We used the chapter as a training paper at a recent SOULIES Team Meeting. Our leaders found it a really useful exercise. Here’s what we did:

1. Read the chapter
2. Discussed where our youth ministry is on the spectrum of word to world (0 = word only, 10 = world only)
3. Shared ways in which we are engaging well culturally
4. Using 3 cultural touch points (KONY 2012, The Hunger Games, Peer Pressure) we brainstormed ways in which the word helps us to understand each of them. This final step was really useful. You can see some of our ideas on the whiteboard, but it was more about the process rather than any conclusive answers.

Find out how to buy the book etc here

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lyrics + download

Check out their website. Here’s a blurb:

“Misfit Aid is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to design, implement and resource aid and development projects in communities around the world. Working primarily in the areas of disaster relief and community empowerment, we establish partnerships with socially conscious charities and organisations that assist communities affected by poverty, disaster or a humanitarian crisis.”

Here’s a blurb:

Fiz is a young flying fox who loves adventure! One day, flying fast through the treetops of the rainforest, Fiz finds himself far from home, scared and alone. But is he truly alone? Through this delightful story, we learn that while we sometimes wander far from God, our loving heavenly Father is always watching over us.

Enjoy the first 13 pages (and buy copies) on the product page.

Here are the 7 reasons:

1. It is spiritually suicidal.
2. It is a kind of embezzlement.
3. It’s a fool’s errand.
4. The system is built on the necessity of most people losing.
5. It preys on the poor.
6. There is a better alternative.
7. For the sake of quick money, government is undermining the virtue without which it cannot survive.

Read it in more detail here.

27 Million is part of the A21 Campaign. Find out more about it here.

I’m glad that he said he wouldn’t ditch the other half of his duo.

Check out more amazing live acts at LARGE NOISES.

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I’ve read a number of concerns that have been raised about the campaign.

Matt Anslow, who works for TEAR, has a comprehensive post with some of his concerns. I haven’t checked them, but the bottom of his post has links to a stack of other articles.

Graham Stanton – who alerted me to Matt’s article – has posted a few helpful reflections this evening. Check them on his tumblr page.

What do you think?

Iranian authorities have made their decision: Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will be executed for his Christian faith.

Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 and sentenced to death for apostasy. Despite widespread international media coverage and concern, it appears the execution will go ahead.

The White House released this statement concerning Pastor Youcef on Thursday 23 February:

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms reports that Iranian authorities reaffirmed a death sentence for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for the sole reason of his refusal to recant his Christian faith…The United States renews its calls for people of conscience and governments around the world to reach out to Iranian authorities and demand Pastor Nadarkhani’s immediate release.

The execution could be carried out at any time without prior notice.

Please pray for our brother in Christ who continues to stand boldly for the Lord.

Prayer Points

• Please pray that God will intervene in this case and bring justice.
• Ask the Lord to strengthen Youcef and his family.
• Thank the Lord for Youcef’s faithfulness to Christ.
• Pray that Youcef’s testimony will be an encouragement to other believers in Iran to speak the Word of God boldly and fearlessly.

My friend Jeremiah has a good blog post reflecting on how the song helps to demonstrate the nature of sin. Here’s a snippet:

We like to think of sin as minor, technical and inconsequential. In fact the whole notion of sin often as regarded as old fashioned and prudish. But Corby shows us that sin is just the opposite. It’s serious. It’s relational. It has real, painful consequences that we cannot escape. Consider the most painful moments of your life. Have they not involved others wronging you in some way? Or perhaps you were the perpetrator?

Read the rest of the article here.

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I dig all 4 tracks, but the stand outs for me are 1 & 2.

(1) Anchored Hope – I was told by one of the younger guys at church that this song had a post-hardcore feel. I’m not sure what that means, but I guess it’s good! This song is jam packed with goodness from the New Testament book of Hebrews. The song begins with “burn your white flags, look up ahead” (this refrain is then repeated at the end). The idea of burning your white flag is all about not surrendering, not giving up, continuing to persevere and trust in Jesus until the end. This song will definitely be put on the playlist at SOULIES. It’s also got a good beat for exercise and running!

(2) Hallowed – Cliff Richard did an okay job back in 1999 with his Millennium Prayer hit in getting the words of The Lord’s Payer stuck in your head. We Are The Outpost do a much better job! I would love it if youth ministries all over the place got the words of The Lord’s Prayer stuck in their head through Hallowed. It’s got a little bit of a The Temper Trap feel to it. Tidy work.

If you’re part of making music happen in your youth ministry/church – get into this gear! If you’re not, get into it anyway – it will be good for your soul.

BUY IT NOW ON ITUNES

Props to Matt Sparks for running a sweet youth ministry. And BIG props to Steve Vassallo for writing & producing this EP and for his ongoing work with the band.

See more Dear Jeffery Dallas vids.

See the original from Gotye below: