Balanced commitment to work

I am currently recovering from that sickness bug, and mixed in with it, I had a touch of flew I think as well. And before any women start it wasn't man flew. I was sick over the weekend, and am trying to get back to work today, things to plan for , and things to ensure our supporters know what is going on. Still very hot and shivery though, so where does the balance between realising our sickness and our commitment come in. I have felt a need to get back to work, but don't know how effective I am going o be Id there any point in being at work if not effective? How do others work this balance?

Sport and church

There has been a recent discussion on another blog that I ften look at and leave comments on, about young people's attendance to Church, and whether their sport practice gets in the way on Sunday monrings. There is a debate as to whether we should make young people go to Church, or whether they should have the choice. There is also a debate as to when people should woship, shoudl that be on Sunday mornings, or could that be at another time. It is an interesting debate, with something quite central. Should our time be prioritised by going to church, and everything else fit in around that, or is our prioriy, to be in the world, and also include and ensure that we are worshipping and praying to God. Personally I think it is important, vital that we are part of society, part of twhat is going on in the world, but yet, influencing it, helping to bring Christ into those situations. So if a young person has sport training on a sunday morning, then fine, as long as they are involved in worship and prayer at some point during the week. Faith and society, there needs to be a balance, as we need to worship, but also need to be lt and light in our world.

Every family should have one!!!!!

I was recently chatting to a youth work adviser friend of mine, and we were chatting about the difficulties that parents have with tenagers. He suggested that every family doesn't need a social worker but very family with a teenager should have a yoth worker attached to them. Often the relationship between the yoth worker and the young person is different than that between the parent and the young person, and maybe if there are problems, then the working together between the parents and the youth worker may make life that bit easier and better for all, and enable the young person to have the best of all worlds. Any thoughts?

Values in young people?

Where do most young people get their values from, and if it is us, how much influence does that mean we have over the future of our young people, and of society in general. If you think that we try and install values into young people, then the values we try and instill into th are the values they will demonstrate in the years and years to come, that is if they have taken on our values. The lfip side is that they may not take our values and create theor own, and again this will say a lot for the society we have in the decades to come. So let's think about the values we have as people, and the values we wish to instill into our young people, and the values we wish to see in our society in the years to come.

Panarama on social networking sites

Did anyone watch this programme last night. Ian Macdonald the DYO for the Oxford area has been flagging this up for some time, as well as others. I thought they dealt with it really well, and I have thought about showing it to some of my young people and even to my teenage daughter. Do we really think that our teens realise all the probs with social networking sites on the internet? And yet where do we fit into this as youthworkers, if we engage on a social netowrk site, do we give it permission, and if we don't get involved are we missing out on a segment of young peoples lives that are important. Difficult blanace here, but Panarama tackled the issue really well, and lots to chew over.

Fun at Christmas,

Does anyone here remember the 12 presens of Christmas sung by Frank Kelly, a number of years ago, got reminded of this o a different blog, and thought it was really funny. Christmas is the birth of Jesus, but it is a load of fun as well.

Dealing with emotions

How can we put our emotions aside when in the midst of a situation? time and time again I have thught that we need to stay professional in our approach, stay calm, stay real to our faith and our calling, and yet, we face al sorts of situations in our work. I wonder what strategies Jesus put in place, so he remained faithful to his call, without getting overly angry, frustrated annoyed with the people aorund him. How do we continually show that unconditional love to our young people, and let them know, that whatever the situation, they will always be loved?

Representing them all

I have recently got into a discussion with someone from a film company because they only want those young people who achiev, they only seem to want to use the young people they know rather than looking at the whole of young people. Do we sometimes fall into the same position, do we notice all our young people, all their gifts, all their abilties and all their tallents, or do we nly recognise those who could be up front and in the public eye. all our young people have gifts and abilities, so let's remember that God loves them all and so should we.

Bringing hope

If we think about Christmas, and the meaning behind it, can we take a principle here from the Christmas story and apply it to our youthwork. I think the idea that God recognised a world that had drifted from him, a world that had lost hope, and yet he sent Jesus, to give us hope, to give us a new chance of that relationship with him. So are we prepared to give our young people a second chance, can we do anything within our work, to give our young people a second chance and let them know that they are worth so much, a life, a lifetime of work, and also new beginnings each time something goes wrong.

what's most important

What is it out our work that makes it the most important thing? Is it the number of young people we reach? Is it what we actually do with the young people we have? Is it how the lives of the young people we work with turn around? And in all of this, where does Child Protection issues fall in, and do we pay enough attention to them?

Youthwork a future?

I was recently at a conference where this was the title, with the word Christian in there as well, and thorughout the day, there were many discussions on various issues. But the one thing that I suggested on one of our tables was the fact that our work is centred around young people and God, not us, not us trying to validate our jobs, but if we are committed to youth work, then the young people we work with should be at the centre of our work, not us. So as long as there is young people around, then youthwork should be around, and this should include Christian youthwork as well.

Embracing the future

recently I was in a conversation with about 8 other youthworkers anwe were trying to decide what the future would look like for young people in our country. There were all sorts of issues that came up, but the big question was, that whatever the future would look like, were we prepared to embrace that future and addapt and change and ensure that we were relevant to the young people of the time? Any thoughts?

Meaning of relationships?

I was at a conference recently, and we got into a debate about the ethics of relational youthwork. I argued strongly, that if we are in any kind of relationship then we stay in that relaitonship regardless of whether people do what we want and when we want them to do it. This came out of a discussion as to whether or not we act ethically by not telling people that we are in relaitoship with them because we want them to become Christians. But surely the deffinition of relationships means that we are in that relationship whatever the outcome, and just because someone does or does not become a Christian does not determine whether the relaitonship carries on or not. any thoghts on the ethics of relationships.

Christian workers dilemma

So here is the dilemma when dealing with life, or issues, or with other people, how do we balance our Christian herritage, IE, all those things inbedded in us through our Christian faith, and our experience, the things we go through in life. Where is the balance, and how do we find God through the experiences of life?

Principles of youthwork

I have thought about this for a while, as having two daughters, I have had to check myself, as sometimes i have treated them differently to the way that I treat other young people, applying different principles and different expectations, which is notalways fair or right. So it was just a thought, what Principles are there that underpin our yothwork?

Mission shaped Church?

This is something I just want to throw out there as a thought, or a challenge, or even as something that is just a little provocative. When I examine some of the stuff written in the New Testament, it suggests to me that Church, whatever that may mean was created of the back of various mssions that took place. This is particularly true within Acts. So why is it that we expect young people to go through a double converstion, first of all to believe in Jesus, but then also into the culture of church which is alien to the culture that they have to exist iin. Shouldn't church be part of life, not something that means us changing as people at a certain time during the week to be in a different place. Thnk of how we gain information, and then think about how information is given out in church. How do we learn things, and then how do people try and teach us at Church. It is just a thought that maybe we could create something around the people who we are meeting, and create something that is relevant for them and where they are at. Thoughts please!!!!!!!

Prepared to explore

So many times in youth work especially we come to something, a situation, or a person, and all ready have something inmind, we already have the answer, the thing that needs to be done. But how many times do we actually face something, and think, or decide well maybe we need to go on a journey with this, and just see how it turns out. So many times we think we know best, as adults, youthworkers, teachers, whatever, we just believe and know in ourselves we have the right answer, but maybe, just maybe sometimes it is worth exploring things with young people, no destination set out, and just see where you end up, you never know, they might just get something from it as well.

Empowering not enforcing

This is something that I always ty and do with young people. there is no point in me trying to enforce my beliefs, or even my suggestions in their lives, as they belong to me, not the young people I work with. It would be far better if I was able to empower young people to do things, in their own relationship with God, and therefore take ownership of their own events, activities and ideas. I am only the person who helps, assists, releases and empowers them to be the people who they are meant to be, I am not the enforcer who tells them how thig shsould be and how they need to d things. This is how god works with me, He releases me, empwers me to be who he wants me to be, but does not enforce or restrict me, he allows me to make mistakes, mess thing sup, and learn from that, maybe we should learn tha twithour own young people.

glamour or beauty

Here is an interesting question, do we go for the glamour of our work, the upfront stuff, in the public eye kind of stuf, ordo we go for the work that actually changes people's lives, which is the more beautiful? Sometimes we go for the glamour of something, without realising the beauty of the tough work. If you examine anyone who works on creating a carpet, they have to spend time, get their hands dirty, and get messy, but the outcom is beautiful, whereas someone who just takes the capret and sells it, loooks for the glamour. I think that Jesus is more interested in the beautiful than the glamour, more interested in the depth of change and difference in people's lives, than the headline fiure. So let's be involved, and create something beautiful.

Do we give them a chance?

So it is now the 21st November, the 20th has gone, Go MAD is now in our past, so did we give our young people a chance, did we get this idea out there, did they know about it? If we don't give them a chance, if we don't allow them the opportunity to do something, to make a difference, to change things in their lives, should we be really surprised if things don't change. God is always giving us opportunities, chances to change things for others, and for ourselves, we would not be happy if he didn't, would we? So why shouldn't we do tat for our young people as well.

give our young people worth

The whole idea of this day, this Go MAD day, is to give our young people worth, to help them realise that they are worth something, that they are psecial, that they make a diference in people's lives, and they the effort that they put into society is worth something as well. Is that what Jesus would have wanted, to ensure that everyone knew that they had worth, purpose andvalue as they lived?

One day to go!!!!!!!!!!

Ok people, just one day to go, before the whole country goes MAD. We have many people arond the country who are going MAD tomorrow, and Making A Differnece someone's life. Let me encourage you, to get your young people involved, get them t go mad, get them to Make A Differnece in someone else's life. Doesn't matter how big or small the act is, it would just be great if Hundreds of young people, Made A Difference in people's lives, then we can go to the press and get them to print it. So go on, get involved, get your young people to go MAD and let's make a big difference in someones life tomorrow, And get them to send their stories of what they did to info@rolltherock.org.uk

creating the environment

I have been examining what it means for me to have the environment to be able to reflect on various situations I have to face and also allow situations where my thoughts and my feelings can be allow to express themselves. Surely this is also true for our young people whom e work with. Because we need to create the environment for them to be able to express themselves, and be able to feel free to do so without restriction. this will be how they will grow as people, and also grow in their relaitonship with God.

Are we polarised?

This is an interesting question for me, as I have been doing some studying recently. the idea is that there are 3 perspectives that e can aproach things from: 1: do we constantly and only approach things from the Bible, or from our Christian Heritage point of view? 2: Do we approach things from our life experience point of view? 3: Or will we go on an exploration, and bring our life epxerience, and Christian heritage with us, and see how it all impacts us as people, and the life we live? The exploration approach will allow us possibly to be more open to God, and allow him to impact all aspects of us as people and our ives, so let me challenge you to explore, go on that Journey I spoke about yestrday, and see where you end up, rather than setting up a specific plan or destination.

Neutral or driving

this is an interesting thought, because if a car is in neutral then it doesn't go anywhere, but if someone is driving, and they do not necessarily know where they are going, then it is often useful to have a navigator. In either situation there is also the possibility that there could be passengers in the car as well, so do we boar our passengers by staying in neutral, or do we actually drive forward and see where we go. the challenge is, that we may not kow where we are going with our passengers, so we need that navigator to help us out. Let me suggest that maybe the navigator could be God, and we need to allow him to direct us where we are meant to be going. Rather than us suggesting that we know where we should be going, thus the journey of life, of work, of living begins. Because if we allow God to direct us, then we may not know exactly where we are going, and at what time or speed, but yet we allow him to direct us. And we go on that journey with our young people, and see where that adventure takes us.

How to move people forward?

Obviously as we reach young people and their lives start to change, and they start to make new decisions in their lives, there is something we need to think about, and that is how are we going to help them move forward. the question and challenge is, do we put them into something that we have aleady created, or do we go on a journey with them and see how we can encourage them and be with them during their journey, without any perscribed, directed way. Do we always know what is the best root, for young people beofre we have actually encountered them. Sometimes it is appropriate to put young people into something that has already been created, but sometimes it isn't, and we have to be big and brave enough to stand up and ensure that although pressure might be placed upon us, we ensure the best thing happens for the oung people we are working with.

We don't always know!!!

I have come across various issues recently that young people have challenged me over, and I haven't been able to answer them straight away. Rather than just feeding them an answer that might just get me thorugh, I have been really honest and said to them that I didn't know the answer, but what I would do, is go away, think it through, and then come back to them. they seem to appreciate this answer, as they know they aren't getting a half answer, but someone is alwys being genuine with them, and doing their best for them, and being honest. It occurs t me that if we are real and honest to the young poeple we work with, then they are more likely to listen to us. This means being genuine, honest, open, vulnerable, nd even at times looking stupid because we don't know an answer. But hey, better that than a half-baked one.

Closeness vs distance

While chatting to a teacher recently about a certain young person, they suggested that the young person in question did not always do what they were told in school. They suggested that the yong person in question did not listen to well to instructions. When thinking about this afterwards, I wondered whether or not the young person in question might need two things. One is boundaries, and that means bundaries that cannot be crossed at any time. And secondly, I wondered, about the approach of the parents, for if the parents are close, and spend quality, undistractable time with the child then the child is more ikely to do what they were told at home, and this may impact school as well. But the challenge is time, things to be done, things that need to happen, how do we balance between things to do and closeness, time, time that isn't distracted by other thins. god gives us time that isn't taken up with other things, it is time that isn't distracted with other things, and he never makes us feel that we have to fight for his time. Maybe that is something that needs to be put in place in young people's lives at home and at school as well.

Making things specific!!!!!

Recently I have heard from someone who has done a lot of research into Tweenagers, that age range from 10-13. they have looked at resources and idfferent issues around this age group. One of the interesting things that seems to have come up, is the difference between the younger end of the age-range and the older end. Is it possible to make something specific for the olders ones, and something specific for the younger ones. At the heart of the question, is making things specific, rather than just goruping people together. God doesn't group us all together, he looks at us as individuals, and treats us as individuals, so why don't we look at people as individuals? So let's remember that everyone is different, and has different neds and outlooks on life, and remember that God treats us as individuals, so we should do the same to others.

reality vs theory

I have been speaking today at another church, and when I was reflecting upon what I should talk about, I thought of Peter, and what he spoke about when over 3000 people became Christians in the one day. All that Peter spoke about was the difference that Jesus had made in his life, during the time he spent with Jesus, and the difference that knowing that Jesus had risen from the grave had made in his life as well. This is the difference between reality and theory. Many can talk about the theory of God, and religion and things, but the reality of knowing God is the thing that makes the differece in people's lives. So what else can we do but show the difference, and speak about the difference that God has made in our lives. Through the people that we are, people will see the difference, and we can only leave people with the thouts of the reality of the truth of what God has done in our lives, the rest is between them and God.

Tenacity

One of the strongest characteristics of a youth worker is that of tenacity. We have to keep pushing on even when other things get in the way, when adversity rises up against us. I always take comfort from Jesus, in that he tried to do good things, he brought hope to so many people, but yet the leaders of the time rejected him. But yet he persisted, he pushed on, he never gave in, right up to the end. So let me encourage you, no matter the struggle,no matter the problem, no matter what others may say or do, let me encourage you to have tenacity, and push on, because you are doing what God wants you to do.

Expectations

It has always been something that I have wresled with, Do we expect young people to come to something that we have created, at the time we have created it, or should we engage wth them, and create soemthing around the discussions we have with them? It occurs to me that if we expect them to come to something we have created, and at a time we have created it, then we are placing expectations upon our young people, hwereas if we create something new around them, aorund discussions with them, and around something that is relevant for them, they might just get ivnolved, and take some ownership of it. Open for discussion though?

Accountability!!!!

It was intresting last night watching Question Time on BBC1, and the question of accountability coming up for Sir Ian Blare the Chief Commissioner of the Met. there was a discussion about whether or not he should take responsibility for the actions of his force? the one thing that struck me, was that as youth workers, if a member of our team does something, then they are responsible and there is a clear accountability structure there. And ultimately the person at the head of the team is responsible for those within his or her team. So where do we all think that the accountability issue lies with us as youth workers? Is it right that we are responsible for the actions of our tea members, and are held to account for them.

Halloween culture shift

Just a thought that occurred to me after last nights interesting visitors. We only had 2 or 3 lots of kids come round to our door last night, but my wife interestingly handed out bananas to them, not sure why, accept we had got a load on monday, so she handed them out. But it occurred to me that these kids were really happy that someone had given them something, so why not change the culture of halloween, rather than it being a trick or treat night, why not make it a night where we give, isn't that part of the heart of the Christian message, giving? so if people expect to be gven something, why not give them something special, what ever that might be, rather than doing it out of fear f the trick, do it out of blessing people.

Staying focussed

Watching Spooks last night on BBC1 it made me think about staying focussed and achieving the things that God has called us to do. The Spooks team were faced and are regularly faced with hard choices, difficult situatins, and even times when it is possible that they may have lost members of their team, but through it all they remain focussed on their calling. How easy is it for us as youth workers to remain focussed upon what God has called us to do and be? do we put things in place to ensure that we can stay focussed, because it is those who stay focussed who will achieve the purpose that God has claled them too.

Complete planning

Watching a programme over the last couple of nights, examining the war in Iraq and the plans that were ment to have been put in place for after the war, it occurred to me that youthwork at times is not too much different. It is different in the respect that it is not necssearily a physical war we are fighting, but it does occur to me that complee planning is necessary, there is little point in running missions or outrech things if we are not thinking through and trying to put in place things and programmes for the young people afterwards. If we don't put the full thought in place, then we leave ourselves open to failure. But we also need to ensure that our preparations and planning is also guided and directed by God, and we also need to take into account the people we are reaching, and accept at times, we might have to create something of the back of our outreach that is apropriate, but as long as we know what we are aiming to do, and have ideas, then things an happen. what's the point in making the difference in young people's lives, and then loosing them due to lack of forethought.

Describing youthworkers

I came across this on another youth blog that I visit almost daily. And I wonder how many of us could assign ourselves to these 5 qualities of a yothworker that was suggested on this other site. How many could you say you were? Youthworkers: 1: See the potential in young people. 2: Put young people at the centre of their programmes. 3: Believe they can make a difference in young people's lives. 4: Believe they are contributing something to their society they owe. 5: Are unyieldingly authentic. I do like some of these, and think they lay down a huge challenge to us.

The unexpected

If we look at the life of Jesus he was always doing things that people didn't expect him to do. He also did things that excited people in their own lives. The thing for us to think about is, whether we are able to do things unexected in people's lives to amuse them, to excite them, to make them feel good, and give them worth and value. If Jesus can do this, and he said we would do even more than he did, then let's try differnt things, let's do the unexected, and let's see the difference that it makes in people's lives.

Knowing your position

I have been watching the football over the last couple of nights on tv, and it is interesting that there is usually a comment, or even more than one, about players strengths, and the best position for them to be playing in. Some players make good defenders, good midfield players or even good attackers, but even within these situations there are various positions where people would have strengths or weaknesses. So we also need to know that we have strengths, we are called to be youth workers, but what kind of youthworkers are we clled to be. As there are a variety of different defenders in football, there are also a dfferent variety of youthworkers that also exist. The manager of the footy team tries to put people in the right position according to their strengths, and their specific strengths, but sometimes he takes them out of position and they don't perform in the same way. the same is also true for us, sometimes people will take us out of our position, away from the strengths that we have, but ultimately we need to stay true to what god has called us to be, and the gifts he has given us. the interesting thing is that once a player in footy is played too many times in the wrong positiion by the ma aager, he doesn't play to his strength, and often ends up moving on to another team where he is placed in the right positin, we should not rule this out as far as ourselves are oncerned, as if people do not place us in the right position, god may well move us on at some point.

What kind of idea is it?

One of the amazing things I have found about youth workers, and it doesn't matter where abouts in the world they are from, they are always full of ideas. The challenge to us is what kind of idea do we have. Do we have good ideas, or are they God ideas? Because we can have lots of good ideas, but the best ones are God ideas, so let's take out the O from Good, and let's focus n the God ideas so that the things we try, and the thoungs we put into place are God ideas and more likely to make a difference in poeple's lives. Good ideas may make a bit of a difference, but God ideas will transform lives.

Faith linked with Risk

So many people we know in life have to, or need to take risks as they go through life. I am sure we can all think of people. But if you look at certain people within the Bible they not only demonstrated a risk, but they also demonstrated faith as well. Think of Peter as he saw Jesus walking on the water. Once he realised that it was Jesus, he also wanted to step out and walk on the water, he wanted to take the risk, and he had aith. The problem was that once he was on the water, his faith came into question, and he realised where he was. The reality of the situation mmade him question his faith and his situation. the challenge to us as youth workers is hether we are prepared to keep our faith in those difficult times, when others questions what we are doing, or don't understand why we do things. If Jesus has called us out of the boat, the challenge for us is to keep our faith and keep standing there next to Jesus on the water.

Risky business

I don't know how many of you have seen any of the programmes that Ross Kemp has done about gangs around the world, where he has to take risks to get to the people at the top of various gangs around the wrold and ask them why they do what they do. He has to go into many dangerous situations, but he learns lots, and is able to challenge them about the things hey are doing. How many risks are we prepared to take as youth workers, how many dangerous situations are we prepared to get into to know the young people we are surrounded by, and are we prepared to show that we are genuine, and we aren't just rying to know them to do anything else accept build relaitonships and bring them hope. This is what Jesus has called us to do, so the challenge is for us to take some risks and make the difference in young people's lives.

Go Mad

I have just returned from a two week trip to India where we saw many different projects and were blessed by so many people. We went with the attitude that we were not joust going to bless and give, but we were going also with the sprit of receiving, and my word we did receive from the people out there. When we were there we were able to do various things, and this brought so many smiles to the people we met, and it occurred to me that we can actually make a difference in people's lives, even witht he small thing we do. So Go Mad, means Go Make a Dfernce, and let's change lives. Because if you change a life, you start to change a community, and if you change communities you start to change the world, and what an awesome thought that we could be involved in God's call to change lives, and change the world.

empowering

How many times do we look at our young people, and we automaticlally think that we hae to do something ourselves. The one thing that I have noticed in various youth works, is that the young people don't actually do a geeat, deal, nor do they asked what they would like a great deal either. Sometimes I suggest we have to put our own agendas aside, our own ideas, and see where the young people are at,see what questions, what thoughts, what issues they have and work around them. Let's always remember that we do this job around the young people, not around us.

Living on the edge

Came across this phrase on anohter site if you aren't living on the edge you are taking up too much room. this I took to mean that we need to live our lives on the edge, constantly looking and creating new things, rather than staying in the norm, the mundain, the usual. So are you living on the edge or are you taking up a lot of room.

Conversionalists

When most people think of conversion, or converting, we use it in the way that we expect people to convert from one thing to anohter, maybe from one way of life to the christian way of life, but is there more to conversionalism than just onverting people. I would ggest that as Christians we have the obligation to convert our society, to change things iwthin or culture to make it more like the world that God would want for us. If God has breathed into us life, and he has created us, as suggested in Genesis, then we have that creative ability, and that also means creativity in our own culture. So let's look at our world, the communities or societies that we exisst in, and let's convert this world, let's trun it into the world that God would want us to live in, so let us be the conversioalists of the 21st century and convert this world.

Affect of pastoring

the Effect of pastoring young people can be emense. I heard a story recenlty where some youth workers were concerned about a young lad in their group. It came to light that he was being abused at home. anyway to cut a long story extremely short, by showing gods love in that family, by being with the parent and working thorugh issues, and not judging and supporting them all the way through the issues, the lad still goes to church and he mum does now as well. This would have been, and maybe should have evenbeen an issue for the authorities, but eh reality was that the Church was there and the Church help deal witht he issues, so not only was the issue sorted, but both lad and mum came to Church. This makes me think and thinkbaout the impact that we as youthworkers have not just on the young people we meet but also their family, friends, and other people in their lives. What a prielege.

Create new realities

I had heard this before, ut it rang again for me last week. As leaders, and especially as youth leaders, things cannot be allowed to stay the same. If you look at the culture that young people exist in today, nothing stays the same for very long, that is why they are excited, they try new things and want to get involved. It is our responsibility as youth leaders to keep that same enthusiasm going about our fiath, and their relationship with god. Youth work in Church is natorious for staying the same, predicatable, even, but we should be keeping things fresh, new ideas, not just hte same old, same old, same old, people get board of same old. So here's our challenge, create those new realities for our young people to ensure that new things happen in their lives, and new experiences and relaitonships with God are taking place.

Godly principle n our own work

Something I came across over the last week. If we study the story of Adam and Eve being thrown out of the Gaden of Edan, we automatically think that god has thrown them out for eating from the tree tha he told them not too. But how about thinking about it differently, how about thinking about it in the way that God got them out of there before they ate from the other tree that they weren't meant too. So rather than punishing them, God was actually saving them form anything else in the future. So how do we react to our young people do we punish them, or do we do the hard thing to try and stop them from doing things that they shouldn't be doing. Even when it seems hard, tough, unnecessary, if God can love and care about Adam andEve, then we should also care about our young people,

Awareness of God

How can we encourage people to have an awareness of God? Do we just tell them to sit and pray, to talk out loud? Bu then people ask how does God speak to people? Below are couple of suggestions where we could encourage people to be aware of God thorugh thing in their every day lives and know that God is with them. 1: Listen to a piece of music, any music, listen to the lyrics, listen to the atmosphere ofthe music, what does it feel lie, what things come to mind, what thoughts and feelings do you have. 2: Watch a film, look at th issues in the film, how people react to to each other, can God say anything about the film we are watching. 3: Just hold something, anything at all, think about it, diffrent aspects of it, and see if anything comes to mind. Just idfferent ways of engaging people with God and enabling them to relate to him ina way that is real for them.

Believing in god?

Recently I have started a Masters degree and it has brought up some interesting issues already. Some of which I shall post up here and see what comments we get back from them. Firstly, is it right that we expect people to believe in God? If people believe in something, then they generally believe in an idea, or a concept, rather than an actuality. Wouldn't it be better if we actually got people to be aware of God, to build that relationship with God rather than telling them then they need to blieve in god? Isn't that personal relationship, tht perosnal realisation of the awareness fo God far better than any concept of idea that we may have about who God is or could be?

Approaching families

Just a quick thought, having watched a lot of Hollyoaks recently, how would we as outh workers help that family out with Hannah's eating disorder? How ould we approach the family and what help could, or would we actually give them? How could you demontrate love in that situation, when the family are likely to push you away, and the duaghter just doesn't want to see anyone? touh, questions, but yet real ones.

How provocative are we meant to be?

I have been asked to speak at a conference day later this month. The last time I was there and asked to speak I caused a bit of contraversy on one of my approaches. The question is how provocative as Youth Leaders are we meant to be. I always think that young people gt a rough deal from adults, and that is largely due to the fact that adults make their decisions and make them farily quickly about teens. So do we need to be a bit more provocative to actually get people to think properly? Was Jesus ever deliberately provocative just to get people to think differently, maybe, bt does this also give us liscence to do the same.

How young people affect us?

I have just read another blog that I am linked too, and the person who hosts it has put a post up there from his daughter. You need to go and read it, it says everything everything that we as adults try and complicate, and mess up. But yet out of her words, her writing, comes truth, affection and love. Straight from god. visit www.youthblog.org and look at the posting on the 3rd of September

why do Christians do it?

Why is it that Christians always feel th eneed to create their won version of what is already in existence in todays culture. do they really think that God is going to less theirs any more than the origianl when all it is is the same thing, but with god or something like that attached to it. I mean we now have God tube, My Ichthus, what iwll be next, any suggestions here?

Who to believe!!!

have you noticed with Hannah in Hollyoaks everyone has noticed that something is wrong, but they have all jumped to the wrong conclusion. Hannah's mum has even believed her friends rather than spotting the real issues. So how easyis it for us when people tell us things about the young people we work with, do we believe what we get told straight away, or do we check out the facts and see if there are other issues involved as well. It is easy to believe what we think is in front of us, but sometimes we need to dig a little deeper to actually gt tot he truth.

Spotting the issues!!!!

How many of us have watched Hollyoaks recently, and thought about the issues that Hannah and her friend Millissa are going through. How many of us would really spot the issues, recognise what was going on, and how many of us would feel confident enough to actually do anything about it? tough roll the youth worker, because you need to be sure of circumstances before tackling things with young people or even family, but if not, if you leave it, how would you feel? Be cautious but do the right thing, tackle the issues, be obserant, keep an eye out, spot the strange behaviour, and I mean behaviour that is out of the ordinary? Recognise those differences, but show you care. Difficult roll, but yet, an important and vital one we play.

Is youth worker a strange title?

Has anyone else thought that our title as youth worker could be classed as a strange one, or even at its extremes a lie? Just think of all the different elements to our work, and then think about our title. I mean, we have to meet with somany adults, and tell them about the work, and even encourage them to support the work, how does that tie in to the part of our job decription where we are meant to be able to relate to Young people. I am sure there are many other areas of work, or our job, that will seem strange to our title, just think about it, and even have a lugh to yourself.

Get involved in the debate!!!!!

I know so many of us are so busy in life, but we should always take time each day, to reflect on a number of different things. Firstly, at some point during the day, we should always come into contact with Gods word whether tthrough listening, reading or remembering bis of it. 2: We should maybe even read part of a book, a book that is that stretches our minds, pushes oru boundaries of thinking, so not Harry potter then. But if we can't get a book then listen to some teaching apes or cd's, but something that prevokesus to think, not just to say yes, but something we may even disagree with, but we have to think thorugh why we disagree. And maybe lastly, get involved in a discussion board, a form, or a blog where we can get involved in debates about sticky issues and communicate with other workers. All these things will keep us sharp, keep us thinking, and keep us close to God as wlel.

Tackling those issues!!!!!

There are many issues in life that sometimes we just don't knwo the anser too. As a youthwokrer our young peple will expect, or even hope that we will have the answer to many if not all of their questios. someitmes we just won't know he answer, but we have to read, think, and research many things so we can have indepth and informative conversations with our young people. One website I would suggest we look at and reflect on is edges.tv. Mal fletcher is a wise man about culutre today and many issues around it. Have alook and think thorugh those issues he raises.

views on festivals

I am not going to any festivals this year, first time this would be the case for a long time. so if anyone has been, or is going to a festival, do let me know what you thought, the good bits and the bad bits as well. What could have been done differently, and what worked, what actually connected with the young people of our culture, and what was still Church from the 20th Century? Any oughts leave comments on here, anywhere or email me.

Christian versions of things!!!!!

Why is it that on a number of occasions, Christians go and make their own version of what todays culture has already created? Is there really any point in creating something exactly the same as what has already been created, but by adding god, or Christian in there, it gives it that higher status, because it is Christian. I am thinking of the site, Youtube,and now someone has gone and created Godtube, why? What is the point really? Can we not, as Christians use some thiings that are already created in todays culture and use them for God, or do we really have to go and create the same thing, but put God's name in there?

Retreat and refresh!!!!!

I have recently been told off by a couple of my closest friends, due to the little holiday I take each year. And when reflecting on their comments and suggestions, I can now see that there is much wisdom in their comments. 1: Jesus himself also retreated from people and had time for himself and his relationship with God. 2: If you constantly work, there is a chance of burn-out and so we do need to refresh ourselves. 3: If we are not fresh, then our work is not fresh either. 4: To have the greatest impact, things need to be fresh for us, becasue if they are boaring for us, then they will be boaring for those we work with as wlell. 5: Also good to take time and reflect, and think where weare at as people, and whether there are new challenges or things that God might want us to do. The greatest problem is convincing those who pay the wage, or expect the work, they alsoneed to understand the need, the point, the necessity of retreating and refreshing.

Youth camps?

We are in that time of year when there are so many different camps for young people it is difficult sometimes to decide which one to take them too. Soul survivor run about 3 different weeks for young people during the summer, as well as youth bits added onto New wine. There is also Harvest which takes place in the north East of England, and then there is Grape vine in Lincolnshire. I am sure there are oher as well such as Rock Nations in Bradofrd which are not necessarily camps but sitll youth conferences. Are there to many of these camps around, too much choice, have we taken this part of our culture to the extreme? The problem is that our young people would probably wnat the different parts of each camp to make ito one big camp they wanted. So where do we possibly draw the line, and is it down touus or the young people we work with to make this decision?

Empowering!!!!!

One of the great things I enjoy about youthwork, is seeing young people taking on responsibilities and making tasks their own, and devloping them further. When I postedyesterday about helping young peopleachieve things, one of the things I had in mnd, was enabling them to take on resposnibilities and help them to realise what they had achieved, and even think about what they could ahieve in the future as well. I know in some quarters this is seen as using young people, and using them as dogs boddies, but rally it is empowering, releasing, letting them be the people who Gdo wants them to be, and allowing them to find their own strengths, and weaknesses and realise who they are in god.

Achieiving!!!!!

It is always useful when we are working to have a time of rflection when we look back at all the things we have done over the last year, and all the issues that we have covered. It is useful to reflect on the issues, and look at how they have impacted peoples lives. When people look at what they have achieved, it si also useful to think about what people want to achieve in the coming year, and what things would help to develope their lives further, and what would help them achieve things over the coming year. Get people to think about where they woud like to be a year's time, and how they want to get there, and what issues or work, would enable them to get to where they want to be.

the whole is greater than the sum of the parts!!!!!

I have been thinking about this as I sit and write some material I might use for a book at some point. I don't think that there is any real point about looking at separate ministries and saying wow, look at all those different ministries, they are all different, but yet working with possibly the same young people. Surely it makes much more sense to look at a whole, whether it be a Church or an area, and sy wow what a difference is being made here. This would indicate to me the whole, IE, the whole church or area, could actually make a bigger difference, just by the waty that they are viewed, than by looking at all the different ministries. So yes, I wold say that whole is deffinitely more porductive, better, more helpful than the some of the parts.

Something most of us ain't thought about!!!!!

Most of us do our youth work for one of a couple of reasons. One, because noone else is doing it so we took it up, or we felt that we cared about young people, or maybe some of us actually felt that we were called by God into working with young people. So what is the basis of our work? god, or Jesus is not necessarily the answer I was looking for, althoug they are right and fine answers. But what is our theology behind our work? What is it that gives our work that Christian emphasis, or grounding? the answers to tis will be different from one person to the next as many factors need to be taken into account, but just something for us to think about, what is our theology behind our work?

What affects which?

When we work with young people, and obviously we want God to touch them through the work that we do, but do we go to God and work out what we should do with our young people, or do we look at their circumstance and try and work out our Theology around their circumstances. Do we go to God first, and then try and work that into the situation we find ourselves, or do we look at the situation and then try and see if we can fit God into that circumstance? I am sure that there are benefits to both, but which way round do we do things.

What grabs the headlines?

So many times we here only bad things about young people in the news or in the press, so what is it that grabs the headlines? Do we live in a culture where people are only interested in the bad things, or in things that go wrong? Why is it that we don't really here much about the good things, andwhat is there that we can do to change this culture? Is it down to us, to go for the extraordinary publicity to try and show something good, something that actually makes a difference in peoples lives. Let's do it!!!! Let's go for those bitof publicity which look wierd, but get the point across and make young people seen in a different light, that they are people, they are exciting, and they are decent and lovely people. Is that how God sees them?

Ideas or vision

I am sure that this is an issue that many people face, and us as youth workers are probably more guilty of this than many other people in ministry. How many times have we come up with an idea, and think that it is reat, and we go ahead with it, and try it out, and just see what happens. I am sure that most of us have done this at one time or another. But are all our ideas from God? Do they all fit into his vision? The big challenge is for us to have those ideas, and as youth workers we should be the nes who almost have the most ideas in a church, but then we need to ensure that they fit into God's vision, because our vision shoudl be God's vision, and there is no pint in going ahead with an idea if it does nto fit into God's vision. So let's come upwith those ideas, and be ready to refine them into God's vision, to ensure that they work, andare an amazing success.

belonging and believing

I have often wondered why we do things sometimes, is it to give our young people the feeling of belonging, and is it sometimes the opportunity to believe? I would suggest that if we give young people the chance to belong, and feel that they belong, then there could be an even better chance they will believe. Believing very often comes from belonging to something. If you look at life, how many times do we start to believe something, or accept things, largely becasue we belong to a certai group. Maybe the same is true for young people, if they start to feel as thugh they are involved, or they belong, they will soon start to believe.

why Label?

Came across an amazing thing that Frontier Youth Trust have been doing. Recently had some research done about views towards young people from adults, and also what young people thought of themselves. The research showed nothing surprsing, but it did highlight a few things, to the extent that FYT, took a large Jar around London, and had the slogan, lables are for jars not for teenagers, sounds a cool move, and hopefully will make people wake up and think.

Sacrefice, Good and Bad?

Kim spoke on Sunday about good and bad sacrefices, she got us to think about sacrefices that could bring good results and also sacrefices that could bring bad results as well. She showed us pictures and both her and Pete spoke about how in past there used to be sacrefices of animals ad of people, but none of that was relevant anymore, which I sahll post about later this week. But what sacrefices are there in our lives that are good ones, and what is there that would be a bad sacrefice? What is there in our lives that would make ur lives better, or help us achieve something if we sacreficed something else? We have the ability to sacrefice things to ensure great things for our lives, so it is always good to look at our life and see what is good, or wht could be better if we sacreficed something else.

How much responsibility do we give our young people?

with a new report out by Oona King, suggesting that young people need to be, and need to feel more of a part of their community, how much responsibility do we give our young people in Church? The report suggested that there should even be a young Mare for communities to start giving them responsibility in an area, so where can we give our young people more responsibilities?

Internet good/bad?

There has been a lot on this over the last few months on Tv and Radio, and I have also heard some talks on this subject at various conferences as well. Below I will just put out some stuff and allow people to comment, and even suggest other things as well. 1: Internet, Good, because of being able to get information fro around the world, being able to contact friends quicker, being able to put our own information up there easier, as well as being able to buy stuff, and sell stuff as well. 2: Internet Bad, due to things such as myspace and facebook,due to grooming, these companies ability to use your picutres and info to sell their product without your concent, chatrrooms, which abllow people again to groom and lead others into false sense of security, dangers upon life and information about you as a person as well. These are just osme of the thoughts from other places as well as my own, and the challenge for us is to think abot whether we as youthworkers by taking part in some of these things actually give credibility to any of them, and say that they are ok to our young people who we work with, and therefore lead them into dangers.

SacreficesIn ministry there are a whole load of sacrefices that need to be made, and maybe this follows in the way that Jesus lived his life. Below

In ministry there are a whole load of sacrefices that need to be made, and maybe this follows in the way that Jesus lived his life. Below are just a few of te sacrefices that probably need to be made, and I am sure there are more, so do add to them, and even comment on how difficult some of these sacreices are to make. 1: time: This means that we probably work fairly anti-social hours compared to most other jobs, lots of evenings, and maybe even some weekend work as well. 2: Relaitionsips: we need to ensure that the person we marry or are going out with understand sthe demands upon our lives. It takes a special person to understand the sacrefice that needs to be made not just by the youth worker but also by the family. 3: commitment: the youth worker probably has to be single minded about their post. It owuld be ery difficult if not impossible to have more than that particular roll within the Church. 4: Self: there are probably a number of things that you would want to do in your life and even during your life, but sometimes these things need to be put on hold to ensure that the calling that is upon your life is fulfilled. 5: Aspects of life: there are probably various things in a lot of peoples lives that could not necessarily be part of a youth workers life, depending on the time, and even the company. Some times the youth worke may have to think about where they go out to socialise, or even go out with their families, so that they can be themselves, and even have some family time without others taking over that time. As I said there are probably more, so add to it, and even comment on these ones.

The kind of youth work we do!!!!!

Just something that occurred to me over this last while, what youth work do we do, and what youthw ork actually works? Only I ask as this ia kind of vision question, what do we want to do? What do we feel that we do best? And What actually works for the young people we aim to reach? I have posted before about youth work initiatives that haven't worked accept for those who have taken part, so what is it we do best, and wha is it that actually makes the difference for the young people in our country today?

where does youthwork stop and begin?

ecently I have posted a comment on another youthwork blog, where this issue came up and was being discussed. where does youth work start and finish. More and more it is becoming obvious that young people are reaching teenage life quicker, IE, those aged 10-11 are prity much teenagers already n attitude and approach. And following that those at the other end into their 20's and 30's are thinking and even doing similar things to those in their late teens. So where does it start and finish, couple of quick points to think about. 1: do we put oung people into age boxes, or have we the ability to treat them all as individuals and look at their situations differently, if someone is 10 and yet thinking and acting like a 12 year old, does this come under youth work or childrens work, I think Youth work. 2: Those at the other end ar gradually living in a culture where things on tv and in mags are being aimed at them, because they have come thorugh the teenage culture that currently exists. Maybe there needs to be an 18-30 group in churches who are tought and do things in their own particular way rahter than beng expected to suddenly become that age group of adults, which generally means over 40. Our approach needs to be thought through, and also we need to ensure that we are not just neglecting the needs of some because they don't fit into where we currently think.

Overcoming the giants

If you look at the story of David, He didn't really see a giant in front of him, largely because he was close to god and knew that God would protect him and look after him. The problem here was, that Saul and David's brothers wante to make the giant real for him, and even make it bigger than what it should have been. So when we work with young people, do we help them overcome their giants, do we assist at making the giants smaller, or do we actually make the giants bgger than that of what they have see ifn the first place. Would we go and stand with them to face the giant? or would we stand back and encourage them like Saul did? I am not suggesting that we take the place, although there ay be times when taking the place of someone is apropriate and useful, but sometimes we all need to face up to our giants and eal with them. So let me encourage you to encourage others to face up to their giants, help them realise that the giants they see aren't as big as they think they are, and with the right support, IE, God, then the giant has to stand down, and they will live a life in confidence and the knowledge that they can overcome all difficult situations when they rely on God.

something that makes the difference!!!!!

It is really interesting for me to read about youth initiatives that really seem to have had an impact on the serface, but when you get down to it, the impact was minimal if anything at all. I have recently read a survey which looked at a major event in the uk over the last couple of years, and people didn't even seem to register it it a few months later. surely one of our rolls is to leave something impacting, something that is lasting and something that maes the difference in poeple lives. So let's do that, let's leave something that will challenge, provoke thoughts, and ultimately leave the difference of God in their lives.

How are you known?

This has been a really interesting question that myself and others have thought about on another blog that I make comments on. The question was about our title, are we youthw rokers, youth pastors, youth evangelists, and then youth an children's workes, youth and community workers, or where did we fit into this. So what is our primary goal, what is our title, and does our title really fit into the expectations that upon us. does a pator really make a good evangelist, and does ayouthw orker really make a good leader, I have looked a t is before. So where do you fit in, and does oyour title fit the expectations around you.

reap what you sow

How much are we prepared to sow into a situation or into those work situations that we are faced with, to see the best conclusion from any of those situaitons. The more that I look back upon my youthwork life, I see that the best results, the greatest things have happened due to the fact that I have sown, time, commitment and effort into a situaiton. So here's our challenge, how much are we prepared to sow into situaitons and poeples lives to see a change take place, so that God can reap what we sow.

net builders

this thought has been with me for a while now, but only properly formalised in a conversation I had with a Church leader this morning. For a net to catch anything in a number of things need to be in place. firslty, the ropes, and then the knotts that tie the ropes the togehter. It is easy in many ways to come up with ideas for our youth work, that would be the different ropes, but somehwere along the line the ropes need to tie together and the eality is that is where relationships come in. All the ideas need to be tied together, and they need to be tied together with strength and purpose otherwise they fall apart. Two challenges to this, one build those strong ties with our young epople so that they are linked and attached to what we are doing, but also bild those relaitonsips, and put those things in place to enable the young peope we work with to be caught in what we ar doing.

Making memories!!!!!!

It is amazing when you spend a number of years in an area, and working with young people all the time, that you often get stopped by adults who remember the work you did with them. This got me thinking, that if people come up and chat to us, then we have obviously created a memory fthem, a good memory hopefully. Is it possible that we are memory makers, in the way that people as they grow older at various times think back, and look back at their lives, and if we have given them anything of substance, then the mories we leave them with can still make that difference in their lives. Let's be those memory makers and have those adults later on in life come up to us and chat about the issues and things we did when they were young epople.

using our resources

When the walls of Jerusalem were being rebuilt, it was interesting how the men were separated and deployed to ensure that this actually took place. Half the men were set to build the wall, wheile the other half were set to fight and defend, thuse ensuring that th wall was built. What is there in our work, in ourlives that we are aiming to achieve, and can we deploy all the resources that God has given us to ensure that we achieve that goal.

Involvement?

In previous posts I have raised the issue of certian age groups and types of people being missed from our churches, and last time I raised the issue of how people learn, and how we teach. This time I want to raise the issue of involvement, because I am very much aware that people learn, enoy, get exciteed, passionate, and even believe in things more if they are actually part of things. Maybe if we are to keep young epople, and even devope them further through our churches, we need to look at how we involve them in our churches, not just the small menial jobs, but maybe, worship, teaching, caring, the things that make an impact in peoples lives. When I say menial, I do not mean that htey do not mean anything, but we ened to look to peoples potential, promise, gifts and abilites, to ensure that htey are being used in the right places, the right areas, and that they are being developed as people.

missing the agegroups

I have recently read a poston a blog which referred to an article in a magazine by the Methodist Church which suggested we have lost the ability to relate and reach those under the age of 45. It is certainly true that the age group from 20-45 i certainly missing in a number of our churches, but why is this, and do we need to change anything about our churches? One thing I will throw out there as a thought, and I will come back to this idea again, is that maybe the way we teach is different to the way people learn. The idea of sitting sitll and listening to someone talk for 20-30 minutes or longer, is somewhat strange to maybe those are missing from our churches. If we are really and truly going to reach a new generation, then maybe one thing to do is to change the way we get our message across.

Leader, friend, or roll model?

These are just a few of the different rolls that a youth worker plays out in their relationshi with young people. The question is where do you see yourself? Are you more of a leader, or a friend to the young people, or do you even see yourself primarily as a roll model to them and how they should live. I believe that we all play out these rolls as yth workers, but there needs to be some kind of balance to the different rolls we play, and we also need to understand the implications for us in the different rolls and how we see ourselves.

Who is our inspiration?

I know that the first and obvious answer to this question, and also the right answer, is Jesus, but I was wondering about who is there in life that we look up to and why? Followingon from my posts about celebrity status and roll models, I am sure that part of the reason we do what we do as yuth workers is because of someone we have seen or come across in our past. But ho.w do we hold them, in what regard do we hold them? Are theyalso roll models, or do we place some kind of celebrity status to them? It is just something to think through, about the difference between being an inspiration, or looking to someone for inspiration, or being celebrity

Roll of the Roll model?

Following on from my post about celebrity status, it made me think about the whole area of a roll model. I have often said that roll models in society do not set themselves up to be roll mdels, it is media, and others in soceity that raise them to this lofted position. so the question is, by being youth workers, are we actually saying by our positions that we are roll models to young people, or again like actors, singers and oer famous people, are we just people whom others raise up into that lofted position?

Celebrity status?

Just something that struck me whilst lstening to the radio this morning, as they discussed how celebrities have an impact on the sexual activity of our young people, who actually makes people celebrities, and as youth workers is there a kind of celebrity status that goes with our job, and if there is how comfortable are we with that? As I walk through town time after time, so many young people come up and want to chat to me, and even shout to their mates, looks it's Andy, which gives almost a kind of celebrity status to our youh work, but is this something we should look for or something we should even fight against? Personally it is great that young people want to talk, and I would suggest that we should neve fight against that status that young people want to put upon us, but also remeber that it is God that we want the young people to know and come into relationship wh, not us.

Working with the Culture?

there are two quick things I want to say about this today, the first is working with young people is often difficult because of one thing, and that is where they come from. so many times I ve worked so hard with a young person, but then met theiparents, visited their surroundings and then everything becomes obvioulsy clear to me. So the chlallenge is for us to work witht the young person in their culture, but also haelp them to break out of their culture. the second issue with culture,is how much culture are we allowed or prepared o work with? On a personal basis there is little I am afraid of if God can use then, I will be there to put myself in Gods hands. Times move on, and things change, God knows that himself, so he also knows that he can and does use things for his purpose, so let's nt be afriad or against many things in the uclture that we live in, le's even use some of it for the furthering of Gods kingdom.

How long in post?

It is interesting when we look in various magazines that advertise for youth workers, and the average length of time for an appointment is 3 years. Te question I ask is that time really long enough to actually make a big difference. When I talk about difference, I wonder about the young people who are already there, the young people you could come into contact with, the way things are done in the Church and how you could move things on, or even esablishing youth work within the culture of the church. so many issues there, and I wonder if 3 years is really enough to make the difference, to establish the change, or even to lay the foundations?

Believing in the future!!!!!

I the book of John chapter 10 verse 10, Jesus talks about a thief coming and stealing, but yet he comes to bring life and hope in all its fullness. This is a great verse, and so much can be brought out of it, but the one thing that I have thought about and reflected so much on recently, is that people around us, today and in our pasts can steal from our future, and god does not want that to happen. Nor does he want it to happen to the young people we work with. But yet so much in the press, and elsewhere is negative and even to the point of offensive to young people. The reality is that if people can keeep ons aying things, and say them often enough then people will beive in what they say. So in a world that is negative, and even offensive, are we prepared to try and break that culture, and speak positivity into young peoples lives, so that htey can beleive they have that futre and leave the past where it is in the past. Let's enesure that noone seals the future from young people, and work thorugh those issues from the past that could steal from their futures.

Meeting together?

this is always a tough one to look at as we live in an age where veryone is always so busy doing things, and the busier we are the more people seem to want us to do. There is a strange phenomena within the christian life that the busier someone is, then they must be worth having, so we shall book them in for something as wlel, just to add to their busy lifestyle. But amongst that business we alwso need to have time where we just meet up and talk to each other. It is easy to through ourselves intour own work, our own ministry, our own church, but we all need that suport, encouragement and bonding from those who are in simialr rolls to ourselves. In the Acts of the Apostles, they always found time to meet, to support and encourage eachther, even though they all had their own particular ministry to ensure it happened. so here we are 2000 years later, and yet we struggle to meet together, and chat to each other because we have our own things to do, does anything need to change? Can we take anything from the past into the future.

Varied Life?

The more and more time I spend in youth work, and in ministry, I find that there are more and more people who just throw themselves into Church, or their ministry so to speak, but I wonder if that is what God would really expect from us? Jesus himself even took time out, for himself, he went away, he hid from others, I imagine if there were various things in those days as there are now he would have had varius interests outside of his ministry. Can I put it out out there that it is not healthy for us to totally and absolutely just foucs on our ministry during our waking hours. Can I suggest to you all that we need to have interests, passions, whether it be football, golf, films, (and not thinking how you could use the film in youth work), but let's enjoy life as well as enjoying the minstry and privilege that god has called us too.

How much will we take?

I have just been thinking this issue through on another blog that I write for young people, but also think that it is an important one for us as youth workers. How much are we prepared to put up with from our young people? When they start being awkward, not listening, not following guidence, going there own way, causing disruption, how much will we put up with? the reason why I started thinking of this was due to how much Jesus put up with. He chose 12 "friends", some argued about having the best seat in Heaven,One stole money and betrayed him, another even denied knwoing him, but yet Jesu still washed their feet, had communion with them as well. Even wth Judas who was about to betray him a couple of hours later. So if Jesus demonstrated so much by his actions, and put up with so much, what does this tell us as youth workers?

How creative are we?

I have just read another blog that I look at reguarly, and they have been looking at how you are able to fit some words from a song to the music of another song. Ad this has got me thinking how creative are we when it comes to our work. Can we take things and use them in an environment that will not just make people laugh, or entertain them, but also give them things to think about. When it comes to our youthwork, what is there that we take from other places and put into our work that iwll make a difference in the lives of the young people we work with.

Change the culture?

Following on from my thoughts about what we should take from a culture and apply to our own work, how much of our own work should be challenging certain issues within a culture and trying to transform that culture into a different one. Recently someone tried to offer a ree meal, people didn't come, I think because they were supecious fo a free meal, but why is this, if there no attachments then why be suspecious? My susggestion was to persist, and show that we can break that culture of suspecion. So if we can do it with suspecion, surely wecan change other issues withoin our culture by being the people that God wants us to be, and following principles in our lives.