Throwback Thursday: Breathe Deep

Happy Throwback Thursday! Today we're blasting back to my youth pastor days at FUMC-Kissimmee, when we used to sing this weird song at youth group on Sunday evenings. At the time, I had never heard a recorded version of the song- I found it in the Songs & Creations songbook put together by one my heroes, Yohann Anderson. So we sort of made up our own version. We liked it because it was different. We liked it because it had a message of hope for the hurting, the outcast and the disenfranchised. And we liked it because it was full of big words we had to look up to actually get what the song was about! That group loved to sing- and this Terry Taylor tune was one of the songs we sang with gusto.


We live in a day and age when the Church universal struggles with how (and how much) we reach out out to the poor, the different, the hungry and the sin-filled. The fact is there should be no debate, as scripture seems very clear to me. The love of God is for everyone- including the very people from whom you and I seek to "protect" ourselves. We don't get to pick and choose the people who are in the family of God based on our prejudices and preferences. Everyone is entitled to breathe deep the breath of God. The more broken or damaged we are the more we need it. When we breathe in the essence of our loving God, things like fear and worry fade. And we begin to feel alive again.

So listen to and watch the video below from the band Lost Dogs. It turns out the old FUMC-K gang was pretty close on the melody. The lyrics are included, but you must follow closely to catch them all. If you have never heard the song before, I promise the listing of who should be allowed to "breathe deep" will stun you a bit. That's a good thing. And then when you are done listening, pray for the people in your life who need to feel grace and forgiveness from you, and who need to know that the breath of God is for them...too. Because one of those people may be you...

And one more thing. When we sang this song in Kissimmee we shouted the last line of the final verse with power, like the bold statement of faith it was meant to be. I hope you will feel the same way - that "EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE!!!" deserves to know they are safe in the arms of the love of God whose name is Jesus. Amen and Amen!

Because of Jesus,

A Vintage Post: Radical Man (Beefy Cheesy!)

The FUMC-Kissimmee Reunion is tomorrow- but I am already enjoying it!  Teresa has been her a couple of days and we are having a blast, and this morning we are meeting Jennifer (Bob) Kuramochi for brunch!  Here's another vintage post to keep you going while we have TOO much fun!

My youth group at FUMC-K loved to sing.  In any youth ministry you always have those who love to sing for fun, another group that loves to sing for worship, and a group that doesn't really care for singing at all.  In Kissimmee we had all of those, but I was also blessed with a large group that simply loved to sing, no matter the time or the occasion.  And since I loved leading them in song, we had some amazing times together just singing.  On Ski Trips, on the porch of the Betsy B, or in the Youth Room, we sang our hearts out.  As I look back, we sang many classic youth group songs, and sooner or later I will blog about some of our favorites.  But today I want to focus on a song from the Youth Group Jukebox of Cheese (see also One Tin Soldier) - a youth group novelty song that we loved to sing and that is a nice follow-up to yesterday's post on Radical Christianity, which I hope all of you will read.

Yohann Anderson (YO to his friends, and I am proud to count myself among them) was one of the great pioneers of using a wide range of songs in student ministry.  His Songs book and his Songs and Creations publishing house were staples of the youth ministry scene until the advent of praise bands and contemporary worship music in the late 1990's.  His book gave us everything from Proud Mary and Pharaoh, Pharaoh to Sing Alleluia.   He also taught me a philosophy of group singing dynamics that I used my entire career.  In fact, it was on his advice that after finding our singing to be disgustingly unenthusiastic at Wesley Memorial in 2002 that I ditched our praise band and went back to simply leading with guitar, and got fantastic results.  In 1992 he wrote a funky little song called Radical Man about the life and teachings of Jesus.  We started singing it in Kissimmee around 1995, and for several years it was one of our favorites.  There was a pause in the chorus, during which it had originally been YO's intent for the singers to yell, "YES!"  I gave my group the freedom of yelling other things, and very quickly the phrase of choice to yell became, "BEEFY CHEESY!"  I have no idea why (the who may have been Connor Lewis) this started, but it caught on and quickly became a tradition.  But the song was more than just a goofy youth group song; it had a message about the nature of Christ that was (and is) important.  Check out the lyrics to Radical Man; if you are feeling really brave, click the video below and you can hear me sing it...

CHORUS:  Well they called Him the rebel-rousin' Radical Man.

loved a party, loved his friends

Laughed with joy, surprised the sad, made all the self-righteous people mad

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh...(BEEFY CHEESY!)

The rebel-rousin' Radical Man, oh yeah, the rebel-rousin' Radical Man

Healed the sick, raised the dead, irritated people with the truth He said

Upset their religious plans, painted God with a human hand

Said "Outside things will pass away, concentrate on what will stay

Love your enemies, feed the poor," Radical Man said "I'm the door..."

"Do to others what you want from them, forgive each other, don't condemn

A greedy attitude will never last, the Kingdom of God is for those who ask"

"People come before material things, we're not puppets on anyone's strings

Live like a child, by my side, come be happy no need to hide..."

"Love your neighbor as yourself, don't hoard money for power and wealth

First look at your own mistakes, not the speck in another's face"

He gave His body and gave His blood, stirred us up to feel His love

"Whatever you do, you do to Me, celebrate life, you are free..."

If the students in my youth group in Kissimmee learned NOTHING ELSE in my 6 years, I could live with them just knowing the truths contained in that silly little song.  Jesus is indeed the Radical Man, and if we truly follow His teachings and His example, we will be radical too!  Who knew that one of the signs of being a Jesus Freak was knowing when to yell "BEEFY CHEESY!"   Thank you, YO, for so many things, but especially for Radical Man. 

One final note:  I tried this song with a couple of groups after leaving Kissimmee and they just didn't get it... Radical Man is exclusive to Kissimmee!

Because of the Radical Man,

Top 10 Memories: NYWC

I mentioned yesterday that I attended 18 of the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Conventions (NYWC) between 1982 and 2006.  The full list of conventions I attended is as follows:  Dallas (1982, 2001); Atlanta (1987, 2000, 2004);  Chicago (1988); Orlando (1989);  Nashville (1995, 2002);  Anaheim (1996); Philadelphia (1985, 1997); Denver (1998); Cincinnati (1999); Phoenix (2003); Sacramento (2005); Pittsburgh (2005); and Charlotte (2006).  As the NYWC convenes in Nashville again this weekend, I want to remember some of the people, speakers, seminars and events that made these conventions such life-changers for me.  Today I take a look back at 10 of the best moments.  Two of my very best memories- Mike Yaconelli's early morning bible study and the Exhibit Hall (featuring every youth ministry resource you can imagine, from finger blasters to bibles)- happened every year and are not included on this list. 

1. Dallas, 1982-  Convention #1 has to go at the top of the list.  I was amazed at everything, but among my favorite memories are hearing Tony Campolo speak for the first time; meeting Mike Yaconelli for the first time; Jim Burns and his incredible Advanced Youth Ministry seminar; the Wittenburg Door Banquet with radical speaker Dick Gregory; and of course, my amazing souvenir belt buckle (pictured).
2. Atlanta, 2004-  Tic Long offered me the opportunity to lead my very own NYWC Seminar, which was a dream of mine.  I had finally achieved the status I always desired- that of Minor Christian Celebrity.  Very minor.  My seminar was called Pagan Eye For the Christian Guy and focused on taking our ministries out of the church and into the community.  It was well attended and well received.  A true highlight of my professional career.
3. Phoenix, 2003-  I signed up for a two day intensive seminar (called Critical Concerns Courses in those days) led by Yac and Fil Anderson, who had been my Young Life leader during my first couple of years of high school.  It was a spiritual growth workshop, where we spent 8 hours focused on the scripture found in John 12:1-8 where Mary pours perfume on Jesus' feet.  We literally soaked in the scripture, building our own clay jars and making our own perfume.  It was amazing.  The fact that Yac would be killed in a car wreck less than a month later made it all the more significant to me...

4. Philadelphia, 1997-  All of us who had served 20 years or more in student ministry were called to the stage and presented with a framed copy of the great Geoff Moore & the Distance song, Only A Fool- while Geoff and the boys sang it to us.  The framed copy (pictured) still hangs on a wall in my home.
5. Atlanta, 1987-  The Country Quakers (myself, Terry Venable and Ray Luther) sang Blue Pick-Up Truck at the Wittenburg Door Banquet and rocked the house!  Also that same year Wayne Rice did a great Sinatra impression while singing I Did It His Way...  Classic.
6. 1982-2006-  The "group singing" in the general sessions was always just incredible.  Over the years I was fortunate enough to share in worship with Yohann Anderson, James Ward, Bob Stromberg, Chris Tomlin, 721, Starfield and of course, *David Crowder Band.  I can't even begin to explain how these amazing artists impacted my life and my ministry, or how many of their songs I took home to my groups.  I used to say that the Angels would have a hard time matching the sound of 1000 youth workers singing "Where justice rolls down like a mighty water" or "There is no one like you..."
7. Dallas, 2001-  Late Night Live on the final night of the convention was always good, but in 2001 it was simply awesome!  Lost And Found came out to warm up the crowd, doing cover songs and claiming not to be themselves.  When asked who they were, they responded with crazy names like Czars of Clay, Second Day or abcTalk.  Comedian Brad Stine joined in with his "Put a helmet on!" bit, which killed.  Lost And Found then came out for real and played my request, Used To Be.  And finally CPR closed with their brilliant improv act.  Best. Night. Ever!  And I was on the front row...

8. Philadelphia, 1997-  During general sessions YS used to have a set of bleachers on the main stage that they called The Peanut Gallery.  The seats were first come, first served, and in those days The Banana Splits were always first because we volunteered to do set-ups before the sessions.  We usually avoided the Peanut Gallery (preferring the front row) but for some reason we sat in the bleachers for a session featuring Third Day.  Mac Powell (complete with blond hair!) came over and sat with us during one of the songs, as did Mark Lee. I may be wrong, but I think Campolo spoke at that session too.  A great memory!
9. Anaheim, 1996-  We got on an elevator at the hotel with some weird looking British dudes we had never seen before.  A few hours later we were worshipping with them.  We had just encountered Delirious- and that is something you never forget.  I had never experienced worship quite like that.  I still get chills every time I hear Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?
10. Nashville, 1995-  It should come as no surprise that music was the thing at my first Nashville NYWC.  Michael W. Smith showed up unannounced and played some songs from the then-unreleased I'll Lead You Home album.  PRF performed with help from members of Jars of Clay.  Audio Adrenaline played without lead singer Mark Stuart, who had laryngitis.  One of their roadies sang lead on Big House.  And I met Geoff Moore for the first time over dinner at the hotel.  It was all awesome!
11. BONUS:  Chicago, 1988-  Can't leave this year off the list.  It was the year I roomed with Terry Venable and got the "You're dead meat!" call from his wife Leigh Anne at 5 AM because their sick child had kept her up all night.  It also featured the only speaker I ever walked out on in 18 conventions- Rev. Charles Stanley.  But that is a story for another day... 

I could go on, but I'll stop there for today.  Tomorrow I will remember some of the seminars and workshops from various NYWC that impacted my ministry in a big way.  See you then.

Because of Jesus,

Top 25 Memories: Songs

Music has always been an important part of my ministry.  I was fortunate enough to learn the art of leading group singing from Beth Phillips Massey and Martha Ratledge Farlow at Quaker Lake Camp.  The skills I learned there were then fine-tuned by lessons I learned from Young Life,  J. David Stone and the great Yohann (YO) Anderson.  You don't just randomly select songs to sing; you choose songs in an order and of a variety that will lead the group where you want them to go.  I became quite adept at moving groups from wild, crazy songs into deep worshipful music without them ever being truly aware where they were going.  And I loved every minute of it!

Several years ago I was asked about my song-leading style, and in the course of my explanation I was asked a most interesting question.  If I was given the opportunity to lead music for a group of teenagers that knew every song that I had ever led a group in singing (a list of over 300!), which songs would I pick- and what order would we sing them in?  It was a wonderful hypothetical query that I had no answer for at the time.  Today, however, I am going to take a shot at it!  So here it is- my Ultimate Set of Youth Group Songs.  I chosen 25 (and a bonus or two- you know me and lists, I always cheat!), which would be over 90 minutes of singing.  That might even wear out the Kissimmee gang, and they did love to sing!  Here they are; if you find yourself singing along, I understand...

1. Lahina
2. Lean On Me
3. Pharoah, Pharoah
4. Big House
5. Eat Right!
6. Shine
7. Let Me Be There
8. Undignified
9. Open the Eyes of My Heart
10. He's Alive!
11. We Are the Family of God
12. Ain't No Rock
13. The All Day Song
14. Blessed Be the Name
15. The Happy Song
16. Lord I Lift Your Name on High
17. Breathe Deep
18. Awesome God
19. Peter, Peter
20. Seek Ye First
21. Hope Set High
22. Create In Me
23. Prince of Peace
24. It is You/ Oh God, You Are My God/Sanctuary
25. Sing Alleluia To the Lord

So how did I do?  Which songs were your favorites?  Which songs did I leave out that you would have chosen?  I would love to hear your opinions, because there were few things that connected us more- with God and with each other- than music!  Now I think I will break out my guitar and sing a few of these.  But it won't be the same without you to sing along...

Because of Jesus,

Dallas, 1982

My regular readers may have already noticed that 1982 was a very pivotal year in my life and in my ministry.  Somewhere along the road of this most interesting year, David Stone (see Influences: J. David Stone) suggested to me that I attend the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention (NYWC).  I knew of Youth Specialties (YS) from their series of Ideas books and a few other youth ministry resources, which were really just starting to be published at the time.  I had never heard of the NYWC, and neither had anyone else I knew, but David made it sound like a place that I needed to be, and he was leading some of the workshops.  So I made plans to go by myself to Dallas in November of 1982.  I was 23 and venturing out on my own, and I had my doubts.  It turned out to be a  very good decision plus I came home with awesome belt buckle seen above.  Thanks Wayne Rice!

The NYWC in 1982 was not the same beast it is today.  Dallas was the only location, and there were only around 800 of us there, compared to the thousands they draw to multiple locations today.  It was held in a hotel ballroom with very limited sound equipment and no big screens or projectors.  And it was wilder- MUCH wilder!  Those were the days when YS was a stand alone company, not part of the Zondervan conglomerate, and they were much bigger risk takers.  I was clueless as to what to expect, but the opening general session told me all I needed to know.  Mike Yaconelli and Wayne Rice,the two head-honchos of YS, did a welcome and orientation, during which they roasted many of the denominations represented at the convention.  The barbs went something like this:

• How many Southern Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?  Just one- and it doesn't even matter if the light bulb needs changing!
• Pentecostals, the hotel pool is NOT available for mass baptisms!
• Episcopalians should note that hotel bar closes at midnight...
• There will be an all-night meeting of the Committee of Methodists in room 806 to determine if that committee needs to meet again tomorrow!
• Sorry, Lutherans, but the revolving restaurant at the top of the hotel is NOT available for a potluck supper on Saturday night...

They then did a "roll call" of denominations, and I was surprised to find out that there were a few other Quakers in attendance, all from Iowa, including my future friend Tom Klaus.  There were not, however, enough of us to qualify for an insult from the stage!

The next few days were among the most exciting, draining and educational of my life.  The workshops were amazing, with people like Yac, David Stone, Dennis Benson, Tony Campolo and Jim Burns opening my eyes to what student ministry could truly be.  Tony led a workshop called Issues that Divide the Church, and focused on the sacraments, abortion and homosexuality.  As you can see, we have made SOOOOO much progress over the last 27 years!  Jim Burns 2-part Advanced Youth Ministry seminar became the basis of almost everything I did for the next 10 years. (I finally got to thank Jim in Pittsburgh in  2005!) In those days, the general session speakers YS chose were there to challenge you to think.  No matter your theology or your politics, there was a main speaker who would really tick you off!  The whole thing was like drinking from a fire hose- totally overwhelming!  And then there was The Wittenburg Door banquet.  The Wittenburg Door was a magazine published by YS that featured satirical humor, generally making fun of the excesses of the church.  It's now just The Door and YS let it go years ago, but at the time it was quite a thorn in the side of the mainstream church.  For their banquet in 1982, the speaker was Dick Gregory, the radical, outspoken African-American comedian who was not known for his religious views or church language.  He held nothing back as he spoke about our responsibility as Christ-followers to feed the world and take care of the broken and cast out.  It was amazing, and I was among those who gave him a standing ovation.  Many had walked out far before the end.  My eyes were opened in a whole new way for about the 34th time that weekend!

It was also at this event that I met James Ward for the first time.  James was a featured musician at the convention, who came out looking like James Taylor- a skinny white guy in a white shirt and loose tie.  He say down at his piano and began to play, and JT disappeared and Stevie Wonder popped out!  He was incredible, and our paths would cross a number of times over the years.  His long out-of-print album Good Advice remains one of my very favorite contemporary christian recordings, even if it is on a cassette tape!  I also met and got to play guitar with Yohann Anderson (just YO to his friends!), the founder of Songs & Creations.  The Songs & Creations song book was the standard for youth group singing from the 1970's until the praise and worship movement of the 90's, and YO was the man behind gathering so many great songs in one place.  He led all the group singing at the NYWC until praise bands were discovered...

It would be 5 years before I returned to the NYWC (an event I would eventually attend 15 times, and speak at once) but the lasting impact of that first time would be difficult to overstate.  The lessons I learned and the connections I made would last the length of my ministry and beyond.  You will read many more NYWC stories as time goes by; you will hear some of these names again as well.  I returned to New Garden more fired up than any $100 a month part-time youth leader ought to be, ready to make the student ministry there all it could be.  How could I not be excited, with the words of the greatest speaker I have ever heard, Tony Campolo, still ringing in my ears:  "You are thinking the world is too big, and one person can't change it.  Well you CAN change it!  YOU can make a difference!"  I was certainly going to try...

Because of Jesus,