The Disciple Project

6 Reasons Why I Want To Follow You On Twitter

2010-02-28T20:34:00.000-08:00

Twitter can be somewhat narcissistic. People want to tell me about themselves. That’s fine. But that’s not why I follow you. I don’t want to know what kind of ice cream you just picked up, or that you are “sitting on my lawn chair”. Those are occasionally fun facts but I want more from you. Here are the top 10 Reason I want to follow you in no particular order

Challenge Me. Say something interesting that perks my ears up like a hound hunting for fox. I am on the hunt of something interesting, i am sniffing for a scent of irregular and I am listening for the snap of that twig that tells me you are off the path of average.

Educate Me- Teach me something about what you do. Why is what you do
important? Why should I listen to you? Social Network tweeters are great because they are teaching me about a medium I am using and how to get better at it.

Lead Me- Send me links. Where do you want me to go? What do you want me to discover?

Inspire Me- Give me quotes, sayings, etc. Pictures or Art that say something

Encourage Me- If I tweet and you see I am down or facing a challenge, let me know you are praying me.

Connect With Me- I am not shocked anymore by people. We are creatures of habit and we are generally selfish. We do social networking, follow a bunch of people and get them to follow us and never connect with any of them. We become tribal leaders and then abandon those who give us their trust. Send me a DM, introduce yourself, the least you can do is say, “thanks for following”.

Sadly, we don’t want to de-friend or un-follow anyone because we think it will be rude. Jesus said, “The poor you shall always have with you.” No matter how many followers you have there will be those who waste your time, your brain space, and your twitter lists. Follow these steps the bet you can and I will most likely follow you. Break them..... well, let’s just say their are other tweets in the sea :)

Youth Ministry Tips From A Potty Mouthed Scotsman

2008-05-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Gordon Ramsay is a potty mouthed scotsman, chef, and star of tv's Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares. In a recent episode of Kitchen Nightmares, I was reminded of a few things he said that apply to youth ministry, ministry and life in general.

Cook It Fresh

If you want to tic off Gordon Ramsay, just let him find you storing food that you plan to reheat later for customers. He is emphatic about serving food fresh. He will tear up kitchen and a chef for attempting to fool the customer. So true is this in ministry. Our students know the difference between relying on some tired rhetoric instead of a message from the heart of God birthed in prayer and study. Whether it's programming or the weekly message, keep it fresh! Or Chef Ramsay will get you!

Take it Serious

If Gordon Ramsay has a sense of humor we do not know it. He may have been born with out one but I'm not willing to say that to his face. He takes his craft seriously and expects the chefs he works with to do the same. I have worked with those who fall to pieces when the littlest thing goes wrong ( OK, it's me) and I usually comfort them by saying, "Look, it's only ministry". This is a habit I need to break. Ministry, pastoring , working with teens is important. It is unfortunate that many youth pastors feel that reaching more students with the gospel, making hard discipleship decisions and doing all they can with what they have takes too much work. To them life is one big Lock In and as along they are getting paid, life is good. The times are changing. Youth ministry professionals have to show the value of their office. The stakes are getting higher. Take your ministry and calling seriously.

Tell The Truth (In Love)

Gordon minces no words. Whether he is talking about the food, the service or personal hygiene he is brutally honest. He is willing to spit the food right out of his mouth if it's not right. He uses the truth to shape people. From what I can tell, he sees coddling others as a luxury he cannot afford. How much coddling do we do? How often do we string someone along hoping they will get better? Gordon is trying to turn around a restaurant and sees his time as precious.He does not have time for those who don't have the chops for being a chef. He tests their mettle. I don't know if it is for love of people that Gordon says what he says but he certainly says it for love of food.

Add A Clever Curve To Your Menu

Our chef takes boring, stale, uninviting menu's and adds creativity and punch. In one kitchen he recommends a chef's table right in the kitchen where people can see the inner workings. In a soul food kitchen in Brighton he comes up with Soul in a Bowl; a hearty helping of various menu offerings. Are your students bored? Are they tired of not what is on the menu but how the food is prepared and served? Look at the menu of programming you are offering. If you were a restaurant would you get four or five stars or would the spiritual health dept. shut you down or worse, would you simply be unmentionable?

Do What You Are Passionate About

One final piece of advice from our cranky chef. Be passionate about what you do. Life is too short for bad food. it is also to short to be in a position that drains your passion instead of fuels it. That is not to say that we will always be happy in our position but our passion should make us want to fight to stay there. Are you unhappy? Make a list of things (or people) worth fighting for or worth fighting through. Students don't learn anything from a quitter except when times get tough, just quit Students and the church know when we are not giving our best. If you are not passionate about doing ministry full time find something you are passionate about and do that. Gordon Ramsay commands you!

Let the sparks fly,

Paul

That Kid Can Preach! Or Can He (or She)?

2008-04-25T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

Recently, I was asked to be a short sermon at our Statewide Fine Arts Festival. This was my first time judging this category so I had only a vague idea of what to look forward to. Fifty-two sermons later I could barely think. I think it is awesome we had so many want to undertake the task of many of us take for granted every week.

I sat through 3 hours of short sermons. I heard passionate young people one after another share a 5-7 minute sermon on our year long theme: Everywhere. I either don't have to go to church for the next year or got my 52 messages for the next year. These teens were sharp looking, sharp acting and are a credit to their respective youth ministries.

I heard teens take the theme in various directions.

10% of the sermons I heard were focused on subjects like abortion or missions.
20% preached on various parables and on David and Joshua, 50% were on revival and our need to share Jesus everywhere.
20% I'm not quite sure where they were coming from and
0% made love or grace the central theme of their message.

Now, the point: Of all the messages I heard; I did not hear about the love of God as a central message. God's love was mentioned but was not the central focus. In fact, not only was love not the central theme of any message but neither was God's grace. Aren't those attributes of God that are everywhere or should be? Many of the messages left me feeling discouraged. Many of the messages hammered at the fact that we are not good enough or do enough. Is it possibel that is what we have been communicating to our teens and they are just mimicking us? That being said, I understand that I am not good enough and never do enough. I need to hear a message like this once and a while but 52 times (exaggerated) in a row?

I did hear compassion in a few voices. They were not the fiery one's. They were soft and calculating. They were thinking as they spoke. They looked me in the eye as if they cared for my soul. Isn't that what we're shooting for?

Let me preface this section by saying this:

1. These are teens, I get it. But these teens are the same teens we want to go to foreign countries and share the gospel.

2. This is a competition. Each teen brought their A game. I get it.

3. These teens are gifted, sincere and passionate. I do not want to dampen their enthusiasm I want to help focus it. The scriptures says zeal without knowledge is not good (Romans 10:1-3)

This begs us to ask our selves, "what are our students learning from our preaching and how we are preaching it?" I guess I am proposing the larger question as a denomination. As spirit-filled group of believers, what kind of preachers are we raising up? Are they going to preach a revival birthed out of love an grace? Or a generation that's all smoke and no fire? Or all fire but no love and grace to balance it? I don't know but the scriptures tell me:

"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6

Let's mentor these young preachers as Paul mentored Timothy. They have a message, a story. Let's help them declare God's story and share their own story seasoned with grace and love for a hurting world.

Let the sparks fly,

Paul Turner

These views are that of the poster and does not represent the views of our District, other FA judges or The Assemblies of God.

An Open Wound Is Not Vulgar

2008-04-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

I know this sounds strange but it sure was funny when I heard it come out of my 15 yr old daughters mouth.

What were we talking about? Prom Night. No, not the event that happens for seniors but the re-make of the 80' slasher movie. My daughter wanted to go to the movie. Correction, she did not want to go to the movie. She wanted to be with her friends who were going to the movie. Our discussion about slasher movies became funny when my daughter said, "This is not a movie like Saw or Hostel, an open wound is not vulgar." She was trying to make the point that not all movies that have blood in it are vulgar. My inner Pharisee wanted to shut it all down and make her look up all the Bible verses on blood, vulgar, etc.

Thirty minutes before the movie began we gave her the option to see the movie if she wanted. She felt we wasted too much time talking about it and she felt like we guilted her out of seeing it. That was not our intention. My gift to my daughter is the ability to reason, think and discern. I have decided to trust her more. I believe if she saw anything vulgar in the movie or anything that disagreed with her convictions she'd walk out.

She is my daughter but she is also a believer in Jesus. I have to trust Jesus and and my daughter. I have to trust the Jesus in my daughter.

How about you. Do you trust your students to make right choices? Do you trust the Jesus you have been preaching? Do you trust the Jesus in your students?

Let the sparks fly.

Paul Turner

Throwing The Red Flag

2008-04-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

I always have fun with my youngest son Jon. He is a bundle of fun and creativity. Last night, with all the enthusiasm he could muster told me how this guy on tv focused his Chi and slammed chopsticks into a piece of wood. I said, "Did you just say Chi Jon?" He said, "Yep." and then talked about how a guy could stand on a bunch of eggs with breaking any of them."

I threw the spiritual version of a football coaches red flag. It was time for a review. The play did not look right and I wanted a closer look. I did not want the opposing team to get something they had not earned. Now, I am not a New Age-ologist, understanding all things crystal or mystical but I am familiar with Chi. Chi is "the life giving energy that unites body, mind and spirit. Everyone has Chi. When you die, your Chi is no longer there."

My point is not to describe Chi but to ask and wonder how many parents would have missed that part of their kids story and said, "That's nice dear."

How many things do we hear everyday that go unchallenged. I am not saying we should die on every hill but I am not going to let my son start believing he has Chi and try to walk on our eggs. Although that would be a sight to behold. I am saying, as youth workers and parents we have to throw the red flag and call for a review especially among our believing students.

Statements that require the red flag

-Religions are all the same.
-As long as it makes you happy.
-It's ok if you really love them.
-God's doesn't care about....(my music, my hobbies, etc.)
-swearing (Yeah, I think it matters)
-Lewdness (speech is a big deal but we don't have to make a BIG deal about it)
-rudeness (manners and kindness matter)

As youth worker we have to keep our ears open to pluralistic and inclusive theology that invites a loving challenge. Challenging statements will sharpen a kids faith if we ask them to show us from the Bible why they think the way we do.

To ignore statements because we don't want to offend or come off as a religious bigots will only further a students biblical ignorance and could eventually undermine their faith. How did I tackle my 8 year olds sudden fascination with Chi?

I told him that for believers in Jesus we cannot fault Chi for our behavior. Life maybe out of balance but it is because our relationship with God is out of balance. It could be because we are not obeying God's word or not walking in the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit.

My son understood, to a point but I am just glad I threw the red flag rather than let the game play on. First down, dad!

Paul

Simply Youth Ministry Bringing A Gift To The Party!

2008-03-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Simply Youth Ministry is on the guest list for my 100th Blogday Party Happening Next Thursday, March 27th!

Simply Youth Ministry will be giving away a $300 All Access Pass to Simply resources and materials. All you have to do is show up next Thursday, leave a comment on what we might be doing in youth ministry in 100 years and you are registered to win. Winners wil be notified at the end of the day.

Simply Youth Ministry is an outstanding resource center for youth ministries . Check them out at www.simplyyouthministry.com

PT

What's In Your Top 5?

2008-03-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

God is always calling. He calls in the morning, noon and night. He calls us when we're driving, in the bathroom and other inopportune times. He calls us to do great things but most of the time He asks us to to the ordinary in a extraordinary way. I've committed to sharing the virtues of these five words with youth workers everywhere. Without them we are fooling students into a feel good faith. These words apply to any organization or group. Without them we short change those we lead and with them we echo Jesus' expectations for those who would follow Him.

So, try a little experiment. Text these five words to various students or leaders.

Sacrifice, Surrender, Separation, Study and Spirit

Afterwards, send a text asking "What if this message was from God. What immediately came to your mind? What do you think this word was asking from you or was confirming something God had already put on your heart.

Ask those who received a text to follow up by sending an email with their thoughts.

These are five things God is asking us to embody and we cannot practice them enough.

If you try this little experiment let me know the results.

Your Are Invited To My Blogday Party!!

2008-03-13T11:38:00.000-07:00

Blog Party

The Moral and Spiritual Significance of Lenny Kravitz

2008-03-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

I recently read that 60's rocker Neil Young said, "Music can't change the word." He's right and wrong and he hasn't heard Lenny Kravitz new album. It may not change the world but it may change some minds about God and faith.

Music Matters. I believe after personal relationships ( parents and friends), music is next as the big influencer among teens. It changes their mood and their mission. Much is made about the kid who listens to Marilyn Manson and shoots up a school. This is all the more reason why getting students to practice good listening habits.

I will tackle an album a month or two as to why the music matters and why we should recommend it to our students. Better still I will offer ways to use this music to create conversations about what matters.

I have chosen Lenny Kravitz as my first album to review. Lenny has an optimism and outlook that is good for people in general and for students in particular. His new album Love Revolution speaks to a greater good and we should all listen.

I've chosen two songs and included a few questions to prompt a response form your students.

Love Revolution

How do most of your friends define love? Do you agree with it? Why or why not?

Do we need a revolution (a totally new way of looking and responding) of love? What are some things you could do to start a love revolution?

Bring It On

What do you feel like you are not prepared to deal with everyday?

What are some things you have been avoiding dealing with? Why?

Do you ever feel "unarmed", like you are lacking something when it comes to a battle of choices? What is one thing you wish you had as a weapon to deal with your problems?

The rest of the album is filled with little treats like Good Morning and If You Want To, and the groovy Dancing Til' Dawn. The songs Going Home, A Long, Sad Goodbye, and This Moment Is All There Is reflects the heartbreak Lenny's father passing away within the past year. Lenny's guitar cries and you cry with it.

This is a great album to listen to all the way through but I suspect your ipod will barely leave tracks 1 and 2 before you need a crunchy jam fix.

Bring it on

No Sacrifice No Victory

2008-03-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

“I play to enjoy myself, some people take this the wrong way, but winning a championship is not what I base everything on. I was given an opportunity to play basketball, travel around and have fun doing it and that’s what I want to do. I wouldn’t take being unhappy and not being myself and winning. I would rather enjoy myself with 18,000-20,000 people watching the game and the people sending fan mail and those things and be happy…I didn’t come here to play the point guard, that’s just it. I came here to run the wing, just like he was running the other wing. I was asked to sacrifice for the team to win and for everybody, I guess, get paid. That is what was told to me and I wasn’t happy with that.”

-Larry Hughes about his playing days with the Cavs

I don't know Larry Hughes. I don't know his situation so I am taking his words at face value. I'd like to summarize what I hear him saying:

1. I don't care if I win a championship

2. I want to play basketball and travel.

3. I don't like being unhappy.

4. If I am unhappy I will not give my best.

5. If I am asked to sacrifice I will not because it will make me unhappy.

6. I like being happy and anything that interferes with that I will leave or not try my best.

This may sound too simplistic but I don't think so. Larry simply echoes human nature. If things are going well I am in. If they are not, I am out of here. I am sure Larry at some point will say that all this was taken out of context. This is also too often the attitude of many Christians. Let me resummarize the list with the attitude of many Christians in mind:

1. I don't care if the Kingdom of God is advanced.

2. I want to enjoy church services, church fellowship and occasionally a Bible Study that does not talk about sacrifice.

3. I don''t like being unhappy.

4. If sacrifice is part of the deal I'm not in.

5. Sacrifice sounds like it will make me unhappy so I will not do it.

6. If my church asks me to sacrifice I am leaving because I want to be somewhere that makes me happy.

We would have to largerly ignore most of the New Testament if we believe that our highest goal and God's ultimate purpose for us is to be happy. We'd have to ignore statements such as:

Take up your cross and follow me.

A seed must go into the ground and die.

Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

We cannot escape the example of Jesus and we cannot ignore His call to sacrifice. To do so would disqualify us from experiencing the very nature of Christ.

Let the Sparks Fly!

Paul Turner

20 Things I Learned This Past Year

2008-02-29T02:36:00.000-08:00

Almost a year ago I decided to slip into ministry detox like Amy Winehouse should slip into reality, with diligence. I had and have strong feelings about church; I am investigating my calling and searching out how I might best serve the Kingdom.

This search involves me going back to school. I received my letter of acceptance from Jeff State today. How cool is that? Almost 40 and starting over. What a kick. I did not choose a Christian college but the public campus where the public discourse invigorates me. I like different opinions. I am still leaving options open to full time ministry but I can't force it, God will have to move.

So, What did I learn?

1. I over estimated my appeal and underestimated my resolve.

2. Economics change fast.

3. The grace of God is real.

4. I really like my family.

5. I like substitute teaching.

6. I am still committed to this and the next generation of teenagers.

7. My faith is better when challenged.

8. The devil is a liar and a big fat goober.( I knew that, but this year confirmed it)

9. My marriage was stronger than I thought.

10. Help did not come from the familiar but from the foreign.

11. God does love me more than the ministry.

12. I am a better and worse writer than I thought (this is the becoming)

13. I had not used up all my ideas and God's creativity blossomed.

14. People will let me disciple them without a title.

15. All those promises of reading my Bible with all my free time was a big lie.

16. You have to keep trying. You only fail when you give up.

17. I learned how special a Boys and Girls Basketball team could be (we were champs)

18. I am still competitive and love to win (see above)

19. Life is both fragile and resilient. Fight and you win.

20. I want to continue to live a life of freedom from oppressive religion and pursue good conversation with friends (thanks Shaylon!), good movies, good music and good books.

"we are in such a hurry as to arrive at who we will be we become blind to the part where we are becoming" This year has been about becoming. I almost missed that. I may be doing it all over again. We'll see.

Please join me and my family in prayer as we make decisions for the future. Thanks.

You don't need 20 things but if you have learned anything about me this past year feel free to send me a few comments.

PT

7 Blunders of the Church

2008-02-28T05:05:00.000-08:00

Recently I posted Ghandi's Seven Blunders of the World. I gave it some thought and believe I have come up with the 7 blunders of the contemporary church:

Programs w/o Relationships
Preaching w/o Passion
Crowds w/o Community
Dogma w/o Discussion
Ritual w/o Reasoning
Hype w/o Holiness
Decisions w/o Discipleship

Feel free to add to the list.

PT

The 7 Blunders of the World

2008-02-23T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

I stumbled this on my stumbleupon.com account. Stumble upon is a random web searcher that throws sites your way from a list of interests you check off.

I find it interesting that Ghandi's murder was by one of his own and one of intolerance. Jesus was much the same way. My fav is worship without sacrifice. Have a fav let me know.

"Seven Blunders of the World"

1. Wealth without work

2. Pleasure without conscience

3. Knowledge without character

4. Commerce without morality

5. Science without humanity

6. Worship without sacrifice

7. Politics without principle

—Mahatma Gandhi

* Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, India. He led India's movement for independence from British rule and is one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders of the 20th century. In 1948 he was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic who opposed his tolerance for all creeds and religions. Gandhi is honoured by his people as the father of the Indian nation and is called 'Mahatma', which means Great Soul.

The Passionate Youth Worker Part Tres or 101 Uses For A Dead Youth Group

2008-02-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

Here is the second part of the quote on civilization from Clark in the book How The Irish Saved Civilization.

"People sometimes think that civilizations consists in fine sensibilities and good conversation and all that. These can be the agreeable results of civilization but they not what makes up a civilization, and a society can have these amenities and yet be dead and rigid."

Ok, another wow moment. This quote captures what youth groups have devolved into. Youth groups have lot so stuff. They have building, programs, etc and yet these things do not a church make. It is possible to have all the resources and none of the life of Christ. So, what do we do to breath new passion and life into our youth ministries. I have two suggestions.

1. Take stock of programs that do not bring life.

Go through all the things you do with your youth group. What brings life and knowledge in Christ? What lights the fire of your students? What brings groans or great resistance? Give programs a face lift and lobotomy if it does not urge students on in their walk with Christ.

2. Have a youth group funeral.

Maybe the whole thing is dead. Why not have a formal service with eulogy and a grave with a tombstone. Each member could offer a few words like when the group was created, past achievements and surviving members. After the service gather again in three days for a resurrection service with new ideas and goals.

In the vein of the eighties book "101 Uses For A Dead Cat" drop me a line for "101 Uses For A Dead Youth Group"

Let the fun begin.

PT

The Passionate Youth Worker Part Deaux

2008-02-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

I'm currently reading a book called "How The Irish Saved Civilization". In this book there is a great quote that Thomas Cahill spreads like a banquet before us and I believe applies to youth ministry. I will address the first part of the quote in this blog:

"What is really lost when a civilization wearies and grows small is confidence, a confidence built on the order and balance that leisure makes possible. Again (Dr. Kenneth) Clark "Civilisation requires a modicum (small amount) of material prosperity- enough to provide a little leisure. But, far more, it requires confidence - confidence in the society in which one lives,belief in it's philosophy, belief in it's laws, and confidence in one's own mental powers....Vigour, energy, vitality: All the great civilisations, or civilising epochs- have had a weight of energy behind them."

Wow, ok, you may have to read that a few times, I did. I will take the first part fo this quote and dissect it in this blog and save the second paragraph for my next blog.

We pastor small civilizations. Students are a collection of tribes which gather for weekly "war council". They are a society which gathers to talk, listen and engage one another. Most youth ministies do not require big buildings, video games, pool tables, etc. They are nice but they do not make the tribes who they are. You could empty your rooms and put nothing but a ball in there and you students would create their own fun and would be better than anything we could dream up. Why? These students need very little in materials but need much on relationships. It is not the ball that bring the energy but the interaction with one another.

This energy comes from the need to agree. Agree on rules, standards, etc. To have the maximum amount of fun there must be agreement. Also in our tribe are triabl leaders and they include our Pastor, Board, Staff, Youth Leaders and Parents. For our group of tribes to function as the chruch there must be:

First and foremost a commitment and confidence in Christ the person and savior.If a group does not have confidence in their own salvation much time will be spent in pursuading them that they are saved and they must live for Christ.

The second confidence is in it's philosophy. In other words, how our youth ministry get's done. This is where there must be agreement on what programs are offered and how those programs are carried out.

The third confidence is in it's laws. What is your groups mission or purpsoe statement? Do you provide ways for students to fulfill this purpose or mission. I beleive thsi also goes to how fairness and judgement is carried out within your group. Does the trouble maker always get to go on the retreat? Do you always use the same people and play favorites?

The fourth and final confidence is in their own mental powers. The tribes will function better when they understand that anyone in the group can make it and attain a level of respect. The only way for students to gain this confidence in themsleves is for them to attempt the daring and fail greatly all the while having adults below with a safety net and an affirmation that they will do it next time.

In order for us to have passionate youth ministries we must create a society of confident students. Many leave the chruch because they have lost confidence in the above principles that made these societies work.If your youth group balloon is losing air(confidence) and altitude(success); take stock to see which hole of confidence you need to plug.

Paul

The Passionate Youth Worker Part Uno

2008-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever stood in front of your apathetic, passionless students and wondered, "What is wrong with these people?" If I had a dollar for everyone one of those thoughts, let's just say I would be writing this from a beach somewhere sipping virgin daiquiris. Passionless students could be the result of a passionless youth worker. Now, that does not mean that the youth worker does not love God or their students. Let me offer a few ideas to raise the passion level of your group.

Enthusiasm and passion play a large part in motivation.

When you are plugging your next event are you excited about it even if it''s a lock in? it's hard to be excited about everything so pick an event of the month to put all your energy and enthusiasm behind. If we are passionate about too many events our students passion will be divided.

Did the students plan it? Or is this just another great idea from the youth worker?

The more students plan and have input into to the more excited they will be. You can always refer to the last leadership or planning meeting you had to remind those students of the time and effort they put in. Better still allow your more excited students to get up and announce the event for a few weeks.

Be passionate about the tough stuff.

This would be a no brainer except for the fact that some events may be mandated by your church or pastor. Students will know when you are excited and when you are not. Gain courage and throw yourself into that mandatory event and then figure how to put a twist into it, how to make it uniquely your own. This way you can still pull off the event and be proud to promote it to your students.

Be positive in the face of fear.

Fear can often steal our passion. We maybe afraid that no one will come or no one will like the event when they get there. You have to be the most positive person about it. Your even may have challenges and maybe even some clunkyness but even that can be turned around to make the event memorable but you have to stay positive. Your positive attitude will be infectious and others will catch on and spread that attitude around. Suddenly, you got the best event going.

Does Your Youth Ministry C.L.I.C.K?

2008-01-28T18:05:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

I found this little nugget in an e-book called Testify from Creating Customer Evangelists. They include a chapter on how the NBA Seattle Supersonics overcame their negative customer service. They installed a system called C.L.I.C.K. with all employees:

Cummunicate Courteously with our guests
Listen to Learn rather than listen to respond
Initiate Immediately so guest's concerns are met quickly and effectively
Create Connections so guests know they are among hospitable friends.
Know your stuff so guests know they are interacting with professionals

This is a good acronym. How are you doing with your youth group? Are you clicking with them?
Are you clicking with your parents? How about with your pastor? Trying coming up with your own acronym for click so you can ensure that every time you engage students in your youth ministry meetings and your church you will be leaving them with a great impression.

For the past year I have committed myself to empower youth workers locally and nationally. I made a deal with God. I wanted to live by faith outside the administrative office of youth pastor. I must say the jury is still out on what direction I will take after my one year deal is up. I covet your prayers. If I can serve you in anyway please let me know.

Paul Turner

Release the Hounds!!

2008-01-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

If you are a fox hunter or prison guard after an escaped convict you would know the saying, "Release the hounds!!". Or, if you ever saw the Jerry Seinfeld commercial for Chevron. I can't help but think that students are hungry to do more, say more and find more meaning. They are hunting it down like bloodhounds. When we do for students what they should do for themselves we throw them off the trail. the scent is gone. Students will pick up the trail that leads to expression and individuality. We lose students not because we expect too much but too little or nothing at all.

We are in week two of training for The Disciple Project at Graysville and I can see hunger begin to return. For the past two weeks I sat back and allowed our worship leader to start the service. She is a great worship leader. She want to good so she'll glance at me or ask me when do we want to start. I will answer with a questions, "When do you want to start?". She is getting used to the fact that someone trusts her judgement. Someone believes in her and the other students of this ministry. We have the unique opportunity to see a student led ministry emerge discover who they should be in Christ and to allow their passions to drive ministry. I love them to much to allow anything else.

Do you have students chomping at the bit to lead or do have students who look to you to get the service started? How can you have a a more student led ministry? How can students try and fail like real disciples? Here's a few tips:

1. Get out of the way. Are you consumed with having the perfect service? Hand off as much as you can and keep what you are good at.

2. Is there a class you require for leaders? Can you shorten it or eliminate anything that throws your kids off the scent?

3. Create space for change. Let something(programs, trips, etc) die that do not lead to kids leading and let kids fill in the gaps.

4. Get over yourself. Don't let pride or excuses keep you back from seeing God do tremendous things through students. let them steal the show and God will get the glory.

If the leash you are holding is burning your hand from holding students back; then I say, "Release the hounds!!"

Need Some Resolution Ideas?

2007-12-30T14:40:00.000-08:00

Today in church our Pastor talked about Ben Franklins need to write his core values. He espoused how much he got done (electricity, inventions, etc) and all he was apart of (helping write the constitution of the U.S). We certainly can learn from this list and do a better job in 2008.

Ben Franklin's thirteen moral virtues

The thirteen moral virtues listed by Benjamin Franklin in his Autobiography:

1. Temperance. Eat not to Dulness. Drink not to Elevation.

2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling Conversation.

3. Order. Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.

4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality. Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry. Lose no Time. Be always employ'd in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.

7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice. Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.

9. Moderation. Avoid Extreams. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no Uncleanness in Body, Cloaths or Habitation.

11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.

12. Chastity. Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.

13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Also...

The Morning Question, What Good shall I do this Day?

The Evening Question, What Good have I done to day?

Where did I put my optimism?

2007-12-27T14:17:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite authors, Seth Godin reposted a blog from four years ago. It resonates with me on a youth ministry level. I have not been very optimistic about traditional youth ministry but I am about students. Risks, chances and faith are the order for 2008. The principles I've been living and teach for the past several years are about to make a jump. I believe more than ever that there must be change in how we do youth ministry inside and outside of the church. I hope this little piece from Seth inspires you and feel free to put the word church or youth ministry in any of the appropriate places.

"The thing is, we still live in a world that's filled with opportunity. In fact, we have more than an opportunity -- we have an obligation. An obligation to spend our time doing great things. To find ideas that matter and to share them. To push ourselves and the people around us to demonstrate gratitude, insight, and inspiration. To take risks and to make the world better by being amazing.

Are these crazy times? You bet they are. But so were the days when we were doing duck-and-cover air-raid drills in school, or going through the scares of Three Mile Island and Love Canal. There will always be crazy times.

So stop thinking about how crazy the times are, and start thinking about what the crazy times demand. There has never been a worse time for business as usual. Business as usual is sure to fail, sure to disappoint, sure to numb our dreams. That's why there has never been a better time for the new. Your competitors are too afraid to spend money on new productivity tools. Your bankers have no idea where they can safely invest. Your potential employees are desperately looking for something exciting, something they feel passionate about, something they can genuinely engage in and engage with.

You get to make a choice. You can remake that choice every day, in fact. It's never too late to choose optimism, to choose action, to choose excellence. The best thing is that it only takes a moment -- just one second -- to decide.

Before you finish this paragraph, you have the power to change everything that's to come. And you can do that by asking yourself (and your colleagues) the one question that every organization and every individual needs to ask today: Why not be great??

PT

Atheist Sunday School?

2007-12-21T16:06:00.000-08:00

Sunday School for Atheists

Ok, I admit it, I stole a Time magazine from the Dentist office. I was fascinated by an article called Atheist Sunday School. Curious about what they do?

Well, according to the article they attend the Humanist Community Center in Palo Alto Cal. to :

1. Sing songs like Unique and Unrepeatable?

Ok, the fact that they sing a song like this blows my mind. I agree ever kid should feel this way. Self esteem is important. But what do you say when they ask "Why are we like that mommy?" do they answer "Well honey, it's not really true. We all evolved from the same sludge and we are complete accidents. Oh, and after we die there is absolutely nothing. Have a great life." Ok, I agree that is a simplistic answer and I'm sure they have some secular way of dealing with that but still. The song just caught me off guard and it was begging for a rant.

2. Read stories like Stone Soup.

This is a good story. I remember it from my elementary days. It's about community and everyone joining in to make soup, everyone doing their part. To believers, this a picture of the church. Parents have a hard enough time answering the question of where do zebras get their stripes. How parents share stories of relativism and split hairs to make their point of view make sense I don't know. I am glad for Scripture we can stand on. I'll take the parable of the Good Samaritan over Stone Soup any day.

3. Share stories of Free Thinkers.

This is how Time magazine describes it: {an umbrella term for atheists, agnostics,and other rationalists) like black abolitionist Frederick Douglas. Well, as for free thinking I think they are not letting their kids think freely are they? In fact one parent who is an atheist started to come to this class because their son was told some stories from the Bible. She said her son began to believe these remarkable stories and wondered why his mother had not told them to him before. Well, shouldn't the mother have said, "What do you think son?" So much for free thinking. I'm glad I don't have to convince anyone of anything. I am willing to love the atheist but it seems they are intolerable of us and must train their children to guard against believing in God.

The final quote from the article is from an 11 year old girl who is in the class. She says, " I'm a person that doesn't believe in myths. I'd rather stick to the evidence."

Well sweetie, the only evidence here is that your parents have decided for you that disbelief is the only belief.

Let the speaks fly.

PT

Sub-Merged:Adventures In Substitute Teaching Episode 2

2007-12-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

Been a while since I have blogged. I don't know if it is because I have nothing to say or I am just too tired to say whatever may be lingering in my mind. Anyway, I continue to substitute teach and for the most part have found it enjoyable. I can tell that my relational style takes most student my surprise. They expect me to be harsh and irrelevant. They don't know my 20 year secret of hanging out with them. I recently did two days at a middle school. Two days in a row at a middle school wore me out. I met one of those girls who just rolls her eyes, slumps and basically communicates in her mind that she'd like your head to explode. That was pleasant.

I tried my best to communicate with her that I did not want to write her up. She found my little talk quaint and quite bothersome. I had to just wrap it up with a, "shut your mouth and you won't get in trouble" That went over like telling Lindsey Lohan she shouldn't have another drink. My heart went out to her. I felt sorry for her. I flashed forward in my mind and saw her future a screwed up mess. I saw a girl who hated life, bitter and unteachable. I saw her railing about how unfair life was to her and blaming the government, society, her parents and even me for her downfall. Everyone but herself. So, next time she hassle me, I'm writing her up. Maybe even have a part in a brighter future.

Sparks anyone?

Sub-Merged:Adventures In Substitute Teaching Episode 1

2007-12-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

Hey,

Welcome to my new series on my adventures in Substitute teaching. I have been subbing for the past 2 months and actually get a lot of joy out of it. In a way it's like being a grandparent. You can hang and talk with the kids and then you get to send them home and you don't have to see them for weeks! I also look at it as my own youth group. This irreligious (although spiritual) bunch of rabble rousers are mine for the day. They test me and my patience but somehow I endure it and love it. It's a new environment for me. God Bless all my youth groups. I would come in and I am greeted by hugs and high fives. For the first time I subbed I was barely acknowledged.

Junior Highers treat me like the shiny thing the water. What is that? Let's investigate.

Sr. Highers see me as a predator of the deep seeking to eat their fun. They grunt and sit down.

Anyway, here is a brief story of my first day.

My first day was Middle School Girls P.E. Can you imagine? Wow, I thought, if I can survive this I can survive anything. I was teamed with a great teacher who played for Pat Summit at the U of T. She was in charge and I rode her coat tails.

One young lady came up to me (remember I am such a man) and I thought she asked me for a pen.
I said "sure."
She said "no, I need a pad."
I said, "A pad? Sure I got one in my brief case."
she said , "No, a girl pad."

Ah, the lights went on. I said "Dear, you can have as many as you want."

That was my first day. I'll have other stories to share in the near future.

The More Things Change ....

2007-12-02T09:45:00.001-08:00

You know the rest. The more they remain the same. For the first time in 20 years I attended Catholic Mass. Now, you have to understand, I have never opposed the Catholic church in my 20 years as a Protestant youth pastor. I always sought to help others understand. So, what did I learn from my field trip today?

What I enjoyed...

-I enjoyed the stripped down version of church. The focus of mass was Christ. Not the priest, preacher, worship team, etc. it was Jesus.
-I did not go to confession, which I plan on doing, so I did not receive communion. It kind of felt anti-climatic. So, next time I go I'll have my stuff up to date.
- I did enjoy watching others take communion and watching the rhythm of community.
-I enjoyed the creeds once more. I was rusty but I hung in there.
-I enjoyed getting out of church in one hour.
-I enjoyed the straight forward homily.

What I missed....

-talking with people I knew.
-oddly, not filling out a visitor card.
-also oddly not being approached by some kind of welcome team.
-Someone asking me to open my Bible
-Three -5 points message.
- A passionate appeal for prayer and salvation

Well, I think that it is it for now. I shall inform you of further adventures as they unfold.

PT

Why Don't Football Players Go Wee Wee After the Game?

2007-11-27T11:54:00.001-08:00

This was the question asked and sparked the research of Dr. Robert Cade at the University of Florida. Robert Cade began to experiment with the sports drink to help the foot ball team replace valuable electrolytes and nutrients during the game. Gatorade was invented as a result of asking questions. You may be trying to figure out a problem by looking to answers. It sounds like the best ideas are found by thinking of the questions.

why don't students want to come to church?
Why don't they want to stay in church?
why don't students want to have a devotional life?
why do they smell like that?

You get the point. Start with questions and then brainstorm the answers. Who knows maybe you'll invent or reinvent a much needed resource for the youth ministry world.

PT

There's A Storm Coming

2007-11-23T11:03:00.001-08:00

Ok, here's the clip i was looking for. I get chills when I watch it. Classic.

Apocalyptic Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

Do you know who this woman is? I'll explain in a minute why she is important and why she just flashed in my head.

Ok, this is like a nightmare I had while I was awake. I was driving along it is a cool, fall, Alabama day. I was thinking about my life and my conspiracy as well as biblical theories about where all this is going. The leaves were blowing and suddenly I was transported to the finale scene of Terminator 1.

The picture you see is of Sarah Conner. She defeated the terminator who had come back from the future to kill her so she would not give birth to a son who would grow up to end the robot revolution. Ok, think I'm weird yet. Not over yet.

So I found the scene in You Tube but the embed was taken off otherwise I would have shown you the clip in full. Sarah Conner talks into a microphone to one day share with her son all that had taken place. She stops for gas and you see a small latino boy and he says, " hay el venir de la tormenta." in english, "there is a storm coming" to which Sarah Conner says, "I know".
I know, what you are thinking, "Only from Paul Turner's head". Hang with me.

Now, there are a few analogies I'd like to make:

First, Jesus, Savior of the world, was almost murdered before he grew up and was also almost tossed off a cliff. He was plotted against because the religious figures saw him as a threat. He was tearing the system apart.

Second I like the word tormeta as the word for storm. It seems appropriate. A storm is uncontrollable and people often say, "we'll just have to ride this out."

Maybe it's just my personal life but I often feel a "tormenta"coming on. A spiritual twister of emotions out of control threatening to tear my life apart. They are brief but they are terrible. Prayer helps but until Jesus says, "be still" I just have to ride it out. Storms will always come to us personally but also to our nation and only Jesus can stop it.

Some wild thoughts when we ought to be eating or for some drinking, wild turkey.I just thought this was bizarre enough to post so all may comment.
Enjoy.

PT

Cool Animation

2007-11-17T20:09:00.000-08:00

Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviant ART

Ever feel like the one who created you is out to get you? We've all felt like that but God seeks our best and has wonderful things in store for those who diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:1-6

Stories From St. Louis

2007-11-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

Here is mary Huebner and I working the Unkommonmedia.com booth in St. Louis. We had a great time talking to youth workers about sharing all the creative, original ideas they've used over the years with the rest of the youth worker community. Unkommon Media is an online publishing house for the common man/woman.

I had the best conversations that week. I met a Catholic Evangelist (lay person who basically witnessed to me about the church) who wanted me to return to the church. She told me I could always come back. I grew up Catholic and never met a catholic who told me I could come back. Who was genuinely interested in my participation with the Catholic body. Kudos to her. I was so excited to meet a passionate Catholic I was ready to convert. Alas, the theological jump was too far.

The second conversation I had was with a young man (18-25) wearing a Notre Dame sweat shirt. Instead of laying my Unkommon Media jargon on him I wanted to talk about football. After 15 minutes he stared at me and said thanks. I asked him why. He said, "All i have been talking about for two days was youth ministry, thanks for talking with me about football. I need that." What a great encounter. I was glad to be able to minister to him.

My last meeting happened with an author who was sitting art our booth Sarah Cunningham. I had read her book Dear Church and it really got me converted from defending the establishment to questioning it in a loving way. She was kind but I could tell she was weary of discussing her thoughts from 3 years ago.

I am looking forward to more encounters and more stories to tell when I am at the Atlanta YS. If you are there come by the Unkommon Media booth.

PT

Taking A Potty Break

2007-10-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I didn't mean to be this graphic......ok i did. For those who may not know I have been working at Lipscomb Elementary School for the past 3 months as a part time janitor. My jobs was, but not limited to, cleaning toilets, sinks, and sweeping and just recently carving pumpkins. Lipscomb is a great school with great, committed teachers, who I will miss. I will be going back for visits.

This is my last day and to be honest I will not miss the task but I will miss the learning experience. Just like their is a war to fight and you cannot stay in boot camp even though it was your hight point of learning. I am off to fight a few wars and probably will wind up back in a spiritual boot camp to prepare me for even a greater war. There were days that I simply stared at these toilets wiling them to explode with no results, they had to be cleaned. Perseverance is a wonderful quality until it is beginning to be worked into your own life.

I am off to St. Louis to stump for my new digital publishers Unkommonmedia.com. We'll be working a booth there so please say a prayer that all that God intends will be prepared for and received by us knuckle heads. When I will return I will start sub teaching and possibly pursue a degree, we'll see.

Thanks all,

PT

2007-10-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here it is!! After a few years of trial and error I have published my first e-book.

Are you prepared to dig deep for the answers? Crime Scenes from the Old Testament gives you interactive lessons and puts your students at the scene of the crime. These are great to spice up your sunday school, small group, retreat or midweek meeting.
Each part has four lessons on such Bible characters as Gideon, Sampson, Joseph and more. Each part comes with four lessons and downloadable crime scene photos (over 100 in all)

Your students will discover the clues, the cause and their character in Crime Scenes from the Bible.

Visit my friends at
unkommonmedia.com to get yours today.

Paul

Joining Forces

2007-10-19T20:11:00.000-07:00

I have joined forces with the oldest youth ministry model on the planet, Christian Endeavor. Christian Endeavor has been around since the 1800's and is all about student led ministry. No really, student led. No more taking away what God has given them. I have taken the role of Program Director (part time at the moment). Our goal is to re-establish the movement and give students and youth leaders what they've longed for: More!. More of God, more of leadership, more direction, more resources and more coaching. To check out the origins, purpose etc. Please visit www.christianendeavor.com

Please continue to pray for me and Disciple Project Ministries. The D-Project will hopefully be a part of the CE Movement for a long time. I will continue to speak and train as needed and will hopefully develop my own CE group led by students of course.

Anyway, got more to say about some of our culture in the news but I'll save that for another time.

Peace

PT

Back To The Journey

2007-10-12T06:39:00.001-07:00

This is the youth group at Graysville Church of God. They don't have a youth pastor right now but you would never know that by their smiles and passion for God. I have had the privilege of filling in and speaking every week for the past 6 weeks. These students are outstanding. They have a tremendous worship team and their friendliness is second to none.They love God and want to serve him and I wanted to give them props for keeping there hopes high and praying while waiting for what God will do next. I hope to keep speaking there as long as they will have me and who knows I'd like to see them do The D-Project and watch their gifts and talents shine even brighter bringing glory to God. Way to go Graysville, hang in there.

PT

Does Fighting Over God Push Others Away?

2007-10-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Here is an exerpt from an AP report on the school shootings in Cleveland, Oh.

"Coon's troubles seemed to come to a breaking point this week. Students said Monday's fight was over God — Coon told his classmates he didn't believe in God and instead worshipped rocker Marilyn Manson.
Coon had mental health problems, spent time in two juvenile facilities and threatened to commit suicide while in a mental health facility, according to juvenile court records obtained by The Plain Dealer newspaper."

Ok, now which of the following really contributed to this shooting?

a) mental health issues
b) Marilyn Manson
c) fight with student over God
d) messed up family life
d) all of the above

Many Christians would unfortunately choose B) soley. Marilyn is a symptom not the disease. He's the equivelance of a runny nose. We can blow our noses until Jesus comes but there will always be a Marilyn Manson; a scapegoat for Christians who'd rather point fingers, circle the wagons and find more reasons to homeschool their kids. This is coming from a believer in Jesus. I am not defending Asa or his actions, I am asking a larger question. Does arguing about God contribute to the isolation of others and rejection of the gospel. This is not that young man's fault who argued with Asa, we cannot expect 14 year olds to be C.S Lewis. I am asking as a believer whether we are more about arguing God or living out Christ's teachings.

I would agree that D) is the best answer but C) is just eating at my gut. What led to this fight? What was the argument really about? Was the other boy a Christian or just a a moral zealot who did not like Marilyn Manson? Was he truely sincere in his witness and Asa just went off on him? I'm betting my money on several factors such as teasing and name calling, a screwed up family and a hurt and broken heart with no hope that has contributed to this unfortunate incident. Christians (or anyone else) are not responsible for the final decisions people make. I am asking as to whether we are doing all we can to rescue students like Asa and protect the innocent from those who refuse our help and intervention. Have we given the Asa's in our community every chance to turn it around? This incident only leads to more questions that we must continually ask ourselves as believers engaging an unbelieving, broken and hurt generation. What can we do about it? Your comments are welcome.

Let the sparks fly,

Paul

Do We Need Youth Ministry? Not If.......Part Two

2007-10-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Do We Need Youth Ministry?

Not if the youth leader and the group is in constant comparison to the one down the street.

Not if it's sole purpose is to be a marketing tool and not a viable ministy.

Not if it is sipmy to placate to the parents of the teenagers in our church.

Keeping Up With The (insert your rival church here)

We suffer from the disease of comparison. We hear about a new idea, a new program that is gaining results for such and such and quickly adopt said program with the hopes that it will pay the same dividends. We usurp the creativity of our youth leaders, our students and trade our prayer time for social and spiritual cloning. God has specific plans for our youth ministries in our communities and one size does not fit all. There is no guarantee that the program you adopt will work. We fail to take into consideration things like the personality of the leaders who run them, their demographics, their church make up, and in some cases their doctrine that drives it. The time we spend in prayer and The Word will lead to God given ideas to us that will work where we are. God will gladly implant in us the strategies and programs that will work where we are. Our youth group may be small but compared to the church, which has no youth group we’re huge. It’s not about how we compare to the church down the street but are we are fulfilling out God given purpose and destiny in our town.

Paul Turner
www.thediscipleproject.net

Do We Need Youth Ministry? Not If.......Part One

2007-09-28T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is certainly a loaded question. The answer is Not If.

Not If youth ministry is tacked on act as independent franchises like Subways in Wal-Mart.

Not If youth ministry simply swings around us like a cross on Madonna's neck that draws the attention of the "big money" to our churches.to

Not if ministry to youth is not holistic to the Body of Christ.

We need minstry to youth but not in the traditional way. In my new ebook The Disciple Project (soon to be on Unkommon Media.com) I offer some reasons why a church should not have a youth group as such. So, here is the first in a series of three. Your comments are welcome. Play nice.

Let the sparks fly,

Paul Turner

Chapter 1: The Discipling Dilemma

Why is it so hard to make disciples in the context of the church today? This is the question on everyone’s mind. With students heading out of the church, across denominational lines we are left scratching our heads. I believe there is another question at work. Why do we want to have a youth ministry or you group anyway? Here are a few of the wrong reasons:

Not if the reason is because, everyone has one ..

I am not opposed to youth ministry, only ineffective youth ministry. It’s standard for most churches that desire to grow numerically to have a youth ministry. Youth ministry in general has become somewhat homogenous. These youth ministries are bland and they litter most towns like run down check cashing and car loan businesses. I think every church should do youth ministry but not necessarily have a youth group unless it’s has purpose and is intricately connected to the Body of Christ.

Youth ministry has become Starbucks or McDonalds in the sense of churches hiring youth pastors like a manger/owners franchise a business. They are like putting Subway restaraunt into a Walmart. It's simply there if you just happen to be hungry. A church fails in two ways when they hire a youth pastor. We give them too much freedom or we micro manage them into the ground. We must not only have a philosophy for youth ministry but a theology for youth ministry as well and how this powerful, passionate group of people fit in and flow with the entire Body of Christ.

Part II Keeping Up With (insert your favorite rival church here)

Whirlwind Tour

2007-09-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang,

Well, Sincew Enfuego I ahve been to Eufala Alabama, shout out to the S.P.A.M youth group at First Assembly, I spoke at the lock in for UMC of Hueytown, Al., Carol You Rock!, and joined my friends at Interlinc at Vertical Fest in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Go Razorbacks! (with apologies to my Alabama friends)

Interlinc is the best multi-media minstry out there. If you are not using media to reach your students put down the guitar and step away from the Kumbaya. They offer year long subscriptions to get the best Christian music (15-16 CD'S) every quarter, plus Bible studies to go along with the music (goes well with your small group, midweek, Sunday School, retreats and more), and 4 times a year you get a dvd exploding with the hottest Christian music videos and themed vidoes. The dvd comes with bible studies for each of the music videos and articles on all kinds of youth ministry related subjects. Wheew, ok, enough of the plug! It's just good stuff, visit them at www.interlinc-online.com.

More news coming soon.

PT

Enfuego Rocked!

2007-08-26T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

Here in Alabama we have a huge festival every year called Enfuego! Lot's of bands. This year, the feature bands were Building 429, Sanctus Real and Skillet. No offense to the other bands but I never tire of seeing or listening to Skillet. Jon Cooper is one of the most down to earth people you'll meet. Jon speaks so plainly and with little religious gobbledy gook that other bands feel they have to say to placate the Christian masses.

We had a great time in the swelltering heat and the pooring rain. In true festival fashion there was community and fun. Lot's of football, thank God no one got hurt.

The other bands that were part of the event belonged to Indie Community. I could say they were a booking agency but they are far more organic and work really well with local talent. If you have a chance check them out at www.indiecommunity.com.

I'll be in Eufala, Al. this Wednesday with my friends Seth and Courtney Martin. Great youth pastors and even greater people. I'm looking forward to preaching and maybe some youth worker training.

Anyway, that's all for now. I hope to report some big news in the future as God works things out. Please be praying for God's will and favor for Disciple Project Ministries.

Thunderstruck!

Paul Turner

Stupid Things Christians Say

2007-08-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

Ok,

Ya know, when we meet a stupid Christian we usually follow up by saying, "Well, they're well meaning". Well, that does not make them any less stupid. Is stupid too strong a word? Ok, I'll settle for ignorant but I still like stupid. So, you be the judge, are these recent statements made by a professing believer stupid or not.?

I was knew at my job and the person asked me , "What church do you attend?"

I replied, "I attend such and such church"

She said "Oh you are a Jesus loving Christian."

Now, I have no idea what they really meant by that. Coluld they have meant 1. They assume because it was a certain kind of church it met with her approval. 2) It was better than other churches she knew about? or 3) I was a better Christian than others who went to another church? It also aggravated me because she does not know me at all. She immediately made the assumption that because I went to church I was a Christian at all. I think we can all say something stupid like this if we have the "you go to church, you're a Christian" mentality. Ok, stupid or not?

Next on the stupid things Christians say list came out of the same persons mouth not a few days hence. The context for the conversation dealt with their son traveling. He is not a believer. He was doing some adventure travelling (moutain climbing or something) and was staying with Christians in the village. Here is stupid statement #2,

"I am so glad he was staying with this pastor woman, not a Catholic, she really loved Jesus."

Hmmm. Ok, I am saying it right. She was inferring that Catholic people don't love Jesus. Now, Catholics might not love Jesus the way we express love but to say they don't love Jesus? Holy Moly, how many ignorant things can one person say? In fact each person loves Jesus or does not love him differently. Many of us love Jesus conveniently like the guys who date the ugly girls in High School, secretly. These girls put out but in no way do guys want others to say they were "dating them".

We say stupid things all the time

"Our church is best"

"Jesus approves of this kind of music but not that."

"You can't go to heaven unless you are holy enough"

"Jesus is a republican"

"Put your stupid statement here."

Folks, if we want to see others come to Christ we've got to check the cliches at the door. Let us not speak with forked tongues. Our very words (not to mention our actions) may be painting the wrong picture of Christ to unbelievers. Our arrogance and huberis must stop and grace and humility must prevail. Next time you think about saying something stupid, religious or cliche', ask youself, "Does this make any sense at all or is this just something I say?"

Out of our mouth comes life and death. Let's speak life, especially in front of those who do not know Christ yet. Foolish may be standard for believers according to the world but being stupid is optional.

Let the speaks fly,

PT

Training To Be Me?

2007-08-12T05:48:00.001-07:00

This picture says it all. This young lady was a camper at LFYC. She showed up to breakfast one morning sporting this handmade t-shirt that said "Paul in Training" on the front and "Training To Be Paul Turner" on the back. This was pretty humbling. It made me reallize how important our example is to others.

Whether you are a parent, youth worker, student or just Joe Average you are influencing somebody. Some of it is intentional but most of it is not. Our stories, are being played out before everyone and it matters.

"You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:2,3

Our story are always being written and some stories are being re-written. Unqualified people too often have pens in their hands attempting to write more action, sex, drama, pain and many other themes into our lives. The Apostle Paul took his influence seriously. He saw people as blank pieces of paper. People of a clean start in Christ. He saw his influence not as a the written code to be enforced but of relationships written on and in the human heart.

I was honored that she wanted to be like me. I quoted the Apotle Paul, 'Follow me as I follow Christ." To quote scripture (too often as code and law) rings hollow when not intertwined with a loving friendship. Paul said it best in I Corinthians 1, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.". The law without love is lifeless.

Who are you training? Intentionally or unintentionally? I'll have some more thoughts on intentional training in my next post.

Blessings and Peace

Paul Turner

Who Da King?! Video Clip

2007-08-05T10:40:00.001-07:00

LFYC is the Best!!

2007-08-03T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hey LFYC Campers,

What a great time I had in Florida with all of you. You stepped up big and I can’t wait to hear all the stories God is writing in your life. You are all Champions for God in my book!

A few of the funnier moments

Microwaves under Attack (scroll down to watch the video)
That loud noise in service (you know who you are!)
Archer lesson 101 (She hit the mark!)
Moment of Chaos- Ok, mobs of girls with feminine products- Need I say more?
The Simpsons- Don’t sell your soul!
Who Da King? Jesus Christ rule this thing!
Moment of Chaos- The Twist.

Some of our most precious moments

Hitting the Mark!
Letting Jesus sit on the seat of our soul.
Arm in Arm, loving each other.
Becoming Spiritual Firemen
Worshipping the King
Praying as cabins

To all of you who came up shook my hand, said thanks, wrote me a kind note, showed me your prayer or took my picture I love you all!

If you did not get chance to tell me your story, send me a note. I’d love to hear it.

The My King Video and the Lecrae "Who da King" rapper is lsted below.

Keep the faith and I hope to see you all next year.

Paul Turner

That's My King!!

2007-08-03T06:47:00.001-07:00

Lecrae: Who Da King?

2007-08-03T06:40:00.001-07:00

Hey,

For those who enjoyed the Who Da King video, that was Lecrae and you can check out his sight at http://www.myspace.com/lecrae.

Paul Turner

To Eradicate Or Not Eradicate?

2007-07-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

I can't escape it. I am fascinated by the amount of Atheist books, blogs , and videos that are out there. On Myspace they had the book God Is Not Great by Hutchins featured for review and comment. I had a total blast just reading the comments on both sides of the fence. I gave the book a thumbs up 1) Because I'm not a hater 2) I am not afraid of the boogie man that most evangelicals are. Oh, is there a third point? Ok for the sake of pattern 3) I just wanted to be a good example. Different from the ignorant "Ye're goin' to hell" bunch that was in full force. Where's the love people?I even got a message from a kid with a mohawk rebuking me for "empowering the enemy". Siggghhh. What's a believer to do?

I wil say this, many atheists talk about eradicating religion from the planet.

e·rad·i·cate [i-rad-i-keyt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object), -cat·ed, -cat·ing.
1. to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate: to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.
2. to erase by rubbing or by means of a chemical solvent: to eradicate a spot.
3. to pull up by the roots: to eradicate weeds.

Pretty strong words. Why are they so strong in eradicating a made up religion. Where are the atheist humanitarians? Christians give more, sacrifice more, get off their butt more than any atheist I have ever encountered. Most atheists seem to spend most of their time trying to eradicate us, me. Not a very good recruiting tool. Their slogan? Join Us and We Will Eradicate Them!! Hmmm, not so good. Or how about "God is dead! Let's make it a family affair!!". These need work.

I'm here at Life For Youth Ranch again in Vero Beach Florida getting ready to preach/speak another week. I love speaking here because the group is so diverse. It's not a typical church camp. This is an open camp where kids of any denomination come or no denomination come or no faith at all. I at least get to make a case. For me it used to be about convincing. Now it's about allowing God to speak by his Spirit. I'm not the soul police. Truth is truth and speaks for itself. Sorry, it's the Calvinist in me dying to come out. :)

If you are reading this please pray that God will do a cool work in the hearts of students. Thanks.

Let the sparks fly!

PT

Can We Fire Our Youth Group?

2007-07-17T14:51:00.000-07:00

I don't know how many timess I've asked this question but most often have agreed with it and in some cases have done it. What sparks this rant? An article from one of my marketing mentors Seth Godin. Here is his blog and then I shall attempt to close the gap.

____________________________________________________________

Treating different customers differently

I've gotten a lot of email about: Sprint may cancel your service if you call customer service too often.

Apparently, about 1,000 people got this note. They weren't delinquent in their bills, but they were calling in and complaining approximately 25 times a month.

If you're going to be obsessed with delighting customers, it's a lot more efficient to focus on customers that are able to be delighted. That sounds like a tautology, but it's actually a guiding principle for successful businesses. Hire nice people and attract satisfiable, gabby customers. Why not?

These 1000 people were actually happy to be unhappy. They were unpleasable, and they weren't helping either word of mouth or the ability of the call center folks to do good work.

I think the mistake Sprint made was in only giving people one day's notice. I probably would have given them a month or so... Turns out Sprint even gave them one month's notice.

What would happen if you fired (nicely) the very few customers that take your best effort but rarely appreciate it or spread the word?

__________________________________________________________

Ok, now for me to start cutting wood and building a bridge. Sprint basically sent a Dear John letter to these 1000 customers apologizing that they could not meet there needs. These 1000 customers were fired.

So, how about our students or church members? Can we fire them? I say yes and in many cases should. I know I stand on shaky ground because many of us have received pay checks from these cranky people who call the church office 10 times a month to complain about everything from the bushes to the baptismal services, from the parking to the preaching and then some. I echo with many car lots who say, "Let'em, go." The damage that disgruntled parishoners, founded or unfounded, inflict upon a church is incalculable. Like termites in an all cedar house they will eat away at everything and suddenly and with out warning the house (and the church) collapses. How did this happen? We did not let them go soon enough.

It would be better to call these folks into the office and allow the conversation to go something like this

Pastor" " Mr. and Mrs. so and so thank you for the time you have spent here at First Church. I'm sorry to see you go but I wish you well on your search for a new church."

Mr and Mrs So and So: "But we're not looking for a new church"

Pastor: "Oh yes you are."

Since churches are in the people business we should always try to work it out. But when communication fails it's better to wish them well rather than let them destroy the church from the inside out.

If it's youth ministry member, the same standard applies. I've had parents try to strong arm me into apologies because the youth ministry couldn't do in one hour a week that their dysfunctional family should have done the whole time. I wished them well, caught hell at the office and then went on my merry way.

When we're no long addicted to the paycheck and we're serious about making disciples we'll do what is necessary for the health and well being of our congregations.

Let the Sparks fly!!

Paul Turner

I Was A Youth Worker Faust

2007-07-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I and my former intern now youth pastor interim (still very weird to think about) took our own church students to our camp this past week. I had to do double duty this year between being boys dean and co camp corordinator. I hate it because I don't get to spend as much time with students.

It was a hard week starting out. Seemed that we had two camps within our own group going. One group wanted to participate in the competition element the others were comfotable with the canoes and swimming. It was hard this year as compared to others. It was my first summer not as full time youth pastor, we had older students which made it easy, several 18 year olds and a 19 year old. It was also a sort of disconnect where I had these peer like students, even though I am still 20 years older than them. I lacked influence and authority in some ways.

It took until about Wednesday until I felt like we gelled but it all worked out.

I am currently working on a series of devotions and small group materials based on my D-Project core disciple values. It will be five books each with 5 days as devotions per topic. The five core values of a disciple are Sacrifice, Surrender, Separation (holiness), Study, and The Spirit (fruits and gifts). You can check out more on www.thediscipleproject.net. I have some friends of mine helping me out with structure and content so pray we get the heart of God on this.

I applied for a part time job today. As I said before this whole "start your own ministry" thing is hjarder than it looks. Even when you have a well laid plan, a safety net, and a support system there are still no guarantees. The hounds of heaven are committed to stay on my trail no matter how hard I run or how well insulated I make myself from mistakes. They dog me like a prisoner who just broke out of of a maximum security prison. I can see why some speakers/evangelists rely on manipulation. When their back is against the wall and the speaking gigs are not coning through they resort to fear mongering or some other tactic to increase finances.

Ok, sorry for the bunny trail. Anyway, I applied for a job today. It was at a local Christian bookstore. I could not help but feel I was signing a deal with the devil. I thought I could do this without having to get a part time job. It was a moment of surrender. A reality that said in an eerie Lee Corso voice, "Not so fast my friend". God is both working something out of me and something into me at the same time. It is easy to get discouraged but this is what I asked for, a life of faith. To trust God for the best. God has his own plan. He failed to clue me in.

Oh, a Faust? Sorry, the word comes from "the chief character of a medieval legend, represented as selling his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power". Hope the new boss acts nothing like the contract holder in these plays writtn by Goethe.

later all,

Paul Turner

Not As Easy As It Looks

2007-07-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well,

When I went into the "do your own ministry" thing I was convinced this is what God wanted. I did not know it also would involve 3 nights of setting off fireworks for country clubs in 100 degree heat or weeding and mowing my friends lawn for extra cash. Listen, I don''t begrudge those things it simply wasn't on the agenda; as is most things that God doesn't want you to know about. I find that hard work and God are best friends and what He cannot achieve through in us through our comfort He works out in in our pain and discomfort. No offense to work mind you. So, with that said my mental cannon is reloaded for another round. Like in the movie Transformers "No Sacrifice, No Victory"

Ok, let us jump onto an entirely differnt track. I don't get to watch alot of tv but I found a new show I like called Burn Notice. It's about a spy who is get's burned and has to live in Miami. With a few spy friends cases start to pop up that require that spy touch. Anyway, love the show and it better stay on for at least a few seasons. Hate when I start to like a show and it just goes away.

I mentioned Transformers earlier. I downloaded the theme song from the movie done by the great band Mute Math. I don't remember the song in the movie though. Hmmm, gotta find out why. I also did not stay until the end credits and it may have played there.

I am done with my new brochure and July's Newsletter. Both will be available on www.thediscipleproject.net for anyone interested.

Next movie to see: Live Free or Die Hard.

See ya at the concesson stand.

Oh, and Big Happy 39th Birthday to my wife Kim!!

Paul Turner

Camp Skit I Created

2007-06-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Did I Learn Anything?

2007-06-25T18:25:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

The speaking ministry avenue of D-Project Ministries is oging well. I just got back from two weeks of speaking at Life For Youth Camp. I'll have some video up soon thanks to my friend Kevin Kelly of Video Impressions at www.videoimpressions.org. He does a great job at a reasonable price.

So, did I learn anything at camp yep. Here is a brief list:

I learned that two weeks in a row is a long time away from the family. Missed them bad.

I learned that talking too much is bad. Making a funny can cost ya.

I learned that a good week of paintball is the best stress reliever.

I learned not to trust a newbie with a paintball gun after he shot me in the hand (owwwww!!!!)

I learned that I should be more protected (if you know what I mean)

I learned that their were a ton of hurting students at camp.

I learned thart young men are not all created equal. Many came up and shook my hand, looked me in the eye, and said thanks.

I learned that microwave ovens are a fun to smash with a sledgehammer (video coming soon).

I learned that camp counselors rock, shout outs to Nikki, Heather (HV Queen), Aaron (the mac man) and Chris!!

I learned that I'm never as ready as I think.

I learned that God is always ready.

I learned why I still use a mac, thank to the camp PC that kept freezing up. (cha ching!!)

and finally..

I learned that two weeks is too long to be away from your family.

I'll be back soon campers with more camp reports!!

Kumbaya!

Paul Turner

Reflections

2007-05-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hey All,

Thought I'd make a few observations about my last night "in an official capacity" as One Student Ministries full time youth pastor.

Well, the students were slow getting there but that is normal :) I was in the prayer room where we try to pray for at least 30 minutes before the message. There was no strange glow but there was a great anticipation in my heart. I know I had heard from the Lord concerning what I was to speak.

Some old friends and students showed up to cheer me on. One of those faces was a student who I had a tense/tight relationship. She was one of my student leaders and a great person. I was a bit nervous at first but she came in and greeted me. It warmed my heart. It was like God's kiss on my soul. How beautiful it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity. I felt like our group was living up to it's name:ONE. We had always strived for ONEness.

As the evening wrapped up I took a moment and looked around at laughing faces, deep discussions, and people stuffing themselves with cake. We never know or understand our impact as youth pastors let alone as people. I must say I felt a great peace. A great assurance that the Lord was in it. Not that the road was not going to be rough for the both of us but that even that was ok.

I gave up a title not a calling. To be honest sometimes I felt dirty even being paid to be a youth pastor. A full time worker paid to build relationships and build a program feels dirty some how. I know in my head that it is just, fair, and biblical to be paid. I wanted to love students without pitching another program. I wanted to give to them with out expecting their attendance, participation or allegiance. I didn't want it to be a trade off. I did not want to have hidden motives. I know this may sound silly and idealistic but I guess I am a purist in some ways.

Sin has certainly taken it's toll on the "perfect" Teacher/Disciple relationships. Jesus did it though. He knew full well the the lack of commitment he'd encounter and the shallowness of humanities spirituality. He called, He led, he died, he lived again. Then, these shallow, misbegotten, often childish followers stepped up. A passion gripped their hearts and power came upon them to do the impossible. I don't know how many of the students I have led to Christ and discipled over the years went on to disciple others but I prayer there were at least a few. We can't be sure of much but we can be sure that heaven shall reveal and test the work we have done. As the title Lenny Kravitz song pleads "God Save Us All".

Let The Sparks Fly

Paul Turner
www.thediscipleproject.net

Resentment is a Killer

2007-05-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

God has been reminding me lately of the the same thing He told Cain in Genesis : "Sin crouches at the door of your heart but you must master it." What is this sin? Resentment. I seem to be overwhelmed by it as a boy is overwhelmed by breakers at the beach. It just rises up. I have had some time to think about it and I still have no answer save a few sources of why we all may feel that way at some point.

* Like the football player who sits on the sideline watching his team get crushed, he thinks "if they had only put me in, I'da caught that ball." Resentment can set in when we don't feel like we're being used to the best of our ability and must suffer the consequences at the choices or actions of others.

* I think of Judas and possibly the other discipes who wished Jesus had done something about the Roman occupation or those bothersome Pharisees. They knew Jesus had the power and did not use it. One theory about Judas' betrayal was that he was forcing the hand of God. His thinking, "Jesus must act if I put him in this position". We can become resentful when we don't trust our leadership.

* Unachieved goals seem to dovetail into the above point. We resent the fact that we as "visionaries" can see great things but others cannot. When we as an orgainzaton do not reach our full potential because of the laziness, ignorance, or incompetance we begin to sour. Resentment finds a place in the heart of unfulfilled dreams and lost potential.

These are just a few thoughts that help me work out my own junk. Your comments are always welcome. Wait, someone's knocking on my door. Hope it's the cable guy.

Let the sparks fly.

Paul Turner

No Regrets?

2007-05-14T05:20:00.000-07:00

Ya know, we like to say we have no regrets about things. If things turn out ok we don't regret as much or we just say God's will was done and move on. Do I have any regrets? Yes and no. I don't regret moving on to a new adventure but will I change my mind if it does not go according to plan? I remember when I left my first church. I left out of pride and arrogance. I wanted to see if I was good enough as a youth worker to duplicate the success in that church. If I had not been so rash and immature I would still be there today. But would that have been a good thing? You can hurt your brain going through scenerio's like that and regret can creep in and take up residence in your heart. I guess we could consider Joseph. Did he regret sharing his dream? Did he regret helping the butler in prison? Does the phrase "all's well that ends well" become the mantra for those concerned that the time/space continuum has been altered? All good questions and probably will never be answered but at the end of the day Joseph saved a nation. Not bad work for a kid with a dream.

PT

The End Is Near

2007-04-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

Well, after much fence sitting I have decided to take the D-Project where ever God and others will have it. After five years at my church my restless heart can take it no longer. I must do what I feel God has placed there. My resignation is an amicable one. I will still be attending our church and helping where I can. My passion is to speak and preach and train and so I finally give in. It's a scary place to be with a wife and three kids but God is faithful. I am trusting Him entirely. For more information on the D-Project please visist www.thediscipleproject.net

There are always those who will hate you. For whatever reason. Every church has them. I got word tonight of a group of students and some young adults who have their opinion of me which is fine. There will always be those in the church who take up space and will by their own ignorance tear a church apart. They are the preverbial drunk driver who crashes and kills a family of 5 only to get out of their car unscathed while a fireball explodes in the distance punctuating their devastation. Every church has them. Meaningful, misguided, disobedient and pharisiacal parasites who seek to use the church rather than be the church because they cannot cultivate a spiritual life of their own. Paul was right when he wrote that the love of many would grow cold. It is this icy heart that keeps away the lost and allows only those of similar frigid existence to join them like ice cubes in a tray.

I write this to vent but also to detach from the negativity that seeks to bind me. I also cannot become too bitter for fear I would become like them and less like Christ. No, I shall do for them what they have refused to do for me , pray. This is not self-righteous it is self-preservation. To not pray allows the poison from the darts they shoot to travel quickly through my spiritual blood stream to my heart, my passion and my relationship with God. I will pray that God will teach us all and that our disagreements will not ever be desparaging and keep onlookers and seekers from experiencing this God of love and forgiveness we profess. To much our God resembles the monument made to the Unkown God in the book of acts.

And before you should ask me to get off my cross because we need the wood consider your own heart, your own hurts inflicted by those who would claim the name of Christ. I end this by saying Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!! I have the victory through Christ. Thankyou for listening my next post shall be a clearer, leass tainted, more informed and a more spiritually enlightened post but for now thank you for allowing me to share my burden.

Let the speaks fly.

PT

The Vaccum Gospel

2007-04-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

God offered me a unique opportunity about a week ago. It ties in with my last blog about being religious or spiritual. I had gotten home from work and was scavenging aound the hosue for dinner when I heard the doorbell. I looked at my wife who sheepishly offered that she had invited the Kirby Vaccum cleaners (they had been working the neighborhood) people in to do a demonstration. Well, I was not thrilled. I wanted to sit down, eat some ham, and then watch some ham on American Idol, Go Blake!!

Anyway, here came two huge boxes in the door carried by a young man named Walter. Walter was a nice young man just trying to do his job. I said ok, "Give me your best sales pitch". I am alway intrested in hearing how others sell their products. At one point I even kidded him by saying I was in sales also. Well, he showed me the Kirby Vaccum cleaners many attachements and utilties. The coolest attachment was a paint sprayer. I kid you not. Reverse the flow of air and it would paint your walls. I also liked the extremely bright halogen light in the front. Toys!!

After talking with him some more I offerd my own sales pitch and began to talk about the Lord. I had asked where he went to church and how his relationship with the Lord was. You have to understand a few things. In Alabama everyone knows Jesus. there is not a sinner to be found. Every wino can sing half the hymnal and most businessmen are "affilitated" with religious causes. Tough area. What made Walter different was the fact that he was an African American and Catholic. It's rare to find a Catholic in Alabama, even rareer to find a African American Catholic. The Lord does have a sense of humor. If you don't know I was raised Catholic all the way through my Confirmation process and then started going to a protestant youth group. Walter and I had a few things in common. Walter offered the fact that he was good with the Lord but had not been to church in a while. Here's where I could have choses the religious route. I could have spent the rest of the night giving reasons why Walter should go to my church or disuade him to leave his church as some might, but I felt that would have been misspent time. Instead I wanted to serve Walter and allow him to have an encounter with Jesus.

Walter eagerly pointed out through demonstraton that my floors needed cleaning. With his special demo model he showed me the filter pads that picked up the dirt and dust. He began laying the round pads out on the floor in straight, narrow rows. It was about 8:30 now and I wanted to help this guy. I wasn't going to buy a vaccum cleaner but I wanted him to get paid. I asked, "Walter, how many of these pads do you have to show your boss to get paid?" He said, "100". My jaw hit the floor. 100!!? This will take forever for him to dirty up 100 of these pads not matter how dirty my house is. I quickly volunteered myself. I took about 25-30 pads from Walter qand went all over my house rubbing them on my floor, under my kitchen table, my bathroom, even the fireplace. Eventually we aquired 100 pads. We had a few moments until Walter's boss came in so I invited my new friend Walter to eat and drink with us.

Walter's boss eventually came by to "seal the deal". To his dismay I turned his slick, finely tuned pitch down. We also got to talk about the Lord while Walter sat quietly by eating ham and drinking Milo's sweet tea. Finally the slick boss man thanked us for our time and excused himself and Walter and I are together again. The sweetest moment came when I offered to pray for Walter.I prayed for his business and for his family and that he would get back to church, his church. He told me he was going to get back and talk with his priest that week. What a blessing.

PT

Good Question

2007-04-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend our students participated in a 35 mile walk for missions. It's been a 10-12 year tradition and has become a rite of passage. I came up lame in the 7th mile. Somehow, my foot either received a stress fracture or some other quirky malady. I'm not sure yet. One of the things I missed in walking ( I was relegated to driving the van) was the conversation. Since our walk normally takes place during Easter many of our students carried crosses. Since I was driving I saw this from a different persepctive. At one point I saw a student carrying not only his cross but the cross of another. You could say he was double crossed. During the walk I heard things like "he pushed his cross off on me" or "he/she didn't want to carry his cross anymore". You can draw the parallels of the Christian life for yourself, no sermonizing necessary.

I had some boys spend the night at my house that night and in the car my son asked an interesting question, he said, "Can you be too spiritual dad?" I was taken back at the suddeness of the question. That this 12 year old who burps and farts with the best of them was thinking of such a question blessed me. It was a good question. My answer? I said no. I said, "you could be too religious but not too spiritual". I clarified that by saying spiritually connect with God, the God of scripture. Spirituallity has become a catch all for any postmodern expereince that that makes of feel whole or comeplete in and of oursleves and can leave God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit completely out of the picture.

The students in my car shared recent episodes where an adult got onto them about certain behaviors which were displeasing. In some cases it was just generational protocol a.k.a Grandma etc. in other cases it was just religious tallying. Did they are did they not fit the mold of a man made system of religion. Student long for Christ centered spirituality and contue to shun the score card Christianity.

Have you boxed in your relationship with God to the point where spiritual claustrophobia and checkpoint theology is choking off spiritual life and vitality? Good question.

Blessing and Peace,

PT

Listening To The Alarms

2007-03-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

I just read about that great tragedy in Russia where 62 elderly nursing home patients were killed in a fire. That is tragic, what is more tragic is that it may have been possible to avoid many tragic deaths. One of the people helping the elderly from the burning building said, "If only the firefighters had been here"

From the news article, "At the nursing home, a fire alarm system that had not been fully installed signaled three times, but a watchman, att he facility, but outside the building, ignored the first two alarms and reported the fire only after he saw the flames."

I would also mention the firestation was 30 miles away and took them an hour to arrive. This article is full of spiitual analogies.

1. People were looking for answers.

We have peolple dying slow spiritual deaths do not have ot perish. We certainly don't want their last words or their families to be "if only".

2. We have a watchmen ignoring the alarm.

Ther are many who wouild use this point to build their ministries and add people to their pews. They re alarmists. Alarmist run around with no plan and little substance. Why do fire fighters respond the way they do? Why don't they freak out when their alarm goers off? How many fires would get put out if they did nto have their response down to a science? We do not need to be alarmists about the conditon of America or about the souls of men but we cannot ignore the alarm. Rather, we should be aware, as spirtitual firefighters, that the alrm will ring, we will be called apon as pastors and laymen to repsond to a fire. We should have a plan to assist those in spiritual crises and to assist those who are lot without Christ. Ignoring thelarm is not an option.

3. We call the fireman only when we see the flames.

it was too late. oftne the chruch arrives to late. Teens are on drugs, girls are hainvg abortions, men and women are having affairs, wheere is the chruch when livesa re burning? Yes, we can respond but we may not be able to save the buiding or everyone inside. Instead of waiting for people to combust into flames we should be smelling for smoke and lovingly appoach the source of potential disasater and offer assistance.

4. The fire dept. was too far from the fire.

Why is the chruch afraid to get it's hands dirty? Why are we so far removed from the pain of peole? Why are we too far from the flames? Soul are at stake. When I speak of the church I speak of every person who names the name of Christ. We, the church, the people, not the orgaization out to be running into the buring lives of families and communities and and lovingly and graciously tell them that unles they leave, the fire will consume them. There is a way. We and the church are not the way. Only Jesus is the way and it is He we represent. Weare his hands and his feet.

One final word church. We should not build another "fire station" unlesswe intend to fight fires.

I'd say let the sparks fly but I fear they would cause a fire no one would put out.

Paul Turner

Apologies Are A Part of the Journey

2007-02-23T20:24:00.000-08:00

I felt sorry for the CEO of the airline jet Blue. David Neeleman had been making the rounds from news channels to late night talk shows falling all over himslef because of the way they handled the Valentines Day storms and did not get it together until after Presidents Day. It reached an excrutiating point when David Letterman greeted him with a soft drink in a plastic cup and a bowl of peanuts and just pounded him with questions about why people were left on the plane on the tarmac for 10 hours. Neeleman squirmed, sweated and stammered his way though yet another apology. As hard as it was to watch it had ot be done. Blunders of that proportion require answers, apologies and plans that it will not happen again. Why doesn't the church get that?

I quickly drew some analogies from this incident and the church. We don't owe our congregations an apology as much as we owe the world and sinners an apology. Jet Blue published an apology in the New York Times recenlty and from that wrote my own apology:

Dear Sinners, Seekers, and Skeptics,

I, we, the church owe you an apology. We owe you an apology for many things like The Crusades, the Inquisition, and Televangelists.

What we are most sorry for is how the church interacts with you. You have often come to us looking for answers and we gave you rhetoric.

We’re sorry for giving you good rules instead of good news.
We’re sorry for giving you programs instead of relationships.

We’re sorry for giving you our four point shpeal instead of a listening ear.
We’re sorry for give you judgment when you were looking for mercy.

We’re sorry that we invited you to a building and to a service instead of inviting you into our lives to examine our faith in light our doubts, struggles, and fears.

We’re sorry that when you came looking for Jesus we gave you religion.
We’re sorry we made Jesus our candidate instead of our Savior and Lord.

We’re sorry we did not serve in more soup kitchens, aids wards, and relief efforts to the worlds poorest and desperate.

We’re sorry we thought the gospel was too pristine to get our hands dirty and too fragile that we could not dialogue over it.

The world cannot expect the church or any one organization to solve all the world problems. God has planted his church here to not only relieve suffering but as a light house for lost souls.

We’re sorry we have not lived up to the Great Commandments. To love God with all our might and show you what it means to have relationship with the heavenly Father.

We’re sorry that we did not love you as we loved ourselves and thereby deny you a physical offering of the spiritual truth we so adamantly believe in.

We’re sorry for not living up to the Great Commissions. We’re sorry we build more country clubs for the spiritually bloated and less hospitals for the spiritually starving.

We’re sorry that we beat around the bush about we truly believe.
We’re sorry we denied you access to the truth and your option to examine it.

We’re sorry our light burned too dimly for you to find your way out of that dark tunnel called sin.

You deserve better. You deserve a educated, passionate, and civil presentation of the best news in the whole world: God loves you and desires to have relationship with you through His Son Jesus Christ.

To paraphrase a recently apology given by the airline carrier Jet Blue: “Nothing is more important than gaining your trust, and all of us here hope you will give us the opportunity to once again welcome you onboard and provide you with the positive example of what it means to be a Christian and to show you what God has expected from us all along.”

When You Need To be Discipled

2007-02-16T13:53:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,

Got alot on my mind today but wanted to stick with the topic above. What happens when the all knowing, never wrong, discipler needs discipling? I find myself in a quandry. After 20 years of ministering to young people I feel a strong need to get out of the picture so I can regain my own faith or as Scripture says, "examine yourself to see if you are still in the faith." I hate to make it life and death but it's bigger than that. It's spiritual life and death. For me I have to risk everything to regain something that used to be so precious to me. I used to cry for the lost, pray until I was hoarse, and serve/give until it hurt. Now I just hurt.

The "church" has taken it's toll on me. the religiosity has crept in like a cancer. It has eaten away at my once idealistic motives and turned them dark. I am reaching a point where all the years of adulation and compliments are coming to a pinnacle. I am not proud or arrogant. I am only going to admit that the destiny that Christ has held in his hand since before I was born is about to be realized. By faith I wil open my hand and heart to what is in THAT hand. It will only be released when I have taken that step. No more doubts or fears as to whether I am good enough. I believe that question has been answered. The next question is "what will you do with it?" This does not mean I will be the next big thing. Far from it. in fact my success may have alot to do with my anonymity. My abilty to fly below the radar. To slip into a room and watch God work through me and then slip out with students not remembering what was said or who I was as much as what God did among them.

Scary as all this may seem, it must be done. My need to feel alive (spiritually) again and be the father and husband I need to be are all interlinked. My love/hate with the church is but one story in a library filled with such stories. Mine is not special but it is my own. To embrace once again a strong work ethic and to work for change and not for money (all though need it.) is what I seek and somewhere along the way is some one who will disciple me the way Christ discipled his own.

Father God, protect me and my family from wrong and prideful choices. Make me an example of what it means to fly head long ino the storm to find peace at he center of it. I'm couning on your unfailing love and faithfulness. Lead me Lord.

Your Son,

Paul

Inside My Head

2006-12-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Hey All,

It's been a while since my last message. Discipleship is a long and tedious process. I have to let time pass and see what God is doing. I can't just jump on here and publish every do-dad my students or myself are doing otherwise it tuns into the equivalence of The Truman show. I read an article in Christianity Today with Dallas Willard. He says, and I paraphrase, "not many today are intersted in discipleship". This is coming from a pretty smart guy who has his hand on the pulse of American brand Christianity. I guess it's not an awefully new revelation considering that churches are indecline. We're quick to say, "oh, theirs revival over their" or "oooh look God is really doing something there!".

It is a shame they we do not celebrate the steady, the consistent and the perservering. No one says "look they have a small group of married couples who are trying to make their marriages stronger!" or "look, they just started a pantry ministry for those who are hungry!" I am Pentecostal to the core but I don't chase movements.

In fact it makes me consider the Scripture,

Matthew 24:24-27

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. 26 "So if anyone tells you, 'There he is, out in the desert,' do not go out; or, 'Here he is, in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Now, I am not saying that every Pastor or leader who is drawing a crowd is a cult leader or false prophet. I am saying that we are too quick to put the stamp of God's approval on sporatic, spiritual encounters that are here today and gone tomorrow. The Scipture also says,

I John 4:1-3

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

We need to be to the Church what Consumer Reports is for flat screens and ipods. We must test those movements and and see the fruit it is bearing. I would also include that when supernatual power and filthy natural man collide you have a mess. The condition of the vessel should not discount the aroma of the wine. If so, we would always negate ourselves from sharing the gospel or doing any good work.

So, that's what is inside my head today. Have a great day!

Let the sparks fly!

Staff Meeting or 25 Things I Don't Care About

2006-09-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

Not to long ago I shared how God uses staff meetings to disciple us. Often times it literally becomes the 25 things I don't care about. If this is true for us then it must be true for our students. To tell the truth I am sick of meetings. Meetings, for too long, became the measuring stick of our success in youth ministry. Who came to the meeting? How many were there at the meeting? How did the meetng go? Why do I rant? I recently had a terrible/wonderful youth staff meeting. It was terrible because only 3 others beside myself showed up. It gave us pause, after I complained, to discover the wonderful: Maybe we don't need planning/youth staff meetings at least in the sense that we knew them. Now if you are a bi-vocational youth pastor with 0 help; consider that not to be a bad thing. The large groups staff, which I was always envious of, is not the standard of measurement. I would become green with envy when I saw a team of 20 somethings laughng and marching through the hallways with their leader always wishing that was me. I'm over it. Meetings are too often about egos and control.

When it comes to discipleship and the impartation of Christ to others the meeting is the least effective way to do that. I don't care if it's your youth staff meeting, your student leadership team or your small group bible study. I have, like you, a wide range of kids I minister to. Some do not come to our church. If we make discipleship about the meeting we become legalistic. I understand that we have things to do and tasks to perform in the uber youth group of business. Ministry , drama group, etc. are all important and avenues of discipleship. I guess I question the whole deal. In the beginning of my ministry I wanted to create the super-Chrsitians. The Bible toting, scripture quoting, always there, never fails student. Consider that about 40 years ago another man with a tiny mustache tried and partially succeeded in doing just that. Not my role model.

Back to the students. I have two guys in my group who are not leadership or leash-ership quality. They don't want to be on the leash or in the stall of traditional leaders as we have seen them. They want to love God and serve God in their own way. "But, if they don't come to the meeting, how will you do that?" simple, not have a meeting. Not create walls, barriers or standards that keep them in a dated model of discipleship. I have lunch with them, they love me, they joke with me, they invite me out after service to eat. It's different and refreshing. They do come to small group Bible study and to service and they do want to serve. They recently started playing in a band. At first not a very good one. They play at their schools campus Bible study. Idea! I'll get them to play Halloween at our youth center, play Halloween Family fued, and just let them go. Give them parameters, but just let them go. I'll tell you how it goes. Anyway, that is just one example of many that shows me that the traditional once a month meeting of blah, blah, blah is out and I must continually change how I disciple students. I loved meetings, the energy, and one day God may change my mind or bring back the need for the meeting; but for now, I am enjoying the meeting free dscipleship freedom God has offered me.

Let the sparks fly!

Paul

And Now, For The Letting Go Part

2006-08-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

Letting go of a student is a hard thing. Letting go is a partnership. Plenting of kids leave our groups or quit coming under bad or awkward circumstances. Letting go is more of a mutual agreement. I have felt disheartened when a student, especially a talented one leaves for various reasons. Sometimes it a church change, sometimes just busyness leads them away.

If you have the opportunity to let go it's a good thing. I recently had a student tell me that they felt led to another church/youth group. They had recently moved farther away from the church but I was still crushed. We had history, trips, camps, etc. After we spoke (to make sure there were no personal issues) my wife and I prayed with them and then allowed them to share the reasons why they were leaving. I did this for several reasons:

1. It's the right way to do things.

I can't count the number of times I've seen students or families just drop out of church without any reason later to find out they are going somewhere else. Or worse, they leave and you never notice they are gone. Partnering with the student whose leaving makes sure that things are done the right way.

2. It squelches rumors.

It doesn't matter what really happens truth becomes what is spread around. If you and the student partner to make a good exit it will set the record straight.

3. It give a chance to celebrate and mourn.

Closure is big with me. Maybe it's because so many Houdini pastors made me disappear with out warning. This is especially important if the student has been in the church along time. The Bible says we should rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. The church is all about relationships. It's our job to keep them as healthy as possible and closure facilitates that. Students get to say goodbye and we get to say thank you to those students for their years of service.

Jesus had to let go. He even gave Judas the out, "Go and do what you must do quickly". Jesus let him go. No argument, no complaining, no "please come, back we need you". Later on Judas' spot had been filled by Justus. We must be willing to let them go and let God take them to where they believe they are suppose to go. We cannot stand in their way to protect the youth group or the program, that would be selfish. Thank God for the blessing of letting go. You can sow a seed or you can squash the growth you had tried to hard to cultivate. The choice is yours.

Let the sparks fly!

PT

Eating Dirt and Letting Go

2006-08-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Eating Dirt and and letting go. Both are hard to swallow but is a necessary step in our spiritual growth and the growth of those we disciple. Recently a long time family of the church bought a house across town about 40 minutes from the church. If you've been around the church any you know that no matter what they tell you, they're gone.

They had bought the house and we had a youth night pm service that we were doing. Two of their girls were involved. I had just flew in from a funeral and had let one of their daughters and two other leaders coordinate the evening. Well, upon my arrival things seemed disorganized. It was a little and as leaders do we have to give "the talk". My talks are a bit more motivational and can come across as intense or that I am displeased. After the talk I had talked with the leaders and told them not to mistake my intensity for displeasure.

After "the talk" about a week later I heard that the young lady was mad at me because she had felt singled out. Well, as soon as I heard it my wife and I sat down with her and asked her to share her feelings. This is where the big, heaping, helping of dirt is served an appetizer. Upon hearing this I immediately had a fleshly reaction. I was mad, I had a so what attitude, I was wrong. I had to look deeper. My callousness hurt someone's feelings even though it was not directed to her. We talked for about 15 minutes and I just laid it out there. I apologized and could here the hammer hitting the nail with ever word I spoke. Following that she said that she would not be attending youth anymore but would be looking for somewhere else to go. She said it was not because of this and I believer her to some degree. It was not a "leave the church" offense. Her parents closed on the house and this was a natural step for her and I agreed. Who am I to argue when God is leading someone.

I offered her the opportunity to stand before our group and share what was going on. I don't believe you should sweep things under the rug. I had told her that I believe closure was important on both ends. She came that Wednesday and at the end of the service shared about two minutes of why she was leaving. It gave students a chance to say good bye and for her to say goodbye to them. It leaves a leadership void but I am not worried God will fill in the gaps.

Some things we can take away:

1. Don't have a diet of eating dirt. Keep it cool and think before you speak.

2. If you have to eat dirt eat it cooked the way you like it. Handle problems straight on with grace before they come looking for you.

3. Dirt tastes nasty at first but the after-taste isn't so bad. You are left with the knowing that you have done the right thing for the right reasons. Humility is a characteristic that should always challenge us and change us more into Jesus Christ. I think of the verse where Christ stood before Pilate "he opened not his mouth". Humility.

In my next session I want to talk about letting go of those you lead. See you next time.

PT