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//]]> </script>   <script type="text/javascript"> AudioPlayer.setup("http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/podcasting/player/player.swf", { width: 290, transparentpagebg: 'yes' }); </script> <style type="text/css"> .better-tag-cloud-shortcode li, .better-tag-cloud-shortcode li a, li#better-tag-cloud ul.wp-tag-cloud li, li#better-tag-cloud ul.wp-tag-cloud li a { display: inline; } </style> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Podcast: Springvale: Thursday Night Talks" href="http://benbartosik.com/?feed=podcast" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/themes/colorpaper/styles/teal.css" type="text/css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/themes/colorpaper/style.css" type="text/css" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="benbartosik DOT com RSS Feed" href="http://benbartosik.com/?feed=rss2" /> <link rel="pingback" href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/xmlrpc.php" /> </head> <body> <a name="top"></a> <div id="footer-back"><div id="footer-bg"> <div id="main"> <div id="main-top"> <div id="navigationed"> <ul id="navigation" class="clearfix"> <li><a href="http://benbartosik.com" title="Hello">Home</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-183"><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?page_id=183" title="About the Author">About the Author</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="container"> <div id="content-back" class="clearfix"><div id="content-bottom"> <div id="left-col"> <div class="clearfix"> <div id="colors"> <a href="http://springvaleyouth.com/" class="color-blue">Blue</a> <a href="http://whatisthealivemovement.com/" class="color-orange">Orange</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Springvale-Youth/164406855197?ref=ts" class="color-green">Green</a> <a href="http://www.youversion.com/groups/springvalesrhigh" class="color-pink">Pink</a> <a href="http://www.wordle.net/" class="color-purple">Purple</a> </div> <div id="page-title"> <div class="page-title-content"> <h3 class="page-title">Posts Tagged ‘Ministry Thoughts’</h3> <div class="post-meta-single"> <div class="small"> <p class="small verdana">You can use the search form below to go through the content and find a specific post or page:</p> <form method="get" id="searchform" action="http://benbartosik.com/"> <div><input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s" class="text" size="40" /> <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" class="btn submit btn-teal" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="left-content"> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Apr </span><span class="day">28 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=352" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to On Matters Of The Heart">On Matters Of The Heart</a></h4> <p><a href='http://springvalestudents.org/srhighsite/podcasts/thursdaytalks/Keeping%20The%20Sabbath%20Holy.mp3'>Listen to the Audio Here:</a></p><span id="pod_audio_1"> </span> <script type="text/javascript"> AudioPlayer.embed("pod_audio_1", {soundFile: "http%3A%2F%2Fspringvalestudents.org%2Fsrhighsite%2Fpodcasts%2Fthursdaytalks%2FKeeping%2520The%2520Sabbath%2520Holy.mp3"}); </script> <p style="clear: both"><em>What’s on your heart? </em></p> <p style="clear: both">First off, I realize I have yet to add any audio or commentary from the last two Thursday Night Talks. I’m going to put the first, from Thursday April 15th, up here. It was a talk on the fourth commandment, Keeping the Sabbath Holy. So I apologize to anyone who’s been waiting by their computers. I really am trying to stay in the habit of frequent writing, it’s just so easy for it to get lost amidst the myriad of details, ideas, and other time consuming events.</p> <p style="clear: both">I’ve been thinking lately about trying to <em>rebalance</em> my life. In the middle of this series on the ten commandments I had a bit of a realization that my life lacks balance and peace. This mind-opening thought came to me as I was working away on what I was going to say about the fourth command, <strong>Keep the Sabbath Holy. </strong>It’s always an adventure when the stuff you’re working on actually hits home.</p> <p style="clear: both">For those that don’t know me, I have a hard time letting go of work. This is especially difficult in a job that transcends hours and shifts and any particular environment. It’s not easy for me to disconnect myself from the constant flood of demands and ideas and opportunities that go with this calling. These dominate my heart and my mind when I’m at the church, at home, out with people, lying awake in my bed each night, and just about any other time between. Most of the time, I’m not especially bothered by this, it’s kind of what gives me my edge and keeps me focused. However, I have noticed the way in which my life, or any life really, needs balance and peace in order to keep from crashing.</p> <p style="clear: both">So I’ve been trying to take this Sabbath thing seriously and actually find time to <strong>rest</strong> and <strong>refresh</strong>. Part of this has meant unplugging myself so-to-speak on my days off. I’ve actually been resisting the temptation to even turn my laptop on to keep from even starting to do any work. I’m trying to get outside and walk more. I’m attempting to eat healthier (or even at all some days). And I’m trying to make sure that I make meaningful connections to the people in my life by giving them my attention and focus while I’m with them (so hard to do in our cellphone/laptop culture).</p> <p style="clear: both">In this process I’ve also been trying to <strong>refocus</strong> my calling into ministry. While on a walk through Uxbridge the other day, I found myself walking by the high school in an attempt to answer the question I was asking God, <em>why do I do what I do?</em> It’s so easy for the calling of God to get mixed up in the stale, everyday routine. I lose focus.</p> <p style="clear: both">I won’t share all the details of how God used this walk to grab my attention and reawaken my passion and vision. I will say that he reminded me why I’m in this and affirmed me in a much needed way. I once again pleaded that God would let me see the world, see the students through his eyes and that<em> he would give me <strong>his heart </strong>for them</em>. And let me tell you, it’s a truly amazing thing to behold.</p> <p style="clear: both">David writes in Psalm 37, “<em>D</em><em>elight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act… Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him</em>.”</p> <p style="clear: both">In Ezekiel God promises that a time is coming when he will “<em>give [us] a new heart and a new Spirit</em>.”(Ez. 36:26) As we draw closer to God, seeking him and putting our complete trust in him, our hearts are remade into something new. Our spirit becomes one with his and we see the world through his eyes, with his heart, with his love. Can you imagine a world where the followers of Christ actually loved like God? Unconditionally, selflessly, joyfully. That is an exciting thought!</p> <p style="clear: both">It’s too easy for this to get lost in our daily lives. There’s so much to get burdened by. So much to take our attention and overwhelm our thoughts. So much to disconnect the beat of our heart from God’s. This is why these personal times of reflection and refocus are so important. To seek God’s heart and be filled by his Spirit.</p> <p style="clear: both">That’s what’s on my heart. How about yours?</p> <h6>| So I think I’ll stay | caught up in a silent prayer | ’cause I believe in silence | our hearts speak the same word |<br /> - Blindside, <em>Silence </em></h6> <p style="clear: both">Thanks,</p> <p><br class="final-break" style="clear: both" /></p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=352';tweetcount_title='On Matters Of The Heart ';tweetcount_cnt=1;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=352&title=On Matters Of The Heart &srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Mar </span><span class="day">18 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=336" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Of A Childlike Faith…">Of A Childlike Faith…</a></h4> <p>“<em>I feel like a newborn baby just trying to say your name.</em>” (Jason Upton, First Language)</p> <p>I’ve been sitting on this idea for a couple of days now.</p> <p>On Monday Night we had our second Sr. High prayer and worship night, <strong>Monday Night Awakening</strong>. It’s actually really interesting as we do these to see the way in which each night has sort of had it’s own feel and personality to it. Whether it’s the people who come out, the Spirit’s leading, our lack of formal structure, or a combination of all three, both nights have felt entirely different and entirely awesome.</p> <p>This past week sort of just turned into a revelatory moment of quiet reflection on God’s character for each of us. It just quieted down and it was almost as though no one could speak for the longest time. A few random thoughts and verses were shared but for the most part it was silent and awe-inspired. I think God just shut us up and had us listen. A real sort of, be-still-and-know-that-I-am-God kind of thing.</p> <p>I’ve been loving this song by Cory Asbury now for the past few months, <em>Do You Know The Way You Move Me? </em>It’s this 22 minute epic reflection on the way God feels about us. Over the last few weeks I have been listening to it over and over again and finding such joy and peace in it’s words and on Monday Night, I was rendered speechless at the ridiculousness of it all.</p> <p>My mind just sort of drifted to the question, <strong>how does God see us? </strong></p> <p>And the answer I found was that He sees us as children. Little kids. Just over-confident, silly, attention seeking, stubborn, selfish, adorable little kids.</p> <p>And I had this scenario play out it my head that I wrote down after. Maybe you’ll relate to it…</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">I feel like a little kid again.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Like we’re nothing more than a bunch of children who were told to go wait outside while dinner was being made and to be good and play nice and not get dirty before dinner. But of course, we’re kids. We’re kind of stupid that way and the mud just looks so fun and inviting and really, who can resist throwing a dirt clod at your brother or sister when the option presents itself?</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">So of course, we do just that. We roll around in the mud, throwing dirt at one another, having a wonderful time with no thought or care about anything else. As I said, we’re kind of stupid like that.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">But then, all of a sudden we remember it’s almost dinner time and we were told not to get dirty. We look around at one another and we’re all just filthy, there’s really no clean spots left – we’re a mess. And like kids do, we start freaking out about the dirt. Worrying that our dad is going to punish us because we’re so dirty and we disobeyed. Some of us try to clean it off ourselves in some ground water in a ditch but that just makes a bigger mess. Others try to make excuses and blame one another for the dirt, “it was Bobby’s fault, he through a dirt clod at me!” And still others, try to find somewhere to hide because we just know that Dad is gonna be mad. However, we’re all so preoccupied with the dirt that we don’t notice that our Dad has been watching us the whole time from the Living Room window. He sees a bunch of kids and he’s just shaking his head and kind of laughing to himself at our silliness and the way we’re handling the whole situation.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">So then he opens the door and calls out to us to come for dinner and we’re just terrified at this point. There’s nowhere to go and it’s time to face our Father. We approach the front door slowly at first, hesitantly and unsure as we begin the trek across the yard towards him. He looks stern at first but as this group of dirty little kids, heads hung low in shame, some with muddy tear stains smeared across their faces, gets closer he can’t contain himself and he smiles and laughs at our ridiculousness and tells us to stop being silly and run to him. And so we do, we’re laughing now and we all jump on Him in a big hug because he’s our dad and he doesn’t care about the mud, he just loves us. “It’s only dirt,” he says, “and it will come off.”</p> <p>This picture, this story was so vivid in my mind I was actually laughing to myself at the thought of it. We’re nothing but little children to God. He actually delights in us. He finds joy in us. He finds us funny sometimes. He laughs at us and he smiles at us. Sometimes he’s disappointed because we don’t listen and ignore what’s best for us; but he knows we’re just silly little confident kids. And then sometimes, we actually try to show our love for him back. We make a funny little, poorly written card or just go in for a hug and God is just so happy as a Father would be. He loves it when we express our love, small and childish as it may be. It’s a moment he delights in. This is what brings him joy. His children. Us.</p> <p>Isn’t that ridiculous?</p> <p>“<em>For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption as children, by whom we cry, “Abba! Daddy!” The Spirit himself bears witness with out spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.</em>” (Romans 8:14-17)</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=336';tweetcount_title='Of A Childlike Faith... ';tweetcount_cnt=1;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=336&title=Of A Childlike Faith... &srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Mar </span><span class="day">03 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=309" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Reawakening (Alive Again)">Reawakening (Alive Again)</a></h4> <p>It’s time.</p> <p>Last night began something new for us here at Sr. High. In a response to God’s clear and timely leading, we opened up a night of prayer for any students who desired to come out and join us in seeking God together. The goal? Break down barriers, step out of comfort zones, push beyond what has become safe and ordinary, and experience the awe-inspiring power of God’s presence as it was meant to be experienced. A community of people ready to wake up.</p> <p>And so, <strong>Monday Night Awakening…</strong></p> <p>I wasn’t really sure why that name in particular until the night began. But then as we prayed and sang I was overwhelmingly struck with the imagery of the dry bones found in Ezekiel 37. Over the past little while I felt as though I’ve been watching God take these dried up bones and put them back together piece by piece, cover them with muscles and flesh, and then last night begin to finally breathe life back into them.</p> <p>And I could feel that life as it filled us.</p> <p>God broke down a bunch of individual wills and is now rebuilding his body; his church here at Sr. High. We are waking up, we are full of life, and I believe God is working here. Powerfully.</p> <p>Looking forward to our next meeting.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=309';tweetcount_title='Reawakening (Alive Again)';tweetcount_cnt=1;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=309&title=Reawakening (Alive Again)&srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Feb </span><span class="day">23 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=290" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to From Mayhem to Madness – Sno Camp 2010">From Mayhem to Madness – Sno Camp 2010</a></h4> <p>Okay.</p> <p>I’ve officially (more-or-less) recovered from the weekend. My muscles and joints still feel like I borrowed them from somebody’s grandfather and I’m not quite sure what time my body thinks it is. But my usual sleep loss has been cared for thanks to an Ivanna Turco prescribed “Me-Day”. I love Mondays…</p> <p>I had originally planned to write updates throughout the weekend and post them on here but I quickly realized I was fooling myself in thinking that I would be able to pull away from the chaos and write out a well thought out exegesis of what was happening up there. So here we go,</p> <p>Sno Camp 2010: the Highlights.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175138507_168600062_30094987_908470_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-295 aligncenter" title="26287_504175138507_168600062_30094987_908470_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175138507_168600062_30094987_908470_n-300x225.jpg" alt="26287_504175138507_168600062_30094987_908470_n" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>I began this weekend in an already fairly sleep deprived and vulnerable state. I had a lot on my mind and heart going into this and wasn’t really sure what to expect. I had expectations, as I’m sure everyone else did. But God often has this way of taking my expectations and showing me how small I think sometimes. I really wasn’t prepared for where God decided to lead me this weekend.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175143497_168600062_30094988_6467917_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-296 aligncenter" title="26287_504175143497_168600062_30094988_6467917_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175143497_168600062_30094988_6467917_n-300x225.jpg" alt="26287_504175143497_168600062_30094988_6467917_n" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>I’ve been praying for the past little while that God would just light a fire in my heart of burden for the youth group. That I would see them and love them the way he does. If God is truly who I believe him to be, than his love for the students in this youth group is so much more than I could ever imagine. On Saturday night, after a lot of prayer, I think I got a really clear glimpse of that love. I had a great opportunity to pray with and for quite a few of the students and then myself and a couple other leaders had a really solid moment of prayer for the group as a whole. We prayed as students all around us opened up in prayer and conversation with leaders and each other. God was moving and it was a very powerful moment for myself and many others. The whole thing left me so pumped up and excited that my previous tiredness was completely lifted.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175103577_168600062_30094980_7802994_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-297 aligncenter" title="26287_504175103577_168600062_30094980_7802994_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175103577_168600062_30094980_7802994_n-300x225.jpg" alt="26287_504175103577_168600062_30094980_7802994_n" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>This turned out to be a very necessary thing as I had to go on to cohost the talent show finals which began shortly after 11PM. My spiritual ‘excitedness’ combined with a Blueberry/Pomegranate energy drink became the perfect combination to end that day on a total high note. The talent show was awesome and I think everyone was in a great mood and excited and ready to have fun after those intense moments earlier. Springvale closed off the entire show with their Glee rendition and I have to say… it was pretty unbelievable.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26095_697049131999_120805550_43785019_7085285_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-298 aligncenter" title="26095_697049131999_120805550_43785019_7085285_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26095_697049131999_120805550_43785019_7085285_n-300x225.jpg" alt="26095_697049131999_120805550_43785019_7085285_n" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p>Obviously there were many other highlights and I could probably write a whole lot more about the fun and and ridiculous things we did. But I wanted to focus on the biggest highlight of all – God is at work in the lives of our students and in the midst of this youth group. I truly believe that there were some very significant and specific things that God has been saying to many of us. God is building a real community of faith within this group. And I am so excited to see where He’s taking us.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175083617_168600062_30094976_8199655_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-299 aligncenter" title="26287_504175083617_168600062_30094976_8199655_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175083617_168600062_30094976_8199655_n-300x225.jpg" alt="26287_504175083617_168600062_30094976_8199655_n" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175128527_168600062_30094985_1469908_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-300 aligncenter" title="26287_504175128527_168600062_30094985_1469908_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175128527_168600062_30094985_1469908_n-300x225.jpg" alt="26287_504175128527_168600062_30094985_1469908_n" width="300" height="225" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175088607_168600062_30094977_2916700_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-301 aligncenter" title="26287_504175088607_168600062_30094977_2916700_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175088607_168600062_30094977_2916700_n-225x300.jpg" alt="26287_504175088607_168600062_30094977_2916700_n" width="225" height="300" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175118547_168600062_30094983_605912_n.jpg" rel="lightbox[290]"><img class="size-medium wp-image-302 aligncenter" title="26287_504175118547_168600062_30094983_605912_n" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/26287_504175118547_168600062_30094983_605912_n-225x300.jpg" alt="26287_504175118547_168600062_30094983_605912_n" width="225" height="300" /></a></p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=290';tweetcount_title='From Mayhem to Madness - Sno Camp 2010';tweetcount_cnt=1;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=290&title=From Mayhem to Madness - Sno Camp 2010&srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Feb </span><span class="day">10 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=207" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to From Here On Out…">From Here On Out…</a></h4> <p>I’ve been in the process of a redesign for a couple months now. In that process I decided I needed a direction for this blog. I really have had no reason to write except to put random thoughts into writing for my own purposes rather than for the sake of anyone reading it.</p> <p>This blog will now house my notes and commentary on my Thursday Night talks, other ministry directed reflections, and personal messages that I am trying to get across to students, parents, leaders, and whoever else stumbles across this blog.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>If you’re looking for some of the older articles that didn’t make the cut over to this new blog. They’re on my old one <a href="http://benbartosik.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=207';tweetcount_title='From Here On Out... ';tweetcount_cnt=0;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=207&title=From Here On Out... &srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Oct </span><span class="day">14 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=173" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Coffee and the Church">Coffee and the Church</a></h4> <p>One of the internal battles I’ve fought over the years has been over the necessity of coffee in my life. I was drinking it like a back-alley crack addict a few years ago, 4 or 5 hits before lunch, until I realized my problem (awareness <em>is</em> the first step) and decided to cut it out of my life. After a couple months of headaches and strange coping techniques (<em>tea???</em>) I successfully quit and began to feel okay with it.<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-176" title="coffee poster" src="http://benbartosik.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/coffee-poster1.jpg?w=204" alt="coffee poster" width="204" height="300" /></p> <p>Then, two years later, I just up and started drinking it again one morning at school. The smell of it finally got to me or something. Reminded me of all the good times we once had… So, after our two year break, coffee and I were back together. We just had one of those on-again-off again relationships you know? But we’ve both matured and grown into ourselves since then and we really know what we want this time around. Point is, it made me realize the degree to which coffee has played a part in my life, and a lot of people’s lives. We’ve been going strong since b t w. I’m even considered a “regular” at a local coffee house.</p> <p>So what does this have to do with anything? Well, I’ve often considered the relationship between coffee and churches, or <em>the church</em> to be more specific. Seems to me that every time we gather, coffee is there. I can’t help but imagine the early church sitting around with a new letter from Paul and a fresh pot of Galilee’s best dark roast. I bet it was even served with dessert after the last supper. (too soon?)</p> <p>Regardless of my mildly inappropriate joking, coffee certainly plays a significant role in the church and my question has always been whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Finally this morning I think I’ve come to a conclusion. Coffee is a community oriented experience. Yes it can be enjoyed alone, but it is so much better shared. Whether you’re sitting down deep in conversation with a friend or driving in to work with your carpool, coffee is there and it somehow enhances human interaction. The amount of times I’ve heard “let’s go out and grab a coffee sometime…” It seems to me that coffee is more than a drink, it represents a deeper human need for relationship.</p> <p>Rather than resist this, churches need to make efforts to embrace this experience as a way to build community. Serve the stuff, provide a place to sit, sip and chat, and even allow people to bring their coffee into the service with them. I know this isn’t life-changing, thought-provoking revelation but sometimes a practical thought can transform into a much more profound realization. The church is community; what are you doing to encourage that?</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=173';tweetcount_title='Coffee and the Church';tweetcount_cnt=0;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=173&title=Coffee and the Church&srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Mar </span><span class="day">04 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=109" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to High School Evangelism (Part 1)">High School Evangelism (Part 1)</a></h4> <p>As I think I mentioned once before, I am trying to get in the habit of posting some of my thoughts after I speak so that those who weren’t there can realize the genius they missed out on and those who were can get a second taste.<img src="http://plantwo.byu.edu/lockers/images/locker_images/blue_locker_image.jpg" align="right" height="163" width="248" /></p> <p>Today I pretty much rambled on at ISCF at Stouffville High for forty minutes about high school evangelism and how the school is the front lines for spreading the gospel. Church is like basic training but high school is where all the action takes place. It is also the most fertile mission field you will likely ever encounter. People talk about various overseas missions being ripe for harvest, I believe that high school students are in a place ready to hear it. I give you 3 reasons for this argument.</p> <blockquote><p><b>1. Teenagers are desperately seeking answers.</b> This is why I chose to work with students in the first place. They are at a stage in life where they are looking to find out who they are and what life has to offer them. Adult cynicism and the reality of the world hasn’t fully set it in yet.</p> <p><b>2. Teenagers are the future.</b> High schools are filled with future doctors, lawyers, political policy makers, teachers, and other positions of authority and influence. Adults are always trying to get a step ahead of them for this reason. One of my problems with experts and specialists trying to rap their minds around teenage culture is that by the time they figure it out, that particular group is out while the next group is moving up in the ranks. It is my personal belief that the tolerant, post-modern mindset is subtly fading away. My reason is the shift from self centered thinking to global thinking. Young people are looking around at the suffering and poverty and wondering why the previous generations have let this happen. Philosophy is taking a back seat to the rise in popularity in global studies. Christianity has the unique opportunity to offer selfless thinking with a purpose.</p> <p>3. <b>Teenagers are looking for “holiness”.</b> In their book Unchristian, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons offer major research on the perceptions towards Christianity of 16-29 year olds. Their study showed that the number one thing that people are looking for is “holiness”. People want to see strong moral convictions. The gospel message of love, joy, and hope really has the ability to bear witness to such holiness. Our lives need to demonstrate this.</p></blockquote> <p>As much as the schools are ready though, Christian teens aren’t leading the march. My conclusion to that is because they are more concerned with <i>survival</i> than <i>revival</i>. Teenagers, for the most part, are more focused on making it through their four years of high school socially unscathed than they are with seeing the love of Christ transform people’s lives. Many just hope to get by unnoticed, without drawing any attention to themselves. The problem with that is that Christ isn’t being fairly represented. Philosophy, science, secular humanism, and even other religions are all making their way into this virile marketplace and the students are buying. But the faith that Christians are offering is weak, lacking conviction, and seemingly unimportant even to those who have it.</p> <p>Is it any wonder then that we’re not reaching our schools for Christ?</p> <p>What I have presented to you so far is the situation and the problem with high school evangelism. If you’re anything like me, you’re wondering where to solution is right now. I’m going to pull a cheap hook and post them tomorrow. So, if you’re reading this and really wanting to know what comes next, check back tomorrow and I will have pooled all my thoughts and resources and put together what I think is the solution to this massive problem.</p> <p>Thanks for reading,</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=109';tweetcount_title='High School Evangelism (Part 1)';tweetcount_cnt=0;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=109&title=High School Evangelism (Part 1)&srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Feb </span><span class="day">18 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=101" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to A Provocative Faith">A Provocative Faith</a></h4> <p>Most Christians I know are terrified of the idea of offending people with their faith. For the most part they play it safe, stay within their comfort zones, and try to spread the gospel message of tolerant love without stepping on anyones toes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice sentiment. But this is not the gospel that Jesus preached.</p> <blockquote class="webkit-indent-blockquote"><p>“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Mat. 10:34)</p></blockquote> <p>That’s provocative language.</p> <p>I’ll tell you what else is provocative in this culture. A gospel of <span style="font-weight:bold;" class="Apple-style-span">joy</span>, <span style="font-weight:bold;" class="Apple-style-span">love</span>, and <span style="font-weight:bold;" class="Apple-style-span">hope</span>. You go and preach this, in Christ’s name, and I promise you’ll stir up some controversy, something we shouldn’t always be so afraid of. We are to preach Christ crucified; a message that doesn’t rest in fancy wording, strong argumentation, and certainly not comfortable tolerance.</p> <p>Easy faith, isn’t real faith. Let’s step out beyond what our culture deems acceptable and actually preach the gospel, that beautifully provocative message of love. <i>Christ died and rose again and wants to have a relationship with the people he created and loves.</i> It’s the meat of the message, let’s not substitute it for the easily digested salad of social niceties.</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=101';tweetcount_title='A Provocative Faith';tweetcount_cnt=0;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=101&title=A Provocative Faith&srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <div class="post"> <div class="post-date"><span class="month block">Feb </span><span class="day">10 </span></div> <h4><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?p=87" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to What Is It That Makes You Weep?">What Is It That Makes You Weep?</a></h4> <p>Tonight I’m giving a brief little message at Sunday Night Alive. I’m focusing on the question “What is it that makes you weep?” In Jeremiah 4 the prophet openly wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to his culture, his people, his generation. He says “My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh the walls of my heart. My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent.” (v. 19) That’s passion. My question is, what is it that makes your heart cry out. Not in a I’m-sort-of-slightly-sad kind of way, but what actually makes you cry out in desperation? The whole Sunday Night Alive thing is about bringing a younger generation from the Stouffville area together to worship God. The point is that we can be fired up and go out into our culture united, with the Spirit of the Lord flowing out of us. But if our heart is not weeping for our culture, what does it matter? Yes we can get together and be passionate, but are we equally passionate after we leave? Anyways, come tonight and you’ll hear me say it all again. 7PM</p> <script type="text/javascript">tweetcount_url='http://benbartosik.com/?p=87';tweetcount_title='What Is It That Makes You Weep?';tweetcount_cnt=0;tweetcount_src='RT @benbartosik blogged';tweetcount_via=false;</script><div style="float:left;margin-right:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.backtype.com/tweetcount.js"></script></div><a href="http://www.google.com/reader/link?url=http://benbartosik.com/?p=87&title=What Is It That Makes You Weep?&srcTitle=benbartosik DOT com&srcURL=http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik"target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://springvalestudents.org/benbartosik/wp-content/plugins/wp-google-buzz/icon/small_horiz.png" style="opacity:1;filter:alpha(opacity=100)" onmouseover="this.style.opacity=0.7;this.filters.alpha.opacity=70" onmouseout="this.style.opacity=1;this.filters.alpha.opacity=100"/> </a> </div> <h5 class="small teal"><a href="http://benbartosik.com/benbartosik//?tag=ministry-thoughts&paged=2" >Older Posts »</a></h5> </div> </div> <div id="right-col"> <div id="logo"> <h1>Ministry Commentary with a Hint of Professionalism</h1> </div> <ul id="right-content"> <li id="text-2" class="widget widget_text"> <div class="textwidget"><a href="http://twitter.com/benbartosik"> <img src=" http://springvalestudents.org/Benbartosik/tweet.png" alt="http://twitter.com/benbartosik"></img></a> <script src="http://widgets.twimg.com/j/2/widget.js"></script> <script> new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 1, interval: 6000, width: 250, height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#333333', color: '#ffffff' }, tweets: { background: '#000000', color: '#ffffff', links: '#4aed05' } }, features: { scrollbar: false, loop: false, live: false, hashtags: true, timestamp: true, avatars: false, behavior: 'all' } }).render().setUser('benbartosik').start(); </script></div> </li><li id="text-4" class="widget widget_text"> <div class="textwidget"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=Benbartosik-dot-com&loc=en_US"> <img src=" http://springvalestudents.org/Benbartosik/email.png" alt="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=Benbartosik-dot-com&loc=en_US"></img></a></div> </li><li id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud"><h5 class="widgettitle">Article Tags:</h5><div><a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=culture' class='tag-link-50' title='3 topics' style='font-size: 10.545454545455pt;'>Culture</a> <a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=design' class='tag-link-49' title='2 topics' style='font-size: 9.2727272727273pt;'>Design</a> <a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=ministry-thoughts' class='tag-link-47' title='12 topics' style='font-size: 22pt;'>Ministry Thoughts</a> <a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=random-thoughts' class='tag-link-52' title='3 topics' style='font-size: 10.545454545455pt;'>Random Thoughts</a> <a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=social-media' class='tag-link-45' title='1 topic' style='font-size: 8pt;'>Social Media</a> <a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=sr-high-updates' class='tag-link-54' title='1 topic' style='font-size: 8pt;'>Sr. High Updates</a> <a href='http://benbartosik.com/?tag=thursday-talks' class='tag-link-48' title='10 topics' style='font-size: 19.454545454545pt;'>Thursday Talks</a></div> </li> </ul> </ul> <br /><br /><br /> </div> </div></div> <div id="footer" class="clearfix"> <div> <ul class="footer-pages clearfix"> <li class="first"><a href="http://benbartosik.com" title="benbartosik DOT com Home">Home</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-183"><a href="http://benbartosik.com/?page_id=183" title="About the Author">About the Author</a></li> </ul> <br><p><big><strong>© Copyright benbartosik DOT com. 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