Why I Gave Up Lunch For Lent
As Lent began to approach this year, I began to reflect on what to give up for Lent. I’m not necessarily one of those who feels that I have to give up something every year. A lot of people give up Coke or chocolate and I don’t understand the point of this. Others give up homework and skydiving because they either don’t want to do those things or know they never will. To me, giving up something for Lent is about sacrifice and learning to live without something. Last year, I did something different and it changed my perspective on a lot of things. I gave up lunch for Lent. First, a little background…
It seems that for the last 6-7 years, I have gone out to eat lunch just about every day of the week (whether I am at work or not). Sometimes, I find that I eat even when I am not hungry just because the clock said noon. Most of the time, I was eating more for the social factor (who I was eating with) than the hunger factor.
As Lent approached last year, I began to think of what sacrifice means and I kept coming back to this definition: giving up something you love but that you don’t need. I loved eating lunch and I loved spending the time with people during lunch. But I began to think that this was something I didn’t need. I didn’t need the social interaction with friends or the continual stuffing of my stomach. Eating lunch like this was beginning to make me think about all of those that didn’t have that opportunity to eat every day and share with friends.
Around this same time, I began taking a class at Asbury Theological Seminary that encouraged each student to focus on John Wesley’s means of grace. One of the means mentioned in the class was the spiritual practice of fasting. Prior to last year, I had participated in the 30 Hour Famine 3-4 times. But that was the extent of my practice in fasting. Fasting is meant to be a time when you don’t eat and allow yourself to pray or meditate on other areas in life that will lead you into a closer relationship with God. When we fast, we find that we have to focus our bodies on God when we feel hungry and the hunger goes away. It builds a stronger dependence on God and moves us into a more intimate relationship with Him.
So given the fact that I was looking to give up something I loved but did not need and really wanted to pursue the discipline of fasting, I opted to give up eating lunch for Lent last year. I quickly realized two things: 1) make sure to eat breakfast and 2) I needed to establish my boundaries so that I was not cheating. I decided that “lunch time” was from 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. It was not easy and I slipped a couple of times. However, I really felt that I was pursuing a more intimate relationship. In place of lunch each day, I committed to pray for a different person each day. It was very deep spiritual awakening for me as I realized that I don’t need to eat lunch every day (especially eat out) and I began to focus on those who needed other things in their lives (food, shelter, companionship, etc.)
Here are three things I would challenge you to think about as you prepare for Lent each year:
- Don’t just give up the same thing you give up every year. Put some thought into it. If we give up the same thing every year, it is obviously not something that is hindering our relationship with God or we are not taking sacrifice seriously enough.
- Think of something that you love but do not need. Maybe it’s Facebook or watching movies. Perhaps it’s eating lunch or parties on the weekend. Challenge yourself to think about something that will be a true sacrifice to you at this time in your life.
- Don’t just focus on “giving up” something this year. We always talk about what we give up for Lent. This year, allow yourself to focus on strengthening your relationship with God through the sacrifice you make. Also, you may find that you want to “take on” something this year – like reading the Bible daily, a more consistent prayer time, etc.
What did you give up for Lent this year? What has been some of the most challenging and inspiring moments of sacrifice for you? I would love to hear your thoughts.
New Name-New Goals-Same Focus
Over the last year or so, I have been chewing on the name Youth Ministry Basics for this blog. These words sum up everything that I want this blog to be…a place to share the basics of youth ministry from volunteer training, resouces and lesson ideas to devotions, spiritual formation and theological tools. So here is the big announcement: Youth Ministry Experience is now Youth Ministry Basics (wow, and I didn’t even get to hold a press conference).
Next week, I will have more information about the goals of this blog. But I want to reassure you that the focus of building community and supporting youth ministry is still the primary focus. You should be aware that if you were subscribing through the RSS feed of Youth Ministry Experience, you may need to make some modifications (or you may not, depending on how it was set up when you subscribed).
I hope you continue to enjoy the blog. Have a great weekend!
Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn’t Last and What Your Church Can Do About It
Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn’t Last and What Your Church Can Do About It - by Mark DeVries
“Years of preparation had made her movements effortless, her turns seamless, her leaps weightless. A dancer of unparalleled talent, she mesmerized the crowd with her skill, but even more with her passion. Her countenance proclaimed in no uncertain terms that she was made for this moment.
But she would finish much sooner than anyone expected. Coming down from an arching leap, she landed with a jolting crack, her foot driving its way through the rotting wood of the floor, her body twisted in pain, her leg bent in places it was not made to bend. She was pulled from the stage wondering if she would ever dance again.
The master of ceremonies dismissively apologized, ‘Inexperience does this to a dancer.’
But no one repaired the floor.
And then, as if nothing had happened, the next performer was introduced. The crowd responded with a smattering applause. But with no one attending to the dance floor, the audience knew that the new dancer would also find her performance ending prematurely with a disappointing, perhaps tragic, conclusion.” (Sustainable Youth Ministry, Mark DeVries, pp. 51-52)
Stories like the one told above are what help to make Sustainable Youth Ministry a great book to read. Mark DeVries, president of Youth Ministry Architects in Nashville, TN, provides a healthy blend of humor and sound reason in his explanation of redefining youth ministry with a systems approach. DeVries’ stories and lessons prophetically reach the ears of too many youth workers who are flying by the seat of their pants and “wingin’ it”.
As the founder and president of Youth Ministry Architects, DeVries and his team of consultants have traveled the country working with churches, pastors, and youth workers to educate and define what a systems approach to youth ministry looks like. DeVries shares several stories from churches who either understood the systems approach or did not understand the systems approach. Some of the stories are funny and some are sad. All illustrate one key point: If a church is serious about establishing a youth ministry for the long term, they need to be intentional about developing a systems approach to building the youth ministry correctly.
Many of DeVries’ principles in the book are not limited to youth ministry. They can be applied to any ministry setting within the church. However, because of his experience with youth ministry, nearly all of DeVries’ examples and techniques are written in the language of youth ministry. It would require the leader of another ministry area to understand the truth behind the illustration or technique and adapt to their setting.
DeVries’ principles are simple and easy to follow. Many of the principles that he urges readers to establish for youth ministry are the same principles being urged in corporate America by managers and CEO’s. They are key leadership principles that help every leader lead their organization or ministry. Some of DeVries’ principles include control documents, planning, communication, strategic planning, recruitment of a team, etc. The overarching theme behind each of the principles is proper planning in building the right system. DeVries’ urges all of his readers to think ahead and plan for your ministry.
This book is a must read for all youth workers, pastors, and church leaders. Whether you are new to youth ministry or a veteran, DeVries provides great insight and teaching into developing a stronger and more sustainable youth ministry at your church.
Monday Morning Randomness
My Weekend Recap: This weekend was crazy and eventful…but was the culmination of an even crazier week! Let’s start with the good: Saturday night, we had Micah Watson Band and The Oswald Brothers play a concert at Simpsonwood. The concert was a benefit concert to raise funds for the Haiti Relief Effort. Our church’s goal is to raise at least $10,000. We had over 300 people join us on Saturday night for what turned out to be an amazing evening of rock and roll and worship. Both bands were incredible and we raised almost $2000 for the Haiti Relief Effort. Unfortunately, as awesome as the concert was…it was overshadowed this week by the death of a lot of good people. The week started with the death of my grandmother and ended with the death of the mother of our administrator. We also lost an influential teacher in our community, a good friend’s dad and another friend’s aunt. It was a wide range of emotions for a lot of people this week. On a lighter note, this was the first time in 10 years that I did not have a Super Bowl party to go to and I watched the game in the comfort of my own home and relaxed. It was nice to be able to do that, especially after the last week.
This upcoming week: Compared to last week, this week looks extremely mild! I’ll start my new classes today and regroup and get ready for upcoming programs and events. We have already begun our summer planning at the church and now it is time to start taking registrations for mission trips and retreats. Now that we have the last five weeks in the rear view mirror, I would love to be able to do some intentional strategic planning for our youth ministry for the next 3-5 years.
Not looking forward to: Classes start today and I wish I had another week to recoup after last week. Fortunately, I know that the hardest part of the next few months is nothing compared to the last five weeks. I’m debating a decision on whether I should go to Honduras with our mission team this year. I really want to go, but I think that it may be too much of a burden on my wife with our daughter. I’m going to have to make a decision on that soon and I’m really not looking forward to that!
Book I’m currently reading: I’m still not currently reading anything, but that will change tonight when I start reading John Wesley by Albert Outler for my class this semester. It’s so intriguing and I know that everyone will run out to buy that book, so I will spare you the synopsis (and a link)!
Recent Music Addiction: Obviously, I really enjoy the music of Micah Watson Band and The Oswald Brothers Band. They were awesome in concert. I’ve had the song “Rubberband Man” from The Spinners (made popular by the Office Max commercials with a character by the same name in 2004) stuck in my head for the last couple of days. What can I say…I love music from the 70’s! It’s pretty catchy.
Attitude Right Now: Drained and Grieving! Last week was such an emotional week. I’m hoping for a calm week this week.
Have a great week!
Influence
This week, I had planned to post more about our upcoming concert this weekend at Simpsonwood and how much you would enjoy the concert. But on Tuesday morning, I received a phone call that I had been dreading for quite some time (although I knew it was inevitable). My dad was on the other end telling me that my grandmother had died during the night. My grandmother was 96 years old and had lived a wonderful life. For the last 3 years, she had been living in a nursing home outside of Macon, GA, not aware of much that was going on around her. To be honest, I was partially relieved that she was no longer in pain (she had battled shingles for the last 25 years) and that she was no longer confused. But I was still hurting because it also meant that I had lost a loved one.
Many people speak about the influences in our lives. My grandmother was a huge influence in my life. Even though we had always lived away from each other and I never spent much time alone with her, she was someone who lived her faith. She was the kindest person I’ve ever met and it was a kindness that extended beyond family to complete strangers. At the funeral, my wife commented on the number of people who showed up to express their gratitude at what she had meant to them or done for them. My grandmother was always reading the Bible and praying and she was the type of person that when she said “I’m praying for you”, you knew you were being prayed for. When I told my grandmother my calling to enter ministry, she gave me a book of old church bulletins and notes that she had taken throughout the years. She showed me the things that had helped her in her faith and shared about the old preachers who use to deliver the powerful messages. She was a godly woman.
The other influence to me was her marriage. Before my grandfather’s death in 2006, the two of them had shared 70 years of marriage. They were lifelong partners and shared in everything. They worked together, they played together, they were a great team. As I think of examples for my marriage, the two that I think of will always be my grandparents and my parents. It is because of this example that I am able to share joy with my grief by knowing that she is once again beside my grandfather.
During times of death, many people will comfort you by saying things like, “They’re in a better place” and “We’ll see them again.” For many, these are words of comfort because they are not sure if their loved ones believed in Christ. Yesterday, as I heard these words spoken to my family and me, it was more than comfort…it was truth. I knew that I would see her again. I don’t know when, but I know it will happen. And when we get together on the other side of the pearly gates, we will have some of her fried chicken, sweet tea and coconut ice box pie.
Who are some of the people that have influenced you in your life? Who has had an influence on your spiritual journey and/or ministry?
Monday Morning Randomness
My Weekend Recap: This weekend was a nice combination of relaxation and stress. I finished my Systematic Theology earlier in the week and have been able to take a few nights off of reading and studying. However, we putting on a big concert for Haiti Relief on Saturday night and I have been overly consumed the last week and a half with publicity and ticket sales. I did enjoy a fun day at Monkey Joes with Kayla and Michele and got a chance to relax and watch a movie with Michele on Saturday (a rarity these days!).
This upcoming week: This weekend, we are having our 3rd annual Winter Concert at Simpsonwood. We will have the Micah Watson Band and The Oswald Brothers playing this year. It’s going to be an awesome event and I can’t wait. As of now, we have almost 200 people coming and all I can say is that this concert will not fail from lack of publicity. We decided a couple of weeks ago that all of the money raised would go to support the Haiti Relief effort as a part of our church’s goal to raise $10,000. If you want information on how you can come to the concert, you can e-mail me (I plan to have a full post announcing the benefits for youth workers later this week). Also, LOST premieres with their final season on Tuesday night. I can’t wait to start the final season. I’m addicted to that show. Besides the concert and LOST, I’m looking forward to watching the Super Bowl with my family this year (this will be the first Super Bowl since 2001 that I have not been at the church or church function, my wife and I don’t even know who to call to watch the game…we are kind of lame like that!)
Not looking forward to: My next set of classes start on February 8. I’m really enjoying school and enjoy the material, but I have been going non-stop for a full year and look forward to graduation and being finished with this chapter in my life. I don’t want to rush the process, but I look forward to the day when I can read for fun again and have time to dedicate to other areas of my life.
Book I’m currently reading: I’m currently not reading anything. Since I have a few days off before the next class starts, I am giving my brain a rest and focusing on the concert this week. Although by the end of the week, I will probably have started reading for my next two classes.
Recent Music Addiction: I have been enjoying the new releases from Micah Watson Band’s new CD due out later this month entitled Daughters & Sons. They have some really good stuff (Check it out here). Our praise band also played a song last week entitled “Lead Me To The Cross” and I have not stopped singing it all week. It’s a very good song and I love to hear the band play it (Side note: our praise band is opening for the two bands this weekend and their set list is a lot of songs they rock on! I might be as excited about seeing them as I am about seeing the other two bands).
Attitude Right Now: Anxious! I can’t wait for Saturday night. It’s going to be awesome and I am really looking forward to it. (P.S. LOST premieres this Tuesday night…pretty anxious about that premiere also!)
Have a great week!
Youth Ministry 3.0: A Manifesto of Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We Need To Go- Mark Oestreicher
Youth Ministry 3.0: A Manifesto of Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We Need To Go- by Mark Oestreicher
As the former president of Youth Specialties, Mark Oestreicher (or Marko) has witnessed all types of youth ministers and youth ministries over the years. Marko compiles his observations of the history of youth ministry and casts a vision for the future of youth ministry on the pages of his most recent book, Youth Ministry 3.0.
This book does a great job of covering the history of youth ministry and explaining the last 60 years of youth ministry and the evolution of youth ministry within the church. Marko’s analysis of the past is spot on and brings to light many mishaps in youth ministry, but also sheds light on many victories in youth ministry, including the establishment of Young Life, Youth Specialties, parachurch organizations, and more churches focusing resources and efforts on the teenage culture.
But Marko uses the past to help cast a vision for the future. He explains how the old way of “doing” youth ministry will not work with today’s youth culture. If youth ministries are going to remain effective at reaching kids, they must evolve into a new kind of youth ministry that works with a post-modern mindset. “If Youth Ministry 1.0 allowed culture to inform its language and topics, and if Youth Ministry 2.0 allowed culture to inform its methods and measurements of success, then Youth Ministry 3.0 needs to allow culture to inform contextualization.” (72) Marko emphasizes the need for communion and mission in Youth Ministry 3.0.
The most interesting component of this book was the dialogue taking place in the margins. Marko is the author of a blog at www.whyismarko.com and he shares comments and thoughts from other youth ministers on the topics he writing about in this book. He has made this book a living book and demonstrates the Youth Ministry 3.0 model in doing so.
If you are a youth minister and plan to continue working with kids for more than 2 weeks or if you are pursuing a calling into youth ministry, this is book is a must-read. Not only will it help you to understand the history of youth ministry (quite frankly, there are other books out there that are better at that component), but this could be one of the best books at casting the vision for the future of youth ministry.
Monday Morning Randomness
My Weekend Recap: This past weekend, I was down in Saint Simons, Georgia, for our annual Confirmation Retreat. It was a great trip and we all had a lot of fun. St. Simons is a beautiful place to be and the weather was awesome (except for the rain; still much better than 2-3 inches of snow and cold temps for a week). We had over 40 people with us and it was a lot of fun getting to know the new 6th graders. Our high school students who led did a wonderful job and it made me so proud to see them sharing their faith and teaching about the fundamentals of faith to the younger kids.
This upcoming week: This week will be packed full of reading. I’m still working through my books for my Theology class. It takes forever to read theology books because they are so packed full of knowledge and insight. On Saturday, our youth are doing a talent show fundraiser at the church to raise money for missions. This will be our second year doing this. Last year, it was a lot of fun.
Not looking forward to: Reading! There once was a time when I enjoyed reading. Then I went back to school and they took that joy from me and replaced with 1,000 pages of theology and philosophy.
Book I’m currently reading: Still reading Theology As History and Hermeneutics. I did not complete my goal from last week. I hope to finish that book by tonight and have started the next book, The Wesleyan Quadrilateral: A Model of Evangelical Theology. This should be a fun week!
Recent Music Addiction: I’ve been promoting a concert at our church that will be on February 6 with Micah Watson Band and The Oswald Brothers. It is going to be an awesome concert (tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at www.simpsonwoodyouth.com or by calling our church office at 770-441-2181). The music is awesome and last week I got an e-mail from Micah Watson Band with a link for a song off their new album Daughters & Sons. It sounded great and I am really excited about this concert. You can more from Micah Watson Band by clicking here and The Oswald Brothers by clicking here.
Attitude Right Now: Stressed! Too much to do in too little time. I will be able to relax and unwind some after the concert on February 6 (just in time for spring classes to start). Good news on the horizon…LOST premieres with the final season on Tuesday, February 2! I can’t wait.
Have a great week!
Monday (or Tuesday) Morning Randomness
My Weekend Recap: It’s been a crazy two weeks! I just returned from Asbury (Kentucky campus) on Saturday night after spending a week in class learning about systematic theology. At the time, I didn’t think I was retaining a lot of information; but as I have been explaining the class to people, I find that I can regurgitate stuff I didn’t know was possible. It was an interesting class taught by one of the smartest people I have ever met. However, it is definitely one of those classes that will take some time to understand the material and appreciate the concepts. Aside from the class time, I spent a lot of time trying to stay warm. The temperature never reached above freezing and there was 2-3 inches of snow every day. I had to postpone leaving a day; but that wasn’t too bad because I was able to catch up on a lot of things.
This upcoming week: Now the class in KY is behind me, I have to focus on my job at the church again. Today was my first day back in the office for 3 weeks and I realized just how far out of the loop and behind I was. I will spend all of this week and next catching up, cleaning up and preparing for the next 5 months of curriculum, discussion outlines, programs, etc. It’s tiresome and tedious, but by establishing all of this up front, it allows for more ministry time with the kids during the rest of the year. I will also be preparing for the Confirmation Retreat this weekend (as opposed to last week, the temps will be in the 60s…loving it!)
To Do List: Prepare for the Confirmation Retreat, Map out discussion outlines for SNL thru May, Continue reading for my class, and prepare Bible studies for high school students.
Not looking forward to: There is really not anything that I am not looking forward to this week. We leave for our retreat on Friday and this is always one of my favorite. I guess I’m not looking forward to the 5 1/2 hour drive to St. Simons, but I know the end result is worth it. I do have a church council meeting at the end of the month that I am not looking forward to. It seems that church politics have been heightened by the downturn in the economy. These types of meetings weren’t too much fun to begin with, now they rank just below a double root canal being done by a blind chimpanzee (I’ve never had this one done, but I have a friend of a friend whose sister knows a guy that says this is painful).
Book I’m currently reading: Theology As History and Hermeneutics (I’m not even going to provide the link for this one because no one in their right mind would actually read this book if given the choice). This is one of the books for my class this month. It is only interesting to those who are seeking an MDiv degree or studying Theology or Philosophy (and I can make a really good argument about how it is not even interesting to those people). My goal is to finish this book before leaving town on Friday.
Recent Music Addiction: Jimmy Buffett (“The Buffett Hotel”). I listened to this album about 6 times driving to and from KY last week. After sitting in a theology class and listening to this album so much, I’m starting to develop theology based on Jimmy Buffett. I wonder how that will change the post-modern structure of the church.
Attitude Right Now: Refreshed! I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but it was nice to be back in the office today. All of the problems from the past year seem to be smaller than I remembered. I’ve made it a goal (because I hate resolutions!) to have a more positive attitude with things at the church and not let the little things get in the way of the big purpose. This is going to be a great year!
Have a great week!
Monday Morning Randomness (I’m Back v. 2.0)
DISCLAIMER: This is not a mistake. This is an actual post. While many thought that Matt Parker had disappeared from the world of blogging, he simply was too lazy to update for 2/3 the amount of time a woman carries a child (that’s six months for those who did no’t pay attention in middle school Heath class).
Here it is (after a 6½ month hiatus)…Feliz Navidad!.
My Weekend Recap (extended): I have a confession to make…I have been lazy with blogging, obviously! When I first started blogging, I thought it would be fun and I could channel my inner creative energies into something productive. But I get tired from reading and work and just want to sleep. Over the last six months, I have been working, taking classes and spending much needed time with my family. All three of these were short changed by each other. However, I have been keeping a list of ideas that I wanted to blog about once I returned. My goal (or resolution as we say at this time of year) is to blog at least 2-3 times each week and do a better job of keeping up with this blog. Real quick six month recap: Church has been turmoil—too much politics and not enough love; my daughter is growing up too quick, but she is developing a wildly contagious personality and I love spending time with her and playing games; School has been tough. I have upped my workload and decided to pursue a double masters (Masters of Divinity and Masters of Arts in Youth Ministry). I’m still not sure what I will do with these degrees, but I know that God will reveal this to me when it is time.
This upcoming week: I’m off work this week (I did get an iPhone for Christmas—this leads me to question if I will ever be “off” work again). However, I leave for Kentucky next week for a week long class on Praxis and Theology. I have to read about 5 books (close to 1000 pages) this week. I don’t think it is possible, but I am going to try.
To Do List: Read, read, read! In addition to that, I have to begin (or continue) preparing for Confirmation at the church (starts January 10). I love Confirmation and this year we are going to St. Simons for the retreat.
Not looking forward to: The Method and Praxis in Theology in Kentucky. The class sounds like it will be a tough one to comprehend. Right now, my brain is still mush from the fall semester and I am not in the mindset to start “fresh” with a January class.
Book I’m currently reading: I just started reading God and History by Laurence Wood (side note: he is the professor for the class I am taking—I’m not a big fan of professors who make you read their books as part of their class. He has us reading two of them.) I have also been working on The Space Between: A Parent’s Guide to Teenage Development by Walt Mueller. So far, a good book. I’m enjoying reading about the similarities and differences of teenagers throughout different generations and the psychological development of the adolescent.
Recent Music Addiction: It’s time to put away the Christmas CDs. It’s really a shame that we only listen to that music only once a year. I have developed a nice collection of some Christian artists singing some of the classic Christmas songs. Other than Christmas music, I’m listening to Foo Fighters, DecembeRadio and David Crowder Band (I have really enjoyed their new CD entitled “Church Music”).
Attitude Right Now: Exhausted! I’m looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, every time I reach the end of the tunnel, I turn and have another one to climb out of. Oh well, no rest for the weary is a cliché I have chosen to live by for the next few years.
Have a great week!
YMNews.com
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- Peter the Magnificent. (Deep Thoughts by Gman) March 8, 2010
- The Best 5 Minutes of Your Life... (Life on Life) March 8, 2010
- Effective Communication (Life on Life) March 8, 2010
- Time Out: The race to burn out in ministry (Life in Student Ministry) March 8, 2010
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