Generally, I have found in working with middle school students over the last 7 years that they “believe” in God, but don’t really know what that means… and to top it off, it’s generally not being reinforced at home, so the 2 hours a week they are at “church” often seems like a losing battle…
I often ask myself the question: What does God want for middle school students?
This CNN article is a worthwhile read: Author: More teens becoming ‘fake’ Christians
Students are playing with 4 Aces, 4 Kings, 4 Queens, 4 Jacks, and 4 Tens… one by one they have to sort the 5 sets of 4 on different chairs (Aces on one, Kings on one, Queens on one, etc). They must complete it in under 60 seconds.
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Eli and his two son, Hophni and Phinehas, get judged by God (according to Samuel’s) conversation with the Lord the previous chapter. Along with their judgment comes the Israelites’ as well as the Philistines’.
I wonder if we treat God like He can be contained in a box?
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I enjoy a good children’s book. That’s why I picked up “Halfway Herbert” by Francis Chan when I saw it available online. The book has stunning graphics and a pretty good story line. Halfway Herbert is known for doing things halfway. Herbert brushes his teeth, doesn’t finish his food, and approaches his schoolwork, all halfway. My daughter especially loved the page where it shows a shot looking out of Herbert’s mouth at the dentist with the top row of teeth perfectly clean while the bottom half are green and cracked and have green leaves sticking out of various cracks.
This halfway approach to life lands Herbert in trouble after he crashes into his dad’s car and then tells a “half truth.” He is quickly found out by his dad (thanks to an observant neighbor) and informed that telling a “half truth is a whole lie.” Herbert’s dad shares one of Jesus’ stories about a man building a tower who counts the cost ahead of time and plans to finish it all the way, instead of halfway. Herbert honestly tells his father that he doesn’t know if he is capable of doing things all the way. He is encouraged to ask God’s Spirit for help.
I used this book for the middle school youth group last Wednesday. It was a good illustration of the book of Joshua (and intro into Judges), where the Israelites are obeying God only halfway some of the time. Our saying for Joshua is: “some good, some bad.” I think God had bigger plans for his people, and he does for us as well.
“Halfway Herbert” is a good read and a worthy book to have on your bookshelf at home.
We took the middle and high school students to Skate City in Rice Lake, WI on Sunday, November 14, 2010.
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About 3 years ago, our small group read and studied through the book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson. The book walks the reader through the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134). While it was a fascinating and impactful study for our group, the title of the book has always stuck with me in regards to the endurance of discipleship in Christ and staying consistent in our lives:
It also reminds me of parenting: a long obedience in the same direction. There are times when I want to deviate from being consistent in regard to discipline and expectations… you know, because it is easier.
It’s funny, sometimes staying consistent brings out some interesting effects on kids’ behavior. For example, Amanda told me the other day that Sari said “Sorry” as she hit Macie. Sari knows that we help them apologize and forgive after things like that, so she thought: “If I just say ‘sorry’ while I am hitting her then I won’t get in trouble.” Macie does the same thing, although a little differently. She’ll hit Sari, then she’ll try to hug her and say: “Sorry.”
Another thing that we are pretty consistent on is saying “okay” to Mom and Dad instead of “no.” I find it fascinating that they have learned to say “no” so easily. I think the girls have picked up on if they say “okay” that the “get out of jail free card.” It seems we praise them a lot when they say “okay” instead of “no.” A good thing, right?
Well, Macie does this currently (and Sari used to), but when she does something that warrants a 2-minute visit to time-out, as I am carrying her in to her room, she is screaming: “Okay! Okay! Okay! Okay!”
It’s during these interesting and humorous interactions with our kids that remind me that parenting is a “long obedience in the same direction.” It’s also really funny!!
The Judges was a dark stain on the history of the Israelites. Doing what was right in their own eyes was a 400-year problem for the Israelites. The story of Ruth is the only bright, shining light during this chaotic time.
Enter Samuel. Samuel will be the last Judge of Israel. Pretty soon Israel is going to reject God as their King and will plea for a human king. Samuel is both a Judge and a kingmaker. It’s only fitting that this special figure in the Old Testament narrative have a special beginning.
This is the story of Samuel’s birth and the prayer deep within his mother’s heart. Here is Hannah’s story:
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24 hours a day x 7 days in a week = 168 total hours in a week
minus
8 hours a day for SLEEP x 7 days = 56 hours sleeping per week
minus
7 hours a day for SCHOOL x 5 days = 35 hours children are in school per week
equals = 77 hours a week.
That’s a lot of time each and every week we have with our children. Now I know that we’ve got to eat (and prepare the food), travel to and from various things, go to sporting events and practices, watch football, etc. But think about it: how do we spend and invest that 77 hours a week into our kids?
Parents have a significant amount of influence and impact on their kids. I know that sounds obvious, but how many of us actually act differently and intentionally in regard to raising our children. It seems to me that we will either raise our children accidentally or purposefully. That doesn’t mean go crazy intentional and structure EVERY hour of every day to get the maximum whatever.
What that does mean is:
Are we thinking about our parenting with an end in mind?
Do we know what we want our children to look like when they leave our home?
What values do we want to instill?
What characteristics do we want to send them out into the world with?
Big questions. Significant impact.
Wow. The book of Judges had some really interesting characters in it. Especially one of the last ones, Samson. He just couldn’t figure out how to be a stable “image of God” bearer. It seemed like he always was in a rash state of mind—unstable is a word I would use.
The Main Street students have heard about The Cycle of Sin over and over again. And not only was it a vicious cycle the Israelites experienced for around 400 years, it also progressed downward, meaning: more and more sinful. At the end of the book of Judges, the stories tell of an Israel (who’s supposed to look like the God of heaven and earth) that looks more like Sodom and Gomorrah (whom God destroyed in Genesis 19). Judges is a depressing book. It’s almost like the author wants the reader to be thinking:
“Man! These guys are idiots! Don’t they get it! God wants them to look like Him. What’s their problem? Doesn’t it eventually sink in?”
In Judges, no, it does not.
![Judge God - The Story of Ruth [y2_w10]](https://i0.wp.com/jeremymavis.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Judge-God-The-Story-of-Ruth-y2_w10.jpg?resize=696%2C435&ssl=1)
It’s not until the next book, Ruth, does a little ray of light shine in this time of “badness”. The book of Ruth opens with this line:
“In the days when the judges ruled…” (Ruth 1:1)
And then there’s this beautiful story about a man who cares for a foreigner and redeems her (kinsman-redeemer) and does the right thing in God’s eyes, instead of the wrong thing in God’s eyes. This story shows that God is working out his purpose for Israel even when Israel is doing (overall) some really bad things. God is working in subtle and small ways.
Hmmm… maybe that is how the kingdom of Jesus works: small and subtle ways.
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Whenever I read a book, I get excited. Whether it’s a novel or a how-to book, the author pulls me into this grand and ideal world, full of possibilities and vision. The characters are larger than life. Concepts leap off the page and what you once thought was impossible suddenly creates a desire to engage in risky behaviors! I leave the pages of a book expectant to see change. I expect myself to adopt the book in its entirety, and if I don’t, then all is lost. It seems like it is either all or nothing for me. So, if I believe in something, I want to grab it all.
What happens in reality, however, over time, is a softening and a saturating of those ideas and concepts and possibilities. I realize that I am changed, ministry with children is different, my parenting is growing, in subtle and small ways. Most books capture larger-than-life stories meant to inspire and call-to-action. But in reality, things happen subtly. When a learner subjects him/herself into the literary world of ideas and concepts and possibilities, they soak into a person and seep out when necessary. Without that subjection, though, there is definitely nothing to “seep” out!
Adventures like this trip to Atlanta, GA are like a book that influences you over time. While I saw some neat things and talked with some stellar people, the impact will not be seen in the immediate, but hopefully, they will be seen and realized over time. I’m excited and anticipatory of a day in the future (perhaps another 5 years from now) where I look back on what things were like 5 years ago (now) and celebrate the growth and change to get it to where it can and should be in the future. Who knows what that is… God does. And it is by His grace, power and involvement (Spirit), that will really come to realize what ministry with children and youth look like @ Hayward Wesleyan Church and beyond in the years to come.
Shannon Whaples shared this via his Senior Pastor, Kevin Myers. Shannon said that Kevin communicates it is important to take 2 days off a week, but work hard the 5 days you are in the office. Don’t take your work home with you. Take vacations. Realize the natural rhythms in your community and flow with those. In the summer, the NexGen Ministries slow things down (primarily because their attendance takes a dive). They are encouraged to slow things down in their lives, too. I like this idea of a rhythm of life. My wife likes the idea of a rhythm to our life. She not only likes the IDEA, she likes the idea realized!
I think over the course of my tenure @ Hayward Wesleyan Church thus far, I have realized a certain rhythm to ministry and the community. I think our ministry calendar is sustainable for our volunteers and the children, particularly. I really like that we do Followers every other week. There is an anticipation built in to that for the kids, meaning on the Mondays when we don’t meet they look forward to the next Monday that we do. They don’t realize this, but due to the fact that we only program every other week, it is keeping it fun and fresh, not semi-fun and stale!
I like the simplicity of Main Street and our curriculum. I like the consistency of our Nursery and the content and care we provide as well as our Preschool and Kindergarten class.
The one area that is lacking in simplicity and a particular rhythm are the middle school students. I have not yet realized a wise and healthy cadence to our msy YOUTH. I try each and every year, but I always seem to get thwarted. This is one area where a meeting with wise and discerning parents of some teenagers would be helpful.