Let Us Now Introduce Famous Men (And Women) 9:44 PM

Cue the 90s synth pop. Dim the lights. Thump the bass. Blow up the fireworks. And let me introduce you to the starting lineup for the All-Star Qualities, a team of mentors and teachers that have shaped the half-court offense of my life. They have rebounded my errant shots, screened off defenders, and coached me through the fast break of ministerial life. The starting five is limited to a) people older than me b) people who I have a personal relationship with (i.e. outside the classroom) c) people I have known for more than a year. Pull off your snap-on warm-up pants, slide your jersey on, clap and/or do your pregame dance ritual, and click the YouTube tune below. Here are the starters (with scouting report)...





At guard, Tony Akers - (initiates the offense and sets others up for success, not afraid to tell teammates the truth, deadly outside shot (though struggles with H-O-R-S-E at camp), not afraid to take the big shot; maintains peak physical condition through love and nutrition of Debbie Akers)

At the other guard, David Bauer - (sees all the angles on the court and in scripture, anticipates authorial intent and opponents next move; makes crisp scriptural connections and bounce passes; pinpoint accuracy anywhere in the New Testament and the New School of Hoops)

At forward, Coleman Howlett - (the heart and soul of the team; plays and preaches with heart and moxie; plays hard no matter what)

At the other forward, Sandra Richter - (undersized but makes up for it with unparalleled passion; cleans up the glass and cluttered Old Testament theology; tears up lackadaisical defense and Old Testament exegesis)

At center, Jim Hampton - (solid anchor in the middle of chaotic game and youth ministry; responds to layups and weak theology with "Get that outta here!")

One for the Scrapbook 1:03 PM

Remember when your mom would cut out anything that involved you in the newspaper? Blogspot is the new scrapbook. I was interviewed by the local paper about student / youth ministry. The article quotes me as calling youth "children" which I can't say that I have never done, but I try like the dickens not to. Other than that, it's a decent article. Here it is for your reading enjoyment.

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Ministering to youth
Leaders connect with young people on their level, teach them ‘what it takes to lead us to God’


Natalie Jordan, The Daily News, njordan@bgdailynews.com

Thirteen-year-old Seth Davis usually joins his peers on Sunday, but on Wednesday nights at Hillvue Heights Church, he’s helping out in Club 56 – the church’s special place for fifth- and sixth-graders.

“We’re just trying to get others interested in the message of God, and getting them saved,” he said.

Many churches are taking a team approach to minister to congregations with focuses on different age groups.

“You understand more when you’re younger,” Seth said, saying that adults are often too set in their ways. “We’re more willing to accept God and others.”

Adolescence is a time of emotional and spiritual upheaval, said Jason Brown, student minister at Broadway United Methodist Church. It’s a time when children are trying to figure out their identity and are looking for a connection to something, he said.

“We help them answer those questions, guide them on their lifelong journey with Christ,” Brown said. “There is a large emphasis on connection and relationships.”

Youth ministries serve as an outlet for fellowship, an outlet for growth in Christ, and a way to be involved in activities, such as bible studies that speak to children on their level, said Jeff Armstrong, next generation pastor for Living Hope Baptist Church.

Dealing primarily with 12- to 18-year olds, Armstrong has the help of two other youth pastors on staff. He said it just seems natural to break the ministry down to a child’s level, especially in larger churches with thousands of members.

“To depend on one man would be a large task,” he said.

What churches have done is delegate responsibilities to certain pastors who can deal with certain life stages, Armstrong said.

At Living Hope, Cindy Starr ministers to preschoolers and other children; at Hillvue that position is delegated to preschool minister Bethann Ayers, children’s minister Angela Lasley and youth minister Shane Blankenship. All three are seminary-trained, Lasley said.

“As the church has grown, the need to minister to certain age groups has grown,” Armstrong said.

Church is a family of God, Lasley said, and through Christ, “all are connected.” And there is a need for more people to help that connection, she said.

“The staff here is very willing to help us out, and do what it takes to lead us to God,” Seth said. “They’re not forcing us, but guiding us.”

While the role youth ministry plays is different in each church, a commonality is their goal to be a resource for parents. Churches look to partner with parents to help them raise their children in the way God’s word teaches, Armstrong said.

“We are not the primary spiritual leaders, parents are,” Lasley said. “So we want to supplement that.”

Lasley said people are seeing difficulties, and need help and support, which they find in ministry. As opposed to the adult ministry, she said the youth and children’s ministries are teaching ministries.

At Hillvue, the belief is that God has appointed every parent as his or her child’s primary spiritual instructor. The ministry’s role is to assist and equip parents in that task. The desire is to “facilitate the child’s growth in his or her relationship with Christ” and “prepare them to discover their uniqueness and God’s mission for their lives.”

“The children’s ministry provides a foundation, and the youth ministry supplements that,” Brown said. “We want them to establish a world view, not only looking at the world in a particular way but engaging in the world in a particular way. We want them to look at the world the way Jesus did and engage the way Jesus did.

“We want them to be lifelong disciples of Christ.”

On Confirmation 9:02 PM

Preparing to lead my second confirmation class, came upon this quote from Rufinus on the reason why the Apostles' creed was not written down:

"The reason why the creed is not written down on paper or parchment, but is retained in the believers' hearts, is to ensure that is has been learned from the tradition handed down from the Apostles, and not from written texts, which occasionally fall into the hands of unbelievers."

At long last....the 2008 Jaybees 8:28 PM

No lame jokes (maybe a few), no political statements, no drunk presenters, no teleprompter readings, just an honest look back on the year that was. Enjoy glistening golden "J"s. Keep your acceptance speeches short.

Proudest Moment – At the Kentuckians For the Commonwealth Annual Convention, my She-Ra won not one, but two awards. The entire weekend was bathed in “So you’re Dana’s husband!” Yes I was. Honorable mention: every time I go anywhere in public with the little stud. Except the time the Mom’s Day Out teachers told me he was trying to kiss all of the girls in the class. Second Honorable Mention: Standing in line with Stockton to vote.

Most “Oh Jesus, you’re going to have to help me moment” – Middle of October, in a Paducah, KY emergency room with Dana and a feverish baby boy. The nurse attempting to take an x-ray was torturing Stockton by holding him down and holding “Kitty” (Stockton’s Kitty = Linus’ blanket) juuuuuuuust out of reach while Stockton screamed. Touch of pneumonia in his lungs, touch of breaking in my heart, and more than a touch of helplessness in my soul.

Best Book (Seminary) – Oden’s Systematic Theology (recycled from Dr. Coppedge’s Basic Christian Doctrine class.

Best Book (non-Seminary) – All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren. The idealist clashes with the pragmatist…sounds somewhat like my marriage.

Most Embarrassing Moment– Wilmore, KY, the Aja’s kitchen. Stockton has done what Stockton does a lot – pooped in his diaper. For reasons unbeknownst to the human mind, Dana stands Stockton up THEN takes the diaper off. Unfortunately, this soupy poopy flowed like a river, deep and wide, all over the Aja linoleum.

Most Surprising Moment – The ninjas / waiters at El Mazatlan sneaking up behind me, then slamming my face with a suffocating amount of whipped cream / ice cream / cinnamon / honey. This is the way I want to die.

Best New Discovery – The power of a baby’s mind. From rasberrying lips to tickling bellies, Stockton attempts to do everything I do. Dana has taught him sign language – I have taught him to pull up people’s shirts and tickle / raspberry. If you lay on the floor, he’ll flash a two-toothed mischief marker and raspberry you.

Best Re-Discovery – The Lectionary.

Best New Skill – Learning Final Cut Pro.

Friend(s) of the Year Award – At the beginning of the year, I made up for three relatively non-sick years with a month-eliminating crud that reduced me to Dana-calling whimper. John David must have thought that I was faking it in order to skip youth – but he filled in faithfully each night. Also, Dana called him to hang stuff up in the house and generally be manlier than I. I won’t tell anyone you watch Gossip Girl, John David, please come forward and accept your Jaybee.

YouTube Video of the Year – Not even close. This one is responsible for a near revolution at church and dissolution of my marriage.

God-Moment of the Year – Saturday night, Senior High Retreat, circled with friends, proclaiming God’s freedom / salvation

Funniest Moment – A day in the church office is marked by time of prayer, thoughtful reflection, quiet, and general seeking of the Holy Spirit…and the occasional prank. I convinced the children’s minister that Hugh Jas was interested in knowing more about the children’s program. He repeated the name several times before realizing that Mr. Jas never spoke to him.

Best Community Building Moment – Six Schrutes, sans babies, sitting hip-to-hip soaking up life on Nicholasville Road and at the Melting Pot. 30 minutes of full body laughter, 30 minutes of waiting for a table, 5 minutes of worrying what Dana was going to do to the manager, 60 minutes of chocolate-soaked quality.

Quote of the Year – On youth ministers: "We are sentries standing, praying and pointing the way, protecting where we can and pushing where we must in the direction that God calls them to go." - Tony Akers Honorable Mention: "No we're not gonna do Stonehenge tonight!" - Spinal Tap

The Doll that Laughs (and gives you nightmares) 1:31 PM

I am still trying to get my books / life / picture of Jerry Sloan and I / plates / cups / bed sheets / Utah Jazz slippers out of the thousands of boxes that line the corners of the new crib. As soon as I do, I will present the 2008 Jaybees. For a recap of last year's winners, click here. In the meantime, enjoy this circa 1982 quality toy.