A little less than half of the time, I devoted my time to working on my job at The Center for Youth Ministry Training, where I am leading some teams through translating the Lilly Foundation‘s research in youth ministry into practical tools for youth leaders. Some of that material will be released soon, which is exciting to me.

Another pretty good chunk of time was spent helping Christine at Cedar Crest Camp. I helped a little with some of the organizational and marketing things, assisted with staff training (which is always fun for me), led worship and keynoted the two weeks of youth camp (most of the weeks are predominantly younger children–not my sweet spot–but I love adolescents), and–perhaps best of all, attended “Mustard Seed Camp” as a co-camper with my youngest son, Daniel. Great stuff all the way around. I love the fact that the national press arm of the denomination, United Methodist Communications, did a nice story featuring Christine’s camp, too: “United Methodist camps offer s’more love.”

Additionally, I read a little, watched some Netflix–mostly episodes of The Tudors, Heroes, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and Dexter–and played with my children. We swam, played some games, and rode around in the golf cart a little. And because my wife did such a good job developing her staff this year, I even got to spend a reasonable amount of time with her…and she even got some sleep most nights. (Yay!)

I’m teaching a couple of new courses at East Hickman High School this year, along with revamping some of the ones I’ve taught for several years; and I’m actually pretty jazzed about the school year. And I’m also pretty stoked about continuing my work with CYMT now that Mindi Godfrey is on board as our YMtoday.com marketing director–which allows me to work in my sweet spot on our projects, as well.

I’m a little bummed that summer’s over so quickly, but it was a really full one; so I have little to complain about. Onward and upward.

My brother, Ted, and his wife came, and all of Devin’s grandparents, as well—so we just made a whole weekend of it. Christine’s job has its perks, and this was one of them: We were able to house several family members out at camp in one of the lodges, which also became a terrific meeting place for parties on Saturday.

We’d been trying to find just the right time for a dedication service for our youngest daughter, Bethany. Since we were having all of these folks coming in, it just made sense to do that this weekend. So we held a brief service in one of the outdoor chapels at Cedar Crest, during which a few of our closest friends—including Bethany’s godparents—joined us to celebrate Bethany.

We followed that with a catered lunch in the lodge celebrating both Bethany’s dedication and Devin’s graduation. We then wrapped those two things up around 2:00, and in came some of Nikki’s friends for an early birthday party. Nikki will be nine in a couple of weeks, but our summers are so busy now that having the party early seemed a good thing, especially since all of the family was there anyway.

All in all, I think this has been one of the best weekends of my life.

To be honest, I don’t actually listen to Christian radio all that much–I’m more of a Classical music guy, which contributes significantly to my nerd factor among my family members and friends. But this struck my attention: first, because I thought was kind of funny; second, because I considered appropriating it (stealing it) to use as one of those off-hand remarks I might make about myself when I’m speaking somewhere; and third, because I then began to wonder if that’s really the image we want to project.

I’m probably reading too much into it (my family members accuse me of that all the time), but I’m not sure we want to elevate our own depravity. I certainly am drawn more to someone with a humble stance (I’m a screw-up who needs God’s grace) than to an expert (God has made me perfect), especially a self-proclaimed one; so I appreciate that sentiment.

On the other hand, I wonder if this goes beyond just humility to an actual celebration of the brokenness. I mean, it’s one thing to acknowledge our sinfulness; it’s another to revel in it, right?
On the other hand, my friend and mentor Mike Yaconelli used to write and talk with this kind of posture all the time. He frequently referred to getting kicked out of Bible college, of being “just a K-mart pastor,” or of pastoring the “slowest growing church in America.” Maybe it’s because I knew him and so I realized it wasn’t just his schtick but his truly humble way of acknowledging his true need for God–or maybe I was just content with his (and my) type of “Messy Spirituality.” And maybe I need to look at that again with fresh perspective.

Or maybe I’m spinning my intellectual wheels unnecessarily and I need to find something else worthwhile to focus on.

Here’s my dilemma: I’ve been to Christian churches that practiced “sword drills,” where people looked up Bible passages as quickly as they could, shouting out to the leader; I’ve been to other churches that emphasized Bible memorization using militant terminology, as well. I’m not a huge fan of battle language about faith, even though some biblical passages certainly use that imagery; my problem is that I think we overdo that kind of language because it’s easier to rally people to war than it is to peace.

Chris Seay, author of several books and pastor of Ecclesia Church in Houston, told me that he was actually awarded a sword with the word “crusade” written on it for winning a sword drill competition—in 5th grade. This makes me want to weep. I mean, really? Is that what we’re wanting for our kids?

I get the biblical references. The two I hear the most often are these:

Ephesians 6:17 uses the “sword of the spirit” as a metaphor for the “word of God” in the extended metaphor of the “full armor of God.” However, the passage is quite clear that “the enemy” is evil as a force, not a people group. I can see some value in seeing our struggles with sin as battling our demons; that may be a healthy use of the metaphor.

Hebrews 4:12 refers to the dangerous nature of Scripture, that it’s not as simple or cut-and-dried as any of us would like to make it in order to fit our particular theologies. But this metaphor is clearly aimed at how God uses Scripture to “open us up” and reveal our true selves, good and bad, ultimately resulting in our spiritual growth.

Neither of these references point to using the sword against other people. Perhaps seeing militant usage of sacred texts from other faith traditions will help Christians realize how we can sound when talking about our faith, as well.

He was a perennial youth, always seeking adventure and wonder. He loved flying ultralight airplanes, and he regularly competed in indoor rowing competitions, setting national records for several different age bracket decades–and this past year was no different.

He absolutely LOVED the young people, too, particularly when they led worship services. He contributed weekly to a designated youth fund (the kind that doesn’t zero out at the end of the budget cycle), and he had a wonderfully mischievous distrust of the Church Council. He would regularly stop my wife or me in the narthex just to make sure “they weren’t trying to tell us how to spend that money.”

When asked the typical Southern, “How are ya’?” he’d respond every time with his trademarked, “Couldn’t hardly be no better.”

Here’s the coolest thing, though: He self-published a book this past year chronicling a number of terrific stories in his life, and one of the things he did was offer some words to his family and friends to read after his death. He told us not to mourn but to celebrate, that he had lived a full life,  that he had much to be grateful for, and that he was headed into the greatest adventure of all.

So, Joe, I do mourn your death. But more than anything else, I celebrate your life. And I am so honored to have known you. You are the guy I want to be when I grow up. Thanks for the example you set.

First, this is just plain fun. Ceremonies like weddings should have more expressions of fun like this.

Second, isn’t it interesting to think about how different generations respond to this sort of thing? This would’ve been unheard of 30 years ago; 60 years ago, it would’ve felt like an affront to the institution of marriage, family, church, culture, etc. Today, it’s one of the hottest video clips circulating the ‘net. There’s great discussion fodder for groups of parents, adult leaders, and students here. (ht Deech Kirk)

Third, isn’t it cool how just a little spark of creativity can create a lifelong memory that truly stands out? Are there places where we can help transform the mundane into something way more fun?

1. a person primarily motivated by meeting the needs of others.
2. an individual who loves others unconditionally, becoming a vessel of God’s grace and mercy to those in need.
3. someone who measures his or her self-worth not by personal accomplishments, but by the positive influence in the lives of others.
4. one whose influence over others comes not through dictates from on high but from people willingly following that person’s example.

Synonyms: Tic Long

Several years ago, my sons Austin and Devin sat across the table with a mischievous grin in their eyes, which should have alerted me to something. One said, “Here you go,” as he lobbed a roll to me with a pretty high arch. As I looked up and raised my arms to catch it, the other one pegged another roll straight at my chest. Then they burst into uncontrollable laughter.

I think I tried saying something parental about the inappropriateness of throwing food at the table, but they paid no attention whatsoever. Instead, they announced with pride that the roll move was called the “over and under”–distract the person by gently tossing something to them with a high arch, then unleash a faster projectile underneath.

Then came the statement: “Tic taught it to us.” It was said with such authority and finality that there was no possible argument from me. There it was. Tic Long had taught the procedure, so it must be okay. Which it was. I not only laughed with them then, but I’ve also been a co-conspirator with them as we’ve sought to spread Tic’s over-and-under legacy to others.

The truth is that any other company president wouldn’t have taken the time even to remember my children’s names, much less played with them. This was in the middle of a convention, by the way, when Tic had thousands of things he needed to be doing; but my kids were there, and Tic is just a “let the children come unto me” kind of guy.

They still think of Tic as “one of the coolest people they know”–but not because he was trying to be cool…because he cared about them enough to show them attention. He wasn’t trying to be relational to get anything, he was just being Tic. Because that’s the kind of guy he is.

During my first two weeks working for Youth Specialties, I was amazed by how Tic would take some time every single day to go around and check on all of his employees. He wasn’t checking up on their work progress or trying to motivate them to work harder–he was simply checking in on them as people. He asked how they were doing, and he actually listened when they spoke. And he remembered what people said and cared enough to follow up with them later, too–from “How did that football game turn out?” to “Did she come out of surgery okay?”

More than 80 folks were part of a shindig celebrating Tic’s ministry this past weekend, and Christine and I were honored to be among those present. Mike Atkinson uploaded a bunch of pics from the event on Facebook here. Lots of folks shared what Tic has meant to them, and quite a few also mourned what Youth Specialties might become without Tic’s presence. I was–in a rare moment–speechless that evening, awed and humbled by being among so many who’ve been so influential in youth ministry…but mostly knowing that I wouldn’t be able to say more than two words without crying. And frankly, I’m just not a pretty crier.

Tic has been the heart of YS–and in some ways, I have to wonder how YS is going to function without its heart. To be honest, though, I’m a whole lot more excited to watch what God is going to do with Tic than I am about what God is going to do with YS. Tic Long has not to this point had a huge, larger-than-life persona in the Christian marketplace–yet I think he’s made as much or more of an impact in the lives of Christians in ministry than any other human being living today.

In today’s world, leadership is all about being out in front, top-down, strength, power–and it’s like that outside the Christian world, too. Tic, on the other hand, is all about empowering and equipping others, relying on God instead of ourselves, and figuring out how he can help others succeed rather than build his own platform. Tic has modeled the kind of servant leadership Jesus was talking about–and my sense is that he’s not even close to being finished yet. For that, I thank God.

However, the downside to not being around is that I also don’t get to build the relationships with the kids. So I see them, but I’m just the boss’s husband—not a youth leader—in this context. Humbling, yet freeing at the same time.

This week, it’s a dual whammy to have to leave each day, though, because my friend Steve Case is in town. He’s staying at the camp with his youth group, helping Christine by doing service work there: helping out with younger kids and doing physical labor stuff, too.

Tonight, though, I made it home in time to hear speak during the evening worship time—and it was terrific. I’m blessed to get to hear lots of great public speakers, but very few people I know can captivate an audience of 3rd through 12th graders (the campers are 3rd-6th, but his high schoolers are there, too)—but he can. He’s able to do that through his writing, too, which is why he’s been a columnist for me ever since I met him, first while I was editor of Youthworker, and now as the editor of The Journal of Student Ministries.

I hope to find some time to just get away and laugh and daydream about youth ministry with him a bit. Pretty much every time we get together, we come away with 20 different book ideas we should write together. But more than that, I come away feeling more creative than I did before. I’m a pretty good writer and speaker, but his creativity leaves me in the dust. Definitely a terrific storyteller. And more often than not, he provides a clear window to the Holy.

I’m horribly tech-illiterate by today’s standards. I used to be cutting-edge about 12 years ago, but that’s like 4,000 years in the electronic world, I think. So I’m trying out posting a “Cover Link” to a book more of us probably need to read: Better Safe than Sued. The ideas is that the cover image is supposed to show up, along with a link to YMbookstore. We’ll see how it works.

A great new youth ministry books is Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark Devries. I’m trying to make it show up in an iFrame, but I’m not sure it’s working well…though I do think the text-only link works fine here: Sustainable Youth Ministry

And last but not least, we have the option to put banners on a site, too. Let’s see if this works:

The final Supreme Court decision of this term is, I think, a great example of the complexities involved in this issue. I really don’t think most people are nearly as polarized on this issue as the loudmouths (on both sides) make it sound. Most of us believe the best people should be promoted to the best positions regardless of gender or race. Most of us also don’t refute that biases have occurred–and still occur–based on a number of factors, of which gender and race are still factors. And frankly, most of us would like to see those biases removed.

The rub comes in which one of those values wins out. For most of us, I think it depends upon the context. To be truthful, this may be wrong, but I don’t care if the best person for the job was promoted within the grocery stores at which I shop, the movie theaters I frequent, etc. I’m perfectly content with diversity issues winning the argument. If I have a brain tumor, I don’t care if not a single Caucasian, African American, or Hispanic are in the field. If the best qualified doctors are all from India, then by golly, I want an Indian doctor working on my head.

As a public schoolteacher, I HATE the “dumbing down” of American education. I think we’re headed for disaster if we have to play to the lowest common denominator in order to leave no child left behind. The problem with that policy is that the ownness for success is on the wrong person–it should be on the student. Maybe I’ll blog about that more later.

However, I also realize I’m biased by my own context. I’m a white male, and I was a reasonably successful student. Therefore, I need help sometimes to realize that my benchmarks may be culturally biased. I am convinced that without racial, gender, and economic data on standardized tests over the past 30 years, our tests wouldn’t have become more equitable–which they really have. So sometimes the measuring sticks themselves really do need to be rethought. After all, how many church youth workers find themselves tied to formal or informal measuring sticks related to numbers that they realize don’t always translate to true transformative ministry?

I also have to realize that I have far less racial prejudice than previous generations (especially living in the South) because we were bussed back and forth across town during my elementary school years to achieve mandated diversity. And the schoolteachers of the era simply had to figure out how to make it work, because it was more important to diversify than it was to keep the status quo.

I want the best qualified people doing the work–particularly work like firefighting, medicine, law enforcement, civil engineering, teaching, governing, banking–well, heck, I guess I want the best qualified people no matter what. When people are denied that opportunity because of gender, race, or other factors that shouldn’t be factors, that’s not good. But I also want every strata of society to represent the Kingdom of God at its finest–which includes every color, every race, every ethnicity, every culture. Somehow, I think our dialogue on these issues would be strengthened if we could hold up both of these values as good, noble values rather than assuming the worst about the opposition and demonizing the other point of view.