This = AWESOME!
ServOlution (formally TDP)
For those of you who are currently in the Teen Discipleship Program (TDP) or would like to be, go take a look at the ServOlution tab at the top of the page. The program is evolving and we believe you guys will be challenged beyond measure. You will be asked to leave your comfort zones and not only will you grow in your relationship with Christ, but you will also grow in your leadership abilities.
Please also be aware that even if you are CURRENTLY ENROLLED in TDP, you STILL NEED TO APPLY for ServOlution. The application is available on the ServOlution page and the requirements are changing a bit, but you will not regret being involved in this program. We’re excited to see what God is going to do through you guys!
Fall Teen Retreat!
This is going to be awesome! Please register at your local Salvation Army Corps!
Crazy Love
So I’ve started my reading list and I’m a little over halfway through Francis Chan’s Crazy Love. I must say I’m a bit disappointed in it. Chan is a FANTASTIC speaker. In fact, last year at the National Youth Workers’ Convention, I almost skipped his session because I didn’t know who he was. Long story short, I ended up going and learned so much through what he said. In fact, he ended up being my favorite speaker during those 4 days. After that I couldn’t wait to buy his book. However, I prefer to hear him speak over reading what he has to say. Not that it’s a bad book…it’s actually a very challenging book, but not quite what I was expecting from him.
Hillsong United
What’s up guys? I just wanted to tell you about an awesome opportunity I had the other night. Hillsong United came to town and performed at Community Church of Greenwood the other night and they were FANTASTIC. If you’ve never heard of them before, they are one of the leading bands in worship music today and I strongly suggest checking them out. When Envision was at youth councils they played a lot of their songs….remember “Take take take it all, take take take it all?” That’s by Hillsong United. Take a look at the video below. This is exactly what the concert was like!
Also I have a few pictures
and last but not least, a picture of the entire sweaty group at the very end. Look at these people. Do you recognize some of them from youth councils?
Youth Specialties Podcasts in Video Format
Remember Les Christie from The CORE? Yeah, he’s on here 
Quotables?
So I got this giant dry erase board and have no use for it…except to put up a funny “quote of the day” or “quote of the week” depending on how motivated I get. I went to http://www.coolfunnyquotes.com/ and here are some of my favorites.
The current one of the day
“A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at Kickboxing!”
And a few other favorites
“A man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on” ~Robert Bloch
“Never take life seriously. No one gets out alive anyway”
“There are no stupid questions, just stupid people”
“You laugh because I’m different…I laugh because I just farted”
“Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss” ~Douglas Adams
“I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places” ~Henry Youngman
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It’s just that yours is stupid”
“He who laughs last didn’t get it”
Rethinking Safety
Ah yes. A picture is worth 1000 words. Thanks Marko for posting the link to this contest!
Worth1000.com did a photoshopping contest of olympics with a bit of adventure. Basically what people had to do was take a normal olympic event, and photoshop something into the picture making it a bit more adventurous (i.e. lava, waterfalls, fire, etc.) This is all sorts of awesome. Take a look here
Books for the youth and the youth worker
I’ve never really been one to sit down and read a book…that is until I found a genre that I liked. I wanted to share with you guys a few books that are fantastic and most of them are about the emergent church. It’s pretty cool the revival that’s happening. Check these out.
They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball
This title alone intrigued me, and it’s definitely one of the best books I’ve read yet. Kimball decides to spend his work day at a coffee shop so he can have some sort of impact on the community. He ends up meeting people from all different walks of life, loves on them, then does a little research seeing what they think about the church and Jesus himself. Definitely worth the read.
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields. This is great for the youth worker. Doug explains what works and what doesn’t in his youth ministry and gives a basic outline of how he runs his program. His program is one of the most effective in the country and I recommend checking it out.
Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and Spirituality by Rob Bell. This is also a great book for the youth worker, especially if you are giving this talk to your teens. Instead of simply saying “Don’t do it because God said so,” it goes into the reasons WHY God said so. It explains why God intended sex to be only within the bounds of marriage. Very good book!
Don’t Rock the Boat, Capsize It: Loving the Church too Much to Leave it the Way it is by Rick Bundschuh. This book starts out slow, but keep reading. It gets great just a few chapters into it. Bundschuh explains what it was like rethinking a model for his church.
UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity…And Why it Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. The Barna Group researched what young people thought about Christianity and Christians themselves. The findings are a bit disturbing and really makes you think about how our attitude is towards others outside the church.
Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller. This book is fantastic! Miller explains his life of questioning his faith, yet living it out on one of the most secular college campuses in the country. He also explains how he learned to love people that were generally outcasts of his old Christian circles. It made me think of how my attitude was toward non-Christians…it was a slap in the face that I needed.
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell. This is a very easy read (just like the other Rob Bell book) but it makes you think. Very interesting book. I won’t give too much info on this one…time to make it a surprise.
What Matters Most: When NO is Better than Yes by Doug Fields. Another great book for the youth worker. Sometimes we get so bogged down by saying “YES” to everything we’re asked to do, that it burns us out. This book talks about priorities and how to avoid burnout.
The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical by Shane Claiborne. This book is one of my favorites from the list. Claiborne’s definitely lives out his faith in a very radical, yet Biblical way. Amazing book! I definitely recommend this for youth AND youth workers.
So there you have it…at least the ones I’m able to give you a review for. Here’s the next five books on my reading list.
1. Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan
2. Youth Culture 101 by Walt Mueller
3. Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of our Church Practices by Frank Viola and George Barna
4. Essential Church?: Reclaiming a Generation of Dropouts by Thom S. Rainer
5. The Barbarian Way: Unleash the Untamed Faith Within by Erwin Raphael McManus
Remember This?
Those of you who attended Music Camp would remember Sunday morning when the camp staff performed this drama.
If you were not at music camp, take a look at this. It’s awesome