Youth Specialties Blog

Good Psychobilly vs. Bad Psychobilly; the meaning of community

By YS on July 13 2008 | 1 Comments

Recently, a long time friend was in town playing a show with his band. We went to dinner before the show and among other things he was telling me about the new guitar player for the band. "The old guy was a total rock star, amazing attitude, great stage presence, but he couldn't play at all. Oh, and he was a pain to hang out with. The new guy is older, less flashy, but a fantastic player and a great hang." I wondered how the band's fans would respond to a more skilled, less interesting player. Fortunately for the band their lead singer has the energy of three people, and so the staid presence of the new guitar player (who is, indeed, a fantastic player), wasn't the loss I thought it might be. But it got me wondering about the thing that seems to often happen. When something (a band, a speaker, a spiritual journey) matures beyond the initial thrill and flash and is almost universally acknowledged as better. But why does popularity, acceptance and the willingness to go for the ride seem to drop off? My friend and I talked about our younger, more outwardly zealous years of faith and how filled they were with energy, but little wisdom. We then covered where we are today is so much deeper, more fulfilling, less frantic, but perhaps more boring. At the show, I marveled at the sense of community that the band's fans seemed to have. Obvious misfits all gathered together in a place of acceptance. I haven't seen a truly weird crowd like that in years. All of the current crop of pop-punk bands seem like American Eagle Outfitter models compared to the folks out to this show. And they all loved being together. It was a fantastic time to see belonging made visible. Then came the intro to the 7th or 8th song. "Most of our songs are about three topics: the devil; choo choo trains...and chicken!" Sublime crossed to ridiculous, and even the older, better guitar player got a bit goofy.

By YS on July 13 2008 | 1 Comments

Basketball Pong Shots

By YS on July 13 2008 | 1 Comments

Got a small group of students with nothing but time on their hands this summer? This is a game you can play anywhere. It's creative, it's fun, and it's free. Just be sure to watch the whole video so you'll see the one risk.

By YS on July 13 2008 | 1 Comments

Cure for the Boring Summer Job

By YS on July 12 2008 | 0 Comments

By YS on July 12 2008 | 0 Comments

Twitter as means of social justice

By YS on July 12 2008 | 0 Comments

TwitterCNN.com has been following the account of an American student journalist and his Egyptian translator who were jailed in Egypt. Using Twitter to notify people of his capture, his university quickly contacted authorities who arranged for his release. The translator, however, remained in custody until this week. Read the full story here. This has me wondering what other ways can Twitter be used to rally people to social justice? Ideas?

By YS on July 12 2008 | 0 Comments

No Love for Tramp Pastor

By YS on July 11 2008 | 0 Comments

We know youth workers are always looking for new ways to make their students think. Give this one a shot. To clarify, before you try this one make sure you let your boss know! Otherwise he may think that you just stayed out too late Saturday night.
The Reverend Derek Rigby donned a wig and some torn clothes and surrounded himself with lager cans and syringes in the church doorway on Sunday morning. Most of the congregation at the Trinity Methodist Church in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, ignored the intruder. story Watch the video
Asked how his congregation responded to the bum on the doorstep of their church, Rigby told BBC "They all ignored me." Question A: How do you think people would respond if you did this at your church? Question B: Is it just me or could this guy be a Mike Myers impersonator?

By YS on July 11 2008 | 0 Comments

Sites We Like

By YS on July 09 2008 | 0 Comments

Student culture

Getting students involved

Things We Are Looking At Right Now

By YS on July 09 2008 | 0 Comments

Children for Sale

By YS on July 09 2008 | 0 Comments

At the 2002 National Youth Workers Convention Gary Haugen from International Justice Mission introduced many of us to the horrors of child trafficking. We sat in stunned silence the challenge was issued, "What will you do?" So here we are 6 years later. Child trafficking, the slave trade, and a multitude of other forms of human exploitation are coming to the forefront of American media. Today there was a story on Good Morning America entitled, "How to Buy a Child in 10 Hours." And what is the response of the church? Where are the multitudes living out the words of Isaiah?
Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17
Many of us sat in awe of Zach Hunter when he spoke at NYWC last fall. Unfortunately, I think many people walked away saying, "look what he is doing at his age" as opposed to what Zach is actually trying to do. Discussion: What place does social justice play in your youth group?

By YS on July 09 2008 | 0 Comments

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