On November 22, 1963, a happy little 4 year old boy went to a "Wild West Day" taping of The Old Rebel Show in Greensboro, NC. This classic of local TV children's programming was a big deal in those days, and I was dressed in my best cowboy outfit, ready to enter the quick draw contest that was the highlight of Wild West Day. The show was taped in the morning and the broadcast in the afternoon, by which time I would be with all my friends at Mrs. Poe's daycare. One by one the competition was eliminated and I was named the champion of the quick draw contest. I was given a badge and a few prizes, and I left the studio bursting with pride and joy at my accomplishment. I couldn't wait for my friends to see me in action. The appointed time arrived, and Mrs. Poe turned on the little black and white TV she had so we could all watch. But The Old Rebel Show was not on. Something strange was happening. For some reason, the news was all that was on that day...
It seems that in far away place called Dallas, another man had been playing with guns that day and had done something awful. Our president, John F. Kennedy, had been shot and killed- and coverage of that story was all that was on TV. I was 4 years old. I didn't understand what an assassination was, or who JFK was. I just knew The Old Rebel was not on. I cried and cried. In fact, as the next few days unfolded and our country fell into a time of unbelievable grief and pain, the coverage of the event just went on and on. And my moment of glory was never aired. It seems so insignificant now, but to a 4 year old it was a really big deal. 48 years ago today a part of our nation's hope and future died in Dallas. 48 years ago today a part of my childhood died in NC. After all, you only get one shot at winning a quick draw contest on TV. After all, you're only a kid once...
Or are we? Even at my rapidly advancing age, there are still moment that make me feel like a 4 year old again. Every time I walk down Main Street at The Magic Kingdom. Every time I watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Tomorrow, we all get a few days to honor the child that still lives in us all. The Muppets arrives in theaters. Do not miss this chance to remind yourself and your family of what simpler times and true joy feels like. Do not miss this chance to let your inner child come out and play! If you need any more incentive to get your family and friends out of the house and into the theaters this weekend. here it is...
We often talk about "the good old days" as if they were all peaches and cream and today is all dark and scary. Sometimes it is the other way around. Be thankful today for the blessings of your world. Enjoy every moment. Don't let your inner child become sad and bitter like a 4 year old whose big TV moment just passed him by. It still hurts a little bit to think about, because I have to tell you- I looked GOOD in my cowboy costume. Thursday I will watch the parade and feel the rush of childhood excitement. This weekend I look forward to letting Kermit, Gonzo, Piggy and the gang help me get a piece of my childhood back. However you choose to do it, I hope you will all do the same. "...and have faith like a child."
Because of Jesus,
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Chair
If you have ever walked into my office (or the office of any other youth pastor) then you have been one of the people who sat in "The Chair." A youth pastor deals with a wide variety of people and issues during the course of any given day, and the results are often funny and never boring. I have wanted to post this video here for a long time; I finally found this version through my friend Patti Gibbons blog (http://pattigibbons.com/?p=1290). It's sort of long for a blog post (16 minutes), but coming from the brilliant minds of The Skit Guys it is sooooo worth the watch. It is a wonderful & hilarious illustration of why youth pastors do what they do- and why I did what I did for 28 years. Enjoy. And for all of my youth pastor friends out there, never forget how important you are in the lives of so many young people. I know that none of you will ever forget anyone who sat in "The Chair."
Because of Jesus,
Because of Jesus,
Sunday, November 20, 2011
"Jesus Is the Rock...and He Rolls My Blues Away!"
 |
| Hamp, Connor, Jacob, Scott, Jerry, Nate & I- NYC, 1997 |
 |
| Tim, Me, Yac & Jerry at the NYWC in 1996. |
Because of Jesus,
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday Shout Outs!
- It is a moral imperative that you all get out and see The Muppet Movie next weekend. Show the world that great family movies can make money, and that felt covered puppets are better than computer generated aliens and pasty vampires. Just an opinion. BTW- this Kermit lives in our house! :)
- My Mom and Marilyn's sister Carol (along with her hubby Bill) are going to be with us here in Tampa all next week for the holiday. We're excited to have the company, which raise the following question: When are YOU coming down? :)
- I had lunch again this past Thursday with Stephanie Greife Owens (Wesley Memorial UMC). As always the conversation and the company were great. Love you Stephie!
- I am truly sorry I can't be in Greensboro, NC next weekend. First, on Thanksgiving Day Teresa Reep Tysinger (FUMC-Kissimmee) is going to be walking a 5K race, and I would love to be there to taunt her from the sidelines. Then on Friday night there is a party of a group of some of my favorite people in the world- the youth group I grew up in! Steve Semmler, Carl Semmler, Andy Maynard, Beth McGalliard, Tammy Foster and who knows who else are getting together, and I hate to miss it. Someday soon I'll be back up there. That's a promise!
- Jennifer Minnigan Kuramochi (FUMC-K) has started her own blog! You can read "all about Bob" by visiting http://faithfamilyandfish.blogspot.com/. Go now!
- Many of my favorite people and Twitter friends are gathered in Atlanta right now at the National Youth Workers Convention. I really miss those amazing events. Pardon me while I pout....
- Congratulations to the Page High School Pirates (Greensboro, NC) on a big come from behind win in the against the defending state champions in the football playoffs last night! Head Coach Kevin Gillespie and his wife Andi Brooks Gillespie along with assistant coach Jeremy Godwin (all Springfield Friends TNT folks!) are undefeated and headed towards the state finals. Co Pirates! Arrrrrgggggg!
- Twitter is an wonderful thing. Every day I am blessed through communicating with a family of friends (way too many to mention) that I continue to grow closer to...but for the most part have never met. Plus it's a great way to harass old friends (Am I right Ashley, Brook, Jamie and Jackie?) as well. If you tweet and we aren't connected, follow me @youthguy07. It's very cool!
- Marching Band season is finally over for Will, so our house returns to some semblance of normalcy- just in time for the holiday season. It's just exhausting!
- I believe most every situation in life corresponds to a moment for a Seinfeld episode. I am beginning to believe the same is true for How I Met Your Mother. Will agrees with me.
- As you may have heard I am now available for text messages. Give me a shout if you want my number- would love to hear from you guys in a whole new way- for me, anyway!
Because of Jesus,
Friday, November 18, 2011
Words I Wish I Had Written
“Because salvation is by grace through faith, I believe that among the countless number of people standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands (see Revelation 7:9), I shall see the prostitute from the Kit-Kat Ranch in Carson City, Nevada, who tearfully told me that she could find no other employment to support her two-year-old son. I shall see the woman who had an abortion and is haunted by guilt and remorse but did the best she could faced with grueling alternatives; the businessman besieged with debt who sold his integrity in a series of desperate transactions; the insecure clergyman addicted to being liked, who never challenged his people from the pulpit and longed for unconditional love; the sexually abused teen molested by his father and now selling his body on the street, who, as he falls asleep each night after his last 'trick', whispers the name of the unknown God he learned about in Sunday school.
'But how?' we ask.
Then the voice says, 'They have washed their robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'
There they are. There *we* are - the multitude who so wanted to be faithful, who at times got defeated, soiled by life, and bested by trials, wearing the bloodied garments of life's tribulations, but through it all clung to faith.
My friends, if this is not good news to you, you have never understood the gospel of grace.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out
Because of Jesus,
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Legend of The Country Quakers
As I mentioned yesterday, the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention is in Atlanta this week. I attended several conventions in Atlanta, but there is always one moment that stands out in my mind above all others. This is that story.
In the late 70's or early 80's (those years really run together in my mind!) Alan Brown showed up at my house one day having written most of a song about a blue pick-up truck. It was the type of song where heartbreak is all around- a true parody of country music. I helped him finish it, and it became legendary around Quaker Lake Camp and NC Young Friends events. As time passed, Alan was not around those events much and I took to singing it by myself. In 1986 I sang it at New England Yearly Meeting and it killed. It seemed that people everywhere could get into this song.
At the 1987 National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta there was going to be a "talent show" at the annual Wittenburg Door Banquet. I had brought my guitar with me, and at some point Terry Venable, Ray Luther and I decided we would audition for the banquet and sing Blue Pick-Up Truck. The three of us had never performed the song together before, but we woould be bound together by history. Ray would follow me as Youth Pastor at Springfield Friends Meeting, and they would follow Terry as Senior Pastor. He is still Pastor there today. Ray was by far the best singer of the group; I knew the verses; Terry was there for moral support! We auditioned under the name The Country Quakers. They let us sing part of the song and then told us we would get a call letting us know if we were in. The call came, and we would make our debut in front of 800 or so youth workers.
The Wittenburg Door Banquet was a wild affair each year, and 1987 was no different. We were sharing a table with some Mennonites who were wearing hotel shower caps. People dressed crazy, acted crazy and had lots of fun, all without the benefit of alcohol! Wayne Rice did his Sinatra impression ("I did it His way...") and Mike Yaconelli made fun of everyone. Before we knew it, it was our time to take the stage, one of the final acts of the night.
I introduced the song in my usual way- "How many of you like country music?" After the cheer went up in response, I would say, "Well then you will hate this..." We got a good laugh and started the song. The first verse and chorus passed with some laughter, but we had no indication of what was about to happen. People began to clap along with the music. After the second verse, as we started the chorus again, I jokingly yelled out, "Sing it if you know it!" To our shock, they did! The place was now rocking, and we were really getting into it. Everyone in the room was standing and clapping along. The room itself was pretty dark, with candles on every table. Sometime during the final verse we noticed that someone at one of the front tables was standing in a chair and waving a candle. Others began to copy him, until he and some of the crowd were actually on the tables singing and waving candles. We couldn't really see at the time, but when the lights came up we discovered it was Tony Campolo, world renowned speaker and teacher, who had been our biggest fan! We received a huge standing ovation, and Wayne Rice told me he thought we might be the biggest hit in the history of the banquet. Tic Long, who selected the acts for the night, told us later he had chosen us because he thought we would get booed off the stage; we were supposed to have been the "Gong Show" act of the night! I just hate that this was before the days of video phones; I would love to have a tape of it all. But trust me, the song is EPIC! I will consider recording the song to publish here on the blog- if enough of you request it! :)
The next day we were full blown celebrities. Everyone wanted to say hi and offer congratulations. Yohann Anderson wanted to publish the song. Tony himself stopped me in the hall to tell me how much fun it had been for him. The Wittenburg Door Banquet changed and then was discontinued, so that was my one and only bit of NYWC fame. It was also the one and only performance of The Country Quakers. Always leave 'em wanting more, right?
Because of Jesus,
 |
| Alan & I at QLC |
At the 1987 National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta there was going to be a "talent show" at the annual Wittenburg Door Banquet. I had brought my guitar with me, and at some point Terry Venable, Ray Luther and I decided we would audition for the banquet and sing Blue Pick-Up Truck. The three of us had never performed the song together before, but we woould be bound together by history. Ray would follow me as Youth Pastor at Springfield Friends Meeting, and they would follow Terry as Senior Pastor. He is still Pastor there today. Ray was by far the best singer of the group; I knew the verses; Terry was there for moral support! We auditioned under the name The Country Quakers. They let us sing part of the song and then told us we would get a call letting us know if we were in. The call came, and we would make our debut in front of 800 or so youth workers.
The Wittenburg Door Banquet was a wild affair each year, and 1987 was no different. We were sharing a table with some Mennonites who were wearing hotel shower caps. People dressed crazy, acted crazy and had lots of fun, all without the benefit of alcohol! Wayne Rice did his Sinatra impression ("I did it His way...") and Mike Yaconelli made fun of everyone. Before we knew it, it was our time to take the stage, one of the final acts of the night.
I introduced the song in my usual way- "How many of you like country music?" After the cheer went up in response, I would say, "Well then you will hate this..." We got a good laugh and started the song. The first verse and chorus passed with some laughter, but we had no indication of what was about to happen. People began to clap along with the music. After the second verse, as we started the chorus again, I jokingly yelled out, "Sing it if you know it!" To our shock, they did! The place was now rocking, and we were really getting into it. Everyone in the room was standing and clapping along. The room itself was pretty dark, with candles on every table. Sometime during the final verse we noticed that someone at one of the front tables was standing in a chair and waving a candle. Others began to copy him, until he and some of the crowd were actually on the tables singing and waving candles. We couldn't really see at the time, but when the lights came up we discovered it was Tony Campolo, world renowned speaker and teacher, who had been our biggest fan! We received a huge standing ovation, and Wayne Rice told me he thought we might be the biggest hit in the history of the banquet. Tic Long, who selected the acts for the night, told us later he had chosen us because he thought we would get booed off the stage; we were supposed to have been the "Gong Show" act of the night! I just hate that this was before the days of video phones; I would love to have a tape of it all. But trust me, the song is EPIC! I will consider recording the song to publish here on the blog- if enough of you request it! :)
The next day we were full blown celebrities. Everyone wanted to say hi and offer congratulations. Yohann Anderson wanted to publish the song. Tony himself stopped me in the hall to tell me how much fun it had been for him. The Wittenburg Door Banquet changed and then was discontinued, so that was my one and only bit of NYWC fame. It was also the one and only performance of The Country Quakers. Always leave 'em wanting more, right?
Because of Jesus,
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
My First NYWC- Dallas, 1982
In honor of the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Convention beginning today in Atlanta, I am sharing this vintage post (with a few changes) that originally appeared here October 15, 2009. Blessings to all of my friends who are attending this week- do something wild & crazy for me!
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 ofYouth 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 yet a part of the Zondervan (or any other) 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- this would not be like any other "church" event I had ever atended! 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:
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 would be at least one 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 outcasts. 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 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 Friends Meeting 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,
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 ofYouth 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 yet a part of the Zondervan (or any other) 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- this would not be like any other "church" event I had ever atended! 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...
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 would be at least one 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 outcasts. 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 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 Friends Meeting 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,
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