Man I love Summer, it's just funner.  In the next 3 months I will "kidnap" a bunch of incoming freshmen dressed as a pirate, spend a week house boating and tubing with a hundred of my pals, get on a plane for Odder, Denmark and help a group of 17 of my students lead an outreach to 250-300 Danish middle-schoolers in a big white circus tent (a fitting facility for this gig), spend a glorious week camping in Mexico with 50-60 of our students and staff as we build a house for a needy family, love on children at an orphanage and conduct a VBS for a huge crowd of kids in Tijuana.  Summer is Funner.

On the iPod: Montrose - Montrose (the most under-rated classic rock album of all time, and the launch of Sammy Hagar's career) <---genuine 1974  Montrose video footage

)

In the late 70's I saw Jeff Beck live on his Blow By Blow tour.  His playing was so beautiful at one point during the song 'Cause We've Ended as Lovers  I began to cry because I was so moved.  True Story.  Embarrassing, but true.

Beck is an amazing guitar player, a master of taste.  If you are one of the guitar guys in our Worship Community listen, watch and learn.  Here's recent footage of Beck playing Cause We've Ended As Lovers . Notice things like volume swells, unusual bends, use of right hand - Jb doesn't use a pick and it effects his tone.

Last Saturday 25 of our ministry team members dressed up as pirates and kidnapped  32 of our incoming freshmen.  I love youth ministry.  Going the extra mile to help kids when they transition from one age / school grouping to another is one of the very best things you can invest time in as a youth worker at this time of year.  I also found out that I REALLY LIKE eye liner, I'm going to wear it all the time, or not.

Us big kids know you can't take posted media back once it's out there.  Youth workers: this video could be a good discussion starter or could be worth uploading to your youth group website.

On The iPod: Ryuichi Sakamoto - Alexei and the Spring

U2 is working with Brian Eno again.  This can ONLY be good news!

Last month I was pondering the importance of authenticity in leadership.  I recently remembered an authentic pulpit event that deeply impacted me. 

I became a Christian when I was 21, I found Jesus at a large seeker sensitive church inSouthern California .  After I had been attending this great church for about a month when the Sainted Senior Pastor, Larry DeWitt (whom I thought was the most perfect man I had ever come across) began to preach about his wretched deep seated sinfulness.  He was teaching through Romans 7:21-25 and admitted that he still struggled with sin.  He told us how in his mind he was at times a fornicator and liar, covetous and jealous.

I was new at this church stuff but I knew in an instant someone better turn this guy over and baste him, he was done  - I was certain he had just lost his job in front of my very eyes.  What I didn’t know was this, I was totally mistaken.  He had simply spoken the authentic and total truth, we are imperfect people in need of a savior, in need of forgiveness and in need of grace.  His honesty descended on me like a stone from space - I was leveled. 

I had an epiphany… If God could use him in such great ways even though he was an imperfect creature I too could live the Christian life and maybe even be of use to God.  It was a true turning point for me, I knew that I too could make it as a Christian - it wasn't for perfect people only. 

Larry Dewitt was also the first person to tell me that God was going to call me to ministry, God bless you Larry.

As a pastor, father, husband and friend I want to be even more real, authentic and unguarded.  The key is in being willing for people to think less of me as a person and leader and in doing so be even more truthful with them and for them.  We Christians like to play at plastic holiness to keep people from seeing our reality, in doing this we lose honest authentic leadership.  We wonder if people would love, respect and follow us if they found out we have feet of clay extending all the way to our necks on a bad day.

Here are 3 Ideas:

- Don’t only tell stories that end with you as a hero, tell the stories where you end up as a chump.

- Real authenticity speaks the stories of our CURRENT failings, not just stumbles from the distant past.

- Read the Bible - it’s the only religious text on the planet that seems to major in disclosing the authentic, raw and real failures of its greatest leaders.  You'll feel better about yourself after you read how some of those cats blew it.

Disclaimer: The writer of this blog is still in the development phase of the fullness of his own transparency and claims no invulnerability in his vulnerability.

And no, I am not writing this because I fell into some kind of terrible sin.

The BIG news is this; after a couple of years of prayer and study and a year of serious God-wrestling I will be changing lanes from youth ministry to lead-pastoring a next generation church expression.  Andrea and I have been praying about planting a new church or starting an alternative ministry within a church and we have heard God's clear call to start a new expression of the church at Santa Cruz Bible.  It will be called Elevation and will feature a high energy Sunday night service and mission focused community.  Elevation will be for people of any age but will be focused towards people 18-35.  We're certain of God's powerful and clear leading and we are on fire with joy and fresh vision.  Keep an eye on this blog for regular updates and a journal of our journey in launching and leading a new expression of the church within an existing church.

As for youth ministry, after 23 years of ministry to high schoolers I'll still be helping out at high school group as a volunteer - probably for life : once a youth pastor always  a youth pastor.  In fact if I didn't have this clear leading form God I would do high school min for the rest of my life with great enthusiasm.   Our Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor are excited and very supportive and our Elder Board unanimously voted for us to begin this new expression.  The fuse has been lit, here we go!  Below is an excerpt from the proposal I presented our Elder Board: it will give you a bit of an overview of my thinking and heart.

I.        The Need

A.       Churches across America are seeing significant decline in 18-35 age range.  Surveys also show less young singles and families are returning to churches after “sowing their wild oats in college”.

B.       SCBC has seen a radical decline in the 18-35 age range.

C.       The American culture has changed and a smaller number people will likely seek out current church forms.

D.       Our community has only 3-4 churches primarily focused on the emerging generations.  The community has tens of thousands of people unreached in this age range.  We need more churches intentioned for unreached and postmodern people.

E.       Our church and the greater community would be well served by additional church expressions that are purposely shaped for emerging generations.

1.        1 Corinthians 9:22b I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

II.      I propose we start a “New Arm” of ministry at Santa Cruz Bible Church to address these needs

1.        Note: Definition of a “New Arm” follows.

B.       The Starfish Analogy

1.        A Starfish has a central “body” called the disk.  A starfish has multiple arms extending from the disk.  Each arm is connected to and is a vital part of the starfish’s body but articulates and expresses itself individually and differently.

a)       Some “arms” of our current ministry at SCBC include:

(1)       The Main Services

(2)       Celebrate Recovery

(3)       The Hispanic Ministry

(4)       Youth Ministries

C.       Definition: “New Arm of Ministry” = A new worship service and mission-focused community purposed to reach and grow the people who will be attracted and engaged by a different expression of the historic and biblical Christian faith.

D.       Points of connection to the “disk” of the SCBC starfish.

1.        A common doctrinal statement and mission statement

2.        A common Elder Board with representatives of the New Arm included in the future

3.        Common financial, people and property resources

4.        Common discipleship groups, children’s and youth ministries and other all church ministries.

III.    My Calling

A.       After much prayer, counsel, study and consideration I feel a clear Call to lead a fresh expression of Christ’s Church either as a New Arm within an existing church like SCBC or as a new autonomous plant.

IV.    Values

A.       Worship Gatherings

1.        Scripture-centric life-change focused teaching

2.        A ministry primarily shaped for 20-40 age group, but welcoming and embracing all generations

3.        Use of technology to communicate and spread the impact of the church

4.        Use of Multisensory / Multimedia teaching, learning and expression

5.        Variety: in music, environments, teaching / learning experiences, interaction and service order

6.        Use of interaction in services both verbal and technological

7.        Excellence in all things

8.        The utilization of more current forms of music for worship and audio environments

9.        Utilization of the arts

10.      Culturally current expressions that provide a strong attractional element to the gatherings

11.      A firm grasp on orthodox historic Christian theology

12.      A high value in joy, humor and encouragement

13.      Authentic, transparent teaching / learning

B.       Lifestyle of the Community

1.        I/A Approach:  Incarnational / Attractional

2.        Emphasis on Incarnation as the primary means of reaching people which are not yet Christian, as in Christ’s ministry.

a)       John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

3.        A missional focus on less reached people groups and cultures in Santa Cruz .

4.        Hospitality in homes as a central practice

5.        Living a life others would desire to emulate

6.        Less is more: limiting programs, meetings, and subcultural events that separate the believer from the lost community too often.

7.        Studying, discipling, meeting and worshipping off-campus and out in the greater community whenever possible.

8.        A church characterized by loving the lost and living life regularly in their midst while still living holy lives.

a)       1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

b)       Luke 7:34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."

9.        A community of both saved and unsaved people with a believing church at its core.

a)       Belong, Believe, Behave.

b)       Allow and invite not- yet-believers to take part in the life and works of the community.

10.      Mission as a lifestyle

a)       Challenging believers to engaging in deep ongoing friendships with not yet believers from the highest levels of leadership across the board.

b)       Regular, ongoing service to the poor and needy locally and globally.

(1)       Missions as more than mere trips and service as more than mere projects

C.       Technology Redeemed

1.        Design a Virtual Online Campus for those who are not able to or ready to visit.

2.        Intentionally use the Internet as the front door of the church.

3.        Use the Internet as a greater communication and equipping tool locally, regionally and globally

D.       Multiplication

1.        Explore Multisite church through future extension. Campuses.   

2.        Form intentional apprenticeships towards future plants

V.      What this New Arm is not:

A.       Not: Chuckk “moving up” to College Career Ministry

B.       Not: A generational ministry

C.       Not: a “Youth Service”

D.       Not: A start up church that would leave the main church but would remain part of the main church and plant other new churches

E.       Not: A deconstructionist reaction to 20^th century church models

VI.    Key Staff Positions

A.       Lead Pastor =Chuckk

B.       We will hire a full time Pastor of Worship

C.       We will hire a full time Administrative Assistant

VII.  Suggested Primary Service Setting

A.       Sunday evenings initially in the Student Center and moving to the Main Auditorium if / when it grows larger

B.       Begin team building and vision dreaming this fall

C.       Begin weekly full services in January, God willing.

VIII.            Leadership Culture of this New Arm of Santa Cruz Bible Church

A.       Behavior and lifestyle would be limited by all Scriptural mandates.

B.       Behavior and lifestyle would be not be limited by 20^th century Christian subcultural traditions.

C.       Christian freedoms must be practiced in wisdom and moderation.  Purity in lifestyle and witness is vital and must be guided by the Scriptures.

If you are a member of SCBC this stirs up lots of questions like what will the ministry look like , what will happen to our youth ministry etc - You can find some of the answers here at  the ELEVATION FAQ v1.0.  If you are a student or a parent of a student  the "Official Letter" is found here.  God is up to great things, pray.

Cheers, this will be epic.

 In this aeon time and space matter less, yet our churches seem mired in time and space... Ten Challenges Facing the Church in Cyberspace is a great post that you should read.  How could you or your ministry better seize the ether?  Dream with me how we can touch people: locally, nationally and globally through technology and through the internet in particular.  Elevation will be seeking to leverage technology to love and serve the world in unique ways from it's inception, dream with me.

On The iPod: David Sylvian - Dead Bees on a Cake

Elevation is the name of the new ministry and community that I will be leading and pastoring.  The name has a special soulful tingle for me personally.  Elevation was the name of the ministry my heart-brother Dan Snow was engineering at the time of his tragic and early death. 

So Dan, Elevation lives in your honor.

Next week I leave with 85 - 90 high schoolers and 25 + staff and boat drivers for a wild week of house boating, wakeboarding and tubing on Lake McClure: Wakefest 2007.  I feel a bad sunburn coming on and a lack of sleep in my future - summer is funner.  Life is good if you let it be.

Usual away-disclaimer: we have a dangerous, unstable, gun toting human staying at our home and the dog does have rabies and is in heat so burglars beware.

I decided to go follicle-optional for this week's houseboat trip as a little surprise for my students.  Andrea isn't a big fan :: I just learned this. I think it gives me a kinder gentler look, kinda like your friendly local pediatrician / vivisectionist.  Guess what else I learned, when you shave your head the fresh skin feels strangely like a dehydrated porpoise.

After I scraped my head free of that huge mop of hair I've been sporting I realized that painful cranial scorching may be a real  issue at the lake this year...

Who needs photoshop when there is a perfectly good Gillette razor in the bathroom drawer .   Off to the lake I go :: no email or cell or blog coverage 'till Friday night.

For the record I'm breathing : highly missional in philosophy, more evangelical in theology (but not culturally) - and not fully reformed so maybe there's a fifth team MD.  Or a 5.1?

It's great to be back after a week of hot sun and big fun houseboating with my students at Wakefest. 

We had a great week overall and an excellent opportunity for prayer because --> Wednesday evening one of my students went into a mega-asthma episode.  His meds wouldn't work and we were camping in a remote location far from the marina and even farther from a town and medical help.  His breathing became so fast and shallow that we picked him up and threw him into a speedboat and raced him to the docks.  The 10 minute boat ride felt like an eternity as he got worse and worse.  After the crazy breakneck boat-ride through the dark we arrived at the dock - his breathing was ultra fast and very shallow, and his pulse was racing.  Everyone remained calm but it was intense.  We prayed the prayer of desperate men, men in need of a great and merciful God. 

Then...

When we pulled in to the dock my student stopped breathing.  Just like that, he ...  just ...   stopped ...      breathing ... as the boat bobbed quietly in the darkness by the dockside. 

One of my staff guys is an emt and gave the boy mouth to mouth, no response for about a minute...  then a cough, a gasp and breath!  Soon a medical helicopter descended to rush him to the hospital.  In the air they administered meds and a breathing treatment.  I jumped into a car and headed down to the hospital. 

An hour later my kid was up text messaging his pals, smiling and joking with me in the emergency ward bed.  When I told him he had stopped breathing in the boat at one point he said  " I what?".  Wheeeeew.  We think he needs a cool special t-shirt that reads:  Wakefest 2007 : It'll Take Your Breath Away.

The punchline: in a fluke event we just happened to have a speedboat with us when he got sick, we normally have only a slow row boat with small motor at our camp, if God had not placed a speedboat at our disposal that evening this would likely have been a much different post.  God is worthy of praise.  Now for a 2 week rest before I head out to Denmark with my student mission crew - by then my adrenaline should be back down to a normal level.

  -- The new iPhone is almost here and will be cooler than a penguin's pahtoot. Here is the official "check it all out" iPhone movie.  I will wait for a year or two till it comes out with a bigger hard drive and the bugs get worked out. 

In the meantime I just picked up the Treo 700p.  It does about everything the iPhone does like accesses the web, runs googlemaps, address book, calendar, YouTube, txt, phone, email etc etc.  In a cool turn of events I had enough phone upgrade mojo to get it free and even score a $50 store credit which was a double happiness.

This is a cool thing: if you have a bible program loaded onto your smart phone you can cut and paste verses from the Scriptures into a text message right on your phone and send them to folks you may be counseling, encouraging or interacting with in some way.  I just tried this last night, it was sweet!  It's a new way to quickly and directly input the life changing Word of God into a conversation with someone in real time.

On the iPod: Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here :: WYWH was this year's album for our 4th annual "Pink Floyd Listening Party  Under The Stars" during our high school group's Wakefest Wakeboard Trip.  We are the only youth group I know with an annual Pink Floyd listening party - I love my kids, they too are cooler than a penguin's pahtoot.

For many Christians the idea of the Church desiring to be relevant to the culture it finds itself in is tantamount to selling out, watering down and losing first love.  We all live, minister and worship in a culture that is extra-biblical even if it is a Christian subculture.  Jesus Himself ministered powerfully in the culture of His day and did so with deep relevance and  complete holiness.  Ed Stetzer wrote this wonderful article about this controversy, it's worth a read.

If you haven't read Ed Stetzer & David Putman's excellent book Breaking the Missional Code it is truly in my highest possible recommend category

A heartwarming nature scene... or maybe he's just tasting them... 

Silly