recipients. Now, what parent does not want to see their child’s face being smashed into a pie through a click of a button on their phones?

iPhone with no Copy and Paste? Again, this seems like a minuscule feature but I find myself using it very frequently, especially since text messaging have infiltrated our mobile devices.

iPhone cannot operate more than one application at a time? Again, with much credit due to Apple, I am surprised they would create this extremely  technologically advanced  machinery with such limited accessibility.

What is great about the iPhone is the music capabilities (obviously), the calendar system, which is a MUST for all pastors and the seemingly unlimited amount of applications that is allows, not to mention wonderful internet device and who can forget the 3G network?

Unfortunately my current Blackberry curve seems to do a better job for me for where I am at? Any suggestions or personal reviews on the iPhone? I would love to get it, purely because it looks really cool!

Thou Shalt Not…

If I can give one commandment to new and/or veteran youth workers, it is this: “Thou Shalt Not play the numbers game.” Do not, I repeat do NOT measure the success of your ministry by the attendance. Surely we can’t ignore when a group is growing or shrinking but that may only be a symptom of a deeper contingent.

I speak to this out of my own (current) experience. You learn in Seminary or other youth ministry learning settings and you tell yourself that you will never fall into the trap of being so concerned about numbers as long as students are growing in there faith and transformation is occurring through the power and the invitation of the Gospel.

“easier said than done!”

We have visions and expectations of our ministry and that typically always involves element of “large” and “explosive” and when the reality of our ministry does not intersect with our expectations, discouragement begins to poison the ministry and our ability to be affective.

After reading literature, conversing with other youth workers, praying and seeking the heart of Christ, here is my new encouragement and challenge to myself and other youth workers.

1. Movement. We, as youth leaders, need to create a movement, and not this temporary high of excitement because when the hype slows down, we return the same place we began which seems empty. By creating a movement, we create something real that students, leaders, and families want to be a part of. A movement isn’t just about setting up fun activities, cool games, or even an explosive program but instead, it is creating an ethos that people believe in and want to be part of and participate in. They are excited about it, not because, it’s glamorous but because they know that this movement ushers in transformation through the power of Christ. A movement is never concerned about how many people it can bring in but rather how the people already there can make a difference in their community and the world. Much of these ideas come from a book called Tribes by Seth Godin. READ IT

2. Focus. We need to focus on the students we have, rather than focus on the students or “things” we do not have. We can sit and day dream all we want about how we want our ministry to look but in the meantime, we will have students being neglected and lose them to the pressures they face each day because we have failed to invite them to join a movement that will change their lives forever. God has entrusted us with our students and thus we need to be responsible in nurturing and discipling them to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

3. Small is the new big. In my previous youth pastor job, I was a pastor of 250 high school students but sadly enough, after 2 years of work, I can put an actual name on less then half of them. That’s when I realized that my passion is to build deep and meaningful relationships with students thus I opted to be a part of a smaller church where I can utilize my gifts to it’s fullest potentials. I truly believe (disagree if you will) but the mega church model will be less effective and the small churches will create much more of a movement.

Let the bodies hit the floor…

Lately I have been rethinking my critique on what it means to be “Spirit filled” or as commonly labeled “charismatic.” I believe these terms have been frequently used in an inaccurate manner in evangelical Christianity today. I believe each believer in Christ is “sprit filled” thus having the charismata of God but for whatever reason these theological realities have been limited to two specific gifts; a form of mysterious language better known as “tongues” and prophesy. It is important to understand that many have misconstrued the very word “charismatic” and until we embrace a more holistic understanding of these words, it will be difficult for us to settle such a heated conversation that has risen in our churches.

Furthermore, being “charismatic” is not just events that occur during certain times but rather an ongoing attribute that necessitates continuous nurturing. I have also heard many times people saying, “Whoa, that service was very charismatic.” The question that comes to mind when I hear that is, does that mean other services are not charismatic or does being charismatic turn on and off? The answer is “no” because the Spirit comes from the soon arrival of Jesus Christ, that means it is a future aspect, the gift of the Sprit is preparing us for what is about to happen which is Christ’s return. Therefore it is an ongoing gift to the community and doesn’t stop. Being charismatic then is about how we live in this community while awaiting this future promise of Christ’s return. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “[we are] marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.”

With this said, it is easy to translate my thoughts into something purely ecclesiological and none to do with nature of pneumatology.

If this is your critique of my blog thus far than I agree whole heartedly. I confess my skepticism towards the churches and pastors that focus heavily on tongues and prophesy and in addition “signs and wonders.” Again, perhaps this is due to my heavy influence of scholarship and academia. Nonetheless I have been convicted that I have missed the point. I suggest that being “spirit filled” or being “charismatic” encompasses what we believe to be truth in the biblical text and with something that surpasses human knowledge and enters into the supernatural.

I still do believe that many churches that claim to be “charismatic” have become manipulative and destructive towards the community of believers and therefore I believe my skepticism to be justified. Recently I have been attending various “charismatic” services so I can be more aware of this worship style and there I saw a woman’s hand shaking for the entire three hour service. I over-heard her say to a friend that she couldn’t help it, it was the Holy Spirit. I had to ask myself, “Why in the world would God provoke her hand to shake for 3 hours? What does that accomplish? Most importantly, how does that edify the body of believers?”

I have also seen and heard many people speak in a mysterious language yet never have I heard an interpreter as Paul commands there to be. I have heard people literally bark! “Ruff, Ruff!” Need I say more? I have seen people suddenly become psychics and “reveal” to people their soon to become health, wealth and prosperity.

Indeed through the lens of intellectualism, I am skeptical of such expressions of the “Holy Spirit” but I have been realizing now more than ever that God is a supernatural God! Take for example the resurrection, the central belief of the Christian faith. A man named Jesus was crucified on a cross and three days later he came back to life! I don’t know about you but that seems very supernatural. Also the many miracles and healings found all throughout the scriptures, what shall we do with those?

Though I end this blog still being skeptical of the ever-so mass produced language of tongues, being slayed/drunk/blasted/blazed by the spirit, and prophetic powers, my desire is to change my skepticism into “careful-ism.” I do believe that God is a God of the supernatural and perhaps God does speak to certain people in mysterious languages and God does speak prophecy into some but I still want to acknowledge the abuse in such declarations of God.

I end with this…

Maybe being “healed” doesn’t mean the cancer disappears but the healing is in the soul. Maybe the ”prophecy” doesn’t always have to look as if it only comes through a certain individual but rather a community crying out together, simply saying, “We need help! We need to change! We have totally missed the point!”
Maybe we need to stop depending on “signs” and live by faith and the promises found the Bible.

I guess the question still stands, where is the balance?

3 lovely tips for youth ministry

Obviously to create a healthy youth ministry and working environment for youth workers, there are more then 3 ways to go about it- there are many! The 3 listed below are just a few elements that are commonly neglected today in youth ministry yet pose great value for the youth/family, yourself and the staff you work with.

1. Phone Calls! In the midst of technology, the art of personal phone calls have been minimized to completely obsolete.  Before I move on, I have to say that I am extremely thankful for technology, particularly the Internet because of how it transformed communication to be more quick, efficient and universal. Youth ministry is better because of it!

But… I argue that many youth workers have become so dependent upon it that we fail to realize how powerful a phone call is. When I ask the majority of youth workers what they dread doing the most in their job, the answer seems to be the same- “phone calls!” and yes I resonate with that completely, therefore why not text? Facebook? Myspace? Twitter? E mail? Etc? It makes life so much easier! and to that, I agree! BUT I do believe it will never replace a personal phone call and the personal invitation to an event or just to say “hello.” It shows that the student is not just part of the mass but is cared for personally. Sure this take more time and energy but the results will be more than worth it.

2. Befriend the office administrator! Otherwise known as secretary, admin, etc. While I was an intern several years ago, the youth pastor I worked for Chad gave me one of the most helpful tips that I use faithfully today because it works! Always befriend the church secretary! Fortunately the one at my church is incredible and she is easy to get along but I have heard horror stories from other youth workers. This is as simple as going to her/his desk and saying “good morning” or just asking about their family, esp kids if they have any. Maybe the next time you go to Starbucks to meet a student, you can ask if you could bring him/her back a drink

The church secretary has tremendous amount of power and it would be wise to get on their good side.  Some may see this as a “political game,” I don’t believe it is but take it as you will but believe me, it will make or break your sanity and they can be tremendous amount of help which we all need!

Thank you cards! Write them, send me, give them… So many times those that contribute to the youth ministry go unrecognized and unappreciated. A friend and fellow youth ministry man, Jeremy, and were exchanging stories about how much of a difference this makes yet so many people fail to do this simple task. Make your volunteers and other helpers feel appreciated and that what they are doing is actually making a difference.  When people know they are making an impact on people’s lives, they want to continue doing it and doing it well.

Well these were just some quick thoughts that have made a big difference in my youth ministry experience. Do you have any to add? please do!

Israel the bully

Now I already know that many will read my headline and automatically render me as un-patriotic, un-Christian, un-American, what-have-you but I can’t help but to contribute my some of my attention to the heartbreaking events happening right now is Israel, particularly Gaza. My hope is that regardless of where you stand politically, internationally and militarily, that you would agree that the many deaths, especially death of civilians, on either side of the wall, is a horrific tragedy that breaks the heart of God and hopefully us as a church- a community of Jesus-followers.

Background

I have grown a huge heart for the middle-east, particularly Israel and Jewish history several years ago through various courses at Fuller Theological Seminary. These classes made me realize that in order to truly understand the life of Jesus, we must understand the context in which he was deeply rooted in, that culture being early Judaism. I know that the reference to the “Historical Jesus” has been over-used and abused considering there has been several “quests” for such thinking but at the foundation of such realization lies the reality that is necessary in order for us to truly develop a healthy, solid, accurate hermeneutics of both the OT and the NT.

This love for middle-eastern history grew so large that I had to experience it first hand. Upon graduation in Jan ‘08, I took a 3 week trip/pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a good friend of mine, Ryan. We spent the majority of our time traveling through Israel  and visiting many of the areas Jesus walked and of other important biblical significance. We stayed in the Old City which was a powerful experience in itself. We walked around the Temple Mount and felt the beauty and the ugly of the first century. We also went down to Mt. Sinai and headed east to Petra (Jordon). When we made our way to the Holocaust Museum just outside of Jerusalem, it allowed to me grieve with the Jews and the rest of humanity that is broken over such horrific event. The Museum gave me a better understanding of the Jewish life and the many hardships they have struggled with and for that- I am truly sorry.

Ryan on left/Me on Right at the temple mount (Dome of the Rock)

First-Hand

We also went to many places that are significant to the Muslims because we must remember that Jerusalem is not just a “Holy” place for Jews and Christians but also the Islamic faith. We traveled up to Bethlehem which is in Palestinian territory and spent several hours at a Palestinian refugee camp. As we spoke to children, parents, and the director of the camp, I couldn’t help but  to be reminded of interment camps here in the US for the Japanese immigrants and reservations for American Indians. These people have been pushed out of their land and displaced behind these walls, the wall of poverty, lack of humanitarian aid, food, water, etc.  It reminded me of the drinking fountain during the civil rights era- the superior go here and the inferior go there.  It was almost as if the systemic oppression of the Jews turned into an anger that ignited their own means of systemic oppression.

Today Click here for a great resource from BBCnews

This attitude of the IDF and Israeli government saddens my heart. The (conservative) media that sees this in a positive and justifiable light saddens my heart.  The lack of diplomacy (on both sides) saddens my heart.  The prideful lack of compassion saddens my heart.

It seems to me that the recent affairs in Gaza is an extreme message from Israel saying “Don’t mess with us!” To that I say, “point taken!” and “STOP!” Is it really worth the hundreds of lives just to prove a point? Is it worth the many innocents lives to send a message? The reality is, both sides need to think more peacefully and there are Israeli’s who are also dying and being wounded and to that I also feel sorrow but it seems to me that Israel will go at all cost to prove to their Arabic neighbors that they are a force to be reckon with – Thank you America! Maybe this bitterness does stem from their less formidable year in 2006 against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Gaza needs major humanitarian aid i.e. water, food, clothing, shelter and although this does not excuse their action to send their message, maybe giving them means of survival may be a great start to peace?

Sitting ducks

The ratio at this point seems to be 1 Israeli per 100 Palestinian. Now this seems like a very irrelevant point since a death of anybody is sad and painful but it goes to show that those in Gaza are unable to defend themselves against such powerful military. As for the civilians, they have nowhere to run or hide thanks to the Israeli blockade. To me this seems unjust, not only that but a peace talk or a cease-fire is not an option for Israel. My question to that is, when will it end? Will they be satisfied when Hamas leave? When Israel takes control of Gaza? When rocketfire stops? When will the wrath of Israel be satisfied?

Now I know I am up for tremendous amount of criticism but just allow me to say this: in no way is this supposed to be an antisemitic entry but I think it’s right for us to name the injustices that are happening and I guess this is my outlet to do so.

Hosanna

I began listening to music to guide my thoughts and the artist I listened to was Brooke Fraser. Her music is compelling and convicting. Furthermore, I began listening to the song called “hosanna” over and over again and I couldn’t help but to close my eyes and meditate upon the lyrics.

The word that caught my attention was “hosanna” with obvious reasons. It is the chorus and the very concept of the artists’ intention.

I began rethinking about what it means to “worship” or what it means to “praise God.” Perhaps not what each word actually means but rather where has it gone? For the sake of content, I will speak of the element of music and song as “worship” or as “praise.” Agreed, singing is only a portion of what worship and praise actually entail but allow me to focus on simply the beauty of song.

The theme and chorus of this particular song sang by Brooke Fraser roots from the word “Hosanna.” Many people utter this word without fully understanding what it necessitates. I will not bore you with an exegetical word study essay on the word “hosanna” but allow me to say this in brief. It originates from the Hebrew language, hoshea na, which means literally “please save!” It is in the imperative form and the main usage comes from Psalms 118:25, “Oh Lord, save us; Oh Lord grant us success” (NIV). Later the word was taken to Aramaic then used several times in the Gospels in Koine Greek.

I really appreciate the understanding of this word in origin. It denotes a deeper translation such as this; “God, please save us- now!” It was a cry, a plea, a demand out of desperation. Allow me to ask, where has this gone? Where has our earnest yearning for God gone?

It has come to my attention that our praises to God in worship (if you will) has gotten so bland and so tasteless. When we praise, are we actually giving God authentic sincere worship or are we merely singing with our lips. Do our songs of adoration truly call upon God out of our brokenness and desperation? Are we truly asking, “God! Come! Please!” Dare I say- our praise of songs has become simply routine and meaningless.

Hopeful direction of youth ministry in 2009

Happy New Year to all!

As I sat and pondered 2008 and all the up’s and down’s of youth ministry, particularly my own, I truly believe that youth ministry in America must shift and embrace a few necessary paradigms in order to maximize impact and transformation. These shifts are congruent to the nature of today’s culture, today’s youth context, and for our hopeful tomorrow.

Please note that these may be the outcome from my own experience, thus you may have already been going this direction- if so- congrats to you and let’s continue conversing about how we can further improve progressive methodology.

The basis of these reflections must first begin with “letting go!” Too many times youth leaders, church workers, pastors are too afraid to let go of the past. It’s comfortable, it’s familiar and it’s easy. If that’s you (it’s me) shame on you! The lives of adolescent’s are shifting at a rapid pace and if we are too afraid to change because of pride, fear or plain laziness, we are never, I repeat- NEVER- going to see true transformation in our students. Please hear me when I say this: In no way am I discredited the power of the Holy Spirit because it is true that many times, the Holy Spirit works even through our inadequacies but that, in no way, should  excuse us from seeking excellence in Kingdom work or our favorite term Kingdom Trajectory (see Chap Clark and small town youth pastor for further reflections)

With that said, here is my 2009 hopeful direction of, not only my own ministry, but the youth ministry of America:

More meat, less skin: I have actually had students ask me, “what’s the point of this game?” “Why are we playing this?” “When are we going to study the Bible?” So many times, youth leaders are so interested in bringing in the numbers and making youth ministry “fun,” we put the content on the backburner and allow arbitrary games and “fun time” to take precedence. Please don’t get me wrong, games and community time is extremely important and necessary, my point is that conveying truth and challenging students is as equally important.

Why is it so difficult to believe that during your normal weekly gathering, a student can actually leave as a different- transformed person? This does not have to mean a student fell to the floor crying their eyes out and committing to a life-time of ministry, although it could, but what if transformation comes in the avenue of healing? Forgiveness? Joy? A conviction to actually do dishes for mom/dad!?

Youth pastors are too afraid to teach and shed light on the ancient truths of the Bible that brings hope for their lives today.

I also think youth pastors discredit the intellectual capabilities of young people. We choose not to talk theology and critical thinking because “kids can’t handle it,” is what I commonly hear. Yes, we must be engaging and responsible in our communication which takes great work and much preparation which many of us are not willing to do. How long does it take to prepare your teaching? 5 minutes? 5 hours? 5 days? Please also note that “teaching” does not always mean standing up and giving a talk but it also denotes creative ways to bring the Gospel; ways that will evoke further thoughts when they go home that evening.

Multiculturalism: Youth ministries are too comfortable in their current surroundings and that brings in a danger to be exclusive, even unintentionally. Multiculturalism, or having several different cultures in a youth ministry is necessary and biblical. Commonly this is narrowed down to having different ethnicities in one setting but that is only partial. I also suggest that this includes being inviting to the athletes, musicians, emo-kids, scene kids, studious kids, and I tell you the truth, many will have absolutely nothing in common because they are completely different cultures, but where they might find similarities is their desire to belong. This belonging may include with community and/or to the living God. With this said, there is a need to reflect the demographics of the community. I know of churches in predominantly African-American neighborhoods that is 80% Caucasian. I know of Asian (English speaking) churches that are in predominantly Caucasian neighborhoods that are 99.999 Asian. In 2009, we need to get out of our comfort zone and take seriously the mandate to create disciples of ALL NATION!

Justice: My hope is that we stop talking about the justice issues but be completely involved in it. It seems to be the fad to be “green,” to read about the conflicts in Africa, to go downtown and feed the homeless but my prayer for us is that it is not just a trend but a reality and a shift to more meaningful Ecclesiology. Believe it or not, students actually care for people and the earth,  other than just themselves and if they don’t, it is up to youth leaders, the church, and family to usher in that desire and create avenues they can live out those desires. (please also note a previous blog of mine regarding youth and justice)

Technology: ALL YOUTH LEADERS MUST HAVE A FACEBOOK! Yes, this is a bold statement but the reality of this culture is the overwhelming use of the Internet. If everybody, including students, are connected through this avenue, why wouldn’t we not want to participate in this universal connection? Don’t be afraid to let go and latch onto new concepts and uncomfortable devices. This IN NO WAY substitutes relational involvement but it is a tool for us to be active in the lives of our students. There are several different technological connectors out there but the ones I am using is www.facebook.com, www.twitter.com, google talk, MSN Messenger, AIM Messenger, text messaging and hopefully more. Half of what I listed are already outdated so I would love to take suggestions?

* I would stay away from myspace and actually discourage students from using it also*

Network: Youth pastors must get out of the office! Have lunch/coffee with the youth pastor down the street. Create networks, resource teams and other gateways to idea’s and partnerships. Get into the schools, other parachurch organization and other groups that may not even have a religious affiliation but still have an impact on student life. If you are a skilled athlete, volunteer as a coach. If you are a musician, volunteer to teach. If you are intellectual, be a tutor. Use whatever gifts, talents, passions you have in order to tap into the various spheres of your students.  blogs are a great way to connect with other like-minded youth leaders, not only in your own community, but all around the world. How incredible is that!

Obviously, I have only touched on these elements. Each demand further thought and prayer. Many of you are reading this and saying “duh!” and some of you are reading this and saying “no way!.” In either case, that okay but my desire is that we take seriously our vision and action towards a greater universal youth ministry.

Blessings to all of you in youth ministry in this 2009 year!

A youth pastor’s secret…

There it is! You want to be an effective, successful youth pastor or leader of any capacity. Read this book now! It’s sweet and simple. What I appreciate about this book is that it is not “Christian” literature. You can find it in the business/leadership section of any book store.  This book can be maximized by the CEO of Microsoft to a youth pastor of a small church. READ IT!

It’s a book that is deeply committed to creativity and at the same time, reality. I will not say too much because you NEED to read it.

No more creating factories- Create a movement!

READ IT!

Thanks to J. Zach for the recoomondation –> check out his website, it’s a great tool www.smalltownyouthpastor.com

youth leaders must be readers

It’s not a surprise that more you expose yourself to diverse literature, the more well-rounded you will be. Thus, this blog will mainly concern youth leaders because it is out of this lens I speak of.  Also note that I will not put too much emphasis on the Bible as I will assume that it is the main text that guides, not only our ministry, but our lives.

We hear frequently, “to each is his/her own” and this is, for the most part, the essence of readership. I encourage all to engage in literature that makes you come alive, makes you excited, makes you more passionate about the area you are already passionate about. Obviously, this looks different for each person and that’s the beauty of literature- there is something out there for everybody!

I do want to argue that as youth leaders/pastors, it isn’t about “should” but rather, it is about a “must,”  we must be readers and avid readers at that. In a reform point of view, we adhere to the belief semper reformanda, always reforming. It is essential to always stay current in the culture, in theology, and in the practice and context in which you are ministering to. For the youth pastors out there, we all know how important it is to stay in touch with adolescent life which is always shifting up, down and all around. I truly believe, one of the best ways to stay in touch is through literature but of course, this is no substitution for actual relational ministry.

This is important because we learn from others with different experiences, backgrounds, wisdom, strengths and weaknesses and to actually acknowledge that we can learn from others is a humbling and beneficial experience for you and for those you lead. It is equally important to read from authors you do not necessarily agree with. Too many times, pastors/leaders will only reference authors of the same line of thinking which does not allow the full maximization of reading.

For youth pastors, I say that there MUST be (at least) these 5 dimensions of genre’s involved in your reading

1. Theology

Yes- this may be tedious and mundane but it’s imperative that you continue developing your theology in order to nurture your students. Of course the question then is “practice,” how do we implement this theology in a practical way for students, which I will address below. It was Paul who said to “work out our faith with fear and trembling,” (Phil 2:12) which includes but not limited to, our continuous effort to educate ourselves through scholarship. Let it be said, you do not have to be a seminary student to pursue this, just discipline and a willingness to learn.

2. Practical Application

It is important that we connect the dots from our head to our practice. It would be irresponsible of us to gain the theology and the knowledge and let it sit in our minds.  This can be a difficult task because, as we read theological literature and/or other biblical scholars, we must filter it through the context we minister to, thus asking the question, “how can this translate to my students,” which then involves considering the socio-economics, demographics, region, etc of your group. Our practical application must come from our theological convictions which creates an understanding that our implementation does not spring from our own flippant actions but from our understanding of who God is in our life and the lives of the students.This may also include reading upon fellow youth workers and journey with them in their youth ministry which the majority of time, comes in the form of blogs, articles and other media forms.

3. Leadership

I am convinced that the majority of youth leaders do not know how to lead therefore it is extremely important that we hear what true leaders have to say, leaders that have made a difference, that have brought about a movement, leaders that are respected, trusted and many follow, not out of obligation but out of excitement. This can be leaders that are with us today or leaders that we are greatly indebted to for the lives they once lived here on this earth. This can be anybody from a pastor you look up to or a previous president you admire i.e. George W. Bush

4. Current affairs

This includes the newspaper, the news, specialized magazines or something of these calibers. We must always know whats going on, not only in our own streets but those in other states, countries and even continent. We should not allow a large body of water stop us from caring about the lives of human beings.  Its especially important in our own ministry because with our comprehension of the current events in our students lives, we can put our theology into practice in a way that students will hear, care, and be excited for and this is a vital sign of great leadership.  This also includes pop culture/trends, the arts and entertainment.

5. Leisure

Relax! Enjoy! Have fun! Grab a book or a magazine that sparks your interest, whether it be in sports, fiction, sci-fi, romance, fashion, art, etc. This gives us a chance to tap into our passions and excerise our minds in the way God wired us. I don’t have much to say about other than… do it! It’s fun!

Here are Prentice’s favorites in each genre

1. Theology

- N.T. Wright = The New Testament and the People of God, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope

- Richard Hays = Moral Vision of the New Testament

- Richard Horsely = Jesus and Empire

- Miroslav Volf = Exclusion and Embrace

- Christopher Wright = The Mission of God

- LeRon Shutls = Reforming Theological Anthropology

- there are many more, too many to list…

2. Practical Application

- Chap Clark = Hurt

- Blogs by; Jeremy Zach (www.smalltownyouthpastor.com), www. rethinkingyouthminsitry.com, Fuller                  Seminary’s youth site (www.fulleryouthinstitute.com)

- Doug Fields = Your First Two Years of Youth Ministry

- Ginny Olson = Youth Ministry Management Tools

- Chap Clark and other = Starting Right

- Velvet Elvis = Rob Bell

- John Piper = Let the Nations be Glad

- United by Faith = Curtiss Paul DeYoung and others

3. Leadership

- Henri Nouwen = In the Name of Jesus

- Martin Luther King Jr. = The Strength to Love

- Seth Godin = Tribe (Haven’t finished)

- Jim Collins = Good to Great (Haven’t read yet but great reviews)

- Leadership Challenge = James Kouzes

4. Current affairs

- BBCworldnews.com

- nytimes.com, latimes.com, seattletimes.com

-CNN

-NPR

5. Leisure

- The Iliad

- Men’s Health Magazine, GQ, surfer

- East of Eden

- We were soldiers once… and young

You are welcome to add your own!