Dunn Funn

Sometimes I really struggle. I struggle to keep it all together. I struggle in my faith. I struggle with balancing being a husband, a father, a youth director, a good employee. Point is I struggle.

July was such a demanding month with a lot of things going on, and in the midst of that busyness, my struggles seem amplified. Sometimes I just wish that I had a pause button for my life so I could stop and catch a breather. There was definitely times where I said: “OK God. When is enough, enough?”

Tonight, God finally decided to give me the answer.

Like many times, He seems to always speak to me through music. The song is “Next to You” by Jay Michael. (You should really check him out–HERE! ) To give you an better understanding, here’s the chorus:

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I’m next to You.

Simple words, but powerful meaning. And it all hit home tonight.

Yesterday, we met a couple who is following God’s calling in their lives to be counselor parents at a residential placement facility. They are uprooting their lives, their kids, their pets, and leaving well established ministries on the other side of the state. Their story is wrought full of how God has moved mightily and quickly to make this all happen. I’m blessed that Kelly and I have found ourselves part of that story.

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I’m next to You.

Today, we had an awesome worship service and I was able to talk to one of our youth who I haven’t seen most of the summer. She’s working at a Bible camp and she shared just how great of an experience it has been for her and how she has grown in her faith because of that. I left feeling pretty blessed that once again, God has used me in part of that story.

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I’m next to You.

Tonight, three students, two from the youth ministry, and one that just showed up tonight for the concert put some of their struggles at the foot of the cross and either rededicated or committed their lives to Christ. In speaking to these students, I’m amazed at the struggles that they are going through. Teenagers have it rough. Even more rough than we realize at times. I’m thankful that God has given me the opportunity to work with these kids and share and encourage them through these struggles. I’m blessed for the part God has for me in their stories.

Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing, Everything turns to nothing when I’m next to You.

Sitting here, reflecting on it all those words keep repeating themselves. That chorus keeps replaying in my head. My struggles aren’t struggles at all. When I put them next to God, they aren’t anything. In fact, these very struggles are what has prepared me for a lot of these things that I’ve dealt with and will begin to deal with. When I put them into a context like that, they really aren’t struggles at all. They are part of my story and I hope that it can be an encouragement to someone elses’ story…

Having recently returned from our mission trip from Fayette County, West Virginia and having sweated the past week away at Vacation Bible School, I finally have some time to take a breath and collect my thoughts.

First of all, let me say that I am very proud of the small group of students and adults who traveled to West Virginia and served the community and families who are in desperate need. While down there, I learned that the average income is Eight-Thousand dollars per year. That amazes me and appalls me all at that same time. I’m blessed with a steady job and a cozy home and all the other “extras” that I’m able to afford for my family. Yet, just four hours away are other families just scraping by on a fraction of what I make in a year. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to hopefully make a difference in these people’s lives. I am certain that our mission team served well and displayed Christ’s love through their actions.

But that’s not the only reason I’m proud of them. Here was a group of teenagers willing to sacrifice a week of their summer to get up early, work in the hot sun all day, sleep on the floor of a classroom, sacrifice their cell phones, computers, and televisions, and not complain once, and to actually say to me–”I can’t wait until I go on my next one.”

Let’s not forget our two adults who went along too. Amy and Clint should be recognized as well. They sacrificed a week’s vacation to do the same thing, probably working harder during their week of vacation than what they would be working at their regular jobs.

To say that I’m grateful would be true. To say that I’m impressed would be even closer to the truth.

I’m even more impressed when I stop and consider that most of our group turned around and spent their evenings this past week at the church serving as volunteers at this year’s VBS. Can you say “motivated by God’s Love to make a difference in the world for Jesus?”

At the risk of making some people mad, I’m going to ask this question: What’s your excuse?

Believe you me, I’ve heard a lot of them throughout the years as youth director here, and not only from students. “I only get one week of vacation a year.” “I not very handy.” “I’m too old.” and the classic “I’ve never done anything like that before.” To all of these excuses I only have one response: What’s one week out of your year, what’s one week of stretching yourself, what’s one week of serving God and TRULY being HIS hands to someone in need?

We all have to make sacrifices, but when was your last sacrifice to God? I’m not sure when our next mission trip will be, but I hope that more and more of you will be willing to come join us. I hope that you will come and witness firsthand what a small group of teenagers can accomplish and what they are willing to sacrifice for the Lord.

What’s your excuse?

I just recently returned from a week of work camping in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. I was able to witness all the cliches that go along with that as well. Cars on blocks, lots of dogs running around, and even a miniature horse tied up in a yard being used as a lawn mower of sorts.

Personally, I love West Virginia. I love the mountains and the rivers and I love the accents of the people you meet from West Virginia. It was a great setting to spend a week with a small group of students, working side by side at various work sites. The week was full of hard work, but also full of “youth ministry” opportunities that I’d like to take some time to reflect upon, maybe even some with a southern twang…

Teenagers will always, not just sometimes surprise you. I’m always humbled and awed by what a group of teenagers can accomplish during a week away. When I say accomplish, I don’t neccessarily mean just in the physical sense. Students say the most insightful things about faith, about life, and about most anything when we get the chance to pull them away from cell phones and their normal routine.

My group surprised me in their work ethic. Everyday at lunch, they were the first to finish up and start working again. While the rest of the “adults” were still relaxing and watching the clock, my boys went back to work.

As far as spoken insight. Here’s the nugget from one of my group who is heading to college at the end of the summer. ” I’m going to treat college like prison. I’m choosing my friends carefully, not trusting anyone, rarely making eye contact, and definitely not dropping my soap…” Unorthodox, but good advice nonetheless.

Reinforced also this past week was the fact that teenagers value authenticity. Every evening their was a program time. This included a time to share from the teenagers about how they had seen God work throughout the day, praise and worship, and also a main speaker. Our main speaker was a great guy, but he definitely tried to hard at times. He tried to be cool around the teenagers and the reaction from my group was not positive.

I truly believe that teenagers have a very highly attuned “B.S. meter.” They can see a fake a mile away. I’ve learned through the years that I really only have to be myself. They would rather be with an adult who is a little dorky and not afraid to be themselves than one who is trying to act like a teenager. Relationships have to be authentic to be deep. Teenagers know this all too well.

Lastly, (and here comes the twang!) when you hear the banjos–row harder. Deliverence is a great film on so many levels, but if one piece of advice can be applied to youth ministry from that movie, it is that nugget. When things get weird or hard, we have to keep going no matter what.

Youth ministry if full of disappointment, frustrations, and broken hearts. Luckily, it’s also full of a lot of joys as well. Those “banjos” will begin playing from time to time, but we need to remember that just up the river is a better place. I’ve seen so many youth workers give into those negatives and end up being tied to a tree.

What have I learned? Just keep rowing. Don’t wallow in those bad happenstances. Embrace the positives and push through those times when things seem bleak.

I’m definitely tired after that long, hard week spent in West Virginia, but I’m also renewed by the Wild and Wonderfulness of it all as well. Between the strumming of the banjos, I’m glad that God can whisper some truths that we all can pick up on.

I feel old. Really old. I was painfully reminded of that fact just a few weeks ago at the Grove City High School Baccaleaurate service. I was asked to be a greeter outside of the sanctuary before the service began. At first I was encouraged as I greeted students and families. I had watched a lot of these students grow up and mature and now I was amazed to see them as young adults starting their post high school lives.

Then it happened.

Kelly and I were talking in the entryway and someone came up to us and asked us which one of our kids was graduating.

All of those happy feelings went away. Was I really looking that old that someone might say that? Could I have finally gotten to the point where I no longer look young? I was crushed.

Honestly though I’ve been feeling that way for awhile. Youth Ministry is supposedly a “young” profession. Taking students to retreats and conferences I see it. These “giddy” twenty somethings are prancing around with their stylish hair and in vogue clothes. They know all the latest music and know what kids are watching. They seem “cool” and I have to admit I’m jealous.

Then I remember that youth ministry is a calling and I’m exactly where God wants me to be. God has put me exactly where he wants me to be. Luckily, I’ve always had no hair by choice. I like my blue jeans and polo shirts and the last time I listened to the radio all I could think about how much better those songs sounded the first time around by their original artists. Truly, these things aren’t important and I’ve learned throughout these years that teenagers really only care about one thing: Presence.

Students just want someone to be there. Someone to accept them for who they are. Someone that they can count on to talk to when things seem impossible. I’ve been blessed with being able to be there throughout these past years and I’ve come to realize that 95% of my job is just that–being there.

My question this month is will you join me? Will you just be there for a student. All it takes is an open heart and a listening ear. You have no idea the impact of just being present. If you are willing, just come speak with me and together we’ll find ways for you to be present in the lives of these students.

At the beginning of most YF meeting times, as we are waiting for everyone to arrive, we play a game called “Reverse Charades.” This is how it works: A post-it note with a name written on it is stuck to the forehead of one of the kids or adults in attendance. The name usually represents a person, famous or not, or even a character in a book or movie. It is then the job of the person wearing the note to guess who they are by asking everyone else questions. The catch is that the “audience” can only answer Yes or No. It’s a good game. It gets the teenagers interacting and I think it helps them to think about asking questions. Lately, I’ve been thinking about that game and how it really can apply to life in general.

We all have a need to know who we are. Teenagers especially have that need. They are in that time when they are just wading in the waters of forming their character and who they will become. They are questioning and many times they don’t get a specific answer, just an obscure “Yes” or “No.” It’s a hard time and sometimes as adults and as Believers we don’t make it any easier for them. We can’t give them pat answers to their questions. We can’t always give them those “Sunday School” answers and think we are truly fixing the problem. We have to reach out in love. We have to serve. We have to minister.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to do just that with a group of teenagers who definitely need those answers. We minister to a very unique group. Kids from all backgrounds, economic levels, and even students with families who don’t support their faith. It’s a challenge most days for sure. It’s a challenge that I hope that you will join us in taking on. Here are some ways that you can help:

1. Pray, Pray, Pray! These students need your prayers. They need God to open up their hearts and their minds to His leading in their lives. They are definitely searching, let’s use some prayer to help push them in the right direction.

2. Talk, Talk, Talk! I know many of the teenagers that are involved in our programs aren’t regular attenders, but they do show up every once in awhile. Say Hi, shake their hand, ask them a question. Teenagers are very wary of such interactions and you might get some weird looks, but don’t be put off. They need that. They need to know someone is actually acknowledging them. A couple of words goes a long way.

3. Help, Help, Help! Maybe you have limited time or even limited experience with teenagers, but think about using some of that time constructively. I’ve shared with you 40 Assets in the past few months and I will begin to speak more actively about it, but take a look at that list. Where can you fit in? What Asset can you provide one of these students? Even if you only have 15 minutes a week to sacrifice, ask me how you can put it to good use in the life of a teenager.

If we can do these three things, hopefully we can help tell them what is exactly on that post-it note and not leave them continuing to question.

Lately, I’ve been challenged on many different levels. Maybe it’s just all the reading I have been doing.

For those of you who don’t know me, I read a lot. I listen to many audiobooks and generally I read two or three books at a time. Just recently I’ve read through The Shack, a very controversial work of “Christian Fiction.” I’ve also been reading through and digesting a book named A New Kind of Youth Ministry. Both of these books have been very thought provoking in many ways and many times I have experienced both negative and positive reactions.

The Shack was an easy read and made me think about my faith and who I am, especially after I had read the author’s personal story and motivation behind the book–whew. I know there is some discussion on the “theological ramifications” of this book, but I wonder how relevant those really could be. At the heart of the book is an amazing description of Grace. The kind of Grace that we don’t deserve, earn, or even understand at times. Am I concerned that the Trinity is portrayed in such human terms? That the Father is actually a plump, African-American, the Holy Spirit a small Asian woman, and well I guess Jesus is portrayed pretty much how I would expect Him. Honestly, I’m not. I think that this is significant as well. As a Church, as a group of believers, we have lost touch with that aspect of God-that He will and does find ways to relate himself to us. We have lost touch of Jesus being fully human AND fully God. We find it disturbing to picture Jesus messing around with the disciples, being a man who might have smashed his thumb while working at his trade, or even having to get up everyday and do the routine things that we do everyday.

Maybe we like that “Professional Distance” that we create between ourselves and Jesus. I’ve been challenged to rethink that part of my faith. If I want to be like Jesus, then I also need to realize that Jesus was once like me-minus the sin.

Add into that the other book that I’ve been digesting for some time–A New Kind of Youth Ministry, by Chris Folmsbee. This book takes a look at Youth Ministry through the eyes of the “emergent church.” I’m not too sure where I stand with the emergent movement. I see some very positive things about it, and generally I like the challenge it brings to the traditional church and how we are doing things. We all need our constructs shaken up at times and I think the emergent movement is doing that. I also see some negative. The traditions of the church have their place and they can be tools that we can effectively use in each of our youth ministry contexts. I can’t just flippantly toss those aside as I work in my church. I believe that Folmsbee does that at times. His ideas would work in a vacuum, but in a practical sense they would fail miserably. Again, I believe there is a Professional Distance that exists. In this case it is between ideology and practicality. Maybe we were made to not operate on the extremes. Our sweet spot must be in the middle, where the focus is totally on what should be the center of our lives and our ministries–Jesus.

4,000. That’s a pretty hefty number.

Say it with me-FOUR THOUSAND.

Believe it or not that is the average number of text messages a typical teenager sends and recieves on a monthly basis. I was able to find this number by a quick survey of some of the kids in the youth ministry. I’m sure that is even a conservative rate, knowing some teenagers and the amount of time they spend on those things they call phones. (Even though I’m not too sure why they are called that anymore-no one does any talking on them anymore…)

Let’s unpack this fact just a little more. 4,000 text messages translates to over 130 messages in a day. Let’s break it down even further. Knowing that the average teenager is awake around 15 hours a day, that translates into almost nine texts an hour or a text every 7 minutes. Now, keep in mind I’m being very conservative, but still the numbers are very significant. (I didn’t even account for when they are in school and really can’t use text messaging)

These teenagers are trying to reach out, to the tune of over 130 times a day. They are trying to find connection, relationship. But are these relationships trully fulfilling? Weren’t we created to reach out in more personal ways?

Truth is, we are. We are meant to interact with with one another in a more personal way. We are meant to exist together in community, side by side, having true communication. Don’t we all need to work at that? Are we reaching out that many times a day? Are we trying to connect with those around us? Are we trying to connect with God that many times? I’m going to be asking the students in the Youth Ministry that very question. Along with that, I’m going to be asking myself that very same question.

My plea and my prayer is that you are asking yourself that question as well. In addition I hope that you are asking the students in your life that as well. I hope that you will join me in trying to help them not only connect with the Lord but with those people that will encourage them and help them to grow in their faith.

Thank you for your support, prayers, and openess to how God wants to use your ministry.

Jason

I’ve been thinking that lately. When do you give it up. I mean, no matter what the “it” is, how do you decide?

Recently, I’ve really been contemplating when it is that I will not continue in youth ministry in the position I am in. As youth pastors, do we have a shelf life? Is there a good time to step away from the lead position?

I’ve always had in my mind that I would be doing this for ten years. I’m coming up to eight years this year.

Do I still feel called? Yes. Do I still care for students? Yes. Is my heart still in it? Yes.

I guess the debate becomes, do I leave while all of those answers are “yes.” I believe that I should. I do not want to leave a ministry that is unhealthy for someone else to fix. I want to be able to pass on the torch brightly lit.

I don’t think that many of us plan with the end in mind. It’s something that I’m beginning to do. What decisions am I making now, that will affect the next youth pastor? We all need to be asking those questions. I don’t believe that we do that enough.

It’s scary to think of any position, any job without yourself. But to ensure long term health, we need to get over our fears.

Just wanted to pimp my brother-in-law’s new venture. It’s called Lightbulb Creative. Go check it out and pass the word to those who might benefit from his services. Here’s a description of what they’re all about:

Lightbulb Creative is born out of a passion to see the local church attract and impact the lives of people who are far from God.

Our team has spent the last few years planting and working to build one of the fastest growing churches in America. That experience…the effect of seeing hundreds and thousands of people find hope and salvation in Jesus Christ, has pushed our vision to provide innovative, high-quality creative resources to like-minded churches.

Our goal is to fill the gaps that young and growing churches have…between their God-given vision and ideas, and the staff or resources they may be lacking.

Be bright… make the world squint.

www.lightbulbcreative.com

I think I know why he's always smiling....

“There is enough light for those who desire only to see, and enough darkness for those of a contrary disposition.”

“All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.”

“Atheism shows strength of mind, but only to a certain degree.”

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.”

“In each action we must look beyond the action at our past, present, and future state, and at others whom it affects, and see the relations of all those things. And then we shall be very cautious.”

Some random thoughts from my favorite philosopher: Blaise Pascal