One more youtube video for you. This is a group of Jr. High and Sr. High guys at Saddleback in California.

Here is a cool video from this year’s Purpose Driven Worship Conference. You have to watch it to pick up the dance moves (do the burning bush, parting the red sea, and two by two) Just watch it and laugh.
(ht to JG)

We had a neat service Sunday, one that really stretched me as a youth leader. The youth praise band did a great job with the music and some of the youth shared and encouraged each other. I then spoke about why youth ministry is important. But here’s the catch, I really just wanted to speak from the heart so I didn’t really prepare anything. That goes against my every instinct. I usually over prepare and have tons of notes and this time, I just shared what I was thinking. I think it went well, but for me to let go and let God guide me is tough. I shared how a youth minister led me to Christ back in 1985, and how he impacted my life. I shared why as a church we need to be committed to reaching youth in a postmodern society. I shared how technology has created a generation that is super-connected, but yet relationally dis-connected. And I closed by challenging our church and the parents to think about 7 principles that every teenager should know. I took these principles from Andy Stanley’s book, The Seven Checkpoints. I usually don’t get nervous, but I had trouble sleeping and I was in a knot before church even started. But God really taught me some good lessons in trust this weekend.

I did have a top ten list of what youth typically do during the message. I got a few of these off of the simply jr. high forums and the rest I added myself.

Top 10 Ways in Church to Simulate Teaching Teenagers
If you ever want to make a youth pastor feel comfortable while he speaks in “big” church, then try the following

1. Turn around and talk with your friend two rows back as loud as you can during the message
2. Punch the person next to you as hard as you can for no reason
3. Fold up any handouts and tear off corners to make paper airplanes or footballs
4. Accidentally stab yourself with your pencil while poking holes in your bulletin and shout out “I hurt myself, what should I do?”
5. Sit on your chair the wrong way by either sitting on your legs or sticking your legs through the back of the chair causing you to get stuck and fall into another person.
6. See how many different bodily noises you can make during the message
7. Ask a question that has absolutely nothing to do with the topic of the message
8. Text message a friend
9. Get up with 5 other people around you and go to the restroom
10. Be completely honest and share your struggles and failures in front of the group!!!

For any of the Cornerstone teens stumbling across the blog, I wanted to let you know that Sunday the youth are leading the worship. We want to focus the entire service on the youth, so you will have an opportunity to do some sharing. Be thinking about what God is doing in your life.

Be bold, be courageous, be bowflex (oops, I’ve been watching too many infomercials)
and take that step of faith. Let God use you. You can share a verse that guides you or comforts you; you can share an experience where you felt God speaking to you; or you can just share something you’re struggling with. Anyway, be in prayer for Sunday. Sam and I will be sharing and speaking as well.

We will try to practice one more time for the music from 3:30 to 5 on Saturday at my house for all those who can make it. Have a great weekend.

Youth will be at Deer Creek Golf this weekend. Restored, the praise band from church, will be playing there.

This is from a while back, but it is interesting to watch. Ron Luce is the founder of Acquire The Fire and the BattleCry Conferences for Christian teens. In this video, a very liberal feminist tells why Christians are bigots and fascists. What I really got out of this clip is how we are not reaching the postmodern world. I really feel sorry for someone who is that bitter and is going through life without hope. How as churches are we really trying to reach people who have not grown up in church? Do we get too comfortable in the box of the local church and forget that there are real people with real hurts who would never step foot in a church. Her view of Christian beliefs is sad. The only thing she sees in Christians is condemnation. I am not a real big fan of Acquire the Fire, but I respect the way Ron Luce handles himself and avoids any personal attacks. Check it out