One of the things that you should do to understand middle school students better is try to think back to when you were there age. I have done this exercise several times with my leadership team and it builds compassion, understanding and helps generate discussion and ideas for reaching and connecting MS students.
As I get older, I feel like the years of separation between me and the students I serve have become a barrier. So, I’ve decided to take my “think back” session to the next level, or quite possibly the extreme level.
1st (started last Wednesday) in order to connect with the middle school guys, I have quit all showering and bathing, except in pools and swims in the lake.
2nd (started last Thursday) in order to connect with MS girls, I’m watching all past and present episodes of “iCarly” and “Hannah Montana.”
3rd (not yet started) I’ve given up driving myself anywhere and am totally relying on Kristi to get me to the places I want to be. 
thanks mom!
As you ponder my dedication to my students, I’ll leave you with two questions..
Do any of you (middle school leaders) want to join me?
Do you have any suggestions or ideas of things to add to the list?
experiment in middle schooldom…
Know Jesus? SPEAK UP!
A friend (@jim_randall) got me into twitter several months ago. He told me that it was something that would bring me “up to date.” Soon after I signed up for twitter, #Unleash09 happened, a conference at Newspring Church in South Carolina. It was inspiring and refreshing to watch a lot of tweople tweet about the cool stuff that God was teaching them. Since then I have started to follow some of the most influential pastors in the US and seen them SPEAK UP! about their faith in Christ, among other things.
Since I signed up for twitter I’ve tried to get others to do the same to some success. I have a greater passion to see people SPEAK UP! about their relationship with Jesus. One of the obstacles I get thrown at me on both fronts is “I don’t have anything to say!”
God has given you or will give you something to say…so SPEAK UP!…
… To God – 1 John 1:9 – Sin is the barrier between us and God. To be sharing our faith we should be ‘fessed up, prayed up and growing closer to God. Sure we all mess up from time to time. However, when we habitually neglect our relationship to God and try to SPEAK UP! we are most likely leading people away from Him.
… To people – Luke 12:8 – What a commandment! I say it is a commandment because of the clear consequence for our complacency. Go read the whole passage, you will be blessed.
How to SPEAK UP!
Through YOUR PASSION – Your passion is a convincing platform that God has given to you. Some will use twitter, facebook, e-mails and blogging. Some (like Tim Tebow) use football or sports. What are you good at or love doing? Use it to SPEAK UP! about your God!
Through YOUR WEAKNESS – 2 Cor. 12:9 – God is going to tell you to do things that you think is impossible for you. Because of God’s grace nothing (He asks) is impossible for you!
So, What are you waiting for? SPEAK UP!
Tell people about Jesus!
I’ve been witnessing some really awesome things happening with triplemsm. The Holy Spirit has been relentless since camp, moving in the hearts and lives of our students.
God wants the BEST for you so that you can be the BEST for Him!
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26 (NLT) I know this verse doesn’t say “God wants the BEST for you!” It does allude to the fact that God will take care of our needs. This week as I was hangin’ with my boys, I realized that desiring the BEST for my children didn’t mean that I had to give into their every whim, but making sure their needs were met was a high priority. God also taught me a couple of things that I wanted to share. 1. God provides for our needs! – I was very blessed to grow up in an environment where my needs were always met in abundance. However, it was the simple things that were the things that made me who I am today. The most important were loving and supportive parents, who wanted the BEST for me and pushed me to never settle for good enough. 2. Contentment – The wisdom to accept that where I am is right where God wants me. My most trying times this past week were when the boys would fight over who had which toy first. We are always looking around at others toys or blessings and wishing we were in their shoes. The truth is that God wants your attention on Him. Read Psalm 37 today. God wants the BEST for you so that you can be the BEST for Him!
