Archives for September 2008

I don’t often “get” mark driscoll. But that doesn’t mean much I suppose.

It means we don’t share the same view on many issues in the church. It means we could have a spirited debate over a beverage. It doesn’t mean I think he’s not a believer or satan- all of which I’m sure he’s been called- mostly because he rarely minces words. He has a long reputation of “speaking his mind” and with his extreme views, creating a love him or hate him environment. It also creates, like a big political figure, a long list of followers in a grip of locations in the Seattle area.

Regardless, his latest teaching series is one I ran across by accident today. I heard it was from Mark Driscoll on the Song of Songs so I was already skeptical. I’m sure we don’t share a lot of the same views on sexuality, women, or the interpretation on this book’s literary form.

But I was utterly unprepared for this website. It’s not my picture of the image of the Biblical book. It’s not my picture of Mark. And it is utterly weird. I think they might have hired a new web animator with an idea and a paycheck. I don’t get it. Maybe the teaching will clear it up. Maybe not.

I have hair issues.

#1. It’s running to the back of my head. (It’s not coming out my ears yet, but I’m sure it will)

#2. It’s evidently growing more on one side of my face than the other. My wife said during a conversation today, “can we talk about your side burns?” I said, “No. What are you talking about?” She said one is longer than the other significantly.

So I took the photo evidence of my stupid sideburns who evidently don’t talk to one another and my forehead that is gaining real estate.

don’t worry, I have a solution. I’m going to cut it off my side burn and glue it on my head.

I went to the wedding of a former student last April. Today I got the thank you note from this student.

Before you think this post is about how long that took… keep reading.

This student was one of the first students I met in my very first youth ministry job. I think he has been out of Powerhouse High School ministry for at least 10 years now.

Here’s the letter:

Favorite Powerhouse Memories:

• Brian and camp staff attacking boys cabins in pick-up truck, getting soaked and getting the windshield broken….
• Busting out the hoola hoops off the grape-vine w/Katie while van was being fixed on the way to Mexico.
• Poorly “TP”ing your house with Daryl and Mikey so much that you didn’t bother cleaning it up
• Listening to “play that funky music whiteboy” loudly on the way to camp in the bus while Brian pumped the brakes (dangerously) to the beat on 580.
• Brian and Shannon pulling me aside, faces beaming, at the wedding in 2008 and exclaiming how happy they are for me.

Thank you guys. Oh yes, thanks for the nifty glasses set too! We’ll come visit you guys soon sometime.

SO, HERE’S THE TRUTHS I FOUND INSIDE THIS LOVE NOTE:

Lesson #1: no youth group teaching I give ever makes the “best of” list. Not sure what that means since this guy sat through hundreds of talks, but nonetheless, it’s true.

Lesson #2: The best and longest lasting fruit in youth ministry is the stuff that happens in the unplanned, unscripted, craziness of doing life together.

Lesson #3: I really need to get a bus for Encounter. I miss jacking with kids while I’m driving.

Today I felt like God gave me those two words to ponder.  It came in a question:  “Which do you want to live by:  convenience or conviction?”

We ask our students to bring a buck a week. So far, it’s not exactly owned by all. More like about 25% of them. But for what it’s worth. Here’s why we ask for a buck a week.

I’m praying they bring it. It’s amazing how a large group of students doing small things together can truly change the world we live in.