Archive - November, 2011

Remember the College Students

November 30, 2011 in Church Life with 4 Comments

Recently, I have had a couple of reminders of how busy our college students often are.

  • First, I asked two young men to speak at our Thanksgiving service at Lebanon Road. Both are college students, and I assumed that they had the entire week off of school. It turns out, both of them did not, but accepted anyway. [And, might I add, both did a tremendous job!]
  • Second, when I issues the “no TV” challenge on Monday on this blog, one of the responses I got was via Twitter. It was from a college student who said that he wouldn’t have any problem taking that challenge, since he would be writing papers all night.

Both of these reminded me of how busy our college students are. It also has caused me to think some about how congregations can help our college students. At Lebanon Road, we have a different perspective, because we have both (1) students who go away to school, as well as (2) students who come to schools in Nashville but are away from home. We also have students who live here and go to school here.

Here are some things that we do, as well as some general suggestions that might help your congregations support college students even better.

1. Remember students in prayer often and specifically. Hopefully, this doesn’t need much explanation!

2. Have a college class, no matter how small it might be. This is one of the most frustrating classes to teach, because you never know how many will be present (if anyone!), but you need to offer this class.

3. Include the college students in adult/young adult activities. If you have an adult retreat, cookout, special series, or other activity, make sure those college students are invited.

4. Send care packages. Some of our ladies coordinate sending care packages to all our students, and they are fantastic! Included are different things each time, but usually they try to include a small gift card to a fast food place, so the students can enjoy a meal out for free. Make this a priority.

5. Stay in contact. In our tech society, there is no excuse for not keeping up with college students. Through email, text, Facebook (where most college students live!), Twitter, and other outlets, you can send regular words of encouragement, and make sure the students always feel like part of the home congregation.

6. Realize the balance of involvement. As with anyone who is busy, college students need to be asked to help in the work of the Church, but also need to be allowed the ability to say, “no” or “not right now.” Some adults just can’t believe that students are busy. Folks, our college students are swamped!

7. Don’t be afraid to speak up. College life can breed temptations that are both real and powerful. Be loving, but speak up when you see something that doesn’t look right. I have done this a few times with college students. Some haven’t taken it well (and it may have been my fault for the way I worded something), but most have been thankful and gracious.

8. Remember the finances. Most college students are full-time students, and are living on very little money. What money they do make is often spent trying to woo the right girl or guy, or on all the fees of student life. If your congregation charges money for some activities, pay for a college student to attend. That $30 retreat that the adults are taking? Why not pay for your family, and one college student? It’s an investment you’ll never regret.

9. Visit or have them visit. If you go to a campus for a ball game or concert, try to figure out a way to see the students from the congregation. If you don’t go on campus much, have them over for a meal in the summer, or on Christmas break. Let them be reminded that you love them and are real.

10. Finally, one for elders. When it comes time for a college student to move away, support them in every way possible. A 21- or 22-year-old who is looking for that first job and has to move a long way off needs all the support he or she can get. Write a letter to the local eldership or preacher. Make sure their moving expenses are taken care of (within reason, of course). You may even want to have an elder visit with them on their first Sunday in a new location if it’s not too far away. Shepherd these precious young adults through this transition.

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What would you add?

Mini-Post: Quote on Marriage

November 29, 2011 in Family with 1 Comment

When Hollywood depicts couples who are virtual strangers engaging in humanity’s most intimate physical act, the church needs to counter with a biblical view of marriage.

–Stan Mitchell

Gospel Advocate, November 2011 (page 17)

Bah-Humbug! The Five Worst Christmas Songs

November 29, 2011 in Countdowns with 11 Comments

After Thanksgiving passes, we listen to Christmas music … a lot.

In fact, we pretty much keep our radios set on stations that play only Christmas music. So, I do not avoid these tunes.

However, just because a song talks about Christmas, winter, snow, or other related topics doesn’t mean I have to like it. There are some holiday songs that I really look forward to hearing, but there are others that are absolutely awful.

What Christmas songs make you cover your ears?

So, I’m presenting my five least favorite. Here are my criteria:

First, the song has to be in regular rotation. In other words, it’s not just some song that someone wrote about the holidays. It has to be one that is known widely.

Second, I am only including non-religious songs. There are some religious Christmas songs that I don’t like that much either, but this list is just for fun, so I’m not going there.

Third, it has to be a song that I just can’t get out of my head even though I hate it.

Now, I know I’m going to take some heat for these, but I can’t stand these songs. Enjoy the list, and yes, I included the videos so you could get your cheesy Christmas music fix!

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BONUS: “Sleigh Ride” by anyone who just does the instrumental

I had to expand the list to include this song for one simple reason. Anytime I hear the orchestral version of this song, it makes me think of a mall. Any song that forces me to think of shopping goes on the list.

 

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5. “Wonderful Christmas Time (All the Best!)” by Paul McCartney

I know: you’re amazed that I would include anything associated with the Beatles on a “worst anything” list, but this song is just horrible. I know the music pretty much fits the era, but it is about as cheesy as it gets. Sir Paul often gets a pass, but I have no idea what he was thinking with this song.

 

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4. “Christmas Shoes” by Newsong

Okay, so I said there would be no religious songs on here, but there is no way to leave this song off the list. Let’s see if we can get every stereotype of a bad song in five minutes. Sappy story? Check. Death? Sure. Tugging at the heart of a crotchety adult? You bet. A long song? Yep.

I know putting this song on the list makes me look heartless, but this song is so far off the charts of sappiness that the chart can’t even be seen anymore.

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3. “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives

My sister’s jaw just dropped. Look, I know this is a holiday classic. I get that. My problem with this song is that Burl seems just a bit too interested in someone else kissing a girl under the mistletoe.

When Burl sings “kiss her once for me” he sounds like a pirate! Seriously (“kisserrrrrr”). I call this the pirate Christmas song, and it just gets all over me.

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2. “Same Auld Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg

Why do stations play this horrible song. Not only is the song cheesy, it’s basically about getting drunk (which is why I didn’t include a video of it). The singer meets an old flame in a grocery store on Christmas Eve and they decide to go out for a drink. Since no bars are open, they just buy a six-pack and drink it in the car. Of course, this opens them up to telling about their bittersweet current situations. And then they kiss (did I mention the girl is married?)

This is just a terrible song all the way around.

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1. “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano

In all seriousness, I could write a multi-page essay on how much I despise this song. I don’t mind that it is in Spanish, and I actually like Jose Feliciano’s voice.

However, there are two reasons why I can’t stand this song.

First, it is one verse. One! They just sing it over and over and over. I can just see the day this song was recorded. Jose walks into the studio and shows the people the lyrics. One of the guys says, “Um, sir, you only have one verse.” Jose says, “Yes, but it’s a good verse.” So, they just decide to sing it a million times until they have a 3-minute pop song.

Second, it sounds like a cheesy Mexican restaurant commercial. Seriously, if you think of a local Mexican dive’s commercials you could see them just taking the same tune and music and just singing about tacos or enchiladas. You have to admit, it would work. And, thanks to Taco John’s it’s been used for that (click only if you dare).

To give you some idea of how much I hate this song: I actually keep up each year with how many times I hear it, because I have noticed that the more times I hear it, the worse my Christmas is. Okay, maybe not, but it’s close. The most times I’ve ever heard this song in one holiday season was 11. The best was just one. If I could ever get through one season without this song, it would be (to quote Paul McCartney) “A Wonderful Christmas Time.” As of when I wrote this (late Monday night), I had already heard it 3 times, and it’s not December yet. Yikes.

So, just to torture you, here’s a live version of Jose singing his, um, “classic.” No, I didn’t listen to it. I muted my computer to avoid an unnecessary burning of ears.

 

 

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What would you include on your worst Christmas songs list?

I Challenge You!!!

November 28, 2011 in Family with 2 Comments

Today’s post is a challenge. Let’s be honest, we all like a good challenge.

My challenge today is for families. I challenge you to turn off the TV tonight from 5 until bedtime, and spend the entire evening with “the tube” off.

Yes, I know Monday Night Football is tonight. I know there are sitcoms and dramas you may like. But, folks, it’s just one night (and, if you just cannot miss the show, there’s always DVR).

What will you spend that TV-less time on? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Have a family devotional.

2. Listen to Christmas carols while you sit in front of a fire.

3. Put up the Christmas tree (that’s what we have planned).

4. Play a board or card game.

5. If you live where the weather is still nice, go outside for an evening walk.

6. Take your family out to look at Christmas lights.

7. Have a meal out and then do some shopping for the holidays.

See…you can survive without the TV.

Or, can you?

I challenge you to!!!

November 10: Links Roundup

November 23, 2011 in Links Roundups with 3 Comments

Okay, so it’s not the last Friday of the month, but it’s close enough, so it’s time for the November links roundup.

And, since I know you are busy, we are going to cut out all the usual “conversation,” and just have 5 links, a fun video, the final 5 links, and then…well…you know how we end the roundup!

But first, a bonus link! Today, I had a post on ChristianPF.com that deals with the best investment you can ever make. I hope you’ll take the time to read the article here.

Now, enough self-promoting…let’s get to the roundup!

It's Roundup Time!!!

Here are links 1-5:

1. My brother-in-law used a song that (1) a great friend of mine wrote, and (2) I sang in college as the basis for a wonderful post on how to handle it when things just do not go our way. Enjoy his post, called “Rainy Days.”

2. A vote in the state of Mississippi didn’t make as much news as I thought it would, but Christians should still be interested in it. It dealt with whether a baby in the womb was a human. Sadly, the vote failed, even in that very conservative state. Albert Mohler wrote a very thought-provoking article that you need to take a few moments to consider. It’s poignantly called “We’re All Harry Blackmun Now.”

3. YouTube is one of the most visited sites on earth. It is staggering to consider the amount of material placed on that site each day. But how can we protect our kids on that behemoth of a site? Please take a few minutes to download and read this free material from Covenant Eyes.

4. Jesus said the Church would grow, and it has throughout the years. But how do we help an individual congregation to grow? Matthew Morine shares one great point in his brief post, “The One Thing for Church Growth.”

5. I really enjoy reading the Creation Faith Facts blog. While all the posts are about apologetics, every once in a while a post just jumps out at me. This one was one of those, and I had to share it. Enjoy “Troublesome Teeth.”

Mid-Post Break Time!!!

Even on a quick post, you need a little break. Enjoy this video by comedian Tim Clue, who shares a hilarious view of how some people deal–or don’t deal–with debt. If this weren’t so realistic for many folks, it would be even funnier!

 

Now, on to the final 5 links.

6. Hey, look! Michael Hite has a blog! The Ministry Geek rarely updates his site, but this update was really cool. He talked about, and linked to, a site that documents every accounted-for location mentioned in Scripture on Google Maps. What a great resource! Enjoy it here.

7. Here is a news commentary that you will want to let sink in a bit. FoxNews.com opinion writer Lamar Vest asks the question: “Most Americans Own a Bible, So Why Aren’t They Reading It?” Interesting perspective.

8. Our world doesn’t want sin to be any big deal, but the Bible tells us that it is awful. Caleb Sampson writes a powerful article called “The Scars of Sin.”

9. Need some encouragement? If you are a Christian, your name is written in heaven! Tim Pyles reminds us of that in his uplifting post, “You’re On the List!”

10. For the final post, I liked this productivity article from Michael Hyatt, because it helps with a very common problem. “How to Get Out of that Funk” will help you do just that!

Time for Our Traditional Ending!!!

Well, it may not be Friday, but we can’t break tradition! Enjoy a Swedish indie rock band named Billy the Vision and the Dancers playing “Friday, I’m in Love” (Yes, this song is global!).

 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we’ll join you on the blog next week, then we’ll be back at the end of December for our final links roundup of 2011.

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