There can be a million distractions while driving and the laws restricting cell phone usage and texting are an attempt to minimize diversions. But I have to admit one of my greatest distractions is reading bumper stickers.  I am simply intrigued by some of the philosophical nuggets that can be gleaned from those little pieces of adhesive.

I have been known to pull so close to the car in front of me in an effort to read the bumper sticker that I almost trigger road rage. But you have to admit that there is nothing worse than reading the large print and then not being able to read the small print punch line.

So the other day my wife and I were driving and I saw the COEXIST bumper sticker, which I had seen many times before but this time was different. The COEXIST bumper sticker has been surrounded by controversy since its creation by Piotr Mlodozeniec, a graphic designer from Poland. He first created it in response to an art contest sponsored by the Museum on the Seam for Dialogue, Understanding and Coexistence which is an organization located in Jerusalem.

The design originally represented Christianity, Judaism and Islam but has been changed by some to add Wiccan, the symbol for male/female and the Chinese yin-yang. Most people will tell you that it is simply a symbol of peaceful coexistence between all religions and is not meant to be an ecumenical blending of them…thus some of the controversy.

I recently had a conversation with a group of Millennial generation students. We discussed the “Don’t all roads lead to Heaven?” debate they frequently face on their campuses. I have often referred to this generation as Mosaics because they formulate their lives and philosophies taking pieces from multiple belief systems, mores and philosophical perspectives.

They tend to be comfortable with contradiction so combining belief systems is not difficult. They may enthusiastically embrace Jesus Christ and then add a little eastern mysticism plus other religions rituals, thus the belief that “all roads lead to Heaven.” You can see why the COEXIST movement would be appealing to them.

The point of my blog is not to debate the bumper sticker, its meaning or what anyone believes it means. My point is that it is symbolic not just of theological debate but cultural reality. We should know exactly what we believe and why we believe it.

However, if we cannot communicate those beliefs clearly to a generation who hears with their eyes and sees with their hearts, then does it matter?

This bumper sticker communicates clearly with basic symbols. How are we communicating our message of grace, forgiveness and hope?

If you are like me, you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them.  “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss. 

Top Trends of 2011: Millennials Rethink Christianity

The Christian community is struggling to remain connected with the next generation of teens and young adults. In particular, the church is “losing” many young creatives (like designers, artists, writers, musicians, and actors) as well as young science-minded students (such as medical students, engineers, biologists and mathematicians).

Read the full article here

You Can Help Teen Girls Combat Sexual Abuse

One in five girls in the United States is sexually abused each year. Licensed clinical psychologist Kalyani Gopal says five simple steps can help you teach girls how to avoid abuse or survive it if they are abused.

Of those who are abused, some do not disclose sexual abuse until they are much older. The most common perpetrators are boyfriends, step-parents and relatives, with 80 percent of the perpetrators being within the birth family.

Read the full article here

Teenagers Want Face Time More Than Texting Time - Alicia Eler

Despite all of the technology available to teenagers today, they still prefer meeting IRL to texting and "liking" each others' Facebook statuses.

Read the full article here

Ultimate purpose and meaning: Some say they pursue it, others do not - Chris Turner

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A recent LifeWay Research study found that Americans with even a slight curiosity about an ultimate purpose to life are more likely to participate in worship services, while half of those who never attend church never wonder about life's ultimate purpose.

Approximately 75 percent of the 2,000 adults surveyed nationally indicate that they either agree or strongly agree with the statement, "There is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person's life." However, 50 percent of respondents who never attend worship services disagree with the statement.

Read the full article here

It you have read any of the latest reports on the You Tube, then you are probably just about as baffled as I am at some of the statistics. The following statistics were taken from YouTube's Reach Begins to Eclipse Television, by Jon Mitchell January 23, 2012.

• 4 billion videos per day are served up by You Tube.
• YouTube users upload one hour of video every second (YouTube video graphic).
• At the end of 2011, YouTube reported that it served a trillion videos last year.
• Assuming the trillion number to be accurate, that is about 140 views for every living human being.

With these statistics in mind, let me mention a couple of random thoughts to ponder as it relates to youth ministry:

Today, when researching a topic, one of the places many students include in their data search is You Tube. I do not remember the last time I talked to a teen or college student who did not refer me to a You Tube video on some topic whether serious or humorous.

In light of its popularity I think this should be a tool we maximize as youth leaders. I know you can overdo a good thing but this is a great method for illustrating sermons, devotionals or bible studies. It is also a useful “group dynamic” for involving students’ right on the spot in your youth meetings. With so many of the teens having smartphones or iPads it would not be difficult to pull this off. Why not divide them into small groups and have them find a You Tube video to illustrate a particular point or truth in your lesson.

Just like anything else that can be used for good, there is also an opportunity for evil. For that reason I suggest every parent and youth leader address the issues associated with any internet tool like YouTube. The porn industry and anybody with a perverted agenda has learned to link their garbage to key words that have nothing to do with their message. Be proactive in teaching students how to navigate these dark waters.

So, how have you used YouTube to enhance your youth ministry? What creative ways have your teens used it?

If you are like me you try to read as many articles, blogs and books as possible but just cannot catch all of them. “In Case You Missed It” is my way of pointing out a few “reads” that I think are too good to miss. 

 

9 Keys to Reaching College Students - J. D. Greear and Rupert Leary

There are three well-established facts regarding Christianity and college students that ought to capture the attention of any gospel-loving pastor:

1. College is a time of unprecedented openness to all things, including the gospel.
2. Many awakenings, both major and minor, have started through college students.
3. There is a disturbing age gap in many of our congregations caused by the absence of this group.

We learned the following nine lessons along the way as our college ministry grew and flourished in an area that features many prominent universities.

Read the full article here

 

Why I Teach at the BI - Ray Pritchard

This picture tells you all you need to know.

I’m in there somewhere, along with about 175 students. We took the picture after the final session on Daniel this morning. Since Tuesday I’ve had the privilege of teaching these students for 10 hours.

Someday soon they will be pastors and missionaries.
Someday soon they will be youth pastors.
Someday soon they will be leading churches around the world.

Who wouldn’t want a chance to influence young people like that?

Read the full article here

“Oh it is just a fad he’s going though!  Give him a little time and he will get over it.” Those were the words I heard one of my friends at school telling another friend shortly after I trusted Christ as my Savior. These were good friends but my new way of thinking had all of us confused.

You see my life radically changed when I said “Yes” to Jesus just like the Apostle Paul describes it in 2 Corinthians 5:17. I had different desires, goals and was excited about my new found faith. As a young and naïve believer I could not understand why everyone was not excited about my decision. I was baffled as to why they did not want to make the same decision to know Jesus that I had made.

I know that the students in our youth ministries face this all the time. They come to our churches, events or camps and make life-changing decisions that we applaud and then go back into a world where they are anything but celebrated. I am grateful for the youth leaders at my church who poured their lives into me. They helped me navigate some difficult waters and build a solid faith foundation.

So how do we help our students establish a 47 year - or should I say life-long - fad?

• Make sure we start by sharing the message of the Gospel clearly: Jesus died, was buried and rose again from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:1-3)
• Realize that, depending on their home situation, your role as a youth leader may be anything from a coach to a surrogate parent.
• Define that role quickly and make sure that the student is being discipled.
• Surround them with a support system of peers and adult leaders who encourage their faith walk.
• Get the student involved in your church’s ministry opportunities where he/she can share their faith and see others come to Christ.
• Encourage the student to take at least one international short-term missions trip to help expand their world.
• Never stop encouraging the student about their daily surrender to God’s Will.  

I know that many times we see students make decisions at our youth meetings, churches or camps and we wonder if they “really mean it.” I personally struggle when I hear people talk like that because I believe they all “mean it.” I think that more of them would follow through if we as leaders followed up.  

I know I am glad the people of Ridgecrest Baptist Church did not just sit back and wait for me to fail but decided to invest their lives in me.

By the way, this is on my heart because today, January 17is my 47^th spiritual birthday…and this is my 47 year fad I just can’t get over!

* Image created by some of the more creative people with a unique sense of humor!

“When you die young, circumstances and stuff matter less because self no longer demands to be pleased but to serve the one who pleases.” (p. 31) The concept of dying young has little to do with our chronological age and everything to do with our will.

In their book released by Crossway, Die Young: Burying Your Self in Christ, Hayley and Michael Dimarco examine this counter-cultural lifestyle defined in scripture. With solid biblical references as well as personal illustrations they boldly address topics that are vital for every believer.

Topics such as “Death is the New Life, Down is the New Up and Less is the New More” reveal to the reader that this is not your typical self-help book.  There are no “three easy steps to” to Christian growth listed, just a solid look at what the Bible has to say about sanctification. 

The transparency of both authors is refreshing. Throughout the book they allow the reader glimpses into their own lives and the way they have personally navigated the issues being discussed in that chapter. This gives the book an added sense of credibility that it has been forged on the anvil of their lives and not just on the pages of the book.

I think both teens and adults would find the book to be practical for personal spiritual growth. All of us struggle with self-centeredness and Hayley and Michael strike at this core issue. I think they say it well on page 40: “So death is the new life for those who have been buried in Christ, who have given up the right to themselves and thrown themselves headlong into the arms of the Father.”

[Disclosure of Material Connection: Crossway sent me a free review copy of this book. I was not asked to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”]

(Guest post by Betsi Calhoun*)

This phrase was coined by a young man after climbing all 29,035 feet of Mt. Everest and reaching its summit...at age 13.  I recently watched as he sat with his dad and stepmom and relayed the story in an interview with Ann Curry on NBC news.  On Christmas Day 2011, then 15 year old Jordan Romero reached the peak of Mt. Vincent Massif in Antarctica, making him the youngest person ever to climb all seven of the highest peaks in the world. 

When asked if this was just a hobby or recreational adventure, he answered “No, we take this seriously.  It’s not just sport. It’s a lifestyle for us.”  He explained how their family lived in Big Bear, California, and climbing mountains is what they’ve always done together. 

Jordan will settle for a while before he picks his next big challenges in life.  But he wants everyone who learns about his accomplishments to realize that they too can set a high goal of their own and reach it. Thus his new catch phrase: “Find your own Everest!”  Perhaps this phrase in Biblical terms might parallel the words of Caleb in Joshua 14:12 when he stated in no uncertain terms “I want that mountain!” and then had faith to believe that wherever he stepped, God had already given him that territory. 

As we work with young people, we must realize that we are motivating and activating young minds, bodies and spirits who can accomplish anything God puts on their hearts to do!  Our goal is to help them “Find their own Everests,” while equipping them with the tools and guidance for reaching the peaks of their potential for Christ!

Jordan could not have accomplished his phenomenal goal without the tireless help, support and presence of his parents as well as the guides and paramedics who accompanied him on each climbing trip. What are you doing right now to produce a risk-taker for Christ in your youth group?  Who is your “Jordan”?   

*Guest blogger: Betsi Calhoun is married to Mike and is the mother of three children, a teacher, discipler, writer and encourager. She edits all of Mike’s blog posts and he thought it was time you heard from her.

Do you ever feel like you have nothing to say? Have you ever peered into your blank computer screen knowing you had to write that devotional, sermon, article, book or blog and just could not bring yourself to strike the first letter on the keyboard?

 I think all of us want to communicate clearly. We want to make a difference with our spoken and written words. The problem is sometimes we just don’t have anything inside the reservoir of our souls that we can tap into. Consider the following verses:

 

• 1 Chronicles 12:32 (NKJV)
  Of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

• Acts 7:22 (NKJV)
  And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

• Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)
  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

• Titus 2:1 (NKJV)
  But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

• 1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)
  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

So how are we to be people who are?

• understanding of the times
• mighty in words and deeds
• speaking appropriately
• teaching correct doctrine
• ministering in God’s power?

 

Let me suggest three vital “life habits” that will help prevent speaker's block:

Develop the Personal Practice of Reading.

• 58% of the U.S. adult population has never read another book after high school.
• 42% of U.S. university graduates have never read another book.  (Making Disciples of Oral Learners, Page 57)

 Develop the Personal Discipline of Studying.

•  Never stop learning, be curious and make this a part of your life.
• “If you stop learning and reading, then purchase one last newspaper and search the obituaries for your name.”

 Develop the Personal Craft of Writing.

• Write something every day whether it be an email, a journal entry or blog.
• Learn to craft Your words: “Genius is the ability to reduce the complicated to the simple.” C. W. Ceran
• Read a Grammar book to fine-tune your writing.

Josh McDowell, speaking to kids who were preparing for ministry, said this: “If you want to prepare for effective ministry then be an English major; if you cannot communicate you will not minister.”

 

 

I leave you with three quotes that motivate me to speak from the overflow of my life and not to bluff.

•  “Of those who say nothing, few are silent.” Thomas Neill
•  “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving evidence of the fact.” George Eliot
•  “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.” W.C. Fields 

(An Update on Nathan Shoultz)

Mindy (Nathan’s “little” sister) was beaming as she came out of the Intensive Care Unit sharing this incredible story. She told me that Nathan’s blood pressure had been high and the nurses were concerned. They needed to give him some additional medication but really wanted to wait hoping there would be a change.

“That’s when it hit me, Nathan always does his Quiet Time each day so I decided to read it to him and pray.” She went on to say, “As I read the Quiet Time to him, his blood pressure began to come down on the monitor. When the nurse returned, she said ‘whatever you are doing keep doing it…it is definitely helping.’”

So did the Word of God have anything to do with his blood pressure?

Was his sister’s voice simply calming?

Did her prayer really work?

Did the blood pressure stabilize on its own?

I will leave that for others to debate, as for me I know how the Word of God has been the calming agent in my life many times, so:

I immediately thought of two things, the first was Psalm 119:107, I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! Nathan is truly severely afflicted right now and needs the life that only comes for God.

I also thought of how Nathan has been one of the major contributors to the creation of the Word of Life Online Quiet Time Diary. He has worked tirelessly on this project and I believe it will prove to be one of the most effective devotional tools ever created. 

So, even though he cannot personally have his Quiet Time, it not only is being read to him, it is being used around the world by people every day. You can see this devotional tool at http://quiettimediary.com/

From this point forward if you want to get updates on Nathan, here is a link that will be kept current on his progress http://nathanshoultz.wol.org/blog/shoultz

I am taking a reprieve from the topic I had planned to cover in my blog today to ask you to join me in prayer for a special family. Nathan and Beth Shoultz have served with Word of Life for 8 years and are an incredible blessing to this ministry.

On Monday, December 12, 2011, Nathan suffered a stroke at the age of 31. We do not know all the damage caused by the stroke or the prognosis for recovery at this point. I am asking that you pass the word along to your friends, churches and organizations asking them to pray. Nathan and Beth have four small children under the age of 7 with the youngest being only a few weeks old.

I have watched Nathan’s life since he was a young preacher boy in his youth group in Indiana. A gifted preacher and musician, he has ministered within Word of Life in our camps, local church ministries and conferences.

He helped redesign our website and create the online version of our Quiet Time Diary. Recently he was appointed assistant director of both Word of Life Snow Camp and Island.

I do not know what God wants for this young man so I am asking you to pray that God restores him to health, to his family and to future ministry.

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