Book Review: Gods At War (No Spoilers)

I am highly impressed with the recent rise of pastor/writers like Kyle Idleman and Francis Chan. So, when I heard Kyle Idleman was releasing a new book, I just had to read it. I am a huge fan of Not A Fan. :}

In his new book, Gods At War, Idleman takes us on a journey through a challenging way of looking at a subject we don't tend to talk about: Idolatry.

We tend to think about the Israelites melting down their jewelry and fashioning a bull out of the gold when we talk about idolatry. Other stories that come to mind are when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the giant idol and the Athenians that Paul preached to on Mars Hill. We also bring to the forefront of our minds modern religious figures like Buddha and Shiva.

What Idleman insists is that idolatry goes far beyond these images. If we put other things in front of God, we are idolaters...and that is a difficult proposition to think about. Very convicting.

Overall, this concept isn't really a new one. I am aware that any time I spend not with God, I am possibly creeping toward the "worship" of something other than Him. Even though I am aware, Gods At War is still a great reminder because in my sin, I still idolize things I shouldn't. One of my personal struggles is where I place political views. Idleman has again written a very timely book. I liked that at the end of each section that talked about different "idols"; money, sex, success, self, etc.; he has a short conclusion that gives a very biblical look at the true God that overshadows those things. Example: The god of money is defeated by the God of provision. God gives us everything we need.

I give Gods At War by Kyle Idleman 4 out of 5 stars because it is a very well written book, filled with challenges for me to think about when I start to worry about money, pleasure, and selfish desires.

*****
I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson Publisher's Booksneeze review program. I was not required to write a favorable review. I was only asked to be honest. The words are my own.

Learning From Adam

Many people think about the fall in Genesis in a pretty simple way: Eve listened to the serpent and sinned by eating of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She then gave some to Adam and he ate of it. Their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked. They hid because they were ashamed. God then looks for them (as if He didn't know where they were) and asks them who told them they were naked (as if He didn't know).

Sounds pretty familiar and simple.

I think there's something missing. We're told that the sin began with Eve and she is the reason women have pain in childbirth and men have to work the ground and it's hard...which both of those things is true. I just think most people don't teach the full story from this well-known passage of history and Scripture.

If we read all of Scripture in context, we also read that God made man and woman and they were to join together to become one. A partnership. Woman being created as a helpmate to man as he leads his family. I believe the thing we're missing is only discovered if we ask this one question: Where was Adam when Eve was listening to the serpent and why didn't he speak up?

I believe the first sin in Scripture came from Adam. He didn't live up to the responsibility that God gave him. He stood by as Eve listened to the serpent's lies and ate of the fruit and then joined her in eating as well. He wasn't leading her, he was compliant in the sin. That's why I believe that Eve eating of the fruit is also known as the sin of Adam.

I still believe that man is called to live up to this responsibility. It is our duty, our responsibility to guard our families, to teach them, and to protect them from the schemes of the devil. If we're not doing so, we're leaving open the possibility that they will fall into sin (realizing of course, that sin will happen, even to us as men).

So, I guess this is a call to men to lead your families. We've been charged to lead. When we don't, we're committing the same sin Adam committed in the beginning. It is a noble task and one we should not take lightly. Ladies, will you please allow us to do so and let us make mistakes as we learn to be better leaders every day? I believe it is the most important ministry that we men have been called.


Image courtesy Alex E. Proimos

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I'm Frustrated

I'm frustrated.

It's so easy to get online and post about the things that happen in a day in the life. I could do that every day, but I don't. Today I am posting the short sentence "I'm frustrated." because I am and it needed to be said.

I used to post on my blog pretty regularly. All sorts of things from politics, the things happening in my life, entertainment and geek-fandom, to religion and faith.

The problem is I used to be treated pretty unfairly when I would touch on taboo subjects. Mind you, I don't mind getting into debate and being able to speak one's mind freely and speak from the heart. It's just that people would read so much into what I was saying and accusing me of saying things I wasn't really saying.

Then the tag line at the end of their reply would be something like, "You've changed Mike. You used to be so nice."

It is what has kept me from blogging regularly. I keep promising that I will be coming back to writing regularly, but I just can't find the gumption deep down to post. I'm afraid of the accusations. I'm afraid of friends calling me unloving or even worse, nothing like Christ.

I remember when it was unloving to never speak about the sin and wrongs going on. If you kept quiet you were not doing what you should. Now we keep our mouths shut because it might hurt someone's feelings to say something negative and we don't want to keep them from discovering Jesus by our attitudes.

Jesus had a lot to say about that and he would disagree with today's naysayers. He would talk about how difficult it is to enter the kingdom for those unwilling to obey his commands. I just want to say I want to post more often on my blog. I really do. I have lots to talk about. But, I'm frustrated.

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Book Review: Jesus Is ______.

Judah Smith has written a new book  Jesus Is ______. with the subtitle "Find A New Way To Be Human". Smith tells us of the campaign his church engaged in to ask the people they know how they would finish this statement. He's received many answers, some thoughtful, some filthy and blasphemous. He has a website for the campaign at jesus-is.org.

I must admit at the forefront of this review, that I was a skeptical reader knowing that a lot of what Smith teaches is the typical seeker-sensitive, feel-good message and not what I believe to be the root Gospel message of Scripture using proper hermeneutics. It's too watered-down for the depth of study I desire in my walk with Jesus.

With that said, I was surprised with what Smith has written here in Jesus Is ______. I must commend him for his effort with this book. I appreciate his struggle with his own faith and the things he's been wrestling with.

"Over the last few years, I've been on a journey that has challenged stereotypes--of myself, of sin and sinners, of Jesus himself. It's hard to describe the depth of the transformation I've experienced, but I do know this: I'll never be the same again." (pp. xv-xvi)

I believe what Judah has written (whether he would agree or not) is geared toward those that are far away from God and His commands. He's written a book that one could hand to someone who did not know God; even one who did not want to know God in an effort to reach them for Christ. Jesus Is ______. was written as an outreach to those living away from Christ calling them to believe the Good News.

I did differ with much of what Smith has written. So, while I commend his effort and work, I think there were a few things that troubled me personally.

"So when I preach and write, I often retell Bible narratives in my own words. It's not a new translation; it's a paraphrase, usually with a good dose of humor thrown in. Sometimes I crack myself up; but laughter is biblical, so I feel almost holy laughing at my own jokes." (pg. xviii)

I often retell and talk through the Bible narratives myself when I preach. I may even say things that are funny, but I do my best to remain faithful to the words written down because I don't want to take liberty in clear passages and promote a false message or a false Gospel. I can't say Smith did that, but some of his 'retellings' were a bit out there for me. He used vocabulary and slang that just didn't speak to me. Some of it I found very distracting. A few things were a bit too much.

In his retelling of the story of Zacchaeus, he referenced really corny things like TMZ (the tabloid organization that chases celebrities and has a daily show where they reveal the results of their stalking.), "blinged-out robes", Justin Bieber, and references a lot of movies like Nacho Libre, Napoleon Dynamite, and Braveheart. Another issue I had was Judah uses some 'colorful' language (not really that bad, but enough for me to scratch my head) like "This is jacked up...". I know it isn't that bad, but I know too many pastors that curse thinking it's edgy and acceptable today. This wasn't cursing, but it rubbed me the wrong way.

"...and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks." (Eph. 5:4 NASB)

I commend Judah for a lot of what this book addresses, which is the problem of sin that this world is filled with. I also disagree with what Judah and many others believe about sin:

"The problem with the "if God can save...." statement is that it implies a rating system for sins. It's an unspoken, often culture-driven, and arbitrary badness scale...To him, all sin is equally evil..." (from pg. 4)

I disagree that sins are all the same. To God, all sin IS indeed evil, but God does not see someone like the shooter of Sandy Hook elementary and equate what he has done with my 7 year-old son who lies to me about whether he brushed his teeth at night. There is a huge difference between a willful, intentional murderer and a young man who is content with his gingivitis and tells me he is clean (see, I can be funny). Does God want my son to lie? Of course not. He wants him to learn to respect his parents and be a truthful, faithful person. But God is not going to stand in judgment with the same wrath about that sin that He does about a man who planned ahead to bring guns into a school to shoot little children. I believe strongly that there is a difference. All sin is wrong, but all sin is not equal.

I also believe God has called those of us who live in the Light of Jesus to speak out against sin. I do not believe it is hypocritical or judgmental to be the "righter" of wrongs and the voice of justice. Sin is wrong and it corrupts. We, as Christ's followers, should be loud about the things that are around us and call them out with gentleness and respect.

In all, what Judah Smith has written is something one could hand a friend who knew nothing about Jesus. It is very basic and easy to read. It took me about an hour and a half to get through the whole book at a quick reading pace. At the end, I would want to discuss it with the reader because of what Smith has said in the past in order to caution the reader about taking everything he says at face value. They may go on to listen to Smith's sermons online and take in some really bad theology and teaching. But for those who need a very basic book about sin and how Christ died for that sin, this is a good book for that purpose. He did a good job keeping the Gospel message simple. Jesus did die for those sins you commit. He wants you to turn from them. He wants to save you. This is great news and I appreciate Judah Smith teaching this wonderful truth. 
I would give Jesus Is ______. 3 out of 5 stars.


*****
I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson Publisher's Booksneeze review program. I was not required to write a favorable review. I was only asked to be honest. The words are my own.

Book Review: The Founders' Key

Dr. Larry Arnn has written a very timely work perhaps not knowing how much so. Freedom and liberty are eroding and, one by one, our rights held by the Constitution and Declaration are being voided.

In his work, The Founders' Key: The Demise and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It, Dr, Arnn draws the connections our founding documents have with each other. Dr. Arnn speaks to the current political climate and how our elected officials seek to separate the two documents as if they were written mutually exclusive and cancel each other out, thus concluding them moot to our modern society.

With history on his side as well as a wonderful defense of our founding fathers, Dr. Arnn puts these false notions to rest that our Declaration and Constitution have run their course. Dr. Arnn decimates the idea that we as a modern society need new and more in-depth documents that speak to a culture that has a "better" grasp of equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We are indeed in perilous times. Dr. Arnn may not have known that even today our second amendment rights are being attacked in the name of civility and of protection. For the first time in a long time, the Constitution may be "officially" overridden in order to strip away rights granted by the documents that have prevented the overreach of government powers.

Dr. Arnn has written a master work in The Founders' Key. If you would like some insight into the writings of our founders, I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. The Founders' Key should be in the library of everyone wanting to know more about our nation's founding documents.

*****
I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson Publisher's Booksneeze review program. I was not required to write a favorable review. I was only asked to be honest. The words are my own.

Say What?! - 2

I changed the name of these posts 1. so it would be shorter and easier to say and 2. so it would be funnier. So here's what's going on in my head this week:

• Watching the president stick his foot in his mouth and then listening to his base try to defend or retract it for him has been very entertaining. On that note...
• As someone who is starting a business, I can say that I AM building that without the government's help.
• It is hard having 2 jobs.
• I am so interconnected with music, it is difficult when my car stereo breaks and I have nothing to listen to.
• I love how Christian Bale went to see the survivors of the Aurora, Colo. shooting. It was a class act.
• Allen West is perhaps the best and most intelligent man I have seen in our representative government since Reagan. He knows the issues, can articulate solutions, and doesn't back down from attacks.
• I can't wait until I only have one job and can focus on it more and thus have more time to devote to other activities.
• I am extremely proud of my daughter who just went off to camp for the first time. She is growing up so fast.
• To be called a racist, ignorant, stupid person because I believe in the platform of conservatives more than liberals is sad. Those who do so need to reconsider their own platform.
• I kinda wish I could watch as much of the Olympics as possible this time around. Don't know why, I don't normally, but just feel like I want to this year.

That's it for me this week.

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Say What?! - 1

Here are some of the things going on in my head this week....not enough to write about each item in great length, but just things I have been thinking:

• I am regularly inspired and shouting "Amen!" by the things Tim Spivey is writing on his blog. This is also where I got the idea to do this type of post. Definitely a "Must Read" blog.
• I am trying to get my First Century Church History back in my brain after many years of study has escaped my memory.
• I have gotten back into the WWE after years of not having cable. I like the direction of their stories and characters. Also watching Impact Wrestling but not as thrilled with their direction.
• Sting (the wrestler, not the musician) needs to go to the WWE before he retires. I would like to see him in some dream matches as well as inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
• Not happy with the direction the Boston Red Sox are going. Losing Youkilis last week was rough. Terry Francona was one of the main reasons the Sox made it to the World Series and had so much success in the beginning of the new millennium. Bobby Valentine isn't close to the kind of manager I want for the Sox.
• The Southwest Church of Christ in Tigard, Oregon is "doing church" the way it should be done. I am really encouraged every week by the people and leadership there.
• Knowing the history of my tribe -- Churches of Christ -- and our past legalism issues, I think we have come a long way from it. Conversely, I have seen that there is legalism of a much deeper variety in existence in other denominations that I find very shameful. If you thought the Churches of Christ were bad, fret not, there is much worse out there and we're setting a good example.
• The standards being used to determine and promote our current conference speakers/curriculum writers/authors is poor. We've traded good feelings and health/wealth and the Social Gospel for good orthodoxy and proper interpretation. Many of the biggest names in Christianity I think are dangerous for the future of the church. ...and you may be thinking of people different than I am thinking of...
• President Obama scares the living daylights out of me. He cannot have a second term or all bets are off for where our country is headed. Still blaming Bush? Think that I am being extremely partisan? I guess we'll see.

These are the things going on in my head this week.

Book Review: The Fight Of Our Lives

I finally finished reading William J. Bennett and Seth Leibsohn's book The Fight of our Lives. Let me start by saying many will not like what they have to say because it isn't politically correct. This book is a tough and loud read. The truth is that Bennett and Leibsohn are correct whether we like to hear it or not. They share the motivation and ideology behind Islam's radical nature that many have decided isn't worth hearing. It has become easy to point a finger of racism or bigotry at those like Bennett and Leibsohn for sharing good information, history, and truth...this is why Fight had to be written. We need to be shaken to the deep truths of what is happening.

Beginning with the attack on Fort Hood in 2009 by homegrown terrorist Nidal Hasan and continuing to remind us of other attacks like the Cole and 9/11, the authors reason that our response to such incidents directly reflects the way future attacks will happen. Under President Obama, we have seen a lapse, not only in judgment, but in defense and security; from the vocabulary we use to describe the attacks to our lack of resolve to stand up against tyranny and let terrorists see that their acts of cowardice will be met head on by our men and women in uniform.

[Stepping outside the book for a moment, it is for these reasons a President Ron Paul would only serve to disintegrate any kind of strength we are seen with in the world. It won't be any different than it is now and we will continue to be in the fight of our lives.]

In order to protect and defend the United States, we need to understand the nature of violence Islam chooses and preaches so that we do not always look as weak as we have in the last 3 years.

Fight is a tough book to take as lightly as many will. Bennett and Leibsohn provide some of the best commentary I have ever heard on this subject. They are of the few willing to say what so many will not. Radical Islam is at its core fundamental Islam. Many Muslims who do not consider themselves Radicals still adhere to Sharia law--which tells me they are just as radical as those they disagree with. I hope it changes.

Spoiler Alert
Bennett and Leibsohn speak to how Islam can be a real religion of peace:

"A truly reformed Islam would lament but allow apostasy. It would support pluralism, denounce the application of Sharia law, prohibit polygamy and underage marriage, extend social and legal equality to nonbelievers, and inveigh against terrorism everywhere and always.

Unless and until these kinds of conditions and statements can be met and agreed to, the case for doctrinal Islam, unreformed Islam, being a religion of peace has the status of "alleged" with several counts stacked up against it...

...Does one want to be a good Muslim by living his life by the nonviolent moral code found in much of the teachings of Islam? The answer is obvious: many do. And they need to be cultivated." (excerpts from pgs. 126, 127, & 128)

I fear too few Muslims are willing to do this.

I enjoyed (if I can use this word to describe a book about acts of terror) The Fight of our Lives. I think Bennett and Leibsohn have presented a well-written and well-researched book about Islam and how it has affected the world. I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn more.

*****
I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson Publisher's Bookszeeze review program. I was not required to write a favorable review. I was only asked to be honest. The words are my own.

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Resurrection

I will be resurrecting my blog soon. I have so much to do and share that I want to use my namesake blog to begin. For all the haters, you can continue to read here if you want, but you no longer have anyone to "report" me to when I don't tow the line you so desperately want to hang on to.

This won't be a place of hate. I won't let anyone pull me to their level. This is going to be a personal and honest blog for me. I will post the things happening in my life, book reviews, thoughts about faith and theology, politics, and more.

If you don't want to read about that, please don't read and remove me from your RSS feed. Thanks and God bless!

52 Books In 52 Weeks - 2010

I am most proud this year of my book list. I resolved to read one book a week for every week this year. While I started really strong the last couple months was the most difficult. Either what I was picking up wasn't catching my interest or I just was very busy and unable to read like I would have liked. But, I made it through. I read 52 books this year. In no particular order (some are in order of what I read, but I would forget to write some down and write them down later out of order), here they are:

1. The Edge Chronicles, Volume 6: Vox by Paul Stewart & Chris Liddell
2. The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene Peterson
3. Paul and the Thessalonians by Abraham J. Malherbe
4. Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given by Duane "Dog" Chapman
5. Churches in the New Testament by Michael Weed & Wendell Willis
6. Theology Matters by Holloway, Harris, and Black
7. The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose
8. Inside The Mind of Youth Pastors by Mark Riddle
9. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
10. Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson
11. A Book You'll Actually Read on Church Leadership by Mark Driscoll
12. Religion and Sexuality: Opposing Viewpoints by Various Authors
13. Teens At Risk: Opposing Viewpoints by Various Authors
14. Usagi Yojimbo: The Shrouded Moon by Stan Sakai
15. God's Politics by Jim Wallis
16. Teens Under The Influence by K. Ketcham & Nicolas A. Pace, M.D.
17. Evangelical Feminism by Wayne Grudem
18. Culture Shift by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
19. The Map: The Way Of All Great Men by David Murrow
20. The Gay Gospel? by Joe Dallas
21. Why We're Not Emergent by Kevin DeYoung & Ted Kluck
22. The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight
23. Jesus: Mean and Wild by Mark Galli
24. The Truth War by John MacArthur
25. The Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll
26. 99 Thoughts for Youth Workers by Josh Griffin
27. Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren
28. The Church of Facebook by Jesse Rice
29. The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
30. Interpretation Commentary - Romans by Paul Achtemeier
31. Unleashing Courageous Faith by Paul Coughlin
32. Common Sense by Glenn Beck
33. Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Mark Driscoll
34. Brother West by Cornell West
35. Engaging the Soul of Youth Culture by Walt Mueller
36. The Ten Things You Can't Say in America by Larry Elder
37. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
38. Misquoting Truth by Timothy Paul Jones
39. Deep Church by Tim Belcher
40. A Slobbering Love Affair by Bernard Goldberg
41. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
42. Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood by John Piper & Wayne Grudem
43. Going Rogue by Sarah Palin
44. Introducing Hegel by Lloyd Spencer
45. A Theory of Everything by Ken Wilber
46. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
47. The Obama Diaries by Laura Ingraham
48. A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren
49. Neighbor by Ben Daniel
50. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern
51. Green Hell by Steven Milloy
52. Smile by Raina Telegemeier

Next year, I would like to do the same, but I am afraid I am going to be busy with some other things so I am changing it to one book a month and I want each book to be really selective. I will likely read more than that, but the ones I report will be a bit more personal for me.

Simply Rested

I am back from the Simply Youth Ministry Conference 2010 in Chicago! It took me a few days to recover from a packed weekend. I learned a lot of tips and youth ministry ideas, but the biggest thing I learned was this: Every involved youth worker should go to a conference like this. Here are 3 reasons why.

A time of learning - I learned a lot. There were so many opportunities to take a class on a subject that will help me to stay in ministry for the long haul. SYMC offered classes on marriage, volunteer training, games, counseling, conflict resolution, preaching, & teaching. I chose the Helping Hurting Kids track and I benefited from probably one of the least discussed topics but one of the most influential problems all teens face – teen depression and addiction. I believe we all need to learn more if we are going to help teens through their adolescence.

A time of encouragement - The worship and camaraderie I was able to participate in was very therapeutic. I met many people I have had the honor of speaking to online through the SYM Podcast. Getting to meet Doug, Josh, Matt, and Jana in person was awesome. It felt like seeing old friends for the first time in a long time. I also got to meet Andy B in person after so many emails for products. I also met new people like D.C., Matt K., Rick Lawrence, Tom, and many others. Tim Timmons really encouraged me through his worship leading and a few of his songs are STILL stuck in my head.

A time of rest - Youth Ministry is T. O. U. G. H. with a capital STRESSFUL. Dealing with tough kids, tough parents, boards, elders, pastors & ministers can take a lot out of you. We don't tend to take time for ourselves because we are so committed to getting it right as often as possible. We overwork ourselves to the point we lose much of our drive and passion. Taking a weekend to listen to others who are doing what you do and understand your faith, love, passion, hurts, and struggles can only benefit. I felt loved on. It had been 7 years since I had been to a large convention like this. I forgot how much I needed it. Now that I am back, I feel stronger. There isn't a huge list of things to tell people about the conference itself other than the encouragement I received. I did come back with this though: the passion and desire to help hurting kids. I think that was worth the admission alone.

2008 In Review

The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet
Call of the Wild by Jack London
Samson and the Pirate Monks by Nate Larkin
Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres
Unbroken Bread by Mike Root
Body-Building Guide to Outreach, Edited by Group Publishing
A Comedian's Guide to Theology by Thor Ramsey
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Showdown by Ted Dekker
Jesus Mean and Wild by Mark Galli
Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne
Obama Nation by Jerome Corsi
The Shack by William P. Young
The Great Omission by Dallas Willard
The Edge Chronicles: Books 1-5 by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Meant To Live

Our teens were charged to create something for Family Camp this year on the theme of "Follow Me" the calling of Levi. We decided to put together a little music video. This video only took a couple of Sundays to plan and about 30 minutes to get filmed the way we liked it. Thanks to our awesome preacher Aaron, we were able to get it to DVD to show on Sunday at Family Camp. Mike held the camera and directed. Jeremy was Levi. Riley was Jesus. Everyone did such an amazing job! We hope you enjoy this. It was fun to make. If you want a DVD version let me know so I can get some burned from Aaron.

Cascade College 1994-2009

I am sad to say that I heard through the grapevine that my beloved alma mater, Cascade College is closing after this school year. I feel like my best friend died.

I don't even know what to say about it. I was just there last night enjoying a couple hours of pickup basketball with some old friends.

The days of spending time there conversing with my professors and friends is coming to a close. Hearing all the great things from Witness was a joy. Pulling into 9101 E. Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon 97216 was always a pleasure.

It was so great to have a place to meet as ministers of the area churches of Christ for various meetings and conferences. Goodbye my friend. I will never forget the joys you provided.

Kingsmen for life!

Income Redistribution Experiment

Last Thursday while walking to lunch on the corner of Market and East Bay, I passed what appeared to be a homeless man standing on the corner of Wentworth and East Bay holding a hand-made sign that read, “Vote Obama, I need the money.”, I laughed to myself and admired the man for his misplaced, albeit blatant honesty.

Once inside one of my favorite restaurants, I noticed that my waiter was wearing a bright blue, “Obama 08” tie; again I laughed to myself as he boldly and proudly advertised his political preference for all the world, and his customers, to see -- just imagine the odds of encountering two such 1st Amendment harbingers of change in less than 10-minutes.

When the check finally came I decided not to tip my waiter and explained to him that I was going to implement a practical application of Obama's Redistribution of Wealth concept as my own personal socialistic experiment. He stood there in stoic disbelief as I explained to him that I was going to redistribute his rightfully earned $10 tip to someone who I deemed more in need...a homeless fellow standing a few blocks north in front of the Harris Teeter parking lot. The waiter stammered a few "Why practice on me? I’m just a local college student!" retorts and then angrily stormed away from the table in a steaming huff of progressive self-righteous indignation.

Apparently, after experiencing firsthand the application of such socialistic governance from the perspective of the rightful wage earner, my young liberal-minded waiter was quickly convinced that income redistribution was much easier to support as a noble, magnanimous social policy than when his own hard-earned income was about to be redistributed, against his will, to another I deemed more needy.

I went outside, walked back up to Wentworth, gave the homeless guy a $10 bill, and asked him to walk down to the restaurant on the corner and thank the waiter there who was wearing the “Obama 08” tie as I've decided he could use the money more than my waiter who had actually earned the $10. The homeless fellow smiled in grateful disbelief, tossed his sign in the hedge, and promptly bounded for the liquor store across the street.

At the end of this impromptu and rather unscientific income redistribution experiment I realized the homeless fellow was truly grateful for the money that he had not exerted any effort to earn, but my liberal-minded waiter was highly indignant that I would take from him and then give to another the honest wages that he had worked hard to earn even though the homeless recipient needed the money more.

As I walked back to my office, I began thinking about the heavy burden of corporate ownership and the endless frustration from beating my head against the wall of increasing bureaucracy year-after-year. I also thought of the majority of this year’s hard-earned profits that I had planned to reinvest in a few new employees, annual raises to reward loyalty and hard work, Christmas bonuses for extraordinary effort, and year-end corporate donations to the SC Aquarium, Coastal Conservation League, and the Historic Charleston Foundation.

After reconsidering my apparent politically incorrect capitalistic beliefs, the needs of my hard-working, albeit financially struggling, middle-class staff, and the six-figure salaries of the three non-profits’ directors sitting in the big stately, well-maintained buildings that each called home, I decided then and there to give every last penny of this year’s profit directly to Charleston’s Homeless Shelter, layoff all my staff, close our company, retire early, and depend upon the largesse of Obama’s promised Redistribution of Wealth for my every need!

In that brief instance, I too became a practicing socialist!

5 Healthy Ways To Deal With Conflict

Often in Youth Ministry, we deal with conflict. Sometimes it is not identifiable or transparent. Other times, it is blatant, in-yo-face! I believe I have the spiritual gift to identify conflicts happening around me whether I am the target or not...sometimes I feel like I have the spiritual gift to be the target of conflict (LOL!!!).

Here are 5 Healthy Ways to Deal with Conflict:

1. Identify the real target of the conflict. Sometimes when people are upset, it's not something you did, but stress within the life of those who come after you. I sometimes take out my stress on my family. I sit and realize I am not upset with my wife or kids, but with another situation. The truth is it is easier to offend those that love me most because I know they will continue to love me. With Youth Ministry, the target may not be my teaching they are upset about, but a fight they are dealing with in their family. The target may not be that a parent is upset we ended an activity at 7:01pm instead of 7:00pm, but that they were stressing that they had an early morning meeting at work the next day that they were not looking forward to. Youth Ministers are easy targets because we are seen as inexperienced, less educated, immature people...even though we are not.

2. Ask Questions. Sometimes the best way to go through a conflict is to ask as many questions as possible to find the root of the conflict. It is easier to deal with the exact reasons why someone is upset if you have gone through the deduction process. For example: What is it that I did that you are upset about? How does it make you feel when I ____? How would you have handled ____? What can I do to make ___ up to you? What can we do to resolve ___? In the future, what would you like me to do? How might "so-and-so" feel if I did this your way if they were fine with my decision? How will this truly affect the rest of the group if I were to try this your way?

3. Compromise. Sometimes taking a shot of humility is the best way to solve a conflict. There have been many times I have done things in ways I was not accustomed to in order to reach the largest cross-section of the group as I could. It is not easy to swallow your pride and admit you might not be the best at something. Absolutely try other people's ideas (my wife will shout AMEN! at this statement and ask me to swallow my pride). Disclaimer: If it is not a good idea, don't do it just to prove a point. Tell them why it's not a good idea, but come up with a way to incorporate some of their idea into something that will work. Don't compromise the integrity and health of your program for a lame-brain idea.

4. Don't deal with conflict over email or text message. I don't know why, but my writing style in email tends to confuse people and convey messages I never intended to say. One thing I decided a long time ago was to never deal with conflict over email. I had one parent shouting and accusing me of some of the most ridiculous things once. I immediately emailed back and said, "I won't deal with this through email. I will call you right now." and called her. We set up an appointment. It turns out that after a day of breathing and letting it simmer, she wasn't as angry as she was the day before and apologized for the way she spoke to me. That might be some good advice; give it a day to rest. But, DO NOT ignore it or let it sit for too long. Deal with conflict ASAP.

5. Be honest. This should be a no-brainer, but honesty is the best policy. Don't hide your feelings to save those of the other person. If the other person needs a dose of truth, give it to them. Please don't lie about a situation. If you made a mistake, own up to it and vow to make it right so it never happens again. It is a weird thing in Youth Ministry that we have to be who the church wants us to be. I find this mantra unholy. Many churches have unreal expectations in who their Youth Minister should be...many online job descriptions I have read about what churches are looking for make me sad. My heart hurts for the person walking into those situations. I cannot be someone I am not. I have taken jobs doing what they wanted me to for the need of a paycheck. No more. I will not live my life lying about who I am in Jesus. I am not like your last Youth Minister. I will never be like your last Youth Minister. I believe I am better than your last Youth Minister because I bring new gifts and abilities to the table. I can only be who I am. I will teach your kids about Jesus. I will teach them how to live like Jesus in an unholy culture. I won't be able to teach a class on Existentialist Christianity because I do not believe in it (that is supposed to be a joke...you don't get it do you?). My honesty is connected completely to my faith and my ministry and my integrity.

These are but 5 ways. I am sure you could come up with 20 or more ways to deal with conflict. I have had my fair share and these are just a few ways I have dealt with it. I love what my online friend said today: "There’s no real relationship without risk, and there’s no integrity without truth." Great words Matt! How else can you be a child of Jesus if you think this is something you could compromise?

Good luck with conflicts that come about in your life...especially to you Youth Ministers reading. This was really written for you. You have probably the dirtiest job Mike Rowe could ever come up with...he would quit mid-job if he had to do it for a day...it would be the first time we see Mike Rowe quit a dirty job before finishing it. Live a life of integrity so no one can say you are not a child of God. Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young (of course I know some Youth Ministers who are older than their preaching/senior ministers)...young at heart, right?

Live for the truth, teach the truth for life.

My Youth Ministry Experience

Mike Lewis is a youth minister of 8 years. What was his experience like in youth ministry as a teen? How has it affected the way he approaches his own youth ministry? Here's your chance to hear about it.

What was the name of your youth group?
We didn't have a youth group name. But we did have a cool youth room that we named the JAM (Jesus and Me) Room. We had lots of couches, a pool table, a ping-pong table, and a basketball game that we destroyed from playing it so much. We had a television for movie nights and a stereo to crank some awesome tunes. We got to paint the front of the building. We each got a brick to write on one of the walls too. The room was a converted storage facility that doubled for years as a place to print bulletins and housed a lot of old style print machines. The Asian Minister used it for his office for a long time too back in the 80's. Now it has been converted to be a place for outreach to come and get food and supplies (I think)...all I know is that place has a lot of memories for me. I am sad they converted it and I am kinda curious where the teens meet now. I ate a lot of pizza, chips, and soda in that room.

Do you remember the first time you went to youth group? What was it like?
I was in Junior High and it was intimidating. I wasn't there long and didn't really get to know that youth minister Rick White. He didn't do much to bring me in and get me involved...I don't really remember his face even. He must not have cared that much about me if he and the rest of the youth group left me at Disneyland and went back to the place we were staying without me. They came back but I was a bit freaked out. Some people drove me around the parking lot until we found the bus. Our church split in arguments about who knows what. Our group that left didn't really have a youth group until I begged my parents to let me go back to the original church and be involved with their new youth activities. The church split group was starting to cause problems anyway and we saw that the people causing strife went with our group, so we saw who was really the problem. That was my second first time in youth group and it felt more relaxed and like I belonged from day one. My first activity was a lock in with the new youth minister. That's a funny story how a kid from High School I barely knew was going to my old church and I happened to get invited to a lock in at the church I grew up in. We knew it was God calling us back so I begged to go back. I never let go of that youth group ever since that moment.

Tell us about your youth leader.
First was Mike Rivard. He was awesome. He made me feel like I finally belonged somewhere. I didn't fit in my high school, so this gave me something to do on the weekends. He was funny in a goofy way. He always shook every person's hand on Sunday mornings. If you were there, he said "hi" to you. But it didn't feel contrived like he had to do it, but he really cared.

Tom Gaumer was a parent of one of our teens and he took over as a volunteer youth minister in '92 or '93. By the time he retired a couple years ago from being the youth minister of my hometown church, he spent 20+ years as youth minister with both his sons being in the group. His job was tough. He dealt with some tough gang kids in our youth group and treated them and everyone else with grace and humility. Our youth group was for everyone no matter what their background. One kid killed someone in a gang related shooting...Tom visits that kid in prison to let him know God still loves him. That kid knew he was wrong but Tom still loved on him. I graduated high school with Tom as our youth minister. I am in youth ministry today because of them.

Share a memory of an activity you did as a group.
Sierra Bible Camp Boys Cabin 1: I remember not going to sleep and laughing at everything once the lights went out. Ya know, typical high school stuff. Fart jokes. Throwing things at the one kid who whined about everything because we knew we would get a reaction. Campfire - Bohemian Rhapsody skit...best skit ever. Midnight hike on the last night. Singing devo songs and then yelling "praise God!" so it echoed all around at the lake. Having serious crushes on girls who ignored the fat nerdy kid (me). Softball games - campers vs. staff - finally hitting a home run. Funny "special guests" for campfire (Wayne's World & Tim the Tool Man Taylor). Swimming time at the pool. Canteen. Crafts. Dining Hall. Cabin clean-up contest. Hearing Acappella's "Growing up in the Lord" and other songs from the "Platinum" album every morning. Someone from our cabin disconnecting the speaker so we could sleep in and not hear the wake up music! HAHA! Listening to AC/DC's Back in Black, Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits, Wayne's World Soundtrack, Guns N Roses Use Your Illusion, and Charlie Daniels Band's Greatest Hits on Mark Jarvis' CD boom box that he brought. My mom sending me taped games 5 and 6 of the Chicago Bulls when they won the championship (again) and being the hero for the guys who were missing the games for going to camp. Serenading Girls Cabin 1. Getting rejected by a girl for the first time for midnight hike. Freezing at night and in the mornings because the cabins had see-through walls (the boards were really far apart and holey). Hearing SOUL and wanting to sing in an A Cappella group even though I didn't like SOUL that much (because we heard them every single week at every single youth rally and camp) and thought I could sing better and do vocal percussion better. Meeting Jason Hill, Scott Christensen, Justin Roberts, and other recruiters who convinced me to go to Cascade College. Hearing the His Heirs singers from Cascade College sing that summer. Not knowing that girl who I thought was hot in His Heirs would later become my future wife until I met her...I coulda had a date for midnight hike!

What’s one thing that you learned in youth group that has stuck with you since graduation?
When I was told by a staff member, "Mike, we were just talking about you. You walked by and we said there goes a future elder of the church." Put some things in perspective for me. Made me a little prouder that day. Got me thinking more about spiritual things than just girls.

If you could relay a message to your old youth pastor, what would it be?
I still talk to Tom Gaumer. I worked for him in 2006 as Campus Minister for Cascade. I have tried to keep in touch with Mike Rivard. I told him he's one reason I became a youth minister. He cared about the kids like me who were on the outside socially. I want to do the same...but that doesn't mean that if I talk to you I think you are on the outside socially. So please don't stop talking to me kids!

Jesus Is There

I wrote this song for the Steven Curtis Chapman family in the midst of the tragedy of losing their daughter Maria Sue Chapman. It's not great, but I felt like I needed to do something to let them know how much people were praying for them and thinking about them.

My prayer is this song eases some pain in some way.

"Jesus Is There"
By Mike Lewis
Lyrics:
We don't understand
Why we lose such good friends
This can't be the right time to go
We're saying goodbye
To this one full of life
Who will watch over her 'til we get there?

Jesus is there
And He is holding her hand
Jesus is there
He won't let her go
The Great Comforter, Healer, and Maker of Life
Will keep her safe
Jesus is there

The pain is so much
We need the Lord's touch
To take all this hurt away
Will these feelings ever end
And our broken hearts mend
Until we see our girl in heaven?



I know I am not a songwriter or a guitar player, so please forgive my poor lyrics and guitar playing. No I don't own an acoustic guitar...that was an electric unplugged...lame I know. My own kids were asleep so I couldn't sing very loud either. But, I needed to get this uploaded as soon as I could.

If anyone knows the Chapman family, please let them know about this video. I have no contact information to send it to them.

100 Things

So, Logan originally asked me to do 8 things, but then I read Ike's 100 and decided to go for it.

1. Ike Graul inspires me to do things I never thought about doing before and see things in a new light.
2. I have been on different extremes politically and believe I am now at a point where I will most likely stay the rest of my life.
3. I have several dream projects going but have yet to finish one of them.
4. I believe I am very gifted at many things but not disciplined enough to be great at any of them.
5. When I was young I was really into astronomy and myths & legends and wanted to become a professional astronomer.
6. I was bullied in school every year from 4th grade through High School by various jerks.
7. I grew nearly a foot in one year in High School and now have lots of back, knee, and feet problems.
8. I want to be a professional musician.
9. I am trying to get into shape so that I might pursue a career in law enforcement.
10. I had a hard time in school, but now that I am out of school, want to go back and get a Master's degree.
11. I am writing a book on ministry and evangelism.
12. I have always been horrible at math. For some reason though, I have a desire to go to Barnes & Noble, buy some books and learn math again starting with Algebra until I can do Calculus level stuff.
13. I don't see a problem with becoming a Mega-Church as long as the focus is Jesus and not size. Wouldn't that draw people?
14. I love a cappella music more than any other style, but am often disappointed by church a cappella quality.
15. I didn't play any sports in High School, but played basketball in college.
16. If I could go back to High School, I would have joined the football team.
17. If it existed (as diagnosis) when I was growing up, I probably would have been ADD.
18. I have written a Seinfeld episode. This will be featured (at last) in a future blog post.
19. I almost joined a pro-wrestling training facility during college. I had the admission forms filled out.
20. The only girl I ever dated was my wife Janna.
21. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 21 out of choice.
22. I cried when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004.
23. I want to invent something or start something that will revolutionize the way an organization or industry performs.
24. I have often thought of really great ideas only to see them on store shelves years later.
25. I want a motorcycle.

26. I am naturally an introvert and have to force myself to be outgoing.
27. I hate dancing.
28. I hate talking on the telephone.
29. I think everyone should have email and use it regularly.
30. I used to know the lyrics to every Metallica song and could sing the guitar solos. Think Jack Black in Tenacious D and School of Rock...it sounded like that.
31. My eyesight is so bad, I believe I will one day be blind.
32. I am naturally pessimistic.
33. I don't like extreme viewpoints and will intentionally argue the opposite side even if I agree.
34. I know I would be good at "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" but it's not on television anymore.
35. My dream job is to have a recording studio and record many new artists that would someday be on the radio.
36. I have days that I think I am a horrible father and husband.
37. I get easily wound up.
38. I love most movies. I own almost 500 DVD's. They are alphabetized on my shelves. The movies I don't like have often won Oscars and become regarded highly by other people.
39. I want to plant a new church. It would be in the Restoration Movement family, but look nothing like a mainstream Church of Christ.
40. I procrastinate. This list took me 4 months to write.
41. I explain myself too much.
42. I like wearing all black but think Emo and Goth are odd.
43. Bill O'Reilly has read a viewer email of mine on the O'Reilly Factor. I have it recorded.
44. I think famous quotes are dumb. If you ask me my favorite quote, it's going to be something funny.
45. The most theologically conservative churches I have worked for have the nicest people I have ever known.
46. My brain was designed for self-employment. I just don't work well for other people. That or I hate micromanagement...I'm not sure yet.
47. I am starting my own business if I would just stop procrastinating. See #40.
48. I consider my theological views as conservative, but that's only because the vocabulary we use is wrong.
49. I believe I will never win an award for anything. See #32.
50. I think it is a farce that you have to rub elbows to be good at something. I hate seeing it in the church even more.

51. I never had a nickname until I was 27. It was given to me by a 7 year old.
52. My brain is full of useless information. See #53-54.
53. I used to speak Klingon.
54. I used to be able to name that tune, artist, and album it was released on. I just can't keep up with most new music to do it today.
55. I marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade (as seen on television this morning) in Pasadena, California my senior year of high school. I met Angela Lansbury and nearly decapitated the clarinet player in front of me as I rammed into her with my bass drum in front of thousands of people.
56. I used to know what time it was without a watch and without looking at a clock. I just knew.
57. I know when people are saying negative things about me. I just know
58. I once tried to be the chaplain for Disney child stars. I obviously didn't get it.
59. I think Taco Bell made its biggest marketing mistake by replacing Mexi-Nuggets with those nasty Fiesta Potatoes. Bring back MY Mexi-Nuggets!!!
60. I play classical bassoon.
61. I play the drums.
62. I vocal drum. Beat box. Vocal Perc. Mouth Drums.
63. I play a little baritone saxophone.
64. My favorite preacher is Chris Seidman.
65. I still feel like it's 1996 and I am in college even though I am now 32.
66. I don't like talking. I would be silent most of the day unless it was to sing.
67. I love mixing sound, but find joy behind the mic.
68. I play a little guitar.
69. I have a hard time staying still in church.
70. I believe now that postmodernism is dying. It has come and is going. My prediction is that the church will be like the church of the 80's & 90's again with a bigger emphasis on service. Contemporary yet socially oriented.
71. I am really quiet until you get to know me.
72. I played drums in a punk rock band in college called "The Erectones".
73. When I get a cold, it is worse than most people's colds.
74. I love Scrabble.
75. I want to start a Christian version of "The Muppet Show" that tours to churches live. The Muppet Show had a Muppet audience. Mine would be real people.

76. When I do something "big", I think I do it really well.
77. I know I have friends, but have days where I don't feel like I have any.
78. I believe the church should be intentional in helping its members make friends.
79. I am developing a stand-up comedy routine.
80. I am a self-taught artist. I wanted to be a cartoonist and draw comic strips for a living when I was younger.
81. iPods are one of the best inventions for music lovers but I still think buying CD's (in hand at a store) are essential.
82. I LOVE Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. If he was in it, I have seen it.
83. If I could get an audition, I would be on Saturday Night Live.
84. I grew up in Stockton, California but consider Portland, Oregon home.
85. I like cold weather.
86. I have never given blood voluntarily.
87. King of the Hill had to have been designed after the people at the church I worked at in Texas. It is now one of my favorite shows because of this.
88. I love Mexican food. The spicier the better. I collect different hot sauces for food. Most of them taste the same to me.
89. I started wearing glasses when I was 5 years old.
90. I think Tom Green is really funny.
91. I love guacamole. The Pampered Chef kind is my favorite.
92. I think carbon credits are a hoax...please don't buy them.
93. I wish Mike Rowe would do a Dirty Jobs episode for Youth Ministry.
94. I know people who get compliments and awards and praise for supposedly unique talents and things I can secretly do better, but choose not to step out and do myself. See #49.
95. I believe music is how God gives us joy.
96. I had a dachshund growing up named Sausage. I still remember the day he died.
97. I am the tallest person in my family.
98. I think ketchup is gross on french fries.
99. I know all the lyrics to the COPS theme song (Bad Boys by Inner Circle) even though they don't make sense.
100. Even though I am so big, I often feel invisible.

101. This list was challenging to make, but I think I could've kept going for a while. I have made several changes since I posted it originally...

Books Read In 2007

The Secret Message Of Jesus by Brian McLaren
Wild At Heart by John Eldredge
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields
Schmucks! by Jackie Mason & Raoul Felder
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming (and Environmentalism) by Christopher Horner
No More Christian Nice Guy by Paul Coughlin
If Democrats Had Any Brains They'd Be Republicans by Ann Coulter
A Field Guide To Left-Wing Wackos by Kfir Alfin & Alan Lipton
Why Men Hate Going To Church by David Murrow
They Like Jesus But Not The Church by Dan Kimball
Night by Elie Wiesel
Jim and Casper Go To Church by Jim Henderson & Matt Casper
Simple Church by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet