chad swanzy

Overcoming - BOSS LEVEL!!! Something extremely inspiring for...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:10:27 -0600

Overcoming - BOSS LEVEL!!! Something extremely inspiring for you! No more excuses. STIX (by stixsteps)

A YOUTH MINISTRY VIEW I DON'T RESPECT

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:29:54 -0600

I respect youth leaders and the diversity of opinions on how they lead in youth ministry.

An area of practice I can’t respect is the area of the way the conversation about the differences unfold. Let me explain.

The conversations tend to narrow the categories into two groups; youth groups that integrate fun and events and then youth groups that integrate theology and community. When a conversation happens there is usually no middle ground and all inclusive statements are leveraged. Example: “All youth groups that play games are only interested in entertaining kids.” Or, “all youth groups who focus on theology and community are boring kids right out of the church and dismissing lost kids.” Usually the words are different. Instead of fun and events it’s just called entertainment by those against it. Instead of theology and community it’s often called holy huddles for those who are against it.

And, I use the phrase, “against it” because that’s often how the average post is written. The mentality of conversation is us vs. them or the right way and the wrong way. It’s just awkward to hear youth leaders throw things out like this about each other.

The other thing that happens in this conversation that I loathe is what I’m going to call, “passing the Barna Ball.” The Barna Ball is that multi-church wide census report out there that came to the conclusion that kids are leaving the church when they get out of high school. It’s a concern, indeed. But youth are not the only ones who leave church, become disengaged, disgusted, or distracted. Fear has created blame and blame is being shouldered on method and style for a three to six year window in the life of a believer as opposed to the full spectrum reality that young professionals, soccer moms, and Millennial adult men increasingly find no compelling reason to participate in the American church.

The idea that an adult’s pathway to organized expressions of church or church membership and participation are directly linked to the manner and means in which their youth group’s style was applied to their teen years is irrational. Obviously, circumstances of abuse are instances of exception but students are capable and do leave churches on both sides of the argument. In all of the debate there has been no silver bullet. No church, group, or style advocate has been able to present case study, research, or field tested evidence that one is better than the other. To say, “it’s not working.” is not a valid argument unless you can say what is working. You could say, “it’s not working enough.” Or, “it needs to be better.” If at anytime we can say, “this is perfect. we found the best way to do ministry and it’s working.” Then I think we’re in trouble.

The other part of the argument is the idea that “holy huddles” can’t experience fun or “entertainment” ministries have no substance. I think there is more diversity among the two styles for both, who are experiencing good things and trying to figure it out.

Is there any logic to the fact that God is sovereign. It’s not as if he’s taken back by statistical results. He’s not off guard with the diversity and beauty of the bride. He isn’t standing idle with his hands off the reigns. He is working. He promised it and he’s not a liar. I would suggest that it will never be about style.

It has and always will be about believers responding to their cultural context with the Gospel. Construct a view out of the way Jesus pursued the lost and broken. It will probably end up not looking like anything on either side of the style debate.

EXPECT BROKENNESS

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:45:40 -0600

Speak to people and especially teens as if they were broken, because we all are. They want to be searched, asked, and discovered. Pain is the enemy and hope is the antidote. Don’t waste those moments you get.

UNTRACEABLE LINE

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:14:48 -0600

Every teenager possesses a razor thin seemingly untraceable line in their heart. On that wire their innermost thoughts, dreams, and real desires are hung. Finding that thread to tug so that it can be unraveled from the tangle is what love is for. A life living for that love is a life well spent.

Daft Punk - One More Time (A Capella) (by AaronicStuff)

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:46:16 -0600

Daft Punk - One More Time (A Capella) (by AaronicStuff)

shop (via FFFFOUND! | Tumblr)

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:06:32 -0600

shop (via FFFFOUND! | Tumblr)

I’d just as soon kiss a wookie. (via Oaacwoohrhraoaoara...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:17:24 -0600

I’d just as soon kiss a wookie. (via Oaacwoohrhraoaoara rac ra Scwoscwo)

colorful (via jamesroper13 | Fubiz™)

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:12:30 -0600

colorful (via jamesroper13 | Fubiz™)

terrifying… stereo skifcha (by xgabberx)

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:21:59 -0600

terrifying… stereo skifcha (by xgabberx)

She took the fruit. (via by `alexds1)

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:09:58 -0600

She took the fruit. (via by `alexds1)

The Annihilator 7 is the first wave assault ship of the...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:47:00 -0600

The Annihilator 7 is the first wave assault ship of the Emperor’s galactic fleet. In response to an outbreak of coordinated Rebel attacks, along the outlying systems, the Emperor, himself, commissioned her deployment to rout remaining Rebel forces. Sith Lord Cooper crafted her lines to mask her massive gun turrets and bomb filled deployment bays. With undisclosed speeds far exceeding any known Rebel ship, The Annihilator 7 swiftly crushed remaining Rebel forces gathered along the outlying systems. She spent several tours in deep space missions running her scanners for suspicious fleets and intercepting dozens of Rebel cargo runs out of Alderaan. When she is not squelching the rebellion she is often called upon to speed Grand Moff Tarkin to an undisclosed secret weapons development deep within the Empire’s blackout zone. Sith Lord Cooper’s oversight and command of her crew has given him the reputation around the galaxy as the Emperor’s greatest and most feared weapon.

stacked-glass: I can’t decide which is more awesome, that...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:17:47 -0600

stacked-glass:

I can’t decide which is more awesome, that Peter Pan is taunting Darth Vader, or that the stormtroopers are wearing Mickey Mouse hats.

definitivamente lo mejor son los sombreros

jaymug: Captain Obvious

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:02:25 -0600

jaymug:

Captain Obvious

via ffffound

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:45:46 -0600

via ffffound

(via Join The Campaign Against The Mario Bros.)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:25:50 -0600

(via Join The Campaign Against The Mario Bros.)

Love is not in the air.

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:58:12 -0600

Love is not in the air.

(via Jawas)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:47:34 -0600

(via Jawas)

“no one comes into our desert”

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:46:00 -0600

“no one comes into our desert”

So sweet. (by S719)

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:21:57 -0600

So sweet. (by S719)

It’s about to go down. #starwars (Taken with instagram)

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:38:50 -0600

It’s about to go down. #starwars (Taken with instagram)