This is day 7 of the “eric trap” blog tour and i’ve offered up a few thots here on my video review.  I’ll admit the fact that fictional children’s ministry Eric Newman works at New Hope Community Church made me taken an even closer look….and there was more than a couple of times where i wondered if Jim-Sam-Kenny had read my journals.  Seriously in more than 6 years as a pastor, vocationally and an additional 30 years as a volunteer in children’s/student  ministry i’ve encountered every aspect of Eric’s tough week chronicled in the book.

I don’t want to spoil the book for you, but when you finish you’ll be wondering what next steps Eric will be taking…and it all comes down to this…

We win or lose by the way we choose.

~Jim Wideman

For the reader the biggest and most practical take away and consideration is the encouragement from the author’s and their team to take your journal and turn the conversation to your own circumstance and begin to process how you are leading.   The task we are called to in ministry is not easy because its about coming along side others who are equally broken and disconnected and offering them a place where together we get to live out our faith by serving God.  Its hard work.  Its supposed to be.

I need to say again, The Eric Trap isn’t just for those in children’s ministry.  The collective wisdom is something i think every leader needs to process through.  And if you’re a volunteer or a parent this book will give you a better appreciation for what should be the expectations in the local church.  It’s an easy read and is worth the investment of time and money.   Its available here.

disclosure:  i did receive a free e-reader copy of this book for this review.

so i headed out for a road trip with some of my students last nite to an event in north canton hosted by a Kingdom ally – Joel Daniel Harris. i intentionally asked a few students who are prospective leaders in our student ministry.  the evening was billed as a…

night for middle school and high school students to come together for worship, to meet new people on a similar journey in Christ, to pray for one another, and to connect with God. Joining youth from across NE Ohio, The Gathering is an opportunity to have a night of worship to remind us that we are not alone but are joining in this journey with Christ together, no matter our church.

one cool aspect while waiting to enter was "photo boothes" with photographers snapping fun pictures like this one of our team: in front - Maddie & Sara and back row, Mitch, me and Jamie.

The theme was “Who Are You?” and  Joel and his team did a great job of making the evening an amazing time.  for the students i took it was a good investment of time.  All three were really encouraged by the time of worship and teaching.  the biggest surprise and blessing for me was these three students answering the challenging question for the night…who are you in Christ.  Two of the students responded “leader”.  in both cases i know these students have  the capacity and i’ve been trying for awhile to encourage them to step up and lean into that calling.  last night was a huge confirmation.

another area youth pastor tim beck and his students made this video as a set up for the message.

and here’s a nice little wrap up.

The Gathering happens regularly…you can find out more about it at facebook.com/330gathering

that said i think i’ve stumbled on a really creative nativity set that (disclsoure: I received a free outdoor nativity set to review and keep in exchange for a blog post) was sent to me by andrew brown at outdoor nativity sets that you might want to consider.

truthfully i’ve been looking for a number of years for some kind of a weather resistant CHRISTtmas display beyond the typical plastic or painted plywood types.  this product i think is worth consideration. its cut from marine grade plastic to withstand the weather conditions for years and has a simple design…and incredibly easy and quick to setup. here’s a vlog on what the set looks like and my thoughts.

i was not only impressed by the outdoor nativity but also by the mission of this family owned manufacturing company in central Florida that primarily builds for the marine industry.  its impressive that because of the downturn in the economy the owners sought to find another niche in the market place to maintain gainful employment for their employees.  According to the letter i got from Andrew Brown….

the nativity project has saved 8-10 jobs last year alone and was the best selling Outdoor CHRISTmas Decoration on Amazon.  So instead of layoffs we were working overtime!

that concept alone is enough to truly consider sprucing up your neighborhood with a cool image of what CHRISTmas time is all about reminding all about one of those cool nicknames of Jesus…Emmanuel- God is with us.

night time look at the outdoor nativity at our house.

So Outdoor Nativity has a truly unique product and some other items worth checking out….please visit their online store here.

in addition to the Outdoor Nativity Sets let me put a plug in for my friend and Kingdom Ally, Chip Richter.  Lot’s of fun traditional CHRISTmas music on his cd from last year.  (if you watch the video above you’ll hear his rendition of Jose Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad).   You can sample the entire album and download it as mp3′s via his online store here.  UPDATE: Chip says CD Baby is currently out of stock! More have been shipped to them but in the meantime if you want to contact him directly for a CD for Christmas e-mail him here

If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance even less.

Grasping the idea of change in our culture and world is made even more aware by this new and revised video on the impact of the social media revolution via the folks at http://www.socialnomics.net .  Getting our minds around this firehose of information is critical.  its the world we live in.  i love the tension provided by the amazing soundtrack.  the world is indeed a very small place.    ht len sweet

“at all cost we protect the heavens”

available 11.25.11

its been almost 13 years since i met two young men, brothers – Owen and Chris Thomas who were part of a band originally called Just Visiting.  They were opening at a concert in Ashland for another band that is no longer – Big Tent Revival those two young men went on to become the heart and passion of a new band called The Elms.  Over the next decade or so i had the privilege of hosting them mulitiple times at camps and concert venues.  And i travel a few hundred miles to support them.  They have amazing hearts.   Truth is we became friends.   i’ve followed their art and craft and have always appreciated their deep commitment to excellence.  Unfortunately they are no more, the band that is.  But i’m excited for the final chapter in their story as a major film is being released in just a few short weeks.  here’s clip from one of their amazing songs. its sad that the elms aren’t performing together anymore.  it was an amazing ride, yet their legacy and their craft has been captured incredibly well in this video package.  I’m got some other thoughts about Owen, Chris, Thom and Nate (each of them creative geniuses) and will be sharing over the next couple of weeks.  i think i’ve got some vintage video i may try to dig up.  but for sure i hope you’ll check out their website and most importantly think of that rock and roll lover on your Christmas list…they will love this amazing effort…The Last Band on Earth…i promise you get them this dvd & digital download…you’ll be their rock star.

here’s a closing tease from my archives… about 7 years ago the elms opened for switchfoot here in ashland.  one of the greatest images i’ve captured was of owen thomas talking with jon foreman. (thanks to my daughter emmah for finding this image.  its on film…i had forgotten about it).

two amazing musicians- owen thomas and jon foreman

Gungor @ simpy youth ministry conference 2011 - Chicago

grateful to a new student ministry ally - rj grunewald – for reminding me of this. now that life is settling back into some normalcy (whatever that is…) i’m reminded of the incredible beauty of this newest work, Ghosts upon the Earth from Gungor.

i had only just heard of them when they performed at symc 2011….here’s my take on them then…and with the whirlwind of prepping for the Present:Hope Tour i had missed much of the buzz on the new album since it release 3 days before i left for Joplin.

Love that in this video on this newest work…that michael gungor says….this work is intentional.  love where they start in the Story and where they end up. there is much beauty and talent in what they are doing.  if you’ve not downloaded it yet…i’d heartily suggest it.

matt says…

this album is about celebrating the many, many, many reasons there are to glory in God…if you ever find yourself a little weary of sleepy or running out of something to say to God that there is something going wrong with your spiritual outlook…there is always something to say to God.

this is a must have album. the words of each song are solid and the tunes are incredibly catchy and engaging. the live aspect of this work adds that much more. personally, tracks 1 – We are the Free, 5: Fires, and 8: We Could Change the World are my favorites.

the high school in joplin has a new name

the words from track 5- Fires has settled deep in to my mind as a song that i think speaks of those we met in joplin on the Present:Hope tour. sitting in the classroom at St Paul’s UMC and hearing of what folks pushed through on that sunday nite in may.  and to hear of how, with the resolve of a deeper faith in a God who provides and is in control-Christ followers are rebuilding their lives one day at a time.  or even how the high school in joplin has been renamed to center everyone’s mind in a practical way.   really encouraging stuff.  check out these lyrics to Fires:

We’re standing in the desert of dry bones
But still we see Your life
Walking through the valley of shadows
But holding onto light
And we’re waiting, waiting on You God
And our hearts will trust, trust in who You are

God who keeps our fires burning
Burning through the darkest night
See the hope in our hearts
The faith in our eyes
You can move the highest mountain
You can keep our dreams alive
You’re the joy of our hearts
You’re the fire in our eyes

Light up our lives with holy flame
All for the honor of Your name
Give us the strength to face the day, Jesus
Light up our lives with holy flame
All for the honor of Your name
Give us the strength to face the day
You’re the fire in our eyes

so get yourself a copy…you’ll be blessed you did.

one interesting aspect was having had about 5.5 hrs in the car to the camp, it was some of the first time i had alone to process what i had just pushed through over the past three weeks with the 803 mile Present:Hope bike tour from Joplin, MO to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta.  So i was a little dumb struck by one of the first things i saw pulling into the camp was a van from joplin.  i learned later that the worship team from Christ in Youth was from there.  small world.

the combination of a relaxed environment, the minds and hearts of some incredible ministry folks really made this event worth every moment of driving and the cost of registration.  i’m guessing that going into this event adam and mark may have thought it may be the first and only campference, but given what i heard from my bunkmates i’m hoping its the first of many to come.  i’ve pulled a short video together that doesn’t do the weekend justice but will give you a sense.

i didn’t get to be part of any of the fun adventure that spring hill offered…some firsts i think…night owl zipline and glowstick paintball…nor did i stay up for the late night screening of that 1972 classic – A Thief in the Night… but i did really enjoy all that i experienced. the dialoginars with Scott Rubin and Kurt Johnston. the soapbox sessions with Katie Edwards and Jeremy Hickman. the thoughtful tribal gatherings with presenters like Steve Argue from Mars Hill Bible Church. the amazing fellowship with my bunkmates in Mt. Rainier….and getting some hangtime with the amazing Andy Disher.

andy disher

All together, it was so worth my investment. plus it didn’t hurt that the team at simply youth provided some incredible prizes and i was blessed with winning one of the mega-packs(for having been the oldest dude attendance – although i think there was a couple of folks who wouldn’t  admit their age).

my prayer is that the middle school ministry campference is the first of many to come. hope you make it next year.  check out andy disher’s blog   and  marko’s blog  for more thoughts from the campference.

on another note…if you’re interested in another thoughtful conversation i’d encourage you to check out an event that the Youth Cartel is hosting on November 21st in Atlanta after the National Youth Workers Conference.  The Extended Adolescence Symposium will be a unique day of dialog, debate, and discovery.   Adam and Marko are bringing together two experts with vastly different opinions on the nature & problems of extended adolescence, as well as a moderation/interpreter who knows youth ministry.  the purpose will be to help us wrestle with how to best understand today’s teenagers and young adults, and how we can help move toward adulthood, rather than being perpetually stuck in their teens. Learn more & register here.