Birthday Party Jesus Style

I have been a long time fan of Tony Campolo. He is a man that speaks truth, and lives it. Truly a prophet of our day. At the National Youth Workers Convention last month God spoke through him, in ways that one rarely witnesses. I laugh as I tell people I was spat upon by him, as I sat in the front row of one of the seminars he led.

He tells many stories, but my favorite is the birthday party he threw for a prostitute at 3:30 in the morning. A picture of what the Church should look like.

NYWC Reflections

Aaron and I just returned from the National Youth Workers Convention in Sacramento and I hardly know where to begin in sharing all that took place. I fully intended on blogging, and even promised Marko that I would, but due the lack of free wi-fi it never really happened. Sorry dude. When I did have wi-fi access I was in the convention hall, live blogging like a mad-dog.

Live Blogging

I was honored to be asked to be one of the four live bloggers at the event. I along with Adam, Tim and Sandy, all had a blast being the first to ever live blog the convention. It was an experiment, and one that went well. So cool to be able to report on all that was happening and share with the well over 100 people that were always online while our live blogging window was live. It was rewarding as well to receive so much appreciation from those that wanted to be there, but were only able to join via the live blog.

It's comments like this, that made it all worth it.

I want to thank you for sharing this with us. I wish I could have been there. I know it was always a blessing to me when I was a youth and family minister. I appreciate your ministry and all you do for our young people. You are making such a kingdom difference.

All that was blogged during the General Sessions and several seminars can still be viewed here. It's filled with lots of great commentary, pictures, video, and audio. I look forward to following all the live blogging that takes place in Pittsburgh and Nashville.

Worship

The worship over the weekend was off the charts incredible. There something just plain awesome about joining with over 2,000 other youth workers who share the same heart, coming together in worship.

Our times of worship were only enhanced by the likes of Lincon Brewster, Starfield, and Shane and Shane. One thing I so appreciated about each of them, was their hearts. They were all very real guys, not superstars. They were guys that were sensitive to the Spirits leading, and worshipped right along side us. They were guys that also just enjoyed haning out and being a part of the action while not on stage. So cool.

Teaching

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to the great times of teaching. What can one say after having the opportunity to hear from the likes of Shane Claiborne, Phylis Tickle, Bishop Sherwood Carthen, Mark Yaconelli, Tony Campolo, Mark Oestreicher, and more. I was stretched in my thinking and challenged in my lifestyle.

I was especially blessed being a part of the Veteran Cohort, a track of seminars all geared toward youth workers who have been in the trenches of youth ministry for 10 or more years. It was so good to sit with others, like me that have given their lives to serving students. It was both affirming in what I do, and confirming of the calling that I have received.

Networking

This year for me, was the year of networking. I had such a great time connecting with guys that I have known for sometime, but only knew via the "virtual world." One of the things I love most about blogging is the connections made; connections with like minded people all over the country and globe. This weekend afforded the opportunity to take those connections and relationships to a more real and personal level.

It was great sharing meals and hanging out with Adam McLane, Tim Schmoyer, Ben Kraker, Mike Giering, and others. All great brothers that love God and love students.


Of course the exhibit hall was fun, mostly because there was a live boa constrictor in there! I mean all the companies and resources that were displayed I either already know of, or can easily find, but how often do you get to hold a large bone crushing snake!



And lastly a trip to Sacramento would not be complete without a visit to the capital. I was hoping to see Arnold but I guess he wasn't in.


I came away refreshed, and recharged, as well as challenged in different areas of my life and ministry. Thank you Youth Specialites for once again for pulling off a top notch event!

Live Blogging

Hey I'm here! I am currently at the National Youth Workers Convention, and am excited about being around thousands of other people passionate about making a difference in the world of students.

This year I have the privilege of being one of four Live Bloggers.

Here are the times I will be Live Blogging:

Friday:
1:00 to 3:30 - General Session 1
4:00 to 5:30 - "Seeing the Future: Learning to Exegete Culture" seminar
7:30 to 9:45 - General Session 2

Saturday:
10:00 to 12:00 - General Session 3
2:00 to 4:30 - "Technology and Youth Ministry" seminar

Sunday:
10:00 to 12:00 - General Session 5
1:30 to 3:00 - "Youth Ministry in Your Second Decade and Beyond" seminar
7:30 to 10:00 - General Session 6

Monday:
9:00 to 10:30 - "Christianity: Modern and Postmodern" seminar

Check in here to see all the Live Blogging action.


The feed will also been seen here along with the thoughts of other bloggers and those Twittering the event.

Blog Silence

As you know, this blog has been quite quiet for a few weeks. This has been a season of life and ministry like none other I have ever experienced. Consequently I have just not had enough brain bytes left to post to my blog. The dust is finally beginning to settle, and that is all about to change!

I am excited about the days ahead.

Today I leave for the weekend for our annual Fall Retreat at Camp Tadmor. Along with all the fun that always takes place we will be focusing on making Jesus Lord of every area of our lives. Pray with us that God moves in the the hearts of both students and staff alike. Follow the weekend's happenings on Twitter, and watch for a follow up post here.

Next week (Oct. 10-13) I will be in Sacramento at the National Youth Workers Convention. Always a great to be with thousands of other people that understand you, and and what you do. Kind of a summer camp for youth workers. This year I have the privilege of being one of four live bloggers at the convention. Be sure to check in here to see our live reports from the event. Of course I will be posting here as well.

I've also got a lot of thoughts whirling around in my head about family ministry that I hope to post real soon.

Stay tuned!

The Chair

I have had many people sit across my desk in one or both of the two chairs that sit there. What a privilege it is to play such an instrumental role in the lives of people. Some of the conversations from those chairs have been very fun and enjoyable, others have been difficult. All important.




Each year at the National Youth Worker's Convention I look forward to seeing The Skit Guys; two very funny guys with big hearts for youth workers. In this video they do a very funny skit highlighting all those that sit in "The Chair." Prepare to laugh. It's hilarious!



HT to elevating a generation.

Beg God

I have been reminded so many times recently of the fact that it is God and God alone that causes a person to fall in love with Him. As a pastor to students I often find myself in frustration because I can't make my students love God. As much as I teach, disciple, and lead, toward that end, it is God, and not I, who calls them, and moves in their hearts to pursue Him.

At the National Youth Workers Convention this last October Francis Chan called us to beg God for the hearts of our students. He reminded us that we can not change their hearts, only God can.

I recently came across this poem on Michael Ferber's blog. It says it well.

No, it is not yours to open buds into blossom.
Shake the bud, strike, it is beyond your power to make it blossom.
Your touch soils it.
You tear its petals to pieces and strew them in the dust,
But no colors appear and no perfume.
Oh, it is not for you to open the bud into blossom.
He who can open the bud does it so simply.
He gives it a glance and the life sap stirs through its veins.
At his breath the flower spreads its wings and flutters in the wind.
Colors flash out like heart longing, the perfume betrays a sweet secret.
He who can open the bud does it so sweetly

NYWC Day 2

This morning in the first General Session Francis Chan spoke about modeling our lives and ministry after Jesus. He asked some great questions. What would the church look like if we took what Jesus said literally? What would our church look like if we said the things Jesus said? The conclusion...much different.

He made a comment that I can't stop thinking about. I'd love your thoughts on it.

He said, "If Jesus had a church in my town, I bet mine would be bigger." I agree. Do you? Jesus said some very radical things. Jesus calls us into a very radical life; a life that the American Church struggles to live.

What are your thoughts?

National Youth Workers Convention

Aaron and I will be at the NYWC in San Diego this weekend, October 19-22. I'm looking forward to being there for so many reasons. We went two years ago and returned so refreshed, blessed, and challenged. There is just something very cool being with thousands of other people that share your passions and are just as freakish and crazy as you!



Watch this space. Wi-fi permitting, I plan to blog from the event.

Glory Of It All

I downloaded the new David Crowder Band release "Remedy" on the day it came out this week and haven't stopped listening to it since. It is in my opinion Crowder's best project to date. There is not a bad song on it. There is one track in particular that nearly brings me to tears each time I hear it. "Glory of It All" is a beautifully written song reminding us of the hope God brings, even in the darkest of times.

I will be at the National Youth Workers Convention in San Diego, October 19-22. I am looking forward to being there for so many reasons, one of which is being led in worship by David Crowder.

Here he leads "Glory Of It All" at Passion '07.

Youth Specialties

It seems that brianeberly.com has been chosen as the featured blog in this week's YS Update. Thanks Youth Specialites. If you found your way here from the YS Update....welcome!

Since we are on the subject of Youth Specialties let me just say if you are a youth worker and have not been to the National Youth Workers Convention, make this year the year you go! I will be at the San Diego convention in October and can't wait! There is something so great about being with thousands of other people that share your passion. The worship is incredible, the teaching is inspiring, and the refreshment is off the charts!

Check out this year's promo video.

Winter Youth Reflections

We have returned from another year at Winter Youth. I return very tired and very filled up. Tired because the lack of sleep and lack of nutritious food. Filled up because of what I saw God do in the lives of our students and staff. Filled up because of what God did in my life. It was an incredible four days!


Aaron Geist did a great job blogging while at the event. I encourage you to check out his thoughts.

The theme of the week was the Gospel. At first glance one may think, well what's so revolutionary about that? The Gospel is the good news of Jesus, the message that keeps us out of hell and gets us into heaven, and yet it is so much more. The Gospel is a way of life. It is a life that realizes that we need a Savior because we cannot save ourselves. A life that realizes that we are accepted just the way we are. A life that realizes that we win, because He won. Even as believers we tend to think that we must perform for God in order to receive His acceptance. That kind of living only leads to an overwhelming sense of failure.

As we understand the Gospel we come to understand that we don't engage in all the spiritual disciplines that we do (prayer, Bible reading, fasting, giving, etc.) to gain His acceptance. When we do, we fall into guilt, because we are going to fail. We must understand the why of all those disciplines. We engage them because He first engaged us. We live them out because He lived and died so that we might experience life and life to the full.

Throughout the week painter Scott Erickson was on stage painting as the speakers spoke. What came out of his work as He listened to God and depicted the the central theme of the message was simply amazing.

Thank you for those that prayed for us while we were at Winter Youth. God did tremendous things in each of us and I am confident that we will continue to do so as we continue to seek Him and understand that... He won...we won!

Go here to see all our pics.

Winter Youth

Today our high school ministry heads to Winter Youth Celebration. WYC is a large scale high school conference held at the Red Lion Inn in Portland, December 27-30. I'm excited about this year's theme...The Gospel. We will be taking a look at just what the Gospel is, and what it is not.

Presenters this year are Craig Gross, and Eric Knox. Music by Falling Up, and Something Like Silas, and the emcee is Dave the Horn Guy.

WYC is always a great time with students, great times of worship, and teaching, and just plain fun. I'm sure I will have much to report.

You can read my reflections on last year's WYC experience here.

Winter Youth Reflections

I just got home from Winter Youth. What a fantastic time! I am very tired, yet very excited about what God accomplished in our lives this week. Thank you to those that prayed for us.

Our main speaker was Freddy T. Wyatt. Freddy is a very gifted speaker from Louisville, Kentucky, and really challenged us and the way we view worship. The theme of the week was We Shall Behold Him - Life As Worship. He addressed it very well!

Craig & Jake LIVE emceed the week and as well as spoke individually. Craig Gross is the co-founder of xxxchurch.com, a ministry dedicated to helping people break free from the grip of pornography. He shared some amazing things that God is doing in the lives of people that have been sucked into that lifestyle. He spoke on how loving people, including porn stars and producers, the very ones that the church wants to shy away from, is one of the greatest ways we can worhsip God. Excellent!

Both Shawn McDonald and Sara Groves played in concert. Both of them were great examples of people seeking, finding, and serving God.

Paul Ramey led us in worship through song, each session. The biggest hit of the week was definitely the David Crowder song, You Are My Joy! The students couldn't get enough of it!

By far the highlight of the week for me was the many youth group debrief times we had. Several times a day we would meet as a group to discuss the things heard and what God was doing in our hearts. It was very exciting to see our students come to grasp the full meaning of what worship is, that it is far more than singing, or a worship service or gathering. It is the way we live our lives. It is a daily lifestyle. One of our students realized and shared that we find our greatest joy when we find our satisfaction in God alone. True worship!

I was encouraged personally as I continue to discover myself what real and true worship is. May we as the church realize that what we do outside the walls of our church buildings is where real worship takes place.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
- Romans 12:1

Wow!

My time at the National Youth Workers Convention was amazing! It is hard to summarize my experience in just a few short words here on my blog. I'm sure much of my experience and thoughts will leak out for a long time to come.

I feel very filled up right now. Filled with the spirit. Filled with new information. Filled with inspiration. Filled with excitement. Filled with enthusiasm. Filled with passion.

I am so thankful for the time that Aaron and I got to spend in Sacramento. There is something very empowering in spending four days with nearly 4,000 others that share your passion for student ministry and do the same thing you do day in and day out.

I am thankful for the amazing times of worship with Chris Tomlin and David Crowder. There is just something very cool about singing and worshipping the Lord with the guys that wrote the songs you sing so often.

I am thankful for the the challenge I received from speakers like Mark Yaconelli, Doug Feilds, Lou Giglio, Steve Fitzhugh, Chap Clark, Duffy Robbins, Dan Kimball, and others.

I am thankful for comedians like Daren Streblow, The Skit Guys, Bob Stromberg, and others that made me laugh until it hurt.

I am thankful for artists like Third Day, Stephen Curtis Chapman, 4th Avenue Jones, Kutless, and Starfield that ROCKED THE HOUSE!

I am thankful for The Grace Place for allowing me to go to such a great convention.

I am thankful to my God for allowing me the privilege to to serve Him by serving students. There is nothing I would rather do!

If you work with students in any capacity, whether full time or volunteer might I make a suggestion to you? Attend the National Youth Workers Convention in 2006! Do all you can to get there!

Let's go together; Anaheim, California, November 2-6, 2006!

We're Off

Today's the day. I'm off to the National Youth Workers Convention in 30 minutes. Have a great weekend. I'm sure I will!

See you on Monday.

National Youth Workers Convention

Only two more days! In just two days I and my partner and friend, Aaron Geist, leave for the National Youth Workers Convention in Sacramento, California. For the last 15 years of my youth ministry carreer I have wanted to attend this great convention. For one reason or another I have never been able to. This year I go!

We will be there Friday through Monday, and will be hearing from speakers and artists like: Doug Fields, Louie Giglio, Alise Barrymore, Mark Yaconelli, Steve Fitzhugh, and Sue Thomas, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kutless, Thousand Foot Crutch, Starfield, 4th Avenue Jones, Underoath, Hawk Nelson, and Sarah Kelly.

Along with the General Sessions there will be great seminars ranging in topics from: Professional Skills, Leadership, Culture, Middle School, Rookie, Volunteer, and Emergent. Under each of those topics there are 5 to 7 specific seminars to choose from.

It is our prayer that we come away from the convention refreshed, renewed, challenged, and further equipped to do the ministry God has entrusted to us.

Please join us in that prayer.