Formational Children’s Ministry: shaping children using story, ritual, and relationship by Dr. Ivy Beckwith (Ph.D. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an eloquent, original, and important contribution to the emergent conversation. Since most of the books in the emergent movement have had very little to say about children’s ministry, Dr. Beckwith’s book is all the more timely. She suggests ways in which church leaders may guide their congregations and families into spiritually forming their children through story, ritual and relationship.
There is much to like about Formational Children’s Ministry, and there are some potent concerns, as well. read more…
Photo by Glen Alan Woods
Which way do I go from here? And is that all I need to know in order to get there?
The sign in this photo depicts numerous destinations with their approximate distances from that specific location in Pioneer Courthouse Square. It is a fun conversation piece for the many passers-by who frequent Portland’s notorious living room. And it makes me think about life. read more…
Recently I purchased the special edition Keith Green: the live experience CD/DVD set. Tonight I watched portions of the DVD. I laughed. I cried. I worshipped. I remembered. read more…
In the church world, there are trend setters and trend watchers, opinion leaders and early (and late) adapters, marketing gurus and viral media mavens. Love em or hate em, they are out there. From every denominational stripe or the lack thereof, they make their preferences known as evidenced by the behavior of those whom they influence. Often this is good; equally often it probably is not. Why do I dare say that? read more…
A Short History of Christianity is a fast-paced excursion through 2,000 years of Christian history. Written by British scholar Stephen Tomkins (Ph.D. London School of Theology), this book is more than a mere survey. It is a breathless flurry of panoramic history which offers fascinating minute detail in many situations, and glosses over or simply ignores key characters and issues in others. As the author points out, “We’re covering a decade a page, what did you expect” (p. 8)? He does, however, acknowledge that he has certain prejudices and interests which influence his decisions about what to include and omit.
What is most telling are the themes that emerge in his treatment of Christian history. read more…
Looking for a quick time filler game for early childhood? How about balloon volleyball? That’s right! Balloon volleyball is a fun, simple game for those moments when you need to stretch the final moments of your session. Here is how you do it. read more…
The scene in the photo depicts the signage facing drivers as they approach the fork at the end of the west-bound I-84 in Portland, Oregon. Four clear options present themselves, along with a few others left unstated. The most obvious are north I-5 vs. south I-5. Plus, southbound drivers can veer off into city center or, despite no clear indication by the signage, they can make as if they will head toward city center, but choose instead to head into the Central Eastside Industrial district which boasts the famous OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). Yet, other less obvious options are available, too. They could head toward the Rose Garden Arena via the northbound exit, or even stay northbound for quick connections to both the Northwest Industrial Park and the Swan Island Industrial Park. So many options with little time to decide. Indeed, drivers must choose before they make their final approach, or else their margin for change will rapidly shrink until it becomes too dangerous to alter course.
Life presents us with forks in the road. Some are of our own choosing. Some are not. It helps to scout the lay of the land. I do this when preparing for new driving routes in the city. It is easier to scout on a non-business day in my small car, than in a truck during rush hour. It gives me confidence when the rush hits. I know which routes to choose and what options are available in the event of lane closures on certain roads.
Life isn’t nearly so neat and tidy, I know. There are the variables of relationships and dreams, responsibilities and opportunity. Most important is our obedience to the Lord to whom we will give an account. So, as I attempt to navigate my future, I do so with my heart inclined to sense his heart through Scripture and prayer. Yet, I also keep in view that he has given me a mind and will, capable of initiating creativity which honors him in the specific actions to which I commit. As I look forward I see a cloud of mystery, but I also sense opportunity. To the degree I choose to be faithful to Christ, that opportunity will manifest in ways that honor him. I desire no other alternative. I only want to follow Jesus to the end of my days in a way which will encourage others, likewise, to take up their crosses and follow him. If the forks in the road I choose cause him to increase and me to decrease (John 3:30), then that means my life will have counted for something that matters.
Late last year Karl Bastian, founder of Kidology.org, posted a series of questions about the differences and similarities between discipleship and spiritual life coaching. I think his post is helpful at cutting to the heart of the issue, especially when there continues to be so much apparent confusion about what coaching is and is not. You can read his article entitled Coaching vs Discipling over at Discipleblog.com. Four people, including me, replied to his post.
I personally am involved with a form of coaching in my own church which involves parents. You can check out the blog specifically designed to resource them here. In the meantime, I invite you to read my original response to Karl’s post below.
Coaching in the style credentialed by the International Coach Federation is founded on the principle of asking good questions and listening actively. It is a framework in which the coachees are guided to their own conclusions based on their unique skills, backgrounds and aspirations. The agenda, in the Christian coaching matrix, is what is God doing in the life of the coachee, rather than what content and goals does the coach have for the coachee.
Stated differently, coaching helps coachees resolve hurdles to their goals by clarifying their objectives, identifying resources at their disposal, and opportunities they wish to explore, and setting goals to achieve the larger aim. The coach need not have expertise in the discipline of the coachee. She simply needs to know how to guide the coachee through good questions and holding the coachee accountable to commitments.
So no, coaching is not discipleship in the strictest sense.
However, discipleship can incorporate some of the principles and tools of coaching. Jesus was a master of asking good questions and challenging people to think at a far deeper level. Look at his interactions with the disciples, the crowds, the pharisees and other religious leaders throughout the gospels. Often he asked penetrating questions which cut to the heart of the matter. Was this coaching or discipleship, or something else altogether?
There are forms of coaching being deployed in the marketplace which explore spirituality. However, I would not equate them with Christian discipleship.
I do think, however, that discipleship can benefit from the attitude of respect and active listening which is promoted by the professional coaching world. Far too much of discipleship tends to have a negative slant toward the disciple. Jesus reminds us by his own example what a difference it makes when we actually do life with those we disciple. Loving them. Inviting them into our daily routines. Being real. Expecting the best from them. Most importantly, having a relationship with them, just as we should have a trust relationship with Jesus. And isn’t that the point of discipleship, anyway?
This morning a four year-old boy entered my classroom crying. He was sad about a game he had just played in another group. He did not get a turn to lead a particular activity. Tears flowed freely. I tried to comfort him with a hug and kind words, but to no avail. He puckered his lower lip and wept. Again, I tried to comfort him but with no results. So, I tried a different approach. I asked him to breathe deeply. In and then out. Once. Twice. Three times. As he followed my example he visibly calmed. This gave me opportunity to redirect his attention into a new activity where he had an opportunity to have a turn first. Finally, he smiled.
When a little boy cries there can be many reasons. Physical pain, being frightened, harsh words, sadness about perceived unfairness, and so on. I try to comfort first while also determining the cause. In this case the cause was the boy who feeling left out when other children received a turn. Life can be unfair that way. But parents, caregivers, and children’s ministry workers can also show that God provides new and different opportunities to find fulfillment. For this boy the solution was a simple as a few moments collecting his composure, and being redirected into a new fun activity where he could participate actively. It is one snapshot into the many moments which comprise a typical Sunday morning in the local church.
There is something about the midnight hour. It is remniscient of the early hour. I wait on God expectantly. I sing psalms of praises. Joyous lauds. In the natural, so much is a mystery. read more…
