Doug Routledge's Notes
Why do people say, I like to think of myself as…” Like when you ask them, “tell me about yourself and they say, “Well, I like to think of myself as a nice hard working person.” Yeah. I guess that would be true. As opposed to a lazy jerk, who wouldn’t? I like to think of myself as a body building Mensa member, But that may not be entirely true. That’s why you can never trust the internet. My space is full of people who like to think of themselves as young, cool trendy types. They write that sitting on their “Little Rascals”, wearing an Old Country Buffet uniform.
The truth is, I don’t like to think of myself too much at all. By the time you get to my age you’ve realized that there is a world outside of your 30 foot aura zone. Most teenagers do not. I am going to start a personality assessment institute just by following people through the mall. Here are a couple of basic personality types.
The Elephant, or slow walking day dreamer. They are at the mall because someone else wanted to be there. They will walk right over you… slowly.
The Hamster, These people are in the mall habitrail. They will always stay to the outside right wall until the entire perimeter has been walked.
The Locust, usually young. They all swarm to things like sales, fountains or each other’s cell phones. A high pitched feeding frenzy sound comes from the swarm every 3.8 seconds.
The Water bug who shifts directions about that fast. Be careful of them. They also stop to start swarms.
The truth is, I don’t like to think of myself too much at all. By the time you get to my age you’ve realized that there is a world outside of your 30 foot aura zone. Most teenagers do not. I am going to start a personality assessment institute just by following people through the mall. Here are a couple of basic personality types.
The Elephant, or slow walking day dreamer. They are at the mall because someone else wanted to be there. They will walk right over you… slowly.
The Hamster, These people are in the mall habitrail. They will always stay to the outside right wall until the entire perimeter has been walked.
The Locust, usually young. They all swarm to things like sales, fountains or each other’s cell phones. A high pitched feeding frenzy sound comes from the swarm every 3.8 seconds.
The Water bug who shifts directions about that fast. Be careful of them. They also stop to start swarms.
I like to think of Cross Country Skis as pre-motorized arctic transportation.
Cats get a lot of press that is not factual. “Look at what the cats dragged in.” What kind of cats do you have?
“Cat got your tongue?” No because if it did, I would sound like this… “MMMMPHHHHMMMPHHHH”. If the cat has my tongue and the tongue is still attached I would sound like this, “OWWWWWWWW!!! TTTHet Go offff Ma THONNNN!”
Curiousity killed the cat. But where I live it looked like a Ford.
A hip person can be called a “cool cat”. Did cats somehow choose their fur. Do they really have a sense of style. Do they drink coffee at Starbucks. Do they listen to John Coltrane. But only when we humans are not looking. Why aren’t dogs cool? It’s true they’re not aloof like cats. They can bring you stuff though. That’s cool!
Now this is interesting. People who own cats are pretty defensive. I know a ton of cat owners who when they say they have a cat they disclaim it. Like,” but we never let it come inside the house.” Or, “But we don’t really like it.” Dog people don’t do this.
The admit that they have a dog and that their dog is what it is. Dog people are like dogs. They think everyone is interested in their stuff. Dog owners think that you want to play with their dogs. Dogs think you want to play with their ball. It’s the same thing. You can’t reject a dog person. They will keep coming back. If they have pictures of a recent trip to the Adirondacks they’re showing them to you.
Cat people don’t care. They went to Budapest. They have pictures somewhere. You’ll never see them.
It cracks me up when you talk to a cat person who says, “Oh but Percy is just like a dog.” It’s funny because Percy is not. Even if Percy was, my question is, Why not just get a dog then?” Dog people upgrade too though. They say, “Bowzer is just like a member of our family, aren’t you Bowzer?” They start talking to the dog as if it speaks baby English. This is funny too. Why not just get a kid?
Why do we humans feel that animals have anything to do with our lives. We’ve been told, “All men are dogs, especially when they run around like an alley cat. She can be mousy. They made out like a bunch of wild animals. I watch a lot of wild life tv and I have never seen this! He’s a wolf, but can be hen-pecked. That’s because she’s as stubborn as a mule... but quite the fox. He’s a rat and a snake. Maybe a ratsnake? Why aren’t any of us chincillas? Or Aarvaarks?
“Cat got your tongue?” No because if it did, I would sound like this… “MMMMPHHHHMMMPHHHH”. If the cat has my tongue and the tongue is still attached I would sound like this, “OWWWWWWWW!!! TTTHet Go offff Ma THONNNN!”
Curiousity killed the cat. But where I live it looked like a Ford.
A hip person can be called a “cool cat”. Did cats somehow choose their fur. Do they really have a sense of style. Do they drink coffee at Starbucks. Do they listen to John Coltrane. But only when we humans are not looking. Why aren’t dogs cool? It’s true they’re not aloof like cats. They can bring you stuff though. That’s cool!
Now this is interesting. People who own cats are pretty defensive. I know a ton of cat owners who when they say they have a cat they disclaim it. Like,” but we never let it come inside the house.” Or, “But we don’t really like it.” Dog people don’t do this.
The admit that they have a dog and that their dog is what it is. Dog people are like dogs. They think everyone is interested in their stuff. Dog owners think that you want to play with their dogs. Dogs think you want to play with their ball. It’s the same thing. You can’t reject a dog person. They will keep coming back. If they have pictures of a recent trip to the Adirondacks they’re showing them to you.
Cat people don’t care. They went to Budapest. They have pictures somewhere. You’ll never see them.
It cracks me up when you talk to a cat person who says, “Oh but Percy is just like a dog.” It’s funny because Percy is not. Even if Percy was, my question is, Why not just get a dog then?” Dog people upgrade too though. They say, “Bowzer is just like a member of our family, aren’t you Bowzer?” They start talking to the dog as if it speaks baby English. This is funny too. Why not just get a kid?
Why do we humans feel that animals have anything to do with our lives. We’ve been told, “All men are dogs, especially when they run around like an alley cat. She can be mousy. They made out like a bunch of wild animals. I watch a lot of wild life tv and I have never seen this! He’s a wolf, but can be hen-pecked. That’s because she’s as stubborn as a mule... but quite the fox. He’s a rat and a snake. Maybe a ratsnake? Why aren’t any of us chincillas? Or Aarvaarks?
My brother and his pet hog that he wishes was a cat.
How I felt at 5:49 a.m. Not much of a lion, really.
This morning at 5:50 a.m. I was out of my bed. That was a true test of devotion because I haven't slept all that well since I got back from the "Gator Hunt." The reason I was up so incredibly and ridiculously early was this verse that has me assessing my faith actions pretty regularly these days. Apparently I was not alone.
I wiped down the chairs in the yard by the prayer chapel, made the coffee, filled the carafe, took out my notes for this first session on leadership development and waited for the students. At 6:30 two students, an adult volunteer, Dawn (my wife) and I spent some sweet time in God's word. The PREP study has begun again. It is an 11 week walk through 1st and 2nd Timothy as we look at the commitment of a spiritual leader.
Each person there this morning made a pretty hefty sacrifice in attending a 6:30 a.m. Bible study. They offered sleep. It struck me as somewhat ironic. Isn't sleep what the disciples couldn't seem to get enough of in the garden? Isn't it sleep that Paul tells us to wake up from. The more busy I get, the more I desire to sleep... and yet, here were two teenage girls and an adult woman. I have to ask where are the men of God.going to come from?
2 Samuel 24:24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So eDavid bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. fSo the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and gthe plague was withdrawn from Israel."
I truly believe that the greater the price we pay for the beliefs we hold, the greater the value to us. That may just be the problem we have in America. We have to go somewhere else to sacrifice. Our faith comes pretty cheap in the US. We as believers also are pretty whimpy in the face of adversity. Next week I am hoping for a few more kids with bags under their eyes. Maybe God will require something of greater value from me this week as well.
When all I am is stripped away,
then all I'll have
Is you Oh Lord.
The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville
I wiped down the chairs in the yard by the prayer chapel, made the coffee, filled the carafe, took out my notes for this first session on leadership development and waited for the students. At 6:30 two students, an adult volunteer, Dawn (my wife) and I spent some sweet time in God's word. The PREP study has begun again. It is an 11 week walk through 1st and 2nd Timothy as we look at the commitment of a spiritual leader.
Each person there this morning made a pretty hefty sacrifice in attending a 6:30 a.m. Bible study. They offered sleep. It struck me as somewhat ironic. Isn't sleep what the disciples couldn't seem to get enough of in the garden? Isn't it sleep that Paul tells us to wake up from. The more busy I get, the more I desire to sleep... and yet, here were two teenage girls and an adult woman. I have to ask where are the men of God.going to come from?
2 Samuel 24:24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So eDavid bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. fSo the Lord heeded the prayers for the land, and gthe plague was withdrawn from Israel."
I truly believe that the greater the price we pay for the beliefs we hold, the greater the value to us. That may just be the problem we have in America. We have to go somewhere else to sacrifice. Our faith comes pretty cheap in the US. We as believers also are pretty whimpy in the face of adversity. Next week I am hoping for a few more kids with bags under their eyes. Maybe God will require something of greater value from me this week as well.
When all I am is stripped away,
then all I'll have
Is you Oh Lord.
The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 . Thomas Nelson: Nashville
Last night in the second part of our Soul Care Seminar for leaders, the world of youth ministry quaked beneath my feet. Out presenter, Doug Cuthburt, was sharing the proper place we take in God's perspective. He also talked about life change, groaning and goals. It was, in a word, incredibly perceptive. We hope to do much more of this sort of thing at the Farm.
Doug will be taking this Soul Care Seminar to Peru for pastors in a little bit. If you weren't able to be there, I wanted you to know how much we missed you and how shaping this material was.
D-
Doug will be taking this Soul Care Seminar to Peru for pastors in a little bit. If you weren't able to be there, I wanted you to know how much we missed you and how shaping this material was.
D-
I was remembering a good period of life the other day. I was taking "Drivers' Training" as a 15 year old. The classes were just awful except for three bright spots.
1. There were the days when you actually got to recklessly endanger real people on the driving course. It was the only period in my life when I would get to drive a brand new car!
2. The movie "Blood on the Pavement" which featured a very sober voice over a montage of fatal traffic accident footage. My take on this movie is that it was like "Death Race 2000... The commentary" Very nice. It taught us all to become "rubbernecks". It also immunized us against fear of death. I understand that they have since replaced the real footage with stick figures. Rivotting.
3. The day that I discovered simulator 14 was broken and did not record my mistakes while driving. I drove with the needle pegged for the next three weeks... the way I drove for the next two years until Officer Metcalf helped me accumulate some real life points along I275.
Yeah. Good times.
1. There were the days when you actually got to recklessly endanger real people on the driving course. It was the only period in my life when I would get to drive a brand new car!
2. The movie "Blood on the Pavement" which featured a very sober voice over a montage of fatal traffic accident footage. My take on this movie is that it was like "Death Race 2000... The commentary" Very nice. It taught us all to become "rubbernecks". It also immunized us against fear of death. I understand that they have since replaced the real footage with stick figures. Rivotting.
3. The day that I discovered simulator 14 was broken and did not record my mistakes while driving. I drove with the needle pegged for the next three weeks... the way I drove for the next two years until Officer Metcalf helped me accumulate some real life points along I275.
Yeah. Good times.
Have you noticed, and how could you help it, how doctors and nurses seem immune to the pain they cause other people. They give shots, jab needles, move broken bones, prod, push and stick in the very place that you've just told them hurts. I have a theory, and it directly parallels ministry in rural America.
I believe that in order to preform their basic functions as medical professionals these people have to ignore other persons pain. If you can't shut off empathy then you could never take blood, give an epidural or cut away burn tissue from, in or on an infant. It's a matter of survival. Ignore others pain or be broken by it.
Here's the rub. This is what human nature demands of us. It is the opposite of what God wants. His compassion needs a conduit and we are the funnel.
In the rural community, which by the way is marked by decided coldness, people are immune to poverty, suffering and emotional loss. We have it in spades here in the country. In order to function at a perfunctory level a person must put some emotional distance between themselves and the party in pain.
It is food for thought that will compel our style and substance of ministry in the boondocks.
I believe that in order to preform their basic functions as medical professionals these people have to ignore other persons pain. If you can't shut off empathy then you could never take blood, give an epidural or cut away burn tissue from, in or on an infant. It's a matter of survival. Ignore others pain or be broken by it.
Here's the rub. This is what human nature demands of us. It is the opposite of what God wants. His compassion needs a conduit and we are the funnel.
In the rural community, which by the way is marked by decided coldness, people are immune to poverty, suffering and emotional loss. We have it in spades here in the country. In order to function at a perfunctory level a person must put some emotional distance between themselves and the party in pain.
It is food for thought that will compel our style and substance of ministry in the boondocks.
I never really know if anyone reads our posts but I felt like I had to voice a couple of important thought or they would be lost in this labrinth I call a mind.
I was in Windsor yesterday for a five hour ordeal called a passport. Now I know why no one smiles in there photos. They bore the emotion out of you. I had an hour to kill and so I took a walk along the river front and came to a huge blue-glassed building. It was in rapid development and business was good. It, of course was the Windsor Casino and Resort Center.
I decided since I am not a gambling man, and thus have never been in a casino before to avail myself of an opportunity to see what the fuss is all about. So I walked in.
I walked through the gaming area and saw maybe 1000 people, most of whom would be between the ages of 45 and 85. Every last one of them was spending money at the tables or the creditted slots. I had a random thought. It was a bit hypocritical of me. It even may be judgemental. It is perhaps an excercize in extremes. Nonetheless... I wondered what would happen if all of those people simply would donate the money wasted on slots for that day to a cause, how much would that be?
I know that the once greatest generation, The Boomers, have now began to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They are, as the bumper sticker says, "Spending their kids inheritance".
Bill Bennet, a few years back was discovered to have spent millions on gambling. His response: "Well, it's not like I gambled away the milk money." Maybe not his. But maybe the next generation's.
I want to challenge this generation to give what they can to what they believe in. Save. Enjoy carefully. Invest and plan wisely. Please... Please don't waste it on mindless pursuits.
What I noticed was that nobody was all that happy. That is because they were all focussed on winning. That is an equation I'm judging by the size of the casinos expansion (a city block) is not that real a hypothesis. That was why the lack of joy. Here was my question.
What joy would $10 bring you if you realized it brought a smile to a homeless man's face because it brought real food to his belly. How about the joy of building a center for kids that will bring joy to them for twenty years? (forgive the self-indulgent suggestion) I'm just asking a question.
D-
I was in Windsor yesterday for a five hour ordeal called a passport. Now I know why no one smiles in there photos. They bore the emotion out of you. I had an hour to kill and so I took a walk along the river front and came to a huge blue-glassed building. It was in rapid development and business was good. It, of course was the Windsor Casino and Resort Center.
I decided since I am not a gambling man, and thus have never been in a casino before to avail myself of an opportunity to see what the fuss is all about. So I walked in.
I walked through the gaming area and saw maybe 1000 people, most of whom would be between the ages of 45 and 85. Every last one of them was spending money at the tables or the creditted slots. I had a random thought. It was a bit hypocritical of me. It even may be judgemental. It is perhaps an excercize in extremes. Nonetheless... I wondered what would happen if all of those people simply would donate the money wasted on slots for that day to a cause, how much would that be?
I know that the once greatest generation, The Boomers, have now began to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They are, as the bumper sticker says, "Spending their kids inheritance".
Bill Bennet, a few years back was discovered to have spent millions on gambling. His response: "Well, it's not like I gambled away the milk money." Maybe not his. But maybe the next generation's.
I want to challenge this generation to give what they can to what they believe in. Save. Enjoy carefully. Invest and plan wisely. Please... Please don't waste it on mindless pursuits.
What I noticed was that nobody was all that happy. That is because they were all focussed on winning. That is an equation I'm judging by the size of the casinos expansion (a city block) is not that real a hypothesis. That was why the lack of joy. Here was my question.
What joy would $10 bring you if you realized it brought a smile to a homeless man's face because it brought real food to his belly. How about the joy of building a center for kids that will bring joy to them for twenty years? (forgive the self-indulgent suggestion) I'm just asking a question.
D-
This next week, Friday the 11th, actually, Dawn and I are heading to the cradle of European History. We are going to England and France for a week. The trip will be mostly sightseeing, but we will be spending a few days with a missionary couple in France. I'm excited to see what ministry look like in rural France. This all has me thinking just a bit.
In the middle of the 19th century, England was the center of the evangelical world. The United States at the time was fighting for its collective soul, and in some respects, losing it to a variety of issues. Slavery, Racial segregation, ethnic superiority was coupled with a great spiritual thirst for a fresh breath from God Himself. The void was instead, being filled by a wide variety of "American Consumer", or designer cults. Mormonism, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witness, to name a few, said that not only was God interested in the affairs of man, but He was, in fact an American God.
During this time, and for some time prior to it, England had its eye on evangelizing the world. I'll be a bit careful so as not to paint an overly pure picture of the history of British missions, but I also want to recognize the heart's desire of the missionaries. I'm sure that the royal crown was happy to assimilate the world in a fell swoop of Christianity. After all, wasn't Britain Christian? Again, Those who served as missionaries during this era (notably Livingston and the like) were going to bring the redeeming message to all tribes in all places.
The result was that the gospel was preached. Paul would have no problem with that.
Phil 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.b 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
I see now a new movement of Christian missionary concern rising up in the United States. Many of these young missionaries do so because they desire to bring the truth of Christ to all nations... Not Americanized faith, but rather global faith. Some do so because they desire a cool cross-cultural experience for a few, limited commitment months. It doesn't matter. Christ is preached. He will give the grace.
2 Thes. 1:11 And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.
Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 . Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill.
A friend of ours here at CRF is traveling to a muslim country from Eastern Europe. His heart is growing as he records his travels and ministry. His mindset is right.
My prayer is this... England lost the collective flame of missions and soon thereafter began opening its greatest cathedrals as historical museums. Lord fuel the flame of missions here in America. Take away our designer religion and replace it with your true fire. Do not let the flame die.
"It always is a short walk from the heart of God for a nation. It is always the most difficult and arduous passage back."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
In the middle of the 19th century, England was the center of the evangelical world. The United States at the time was fighting for its collective soul, and in some respects, losing it to a variety of issues. Slavery, Racial segregation, ethnic superiority was coupled with a great spiritual thirst for a fresh breath from God Himself. The void was instead, being filled by a wide variety of "American Consumer", or designer cults. Mormonism, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witness, to name a few, said that not only was God interested in the affairs of man, but He was, in fact an American God.
During this time, and for some time prior to it, England had its eye on evangelizing the world. I'll be a bit careful so as not to paint an overly pure picture of the history of British missions, but I also want to recognize the heart's desire of the missionaries. I'm sure that the royal crown was happy to assimilate the world in a fell swoop of Christianity. After all, wasn't Britain Christian? Again, Those who served as missionaries during this era (notably Livingston and the like) were going to bring the redeeming message to all tribes in all places.
The result was that the gospel was preached. Paul would have no problem with that.
Phil 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.b 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
I see now a new movement of Christian missionary concern rising up in the United States. Many of these young missionaries do so because they desire to bring the truth of Christ to all nations... Not Americanized faith, but rather global faith. Some do so because they desire a cool cross-cultural experience for a few, limited commitment months. It doesn't matter. Christ is preached. He will give the grace.
2 Thes. 1:11 And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.
Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 . Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill.
A friend of ours here at CRF is traveling to a muslim country from Eastern Europe. His heart is growing as he records his travels and ministry. His mindset is right.
My prayer is this... England lost the collective flame of missions and soon thereafter began opening its greatest cathedrals as historical museums. Lord fuel the flame of missions here in America. Take away our designer religion and replace it with your true fire. Do not let the flame die.
"It always is a short walk from the heart of God for a nation. It is always the most difficult and arduous passage back."
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids
or just ask your friend.
I love you Heather. But equating freedom and racism alongside torture and government sensorship while we lament the VT tragedy is really misguided. It is not the governments fault that a lone disturbed gunman killed. Torture is not their fault either. Nor is it the accepted practice. It is all, all racism, torture, war, murder, and to an extent rage, the problem of sinful men.
Here's the problem. We all want to blame somebody or something for the ills in our society. We want to pass the buck. Things upset us and we want someone to pay. That's how rage works. It's not logical and it doesn't cure the ills. It perpetuates anger. Rage perpetuates rage. Blame perpetuates blame.
Our issue is that we are looking for the wrong things in an imperfect world. Alexander Solzhenitsyn said it this way as he was being unjustly persecuted in the Soviet block (by the way they read his private letters to get the dirt)
"Do not pursue what is illusory - property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade and can be confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn after happiness; it is after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing."
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
I can't blame God for sin any more than I can blame anyone other than the perpetrator of sin for the mass murder at VT.
Here's the problem. We all want to blame somebody or something for the ills in our society. We want to pass the buck. Things upset us and we want someone to pay. That's how rage works. It's not logical and it doesn't cure the ills. It perpetuates anger. Rage perpetuates rage. Blame perpetuates blame.
Our issue is that we are looking for the wrong things in an imperfect world. Alexander Solzhenitsyn said it this way as he was being unjustly persecuted in the Soviet block (by the way they read his private letters to get the dirt)
"Do not pursue what is illusory - property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade and can be confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life - don't be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn after happiness; it is after all, all the same: the bitter doesn't last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing."
Alexander Solzhenitsyn
I can't blame God for sin any more than I can blame anyone other than the perpetrator of sin for the mass murder at VT.
No one will like this commentary. It's funny how controversial this concept might be given that 20 years ago it would have been a ridiculous topic. It simply would not have applied to very many ministries. I want to beg the question, "What makes Christianity different than non-christianity?"
Before I get to the troublesome hypothesis I want to state "for the record", that I am not, in any fathomable way, a legalist. That being said, I can go on.
I am disturbed by a reoccurring theme in my conversations with youth workers from all over the country. You see my official position has me training the next generation of rural youth workers. The youth workers that I speak with seem to be growing up... and I can't help but feel that the ministry to students has become an all out teenager. There are a few tell tale earmarks . Here they are. 1. Rebellion for Independence sake
2. Image for Personality sake 3. Self Awareness for Focus sake 4. Freedom for Irresponsibility sake 5. Professionalism at Call's Sake. or... Rebellion over. Framework Image over Identity Selfishness over Selflessness Freedom over Service Professionalism over Call Political Correctness over Integrity
Anyway, I wonder if many Youth ministry people have been thinking through the seriousness of their commitment to training. The next generation will get no farther than we teach them to look. Every youth worker needs to ask themselves the simple question..."Where am I leading?"
Before I get to the troublesome hypothesis I want to state "for the record", that I am not, in any fathomable way, a legalist. That being said, I can go on.
I am disturbed by a reoccurring theme in my conversations with youth workers from all over the country. You see my official position has me training the next generation of rural youth workers. The youth workers that I speak with seem to be growing up... and I can't help but feel that the ministry to students has become an all out teenager. There are a few tell tale earmarks . Here they are. 1. Rebellion for Independence sake
2. Image for Personality sake 3. Self Awareness for Focus sake 4. Freedom for Irresponsibility sake 5. Professionalism at Call's Sake. or... Rebellion over. Framework Image over Identity Selfishness over Selflessness Freedom over Service Professionalism over Call Political Correctness over Integrity
Anyway, I wonder if many Youth ministry people have been thinking through the seriousness of their commitment to training. The next generation will get no farther than we teach them to look. Every youth worker needs to ask themselves the simple question..."Where am I leading?"