Sports is something that brings forth a great deal of emotion. ABC's old Saturday afternoon program, The Wide World of Sports, used to touch on this in the opening sequence of every program with the line "The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat." It was and is something that is acknowledged as being a part of doing something that is competitive like a sport.
The emotions that are evoked by sports are powerful things. I remember crying whole heartedly after losing in my final football game. After all the time and effort, all the pain and blood, sweat and tears that go into something like that there is going to be an emotional response from the players. There will be celebrations by the victors and there will be dejection on display when it comes to the defeated. It is Michael Jordan weeping and clutching the NBA Championship trophy after his Bulls won the title on Father's Day the year Jordan's father was murdered; it is the look of exuberance on Tom Brady's face after winning his first Super Bowl. It 's the frustration shown by LeBron James upon losing the Eastern Conference Finals to the Magic by simply walking off the court rather than congratulating the winners.
When we win, we celebrate. This was demonstrated last night in the Olympics when the Canadian Women's Hockey team defeated the USA Women for the gold medal. And their celebration has become a big deal. Not the fact that they reveled in the victory and the accomplishment of winning a Gold medal for their country, but more how they did this. They did not begin their celebration on the ice with the other teams in their presence, thus seeming showy and arrogant. No they were classier about it than that. They waited until the ice had cleared and until the stands had cleared. They waited until it was just them as a team there to celebrate what they had done together. The problem it seems is that there were still some photographers and other media people still around to catch the celebration.
It seems that these women decided to bring the typical locker room celebration onto the ice. So they re-entered the rink and brought with them some beer, champagne and cigars. They then proceeded to partake of these things. And this is where it is a big deal. There were pictures taken of the celebration that were then made public (as tends to happen with this kind of thing). Now Hockey Canada has issued an apology, and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) is doing an investigation. All I have to say is--really?
I can understand it they did this immediately following the win, gloating and rubbing it in the faces of the defeated Americans. But true to Canadian form, they waited a polite amount of time before having this little shindig. Lets be real here: this is the exact same thing that happens in the locker room. The difference is that they brought it out of the locker room, when they felt it was an appropriate time and they could be there alone as a team. I know that there is talk about the one young lady on the team who is 18 being seen drinking a beer (or champagne or whatever) and the legal drinking age being 19. OK, so she is just underage. I don't condone it, but I can understand it. It is part of the emotion that winning brings about.
In the end, I think the apology and the investigation are silly and needless. Let the team celebrate a huge accomplishment and a job well done. Peace and Love y'all.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
And with the first pick...
Man I love my job. Seriously, it's got to be just about the best job in the world. I get to minister to teenagers and help to shape generations and point them toward God's plan for their own lives as well as the lives of others. Really, what could be better than getting to do something you love?
Something else that I really enjoy is the NFL. I know, I know, how in the world is that even almost related to my job as a youth minister? Well that's the thing, it's not. But because of the fact that I like the NFL as much as I do, I keep up with the things that go on with it. It's fun to know what is going on. But this got me thinking about the differences between being in ministry and being in the NFL. So here is a list of differences between the two careers.
Top 10 Differences in Youth Ministry and the NFL
10) 40 Times- In the NFL there is a lot that is based on how fast a person can run a 40 yard dash. There are guys that have earned loads of cash because they could run that far in less than 4.5 seconds. Really seems like a crazy thing to base employment on. Imagine if a church made it's youth ministry candidates run 40s and used that to help determine who they hired. Maybe instead of an actual 40 they could take times on how fast they can get down the center aisle of the sanctuary.
9) No Agents to deal with- In the NFL guys have agents that come in and represent them to make sure they get the best possible contract deal. Sounds great, but that can lead to tension between the team and the player and result in guys holding out for a better pay package. Imagine if youth ministers had agents or threatened to hold out...imagine if youth ministers had actual contracts....
8) Training Camp- In the NFL guys have to go through two-a-days in the heat of the late summer to train and practice and get prepped for the new season. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad idea at times for youth ministry. Actually we call it The National Youth Workers Convention.
7) Different Career Ending Injuries- NFL players are always one bad hit or one bad cut away from ending their careers. They have to deal with things like concussions, torn muscles, torn ligaments and torn tendons. Any of these could potentially end the career of a player. In youth ministry our career enders look a little different: lock-ins, road trips, mission trips, Youth Sundays and parents. The names may be different, but the results can be the same.
6) Scouting Combine- This is where all those college hopefuls gather to audition for the scouts, coaches and general managers of various teams. This can make or break where you are selected. In youth ministry we call this the interview process. You meet with the hiring committee, then (in some churches) "audition" with the youth group to see how you "fit". Not really an exact science in either profession.
5) Free Agency- In the NFL when your contract runs out and you aren't resigned by your team, you can become a free agent and have a chance at landing with another team. Many free agents are highly sought after and there are battles between teams to sign them. In youth ministry, well, not so much.
4) Salary Cap- In the NFL there is a limit to how much a team can spend as far as player contract from year to year. This helps to ensure equality among teams. There is also a salary floor which says the minimum amount a team can spend (which is kind of interesting as well) to ensure that teams stay competitive. In youth ministry, there is neither.
3) Fantasy Leagues- Every season there are tons of folks who put together fantasy football teams online and compete. It takes being a fan to a whole different level. I can't really imagine this being the case with youth ministry. For starters what kind of statistical categories would you base it on? Although the interaction from the players could be a nice thing to have.
2) Endorsement Deals- If I were an NFL player I would want to have an endorsement deal. The company could hook you up with what ever it is you are endorsing, you get paid extra and you get to be in commercials. In youth ministry, well there just aren't that many nationally known products (or youth ministers) to endorse. I guess we could get deals from Bible publishing companies, but really what else is there? Pizza?
1) The Draft- In the NFL many of the top college players are selected in the draft. The bigger the school and the bigger the stats you put up the higher you will probably go. It doesn't really guarantee success, but it sure looks good. In youth ministry, thank God they don't do a draft. If all churches went by were numbers and where you got your training (if you got any training), well I would be out of luck probably. Maybe I would be able to catch on as an undrafted free agent eventually.
Peace and Love y'all.
Something else that I really enjoy is the NFL. I know, I know, how in the world is that even almost related to my job as a youth minister? Well that's the thing, it's not. But because of the fact that I like the NFL as much as I do, I keep up with the things that go on with it. It's fun to know what is going on. But this got me thinking about the differences between being in ministry and being in the NFL. So here is a list of differences between the two careers.
Top 10 Differences in Youth Ministry and the NFL
10) 40 Times- In the NFL there is a lot that is based on how fast a person can run a 40 yard dash. There are guys that have earned loads of cash because they could run that far in less than 4.5 seconds. Really seems like a crazy thing to base employment on. Imagine if a church made it's youth ministry candidates run 40s and used that to help determine who they hired. Maybe instead of an actual 40 they could take times on how fast they can get down the center aisle of the sanctuary.
9) No Agents to deal with- In the NFL guys have agents that come in and represent them to make sure they get the best possible contract deal. Sounds great, but that can lead to tension between the team and the player and result in guys holding out for a better pay package. Imagine if youth ministers had agents or threatened to hold out...imagine if youth ministers had actual contracts....
8) Training Camp- In the NFL guys have to go through two-a-days in the heat of the late summer to train and practice and get prepped for the new season. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad idea at times for youth ministry. Actually we call it The National Youth Workers Convention.
7) Different Career Ending Injuries- NFL players are always one bad hit or one bad cut away from ending their careers. They have to deal with things like concussions, torn muscles, torn ligaments and torn tendons. Any of these could potentially end the career of a player. In youth ministry our career enders look a little different: lock-ins, road trips, mission trips, Youth Sundays and parents. The names may be different, but the results can be the same.
6) Scouting Combine- This is where all those college hopefuls gather to audition for the scouts, coaches and general managers of various teams. This can make or break where you are selected. In youth ministry we call this the interview process. You meet with the hiring committee, then (in some churches) "audition" with the youth group to see how you "fit". Not really an exact science in either profession.
5) Free Agency- In the NFL when your contract runs out and you aren't resigned by your team, you can become a free agent and have a chance at landing with another team. Many free agents are highly sought after and there are battles between teams to sign them. In youth ministry, well, not so much.
4) Salary Cap- In the NFL there is a limit to how much a team can spend as far as player contract from year to year. This helps to ensure equality among teams. There is also a salary floor which says the minimum amount a team can spend (which is kind of interesting as well) to ensure that teams stay competitive. In youth ministry, there is neither.
3) Fantasy Leagues- Every season there are tons of folks who put together fantasy football teams online and compete. It takes being a fan to a whole different level. I can't really imagine this being the case with youth ministry. For starters what kind of statistical categories would you base it on? Although the interaction from the players could be a nice thing to have.
2) Endorsement Deals- If I were an NFL player I would want to have an endorsement deal. The company could hook you up with what ever it is you are endorsing, you get paid extra and you get to be in commercials. In youth ministry, well there just aren't that many nationally known products (or youth ministers) to endorse. I guess we could get deals from Bible publishing companies, but really what else is there? Pizza?
1) The Draft- In the NFL many of the top college players are selected in the draft. The bigger the school and the bigger the stats you put up the higher you will probably go. It doesn't really guarantee success, but it sure looks good. In youth ministry, thank God they don't do a draft. If all churches went by were numbers and where you got your training (if you got any training), well I would be out of luck probably. Maybe I would be able to catch on as an undrafted free agent eventually.
Peace and Love y'all.
Monday, February 22, 2010
I Love You This Much...But No More Than That
I saw this today on Stuff Christians Like and decided that it was too good to pass up. I posted the link on my Facebook as well, but I really thought it needed it's very own post on here too. I want to thank Jon Acuff for posting this in the first place (even if he found it elsewhere first).
When I was first watching this, I nearly spit coffee when the lady opens it in the kitchen and is so excited about it. Then the shot of the two girls laughing while one wears the Hug E Gram over her shoulders like a preppy dude wears his sweater, wow classic. Then of course there is the feature that allows you to create a "personalized" message for the person you love so much you aren't there to actually hug them. Finally, if you order now, they will also send your "loved" one some fake, wooden roses that will "last forever."
I mean really, what woman wouldn't want fake arms wearing Mickey Mouse gloves wrapped around her body instead of the arms of an actual person that she cares for? Does anyone else think this was invented by some guy with a fear of commitment? Peace and Love y'all.
When I was first watching this, I nearly spit coffee when the lady opens it in the kitchen and is so excited about it. Then the shot of the two girls laughing while one wears the Hug E Gram over her shoulders like a preppy dude wears his sweater, wow classic. Then of course there is the feature that allows you to create a "personalized" message for the person you love so much you aren't there to actually hug them. Finally, if you order now, they will also send your "loved" one some fake, wooden roses that will "last forever."
I mean really, what woman wouldn't want fake arms wearing Mickey Mouse gloves wrapped around her body instead of the arms of an actual person that she cares for? Does anyone else think this was invented by some guy with a fear of commitment? Peace and Love y'all.
Love and Grace
There is peace of mind at last for congregations here in East Texas, at least that is what we have been told after the arrests of two men that are believed to have been responsible for 10 church burnings here in the Tyler area. Since January 1, 2010 these two individuals have been on an arson spree burning various churches in the area. Today, they were arrested and the East Texas "church" will now breathe a collective sigh of relief. I'm glad to hear that this seems to have finally come to an end as well. But here is my question and my real reason for writing about this. What should our response be to these two young men (they are 19 and 21 by the way)?
For starters, I know that there are going to be people who are angry about all of this. And that is a justifiable response I think. There seem to be certain things that you just don't mess with in a persons life, and their church is one of those things. So I think that one of the first responses will be anger, and wanting to know why?
We will call them "sick" or "deranged" of any other number of things to try and help us understand the why and to make it easier for us to "understand" why they would do what they did. I guess the question I have is are they? I do wonder what it is that would cause someone to be so frustrated with the church or with God that they would do this kind of thing, but I wonder about our label of "sick."
Here is what I think our response should be to all of this. I think that as the overall body of Christ, as the Church universal, it is up to us to show these two young men the Grace and Love that is in Christ. Should they have to pay for what they have done? Yes, there are still natural consequences for our sinful actions, even though Grace covers us. Yet, if we don't extend Grace and Love then we are adding fuel to the fire (no pun intended, I promise) of their already present frustrations concerning the Church. We will talk at length about how we will "pray" for them and that is good. But what we should really be doing is reaching out to them, showing them this Love and Grace that we have found.
I have no idea why they would do this kind of thing. From what I read, they attended a church in Ben Wheeler together. One of them was involved in a Bible club at some point. And yet somewhere along the way they became disenfranchised with the Church. I feel like there must have been some kind of frustration there to lead them on this path. Perhaps they encountered our humanity too often in the church rather than the Grace that we hope shines through us.
What they have done is awful, and I can find no justification for it regardless of what they may have felt about God or about church or organized religion. What I want to remember and what I want to express here is that now we have an opportunity to really be The Church. What they took were the buildings that housed a service. What they have given people is a chance to be the hands and feet of Christ outside of those walls. It is my prayer that we will take this opportunity and use it to expand the Kingdom of God rather than to shrink it down even further to the idea of us against the world. Peace and Love.
For starters, I know that there are going to be people who are angry about all of this. And that is a justifiable response I think. There seem to be certain things that you just don't mess with in a persons life, and their church is one of those things. So I think that one of the first responses will be anger, and wanting to know why?
We will call them "sick" or "deranged" of any other number of things to try and help us understand the why and to make it easier for us to "understand" why they would do what they did. I guess the question I have is are they? I do wonder what it is that would cause someone to be so frustrated with the church or with God that they would do this kind of thing, but I wonder about our label of "sick."
Here is what I think our response should be to all of this. I think that as the overall body of Christ, as the Church universal, it is up to us to show these two young men the Grace and Love that is in Christ. Should they have to pay for what they have done? Yes, there are still natural consequences for our sinful actions, even though Grace covers us. Yet, if we don't extend Grace and Love then we are adding fuel to the fire (no pun intended, I promise) of their already present frustrations concerning the Church. We will talk at length about how we will "pray" for them and that is good. But what we should really be doing is reaching out to them, showing them this Love and Grace that we have found.
I have no idea why they would do this kind of thing. From what I read, they attended a church in Ben Wheeler together. One of them was involved in a Bible club at some point. And yet somewhere along the way they became disenfranchised with the Church. I feel like there must have been some kind of frustration there to lead them on this path. Perhaps they encountered our humanity too often in the church rather than the Grace that we hope shines through us.
What they have done is awful, and I can find no justification for it regardless of what they may have felt about God or about church or organized religion. What I want to remember and what I want to express here is that now we have an opportunity to really be The Church. What they took were the buildings that housed a service. What they have given people is a chance to be the hands and feet of Christ outside of those walls. It is my prayer that we will take this opportunity and use it to expand the Kingdom of God rather than to shrink it down even further to the idea of us against the world. Peace and Love.
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