the mayward blog

What Is The Gospel, Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:50:00 +0000

What is the gospel?

It's a simple question, but with potentially complex answers.

One volunteer guessed that only about a quarter of the students in our ministry could answer it accurately and with any confidence. I felt like that percentage was too low, seeing that one of my core ministry values is the Gospel is everything.

Every message I give, every opportunity that comes up, every spiritual conversation, and every prayer comes back to the Gospel for me. It's all about the good news of Jesus.

Yet maybe the news isn't getting through.

For a missions trip I'm leading this summer, we asked the applicants to answer this exact question. Even with time and research allowed, a few didn't even mention Jesus at all. And these are the students who make up the core of my ministry, the ones leading their peers and giving their lives to serving Christ. (They just don't mention him when they're sharing the good news about Him.) Of course, some had phenomenal responses--one even properly used the word "propitiation" in her answer--but the lack of clarity about the good news of Jesus was frustrating at best and alarming at worst.

It's causing me to ask all sorts of questions:

What are the basic elements of the Gospel? (1 Corinthians 15 and Mark 1 come to mind)
What isn't the Gospel?
How much has moralistic therapeutic deism infiltrated my ministry?
What am I doing to foster the spread and understanding of the Gospel? What am I doing to hinder it?
How can I empower my volunteer leaders to embody the value of the Gospel is everything?
What is the minimum understanding one must have in order to find salvation in Jesus? (This question itself could take up an entire blog post...or a book)
What is "success" in terms of knowing and articulating the Gospel? Should I expect more than 25% to know it?
What are the barriers to hearing/responding to the Gospel? (I know, theologically, that the answer is "sin." I'm wondering about more cultural and philosophical barriers)
How am I being good news to others?

Do your students/children know the Gospel? How do you know?

Boring Is Better

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:05:00 +0000

That's the title for an article I wrote for the January/February issue of Immerse Journal. It explores the intersection between faith and film (a subject dear to my heart) with a particular focus on slower "boring" films and how they might be connected to our spiritual formation. An excerpt:

Allow me to make two assumptions here:

1. None of the students you disciple have viewed The Tree of Life.
2. Nearly all of your students have viewed either Transformers: Dark of the Moon or The Hangover: Part II.

Many of us simply accept this as normative. Why is this the case? What are the cultural values behind these habits? What causes audiences to stay for two and a half hours of surface-level entertainment and walk out on spiritual depth after seven minutes? What does our film-watching say about our spirituality?

Obviously, all of this begs the bigger question: Why do we even go to the movies? For entertainment? Escape? Diversion? Our culture equates a trip to the movie theater more with a visit to the arcade than a viewing of the latest Rembrandt exhibit at a museum. And why not? Our lives are already far too busy and exhausting: why make us work to appreciate our entertainment? When I'm tired at the end of a frantic week, a Friday evening trip to the movies is just what I need to relax, to turn off my brain and zone out. It is a 90-minute escape into another world.

Is art only meant for entertainment and escape? Shouldn't it also edify?

It seems reasonable to assume that movies as an art form could enlighten and stimulate us, moving us past mindless entertainment into mindful engagement. Movies could make us better people. Yet many moviegoers have cultural barriers that prohibit such edification.

You can see the current issue here. Subscribe to Immerse here to read the entire article.

Why Youth Ministry Programs Aren't Necessarily Bad

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:47:00 +0000

This is one post where I'm not even completely sure that I agree with the idea I'm proposing. But allow me to play the devil's advocate for a moment.

Programs. It's like a four-letter word in youth ministry leadership, the necessary evil that we hate to have as part of our ministry.

Let's do a word association. What comes to mind when you hear the word "program?"

Rigid.
Event planning.
Administration.
Bureaucracy.
Curriculum.
Boring.
Time-consuming.
Busyness.
Frustration.
Those bulletins that tell you the order of a service or event.

In the youth ministry world, it's become nearly cliche to say "we're all about people, not programs." We know that church was never meant to be a program, that relationships with people matter the most, that programs can become a hindrance to true discipleship. Leading voices decry the plethora of programs in our communities and demand that we de-program our ministries. Yet we continue to have programs in our churches.

What if the concept of programs wasn't inherently evil? What if the word "program" could be redeemed?

A new definition: "program" means being intentional.

To have a program means one must have intentionality and purpose and planning and structure. Instead of operating haphazardly and without direction, programs provide paths that can lead to relationships and discipleship. Programs are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves. They begin to grow out of control when they stop reflecting the ministry values and start becoming bizarre cultures/values in themselves.

I want to lead with intentionality, having a core set of values that shape and define my entire ministry culture. To truly de-program my ministry, I would have to value the arbitrary and chaotic, fostering a culture where programs can't exist...which ironically is a program. My set of values are like the boundary markers--fence posts--for my ministry culture; they define what is most important, and what can go by the wayside.

Imagine that all your programs were suddenly cancelled this week. Your gathering space unexpectedly became unavailable (maybe your church building burned to the ground), your calendar was erased, and your cell phone was dropped into the toilet. Even without programs, we would begin to plan when and how we would gather together again as a community. We would find ways to communicate with people and set up times to meet with them. We would bring Bibles and celebrate communion and sing songs and share life. This concept of regularly meeting and worshiping in community is a decidedly Biblical idea. There would be a sense of structure and purpose and consistency. We might call that a program.

It's not enough to say, "we don't do programs here." Instead, "we value people over programs," is a better mantra. It doesn't have to be either/or. Programs can foster environments that lead to Jesus-y relationships and a movement towards Christ together.

Rigidity and busyness and event-planning isn't a part of my program. Being intentional is.

What do you think? What are the dangers of programs, and what are the benefits?

Parenting Wisdom For All Ages

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:34:00 +0000

My ministry friend, Brian Berry, just finished a week-long blog series entitled Parenting Toddlers Into Teens You'll Love. It's both theologically-insightful and deeply practical wisdom for parents who have kids at any age.

Here are links to all five parts:

1) Protect your kids (care based), don't shelter them (fear based)
2) Teach them how to think (process based), not what to think (product based)
3) Expect them to be maturing (experience based), not to be mature (evaluation based)
4) Help them own their faith (Jesus based), not just obey your faith (rules based)
5) Let them embrace God's unique design (love based), not live my dreams (self based)

For our own kiddos, #2 and #3 have been particularly relevant for me. I want Copeland to have experiences that will force him to actually think and wonder and discover, that will foster his curiosity and a value of lifelong learning. Even at age two, he's learning how to think and respond to certain situations, and I want to guide him in that. But I also have to have realistic expectations; he's a two-year-old, after all. When I talk with him like he's a 20-year-old, then get frustrated when he doesn't respond well, who is really at fault? I'm learning to pace alongside him and lead him in the ways of Jesus and Godly masculinity, not just expect him to be grown up automatically.

If you're a parent, a pastor, or know any parents or pastors, Brian's posts are a succinct-yet-profound source of wisdom for families.

Psalm 119 - The All-Church Experiment

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:01:00 +0000

Nearly a year ago, God laid a vision on the hearts of our church leaders to have an extensive time in cultivating a deep love and meaningful time in God's word. That vision has taken fruit this week in the form of a six-week study in the immense acrostic poem, Psalm 119. All the ministries in our church are participating.

Everyone. From youngest to oldest. Six weeks. All focusing on the same thing.

What could God do if every ministry in a church put aside any other agendas and focused on one important thing? Whether that was Scripture, prayer, sharing the Gospel in the community, or any number of other critical kingdom-values, you have to wonder what Jesus could do through a unified local body of believers.

You can check out the details of what this six-week meditation looks like here.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O LORD;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.

(Psalm 119:9-16 ESV)

Busy Like Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:18:00 +0000

"It's a busy season for me."

It's the typical answer given when others wonder, "how are you doing?"

I'm not alone in this. Even the students I shepherd find themselves with loads of homework, plenty of sports and music and school activities, part-time jobs (sometimes full-time jobs, which I'm wondering if it's even legal in Arizona), filling out college applications, serving in their community, and socializing with friends. Families are plagued by a sense of the frantic. They are busy busy busy.

In our frantic culture, busy = success.

Jesus was also busy. Just look at all the things he said and did (John reminds us that the Gospel accounts don't even capture it all). Paul was quite busy too; a brief reading in the book of Acts and you'll see one of the greatest road trips ever taken as the Gospel is spread beyond Jerusalem. What were they busy with? What filled up Jesus's calendar? How did Paul spend the majority of his time?

Spreading the Gospel. Making disciples. Loving unconditionally. Being good news. Listening for God's voice. Resting.

It raises a few questions:

-Am I busy with the right things, the activities and endeavors that Jesus embodied? When I look at how I spent my time this past month, how much is devoted to being good news?
-How am I modeling busyness in the way I live? When students look at the way I live my life, is it a life worth imitating?
-Is my ministry an environment of rest and refreshment, or just another activity to perpetuate the weekly busyness? How can I foster a culture of rest, that transcends both busyness and laziness?

The Artist

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:18:00 +0000

The Artist is a work of technical brilliance, cleverly countercultural as a silent black-and-white film being released in a world of 3D and IMAX. It is a film that will charm and woo you, much like its central character, silent star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin). It will make you laugh, might make you cry, but certainly will keep you entertained. And if entertainment is all you want, The Artist will certainly oblige. Call me insatiable, but I want more than entertainment. I want to be both dazzled and inspired, charmed and challenged, experiencing both woo and wonderment.

Set in the late 1920s during the climax of the silent film era, the story follows the fall of Valentin and the rise of young Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) as their movie careers briefly intersect. Valentin is the star of the moment, with a winsome smile and playful antics that capture audiences' hearts. His little Jack Russell terrier sometimes nearly steals the show with his canine capabilities, but Valentin is always hoarding the spotlight. A chance meeting between Peppy and George lands her a role as an extra in his next film, leading to an infatuation that is clearly captured in their longing gazes into each others' eyes.

When the talking pictures begin to roll out, Valentin refuses to jump on board. "If that's the future, it's not for me," he scoffs as he walks out of his producer's office. He finances his own silent film, pouring all of his savings into a lost cause. Meanwhile, Miller becomes the new young heartthrob of Hollywood, slowly working her way into larger roles. The onset of the talking movies makes her a star; she is simply delightful. Her first big film debut is released the same day as Valentin's silent opus. You already know which one the audiences want to see. Peppy continues her upward climb; Valentin sinks lower.

Valentin continues into a downward spiral, destroying his marriage, his relationships with anyone close to him, isolating himself in a dingy apartment and drinking his sorrows away. The film wants us to feel a deep sense of sympathy and pity for him. After all, he has already charmed us with his dashing looks and enormous smile. But the more I reflect, the more I find myself lacking in pity for such a man. His downfall is his pride and arrogance, and no smile can ultimately cover that up. Self-glorification ultimately leads to isolation and destruction, a lesson Valentin embodies. Miller continues to show him pity, reaching out to him throughout the film, only to be rejected due to Valentin's ego. Is Valentin worthy of grace? He certainly needs it, as do we all. But I wonder if he's willing to even accept its free gift, to experience the grace we all need. The Hollywood lights in his eyes blind him to the redemption he desperately needs.

If The Artist is a celebration of the early days of cinema, it fails to impress me with the character of Valentin. He is selfish and distraught, but he isn't broken by his fall. He continues to refuse to admit his own fallacies. Consider another recent film that celebrates the silent film era: Hugo. Georges Melies was also a star once, creating imaginative and fantastic films, only to be ruined by the onset of the talking film and financial problems. He is a bitter and broken old man, but his brokenness means he is not beyond redemption. As far as I can tell, Valentin never breaks. He finally allows someone else to pick him up--Peppy, with her strange commitment to such a man--but by the film's conclusion, his only sign of redemption is that smile of his. As critic Jeffrey Overstreet puts it, "You may smile and smile, and be a villain."

The Artist is delightful fun, but it failed to satisfy my longing for something more, something meaningful, something transcendent. There are some wonderful scenes (a brief dance shared by George and Peppy must be retaken repeatedly as he continually is distracted by her beauty; the terrier attempting to save George from a fire; the brief moments when sound is actually used in a silent film), and it is a charming film. It could charm us all on its way to the Academy Awards.

Why I'm Religious For Jesus - A Critical Response

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:33:00 +0000

The above video from Jefferson Bethke, "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" has exploded over YouTube and Facebook in the past 48 hours. At least forty of my Facebook friends have "shared it," inundating my news feed and offering lauds of praise.

So I finally watched it. And while I found myself wanting to like it, I found myself squirming uncomfortably.

I know where he's coming from. I think I've even preached a similar message at times. "Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship." At the core, this is still true. I'm saved by grace and the immense love of a good God who desires restoration and reconciliation and whole-creation transformation. But to say that Christianity is diametrically opposed to religion in all forms is a false dichotomy. A basic definition of religion is, "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods." I doubt very many followers of Jesus would disagree with this definition, nor would they say that they would not aspire to live it out. ("Nope, I don't believe in or worship God. I'm not just religious.")

My relationship with Jesus leads me to be religious.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27). I think Mr. Bethke would agree. James goes on to say that faith without actions is essentially dead; a faith must be practiced, lived out, embodied. Even in a relationship, we must practice discipline and accountability and boundaries and habits. My relationship with my wife is not established on a simple feeling, nor is it without hard work. I love what Jeffrey Overstreet wrote in a Facebook thread on the subject:

When Christ gave instructions for remembering him through communion, for serving the poor, for guarding our hearts and minds, etc... that's religion. He said he would build a church. Can't have church without religion. Legalism and religion are different things. Hypocrisy is not religion, it's fakery. To say religion has nothing to do with Christ's love is like saying sports have nothing to do with athleticism, or songs have nothing to do with music. Without religion, words like "accountability," "communion," and "liturgy" become meaningless.

I believe that Mr. Bethke is reacting against this kind of legalism and hypocrisy, but using the word "religion" to encompass those practices. I can see how this jump in definition can be made, as many of the folks described as "religious leaders" are also described as hypocrites in Scripture. Hypocrisy isn't a fruit of following Jesus. He is reacting against the shallow Christianity of just showing up to church on Sunday, but rarely embodying any semblance of Christ. It is the same motivation that has caused many Christians to make the claim, "I'm not a Christian; I'm a Christ-follower," thus making a distinction between this shallow faith and true discipleship.

These kinds of reactions fail to take account for the thousands of years of religious history where our faith finds its roots. We have been called Christians from our beginnings; to reject the label feels flippant. Instead, redeem the label by actually embodying what Christ calls us to as His disciples. Practice what He preached. Be disciplined in prayer, service, worship, and living in community. We do this not out of a motivation to save yourself or adopt a certain moral code, but because Christ has bestowed infinite amounts of grace, and thus we are compelled to share that grace in our actions and attitudes.

On the other hand, many of the critics of the video have been less than loving, choosing to blast Mr. Bethke with pejorative rhetoric. In this opinion piece at Patrol, the author calls the video "lame" and "ridiculous," all with a tone that reeks of superiority and snark. In a comment below the piece, emergent author and theologian Tony Jones writes this: "People were posting this all over Facebook — people I trust — so I thought it would be good. It is, in fact, a piece of sh*t."

In our discernment of art, culture, and theology, we cannot become sponges who simply suck up and praise everything at first glance. Nor can we be funnels, letting everything pass us by with an uncritical evasiveness. We have to filter, like a sieve, testing everything and clinging to the good that we find. To dismiss the above video as "sh*t" in a public forum is unloving and unnecessary. We need to have good critical thinking skills and high standards for art, but we can express those critiques--even the unsparing ones--with a tone of grace that Jesus embodied.

We need to practice grace religiously.

In a final note, I am impressed with Bethke's courage for creating this video and putting it out there for the world to see. To share one's art and creative work is terrifying, for it allows others to see and critique the work of our hearts. Whenever I write--particularly when my writing is actually published--it is both invigorating ("I've created something that could impact the world!") and anxiety-inducing ("What if people hate it, and hate me?"). So I offer this critique with as much grace as I can: this poetry has effective moments and contains beautiful truths, but it isn't great art. It didn't move me, didn't stir my heart or challenge my mind the same way that Keats, Dickinson, and Whitman do. Spoken word poetry has far more creative and affective examples, such as this TED talk from Sarah Kay, or the following video from Christian poet, Propaganda:

G.O.S.P.E.L. from Humble Beast Records on Vimeo.

We must be religious in our creation and critique of art and culture, and religious in our efforts to love and serve the creation around us. As N.T. Wright once put it,

Art is love creating the new world. Justice is love rolling up its sleeves to heal the old one.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Revisiting My Theology of The End

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:59:00 +0000

One of the college guys I disciple recently asked to begin a study on eschatology and the millennium. He wanted to understand the various systems and clarify his own beliefs about the kingdom of God. We're reading through The Millennial Maze together, unpacking different evangelical frameworks for the end times. Before we began, I asked him to read the book of Revelation in one sitting, choosing to do the same myself. That reading has spawned a reawakening to the mystery and wonder of the apocalyptic vision of our future. It's raising all sorts of questions:

What do I believe about the future? Am I more optimistic or pessimistic?

How do I read and interpret Scripture?

How does my view of the future affect my present?

How does my culture affect my views of theology? How does my view of theology affect my engagement with culture?
Why were the Left Behind movies so so SO bad?

Steven Covey once wrote to begin with the end in mind. The same is true for our theology. Knowing the end of the story should affect how we live as characters in that story now. Today. Present-tense.

For those who wonder if eschatological study is worthwhile ("it will all pan out in the end, so I'll just follow Jesus for today"), that view will ultimately affect my attitudes and actions.

If I believe that the world is going to hell in a handbasket (literally) and I'll just get raptured out of here, then my cultural engagement will likely feel futile (why polish the brass on a sinking ship?). If I believe that my very actions and sharing of the Gospel will usher in the kingdom, then it will give me a heightened sense of urgency and willingness to evangelize. If I believe that Scripture is just a code to try to figure out to interpret the present times and how the world will end, then I'll probably start hosting a radio show and make wild claims about the end being near. If I believe that the kingdom of God is both present and future, available in the present and yet anticipated for a hopeful future, it will change everything.

The question behind all this: do I really know what I believe and why I believe it?

Real Men Climb Mountains

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV)

The above verse has been this year's theme for my small group of sophomore boys that I've been discipling for the past three years. This past weekend, we took the guys on an adventure up a mountain, both literally and spiritually. Strapping on huge backpacks weighed down with about 40 lbs of water, food, firewood, and camping gear, we hiked the three miles and 2700+ foot elevation climb into the Superstition Mountains to the top of Flatiron. It was an incredibly difficult hike, and many of the guys didn't believe they could make it. Slowly but surely, they scrambled their way up cliffs and ridges until they reached the summit, where we camped overnight. It was breathtaking to see a panoramic view of entire Phoenix valley, especially as the sun set and the city lights looked like reflections of the stars above.

In a devotion from the weekend, one volunteer leader, Nate, shared a paraphrase Donald Miller's definition of a real man from Father Fiction:

"If you are a human being, and you have a penis, then you are a man."

Beyond anatomy, we talked and shared what being a true Godly man was, and shared our expectations that these guys were not the boys our culture would believe them to be. They are young men, but they are men nonetheless. This means they are dangerous, powerful, capable of both great good and incredible harm. Likening their masculinity to fire--which may have involved some homemade flamethrowers--we shared about the incredible responsibility they have as men who will lead in our world. Nate asked the guys to finish the sentence of "real men..." and they came up with awesome Biblical answers.

The volunteer leaders on this hike--Nate, Charlie, and Brian--were amazing leaders and Godly examples. I hardly did anything; Nate practically planned and led the trip himself. These guys embody Godly masculinity and are striving to be more like Jesus, and I'm humbled and blessed to partner in the Gospel with these men.

The list of characteristics the guys came up with:

Real men love.

Real men work hard.

Real men keep their promises.

Real men aren't full of self-pity.

Real men aren't passive.

Real men are self-controlled.

Real men are honest.

Real men take responsibility .

Real men aren't selfish.

Real men serve/are humble.

Real men are confident.

Real men give freely.

Real men are patient.

Real men turn away from temptation.

Real men are strong minded.

Real men renew their minds.

Real men sacrifice.

Real men lead.

Real men stay/are committed.

What would you add to their list? And how are you encouraging the young men in your life?

Nate and Brian peering over the cliff. Made me dizzy watching them.

Charlie at Siphon Draw, with Flatiron in the background (top left)

"Tebowing" at the summit

Our group of men at the start of the hike

Enter the Story

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:45:00 +0000

This past Christmas Eve service, our worship and arts pastor led us in experimenting with some creative ventures. With a desire to share the whole story of Scripture, we had a combination of artwork and reading a narrative. Two awesomely creative friends, Brittany and Lora, designed four different paintings that represented four different chapters in the story: Creation, The Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. I read a script of the story written by Paeter Frandsen (you can check out Paeter's other work at his website here) as the paintings were illuminated behind me. We wanted to share the story of the Gospel and Christmas in a way that captures the beautiful truth of the Incarnation, but in a way that was fresh and understandable for people who take the Christmas message for granted.

You can see a 9-minute video of this creative endeavor here. Sadly, you can't see the incredible paintings in this video, but you can hear Paeter's awesome script.

Top 10 Favorite Movies of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

I have a love/hate relationship with making top movie lists. When I return to past lists, I find that a few months' or years' time has dramatically changed my opinion about many of the films present. And how is one to order such lists? How do I compare Attack the Block with Cave of Forgotten Dreams, or 50/50 with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo? My tastes shift and change and mature. Depending on the day, my all-time favorite film is one of a consistent list of five different movies (Lost in Translation, Amelie, The Thin Red Line, Star Wars, and Casablanca, in case you were wondering.)

Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes.

Here are my favorite films of 2011 thus far. There are plenty of great films I have yet to see, and plenty of critically beloved films that you won't find here. My hope in offering these is that you'll find a new favorite, one you might not have expected.

10. Attack the Block (Joe Cornish). It's a British-indie-action-teen-comedy-sci-fi-B-horror film. (You could even argue it's a romance, though that'd be stretching it.) And it's good. Really good. Aliens invade a South London block, leaving the tenants fighting for their lives. But these tenants aren't going down without an expletive-filled fight. The visual effects are extremely impressive for an indie film, and John Boyega gives a phenomenal debut performance as the defiant leader, Moses. Entertaining, hilarious, and innovative.

9. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (Werner Herzog). Herzog is either the best or the worst narrator for a film, but I love him. His subjective musings always lean towards the philosophical and spiritual, and his accent makes for unintentional hilarity at times. He has crafted one of the most fascinating documentaries about the human capacity for creativity and art. Filming the inside of the Chauvet cave in France, where the earliest known cave drawings are located, Herzog invites us into a world long forgotten. Etched into the walls are beautiful murals of animals that are more than 30,000 years old. What were these early human beings thinking and dreaming as they painted these intricate drawings? We'll never know. But we can continue to dream with them.

8. Cold Weather (Aaron Katz). A film set in Portland, OR needs to have bridges. Cold Weather has plenty, both literal and relational. It is a look at ordinary people going through ordinary life--a brother living with his sister, making friends with his coworker, interacting with his ex-girlfriend, etc.--and the stories that can sometimes unfold. Some might call this film slow and boring, but it never left me bored. With a quietly engaging tone and a slow-burn tension that builds to its suspenseful climax, Cold Weather reminded me of how much I love watching interesting characters navigate odd situations...especially if those situations are in Portland. A mumblecore noir film.

7. Of Gods and Men (Xavier Beauvois). Every so often, a film comes along that merits using "Christian" as a description simply because it beautifully reflects the kingdom of God. Of Gods and Men is such a film. Quiet, solemn, and contemplative, my viewing of the film offered one of the more profound spiritual experiences I've had in recent history. Based on a true story about the kidnapping and execution of eight Trappist monks in Algeria, the film focuses less on the abduction and far more on the spiritual lives of these men. The life of a monk is quite ordinary. Boring, even. They pray. They worship. They study. They work. They eat and sleep, then do it all over again the next day. And its marvelous. An enlightening film that will force you to rethink your own faith.

6. Super 8 (J.J. Abrams). The second teenage sci-fi film on this list. J.J. Abrams managed to resurrect classic Spielberg this year better than Spielberg did himself. Super 8 contains some of most authentic and affecting teen performances in a film this year. Both Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning are remarkable here. I could have watched these young folks make movies for two whole hours, but the added element of an alien presence after the crash of a train is the macguffin for the film. This is a film about young people moving beyond being kids and revealing their capacity for adult responsibility and decisions. The final act is a bit lacking, but the lovable characters more than make up for it.

5. Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen). This was the film I found myself recommending to friends throughout the year when they asked what movies they should be watching. The trailers don't give away the true magic of this film, so neither will I, suffice to say that the audiences who appreciate Midnight in Paris the most will be the ones who paid attention in their English classes and appreciate a more vivid culture than what you find on television and Michael Bay films. If you love Paris, art, and literature, you'll likely find yourself delighted with this film. More than anything, Midnight in Paris encourages the viewer to be present, a value I'm striving to embody.

4. Hugo (Martin Scorcese). Hugo is set in a Parisian train station in the 1930s. I've actually walked through the exact station, coming in on a train from Frankfurt and entering the wondrous world of Paris. Like another whimsical Parisian film this year, Midnight in Paris, the city of lights is a place of journeys into the imagination. Train stations are places of interlude in between adventures. Books and movies take us into our dreams. "Come, dream with me," is an invitation given in the climactic moment of Hugo. A film set in one of my favorite cities in the world? A film that maturely celebrates both literature and cinema? A film that features fantastic storytelling, top-notch acting, a wonderfully cathartic happy ending without any sense of being overly sentimental, and the best use of 3D in a life action film I've yet seen? A film that is filled with redemption of broken machines and people, offering light and life in our dark world? Consider Hugo a new personal favorite.

3. Take Shelter (Jeff Nichols). What if you began having dark visions of a coming storm? What if your feelings of dread were premonitions of an imminent disaster? What would you do? Like a modern day retelling of the Noah story, Take Shelter forces the viewer to ask a myriad of spiritual and philosophical questions about our fears and choices. As Curtis (Michael Shannon) begins to have these dreams and visions, his world seems to spiral out of control. Shannon's performance as Curtis is the driving force behind Take Shelter. Director Jeff Nichols--who also directed Shannon in Nichols' first film, Shotgun Stories--slowly builds a growing sense of fear through Shannon, who becomes a conduit for the mounting dread that permeates the film. Curtis is quiet and surprisingly normal, with brief explosive outbursts that allow for cathartic releases of tension while also cultivating more of it. Shannon portrays Curtis as just crazy enough; his brooding eyes foster both empathy and fear. Jessica Chastain is equally powerful as Sam, a wise and pragmatic wife who only wants to support her husband in this time of distress. It's some of the best acting you'll see this year from two of the best actors of our generation. From the performances to the cinematography to the pacing to the final climactic moments--Take Shelter has one of the better endings I've seen in a while--this is an artistic meditation on the concept of fear and our fear-driven culture.

2. Drive (Nicholas Winding Refn). The coolest film of the year. You may think you've seen this film before. In some ways, you have. Images of films like Bullitt, Heat, Taxi Driver, and Eastern Promises all come to mind, as well as the films of Quentin Tarantino. Drive falls in line with any film where the antihero decides to sacrifice his own selfish pursuits for the sake of a damsel in distress. Drive has both style and substance; in some ways, its style is its substance. Drive is slow-burning and contemplative, with extended quiet moments between its swift action sequences. Almost a fantasy or fairytale in its tone, director Nicholas Winding Refn has created something beautifully unique from a familiar arc. This is a film where image trumps dialogue; a simple glance between a pair of eyes is infinitely more revealing than any speech or conversation. There are some authentically affecting moments in between some of the most intense acts of violence I've seen on film. The driver is both an antihero and a superhero, a man who walks with an almost-comical confidence and cool, whose quiet tone make his few words stand out as assertive and firm. There is little subtlety when the soundtrack begins to pump an '80s-sounding tune with the words "a real human being / and a real hero" as the driver cruises the neon hazy streets of Lost Angeles. If it's a superhero film, it's the best one of the year. While it's difficult to find a concrete redemptive message, if the medium is the message, then Drive sends a message of creativity and style, one that celebrates art itself.

1. The Tree of Life (Terrence Malick). Was this any surprise? Malick is my favorite filmmaker, and The Tree of Life is his magnum opus. It is at once a prayer, a symphony, a theological treatise, and a parable. It is intimate and grandiose, emotive and cerebral, imaginative and altogether new. It's difficult for me to know how to describe this film in words; you simply have to see it. I remember that a gentleman fell asleep in the row behind me during my first viewing (I saw it twice in theaters), and I found that his napping was indicative of our culture. The Tree of Life will be deemed as boring by many. So is following Jesus. It requires patience, discipline, a discerning mind and an open heart. It is also completely worth it. Brad Pitt's performance here as the stoic father is his best of the year--yes, even better than Moneyball--and Jessica Chastain literally embodies grace, particularly as she floats and dances and walks on the beach of the kingdom of heaven. It tops the most critics' lists of 2011, and won the Golden Palm at Cannes. Will it even be nominated for Best Picture by the Academy Awards? Probably not. It's admittedly not a very accessible film. It is, however, a beautiful film. Keats once wrote, "'Beauty is truth, truth beauty.' -- that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

The rest of the top 20, in order:
11. Moneyball
12. Incendies
13. Jane Eyre
14. Certified Copy
15. 50/50
16. The Descendants
17. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
18. Win Win
19. Bridesmaids
20. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Yet to see: Martha Marcy May Marlene; A Separation; Melancholia; Tinker, Tailer, Soldier, Spy; A Dangerous Method; Poetry; We Need To Talk About Kevin; The Future; The Artist

Honorable Mention: Winnie the Pooh was my son's first film in theaters, beginning what I hope will be a life-long passion for the cinema. And it's a good little film, too.

What were your favorite films of 2011? Share them in the comments!

Living a Good Story

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:59:00 +0000

New year's resolutions. Love 'em or hate 'em, this is the time of year when we pause to reflect on the past and think about what the next year holds. I read this post on Donald Miller's blog two years ago, and it completely changed the way I approach making goals for the new year:

I don’t have any problem with goals. I like goals and still set them. But without an overarching plot, goals don’t make sense and are hard to achieve. A story gives a goal a narrative context that forces you to engage and follow through. People who are in great shape and have their finances in order probably don’t set goals to be in good shape or get their finances in order. They probably set goals of running a marathon or paying off their house. In other words, they think in narrative rather than goals. The goals get met in the journey of the story.

Miller says that a story involves a person who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. One of my personal life values is live a great story:

Live my story as part of God’s Story. Develop my character. Choose difficult paths intentionally; take the harder-but-better path. Seek obstacles to overcome. Reject any activity or practice that won’t lead to a better story. Look at each season as a chapter in a greater story God is telling in and through me.

What if you began this year not trying to make goals that ultimately fall apart by February? What if you resolved to live a great story in 2012? You'd need a few key components:

You have to want something. This isn't about being selfish or conceited. This is about having passion, purpose, direction, and clarity about what is truly important. If you don't want anything--or if what you want is superficial or temporary--then you won't have a good story. Wanting a new iPod isn't a good story. Wanting a lifelong Godly marriage is much better. Figure out what you really want; more importantly, figure out what God really wants for you. It turns out that when we want what God wants, our stories take on a far richer and more eternal significance.

You need a conflict. It's not enough to just want something. We need motivation to get us moving. Miller calls this an inciting incident. Characters don't want to change, so an incident--a tornado approaches, a family member dies, aliens invade, etc.--must force them to react in order to solve the conflict. It requires action, movement, and is motivated by that initial desire, i.e. what you want. If you want a great marriage, that will require some sacrifices and conflicts in order to make that dream a reality. What are the hard paths in front of you? What are the difficult decisions that need to be made? Have courage and go after them.

You need time. The best stories are epics. Look at some of the greatest novels that have ever been written: Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, A Farewell to Arms, The Lord of the Rings, etc. They are ridiculously long. Think about movies: Gone With the Wind, The Godfather, Lawrence of Arabia, Schindler's List, etc. None of these could ever have been told under 90 minutes. Stories require significant quality time to be truly great tales. Characters need a significant span to grow and mature and change. You don't become the hero of the story in a 30-second montage. Be patient, give yourself time, and make goals that will require discipline and endurance in order to achieve them.

What story will your life tell in 2012?

Top 20 Favorite Albums of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:00:00 +0000

The past year has been a good year for music. Not a great year overall. Just good. But there are some great albums in the mix. These have been my favorites. Are they the best of 2011? They are, for me. Hopefully you'll recognize some and find a new favorite in the bunch.

10. Radiohead - The King Of Limbs. One of my all-time favorite bands surprised us this year with a jazzy electronic montage that included a wonderful music video of Thom Yorke flailing himself around. Not as good as most of their previous albums...but then again, this is Radiohead. A B+ effort from Radiohead trumps about 90% of anything you'll hear on the radio. Key tracks: "Lotus Flower," "Codex."

9. The Antlers - Burst Apart. The Antlers' first album, Hospice, was a beautifully bleak concept album about a death in a hospital. Burst Apart is a bit more upbeat and complex, with a calming electronic pulse and cathartic tracks that with both enrich and delight. Key tracks: "French Exit," "Corsicana."

8. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation. Hypnotic and dreamy, The Year of Hibernation is the perfect background music for any relaxing occasion. Seriously. You can drive, read, converse, sip coffee, you name it. And those vocals! Spacey, ethereal, ambient, and arresting. I loved every minute. Key tracks: "17," "Cannons," "Afternoon."

7. Josh Garrels - Love & War & The Sea In Between. Portland musician Josh Garrels has a unique acoustic sound that really resonates with me. Crafting theologically rich lyrics with a folky backdrop, this album surprised me with its worshipful depth. Christianity Today just named this the best album of 2011. And the best part? You can download it for free. Yes, free. So you should probably do that. Like, right now. Key tracks: "White Owl," "The Resistance," "Ulysses."

6. William Fitzsimmons - Gold in The Shadow. Fitzsimmons' last album, The Sparrow and The Crow, was a meditation on the pain of fractured romance. Gold in The Shadow feels like the renewed hope found on the far side of that pain. The lyrics are far more buoyant and hopeful, and the music accentuates this newfound optimism. This isn't to say that Gold in The Shadow is cheery; Fitzsimmons is one to write beautiful laments, not shallow pop songs. His acoustic musings were great background noise for my entire year. Key tracks: "Fade and Then Return," "Bird of Winter Prey," "The Tide Pulls From the Moon."

5. Wye Oak - Civilian. I have no idea why I purchased this album. Maybe it was on a whim. I had never heard of Wye Oak before, never read a single review. This fateful purchase led to one of my favorites of this year, with spiritually enlightening lyrics and driving guitars. Civilian is immediately accessible, yet requires multiple listens to fully mine its depths. I'm still mining them, and I'm liking what I find each time. Key tracks: "Holy Holy," "Civilian."

4. Katie Herzig - The Waking Sleep. When I asked my wife which album she would have me include, she mentioned "that one girl singer we're always listening to in the car." This is that girl singer. And she's wonderful. A bit poppy at times, but this could never be classified as a pop album. Folksy, with alluring lyrics that tell stories, inviting us into new Edenic worlds. Key tracks: "Lost and Found," "The Waking Sleep," "Free My Mind."

3. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. The 1980s are back, and they're better than they were the first time. M83's ambitious double album is absolutely beautiful, filled with electronic backbeats, funky bass riffs, guitar crescendos, and saxophone solos. And I can't forget the triplet drum fills (my personal favorites). The only album this year to make me both dance and cry (though not at the same time). Key tracks: "Midnight City," "Intro," "Wait," "New Map."

2. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow. A folky duo with one of the best band names ever, Barton Hollow seemed to come out of nowhere in early 2011 and quickly became the most-played album in my iTunes. Bluesy, with a country twang and beautifully romantic lyrics, The Civil Wars have some of the best harmonies I've ever heard. This was the album I kept recommending to people throughout the year. "Have you heard The Civil Wars yet?" If the answer is no, you should change that immediately. Key tracks: "Barton Hollow," "Poison & Wine," "I've Got This Friend."

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver. I purchased Bon Iver in the Newark airport during a family vacation this past summer. Our flight had been severely delayed, and we were all exhausted from the wait. When we finally boarded, my wife and son slept curled up in the airplane seat next to me as I stared out the window, watching the horizon disappear into the dark, city lights and stars seeming to blend into a sea of night. I quietly wept as I listened. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe it was the sense of my wife and son breathing next to me. I choose to believe it was the music. Bon Iver is an album I'll revisit in the years to come, if only to remember all the ups and downs of the past year. Key tracks: "Holocene," "Perth," "Beth/Rest."

The rest of the 20, in no particular order:

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost; TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light; The Black Keys - El Camino; Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care Take Care; Givers - In Light; Real Estate - Days; Feist - Metals; Cults - Cults; Adele - 21; Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

What were your favorite albums this past year? Share your favorites in the comments!

Going Deeper with "Youth Ministry Doesn't Exist"

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:33:00 +0000

I recently wrote an online article for Immerse Journal, a fantastic youth ministry resource that is both theologically enriching and spiritually inspiring. (If you're in the youth ministry world, you need to subscribe to this journal.) The article is a response to Andy Root's journal article entitled "Youth Ministry Doesn't Exist," which was an insightful contemplation on the cultural phenomenon of extended adolescence. I've loved each of Andy's books I've read, and had the wonderful opportunity to meet him at the San Diego NYWC this past fall.

Here's an excerpt from my article, which features some stories about interacting with Dr. Robert Epstein (author of Teen 2.0, the must-read tome about the dangers of infantilization and extended adolescence) and about my son putting away the groceries:

I never had the Jerry Maguire moment that Andy Root awaits. All throughout my years studying youth ministry and theology at a Bible college, it never came. Even now, despite all the voices decrying the flawed theologies and methodologies that youth ministry has embodied for the past few decades (my own included), I still have an incredible sense of hope for youth ministry in the Western church. I don’t buy into the idea that “youth ministry is hurting more than helping.” Youth ministry just needs its own identity deconstruction and restoration—one might even call it an adolescence.

This youth ministry identity formation is already well under way, with folks like Root leading the charge. From intergenerational ministries to becoming more theologically minded to a “youth ministry 3.0” to fostering a “sticky faith,” the rethinking of youth ministry has been in the works. It’s just difficult to see what all these new identity-shaping values will create in the future of youth ministry.

Part of that future requires a rethinking of adolescence itself. If adolescence is truly harmful and culturally created, and if the church itself is partly responsible for its propagation, what can we do? The answer to that question feels enormous. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Robert Epstein, author of the book Teen 2.0. Epstein invited a group of us into his home, and we had the opportunity to ask questions and pick his brain on adolescence and the church. We talked a great deal about the book itself—its publishing issues, its more radical ideas, etc. Despite the dialogue, this enormous question loomed in the back of my mind: What can we do about adolescence?

Read the rest here.

Hugo

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Hugo is unlike any Martin Scorsese film you've ever seen. This is the guy who made Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed. All are masterpieces. None could be considered "feel-good" movies. Hugo is something new. It is a love letter to the cinema itself, both in the story it tells and how it was crafted. "Come, dream with me," is an invitation given in the climactic moment of the film. The summons could be from Scorsese himself.

Hugo is set in a Parisian train station in the 1930s. I've actually walked through the exact station, coming in on a train from Frankfurt and entering the wondrous world of Paris. Like another whimsical film this year, Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris, the city of lights is a place of journeys into the imagination. Train stations are places of interlude in between adventures. The titular character is a young boy living in the walls of the station. Orphaned after his inventive father was suddenly killed in a fire, Hugo spends his days fixing the station's clocks and tinkering with an automaton his father left behind. Something about the automaton beckons to him like a message beyond the grave. He is a bright, resourceful boy who must navigate his own pain and loneliness like the vast labyrinth of corridors inside the walls.

Hugo is caught stealing by a lonely toymaker, Georges Melies, whose grumpy demeanor hides years of underlying pain. Only film enthusiasts will recognize Melies' name; the rest of the audience will be pleasantly surprised by Hugo's discovery. Melies' confiscation of Hugo's notebook--his father's--begins an ordinary adventure that leads both Hugo and Georges to wrestle with their pasts and find hope for the future. Georges' godfather, Isabelle, helps Hugo retrieve his notebook. She introduces Hugo into the beautiful world of literature; Hugo returns the favor by sneaking her in to view her first film. Books and movies are the source of imaginative exploits and epics in Hugo; they are the places where dreams come to life.

In a conversation between Hugo and Isabelle, Hugo ponders his own existence: "I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason." Hugo wonders if Georges' depression is because of his brokenness, that his part in our world has been marred by a past wound. Our meaning and purpose must be connected to a greater masterpiece that is being created. The great Artist has crafted each of us for a good purpose. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2).

A film set in one of my favorite cities in the world? A film that maturely celebrates both literature and cinema? A film that features fantastic storytelling, top-notch acting, a wonderfully cathartic happy ending without any sense of being overly sentimental, and the best use of 3D in a life action film I've yet seen? A film that is filled with redemption of broken machines and people, offering light and life in our dark world? Consider Hugo a new personal favorite.

Trailers Galore for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:48:00 +0000

It looks like 2012 has the potential to be an awesome year at the movies. Each of these is a prequel/sequel of sorts, and each looks pretty incredible.

The Avengers. Comic book nerds are drooling. If this trailer is any indication, there will be lots and lots and lots of explosions.

The Hobbit. Peter Jackson goes back to making J.R.R. Tolkien books into films. He's been pretty great at it before, and this looks like it's no exception.

The Dark Knight Rises. The final chapter of Christopher Nolan's Batman films. The chanting at the end is eerie. I could discuss this trailer for an hour with you, if you like. Let's grab coffee.

Prometheus. Ridley Scott goes back to his roots by making a prequel to Alien. I was deeply worried when I heard the news, but this trailer has put my fears aside. The atmosphere is vast and haunting, and Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron are very capable actors.

Awareness Test

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:34:00 +0000

I love The Youth Cartel. Marko and Adam are two innovative and refreshing voices in the youth ministry world. They also have been a huge personal blessing to me, and I'm proud to call them friends. If you haven't signed up for the Cartel Culture or YouTube You Can Use email blasts, you're missing out on an incredible (free!) youth ministry resource.

I've written a post for The Youth Cartel's blog. Here's an excerpt from Awareness Test:

When we’re so focused on certain tasks, people, events, numbers, etc., we can actually miss what’s most important.

It happens all the time.

When I’m focused on how many students attended my mid-week program, but miss the conversation the Spirit was leading me to have with that one hurting student who just needed someone to listen.

When I’m giving more of my time and energy to planning a summer camp with my students than I am with a summer vacation for my own family.

When I’m reading the Bible only to glean some information to teach, rather than to encounter the heart of God and refresh my own soul.

When people constantly surround me—students, volunteers, fellow pastors and staff—but I’m navigating through life feeling fairly alone and isolated.

You can read the rest here. Watch out for what the Cartel is doing next!

What's the Objective of Youth Ministry?

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:31:00 +0000

Speaking of networking in my last post, my new youth ministry friend (and fellow YMCP alumnus) Paul Martin emailed me this question the other day:

What is the single objective of youth ministry?

Wow. Talk about a huge question. I did my best to answer as concisely as possible, and came up with a two word response:

Make disciples.

You can read the rest of my response (and Adam McLane's ideas too). And be sure to subscribe to Paul's blog, he's a refreshing and thoughtful voice in the youth ministry world.

Youth Ministry Networks: Three Ways They Suck, and Three Ways They're Awesome

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:16:00 +0000

I'm a believer in networking and connecting with other youth workers. Some of my best relationships are my friends and partners in youth ministry. Being a part of different networks in the past, I've noticed some aspects of youth ministry networks that can be really unhealthy. There are also deeply valuable traits in networks that are life-giving and refreshing. I didn't take any polls or use scientific methods, but here are some humble observations I've made about how youth ministry networks fail and succeed.

Three ways that youth ministry networks can suck:

Whining. When networking becomes a big whine-fest about how hard this job is--grumbling parents, uninterested teens, frustrating senior pastors and elders, etc.--it ends up feeling like a terrible sort of group therapy session. Yes, this vocation isn't easy. Yes, many churches have unhealthy leadership structures or cultures. Yes, many youth workers are hurting. But I didn't give up valuable time I could spend with my family or community so I could hear you play the victim card for 30 minutes, with no resolution or apparent desire for advice or change.

Comparing. How big is your youth group? I have a friend who calls this question "comparing chenises." They're like little boys who whip it out to compare sizes. That may sound crass, but it's accurate. We compare youth group sizes, number of volunteers, years in ministry, even the similar events that we do. You took 80 kids to Magic Mountain? That's great! When we did it, we took 120 and had 5 kids come to Jesus. The motives behind comparing usually stem from a personal insecurity (my youth group sucks compared to yours) or pride (I'm an awesome youth pastor, and you should probably know that). There is little in the way of celebrating what God is doing, and more about celebrating earthly kingdoms.

Peddling. Subscribe to the latest newsletter, read my latest blog post, or buy my newest book. Some networks I've been to have had that one youth worker who was always selling something. Sometimes the resources were legitimately useful, but it often felt uncomfortably like a sales pitch. If you're my friend and partner in ministry, please don't treat me like a marketing device. I care more about hearing your story and being part of your life, not listening to your podcast. (But if you're a genuine part of my life, I might give your podcast a listen!).

Three ways youth ministry networks can be awesome:

Encouragement. The difference between whining and encouragement is subtle. Whining doesn't require relationship or accountability; encouragement is built around trust, humility, and grace. I experienced this in Marko's YMCP during our times of personal sharing. We would share what is happening in our lives and our souls, which was usually pretty raw stuff. This required a vulnerability from the sharer and a deep compassion from those listening. Questions were asked, and encouragement was given, but it was never in the form of platitudes or shallow wisdom. We prayed for one another, pointed out flaws or fallacies, laughed at inside jokes, and offered words that sprang from the well of truth and life. We started as strangers and become friends and partners in ministry. These people cared about one another. We still do.

Equipping. The community of youth workers has a ridiculous amount of knowledge and experience to share with one another. This requires the humility to be able to listen and learn from others, and the confidence to be able to share ideas, books, websites, and other resources. The difference between equipping and peddling again has to do with motivation. Peddling is all about me getting my name/product out there; equipping is about seeing the youth ministry world become more mature and Jesus-y, including myself.

Collaboration. We can do far more together than we can alone. A group of Arizona youth workers in the Phoenix valley recently gathered to discuss networking, and created The Youth Summit, a new regional network. I think this description from the website captures the beauty of collaboration:

We believe that by working together we can find support, knowledge, strategy, encouragement, and innovation beyond what we would find on our own. And we don't have to pay a ton of money to fly to Atlanta, Chicago, or California to get those things. Some of the most brilliant people are investing in the lives of youth at churches we have never heard of right here in AZ. You may be one of them, and there are more like you.

One of the best youth ministry experiences I've had was inheriting the leadership of a junior high summer camp when I first moved to Arizona. Around 15 churches banded together to create their own summer camp program in order to keep costs down and create a personalized camp experience for our churches. Churches from all over Arizona participated, in different sizes and denominations. It was a beautiful picture of the kingdom of God. It wasn't about comparing ourselves to each other--I led the group, but I wasn't part of the biggest church, and certainly didn't have the most experience. It was about seeing what God was doing in our midst and being more like the kingdom together.

Do you see any of these present in your experience with youth ministry networks? Are you part of a network? If not, who can you invite to be a part of your life today?

Ah!Natural Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:08:00 +0000

Ah!Natural Baby is an awesome new children's products that my in-laws recently created, and I wanted to share about this family endeavor here on the Mayward Blog.

Ah!Natural and its subsidiary Ah!Natural Baby was started by two brothers inspired by their sister’s frustration. Upon getting married and starting a family, she found it impossible to find toys that were safe for her newborn son. The brothers realized that if their sister was having trouble, certainly other concerned parents were as well. It was with that Ah!Natural was born.

Ah!Natural is a family run company in the greater Portland, OR area committed to making local, handcrafted, all-natural toys with their own nephew in mind. Children’s toys should be as simple and as natural as they are.

Yeah, that newborn son is our kiddo, Copeland. We had concerns about all the plastics, paints, and chemicals involved in the majority of children's toys, and couldn't find many that reflect our love for creation. Guess you can take us out of Portland, but you can't take the Portland out of us!

These toys are incredible. They're entirely handmade, with the colored blocks stained from natural materials, like spices and fruit juices. All their products use natural waxes and oils to seal the wood, and the wood itself is collected locally from the Northwest. They also make custom name blocks for your child's name, which would be an awesome gift for a baby shower or a church child dedication. But my favorite product is this thing, what they've called a DuoCube:

It's a rattle, a teether, and a lesson in physics. I have no idea how they make it, but it's a remarkable toy.

Check out Ah!Natural, and finish your Christmas shopping done for the kiddos in your life.

Eighty-One Year Old Youth Worker

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:54:00 +0000

I wasn't at the Atlanta NYWC, but I'm glad they posted this video on Youth Specialties. Verna Kline is 81 years old and has been doing youth ministry as a volunteer for over 60 years. Talk about longevity and commitment in ministry!

If you're a youth ministry volunteer and need evidence that you're never too old to disciple young people, Verna is living proof.

Start Something That Matters: A Book Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

I love TOMS. They are comfy, they are cool, and they have a story--you buy one pair, and TOMS gives a new pair to a child in need.

TOMS founder and Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie recently wrote a book called Start Something That Matters. It briefly tells the story behind TOMS--how Blake was in Argentina in 2006, how he saw these Argentine shoes called alpargatas, how he also saw children running around shoeless, how he was moved to start a new kind of shoe company that was both for-profit and charitable. That company became TOMS, beginning as a tiny startup running out of Blake's apartment that has now given away more than a million shoes to children in need.

The rest of the book is Blake sharing his core values behind TOMS, like "find your story," "keep it simple," and "giving is good business." It reads a bit like an inspirational business book, one that wants to inspire a movement as much as it wants to share how TOMS did it. It's a quick and easy read, but one that packs in plenty of stories and ideas for how to start a movement of giving. Many of Blake's values have significant spiritual connections (whether Blake realizes this remains to be seen; he doesn't bring up his spiritual beliefs in the book). An example: the power of story is central to TOMS, and the company's story inspires people to become evangelists of sorts, sharing the TOMS story with complete strangers who happen to like their shoes. It's a simple and memorable message: One for One. Blake could give a training in Evangelism 101.

I'm giving away one copy of Start Something That Matters to one commenter on The Mayward Blog! It's the first Mayward Blog giveaway. Here's how you enter the contest:

Leave a comment on this post with the following information: your name and your shoe size. (Anonymous commenters will not be qualified).
I will pick one random commenter as generated by Random.org
Check back by noon (12:00 PM MST) tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, when I'll post the name/shoe size of the winner. The winner will contact me via email, and I'll get you the book!

It's that simple. Your name and shoe size. Check out Start Something That Matters here.

Being The Church

noreply@blogger.com (Joel Mayward) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:04:00 +0000

I don't recall where I first saw the above video, but it really captures the tension between doing church and being church. I especially love the scene on "lead," where someone is washing another's feet. I wrote this post about doing vs. being a few years ago, and it still rings true in my soul.

If we're doing church, then church becomes an event. It is another activity in the week, a club that we participate in, a reminder on our calendar, a building where we gather and sing and learn. It could be connected to other activities in life, but that is not a necessity. Doing church means people need to look good and fit in. When I invite someone to doing church, I'm inviting them to a service on Sunday because that's where we talk about spiritual things. Church is something we do. It is action unattached to character.

If we're being church, then church becomes an identity. It is a lifestyle, a moment-by-moment movement that we're always participating in. We gather and sing and learn and eat meals together and play sports and make music and listen to our hurting friends and serve the marginalized and clean up a park and travel to other countries because we are the church. Being church means tearing down facades of perfection and being authentic about our brokenness. When I invite someone to being church, I'm inviting them into an ongoing relationship with myself because Jesus loves them and I love Jesus. Church is something we are. It is action flowing from identity.

Are you doing or being church? How would your neighbors answer that question?