Wicked - The Play

I'm grateful that Corey and Johnny invited me to the prequel to the Wizard of Oz. I didn't know if I would like it. I'm not sure where I stand on the whole "Wicked" title and the fact that it's about witches. However, I found it to be AMAZING with potential for great discussion opportunities for those old enough to process it (my recommendation would be mature junior high, high school and on up).

Elphabai is born out of an adulterous relationship (which you don't see visually, but is insinuated) and is battling rejection and is searching for significance and her father's love. I've seen the second half of that line (the yellow part) up close and personal in youth ministry time and time again. Glinda begins the play as a spoiled brat. We get to see her move from being inward focused to outward focused throughout the play.

I started to drift a little right before they hit this scene known as Defying Gravity. It's where Elphabai has had enough. Wow, it was POWERFUL. I wish I could have of replayed it a few dozen times! Interesting enough, that was the students' favorite scene as well. There was something that resonated in our souls. Read some of the lyrics.

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by
The rules of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes
And leap...

I'm through accepting limits
Cuz someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost

With a lot of things, there is a dark and light side of the lyrics...depending on the PERSPECTIVE you CHOOSE to take. But what a great conversation starter. Especially the fact that it was the favorite scene of most there.

I understand and respect the views of those who support seeing the play and totally respect and understand those who choose not to. I know the verses that can support both sides. However, for me, this provoked a lot of thoughts within that will be fun to chew on in the coming days. If I had a kid, here are dinner discussion questions for after the play.

1. How does her mother's sin (adultery) affect Elphabai? What other sin do you see in the world that affects generations to come?

2. What deep hurts is Elphabai facing from the get go in regard to her relationship with her father? Do you ever struggle with rejection, significance or feeling loved? If so, when? In what situations are you most susceptible to feeling that way? (Hurt, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Etc.) What are positive ways to deal with those situations and feelings? (This question alone could take you all dinner long)

3. Who else in your life do you know that might be feeling a little green like Elphabai (hurt, rejected, insignificant or unloved)? How can you help?

4. What scene hit you the most and why?

5. How can the words that Elphabai said in the Defying Gravity scene be looked at as good? As bad? (Good: It's important that you don't let other people define your worth or determine your potential. Bad: Could stir up a rebellious spirit against authority which we are called to submit to.)

6. There's a famous quote "hurt people, hurt people." What does that mean and where do you see it in the play?

7. How do you feel about the fact that Elphabai, the wicked witch, turns out to be mostly good ... and Glinda and Dorothy not as good as you originally thought? Does that confuse you?

8. Tell me about the transformation you saw in Glinda from the beginning to the end.

9. Some people would object to you seeing this play. There is Biblical evidence that supports it, what is it? What Biblical evidence supports you seeing it? Why do you think I wanted you to see it? Why do you think it's important for me to download with you what you saw tonight?

10. What is the one take away lesson you got from seeing this play?

Yes, I fully realize that I'm probably the only geek on planet earth that would come up with disucssion questions for a kid I don't have at a ridiculous hour in the morning (it's 1:07 a.m.). The good news is that I stopped at 10 questions, I easily could of came up with 30.

Grace College Youth Ministry Students

A week ago Wednesday, TK brought up about 25 of his students from Grace College to observe Oasis. I had a chance to hang with them afterwards for about 45 minutes and cast vision for what GCC and Oasis is all about. They were pretty sharp. This is the third year they've been up. They go and observe a youth minstry and then process the experience together. I totally love that.

Turns out that Grace College kind of sub-contracts out to The National Institute (aka CE National) for their youth ministry program (I'm sure that's not the correct terminology, but is how the business world would describe it). I think they've got a good thing going on. It's one thing to learn from a book, it's another thing to experience it from a number of different perspectives up close and personal. Both are important.

I was impressed with TK that he followed the visit up with a thank you note and a free t-shirt. Everyone can use a thank you note and a free t-shirt, it's like pie and chips.

Just Do It

I was on my way out of town and wanted to drop a good friend an email. It wasn't much of an email, in fact I almost didn't send it becasue I didn't have the time to write a whole lot. But she was on my mind, so I zipped one off and pray for her every time she comes to mind. Here's part of her response.

hey judy,
...i almost cried when i got your email ... just knowing that you love me and are praying for me is everything i could ask for...

Why do I share it? Because chances are there is someone you care about that you've been meaning to email that you've held off on because you don't have time to say in depth what you want to say. Just do it. A small something is better than silence. One of my big learning points a couple of years ago was that if you fail to say anything, people begin to write their own story - even your own family and friends. A friend has taught me well that you can't tell people they're amazing, you care about, you're thinking about them, etc. often enough!

Potatoes, Pizza, Penguins, Parties and the Pause Button

Zowee! What a Weekend.

It started at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday when we zipped off to Feed the Children to pack 30,000 pounds of potatoes into 10 lb bags. It was fun but they made me sneeze. Brandon and I took on this one box and conquered it in no time, then off to another. Not a ton of students showed up, about a dozen or two which is totally cool since we had 155+ last weekend. We had a blast and finished by 11:45 p.m.

Then it was off to celebrate the students who did the 3 week Bible Challenge through the book of John at 12:30 p.m. There were nearly 30 of us. We did a CiCi's pizza run where it was fun to hang out for awhile, then it was off to the movie Happy Feet. I didn't do my homework on this movie which makes me want to smack myself. I know most students didn't catch what I caught, but I hated the Penguin spirits, inappropriate song and the adult humor that they tried to slip in to make it fun for parents and kids. However, there was some clean humor that made me laugh out loud and I enjoyed the storyline (incredibly close to Rudolph and the island of misfit toys though). Next time I think it's going to be a 3 week Bible Challenge where we celebrate with Pizza and Bowling.

I didn't think I was going to make it for the 20th year picture for those that have been at GCC forever. It was scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. and we didn't get back until our scheduled time of 4:15 p.m. I called Loretta and she said if I busted it I could still make it. I threw on my shirt and jacket in my office (I didn't think that people would appreciate the sweatshirt I had on that smelled like Potato dirt) and jumped in for the final snap. Good times.

It was off to service that night to celebrate 20 years. Very cool, very cool. God has had GCC on an amazing journey...AMAZING. Even though it's been phenomenal, I really do believe the best is yet to come. I'm glad I get to do the next 20 with my sister by my side.

Among a half a dozen other things on Sunday, we celebrated my sister's birthday. Great fun was had by all at Olive Garden. None of our family discussions ended in a trainwreck which was awesome. At one point I did sense a conversation that was going to quickly tank, so I redirected our topic. Family dynamics...they're a great training ground for life, work and ministry.

I'm looking forward to the next two days. I'm hitting the pause button and devoted them to complete solitude at Oakwood. I'll be working, but it's a different kind of work. It's not the daily rush to address the immediate and important, but a couple of days set aside to address the really important.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller

Great Quote by Donald Miller in Searching for God Knows What

“It makes you feel that as a parent the most important thing you can do is love your kids, hold them and tell them you love them because, until we get to heaven, all we can do is hold our palms over the wounds. I mean, if a kid doesn’t feel he is loved, he is going to go looking for it in all kinds of ways. He is going to want to feel powerful or important or tough, and she is going to want to feel beautiful and wanted and needed. Give a kid the feeling of being loved early, and they will be better at negotiating that other stuff when they get older. They won’t fall for anything stupid, and they won’t feel a kind of desperation all the time in their souls. It is no coincidence that Jesus talks endlessly about love. Free love. Unconditional love.”

The Best Fundraiser Ever

Totally missed out on it. I'm on a conference call with youth pastors around the U.S. right now and they are talking about the bank they are making on PS3's. They currently have one on Ebay with three minutes left...price right now $5,300. Ugh.

It's Got Me Thinking

Went to one of Corey's links and find this quote from Tommy Barnett...

"If you take care of the people that nobody wants, God will send you the people everybody wants." I'm sure they have said that a hundred times. But it is true. Tommy told me, "we believe money follows ministry" and he also told me "in the last five years I have had 15 people give me $1 million...that never happened before the Dream Center."

JEANNE MAYO'S COMING TO GRANGER COMMUNITY CHURCH

Who: Jeanne Mayo at GCC
When: Friday, January 19
Time: 6-10 p.m. (time might be tweaked)
Cost: $25, includes Chic-fil-A
Two words...BE THERE!

Shouldn't it cost more you might ask? No doubt! However, my heart's desire is for you to get your entire team here for the evening. You'd be crazy to keep this all to yourself...crazy!

Ok, I'm going to go and do back flips now!

It's the Coolest

I have to agree with my buddy Jason Raitz that this is the coolest blog (or website or whatever it is) EVER!

www.phatterism.com

On Teaching Your Child to Impact their World - Part 2

PRINCIPLE #2 - WHAT GETS REWARDED, GETS REPEATED.

This means more and more to me each day. It's a loaded phrase. Most people think of a "reward" as being something of a more tangible nature. I think the best rewards have nothing to do with being tangible. If fact, for me personally, tangible is too easy - busting a twenty out of the wallet just doesn't cut it. I think kids are more interested in being rewarded with your TIME and your ATTENTION than tangible things (they might not know it or say it, but they are).

Here's a question, "What actions, attitudes, words and deeds are so important to you that you will get STRATEGIC about rewarding them to ensure they get repeated." Feeding the cat...not so much (however, good for the cat and might be necessary to keep the cat), telling the truth when they easily could have chosen not to...ginormous, thinking of others over themselves...priceless.

In my opinion, two of the best rewards for kids are when you...
1. Take the time to SHOW THEM WHAT'S IMPORTANT BY DOING IT WITH THEM. It's the whole "it's more caught than taught" principle. Better yet, make certain things a family traditon...make them a "big deal". An example might be, "I wouldn't think of doing anything the Second Saturday of the month. It's already blocked out. That's when me and my dad begin by serving in the community somewhere and then go have lunch at our favorite restaurant in our favorite booth."

I remember, like it was yesterday, the day my dad let me and my sister skip school in 4th grade to go fishing. I felt loved and important that day. It was huge. It would have been cool if it would have became a family tradition (not that fishing is important, but a day fully devoted to being together is).

2. Send them a handwritten note, capture it in a picture or look me them in the eye and tell them HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU and/or HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO YOU (once again, reinforcing an action, attitude, word or deed). I catch myself doing "fly bys" way too often..."You're awesome!" as I fly by on the way to wherever I'm headed. That's not wrong because they really are awesome; however, most kids are dying to know "Really, you think so...I hope you think so...I hope I am so...tell me specifically why you think so?" Look them in the eye and say it, write it down for them to read and reread, capture the picture worth a thousand words to illustrate it and authentically tell them why.

Chances are when they go off to college, in their room you'll find they still have the letter (a little more worn than before) and the picture is still sitting on top their dresser...but better than all of that is what you will have instilled in them as young men and women Christ followers.

What kind of actions, attitudes, words and deeds are most important to you? Have you ever thought about it? What gets reported, gets repeated!

On Teaching Your Child to Impact their World - Part 1

Today was an AMAZING day! Started out at 8:15 a.m. and ended at midnight...non-stop action - Feed the Children, CiCi's, Five Star, Shawn McDonald and Texas Roadhouse (the only time out, which wasn't really a time out, was spent getting my car unstuck out of the mud at Manowe).

After crashing for a few hours, I woke up reflecting on the day. I think within it lies the principles for teaching your son or daughter to impact the world (LOVING OTHERS). Some things go without saying, you need to teach your child to (1) KNOW AND LOVE JESUS and (2) KNOW AND LOVE GOD'S WORD (TRUTH), but consider them said.

PRINCIPLE #1 - START EARLY

In order to help your son or daughter realize they can impact their world, you need begin instilling it in them at an early age. At GCC, we believe kids aren't the church of tomorrow, but the church of today and they have a role to play. There is a place and room for them to serve today, at the rip old age of 3. Below is picture proof at Feed the Children today. I could be wrong, but I think a couple of them were still in diapers.

Attitude of Gratitude

Whether on top of a mountain or in a valley, I've been working on this "have an attitude of gratitude" since Camp Adventure this summer. I lost sight of it for a week or two earlier in the fall, but am back on track. So here are a few current and up and coming things I'm grateful for or excited about.

Had an incredible conversation with Rob on Wednesday. Afterwards, I gave God thanks for him injecting his passion and love for Jesus into me over a decade ago. It still remains.

GCC will be celebrating it's 20th anniversary next weekend. That's very cool, especially since I've been here over 18 of them. Had it not been for Mark and putting feet to his dream, I'd still be trying to find the gold at the end of the corporate rainbow. We also have a new campaign starting in February. They can be downers for some; however, campaigns to me are a sign of growth and changed lives for Christ. I heard of a church that is in a deconstruction phase in Illinois, that breaks my heart.

DC and Brooke are coming back to town. DC will oversee the youth ministry department for GCC. They are an AMAZING couple full of life and integrity.

The little Mann will be arriving in January. I like to watch Corey's face when he talks about him.

Willow's Scott Rubin, Jason Raitz and I were in email conversations today about a gathering being pulled together. I feel pretty honored to be a part of it and included in the planning. These guys are incredible - humble, encouraging and sharp. They're hearts are gold. Jesus shines brightly in them and through them.

Jeanne Mayo may be coming to GCC in January. If it doesn't work out, I'll still see her down in Atlanta that same week. Words cannot describe how she breathes life into me, not to mention she's stinkin' brilliant. On Thursday, both she and Rob sent me emails that were strickingly similiar...I've got that little God moment tucked away in my heart.

Rob Bell is doing a "Isn't She Beautiful" church conference at Mars Hill soon! Met Steve Carter, their middle school guy, this week. He loves Jesus and has got the goods! I'm looking forward to getting to know him and about his ministry more in January.

Corey and I have breathtakingly awesome leaders and students in our ministries. I stand in awe of them every week.

It seems like God is doing something pretty incredible in student ministry leaders across the country. I've never felt such a sense of unity and encouragement across denominations. I'm part of three different gatherings that are as different as night and day (seriously) and my sensing is the same in all three - that we are on the verge of something. I don't want to sound all mystic or anything, but the days ahead seem like they have the potential to be pretty exciting.

532...It looks good...but not so much

Wednesday night we hit an all time high at Oasis (not including outreach nights) of 532 students and leaders. That's worthy of celebration; however, a short lived one. Our averages are a little off this year, plus we're all over the chart (there were 59 less students last week). I've got some thougths as to why, primarily our promtion has stunk this year. I'll have to get working on that.

"I Feel Loved Tank" Response

THIS RESPONSE FROM A FRIEND AND AN AMAZING LEADER IS TOO BRILLIANT NOT TO SHARE.

You’re right. The “how loved I feel tank” would be a vital part of that emotional tank we all deal with every day—probably THE most important part of that tank. It’s a tank I’ve chosen to mentally prioritize in my relationship with others and give away “on purpose.” It’s also a tank I’ve mentally studied with regards to myself to see what “fills me up.” I’ve learned that I need to orchestrate my life in a way that strategically fills that tank for me, rather than being at the mercy of others to do it.

Let me give you some of my thoughts:
I TAKE STEPS TO KEEP MY OWN LOVE-TANK FULL BY:
1. Making time in my schedule for a few replenishing relationships...even when I don’t “have time.” They are often kids for me or some of my key leaders. Just people I really enjoy being around.

2. I know that when I don’t carve out solitude time for myself, even a couple of hours in the evening, when I don’t have to do anything at all (though I always have MORE work I NEED to do) that I will soon start to feel empty in my love-tank. Giving myself private, alone-time WITHOUT GUILT OR RESPONSIBILITIES is my personal “love language” to myself. I think it’s important that a personal look inside themselves and determine what their own “ME TO ME LOVE LANGUAGE” is.

3. I need some time to hang out with Jesus OUTSIDE...in nature. Crazy, but I’ve learned that it makes a difference on me.

4. I’ve also learned certain self-talk voices in my head that the enemy always seems to send to beat me down. I’ve identified those same thought patterns as him. Thus, I don’t take them too seriously anymore. The less seriously I take them, the more they seem to lose their grip on me.

A FEW OF THE STEPS I’VE TAKEN TO FILL OTHER PEOPLE’S LOVE TANK:
1 I realize that I best fill others when my own is pretty full.

2. I realize that I can only truly “pour” into a few tanks significantly...on a regular basis (ie...my key leaders) Thus, I choose mentally who will be my key responsibilities.

3. I realize that small deposits in many other people’s love tanks will have high returns PRIMARILY BECAUSE OUR SOCIETY LEAVES MOST OF US SO TERRIBLY EMPTY. Thus, I’ve trained myself to know the importance of short, authentic words of affirmation to people, even when I am merely quickly walking past them. Small things, done in a Christ honoring spirit, really do make a big difference.

4. I train others around me on affirmation and bringing out the best in others often. It’s a key cornerstone for the culture I’ve always tried to create (family, affirmation, authenticity)...because I realize very few people do it intuitively. They have to be encouraged in that direction. Like I talk small groups constantly from a pragmatic side of the fence, I choose to talk affirmation and family constantly from an emotional culture side.

5. I love reading...and re-reading books that make me better on stuff like this (ie. “Bringing out the best in people” by McGinnis.

Hope that’s enough to get your head going.

GREAT QUESTION.

Our "How Loved I Feel" Tank

I'm in conversations with some friends about what I call our "How Loved I Feel" tank and how it affects who we are and how we respond...thoughts, actions, motives, self-worth, identity, etc. If you have any thoughts or know of any good books on the topic, email me at jgregory@gccwired.com.

I'm looking forward to our conversation

Tonight was...well...interesting. I went to Toni Jackmovich's funeral. She was an incredible mom and grandma. She worked as a kindergarten assistant for twenty-five years (I can't imagine being a kindergarten assistant for twenty-five minutes). She was the mother-in-law of a long time friend of mine. It was a Catholic funeral. Fortunately, I had my sixth grade teacher sitting next to me to interpret the whole thing...like who is Maria and Regina (Mary if you didn't know)? Andy was sitting behind me...I think we were both clueless.

The cool part was that I was able to connect with one of my best friends since 7th grade that I've lost touch with over the last couple of years. Today, we are as different as night and day, but I still love her dearly. Our beliefs are...we'll just say different. At the end of the funeral we jetted over to Clay High School to see her daughter's middle school orchestra concert. We arrived just in time to see them come out, which was kinda cool since I saw scores of Oasis students stream out the door. As we went to go our separate ways, she said "I've wanted to email you some stuff for awhile, but am waiting for the right time. I want you to know why I believe what I believe." I told her not to wait, but let's do it face to face. We both know that neither one of us is going to change our beliefs, we are both too stubborn for that. However, I am so looking forward to the dialogue, to conversing with someone outside of my Christian bubble. It should be fun.

Systems

Great words from Andy Stanley on Tony Morgan's November 7th blog post here. It's want I've found that youth pastors need the most help on.

I Love this Country

Confession time. I only started voting a few years ago. I know, I know, "What, am I stupid?" No, well maybe. Basically one of my parents and I would make a deal. "You don't vote and, then, I won't vote and we'll both save time." You see they are pretty much for one party and I am for the other. So whether we vote or don't vote, no party is further ahead. That was all good until I began thinking about what my not voting was communicating. Suddenly I started looking at the percentage of voter turnout. At that time, it was pretty pathetic (and probably still is). I realized no one knew about "the deal", but what they did know and probably wrote their own story about was the fact that it doesn't appear Americans care or appreciate the privilege and opportunity that lies before them. So starting that day and today...I voted. We live in a pretty amazing country even with it's kinks in the political system.

Gas to voting station...28 cents,
15 minutes to get there and vote...5-6 bucks,
Freedom...priceless

Short Films

A thought provoking post on short films here.

Notes from this weekend

Your desire for kingdom purposes needs to be bigger than your own insecurities.

Testimonies after retreats are important.

Message prepared in the mind reaches the mind. A message prepared in the heart will reach the heart.

Communication experts say that you have to say something seven times for 92% to hear it.

Always answer the “why” behind the “what”.

Never rules, just guidelines.

Communication: 7% content, 38% tone of voice, 55% body language

Don’t have gay overtones in dramas and stuff, you’re killing people. There are people who struggle in the crowd. As we go, the more we’ll see extraordinary people who have touched into the homosexual lifestyle. Statistics tell me that 25% of the youth pastors in this room has touched into the gay lifestyle.

Drama goes after humor and heart. Your plot line has to connect to their life. Can’t just be cool, you got to be able to feel.

Don’t come at a kid with a bad attitude with a bad attitude. You don’t need to do that.

Sometimes give people parts just to get them to the retreat.

Digitaljuice.com (check out this website for software)

If you have no hope for the future, there is no power for the present.

Creative Leader by Ed Young (book recommended by Cory)

Big heart is ultimately more important than big group. Unfortunately, big group can be grown without big God.

Persistence is the greatest revenge you can ever pay to Hell. Refuse to give up. However, you can’t coach someone who doesn’t want to be coached. Sometimes you have to give people air (still saying, however, “I will never give up on you, you know where you can find me.”)

Emotional adultery can even creep up on those who live for Jesus wholeheartedly, so guard your emotions fiercely. Emotional adultery occurs when you have emotional needs being met by another person that should only be met by Jesus Christ or your spouse.
Indicators or signs that you may be heading toward emotional adultery:
You care too much how you look when you’re around a particular person.
You always make time for a particular person.
Can happen with same sex.
There are changes in your voice tones with a particular person.
Devil makes sure to meet emotional needs when they’re not being met. Adultery doesn’t start in the bedroom, but starts in the emotions. If you ignore it, it will become a beast to sever.

Don’t overlook the normal kids in your youth ministry. Normal kids will probably be the long haul heroes many years from now. They don’t necessarily have a lot of highs and lows, but have a bent toward consistency – they will out stay everyone.

Successful youth ministries are process driven, not event driven. Process is smaller.

Family always trumps cool.

Nights I feel like a failure are often Hell anointed distortions of reality. Mark it down. The mind games will be eternal so learn to fight back.

Words can't even begin to describe

My world was rocked last weekend. I think my life was transformed. We'll see. Time will tell whether it's the real deal or a spiritual/emotional high. I think it was the real deal. I want it to be the real deal. If the drive home was any indication, it was the real deal.

I did four things on the way home.

1. Drove in awe of God's creation. The colors on the trees had totally changed, like my heart, from when I drove down to when I drove back. It was beautiful, more beautiful than words can describe.

2. I listened to Hillsong's United We Stand song #6 and #10 at least 15 times each. They were the theme songs used at the retreat this weekend and the last Cadre. They penetrated heart and ministered to my soul.

3. I listened to Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis twice. Evidently he did a "Doubt Night" at his church where people were encouraged to write down whatever questions or doubts they had about God. He captured my heart when he said, "Most of my responses were about how we need others to carry our burdens and how our real needs in life are not for more information but for loving community with others on the journey. But what was so powerful for those I spoke with was that they were free to voice what was deepest in their hearts and minds. Questions, doubts, struggles. It wasn't the information that helped them-it was simply being in an environment in which they were free to voice what was inside." In light of my new job responsibilities over student small groups, that was huge.

4. Reflected on the weekend. Jeanne Mayo continues to amaze me. Her heart's desire is that "those that know her best would love her most." The closer you get to her the more amazing she gets. She sent me one of the most encouraging email today I think I've ever received. It's the kind of email you'd want to receive from one of your heroes. It's the kind of emails I want to begin writing.

My prayer, whatever is going on inside of me right now would stick. My inner circle sense a transformation has occurred. I hope so.