gigitastic

for sunday school, we've been using a lot of the "...

2010-08-12T14:12:38.636-07:00

for sunday school, we've been using a lot of the "creative bible lessons" series. they're by individual authors, but there's a LOT of great stuff there. And sometimes you can buy in bulk
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Bible-Lessons-CD-ROM-Specialties/dp/0310256267/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281646921&sr=8-1

for our youth night gatherings, high schoolers can smell curriculum from across the room. we don't use curriculum then. for middle school we often use stuff from GROUP. "the truth about _____" "faith for life" and their "Real life bible curriculum"

anything by barry shafer is always spot on and really gets truth from the biblical text (see believe live: a study in john, hear and do: an study in james, rock solid faith: a study in 2 Timothy)

jim burns puts out some cool dvd curriculums (life of jesus, spiritual gifts) and for evangelism, greg stier's "gospel journey: maui" is popular

for small groups i suggest the 6 books by doug fields (not with dvds, they stink): experiencing christ together. it goes through the purposes of the church: worship, evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship; and a session on Jesus)

for a sex series, "good sex 2.0" by kara powell is pretty reputable.

hope that helps!

-Justin Ahlgrim

Definitely true. I've typed and deleted my respon...

2010-08-12T07:44:08.695-07:00

Definitely true.

I've typed and deleted my response several times. All my thoughts seemed pedantic and naive.

Lifting Christ up above all things is the answer, but the issue really at question is: How do we do this effectively in our own cultural setting?

I like your main point... I wonder (truly) if the...

2010-08-12T07:28:44.582-07:00

I like your main point...

I wonder (truly) if the "advertisement slogans" you used were inappropriate?

Won't people have an opportunity for that? I know they may not experience it, but where else are they going to get a chance to get that? Connection, new life, experiencing God should all be promises of the Church...we're just notoriously bad at keeping them...because we're humans and not God.

I like the main point that we should be about God first and foremost.

Thanks, very thought provoking...still ruminating on it all!

what style of curriculum though? just lessons? les...

2010-08-06T11:37:30.551-07:00

what style of curriculum though? just lessons? lessons and activities?

as for nywc- doubtful. no money in the budget :(

I usually try to look for something challenging to...

2010-08-06T11:04:05.321-07:00

I usually try to look for something challenging to my kids. I generally have the most trouble finding curriculum that isn't cheesy.

You gonna be at NYWC in Nashville this year??

LOVE THEM! Can't wait to order ours!

2010-08-05T17:56:37.505-07:00

LOVE THEM! Can't wait to order ours!

I linked you...just an fyi...Thanks for the post.

2010-08-04T06:35:19.731-07:00

I linked you...just an fyi...Thanks for the post.

I was reminded of this from a simple misspelling o...

2010-08-03T06:58:23.798-07:00

I was reminded of this from a simple misspelling of a text that someone gave me.

I thought they were rebuking me...I began to think, "Who are they to say that!" "They don't know xxxxx [the issue involved]." All sorts of defensives and angries....

Then, I thought, but if they're right then they're telling me this to help me. Hard pill to swallow. It made me look at the situation and resolve ways to be a better Mark.

Funny thing was, their text softward filled in the word, but it was the wrong one...they were just saying "See you there!" Funny...But totally a God lesson.

Good stuff, Kara. My favorite part about those sta...

2010-05-26T06:51:52.075-07:00

Good stuff, Kara. My favorite part about those statistics is that 83% eat food they know they shouldn't once a week, and 88% eat fast food once a week. That means that 5% are apparently completely unaware that they shouldn't be eating fast food! Seriously, people?! haha

Love your thoughts on this!

2010-05-25T17:57:25.466-07:00

Love your thoughts on this!

what a surprise to get a comment from you! No kidd...

2010-05-24T17:17:02.152-07:00

what a surprise to get a comment from you! No kidding though- your book is exactly what I need to read right now. Thanks so much for being transparent and fearless enough to approach a topic like this :)

Hey-thanks for reading!!

2010-05-24T16:57:00.176-07:00

Hey-thanks for reading!!

Absolutely...this is and has always been my #1 com...

2010-04-27T06:37:40.541-07:00

Absolutely...this is and has always been my #1 complaint with church:

Happy, shiny people holding hands.

Blech.

Give me some real people living real life following a real Jesus.

i think this article is not only appropriate for y...

2010-04-22T19:38:40.698-07:00

i think this article is not only appropriate for youth in the church but all people in general in the church. people are broken, lost, searching, struggling ~ sometimes i think what the church lacks is the ability to recognize and "heaven forbid" even discuss that there are "good" people in their own congregations that are in this category. lets face it ~ everyone is struggling with something it is just that someone's may be more socially disgraceful than another. if we really knew what was happening in the lives of some of our fellow church members we may find that we could come at them with more grace and compassion and love than we ever realized we could in order to help them on their journey.
just my thought!! i love you kara!! thanks for being so real!!

that is so totally my song right now!! i have the ...

2010-04-07T19:27:26.164-07:00

that is so totally my song right now!! i have the lyrics posted on the side of my computer ~ i even had it on my facebook for quite some time!! i love it!! :) it speaks to me and moves me to tears almost every time i hear it!! very humbling

Hey, great post. I love how you shared something o...

2010-03-31T12:28:14.335-07:00

Hey, great post. I love how you shared something one of your students shared. Keep it going!

I was wondering if you would like to contribute this post and others like it to our resource library (www.calledtoyouthministry.com). We're reaching out to youth leaders and pastors and encouraging each other in an attempt to make their load a little lighter.

Shoot me an e-mail with your response,
-Taylor (tclyde52@gmail.com)

Kara, That was brilliant...Thank you! Today's Wo...

2010-02-02T10:06:09.603-08:00

Kara,

That was brilliant...Thank you!

Today's Word Verification: cavedit...caveman slang for "loved it!"

mark, when i see your user picture, i always want ...

2009-10-22T11:41:24.021-07:00

mark, when i see your user picture, i always want to high five the screen. i also want to high five you after reading your comment. so, high five!

Verification word: rachil, as in, "Whenever I smell peanut butter, i start to get a little rachil in my throat."

Totally agree Kara. In fact, when I left CCUMC, I...

2009-10-22T09:02:58.614-07:00

Totally agree Kara.

In fact, when I left CCUMC, I was immediately confronted with a loneliness of being the only staff team person.

Sure there were other staff, but the church had operated in an "I do my thing, you do yours" mode for a long time. The staff didn't show up at meetings, and they basically refused a staff meeting time.

After 1.5 years and a few personnel changes, we now have a team/family of staff. We work together, we talk, laugh, joke, and care for each other.

We just started an every other week staff meeting this month, and it has been good. We already have the idea of Pinata Cantata...the revised edition of what Cantatas should be for a 21st century global culture. Not boring at all ;)

I sooo love team ministry because I can't do this on my own. It's too lonely, too stressful, and IMHO, not how God made us to live...let alone do ministry.

Thanks for being on the same team, Kara...You're awesome!

Today's verification word: flunbtar...as in "I hate when I drive down a newly paved road and get all that flunbtar splashed up on my car."

so not what you were going for...but I found that ...

2009-10-14T07:04:37.651-07:00

so not what you were going for...but I found that episode of "How I met Your Mother" absolutely hilarious...the "Jesus inventing the 3 day rule"...and then the high five :)

Thanks, Kara...I'm humbled... You're great!

2009-10-01T07:46:23.703-07:00

Thanks, Kara...I'm humbled...

You're great!

I believe in heroes. I'm not sure I'd trust someo...

2009-09-30T08:15:35.199-07:00

I believe in heroes.

I'm not sure I'd trust someone who doesn't. It means they have no aim other than themself.

I also don't believe in the cult of personality that worships heroes/anti-heroes.

IMHO, this is the biggest travesty of Post-Modernism (which for the record, I'm totally for...not a hater at all). The elimination of heroes and the "it couldn've been anyone but they were there at the right time" climate of historical work destroys everything that is great about the human spirit trying to achieve great things.

Good character with ability with desire isn't something to hate or disdain. It's something to admire.

Steve Prefontaine was my first hero (this was before 2 movies were made about him). I vividly remember running on the track in Eugene, Oregon where he ran to crowds clapping to his strides. I ran a full 400 meters with goose bumps...imagining the crowds as I ran.

I went back home, and I began practicing harder than I ever had.

That year I ran my best time, and I felt the glory of finding MY stride, my goals, and my achievements. It was an awesome thing...but "Pre" helped me see the possible...and dream the dream.

Kara, Seriously, that was the best post on parent...

2009-09-15T08:47:01.699-07:00

Kara,

Seriously, that was the best post on parents and Facebook I've read. Great job!

Also, read that staff is doing devotions again...GOOD! I missed them when they were stopped.

Kara - Fairly new to the blogospear. Just heard ab...

2009-09-09T09:07:04.728-07:00

Kara - Fairly new to the blogospear. Just heard about "The Nines."
So I Googled "the Nines and leadership" and a whole bunch of sites came up.

I have seen the dangers of "Titles," of "Pastors," and of "leaders."
Spiritual abuse for both the "leader" and those “being led” by man.

I'm not not new to "ministering healing" to those who have been abused
by those who "thought they were called to be leaders."
Folks who have been burnt, burnt out, kicked out, or crawled out of "the religious system"
with it's leaders, spiritual authority, and other "heavy weights" put on folks shoulders.

I also spend a fair amount of time with pastors, "so called leaders," who can't do it anymore.
Trying to run the show and please so many masters.
Trying to please the denominational leaders, the congregation and it's leaders, and of course Jesus.
Who is often relegated to last place. Hmmm? Three masters, at least, that's tough; Yes?
Peaching every week... and it better be good, being the CEO, the team leader, councilor, smiley face. etc. etc.

If "pastors" (as we see them today) are of God?
He's not taking very good care of His shepherds; Is He?.
And, if we don't have a contented pastor how can we have contented sheep?
Hmmm? Wonder why?

This is info from a website helping burned out Pastors.

PastorCare offers support and encouragement for pastors and their families.
At PastorCare we care about YOU and we want to help.

http://www.pastorcare.org/PastorCare/About_Us.html

According to the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership (2007)
• 77% say they do “not” have a good marriage.
• 71% have felt burned out or depressed.
• 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
• 40% report a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
• 38% are divorced or seriously considering divorce.

According to the Ministering to Ministers Foundation...
• Over 1600 pastors in the U.S. are forced out of their positions each month.
• Nearly 1 in 4 pastors experience a forced termination at least once during their ministry.
•Only 54% of pastors go back into full-time church related positions.

Think we might have a problem Kara?
70% of pastors are depressed or burnt out. Don't have a close friend. Hmmm?
That's who is running the show.
That's who is abusing God's sheep.
I have been both abused and the abuser. It’s not pretty.

1600 pastors a month, that's 18,000 a year, leave or are pushed out. Wow!!!
That's a lot of broken hearts, disappointments, feelings of failure, pain, abuse.

Hmmm? Pastor, is this a “Title” or "position" in the scriptures?
In the Bible, How many congregations are... led by a pastor?

Once again, How do "you" reconcile leaders
with "Jesus" telling His disciples "Not" to be called leader.
And none did...

Yes!!! Be blessed in your search for truth... Jesus.

actually, there are a lot of people on the list wh...

2009-09-08T18:50:19.848-07:00

actually, there are a lot of people on the list who aren't pastors, which is why I think it's a brilliant event. The people speaking at The Nines are recognized by the Christian community for having the gift of leadership; they aren't self-appointed. This gift of leadership is mentioned in Romans 12:8.

The word "pastor" is used to describe anyone who tends to the needs of a flock. I assume you already know this, and that you also are aware the Hebrew word for pastor [ra'ah] is used 173 times to describe everything from physically feeding sheep, to the spiritual feeding of human beings [Jer. 3:15- And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding]. The Greek words [poimen/ poimaino] are used 29 times, most frequently referring to Jesus as a Shepherd.

Some other passages for you to check out are Ephesians 4:11, Acts 20:28, and 1 Peter 5:1-2. Hope that helps you in your search for truth as well :)