Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Lessons in Student Ministry: Moments that make my heart smile
Well today it's snowing in Austin, Texas which elicits a reaction from people similar to if they saw a pig flying through the sky or Elvis walking downtown. It's a strange phenomenon for a girl from the Midwest, and in the two years I've been here it hasn't gotten any less strange.
People stop functioning. They lose their minds. Things shut down. No one wants to come to work because it's "cold." Everyone wants to stay off the roads. Today I was nearly one of those people because I've learned something really important in my time here...no one knows how to drive in this stuff either. I fear for my life not because the roads are slick and my car weighs as much as an empty soda can, but because these people go crazy and I don't trust them to know what to do if they fishtail.
So, my desire to go to the middle school to have lunch today was in question as I watched big, fluffy flakes come down fast 30 minutes before the lunch bell would ring. But, resolving to refuse to become one of "those" people, I headed out, no coat and no gloves...just to make a point. (Hopefully that point won't be that freezing temperatures will in fact give you pneumonia despite what part of the country you grew up in.)
If I thought the community in general goes crazy, it's nothing compared to a building full of little people still struggling to find the balance between wanting to be adults and discovering that their hearts still race at the sight of minor snowfall which could mean going home early. And in fact, I discovered many students had already left. Their parents had come to get them from school simply because it was snowing. Let me be clear that I by no means judge or have any thoughts on kids leaving school because it's snowing. But I'm perplexed. In 25 years I've never heard of such a thing.
Of course all my girls said, "JEN! It's snowing!" Yes...yes it is. "Isn't that exciting! Jen we NEVER get to see snow." I assured them that I would be happy to freeze a bag of cotton balls and litter their yard with it and they looked at me like I was insane. We all moved onto conversation about which kids had called their parents and who thought they might get to leave and whose requests had already been turned down.
Luckily for me the conversation shifted and ended up in places like this:
Claudia: Jen! Guess what! I'm going to Canada this summer!
Me: Why are you going to Canada?
Claudia: Hello! Why wouldn't you go to Canada?! I mean c'mon. It's like a cheap version of France.
Me: Brady when is Ben going to Barcelona?
Hannah: Ben is going to Barcelona?!
Brady: Yeah, for a big swim meet.
Hannah: What!? Does he have to shave his whole body?
Me: Wouldn't that be crazy to have to shave your entire body? Especially if you're a guy.
Claudia: My uncle is REALLY hairy.
*Blank stares*
Me: Is that the end of your story?
Claudia: Yes.
Early on in the lunch period the snow had died down to a sleet/rain mixture, the kind you can hear on the roof but can't really see if you're looking out the window. Sure enough though, just minutes before the bell rang to dismiss, the big, fluffy snowflakes came back...and the fire alarm went off.
Chaos ensued.
It was fairly clear that the fire alarm wasn't anything to really worry about, seemed just a simple mistake or possible prank and I think the kids picked up on that. But despite the fact that kids are to remain seated unless they're getting food, about 25% of them ran to the huge windows. Another 30% started cheering and yelling. About 25% seemed unaffected...and the remaining few looked around with that twinkle in their eye that shows they recognize that chaos is happening and they could get away with a lot before it dies down.
As I watched the adults in the room unsuccessfully attempt to get control of the situation, I couldn't help but smile.
In mere seconds, those kids had completely taken over that cafeteria, going where they wanted to go, making the noise they wanted to make, doing what they wanted to do and there was little any adult could do to actually stop it.
I couldn't help but wonder, if they realized the kind of power they have, and if they had a common desire to use it for good, what could these kids really do in this world. That power, that energy, that creativity and spark...just have to wonder.
The fire alarm stopped and the kids got tired of standing at the window. The noise died down and they started to get back to their seats. All in all the situation lasted about 60 seconds.
But I really had to wonder...
People stop functioning. They lose their minds. Things shut down. No one wants to come to work because it's "cold." Everyone wants to stay off the roads. Today I was nearly one of those people because I've learned something really important in my time here...no one knows how to drive in this stuff either. I fear for my life not because the roads are slick and my car weighs as much as an empty soda can, but because these people go crazy and I don't trust them to know what to do if they fishtail.
So, my desire to go to the middle school to have lunch today was in question as I watched big, fluffy flakes come down fast 30 minutes before the lunch bell would ring. But, resolving to refuse to become one of "those" people, I headed out, no coat and no gloves...just to make a point. (Hopefully that point won't be that freezing temperatures will in fact give you pneumonia despite what part of the country you grew up in.)
If I thought the community in general goes crazy, it's nothing compared to a building full of little people still struggling to find the balance between wanting to be adults and discovering that their hearts still race at the sight of minor snowfall which could mean going home early. And in fact, I discovered many students had already left. Their parents had come to get them from school simply because it was snowing. Let me be clear that I by no means judge or have any thoughts on kids leaving school because it's snowing. But I'm perplexed. In 25 years I've never heard of such a thing.
Of course all my girls said, "JEN! It's snowing!" Yes...yes it is. "Isn't that exciting! Jen we NEVER get to see snow." I assured them that I would be happy to freeze a bag of cotton balls and litter their yard with it and they looked at me like I was insane. We all moved onto conversation about which kids had called their parents and who thought they might get to leave and whose requests had already been turned down.
Luckily for me the conversation shifted and ended up in places like this:
Claudia: Jen! Guess what! I'm going to Canada this summer!
Me: Why are you going to Canada?
Claudia: Hello! Why wouldn't you go to Canada?! I mean c'mon. It's like a cheap version of France.
Me: Brady when is Ben going to Barcelona?
Hannah: Ben is going to Barcelona?!
Brady: Yeah, for a big swim meet.
Hannah: What!? Does he have to shave his whole body?
Me: Wouldn't that be crazy to have to shave your entire body? Especially if you're a guy.
Claudia: My uncle is REALLY hairy.
*Blank stares*
Me: Is that the end of your story?
Claudia: Yes.
Early on in the lunch period the snow had died down to a sleet/rain mixture, the kind you can hear on the roof but can't really see if you're looking out the window. Sure enough though, just minutes before the bell rang to dismiss, the big, fluffy snowflakes came back...and the fire alarm went off.
Chaos ensued.
It was fairly clear that the fire alarm wasn't anything to really worry about, seemed just a simple mistake or possible prank and I think the kids picked up on that. But despite the fact that kids are to remain seated unless they're getting food, about 25% of them ran to the huge windows. Another 30% started cheering and yelling. About 25% seemed unaffected...and the remaining few looked around with that twinkle in their eye that shows they recognize that chaos is happening and they could get away with a lot before it dies down.
As I watched the adults in the room unsuccessfully attempt to get control of the situation, I couldn't help but smile.
In mere seconds, those kids had completely taken over that cafeteria, going where they wanted to go, making the noise they wanted to make, doing what they wanted to do and there was little any adult could do to actually stop it.
I couldn't help but wonder, if they realized the kind of power they have, and if they had a common desire to use it for good, what could these kids really do in this world. That power, that energy, that creativity and spark...just have to wonder.
The fire alarm stopped and the kids got tired of standing at the window. The noise died down and they started to get back to their seats. All in all the situation lasted about 60 seconds.
But I really had to wonder...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Lessons in Student Ministry: Part...I don't even know anymore
Don't underestimate the Holy Spirit or your students ability to hear it.
Last night I taught a message to all of our 6th and 7th graders about Jesus being a healer. In a bizarre, extremely God-ordained series of events, the blog that I previously wrote about dragging our friends to the feet of Jesus just happened to miraculously tie in to what I was teaching and I felt that familiar little tug on my heart to take that message to them. I honestly questioned how they would receive it...how they would understand it...if it would really challenge them or if they could make the words that I spoke fit into what they already do and they could walk away not feeling any need to make a change...and if they were challenged, what that would even look like in their lives.
When we started last night in the big group, we walked through the story in Mark 10 of a blind beggar and how he responds to Jesus, the way his faith makes him completely abandon any concern what others think of him. After we talked through that story, I asked the girls if Jesus is still able to heal that way today, if a blind man today could receive sight by the power of Jesus. The responses were mixed. Some of them clearly wanted to believe that is true, but simply couldn't figure out how it would be possible. Some said it was possible, but it would have to come through a doctor or some modern medicine. None of them were confident that it could just "happen."
After that we talked about different kinds of healing and the different kinds of healing we might need in our own lives. I read them a story from my World Vision magazine about a family from Burundi, Africa and we talked about all the different kinds of healing they need and the ways Jesus could possibly meet those needs.
We broke up into small groups and I was excited to have only 4 girls last night, a great size to really discuss and I had a good mix of personalities.
We read through Mark 2 together, talking about the men who carried their paralyzed friend and dropped him through a roof to get him to Jesus and be healed. We first talked about who we related to most in the story.
Were we the paralyzed man, broken and in need of help, needing Jesus, needing faith. Were we one of the four friends, strong in faith and trusting that our obedience would be blessed with healing, and able to carry our friends to Jesus. Or were we one of the people in the room, followers of the law who criticized Jesus and would have criticized the four for doing something so irrational and ridiculous.
Then I asked, "So...are you willing to drag your friends to Jesus? Do you have friends who would drag you to Him?"
Everybody looked at me for a second and Barbara said the inevitable, "I really don't know what that means since Jesus isn't here anymore. How do we do that if we can't actually take someone to see Him?"
This is a good sign...they're paying attention and thinking. This is not always a given. :)
So, we came up with an example. Let's say that you have a friend who gets in a big fight with her best friend. She comes to you and starts telling you everything that happened and how horrible her friend is and just generally "venting." What would it look like if we responded by taking that girl to Jesus?
"Well...I guess it would be just listening but then reminding her of why they're best friends and encouraging her to forgive her friend."
"Yeah, I think it would be just helping her and her friend work things out and reminding her of all the good things about her friend."
WHOA.
My hope was that they'd respond by telling me that they would listen, but also encourage their friend to not talk bad about anyone. That they wouldn't continue to gossip about it. That they would give this girl a place to sit if she felt lonely.
Because that response from them would mean that at least we've nailed the moralism part. The "right thing to do."
What I did not expect was what I got. A heart change. A recognition that it's not just about their friend, but about her best friend too. About the importance of restoring that relationship. About helping them work through and rebuild. That's HUGE when in middle school one person hating their best friend means one more friend for you when she comes running to you.
After that I asked if they could think of any examples in their own life, and one of my girls, who rarely goes very "deep" but has a wonderful and bright sense of humor shared that when she was 7 her parents decided to move. She was so angry at them and had a sleepover with a couple of her friends. She told them she was moving across the country and that she hated her parents and couldn't believe that they would do this to her. They responded in agreement with her. They told her her parents were stupid. They told her she should be mad at them. They told her they couldn't believe her parents were going to take her away from her friends.
They were 7...
But at 13, looking back on that situation, this was her response...
"You know, even now, I really wish they would have told me that this could be a really good experience. That my parents weren't stupid and cared about me. That I would make new friends and that they would never forget about me. That's what I really wanted them to say. And it would have made me feel really good if they would have prayed with me."
And that's what it looks like to take your friends to Jesus when you're in 7th grade in 2010.
Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to teach your kids what He wants them to know.
Last night I taught a message to all of our 6th and 7th graders about Jesus being a healer. In a bizarre, extremely God-ordained series of events, the blog that I previously wrote about dragging our friends to the feet of Jesus just happened to miraculously tie in to what I was teaching and I felt that familiar little tug on my heart to take that message to them. I honestly questioned how they would receive it...how they would understand it...if it would really challenge them or if they could make the words that I spoke fit into what they already do and they could walk away not feeling any need to make a change...and if they were challenged, what that would even look like in their lives.
When we started last night in the big group, we walked through the story in Mark 10 of a blind beggar and how he responds to Jesus, the way his faith makes him completely abandon any concern what others think of him. After we talked through that story, I asked the girls if Jesus is still able to heal that way today, if a blind man today could receive sight by the power of Jesus. The responses were mixed. Some of them clearly wanted to believe that is true, but simply couldn't figure out how it would be possible. Some said it was possible, but it would have to come through a doctor or some modern medicine. None of them were confident that it could just "happen."
After that we talked about different kinds of healing and the different kinds of healing we might need in our own lives. I read them a story from my World Vision magazine about a family from Burundi, Africa and we talked about all the different kinds of healing they need and the ways Jesus could possibly meet those needs.
We broke up into small groups and I was excited to have only 4 girls last night, a great size to really discuss and I had a good mix of personalities.
We read through Mark 2 together, talking about the men who carried their paralyzed friend and dropped him through a roof to get him to Jesus and be healed. We first talked about who we related to most in the story.
Were we the paralyzed man, broken and in need of help, needing Jesus, needing faith. Were we one of the four friends, strong in faith and trusting that our obedience would be blessed with healing, and able to carry our friends to Jesus. Or were we one of the people in the room, followers of the law who criticized Jesus and would have criticized the four for doing something so irrational and ridiculous.
Then I asked, "So...are you willing to drag your friends to Jesus? Do you have friends who would drag you to Him?"
Everybody looked at me for a second and Barbara said the inevitable, "I really don't know what that means since Jesus isn't here anymore. How do we do that if we can't actually take someone to see Him?"
This is a good sign...they're paying attention and thinking. This is not always a given. :)
So, we came up with an example. Let's say that you have a friend who gets in a big fight with her best friend. She comes to you and starts telling you everything that happened and how horrible her friend is and just generally "venting." What would it look like if we responded by taking that girl to Jesus?
"Well...I guess it would be just listening but then reminding her of why they're best friends and encouraging her to forgive her friend."
"Yeah, I think it would be just helping her and her friend work things out and reminding her of all the good things about her friend."
WHOA.
My hope was that they'd respond by telling me that they would listen, but also encourage their friend to not talk bad about anyone. That they wouldn't continue to gossip about it. That they would give this girl a place to sit if she felt lonely.
Because that response from them would mean that at least we've nailed the moralism part. The "right thing to do."
What I did not expect was what I got. A heart change. A recognition that it's not just about their friend, but about her best friend too. About the importance of restoring that relationship. About helping them work through and rebuild. That's HUGE when in middle school one person hating their best friend means one more friend for you when she comes running to you.
After that I asked if they could think of any examples in their own life, and one of my girls, who rarely goes very "deep" but has a wonderful and bright sense of humor shared that when she was 7 her parents decided to move. She was so angry at them and had a sleepover with a couple of her friends. She told them she was moving across the country and that she hated her parents and couldn't believe that they would do this to her. They responded in agreement with her. They told her her parents were stupid. They told her she should be mad at them. They told her they couldn't believe her parents were going to take her away from her friends.
They were 7...
But at 13, looking back on that situation, this was her response...
"You know, even now, I really wish they would have told me that this could be a really good experience. That my parents weren't stupid and cared about me. That I would make new friends and that they would never forget about me. That's what I really wanted them to say. And it would have made me feel really good if they would have prayed with me."
And that's what it looks like to take your friends to Jesus when you're in 7th grade in 2010.
Never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to teach your kids what He wants them to know.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Tonight...
I'm going to try and teach about 25 6th and 7th graders about this
I pray that the words will fall on fertile soil. Because I really can't get my head back to 7th grade enough to know how they'll respond. But trusting God's leading on this one.
I pray that the words will fall on fertile soil. Because I really can't get my head back to 7th grade enough to know how they'll respond. But trusting God's leading on this one.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Big FB Break
Well...I realized today that it's been a week and a day since I was "on" facebook. Here are a few observations:
1. The time without it has gone by incredibly fast. Definitely doesn't feel like it's been that long.
2. I really needed to and did get on twice. Once to get someone's email. And once to respond to a message from someone. Both times I had a strong urge to go read my newsfeed or people's walls. This indicates to me that I did in fact have an addiction when the very sight of it's blue and white blocky goodness provoked such a desire in me. But I resisted. :)
3.The final and maybe most important...I have yet to find ONE thing that I'm missing.
I believe that without constantly checking it, my life may have changed for the better. I'm not going to say that for sure right now. But it most definitely has not changed for the worse. Short of realizing that I've probably missed an opportunity to tell a lot of people "Happy Birthday," I can't think of anything I've missed. I've turned back to email, a place to connect with real friends where it's kind of awkward to just throw two sentences out there, a form of communication that forces something a little more substantial. I find that not knowing what is going on in everyone else's life is great. If they want to tell me, they will and I don't have the stress of trying to keep up.
And I've had a friend who jumped in the facebook break with me and it's so encouraging to have someone who is willing to give that up too, just to see what comes of it.
We'll see how long it last...but for right now, I'm not going back anytime soon.
1. The time without it has gone by incredibly fast. Definitely doesn't feel like it's been that long.
2. I really needed to and did get on twice. Once to get someone's email. And once to respond to a message from someone. Both times I had a strong urge to go read my newsfeed or people's walls. This indicates to me that I did in fact have an addiction when the very sight of it's blue and white blocky goodness provoked such a desire in me. But I resisted. :)
3.The final and maybe most important...I have yet to find ONE thing that I'm missing.
I believe that without constantly checking it, my life may have changed for the better. I'm not going to say that for sure right now. But it most definitely has not changed for the worse. Short of realizing that I've probably missed an opportunity to tell a lot of people "Happy Birthday," I can't think of anything I've missed. I've turned back to email, a place to connect with real friends where it's kind of awkward to just throw two sentences out there, a form of communication that forces something a little more substantial. I find that not knowing what is going on in everyone else's life is great. If they want to tell me, they will and I don't have the stress of trying to keep up.
And I've had a friend who jumped in the facebook break with me and it's so encouraging to have someone who is willing to give that up too, just to see what comes of it.
We'll see how long it last...but for right now, I'm not going back anytime soon.
Lessons in Student Ministry: Moments That Make My Heart Smile
Barbara: "Jen...how's your week going?"
Me: "Honestly, it's a little off. I've been feeling a little funky the past couple of days."
Claudia: "It's because you didn't see us last Thursday. You just need our hyperness to keep you smiling."
...I knew there was a reason. :)
Me: "Honestly, it's a little off. I've been feeling a little funky the past couple of days."
Claudia: "It's because you didn't see us last Thursday. You just need our hyperness to keep you smiling."
...I knew there was a reason. :)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Oxygen
Honestly I’m weaker now than I’ve ever been
I hate to admit, I’m shamefully hesitant
In this my bitter cold, I surrendered my hope
When I gave into the lie again
I believed the untruth, and now I need you
Still something says
Hold on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
Something says hold on on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
And if I could breathe you in
I’ll be sure to hold my breath
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
So here I stand once again
Open me and come on in
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
It’s painfully evident
That uncertainty is life
And I’m still a child
Tossed by the waves again
So quick to deny, and master to hide
Still something says
Hold on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
Something says hold on on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
And if I could breathe you in
I’ll be sure to hold my breath
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
So here I stand once again
Open me and come on in
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
~Building 429
I hate to admit, I’m shamefully hesitant
In this my bitter cold, I surrendered my hope
When I gave into the lie again
I believed the untruth, and now I need you
Still something says
Hold on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
Something says hold on on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
And if I could breathe you in
I’ll be sure to hold my breath
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
So here I stand once again
Open me and come on in
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
It’s painfully evident
That uncertainty is life
And I’m still a child
Tossed by the waves again
So quick to deny, and master to hide
Still something says
Hold on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
Something says hold on on through the moonlight
Don’t let go, don’t let go
And if I could breathe you in
I’ll be sure to hold my breath
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
So here I stand once again
Open me and come on in
Cause you are like oxygen
Bringing me to life
~Building 429
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