the jester's pub

How True....

This is great, thanks to YSMarko.

The Final Abandonment

If you have read Chap Clark's excellent book HURT you know that the thrust of the book is that we as a culture have "abandoned" our teenagers emotionally and institutionally. Here is a quote from the book:

"Abandonment is the fundamental component of these generational disorders…the young have been abandoned by parents, loved ones, teachers, political leaders, even the culture itself. No one is really ‘there’ for them now…More than any of their predecessors, they have been since birth a generation alone.”

Now, we have reached a new level of abandonment in Nebraska and it is legal. Here is a part of the article below:

LINCOLN, Neb. – The mother was running out of more than patience when she abandoned her 18-year-old daughter at a hospital over the weekend under Nebraska's safe-haven law. She was also running out of time: She knew that state lawmakers would soon meet in a special session to amend the ill-fated law so that it would apply to newborns only.

"Where am I going to get help if they change the law?" said the mother, who lives in Lincoln and asked to not be identified by name to protect her adopted child.

To the state's surprise and embarrassment, more than half of the 31 children legally abandoned under the safe-haven law since it took effect in mid-July have been teenagers.

But state officials may have inadvertently made things worse with their hesitant response to the problem: The number of drop-offs has almost tripled to about three a week since Gov. Dave Heineman announced on Oct. 29 that lawmakers would rewrite the law.

With legislators set to convene on Friday, weary parents like the Lincoln mother have been racing to drop off their children while they still can.

On Thursday, authorities searched for two teens — a boy and girl, ages 14 and 17 — who fled an Omaha hospital as their mother tried to abandon them. The mother was trying to take them from the car to the emergency room when they took off.

18 teenagers — five 17-year-olds, two 16-year-olds, six 15-year-olds, two 14-year-olds, three 13-year-olds — have been abandoned, along with eight children who were 11 or 12. Five of the children dropped off have been from out of state.

This is scary, who abandons their children? I don't care what the circumstance is, who abandons their children? In defense of the state, they didn't think teens would be abandoned, but the law revealed a dark truth about our society.

What message does this send to teens?

What have we become? God help us.

Why You Shouldn't Bet!

If you ever needed an argument for not betting on football games the Steelers game on Sunday should have been enough. If you don't know what I am talking about read below about why some were crying and some were cheering when the game ended 11-10. Which by the way had never happened in NFL history.

LAS VEGAS (AP)—The Pittsburgh Steelers walked off the field Sunday just happy they had won.

A lot of bettors in this gambling city were more concerned by how many points they ended up winning by.

Winners turned into losers and losers ended up winning when a game that should have ended up 17-10 or 18-10 instead went into the record books as the first 11-10 final in NFL history. Though the score made no difference in the win and loss column, it did in the wallets of a lot of bettors on the Las Vegas Strip.

“Anyone who had a bet on the Pittsburgh side and thought they had won weren’t too happy,” said John Avello, director of the race and sports book at the Wynn resort.

A mistake by the officials on the final play of the game between the Steelers andSan Diego Chargers didn’t alter the outcome. But it did mean bettors who thought they had won money on the game actually lost, while those who thought they had lost ended up winning.

The Steelers were favored by 4 points, meaning the apparent touchdown scored by the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu on the last play of the game made the difference between Pittsburgh covering the point spread or not. When the touchdown was disallowed, Pittsburgh bettors who thought they had won on a fluke on the last play were left holding worthless tickets.

“On the final play of Sunday’s game between the Chargers and Steelers, Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu returned a loose ball 12 yards for a defensive touchdown,” the league said in a statement Monday. “After an instant replay review and crew conference, the on-field ruling of touchdown was incorrectly reversed to no touchdown due to an illegal forward pass by San Diego.

“The incorrect reversal of the on-field ruling of touchdown was acknowledged immediately following the game by referee Scott Green in the pool report interview with a representative of the media.”

The NFL said it is discussing with the rule-making competition committee “potential administrative improvements for replay that would help to prevent this type of mistake in the future.”

That presumably could include allowing officials to take a second look at controversial plays, something not now permitted under the current rules.

Avello said there might have been $10 million bet on the game statewide, and many times more than that in illegal bets around the country and in offshore Internet betting sites. There was more money bet on Pittsburgh, he said, especially in parlay bets.

Though the officials later said they made a mistake in calling back the touchdown, the official score remains 11-10, and Nevada sports books paid off on the final score from Sunday.

BE SMART PEOPLE DON'T BET ON GAMES!

Simple Authority

Why is it that Mother Teresa could stand up before crowds of thousands and simply repeat simple New Testament phrases?

She didn't say anything new: "Jesus loves you," she assured you. "We're sons and daughters of God and we have to love Jesus' poor." Yet people walked out renewed, transformed and converted.

She wasn't a priest. She wasn't well educated. Her authority came from her life-style.

Servanthood is the true basis of authority in the Church, much more than title or ordination.

(Richard Rohr, Radical Grace: Daily Meditations)

Love me some Chan

"The goal of American Christianity is often a nice marriage, children that don’t swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering."

-Francis Chan from Crazy Love

“Something is wrong when our lives make too much sense”

-Also from Crazy Love

“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that really don’t matter…”
-Tim Kizzar quote included in Crazy Love

NYWC Convention Pittsburgh 2008

So it's the last day of the NYWC here in Pittsburgh and it has been an awesome and tiring weekend. In many ways it is a blessing and a curse to have the convention in your home city. One of the disadvantages is that it is so hard to unplug from your ministry and just get away, yet one of the advantages is that it is so much easier to bring alot of volunteers and staff. So all things considered it was great.

 Here is my convention top ten (in no particular order).

1. Francis Chan- He simply rocked the house with his message about Jesus clearing out the crowds and looking for those who are willing to go all the way with Him. Very challenging. Thanks for throwing some punches Francis, I needed a shot to the face.

2. Marko speaking at PYN- Not technically part of the convention but for me a merging of the two organizations I love the most. Thanks Marko.

3. Leading the discussion with youth workers who have over 100 students- Just had a neat time with about 20 people who have rather large youth groups and are trying to find a way to be more effective. It is fun to hear what others are struggling with.

4. Youth Worker Speed Dating- Not doing it, but leading it. FUNNY STUFF. Sean, maybe you found love!

5. Crowder- You are my Joy! Not you David, the song. Also him playing worship with the guitar hero guitar.

6. The Skit Guys- Is it me or are they just getting better each year I see them.

7. Smash-Mouth Youth Ministry- This is the guys seminar I teach, and I think it is the favorite seminar I have ever done. People really engaged, laughed, cried some, and I felt like I really helped them.

8. Hanging with friends old and new- Good to see Sean,Tommy, Peter and Jason and of course all the youth workers from the burgh. Lots of laughs.

9. Youth Ministry Disaster Stories- Heard so many great ones this week, had to laugh or you would cry and we did a lot of laughing. It's amazing what happens in ministry.

10. Kendall Payne- I have loved her music for about 10 years and I got to hang with her some on Sunday because she sang at my church. She has a great heart and is very humble. Thanks Kendall for using your gifts for the Kingdom.

Dang it, I didn't take any pictures of this whole weekend. Oh, well.

peace,

Mark

Life's Like This...

Great Video from my good buddy Tommy Shelton.

So this has been Interesting!

Wow, all I can say is unbelievable what one little post stirred up. I guess that is a good thing, but again I go back to my earlier point that I wish we got that fired up about other things that are more important.

I have decided that between now and the election I will highlight different quotes and thoughts from Christians who are intelligently trying to figure out how to interface with this thing called government.

I am glad that some of you are so passionate about politics, frankly I just don't care that much about who wins. No matter who is in the oval office our call as believers is the same and I will continue to do the work of Jesus regardless.

The Bible clearly teaches us that no matter who is in power whether it is Nero or Obama, Hitler or McCain the cause of Christ will go on and neither political party can help or hinder that. If you don't believe that look at how the church flourishes in China under a communist regime.

So I challenge you to care a little less about who is in power and care more for the powerless.

Come Lord Jesus,

Mark Helsel

Here is a quote from Shane Claiborne one of my favorites.

"George W. Bush on Ellis Island in 2002 said, "The ideals of America are the hope of mankind. This light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it." That is very dangerous theology. But to be fair, Barack Obama on the David Letterman Show this year said, "This country is the last great hope of the planet." And that is very dangerous theology too. I think we know who the hope of the world is, and it's much better than any presidential candidate."

Why Obama will Win

I am scared to even write this post considering the backlash I have gotten in the past when I wrote about anything political (It is all in fun). I am not endorsing a candidate through this, in fact I have no idea who I am voting for so don't write comments about my support for Obama because I don't support him. 

Can I vote for Ronald Reagan?

So I will simply give you a couple of reasons (not all the reasons) that Obama will win, plain and simple.

1. MCCain and Palin are all over the map right now. Charges of Obama being a socialist one day,something else the next day, probably Jeremiah Wright the next day, and so on. He is getting desperate. Just a side note, if you haven't noticed in the last couple of weeks THE GOVERNMENT owns American companies and banks and it is being supported by a Republican president. Both parties have taken steps closer to socialism that is a fact.

2. The Colin Powell Endorsement- Nuff said! This hurt the Republicans.

3. Young Evangelicals- Many will vote for Obama, because they see this race as much bigger than a one to two issue election. The Republicans have left them uninspired and empty. The religious right just doesn't "get" these younger evangelicals, they can't understand why they would vote for a democrat. In fact they "assume" that their young people will vote for McCain. Many Christians talk as if there is only ONE candidate you as a Christian could possibly vote for. It is this lack of dialogue that has caused many younger evangelicals to move to Obama. Many of my Christian friends around the country are voting for Obama.

4. It is the Economy Stupid-There is plenty of blame to go around here because basically it is everyone's greed from politicians (both parties), to Wall Street, to the American consumer that has gotten us into this mess, but the incumbent party always takes the brunt of the public's wrath.

You might not like that, but it is the truth.

It will be Obama by 10 percentage points, mark my words. Don't hate the messenger. This is not an endorsement.

Jesus for President!

Mark Helsel

P.S. I would love to hear who you are voting for, if you know.

Reaching the Facebook Generation

Great Post over at Church Relevance about reaching Millennials. Here it is below.  

During May and June of 2008, the Economist Intelligence Unit asked 164 corporate executives from around the world what techniques they have found are most effective at marketing to the millennial generation (the generation born between 1982 and 2001).

How to Reach the Millennial Generation

• 41% say participate in viral marketing and peer-to-peer recommendation sites
• 36% say sponsor or advertise in areas of interest to millennials
  (e.g., extreme sports, music venues, chat rooms, social networking sites)
• 35% say deliver a great product at a great price
• 30% say focus on millennials’ key influencers
  (e.g., parents, peers)
• 28% say contribute to social causes that millennials support
• 21% say contribute to corporate or issue blogs
• 21% say message millennials through wireless text messaging
• 19% say exploit contests, promotions, and retail tie-ins
• 12% say develop online games for company website

In other words, if your church wants to reach the millennial generation, create a great church experience that is remarkable (creates word of mouth) and targets the key influencers and social catalysts of your local millennial community.

Also, show that you care about the things that they care about by sponsoring local events or participating in causes that they are passionate about. Blog about what you do and use text messaging. And be sure that you keep things fresh and fun with occasional special events, games, etc.

Revenge of the Ref

AH, don't think this is supposed to happen.

A Tendency to Glamorize

I think we often tend to glamorize the past and think America was a Christian nation, where everyone loved God, was very upright and moral and that our society didn't have the major problems that it does today. We believe that America is worse off, but is that true? 

When you really look into it you find that is not the case. Take for example this little tidbit from a book I picked up from Garry Wills called Head and Heart: A History of Christianity in America. Check this out.

"In 1909 there was one saloon for every 500 hundred people. There were more saloons in the United States than there were schools, libraries, hospitals, theaters, or parks, and more certainly than churches."

Go Figure! 

*Just to clarify I don't think drinking alcohol is bad but this little stat does say something about the priorities back then when America was "CHRISTIAN". Saloons back then also often had dancing girls and prostitutes. Of course you could also mention racism and a host of other things as signs of a culture that was rotten even back then.

Jack is Back

Time to kick some BUTT!

Walking the Streets with No Names

This could possibly be the greatest concert moment ever captured on a DVD. It is from the U2 Elevation Tour. Very Tasty. If you have ever been to a U2 show it is a rock show and a worship event all rolled into one. Listen carefully to what Bono is saying in the clip. He is quoting a Psalm from the Message Bible.

Searching for Soul in America

So I have been away from the pub for awhile, sorry to those who are regular readers. The demands of a new baby, work and speaking for Youth Specialties has taken precedence over this, but I am back.

This sunday morning at our church we will be doing our first equip:parent event and we will be showing the DVD,Soul Searching,If your not familiar with this documentary or the book that goes with it, you should be. It is some excellent research done on teenage spirituality in America. I recommend this DVD to any youth minister. Show it to your parents, show it to your teens, your church board, whoever will watch it.

One of the major findings of the study is what Christian Smith, the author, calls Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deism which is the prevailing spirituality practiced by American teens and their parents. What is M.T.D? Well the simplest way to explain it is this.

Moralistic-God wants me to be Good

Therapeutic- Faith & God should make me feel Good

Deism- God is wallpaper. He is there but doesn't really do much. Not involved in my life

Now obviously this is not Orthodox Christianity but it is the most prevalent belief system in America amongst Christians. Go figure. So you can see why so many youth pastors across this country are frustrated.