A Guest Blog

Saw this post on a friends blog and thought I need to share this.  Hope you enjoy it and you can check out more from Chico Woo here

I am writing this post reflecting on the fact that I am now the father of two teenagers. I am not just any father, but a former youth pastor. The reason I am writing is because I was recently in a circumstance where I caught myself being “that parent”. You are probably asking what I mean about “that parent”. Let me explain. When I was a youth pastor, most of the parents of the young people I pastored were wonderful, but there were a few parents who were well intentioned but a bit challenging. At the time I told myself I would never be “that parent”, but now that I am the parent of teens I have realized that the pull to be “that parent” is strong. So I post this not as judgment (because I am finding myself there) but just a reminder to myself not to be “that parent.”

The Gossip Girl Parent
The parent that knows everything going on with every kid in the youth group: who is going out with whom, who held hands, who is listening to secular music, who has a hickey… This parent should be the Google of youth group gossip. Although you may be tempted to enlist this parent’s help to know what is going in the youth group, proceed with caution.

The Judge Judy Parent.
This parent is the parent that makes quarterly appointments with the youth pastor to inquire about what is being done about the rampant sin in the youth group.

The Charles in Charge Parent.
The parent that expects the youth pastor to parent their child.

The Miss Daisy Parent.
The parent that expects the youth pastor be your child’s personal car service.

The Ministry Parent
There are stage parents and sports parents. Well there are also ministry parents. These parents have unfulfilled ministry aspirations and are trying to live vicariously through their child’s ministry. They bear an uncanny resemblance to Joe Simpson. To them I say, “Stop ministry pimping your child.”

The Wimpy Parent
“I will pay you next Wednesday for a hamburger today”. The parent does not give any money to their child, so when we go out I end up buying the $10 coke. Which means that I buy a coke for a $1, and your child buys a $9 meal and I have to pay for it. I try to be generous but you know I’m a youth pastor, which means I make less than a 13 year old on a newspaper route. I have applied to FEMA for a bail out.

The Wardrobe Malfunction Parent.
This is the parent that is totally oblivious to how your child dresses. Give your child a once over before they leave the house. Yes, we should be fashionable, but your children should not be dressed exposing themselves. Pull it up, pull it down, cover it up, button it up, tell them to change!

What are some types of parents that you have encountered in your youth/student ministry?  Please add to my list so that I will not be “that parent”.

Whispers Series

As a staff we were asked to write a series of blogs for each of the series we do as a church.  Over the next couple of days I will be posting the blogs from that series.  If you want to read what is happening now you can always visit www.lifecentre.org and check out all the staff blogs there.

How do you practice stillness?

Stillness, is that even possible  with a young family? I remember when we were on our honey moon and all my wife wanted to do one day was sit by the pool.  Nothing else just sit and be still.  I was good for the first 2 minutes or so, but then it drove me nuts I actually got up and jumped in the car and headed to a sports store.  Maybe you are one of those people that have no trouble sitting and being still, but I can’t.  I really need to discipline myself to do it.  So when it comes to me taking time and doing what Psalm 46:10 says, it takes work.  I can tell you this the most amazing thing that has helped my to take time just to be still is the hammock we have in our backyard.  That is the place I go to practice stillness.  That is the place where I can just forget about everything and truly focus on God.  I have had some pretty incredible times of hearing God for my life, just lying still in the hammock.  Early on I used to try so hard to hear God in the stillness, and it was very frustrating at times.   I have learned the power of Psalm 46:10.  Being still is the first part, but knowing is the second part.  I can truly be still because I know who God is in my life.  I know that there is a plan and a purpose.  I know that in the tough times He is there.  I still have a hard time with this stillness thing but I make it happen as often as I can.  I think I hear my hammock calling now.

One More Try

Well I am back.  I know the blog as been quiet, but I have not.  I have been writing blogs and have a buch ready to go, so  check back daily and enjoy the adventure that I have been on the last while.