Entertainment-Driven Youth Ministry

I just finished listening to Dr. Gene Veith's discussion on Issues Etc. about youth ministry. Dr. Veith's insights are excellent.

Give it a listen, especially if you are involved in youth ministry. Be brave enough to listen to this Issues, Etc. broadcast especially if it criticizes some approaches you may be using.

Updated classroom policies

Due to recent additions to the Lutheran North Student Handbook, I had to update my classroom policies. In John Knowles' classic book, A Separate Peace, Gene states, "...this was my sarcastic summer. It was only long after that I recognized sarcasm as the protest of people who are weak." Perhaps Gene has a point but I think the sarcasm I infused into my classroom policies for the 2010 - 2011 school year implicitly and explicitly reveals my point.

...as found in this year’s student handbook:

MLDs: Mobile Learning Devices include but are not limited to cell phones, laptops, and notebook computers. Each teacher will determine the acceptable status and usage of MLDs in his/her classroom. MLDs will be kept in silent mode at all times during the day. MLDs should not be used during chapel.

...as explained in the classroom policies of my syllabus

What this means for you in my classroom. Do not enter the classroom talking or texting on your MLD. It’s the same as the food and drink policy in #3. Apparently, there is some vital, urgent, imperative and critical crisis that you must immediately solve. Walking into English class and preparing to learn would only impede this life-saving task. Solve your corner of the world’s problems, put your MLD away and then enter my classroom. If this causes you to be tardy then talk faster, text quicker….or keep your MLD in your purse or pocket and talk to the person walking next to you, look up so you can avoid Joe Freshman scurrying to class, introduce yourself to Suzy Sophomore and ask how her day is going, acknowledge humanity with a nod or wink. Do not, however, bury your self-absorbed attention span into your MLD and stroll into my classroom.

It also means that, if for some odd reason, there are moments to spare at the end of class, you may not whip out the MLD and check for vital status updates, who’s liking what and how many people have tagged that ugly photo of you. Try talking to that human form sitting six inches in front or behind your or the ones located within a four foot radius. If we are not using MLDs as a classroom learning experience, there is no reason for them to be seen or used.

WDTHT?

For this segment of WDTHT I'm going to cheat a bit and and profile the hymn "God's own child, I gladly say it." However, I'm not going to discuss it. Last week, Issues Etc., ran a series of broadcasts on listeners' favorite hymns.

This was one of the hymns.

Persue the words and then listen to host Rev. Todd Wilken and guest Rev. Wil Weedon of St. Paul Lutheran Church-Hamel, Illinois discuss this hymn on a recent broadcast.

Verse 1

God's own child, I gladly say it:
I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it,
Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth's treasure many?
I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free
Lasting to eternity!

Verse 2:

Sin, disturb my soul no longer:
I am baptized into Christ!
I have comfort even stronger:
Jesus' cleansing sacrifice.
Should a guilty conscience seize me
Since my Baptism did release me
In a dear forgiving flood,
Sprinkling me with Jesus' blood?

Verse 3:

Satan, hear this proclamation:
I am baptized into Christ!
Drop your ugly accusation,
I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I've traveled,
All your might has come unraveled,
And, against your tyranny,
God, my Lord, unites with me!

Verse 4:

Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness
To inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes
Faith's assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine
To make life immortal mine.

Verse 5:

There is nothing worth comparing
To this lifelong comfort sure!
Open-eyed my grave is staring:
Even there I'll sleep secure.
Though my flesh awaits its raising,
Still my soul continues praising:
I am baptized into Christ;
I'm a child of paradise!

Consequences...

"The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is coming to its close. In its place we are are entering a period of consequences."

- Winston Churchill, 1936

WARNING: A high school stem-cell curriculum created

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has created the country's first high school, stem-cell curriculum and is proffering it to science teachers in California's Bay Area. Read the article in the San Francisco Chronicle.



Here are some excerpts from the article that concern me.

• California is home to some of the world's most promising stem cell research, but to sustain the industry, the state will need an ever-increasing army of trained workers - from lab technicians to top-level researchers - and a healthy backbone of non scientists who understand the issues at stake, say stem cell research advocates.
  With that in mind, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has developed the country's first high-school stem cell curriculum, which will be pitched to science teachers this fall. It is already being taught at a handful of Bay Area high schools.Read more:

The stem cell researchers aren't stupid. They will build up their own army of workers to carry out their wishes. I like how they recognize the need for such vital research but the obvious concern is how will these trained workers/soldiers be indoctrinated? Will adult stem cell research be an option? Will embryonic stem cell research require even more harvesting of human life? Will there even be a debate about this issue?

• And even if students aren't compelled to follow a career in science, what they learn from the classroom will, it is hoped, follow them home, where they can teach their families and friends about stem cells, said Laurel Barchas, a doctoral student in integrative biology at UC Berkeley, who led the institute's effort to create the high school curriculum.
  "We hope it will have a trickle up effect," Barchas said. "It's a good way to educate the public at large about stem cell research."

What will the public learn about stem cell research? I see what the public learns about evolution in public schools. It certainly is not taught as a theory, but fact. Doubt this? Ask your local public school science teacher when the world was created? Will the response be, "Well, Mrs. Smith, some scientists believe it was created millions of years ago after developing from primordial ooze. Other scientists believe it was created from intelligent design creationism. So there are several theories. We teach both equally." If that's the response, my concerns with this stem cell curriculum are all for naught. Common sense and twenty-five years in education seem to indicate I have justifiable concerns.

UC Berkely "led the institute's effort to create the high school curriculum"? Sorry, but the halls of academia at UC Berkely don't exactly scream or whisper a conservative philosophy on social issues.

• The curriculum doesn't shy away from touchy ethical discussions. Each unit contains some political or ethical topic such as addressing whether it is appropriate to screen for certain genetic traits when doing in vitro fertilization or discussing ethical standards in clinical trials. "We are not there to force an idea or a belief on anybody. We're allowing students to have a discourse," Barchas said. "It's really good that teachers are not afraid to start talking about this stuff."

Liberal ideas in stem cell research will not be forced on any student, no matter what the age, the same way evolution is not forced upon any student in public grade schools, high schools and higher education. If you believe this then you would believe the mayor of New York City supports the idea of building a Mosque at Ground Zero....My point, exactly.

Yes, we all need to be educated about stem cell research but there is no way I trust that the sanctity of human life will be revered by the UC Berkeley in the construction of this curriculum or in the way that it's implemented in school systems. Unfortunately, too many parents won't know or care about the curriculum and lives will be lost after being harvested for "scientific research".

My concern with this stem cell curriculum is that God's Word will be sacrificed, along with human lives. Listen to Scott Klusendorf's recent broadcast on Issues Etc. where he discusses the difference between embryonic stem cell research vs. adult stem cell research to hear why this is an important issue.

A Must-Hear Broadcast on Law and Gospel

I just finished listening to the four part series on Law and Gospel by Dr. Carl Fickenscher of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana on the Issues Etc. website.

This is a broadcast every teacher, youth ministry and pastor should hear and apply to their vocation. Unfortunately, some believe Law and Gospel are techniques or tactics and don't understand the need to clearly distinguish and teach both Law and Gospel. Confusing Law and Gospel can lead to works righteousness, antinomianism, and using guilt to motivate sinners to repent and live sanctified lives.

Listen to the first broadcast and go from there.

Law and Gospel Part One

Law and Gospel Part Two

Law and Gospel Part Three

Law and Gospel Part Four

Proud of LHN students

Several Lutheran North students helped me host the Lutheran radio show, Our World - His View on Saturday, July 31. Listen to the broadcast and you will understand why it's so easy to be involved with Example, Lutheran North's anti-drug and alcohol group.

Coleson, Alayna and Kyle clearly and powerfully articulated their reasons for not drinking and how that strength is found in the forgiveness and mercy we have in God's grace and love in the sacrifice of His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here are a couple of pictures of the broadcast and I'll post some video snippets of the radio show soon.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

-I Timothy 4:12

Example on the radio

TO DO LIST
for Saturday, July 31

1. Set alarm for 8:45 a.m.
2. Hit SNOOZE button one time for a 7 minute delay to the day's events.
3. Stumble out of bed at 8:52 a.m. and make some coffee.
4. While waiting for some hot java goodness to begin your day, turn on the radio.
5. Tune it to 1500 AM.
5.a Yes, there is something called AM.
5.b Yes, there are people up at this time of day.

7. Stay by the radio until 9:00 a.m.
8. Now listen to Example, Lutheran North's anti-drug group, host the Lutheran radio show, Our World His View and discuss the challenges and benefits of avoiding alcohol.
9. Call the show and share your thoughts: 866-423-9578