Students and Technology

Being in the position I'm in now, youth pastor, I find myself drawn to and very intrigued by culture and how it shapes the youth of today. There is a very interesting video clip on YouTube, The Vision of Students Today. The ULR is youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o. I would encourage you to check it out. It is a stark reminder of the outlook most students have by the time they reach the end of high school. The clip is a short video summarizing some of the most important characteristics of students today--how they learn. what they need to learn, their goals, hopes, dreams, what their lives will be like, and what kind of changes they will experience in their lifetime. It was created by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students from Kansas State University.

Maybe you are reading this and thinking, I don't know where or what YouTube even is? Maybe you are technically challenged? I used to be very "tech" illiterate, but technology is a tool and students know how to use it very well.

I think about education a lot and I'm always looking for a better ways to reach students and be more affective in conveying a positive message that is both meaningful and relevant. As a teacher and a parent of students who are growing up in this culture, I would encourage you to take an active role in this process and get to know them. This includes their technology. Students today think technology has the ability to solve the many problems that they are faced with today.

The culture and technology of today is being embraced by those who are believers as well as those who aren't. Again, it is a tool that I can use as well as anyone else. I feel strongly that we have to listen and engage students in a continuing conversation that meets them where they are. We are parenting from what we know and how we were raised, but that's not enough. An affective teacher must always be a learner. I'm confronted by this daily and know it to be true. There is something profound about a teacher knowing a students name and it's also meaningful for a parent know their student and what is influencing them.

I will leave you with this quote. "The inventor of the system deserves to be ranked among the best contributors of learning and science, if not the greatest benefactors of mankind" -Josiah F. Bumstead, 1841. He was speaking on the benefits of the chalkboard. Technology?

Psalm 118:17 Animo et Fide

Experience

This time of year, as a student pastor, is always one of reflection.  Students will be heading off for summer vacations or whatever else they've got going and in a couple of months transition into an other chapter of their lives.  I always try to and I encourage my leaders to try speak into the lives of those students who have been in their small groups throughout the year. To give them something they can take away from this past year.  I can still remeber those encouraging words spoken to me by influential people throughout my life.  This is also a great time for parents to do the same. 

It may seem like your student doesn't want to hear from you, or that they think your words are cheesy and irrelevant.  But the truth is, they still need to hear that you care.  No matter what has happened in your family, no matter what hurt has passed between you and your student, they need to hear that they are loved and supported by you--their parents.  This month, focus on encouraging your student with your words.  You may want to choose something from the list of ideas below, or create your own experience.  make sure that your words are specific and genuine.  Everyone can spot a fraud; it's okay if you can't say all the things you might want to say.  Just tell them what comes from your heart.

• Write your student a note or a card.  Share with them specific talents and abilities that you see in them.  Include specific things that you love about them--things that make them unique.
• Praise your student in front of other people.  Let your child see that you are proud of them by hearing you share their accomplishments with someone else.
• Look for something that your student does well and tell them that you are proud of them.
• Watch the way you communicate.  If you are frequently fighting, think about ways that you can remain firm, but still let them know that you value them.  "you know that I trust you, but you still can't spend the night at..."  "You are beautiful, but you cannot leave the house in that outfit."  "I know that you are very smart.  That's why you cannot use your cell phone until you bring up you grades."

Even try to get others (youth leaders, influential adults, and relatives) who can speak into the lives your child and give them the encouragment they need to succeed.  Try some of these and promise you won't be sorry.  Later. 

Ah spring is in the air

This time of year you can almost watch the leaves burst from the buds and grow on the trees around us.  Plants, trees, and flowers begin to awaken from a slowed pace of life to fulfill their purpose in God's creation.  We are no exception.  But what is our purpose in life?

Consider this:  In Luke 1:46-55 there is the "Song of Mary."  In it she praises the Lord for all He had done, not only for her, but for all of Israel as well.  Verse 48 always intrigued me.  It talks about how all generations will call her blessed.  Was she blessed because because she was chosen to give birth to the Christ child? That's what I thought.  What an honor.  After looking at the whole song and exploring the context I came up with a very different viewpoint.  Mary was not saying she was blessed because of who she was, Jesus Christ's mother.  She was blessed because she had chosen to be part of God's divine purpose for the Kingdom.  "...for the Mighty One has done great things FOR me--holy is His name." God had chosen Mary, a young girl from Nazareth, to fulfill His purpose.  She in turn had faithfully agreed to take part in this purpose, not to gain status and recognition, but to help carry out the Kingdom of God. 

When we choose to follow God's purpose in our lives we become truly blessed and future generations will look at and call us blessed as well.

Think about your prupose?  Later.

Part Two

As I wandered around looking for someone to help me I began making backup plans in my head.  I looked all over, but I could find no one.  As I was walking back to the bus a vehicle drove by.  I couldn't see inside because it was dark, but they must have been wondering what I was doing walking around in the dark.  I though they were going to keep on driving down the road , but to my surprise they turned around.  The vehicle pulled up next to me and the window came down.  The man inside asked if I needed any help.  Do I need any help.  Of course I need help.  I didn't say that, but that is exactly what I was thinking.  I went on to tell him that my junior high group was here for camp.  Well, he looked about as surprised as I was worried.   

It just so happened that the passenger in the vehicle worked in the registration office and they were both Hume staff.  They told me to head over to the registration office and they help get things sorted out.  They had no sooner opened the office and they were on the phone calling people to get to the bottom of what was going on.  As they were calling I began scanning through the paper work I had in my packet.  I left the contract at home and hadn't even remembered looking at it at all.  

Soon the staff person in charge of registration came in and got to the bottom of everything.  She found the contract and showed it to me.  My heart fell to the floor.  We were not scheduled to show up until tomorrow afternoon.  Plain as day it was starring me right in the face.  My ego felt like it had been run over by a thousand junior students.  What was I going with now?

By now the kids had been sitting on the bus for about forty minutes, I'm sure also wondering what is going on.  

Here is where the Hume staff totally went above and beyond the call of duty.  They found our housing assignment, made sure the rooms were clean, and coordinated our meals until the regular programing was to begin the next afternoon.  

You know, I felt like a total goof.  All I could think to myself was, they probably think this guy is loser youth pastor who doesn't have his act together and they'd be right.  What a humbling experience.  

The days leading into this retreat I thought I it all together.  I thought everything was under control.  My control that is.  It became all to clear that this weekend was going to all about me and not about Him, God.  I had been so wrapped up in my own agenda I had over looked a key factor.  The focus needed to be on God and what He was going to do.  

The beginning to this weekend retreat was definitely an attention grabber, but that is what needed to happen and I am grateful for it.  There were some situations to come that weekend that would test both the leaders and myself.  If the focus was anywhere else things might have went from bad to worse.

(to be continued)   

         

Things don't always go as planned.

The past weekend I led a group of junior higher's up to Hume Lake for winter camp. Things were going great.  The pre-registration went well.  The number of those attending was right where it needed to be.  The leaders were all in place, pumped and ready to go.  Everything was going smooth and I was just going through the motions.

The day before we were going to leave there was the normal drama.  Late applicants, drop-outs and a leader getting hurt and not being able to go. Everything was still cool and this was to be expected.  After all, I was a veteran and had planned ahead for situations just as these.

The day of our departure had come and there was nothing but the normal anxiety and anticipation before camp.  Everyone was on time getting on the bus and there were no last minute distractions.  During the bus ride all I could think about was how cool and easy this weekend was going to be.

I thought I would be able to hangout in the coffee shop, read some books for my up coming classes, and help orchestrate a replay and keep intact the dynasty TCC had begun the year prior.  Let me explain; the previous year my kids had won both the boys and girls broom hockey tournaments, the Bob Sled Blitz--the "Glorious Mail Box", and come close in many other tournaments.  My ego was soaring on that bus ride up the mountain.

As we came around the final bend approaching the entrance to the camp my ego along with many other things fell through the floor-board of the bus.  The camp was dark and the office was closed.  I had half expected a band waiting to greet the oncoming conquerors of Hume, but there was nothing.  I tried to calm my fears, but my mind began to race and filter through all the planning and prep to make sure everything was right--I could think of nothing that was wrong.

I tried to act like nothing was wrong and I prayed no one be able to see the utter horror on my face as I stepped off the bus to check our group in.  I walked up to the office noticing from a long way off that there was no there and a closed sign kept catching my eye making my heart race faster.  I kept telling myself that this must be a mistake or and oversight on their part.  As I walked around for about a half hour my deepest fears began to be realized and I kept asking myself two questions, something was wrong and is this the right weekend?

(to be continued)

 

Give your fear to Him

Have you ever had those times in your life where everything seemed to be going great and everything was right as it should be.  You were in control and it was smooth sailing.  Then BAM!  Something happened.

Something happened that you weren't ready for and you were no longer in control of the situation.  You name it; financial trouble, health problems, family or relationship issues.  The problem isn't the most significant thing.  The bigger problem lies in the fact that you are no longer in control of what is happening around you.  You are in a situation where you don't know what to do or how to fix it.  

The next question that soon arises is, "So what do I do now?"  You try to do what ever it takes to fix the situation and get things back to normal.  Sometimes, I'm talking anything.

Then the fear starts to set in when you realize you can't fix the situation.  Again the question is asked, "What do I do?"  In these times I go into freak-out mode.  When this happens some people have panic attacks, become rude to people through frustration, and finally do very irrational things.  This is when you see people do things they would have never thought of before in order to relieve some of the fear they are experiencing.  

What happens when the panic thing doesn't work?  And it usually doesn't.  Do you give up when you don't know what else to do?  Sometimes I do and the depression starts to set in and I begin wallow in my self pity.  Some of us, only then will turn to God for help and relief.  

Here's where you hear the classic Christian cliche, "That's when God showed up!" The real truth and reality is that God has always been there with His hand outstretched to help you or me and we did not choose to take it.  I know in my case, I finally stop trying to fix things on my will and power and turn to the one that can truly handle the situation.  He helps me up off the ground.  I always need to remember to give my fear to Him.

Just like in the story I mentioned in the post previously, in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus was right there with the disciples in the boat when they were experiencing great fear and distress. All they had to do was to call on His name and to realize He was ultimately in control.  "So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"  Hebrews 13:6  Give your fear to Him.   

Why are you so afraid?

My 401K lost 40% of its value, mortgage foreclosers are at an all time high, the unemployment rate is the highest its been in 30 years.  The media is doing nothing to calm the fears and if anything they are adding fuel to the fire to gain higher ratings.  Is there anything the President Elect can really do to stem the tide?  Are we getting a little worried yet?

What do you fear?  

As I was working on a lesson this week I was surfing the internet for phobia's. That's the fear of something and the list is a mile long.  Well not really that long, but the list is incredible.  Have you ever heard of the phobia, Arachibutyrophobia? This is the fear of peanut butter or it sticking to the roof of your mouth.  What is that?  How about Papaphobia?  This is a fear of the Pope.  Crazy!

But in all seriousness, the fear I think we have to deal with the most is losing control.  I know I do.  We try to tell ourselves we can handle a situation and in turn this becomes our fear.  Then we go into freak out mode and we try to tighten our control because we are scared.  Our behavior is controlled by our fear.

Here is an example.  Have you ever been burned when you tried to step out your comfort zone and the situation back fired?  Maybe you tried to do something you really love to do and you messed up big-time and ended up looking like fool.  It doesn't feel good and the next time the situation presents itself you don't venture out because of what might happen again.  You lose the ability to take risks and in turn you control things so you are not embarrassed again.  Our behavior is controlled by our fear.

There is an account about Jesus and his disciples in the Bible.  It is found in Mark 4:35-41.  In this story Jesus wanted to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As they are making there way across the water a storm comes up and the disciples get really scared.  All the while Jesus is sleeping in the front of the boat.  Sleeping. All the guys on the boat think they are going to die.  Finally they wake up Jesus and say, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"  Jesus says to them, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  No must realize, the disciples have been with Jesus for awhile and have seen him heal people, drive out evil spirits, and say incredible things yet they still don't fully understand the extent of who He is.

The disciples actions were dictated by their fears.  They had seen the great things Jesus had done.  They knew He was the Son of God.  He was sleeping right there yet He was the last option.  Their faith was tested and so our faith is tested through situations we cannot control.  That is how our faith is strengthened. Although it is hard sometimes to overcome human nature and I am the guiltiest at times.  Just know this, Jesus can handle it.  

How's your faith?