Oct 1, 2011 - a couple of the Present:Hope tour team watch the sun set after having toured the devastation of tornadoes in the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham, AL area.

click the image to see this

I am mindful these past couple of days that it was just a year ago that almost 300 tornadoes ripped through Alabama and left almost that many people dead. according to the weather channel, it was one of the largest outbreaks of tornadoes in history.. the destruction path was over 18 states.

It was only seven months ago that i rode with 12 others as part of Venture Expeditions the Present Hope Tour  through that area to help bring awareness of the good  work that Convoy of Hope was championing to help rebuild peoples lives and their homes.  just watched a report of the Gov. of Alabama reminding all that the recovery and rebuilding is still continuing.  it will be years yet til all is restored.   

but there’s a tension that becomes apparent when one studies the list in the photo of questions recently submitted by the 4th graders at a local elementary school of questions they want answers to that they are afraid to ask their parents about.  wow.

in a recent email from a Kingdom ally the following thots were posed…

What is our generation’s legacy?  What do we want it to be?  As a generalization we’ve given to the world:

Divorce is an easy, acceptable, pragmatic even preferred option.
The family structure as optional, “Hey, the kids are strong. They can handle it.” Right.
Selfishness justifies anything.
Science trumps wisdom (when in truth it validates it).
Godlessness trumps truth.
Youth, ripped, endless sex, rock and roll, and money are our Gods.
Self-indulgence is foundational: It is our right.
Abortion is an assumed right. It is the foundation of any compassionate, rational human being.
Abstinence is impractical, foolish, it is downright uncool. Holiness is ridiculous.
The world is to be worshipped (mother earth) as infants are murdered.
Terrorists are terrorists unless they kill Christians, then it is not newsworthy.
We deserve everything. We are accountable for nothing.
We wil never age, nor lose our sex appeal, nor die.
It is better to know more about the Khardasians, Survivor and other reality shows than it is to know our God.
Good is bad, and bad is good.

my friend goes on to ask:

Why are the kids the way they are? Who has guided them? Who will guide them?

and then offers this word from God:
“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” [Rev 21:7-8]

and then states

The “cowardly” . . . Thanks to all that have turned and are walking with Christ to make a difference.  Forgive me for when I don’t.  Who will stand and say, “The legacy must change!”  Who is still so trapped by the world that they are no earthly good because they are too encumbered by this earth? I am not throwing stones; I am letting you see the questions exploding in my own heart.

wondering now in my own mind where to chart the course to helping 4th graders ask different questions.  your thoughts?

Indeed, there is much behind where we are going culturally…we need to be praying for clarity on how to turn the cultural tide.

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.

its been a few weeks…actually about 4 since i’ve been here. i’m still processing much that prompted me to jump off and go a bit silent in the interwebs.  but i wanted to get back to it.   i had the pleasure to spend some time today with Dr. Walt Mueller at Malone University. The admissions folks at Malone hosted an enjoyable lunch conversation for the 330 networking group. Walt has been doing some amazing things over the past couple of decades through the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. Recently they launched an excellent tool for parents and youth workers.  according to Walt the site’s purpose is to…

offer information and tools that will help you lead the kids you know and love into living safely, wisely and to the glory of God on the emerging digital frontier.

the site is loaded with all sorts of helpful information to better understand the digital age and its impact on youth and families.

the 330 network prayed for Walt Mueller and his good work thru CPYU.

our lunch conversation was great and although some of what we talked about concerning the culture was troubling…mostly because technology and its impact seems to be snowballing and its not clear where its going to end.  that being said, our discussion with Walt centered on what has become almost the central theme of my thinking lately.  Our (parents & youthworkers) presence matters more than our being culturally relevant.  Although being aware of the culture is important (and the Digital Kids Initiative will help with that so visit it-bookmark it and share it!)…our willingness to be present, literally in the lives of our families and our students matters more.