Archive - leadership RSS Feed

the eric trap – my thots

April 17, 2012 in books & reviews, leadership, student ministry, thoughts with Comments Off



Jim Wideman-Sam Luce-Kenny Conley are each individually amazingly smart dudes in the Kingdom.  So when they work together they are  truly “uber-brilliant”.  Recently they have joined forces to pen a new short work on leadership for those in the children’s ministry realm.  (Although, i’m convinced that the wisdom of their effort, along with the practical input of their colleagues – Kristin Englund, Sherri Epperson, Craig Gyergyo, Deana Hayes, and Matt McDaniels- is an invaluable tool for anyone in any ministry).

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.

Chardon Shootings: Prayers & the Cafeteria

February 27, 2012 in leadership, student ministry, thoughts with Comments Off

click this image to learn more

Words can not express the horror of what has transpired today in the quiet community of Chardon, OH.  The brokenness of one young man causes the death (there are two as of this post) of his classmates.  We may never truly know the “why” of it.

Although the shooter has been arrested, the deep motivation that pushed him may escape our understanding.  I see this anger played out daily in the schools i visit and almost hourly in the fabric of the social network.  I’m not clear what to offer as a solution…but do know that those of us in leadership in communities and the local Church are going to have to think differently.  Over the past year i’ve been in many conversations about these issues.  The common theme centers around “bullying”. Local schools are spending tons of money to raise awareness…but i think the most basic solution and probably too simple for some -is we need to get to know each other better.  I sat in a bullying awareness seminar last spring and i can remember processing the experience and thinking…the real problem is these students don’t know each others stories.  And that lack of understanding is the core of so much of their relational breakdowns.  Efforts like Every Student-Every School can be a great first start.  Since prayer is the life breath of all ministry, getting concerned parents and community leaders joining together to pray for the students and for their being in healty peer relationships would be an amazing first start.  You can sign up for your school by following the link.

One of my good Kingdom Allies, Greg Stier, president of Dare2Share (and an early responder at Columbine High School in 1999) offered some great thoughts today on his blog with 5 reminders in light of today’s events here in Ohio.  One thought in particular was the concept of  encouraging our Christian students to sit at a different cafeteria table ever week.  By doing so, our students will get a chance to know others at school and better understand who each other is.  I wonder like Greg if  the Christian teenagers at Chardon High School would have reached out to TJ Lane with the love of Jesus on a consistent basis whether or not the outcome would have been different. The rant TJ posted on his facebook page (now removed) shows a young man who has been hurt and ignored by many.

Could these deaths and woundings been avoided?  Maybe, maybe not…either way we’ve got to step up and equip and set our students free to reach out to…

“those teens”…the “un” ones, the loners and “losers.”  Why? Because this is the exact pattern of Jesus and, if the love of Jesus can’t prevent school shootings, there’s not a metal detector in the world that will.

the gathering roadtrip

January 23, 2012 in adventure, books & reviews, leadership, technology with 2 Comments

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

do it now…45,000 reasons change is coming

January 5, 2012 in culture, leadership, thoughts with Comments Off

i’m truly grateful to the folks at Passion and this is such a cool and inspiring video of what a group of 45,00+  youth adult (18-25 year olds) can do when given the opportunity.  i was watching some video on monday from the event in Atlanta when Louie Giglio announced their goal of $1million.  i thought…wow that’s ambitious…then 24 hours later he announced they had raised $550,000.  Last night i heard they were over the goal of $1 million and then today to hear that final amount is more than $3 million raised to help end sex trafficking and the slavery of some 27 million indivuals around world…even here in the USA.   so cool that CNN helped leverage the story all the more. in time when there is so much darkness…it is a blessing to see this.

kevin durant: being present

November 1, 2011 in adventure, leadership with 1 Comment

the tweet that started it...

mark riddle  shared this video today on his facebook profile.   a dude named george overbey is following fourth year NBA star, currently playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder kevin durant  on twitter.

kevin durrant posts that he’s bored and wants something to do. and george tweets back and invite kevin to play.  with more than a million followers on twitter a single conversation begins

the series of tweets that followed from george to durant.

and so its on…kevin drives about an hour and plays some flag football with some students. craziness!  but  so cool.  it was a risk for sure.  and from the video it got crazy.  so grateful that a dude with durant’s celebrity status would risk  to be inconvenienced and hassled to play a game with some ordinary students.  i see the message of being present all over this.  so the question today…are you willing to let your daily routine be “inconvenienced” to make a difference?

Page 1 of 512345»