Pastor B Culture, Uncategorized

7 ways to give up the Internet for Lent. – Stuff Christians Like

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7 ways to give up the Internet for Lent. – Stuff Christians Like.

I have recently been following Jon Acuff in the digital world and thought I would share a great thought on Internet and Lent.  Click on the links for his blog.

7 ways to give up the Internet for Lent.

By Jon on Mar 06, 2014 07:13 am

In case you hadn’t heard, Lent started. And do you know what’s the number 1 thing people will be giving up, based on a short survey I made up in my head? The Internet.

Mark my words: The only thing Christians like more than the Internet is taking a break from it. A digital fast if you will, where you swear off the Internet or a particular flavor of social media for a prolonged period of time. (The irony is that if you are on a digital fast right now you won’t be able to read my helpful article about it. Have a heathen friend read it to you.)

Since you missed the start of Lent, maybe instead you can do a good old-fashioned digital fast. (By “old” I mean circa 2007, which in Internet time is approximately 87 years ago.) But how do you do it? What are the rules? How do you take a really good, really helpful digital fast? The Bible is very thin on the best way to wean yourself off a Twitter addiction. Not once does Peter say, “Follow me on Twitter, I’m @Rock.” Or better yet for all you old school rap fans out there, “@PeteRock.”

So today, in case you’re curious about starting a digital fast, I thought it might be good to review the 7 steps:

Step 1: Go online crazy.
Unless you’re online all the time, it’s really not a big, dramatic deal for you to go offline. So the first thing you’re going to want to do is make sure you’re online 24 hours a day. Tweet everything that happens to you, no matter how insignificant. “Just ate a sandwich. Ever thought about that word? It has ‘sand’ in it. That would be gross if they really have sand in them.” Change your Facebook status roughly every 90 seconds. Update your blog as frequent as Lowell said something dumb in the television program Wings. (Old school topical!)

Step 2: Write a blog post about taking a digital fast.
The irony of writing online about how you are going to take some time from being online is so rich that it’s like a delicious sandwich spread made of boysenberry and irony. Technically, the Bible says we’re not supposed to tell people when we fast. Maybe posts on your blog don’t count. Maybe.

Step 3: Start a Twitter countdown.
You might have missed the start of Lent, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start your own digital fast next week. Every day, in the week leading up to your digital fast, tell people how many days until you take your digital fast. Or start a group on Facebook called “Friends taking a break from Facebook.” The goal is to make sure you get as much attention possible about your very private, very personal digital fast.

Step 4: Go offline.
For a predetermined amount of time, just log off. Don’t check email or fantasy sports scores or Facebook or anything else. And say things like this to your friends: “Oh man, I know how smokers feel when they quit. This is hard.”

Step 5: After a week, go back online.
Make a triumphant return. Maybe write a blog with a headline from Eminem, “Guess who’s back, back again? Guess who’s back? Tell a friend!” Jump back online with both feet.

Step 6: Share the valuable lessons you learned while on your digital fast.
Turn three days offline into 10 days of blog material. Try to use the words, “community” and “fellowship” a lot, as if you suddenly discovered the real meaning of those during your 72-hour hiatus. If possible, post photos of you doing non-digital things, like flying a kite or making a sailboat or getting cats out of trees for people in your neighborhood.

Step 7: Return right back to your pre-digital fast amount of online consumption.
This wasn’t about learning or praying or anything like that. This was about digital showmanship. You were like an Internet David Blaine holding your breath offline for three days straight. Return to the Internet like David Blaine would return to dating models after a three-day hiatus in a solid block of ice.

Hopefully, these steps will help you with your first digital fast. I can’t wait to read all about it online and in the email newsletter you create. Just promise me you won’t do what my friends who are actually giving up the Internet for Lent are doing. Praying, being contemplative, serving people, having long conversations where you actually talk to the people you’re with, instead of texting other people you’re not with! There was no drama in either of those decisions. Where’s the fun in that?

Have you or a friend ever taken a digital fast?

Did you give something up for Lent?

(This is a Throwback Thursday post from a few years ago.)

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Pastor B My Life

MS is AWKWARD #MSAWARENESS

This is MS awareness month.  Although I am THE HUSBAND and do not physically struggle with MS, I have found that navigating these new waters of the Multiple Sclerosis disease has been a little AWKWARD.   I recognize AWKWARDNESS easily because my occupation as the Middle School Pastor at Oakwood Church in New Braunfels, TX unleashes many moments of AWKWARDNESS in my daily life.  (That is a completely different subject in itself)  However, this AWKWARDNESS is on a whole new playing field for our family.

WHAT IS MS?

MSWalkMarch1.2014Changes ARE AWKWARD – How are you doing on those New Year’s Resolutions?  If you feel like a failure, don’t worry, ANY CHANGE IS AWKWARD.  Imagine having to stick to those resolutions in order to survive!  That’s Intense!  One term we have discovered on this new journey in life is “New NORMAL.” In order to have a good quality of life, we have to insert the “new normal” phrase into the routine now.  In the first year of the onset of this disease Laura is daily taking four to five medications that include daily shots of Copaxone.  It is awkward enough to have to take meds for a sickness that ends up going away.  (Imagine having to commit to a daily regimen that doesn’t go away and has many side effects.)  She is committed to a Gluten Free Diet by a Dr. Ordered Wholistic Approach.  Fatigue gives way to daily, spontaneous bouts with energy and crashing in the midst of our daily routine (with two kids I might add!).  With new diet comes new groceries and an overwhelming feeling at HEB for Laura (so guess who goes to the grocery store now…do you see the guy in the picture above?  Do I look like I am an ALL NATURAL GLUTEN FREE DIET LOVER?).  Many big and small changes to our daily lives can be VERY AWKWARD.

 The Subject of MS is AWKWARD – DebbieDownerDebbie Downer seems to find the perfect moments at parties to put just enough of a spin on life to kill the life of the party.  This Silent Disease is something that we deal with, battle weird side effects, and hash out as a family on a daily basis, but don’t really want to bring up all the time and be that Debbie Downer.  We know that the SUBJECT IS AWKWARD.  We also realize that God allowed this to happen at a time that could be the BEST TIME to find a cure.  One of the first thoughts relayed to us during the diagnosis was that 20 years ago would have been way different than today in terms of Medical Advances.  The subject of a Disease without a cure, but not as detrimental or even broadcasted as much as cancer and other life altering diseases can be tough to explain.  We get the “oh, you’re not going to die, so you will be okay” statement and feel dismissed.  The fact that we must realize is that this AWKWARD SUBJECT that we live with now is still a FAMILY CRISIS and STRUGGLE as we move to a “New Normal.”  We need our friends and family to talk and encourage us, now more than ever.  (So, who wants to hear about some new Nervous System terms I have learned lately?…)

Misunderstandings in the MS GAME are AWKWARD –  Living out the AWKWARD CHANGES and talking about the AWKWARD SUBJECT leads to AWKWARD MISUNDERSTANDINGS.  Many things are happening on the inside and it is hard to translate it all in a five minute or cordial 30 second conversation.

For Example:

Person 1: “Hey, you really sound like a health nut.”

Laura wants to say:  “I have MS and I am committed to a wholistic approach to battling the demyelination of the outer sheath of my Spinal Cord.  If I don’t eat right, my nervous system gets all out of whack and I feel tingling and sometimes burning on the inside.”

Laura really says: “I am on a strict diet”

Person 2: “Man, you slept through the whole dinner!”

Laura wants to say: “I have MS and my immune system is working overtime because it is fighting it’s own body and now fighting tons of drugs I just put in me today, so on top of my normal work stress, normal sickness and allergies, family kid stress and periodic husband stress, my body is naturally crashing in order to keep me alive.”

Laura really says:  “I am just really tired from the day.”

Person 3: “Wow, you look great.”

Laura wants to say: “I know I do!” Then she wants to say, “Since the diagnosis of MS, I have been on medications that don’t make me feel very well.  I have been nauseated most nights and early mornings, then I have to eat new foods with this Gluten Free diet. Sometimes I go to events that don’t offer the foods I need, so I don’t eat at my normal time and then feel sick to my stomach and miss a meal.”

Laura really says: “Thank You” (with a smile.)

Needless to say, that is just the surface of the awkwardness of misunderstandings.  In the struggle and vocalization of MS, others might MISUNDERSTAND that we are super grateful for where God has placed us.  We are in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas.  We have two amazing kids.  We get to have our parents living nearby.  On top of all that, we see Jesus do amazing things in our community through the people at Oakwood Church, and we have felt that love on a whole new level since August.

Here is something that I have written in my digital journal about how my personal faith mixes with this personal family crisis.

Personal Faith:

I believe God is Healer.  His creation of mankind is GOOD.  All disease and other physical ailments come from the direct or indirect effects of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  Sin separates us from God, intervenes with the Good Creation, and ultimately reminds us that we are not yet living in the New Heavens and New Earth.

With that FAITH, I believe:

  1. God in His infinite power can heal Laura instantly if He chooses to.

  2. God will use this disease to grow Laura’s faith and mine as well (not to mention our family and extended family)

  3. God can also heal, redeem, and refine on a longer than “instant” timescale.

  4. I must TRUST in God, no matter what, and seek His Wisdom and understanding in this personal struggle as a Child of God, Husband, Father, and Ministry Leader.

If anyone would like to KNOW how I KNOW JESUS and talk about that amazing Journey as well, I am always willing to have a conversation.

Pastor B Students

Game On Devo Week 3 and a word on Daniel

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Game On Wk3 Devotional – Light in the Dark

Bottom Line: You talk by the way you walk.

In Daniel chapter 6, the Babylonians, who were the rulers when we last saw Daniel, have been taken over by the Persians.  Daniel has faithfully served God, won the favor of a king, and now that kingdom is taken over by an entirely new empire.  But like the king of Babylon, the king of Persia notices Daniel too:

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom (Daniel 6:3 NIV).

It wasn’t so much about what Daniel said. It was about what Daniel did.

In fact, in one translation, it says that God gave Daniel a Spirit of Excellence.  Meaning, that he was not only a sharp individual, but God blessed him in his efforts to do well at his job.  What a great example that we can all look to for our own lives, whether that is our school work, paying job, or the time we give to a cause or a program.

Pastor B Students

Game On Devotional Week 2

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Click here for the Game On Wk2 Devotional

In any kind of competition or event, winning is almost always connected to the amount of preparation. The practice and the skill building may not seem necessary in the moment, but when it’s Game On, those skills are what take us all the way. Daniel was a young Jewish boy who encountered his “Game On” moment over and over. Ultimately it was the preparation of his faith skills that helped him through the most difficult of moments.

Bottom Line: Prayer is about knowing Someone, not getting something.

Pastor B Students

Game On Devotional Week 1

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Bottom Line Session 1:  Our faith grows when we apply the Bible to our lives

In any kind of competition or event, winning is almost always connected to the amount of preparation. The practice and the skill building may not seem necessary in the moment, but when it’s Game On, those skills are what take us all the way. Daniel was a young Jewish boy who encountered his “Game On” moment over and over. Ultimately it was the preparation of his faith skills that helped him through the most difficult of moments.

Here is the first week Devotional

GameOn_Week 1 Devotional

Pastor B Culture, Students

Hey Parents! – Game On Series

Hey Parents!

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1. We’re Teaching This

In any kind of competition or event, the winning is almost always connected to the amount of preparation. The practice and the skill building may not seem necessary in the moment, but when it’s Game On, those skills are what take us all the way. Daniel was a young Jewish boy who encountered his “Game On” moment over and over. Ultimately it was the preparation of his faith skills that helped him through the most difficult of moments.

 2. Think About This

by Crystal Chiang

Your student experiences so many influences each day. They receive messages from you—their parents, teachers, other students, media, ministry leaders, coaches and a variety of other sources. Do you ever wonder what is getting in? Whose voice do they hear the loudest and who has the most impact on their actions?

Despite all of the noise in their lives, studies show that students largely develop their ideas about God at home. Believe it or not, they are still listening to you, and not just when you’re talking about spiritual things. They are listening intently when you talk to them AND when they hear you talk to other adults about money, relationships, faith, culture, and life choices.

As a teacher in a public high school, I often engaged students in conversations that sound like this:

Student: The RIGHT way of doing (money, politics, marriage, etc.) is _________.

Me: Why?

Student: Because it’s RIGHT.

Me: Why?

And eventually we would end up at the same place. Because that’s how their parents do it or say it should be done.  Nearly 100% of the time students expressed “their” opinions in what was clearly their parents’ language.

Students take their cues on how to live from their parents more often than anywhere else. This is particularly true when it comes to our faith. The spoken or unspoken posture that we take toward Scripture, prayer, service, and worship will ultimately be the model our students use as how things “should be done”.

So how can you leverage your influence as a parent without resorting to lecturing or re-preaching each Sunday’s sermon?

  1. Partner with the student ministry that your teenager attends. Just because the sign out front says “students” doesn’t mean that you are unwelcome. In fact, both the church and the home are more effective when they choose to work on the same thing at the same time. Connect with your child’s small group leader, be proactive in determining what they are learning and how you can engage your student in conversation about that topic at home.
  2. Be transparent about your own faith. Talking with your teenager about faith doesn’t mean that you have to have a perfect message prepared at all times. It also doesn’t mean you need to have all of the answers. It’s okay to be transparent with them about how and when you pray as well as what happens when you don’t receive an answer right away. If you spend time reading Scripture, do so in a place where they might see you or ask him/her what he/she thinks a certain passage means.
  3. Ask your teen what he or she is learning. Silence doesn’t always mean inactivity. Students process spiritual information in different ways. Just because your teenage daughter doesn’t volunteer to tell you what she’s learning at church doesn’t mean she simply goes to see her friends. Often students simply do not know how to begin the conversation with their parents about spiritual matters. Simply opening the door can allow you to speak valuable words into their life. And remember, anytime you frame a question for your teenager, be willing to answer the question yourself. Your transparency opens the door to more transparency from them.

3. Try This

Here is an open-ended conversation starter to encourage dialogue between you and your child about faith. These can be asked at dinner, in the car, or anywhere that conversation flows easily. Remember to model the way by answering the question first and then asking your student.

  • Week 1:  What do you appreciate about God?
  • Week 2:  Where have you noticed God’s activity around you?
  • Week 3:  How can we make God a bigger priority in our family? (This is a great time to make a commitment as a family. You can choose to pray together or at the same time each day, read scripture, or read a devotional together. )
  • Week 4:  How can God use our family?

Get connected to a wider community of parents at www.orangeparents.org.

Pastor B Culture, Students

5 Tips to Starting Spiritual Conversations

 

5 Tips to Starting Spiritual Conversations

 

http://iasleadersinsight.tumblr.com/post/65554932475/5-tips-to-starting-spiritual-conversations

By Shannon Culpepper

 

When I share Jesus, I don’t like to argue; I like to engage and learn. I don’t like to preach; I like to tell people about the beauty of Jesus. I don’t like to act like I have it all together; I like to proclaim how the message of Jesus gave me an answer for my brokenness. When I do these things, it helps me to find people who are spiritually hungry, who are attracted to Jesus, and who know their own brokenness. I’m not looking for people to get baptized right there. I’m not looking to disprove atheist concerns. I’m also not looking for nice, non-threatening people. I’m looking for the people the Holy Spirit is already working on. This takes lots of pressure off of me.

 

If you’re having trouble in this area, perhaps a few tips, and ideas can help:

 

Be yourself! If you have a relationship with God, that is going to shine through whether or not you say the right things. Be real about who you are: someone who is broken who has been rescued and is being made more like Jesus. People will be attracted to Jesus much more than they will be attracted to you. So there’s no pressure.

 

Listen. Listen. Listen. There is a reason you have two ears and one mouth. Be genuinely interested in the person you’re talking to and love them well by listening to their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. Someone who feels heard will be much more willing and ready to listen later.

 

Relax. In all circumstances be reasonable, gentle, and respectful. There’s no reason to argue. There’s no reason to fear if you don’t know an answer. For the most part, people will match our tone. If we are being gentle, loving, and respectful, it will have a calming effect. So just relax. Remember: not everyone is spiritually hungry, and that’s just natural. Don’t push it if they don’t want to talk.

 

Okay, now that we have some ground rules for engaging with pre-believers (or anyone for that matter), here are some easy ways you can start a Spiritual Conversation.

 

Ask to pray for him/her. Then actually pray for him/her. I know, I know. It sounds crazy. A year ago I would’ve highly objected this approach. Then Jeff, someone I work with, encouraged me to do it and it changed my life. You would be amazed how much people feel blessed when you ask them how you can pray for them. The phrase we used was, “If God could do a miracle in your life, what would it be? And can we pray for it?” As we prayed for them, we would ask God to BLESS the person and their family. BLESS stands for Body (health), Labor (work), Economics (financial needs), Social (relationships), and Spiritual. God did amazing things through this approach. Trust me, it’s easier than you think.

 

Ask about his or her culture. Ask about what he or she believes in. At this point, if this person has allowed you to pray with them, spiritual things are on their mind! So ask! When I am talking to students who I know are from different cultural backgrounds, I ask about their upbringing. “Oh, you’re from Bangladesh! Tell me about it! What faiths are common there? What faith is your family?”

 

Engage them about their faith system. This is a great opportunity to learn about other faiths. Ask lots of questions. One of my favorites is to ask about salvation. “In your religion, how are you saved? Do you think you will be saved one day?”

 

Share your story and God’s story. At some point in your life, God rocked your world by revealing how incredible Jesus’ death on the cross was. Whether you were saved at seven or at 77, you have a story. Share what the good news of Jesus means to you. What’s First is a resource on our groups page that helps you write out and learn to tell your story and God’s story. Go through it with a friend and practice together.

 

Ask if he or she has ever read the Bible. Remember the point here? We’re looking for spiritually hungry people.  Many people of other faiths and cultures would love to learn about the Bible. Just ask! Ask if they want to start reading the Bible together in their home with their friends. Tell them you’ll come and help them (note: don’t invite them to a Christian meeting—-that’s really scary if the person isn’t a believer!). The Film Discussion Guideon our groups page is great for this! It helps pre-believers get into the word and discover what it says for themselves.

 

And before you know it… you’ll have pre-believers engaged with the Bible and telling others what it says! Sharing your faith doesn’t have to be scary. These are all things you do at church every week already. You pray for people. You ask questions. You talk about what God is doing in your life. Now try it with your friends who are far from God. Let us know how it goes.

 

Next Steps.

 

Get Training: Want some training in how to share Jesus and start I am Second groups? Learn more or sign up for online coaching here: www.iamsecond.com/onlinetraining

 

Get Gear: Still not sure you are ready to to start a spiritual conversation? Get some I am Second gear. You’ll be surprised by how many conversations you start just by wearing it: www.iamsecondstore.com

Get Small Group Materials: Whether you lead a small group now, or want to start one soon, I am Second has all the I am Second small group discussion guides you could want. Check them out here: www.iamsecond.com/groups/discussion-guides/

Pastor B My Life

The Valley | Lauralbest’s Blog

The Valley | Lauralbest’s Blog.

The Valley

Posted on October 30, 2013 by

Sniff…sniff…sniff, sniff.  Whimper, sniff.  These are the sounds I heard one evening as I was in the kitchen coming from Katie’s room.  I had just tucked her in and she seemed fine.  Katie has been clingy lately, but I’ve tried to nurture her need due to all the changes over the past few months.  They say that kids are resilient, and I think that’s true to a certain extent, but I think a child can take so much.

I put down my glass of water and walked into her room.  I brought her into my arms and asked her what was wrong.  She started to cry harder.  “Katie?  Honey?  What is it?  You can tell me anything.”  “Mommy?  Are you going to die?”

As a parent, I felt as if I’d just been soccer punched deep in the gut.  I squeezed her tightly and said, “Oh, Katie.  No.  I’m not going to die.  What made you think this?”  In between sniffles, Katie responded, “All your shots and what you can and can’t eat anymore.”  Trying to hold it together, I continued to hold her close so she couldn’t see my eyes tearing up and I said, “Katie, sweetie, I’m not going to die.  All my shots are helping me feel so much better.  The pills I take in the morning are working!  I am under the best doctors in the business.  Everything is going to be fine.  You don’t need to worry.”  Still shaken by my daughter’s fear, we prayed and thanked God for our trials and thanked Him for our fears because those are things that draw us closer to what He desires for our life.

This prayer seemed to calm her, I rubbed her back, gave her some extra cuddles and then left her room.  I left feeling awful.  Katie has had 6 surgeries in her lifetime, and with each one, we gave her the necessary information at the right time.  I think this diagnosis hit our family so fast that we were all openly talking about it and trying to figure out our way through this valley.  It never occurred to me that my 6 1/2 year old was taking every conversation captive, chewing on it and then anxiety entered into her little heart.

Although MS is a disease that a person can go on to live a healthy life with the necessary modifications, it’s daunting because all I have is a hope for a cure…there have been great strides to help MS patients live comfortable lives…but there is no cure.  There are days that pill is hard to swallow.

There are things that go on in our home that we are very private about upon hearing the news.  We are trying to navigate how each other are feeling, how we are coping, and now how to talk about it without freaking out our children.  There are some very private fears that I have personally had and then there’s getting ALL the doctors involved to help relieve those issues.  I mean, we just recently had to call my OB/GYN because some of “those” pills had to be changed to even out some of those beloved cycles!  Who knew that “those” pills, given the right dosage and the right brand, would work together with the other medicine specifically for MS!?!  It’s stuff like this we are STILL figuring out.

Another fear is the flu.  My immune system…well, I don’t have one.  My doctor, just weeks ago said anyone close to me needed to get the Flu shot and I HAD to get one.  I go in to get my Flu shot today, and I’m told because of MS, and the strand that is in this particular flu vaccine, it may undo all my progress.  So, the Pharmacist is calling the CDC? and my MS doctor to see IF I can go ahead and have this shot.  If not, I am going to be the worst germ-a-phobe EVER!

There of course are the frustrations, too!  Like, where to eat if I want to just go eat out!  The fad these days is to be “Gluten-Free.”  However, for me, it’s not a fad, and it’s not something I can just put on the shelf for a weekend, or a day and then get back on the bandwagon.  It’s a MUST, and if I screw up, I pay severely.  Brandon and I are still navigating through that valley and there have been days I’ve just wanted to crawl into a hole and weep.

Through the valleys, there has been rejoicing!  When Katie says, “I wish God didn’t give you MS” (and YES, those words have come out of her mouth!) I say, “Katie, don’t say that!  God chose me to have MS so that He could use me to help others.  Whether that be bringing awareness, or giving Him the glory through my trials, He chose me and He chose our family.  What we do with MS, and how we handle it, is up to us.  I am choosing to embrace it and find out what God wants to teach me and our family.”  I don’t know how much she really comprehended of my soap box, but I know she’s thinking about it.

The medicine IS working.  Feeling has come back in both arms and my thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers.  Ring and pinkies still a no go.  There are days my legs tingle, I limp, I sit, I’m fine.  I still tire quickly, but I’m learning to pace myself, and with that, it may appear to others as probably selfishness.  I’ve had to let go of that fear.  People can do with what they want with perceptions.  I know the truth.

I’ve lost 15 lbs. and this is because of the medicine, but mostly from the strict diet my doctors have me on.  I’m slowly getting to the weight they want me.  I tell people I’m eating like Jesus:  no preservatives, no MSG, no gluten, ALL fresh, straight from the deli or the farm itself!

God is good through the valleys of life.  He is FAITHFUL, CONSISTENT and GOOD

I got out and attended a wedding with my man!  I crashed afterwards, but it was a great date with him and friends:)

Photo: So, the wig only lasted till 10:00, BUT, the jammie day lasted all day!!! Red Ribbon Week 2013!!!

I’ll do anything for my students!  Red Ribbon Week 2013.  Even though I’ve got quite the expression, the 15lbs lost is beginning to show!

Photo: Naoh & his soccer face.

Praising the Lord that He worked out Noah’s soccer schedule to where his games have been at 8:00 or 9:00.  Right before the heat!  God is in the details!

Photo: Way to go this weekend Katie!

Even though this is not a clear shot, I felt good enough to cheer on my daughter and watch her kill her beam routine!  For her level, I witnessed her BEST performance on beam yet!

See, GOD is GOOD!  He’s allowing me just enough strength to keep the main thing, the main thing!

Pastor B MS Leaders, Spring, Students

Why Fun Environments Matter for a Middle Schooler’s Faith | Uthmin

Why Fun Environments Matter for a Middle Schooler’s Faith | Uthmin.

fun-environments

If you know anything about me or Kenny, you probably already know that we are big fans of having tons of fun. From the time our middle schoolers walk through the doors of our church, to the time they leave, we really want them to enjoy being there.

For our ministry, having fun isn’t just an afterthought. It’s a priority and a strategy.

But you know what? Sometimes I come across people who really don’t like this idea. As Reggie Joiner said recently, “I am shocked at how many people are bothered by children and student ministries having fun.”

I’m shocked too. And I’m also a little sad. Because when we fail to prioritize having fun at church, I’m convinced we miss out on something vital to the development of a middle schooler’s faith. 

Yeah, it’s that serious.

Here’s why.

1. FUN ENVIRONMENTS HELP MIDDLE SCHOOLERS SEE WHAT JESUS IS LIKE. 

Having fun is a powerful expression and working-out of the joy and freedom and abundant life we find in Jesus. So having fun with our students isn’t trivial or irreverent or a waste of time. It’s sacred and holy and it makes Jesus smile. We’ve got to model this for our middle schoolers. As we create environments that are jam-packed with Jesus and amazing, hilarious, super fun memories… we’re teaching them that God is the God of whimsy and smiles and laughter and all things good, and that it’s a joy to follow Him. I don’t know about you, but I find that pretty compelling.

2. FUN ENVIRONMENTS CONNECT THEM TO A COMMUNITY.

We all know how important it is for middle schoolers to feel they belong. If we want to help middle schoolers build a strong community with their peers and trusted adults, then laughing, playing, sharing jokes, and making memories together are vital. So when our middle schoolers are sticking their feet in Jell-O, launching giant Angry Birds from a volleyball net together, or helping their blindfolded friend guess what mystery ingredient we put in their bowl of cereal… well, in the words of J.K. Rowling, “There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other.”

3. FUN ENVIRONMENTS HELP THEM NOT TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY.

Middle school has to be the most awkward time in all of human existence. Our students are plagued by insecurities and the need to be liked and accepted. But is it possible to simultaneously be having an insane amount of fun and also feel awkward and self-conscious? No. No, it’s not. When we manage to coax middle schoolers into having fun, we’re also coaxing them into letting down their defenses and forgetting, even if it’s just for a moment, about their insecurities and fears. It’s good for their hearts.

4. FUN ENVIRONMENTS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCIPLESHIP.

Trying to create fun environments for middle schoolers can be an interesting social experiment. Our middle school friends are cute little bundles of insecurity and immaturity. And, because of that, sometimes our super fun plans go up in smoke and the awesome environments we’ve tried to create… well, implode. Someone gets an attitude. A guy gets too aggressive. A girl gets insecure. Someone gets teased. A joke goes too far. It happens. Conflict happens. But you know what? That’s ok. Because when things get messy, we get the opportunity to coach them through it. We shouldn’t run from creating fun environments because we fear the conflict that might happen as a result. Let’s run toward the messiness, embrace it, and then leverage those moments for discipleship.

What do you think? How have you seen fun environments make a difference in the life and faith of a middle schooler?

Elle Campbell

About Elle Campbell

Elle is doing Middle School Ministry at The Chapel at CrossPoint in Buffalo, New York, where she focuses mostly on creating great small group environments and leading volunteers. She blogs about youth ministry stuff at ellecampbell.org and creates and shares original youth ministry resources at stuffyoucanuse.org. She is married to Kenny and loves coffee and making things and reading as many books as possible. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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A Day of Hope | Lauralbest’s Blog

A Day of Hope | Lauralbest’s Blog.

A Day of Hope

Posted on September 11, 2013 by

August 6, 2013 is a day that Brandon and I will never forget.  It was the day that Dr. Fresenhahn told us everything on my scans pointed to MS.  We were rushed over for another MRI only to confirm what she knew to be the case on August 8, 2013.  Since that day, our lives have literally been turned upside down.  I went from starting to cope with the numbness and pain, to being put on medicine I’d never heard of before and feeling like death.  It was like my body was, and still is a lot of the time, was functioning on the outside, but on the inside, my head felt like it was stuck in the clouds.  I felt like I couldn’t function.  I had an abundance of emotions racing through me.  I’m a smart person and I felt like nothing was clicking.  All of the questions such as the  “what ifs,” “could I have prevented this if…”  “Despite the pain and numbness, why was I feeling somewhat normal a week ago and now I’m feeling like I can’t lift my head?”  “Maybe I should have gone to the doctor sooner.  Why didn’t I go to the doctor back in April?”  However, of all the questions I asked the Lord, I never once asked Him, “Why me?”  All I could think about was Isaiah 6 where the Lord and Isaiah are going back and forth and finally in verse 8 the Lord poses this question, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?’”  Isaiah replied, “And I said, ‘Here am I.  Send me!”  Now , I know that the context of this verse is describing what God would do if people disobeyed him, however, I must apply to what is happening in my life today.

No matter if you are a believer in Jesus Christ or not, you were put here on this earth for a reason.  We are all imperfect creations, and each of us were given a purpose to fulfill.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  THEN you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.’”  I love that the Lord has a plan for us and that His plan is not to harm us.  When we pray He tells us that He will listen to us and that when we seek Him, we will FIND Him.  So, I have MS.  Okay.  This is not going to change what God had planned for me since the beginning of time.  Do I have to claim that everyday?  YES!  Do I doubt it?  NO!  Why?  Because through all of Katie’s surgeries and medical battles, I have learned that God is STILL on His throne and He is a God of details.  He is going to work everything out in a way that will bring him glory and honor so that His kingdom will be advanced.

God knew that at age 33 I was going to have a lot of BIG changes and the way I lived my life physically was going to have to change.  Has it rocked my world?  Yes!  Am I going to let MS rule and take over my life?  NO!  Are there adjustments and is my once sharp mind still in a fog?  YES!  Is God going to help me in this area?  No doubt!  Here’s why!

Our family’s journey has been one medical valley after another.  They all started when Katie had her very first surgery at 14 months old.  Through all of our valleys, God has been VERY evident.  For example, without us even sending in our resume to Oakwood, Pastor Ray knew we were looking for another church to serve through various circumstances.  We were obedient to God and the invitation Pastor Ray and Pastor Rusty offered us.  Through that move, one of the benefits, we have been in a location where Katie has seen the best of the best doctors.  Now, with my medical journey, I am just 45 minutes away from one of the top MS Neurologist in the country.  God knew our needs before we did.  God placed us in a loving church with a church family that has walked through the trenches with us.  Our church family has provided meals, cards, physical support…the list goes on and on.  I am humbled by the love we have received.  He has blessed us with deep friendships and those have taken time to cultivate, but God is so good to give us our circle of friends who cry with us, hold our hand and are simply there before we know what we need.  He placed us close to family and that has been a rich blessing. My entire family is going on the same restrictive diet I have to be on because as my sister put it, “We can’t feel her pain, but since we do a lot of holidays together, we can learn to eat what she has to eat.”  More importantly, God placed us in an environment where we could give back and serve.  We have the honor of serving an amazing God in an amazing church and in an amazing community.

God, in His goodness and His provision, placed me at a new school, in an incredible grade, with incredible teacher and administration support.  They too, are walking this road with me.  Did they ask to?  No.  However, they have been such a source of day to day strength for me.  Seeing their passion to teach, their willingness to go over and beyond helping me and their friendship has been such a blessing.  I look forward to going to work everyday because I get to do life with my team and I have the most amazing opportunity to invest in 4th grade students.  I get the sweetest smiles and the most heart felt hugs every morning and afternoon.  These precious students have no idea what their teacher is battling, they just love openly and freely.  It’s not everyday you hear people excited to go to work.  It has seriously been a lifeline for me this last month and I LOVE what I do.

This is the lens I have to look through, or honestly, the pain would take over and I don’t know how effective I would be.  I have asked the Lord to give me a verse I could claim over my diagnosis.  I keep coming back to Joshua 1:9 which reads, “Have I not COMMANDED you?  Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS.  Do NOT be terrified; do NOT be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  The beginning days, weeks and months of MS can be discouraging and they ARE hard.  You are given tons of medicine to try to stop the pain and get your body to stop attacking what is good.  It takes a while to get on the correct dosage of medicine, the right medicine etc.  However, through the valleys of the unknown, I knew I needed to be strong and courageous.  I don’t have time not to be.

I have learned I have to take one day at a time and I have to get lots of rest and sleep.  I have been forced to do that and I’m still learning this skill.  However, today I was given hope.  I finally got to meet my MS Neurologist Ann Bass.  She sat with us for a good 45 minutes going over my diagnosis, setting me up with the local MS chapter, where to locate a nutritionist for MS patients and even resources for MS families, children and spouses.  She answered all our questions and kept telling us that we caught this early, and as long as I follow the treatment plan, I can live a normal life…I just have to live differently than what I’m used to.  This is where the learning curve is still taking place and will for awhile.

I have to go completely gluten free and high proteins, veggies and fruits.  Absolutely no diet cokes or root beer :( , sweet and low, carbonated drinks and low sugars.  We learned a lot of new terms that I can’t even remember nor can I pronounce.  When I look down, I feel an awful twinge and this is just my body reminding me that I have a lesion on my spinal cord.  This is normal for MS patients.  Dr. Bass just put all of us at ease.  She is changing some of my medication and putting me on lower dosages.  Hopefully this will help the pain at school as well as help me to function like I used to.  I will see her again in 3 months.

The Lord is good and He is faithful.  I am going to learn to live with MS and I am going to be in that 80% that lives a long and happy life.  Please mark your calendars for March 1, 2014.  We will be putting together a team for the MS Walk in San Antonio.  Orange is the color that represents MS, so get your gear ready!  I will be sending out more information when it is sent to me through the MS Society.

http://walktxh.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/TXHWalkEvents?fr_id=22530&pg=entry

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My thigh this morning, September 10, 2013, from a shot injection.  My leg hurt and burned all day.  Dr. Bass is sending over another nurse to re-do settings on my autoject.  My hair also started to fall out in clumps on Saturday.  Dr. Bass said this is normal with the shots, but not to worry, everything is going to even out.

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My second month of shots arrived today!  Dr. Bass agreed that for me, this was the BEST method of treatment.  It takes this medicine 6-9 months, sometimes a year, to get feeling back in arms and hands.  BUT, every MS patient is different, however, that is the normal cycle to see if there is perm. nerve damage or not.

The new meaning to “Sister Wives!”  My friends at work and some of my biggest fans!  4th Grade Team at Lamar Elementary.  LOVE these ladies!  I have lost 10lbs since this photo was taken!  Doctors seem to be happy with how things are going there:)

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Notice the orange!!!  Orange is now my new color:)  You’ll be seeing a lot of it from the Best Family as we walk this road:)

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I am now under this amazing lady’s care.  She was and is amazing and I left smiling because she gave me hope today!  I’m ready to begin the new medications and get started to feeling normal again!  Could not have asked or prayed for a better man to go through this with and my mom…she’s behind the camera snapping pictures and taking all kinds of notes!

Prayer Requests:

Continue to pray for energy, clarity of my mind and to regain feeling in arms and hands.  Prayer for the new medications… that they will work and we will have found the right combination of meds to get me functioning like everyone is used to seeing me function.  Prayer for my family and Katie and Noah as we all continue to adjust.