Music.....

Music and student ministry go hand in hand. And most of the music that our students listen to is not on KLTY or any other of the Christian radio stations. And as I've stated before, I think that's okay. There is much truth to be learned in the poetry of today's artists. I know, for me, songwriting and music are itches that have to be scratched. Most of us have outlets for stress, anxiety, etc.... music and sports are mine.

Music is just an emotional tool that can communicate feelings and thoughts that resonate with most of us. We remember lyrics and songs and are instantly transported to another day and time when we hear the song on the radio or ipod. The students today are no different and quite possibly more in tune than we were because of the access they have to an entire globe of music.

Well... if music is that big of a part of these kids lives then using it in our ministries becomes crucial to connecting these kids to the message and to other people. The music we use in our services must be engaging and purposeful. I love using our student leaders to help them learn how to engage their peers through the medium of music in order to lead them into the throne room of God.

One of the ways that our kids respond to music is by seeing others engaged and worshipping through music. It helps tremendously when our students see adults engaged in the music of worship. I love being a part of a service where people are singing their praises to God. He hears our heart. And I believe that music was created to soften the heart and open the mind so that we may hear from God through all phases of the worship service.

Take some time to encourage our student worship team and their efforts at leading us in worship each week. Music is a creative outlet that begs to be shared and used. Those who have the ability and talent to play or sing, and choose to use that to lead their peers, need to be encouraged to continue to seek out how to deliver truth through music. Take a look at the article below.....Andy Stanley on Music.

http://www.catalystspace.com/content/read/music_matters_stanley/

Have a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year. And thank you so much for all you do for the students here at Firewheel. I love you guys.

What Are We Doing?

There's a new catch word in the christian world today...... missional. What does that mean? For so many this means going places and doing things for those that are "less fortunate." But is this really what God meant when he said to go and make disciples of all nations?

I've always felt there was more to my calling as a Christ follower than to just go and do. The church I grew up in seemed to be a place where those who were privileged enough to be visited and invited to come back could join and become part of that family. But what about "the family," not just that family. My thoughts were constantly going back to... what about my friends that aren't at this church? I may not have acted on those convictions all the time, but I was always wondering what it would look like for the church to infiltrate the culture around us.

I've been reading the book Missional Renaissance by Reggie McNeal. It has some incredible insight into what it looks like to be the church in our culture. One of the things that has really resonated with me is the statement that "people deserve to be blessed simply because they are people, not just so we can witness to them." Look at that statement. How many times do we "minister" to people with the intent of bringing them into our church family? That is so not Jesus.

God wants relationship with people and He has put us in charge of bringing that message to everyone.... whether they go to our church or not. When he called us to be His messengers, I believe He meant that to be anywhere we go. We have to be engaged in all aspects of life.

Being in student ministry is unique. Our students are influenced by so many people and things. When we cast our nets we have to be ready to catch all kinds of fish. Some will be in great shape, and some may be broken and bruised. But when they get to the place that God has given us to meet, they must feel that they can come there and drop off the baggage they've been left with and leave free. I'm afraid that sometimes we add baggage to their collection by condemning the actions from which they long to be freed. God wants people to come to Him so that He can free them from what hurts.

Jesus left a heavenly home to come to this jacked up world. The world that we jacked up. Don't forget that none of this was in the original plan, God has been in the redemption business for a long time. Each of us have had much to do with messing the place up. Therefore.... each of us have a responsibility to help lead and guide each other. I want a student ministry that resembles the island of misfit toys. None of us could cast the first stone, so why even pick up the rock in the first place.

Loving each other is not an option, it is a command. Sometimes we have to get our hands dirty. There will be kids show up at our building in need of everything but another condemning voice in their lives. Rather than condemn the actions, lets help them find the redemption that God offers and has been offering since the garden. Lead them to Jesus and allow Him to do the cleaning. Being the church... not just doing church..... that's missional.

Leadership Survey

If you were asked to take the leadership survey, click on the link below for the survey. thanks.

https://integration.fellowshipone.com/integration/FormBuilder/FormBuilder.aspx?
fCode=G1qBpD0iCdz06HbfSpgKxw==&cCode=2irx2fCXM6DrzEQUCbLPVg==

If I Were a Rich Man......

I would not call myself an avid reader. I never have been. But I do like to read stuff pertaining to leadership; cultural trends; students; and a few particular authors that I've come to like.

I was reading some things on current trends and attitudes of today's generation of students and saw a quote by Walt Mueller that caught my eye. "If we're raising our kids to worship the holy trinity of me, myself and I, their eyes never will see beyond themselves to the world's need."

Having worked with students for more than 20 years, and being a parent myself, something that has always concerned me is the growing attitude of entitlement that I see in today's young people. Some of this is a result of our desire for our little ones to have everything they want, to be the best at everything they want to do, and to be able to do everything that they want to do. Slowly, but surely this has contributed to many of our kids losing sight of our responsibility as Christ followers to move out of the comfort of our student buildings and homes to reach those who are alone and hurting in a very dark world.

When we honestly look at our place in the material world, I, you, and everyone of our kids in our student ministry are most likely in the top 1 percent of the world's wealthiest people. Crazy huh? We don't feel wealthy, but the truth is you are one of the world's wealthiest. Sometimes we suffer from "out of sight, out of mind." Here are some suggestions to help rid our kids of that mentality and perhaps help instill a sense of urgency in them for spreading the gospel of Jesus.

1. Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, once prayed "let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." Wow! As we read scripture God's heart for the poor is clear. Help your students read scripture to understand what it means to live as a Christ follower, not just to understand what it means to be a Christian. Seek first the kingdom.....

2. John Piper says that missions isn't only about going but about sending. Our kids need to know that wealth and material things are not wrong, but much is required of those who have been given much. We give our kids here at Firewheel lots of opportunities to live this out, but it seems the same ones show up time after time. This isn't just the case with students......... they only follow the examples given to them. Our challenge is to step up so that our kids see what it looks like, not just hear what it looks like.

Pray today that this generation of students will break some of the materialistic patterns that we may have set for them and live for Christ's calling on their lives. Many of them are worshiping false gods of comfort and success................ "I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods." Psalms 135:5

Small Boats

Here's a video we're going to show the kids at Amp'd and Fuel. It's a great illustration of everyone doing their part to reach those around them for Christ. Check it out.

Here goes....

Well... here we go. I wanted to start this blog to give us another medium to communicate with each other regarding the leading of the students and families here at Firewheel.

This blog will give me, Robert, and Lisa an opportunity to resource you with things that may give some insight, encouragement, advice, etc... on leading this generation of students.

I spent last week in Atlanta at the Catalyst Conference with our Firewheel staff and 13,000 of our closest friends. It was a great week. One of those times when you hear so much good stuff that it takes a while to process everything. The line-up of speakers was great, some that I've heard many times (Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, Rob Bell) and others that I had never heard (Malcolm Gladwell, Perry Noble). I"m still working on some of the things, but wanted to share with you just a little of something I heard from Andy Stanley that has been weighing heavy on my heart.

In Joshua 5:13 Joshua comes face to face with an angel of the Lord. When Joshua asked the man if he was "for us or against us," the man said "neither." What a great answer. Are you with us or against us..... no! Confusing huh? The man then revealed himself as an angel of the Lord that was there "as commander of the Lord's army."

What's the point? The point is.... the angel was not there to be a part of Joshua's story, he was there to see if Joshua wanted to be a part of God's story. Joshua had to decide not to be a man of authority but instead be a man under authority.

We're all invited to be a part of a greater story. God knows the gifts and abilities that He has given you. He wants to know if you're available to allow Him to use you. Charles Stanley once said that it is our responsibility is to God, and to trust Him with the consequences.

I want to encourage you to make yourself a man/woman under the authority of God. Let Him use the gifts and abilities that He has blessed you with to reach those around you at work, school, neighborhood, etc....

Leaders will always leave a mark. What kind of mark will you leave?