Some PARENTS Really Tick Me Off.

I know I've been away from the blogging world for a little more than a week. But I have a confession to make... I've been going nuts!

Okay, for those of you who know me you already know I've been going nuts since the day I was born but the last few weeks have been really crazy for Cyndi and I.

We've really been trying to improve how we do student ministry and let me tell you, it takes a ton of work!

But it's been great. I am in the process of hopefully writing my first book. And I'm thinking about starting it out as some of my blog postings. I thought about calling it "Confessions of a Hyper Active Youth Pastor" but I would love all of your input on a title for it.

Basically, the whole thing is my thoughts on the ins and outs of being a youth pastor.

Tonight, will be my first entry for my book. So here we go:

Tonight, I want to share with you what has been on my heart the last few days. Let me beforehand say I am not going to apologize for what I am about to say. I believe it to be true in many churches, and it frustrates the living poo out of me. If you have a problem with what I am going to say or the fact that I just said poo, let me introduce you to a couple of my friends who happen to be Pastor's and they will punch you in the throat.

Some parent's really irritate me! WHOA! I know it's a bold statement but here is why.
I have been in student ministry for many years now and I have heard it time and time again from many parents: "We are committed to do whatever it takes to get our kids involved in church, and for them to bring their friends too." Wow, how awesome it is to hear this! I really do get excited when parents tell me this. However, I have come to discover that many times this statement from parents is a load of bull!

Many times its the same parents who say this, that ground their kids from church. Wow, do parent really ground their kids from not going to church? Absolutely and its STUPID! Why in the world would you ground a kid from going to church? I've been told it's because, "My kid has a lot of fun and really wants to go, and it's the only way to punish them" Imagine that, a kid wanting to go to church? I wonder if Jesus would want that. I'm not going to lie, I want church to be so fun that it is every students favorite place to go, their favorite night of the week, and an attractive place that they will want to bring their friends. But one thing is for sure, they get to hear about Jesus every week.

So really, when parents ground their kids from going to church (or retreats, or camp, etc.) their really saying you know what, I don't want you to hear about Jesus. I don't want you to develop a meaningful relationship with Him, or with His followers. I love you son or daughter, but you should just go to HELL!

The other thing that irritates me is when parents don't encourage their kids to go to church, or they won't encourage them to bring their friends. You know what if 75% of kids in a Christian homes don't have a relationship with Jesus, don't you think we ought to be doing something different? Don't you think maybe (especially if you're a Christian) you should really push your kid to go to youth group? If 75% of kids in a CHRISTIAN home don't have a relationship with Jesus don't you think it's time for you to say enough is enough! Don't you think its time to say church and youth group will be a priority! What, you want to play xbox? Well, your going to go do it at church! What, you want to go hang out with your friends? Well, your going to do it at church and your going to bring your friends with you! We're going to stop having family fun night during youth group because youth group is a PRIORITY and we will make our family fun night another night. YOUTH GROUP and CHURCH SHOULD BE A PRIORITY, not just something to do when it's convenient for me and my kid!

I know what some parents are thinking, well I don't want to force my kid to go to church because they will hate it later! BOLOGNA! Parents you force your kids to do a lot of other things, like clean their rooms, play sports, eat their vegetables, etc. WHy not force them? I promise you this, when it comes to our youth group if you force them to come they will love it. If they don't love it, we will do what ever it takes to make them love it!

Parents, if you are serious about your relationship with God, and you want your student to be serious: MAKE not only church a priority, but YOUTH GROUP as well! Let's not be satisfied the 6% of teens that graduate high school that will have a relationship with Jesus. Let's not be satisfied with 25% of kids that come from Christian homes who have a relationship with God. Let's not be satisfied with the 1 out of 3 students who will stay in church after they graduate high school! NO MORE! Let's Step it up and make this a priority people. WHO AND WHERE IS YOUR PRIORITIES?