Live A Revolution... Every Day

United State of Pop (Blame it on the Pop) Mashup

Just saw this on CNN. Loved it and had to share. By DJ Earworm

Finding the Right Tool to Get Students to Open Up

 

This is the tool I use to open up the hood to my car. The thing that you would typically pull to open a car hood broke a couple of years ago. So, if I don't have these pliers, my hood doesn't open. 

It's a tool that's not typically thought of to open the hood of a car. Yet, it's the only tool that will open my car's hood. I know this, because I drive my car. You wouldn't necessarily know that you need to use something different to open up my car's hood unless you looked closely.

And, here's the thing...

This is true when it comes to students.

You can't always use the same tools on every student you come in contact with. 

You have to use what works. And the only way to know that, is to get to know your students. To look closely into their lives and be with them.

If you do that, you'll discover what you need to open up their lives to you.

One of the Funniest Videos Ever About Youth Workers

The "Heartless" Kanye West & Taylor Swift

Everyone's aware of the Kanye West fiasco last night on MTV.

There's not much more to say about it. However, one word comes to mind: BULLY.

I could get upset and not listen to Kanye any longer and boycott his music. But I'm not going to do that. I'll probably buy more of his music.

I found myself calling him an ego-maniac and worse.

Then I remembered how rude I was two days ago - how I like to make a lot of things all about ME - and worse.

The amount of hate that Kanye carries must be heavy.

So, instead of jumping on the band wagon of bashing Kanye, I feel sorry for him.

Besides, he'll get his when Taylor writes a song about him... :-)

Let's Talk About Sex Baby

Bristol Palin went on the Today Show this morning to talk about how she is working to campaign against teen pregnancy. She wants students to learn from her example.

Question. Does this kind of campaign work? Maybe. Maybe not. I think it leads to more confusion... presenting the pregnancy and the decision to have sex as a mistake. 

According to the article on the Today Show's page, the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the industrialized world. Each year, some 750,000 American teens get pregnant, according to the Candie's Foundation.

 This is an obvious cue, I think, to churches and student ministries to step up to the plate and teach God's plan for sex. 

And if you're scared to do so, grow a pair and take the heat. Cause your kids are using theirs to stir up their own heat.

Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct

I'm a gadget junkie. If I had more cash flow, I would be swimming in the latest tech toys. But I don't. In any case, I thought this was an interesting story on Fox News: Gadget Graveyard: 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct.

1. Landline Phones. If @jamiruth would let me get rid of ours, it would be gone.

2. Floppy Disks. Need I say more?

3. Wristwatches. I knew these things were on their way out 5 years ago when I asked what time it was and everyone pulled out their cell phone.

4. VHS tape and VCRs. TiVo and DVRs are so much better. But now we can watch our shows online. So when will DVRs go extinct.

5. Beepers. Seriously, they're still around? I think even the drug dealers gave up on them years ago!

6. Film cameras. I still love Polaroids where you have to shake the photo.

7. Typewriters. It's too bad they're gone. I loved throwing back the thing that moved the letters.

8. The Walkman, Discman and MiniDisc Player. I never even had the MiniDisc Player. 

9. Dial-up Internet Access. I would shoot myself if I had to go back to this.

10. DVDs. Almost all of our Dora the Explorer content is kept on our TiVo. ALL of our Backyardigans and Mickey are for sure. And I would rather rent a movie without going out.

So what did Fox News miss. Any tech toys you think will be extinct soon that didn't make the list?

What Does It Mean to "Live A Revolution Everyday?" Jeremy Zach

Next in my exploration of what it means to Live A Revolution is Jeremy Zach. Here's what Jeremy had to say:

"Everything about my life is at odds with this world. My life is a revolt against Satan's domain. To Live A Revolution means to live a life that stands out. Lohfink, in his book Jesus and Community, labels this as living as a contrast society. In the Lord's prayer Jesus states, 'Bring your Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.' Living A Revolution means to be the Kingdom of God here on earth, which means to: 

Love someone

Care for someone

Forgive someone

Bless someone

Be patient

Be kind

Be a healer

Be a reconiler

Be gentle

Be a peacemaker

So every time I am revolting I am attempting to collide the earthly reality with the reality of who God is! Living the teachings of Jesus is tough. So, therefore, it challenges us Christians to live a life of revolt, which is heavily confronting the ways of this world. This is why I love when Jesus performs a miracle. NT Wright argues that the whole point of Jesus' miracles is to see the moments when heaven and earth intersect with each other. The point is not that they are stories which couldn't have happened in real life, but which point away from earth to a heavenly reality. In a way, divinity is visiting humanity. When Jesus is performing miracles it is as though God's will is on earth as it is in heaven."

I'm just getting to know Jeremy, but you can feel his heart blasting away. There's true passion and heat behind what he's saying. And then I get another email saying:

"Sorry, one more thought. As revolters we confront individualism, self sufficiency, materialism, paganism, independence, liars, corruption, injustice."

Isn't that soooo true. I battle with each one of the eight things above in Jeremy's last thought. This dude is on target.

Jeremy is the youth pastor at the Little Church by the Sea (cool name). He is committed to small church and has had the opportunity to write for a few student ministry curriculum and youth ministry magazines. He also lives in Laguna Beach, CA... sounds rough! ;-)

Thank you Jeremy for unloading on us!

What Does It Mean to "Live A Revolution Everyday" - Pete Wilson

Over the last month, I've been reconsidering the idea of what it looks like to Live A Revolution Everyday. I've got my own opinion, which I will share at the end of the discussion. But, I thought it would be appropriate to gain some ideas and wisdom from others. Over the next few days/weeks, I'll share with you the thoughts from those who are well known, and those who are my close friends. So, are you ready? Here we go:

What does Living A Revolution Everyday look like to you?

Pete Wilson: "I would say, for me, it's living completely open to what God has called me to do and not what the world pressures me to do. It's allowing my mind to be renewed daily by the love and power of Christ so that I can go out and live His life and not my own!"

If we are going to Live A Revolution Everyday, this is something all of us have to get. Pete is straight on with his thoughts. Each one of us is called to something. Those who pursue that calling with the courage and strength in Christ, are living out that Revolution. Because, when it gets tough, it's easy to give up. But when you give up, nobody wins. 

"Pete Wilson is the founding and senior pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. This is his second church he's planted in the last seven years. His first church, Morgantown Community Church, was planted just weeks after graduating from college." - Taken from his bio.

I love Pete's transparency as he expresses his heart on his blog. (I also love his style - no, I don't have a man crush.) If you haven't been by, you need to get there on a daily basis. 

Thanks, Pete, for taking the time to share your heart.

So what do you think? Does this hit the mark? Anything you would add? Let's get it going.

I "F'ing" HATE FAKE

I've been thinking about the idea of authenticity. What does healthy authenticity look like in my life. In the life of students. Is there even a thing called healthy authenticity. That's something I'm working on - right now - in real time. 

Because I hate fakeness. Diddy might call it "Bitchazzness". I despise the idea of being "fake". I've been there and done that - all in the name of conformity. All in the name of being accepted. All in the name of fear. I HATE FAKE! 

I think we can all agree with that statement. Let's yell it together,

 "I HATE FAKE!" 

So, now that we know that I HATE FAKE, let me tell you what I love...

This past week at Revolve, I was catching up with a student I hadn't seen in a while. As he talked about how he's doing and some of the things he's going through, he dropped some colorful language. I LOVED IT! I loved every part of the conversation - swearing and all.

What, Todd? You love it when a student cusses? Yes! 

I love it when a student is real. When they're not checking themselves at the door. 

One of the things that turns my stomach is when a student checks their speech when they die in Halo 3. You know what it sounds like... 

"Oh shi--oooot." 

They're not checking their language to make a life change. They're checking their language because they're at a "religious" event and don't want me to know they cuss. They're checking it in the name of conformity, acceptance or fear. Come on now. If that's the only reason they ain't cuss'n, that's the wrong reason. I don't want anyone to stop cussing for me. If I'm the reason, it's the wrong reason.

So, I'm cool with cuss'n kids. 

Why?

Cause I HATE FAKE! I want to get to know who these students really are - not who I really want them to be - so we can get to the next level...

Jason Taylor Chooses Time with Family Over Money

"I know people are going to think I'm crazy, walking away from 8.5 million," says the athlete, who is back at home in Miami with wife, Katina, 33, and children Isaiah, 6, Nason, 4, and Zoe, 3. "There are certain things money can't buy, like time with your children … I didn't have a father growing up [so] I understand how important it is. I don't want to miss my kids lives." - Jason Taylor

It's nice to hear about an athlete making this type of choice in a world that believes money will help their family out more than time spent with them. For a professional athlete, it's a revolutionary way to live life.

You can find the rest of the short story online at People Magazine.