Last night I went up to the Cavs game with Dwight, Chad and Doug and man was it a good time. First, we went to Hog Heaven and ate 8 dozen wings. You should have seen the look on the waitresses face when we finished the last one. She came up to us afterwards and told us she had her doubts if we could do it. Comon 4 strapping young lads like us, not a problem.
After the wings we headed up to the game where Lebron took over in the last 2 minutes. It was your typical game up to that point, with lots of pointless fouls and traveling calls, but in the end it was the Lebron James show. He hit 3 three pointers in the last 2 minutes that seemed like they where from a whole different zip code. Wow! He is truly a man among boys when it comes to handling the rock!
Anyway, last night was a blast. It was just so good to get out with a bunch of guys and have fun. It's been awhile since I've had a chance to that. Have a great day ya all.
Scott Out
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Dash Student Leadership
It's funny how God works. A day after I set up my blog site up Kristie from Dash student leadership calls me and asks me if I would write a blong for their website. Wow, I guess this whole blog thing is serious business. Anyway, I felt honored to write one and I thought I would share what I wrote.
Does anyone like to party? Come on, we all do, right? After all, it’s a huge part of our culture today. We seem to celebrate anything from birthdays and weddings to Tupperware and cooking utensils. Who can say no to a good party? There’s just something about inviting a bunch of people over to experience the big 3 (Fun, Food, and Fellowship).
So if parties are such a big part of our culture and so much fun, then why aren’t we partying more in the church? Is it because we remember what it was like at some of those parties we went to when we were students? Is it because it takes time and energy to throw a great shindig?
All I know is this . . . students love to party! I can’t tell you how many times I hear my students talk about some big party at so and so’s house. Do I get nervous about it from time to time? Sure! I’m not stupid. I remember what some of those parties where like when I was their age. But I also know that we are working very hard to create students of influence, who will withstand any negative pressures thrown at them; who will not waiver in their faith as they are working to influence their peers without negatively influencing themselves. And we know that our students’ best opportunities to influence their world aren’t within the four walls of our church – they’re out there! They’re at the schools and cafés and, yes, the local parties on Friday nights.
So, if our students understand how to use our culture to their advantage, why are we as leaders having such a difficult time with it? Let’s stop turning away from culture like it’s some kind of poison, and let’s start using it to our advantage. In an earlier blog, Jeremy Brown (student pastor at New Hope Community Church) challenged us to get creative with our resources, in the hope that our students would be more engaged and more excited about coming to our youth meetings. I would like to share with you one of the things we’ve begun, which is helping us do just that.
On the first Wednesday of each month, we throw a big strategic party. Notice I said strategic! We aren’t just throwing parties because we can – they take too much time and energy. Instead, we are thinking with the end in mind and working backwards. Sure, the party definitely has the big 3 (Fun, Food, Fellowship) but it has so much more. This is our opportunity to kick-off the spiritual checkpoint for the month. The whole night is centered on that theme. From the food to the games and everything in between, it’s all geared to get the students to start thinking about the four-week series that we want share with them that month.
These parties are also designed so that our core students have a platform to invite their un-churched friends to a non-threatening environment, where they will learn a little about who we are and what we’re about while seeing the love of Christ in action. And during the night, through all the activities, they get a little taste of what’s to come in the next four weeks and why it’s important for them to check it out.
Give this a try and let me know how it goes. All I can say is that it’s doing wonders for us, especially at the junior high level. Let’s begin to be engaging and relevant by using culture to our advantage, not running away from it. Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.
Blessings,
Scott Lowe
Administrator of Student Ministries
NewPointe Community Church
Partying Like It’s 1999
Does anyone like to party? Come on, we all do, right? After all, it’s a huge part of our culture today. We seem to celebrate anything from birthdays and weddings to Tupperware and cooking utensils. Who can say no to a good party? There’s just something about inviting a bunch of people over to experience the big 3 (Fun, Food, and Fellowship).
So if parties are such a big part of our culture and so much fun, then why aren’t we partying more in the church? Is it because we remember what it was like at some of those parties we went to when we were students? Is it because it takes time and energy to throw a great shindig?
All I know is this . . . students love to party! I can’t tell you how many times I hear my students talk about some big party at so and so’s house. Do I get nervous about it from time to time? Sure! I’m not stupid. I remember what some of those parties where like when I was their age. But I also know that we are working very hard to create students of influence, who will withstand any negative pressures thrown at them; who will not waiver in their faith as they are working to influence their peers without negatively influencing themselves. And we know that our students’ best opportunities to influence their world aren’t within the four walls of our church – they’re out there! They’re at the schools and cafés and, yes, the local parties on Friday nights.
So, if our students understand how to use our culture to their advantage, why are we as leaders having such a difficult time with it? Let’s stop turning away from culture like it’s some kind of poison, and let’s start using it to our advantage. In an earlier blog, Jeremy Brown (student pastor at New Hope Community Church) challenged us to get creative with our resources, in the hope that our students would be more engaged and more excited about coming to our youth meetings. I would like to share with you one of the things we’ve begun, which is helping us do just that.
On the first Wednesday of each month, we throw a big strategic party. Notice I said strategic! We aren’t just throwing parties because we can – they take too much time and energy. Instead, we are thinking with the end in mind and working backwards. Sure, the party definitely has the big 3 (Fun, Food, Fellowship) but it has so much more. This is our opportunity to kick-off the spiritual checkpoint for the month. The whole night is centered on that theme. From the food to the games and everything in between, it’s all geared to get the students to start thinking about the four-week series that we want share with them that month.
These parties are also designed so that our core students have a platform to invite their un-churched friends to a non-threatening environment, where they will learn a little about who we are and what we’re about while seeing the love of Christ in action. And during the night, through all the activities, they get a little taste of what’s to come in the next four weeks and why it’s important for them to check it out.
Give this a try and let me know how it goes. All I can say is that it’s doing wonders for us, especially at the junior high level. Let’s begin to be engaging and relevant by using culture to our advantage, not running away from it. Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.
Blessings,
Scott Lowe
Administrator of Student Ministries
NewPointe Community Church
Monday, February 26, 2007
First One
Well, I'm finally trying to get with the program with this whole blogging thing. I guess this is more of a public journal than anything, but none the less, I'm excited to record my thoughts on life to all who want to listen. So here goes my first blog..........
This week has been a very sobering reminder of just how presious life really is. With The Kaufman tragedy being a little over a week now I still see the confusion and sorrow the students are feeling and will feel for weeks and months to come. It's times like these that I'm reminded of 2 things: There is a God, and I'm not him. The passing of Larry and his mother-in-law is a giant reminder that we aren't the keepers of our time. I don't understand God's plan and why this accedent happened but I do know that we serve a very relational God! A God that laughs when we laugh, a God that loves when we love, and a God that hurts when we hurt. It's my prayer that God will use this event to bring together a family and a comunity.
I worry about Kim and the boys. Now more then ever, they need a strong support group around them. The nice thing is that they live in a community where poeple are alway wanting to help other people. I know they will get the support they need but it's the months and years to come where they will need it the most.
Prayer: Father, please wrap your loving arms around the kaufmen family and help them get through this very difficult time in their lives. Father, I pray for healing (physical, emotional, spiritual) Let them see your love and help the understand. Please continue to bring support from family, friends, and the community.
This week has been a very sobering reminder of just how presious life really is. With The Kaufman tragedy being a little over a week now I still see the confusion and sorrow the students are feeling and will feel for weeks and months to come. It's times like these that I'm reminded of 2 things: There is a God, and I'm not him. The passing of Larry and his mother-in-law is a giant reminder that we aren't the keepers of our time. I don't understand God's plan and why this accedent happened but I do know that we serve a very relational God! A God that laughs when we laugh, a God that loves when we love, and a God that hurts when we hurt. It's my prayer that God will use this event to bring together a family and a comunity.
I worry about Kim and the boys. Now more then ever, they need a strong support group around them. The nice thing is that they live in a community where poeple are alway wanting to help other people. I know they will get the support they need but it's the months and years to come where they will need it the most.
Prayer: Father, please wrap your loving arms around the kaufmen family and help them get through this very difficult time in their lives. Father, I pray for healing (physical, emotional, spiritual) Let them see your love and help the understand. Please continue to bring support from family, friends, and the community.
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