Michael Rhodes’ blog

Twitterless High Schoolers

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:19:35 -0700

I was introduced to Twitter months ago, and I thought it was pointless for me considering the fact that I've only had 2 status updates on Facebook ever. However, I've never been known to be the most trendy individual. In fact, I played golf yesterday in a shirt I got my freshman year of college (over 8 years ago). Considering my lack of "coolness," I figured I'd talk to some of my high school students and leaders about this new phenomenon known as "Twitter." Nearly all of them responded by saying, "What? What is that?" At that point, I realized that my youth culture sensitivity wasn't so bad after all. Actually, I realized that my youth culture sensitivity to high school students in Baton Rouge wasn't so bad. Teachable Moment Alert: Understand the people you personally work with on a daily basis. Click here to read what God says about this principle. If something is popular in New York, it doesn't mean that your people are into it. It may be something they get into in the future, so become familiar with it, but don't jump on a trend just to be trendy. I'm not saying we should be stuck in our ways and refuse to take hold of new ideas. I'm simply encouraging you to know the people God has entrusted into your care. Love those people the way God is asking you to love them...not the way the current culture says you are supposed to be loving them.

To conclude, this blog was inspired by this article. I guess my initial reaction to Twitter was okay. It hasn't really taken off in the culture God has called me to reach right now. "God, give me the ears to listen to my flock, eyes to see them and a heart to love them in their own unique ways."

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Gustav Update #4

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:09:21 -0700

I'm currently typing this blog from my living room with my laptop plugged in, the ceiling fan on, the a/c working, and the wireless internet working. I'm doing all of that while watching the Florida vs. Miami game. Yes, I HAVE POWER! My power was restored at approximately 4:45 PM today. It was a little over six days without power. Please be in prayer for all the people in Baton Rouge who have yet to get power. Many people are not expected to have power for another 2-3 weeks. Also, please pray that Hurricane Ike steers clear of this area. I really don't want to go through all of this stuff again.

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Quick Gustav Update #3

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:30:32 -0700

I still don't have power, but I talked to the power company today in the neighborhood, and they said we should have power by 12:00 PM tomorrow. I'm so grateful for friends in LSU dorms that let me use their internet. Thankfully, the temperature tonight is really nice, so I shouldn't stick to myself while sleeping. Only other new news is that our church's second location is going to be closed Sunday due to damage from the storm. We will still have two services at the campus location like normal except for the fact that there is no power. Pray that our ministries would remain unified during tough circumstances. Finally, the video that I promised you yesterday is too big to upload to my blog (sorry).

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Long-Awaited Gustav Update #2

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:11:39 -0700

This is the first time I've been on the internet since Gustav knocked out my power on Monday (9/1) at exactly 12:00 PM. I would love to say that I'm using my own internet, but I'm actually using my friend's internet at a dorm on LSU's campus. Good news though...my roommate just called me and said a power company truck was outside our house right now. If you haven't watched the news lately, Gustav wreaked havoc in Louisiana. I can't speak for the entire state, but Baton Rouge was hammered. I've spent the last couple of days riding around neighborhoods, moving trees, tarping roofs and sleeping on various couches, and I'm amazed by the devastation each day. However, I've been extremely blessed over the past few days. My house had very minor damage compared to most people. I lost several shingles off my roof, but I had several friends help me tarp the spots today (Thanks David, Kyle, Ben and Jonathan). Another blessing was the fact that someone gave me a FEMA tarp that was HUGE! I didn't have to wait in line at Home Depot for 6 hours (yes, 6 hours) to get one. Due to the massive tarp, I was able to tarp my neighbor's (who I've been trying to serve in order to share the Gospel with one day), roof too. Please pray for Jose and his family. The guys also helped me clean up my yard which had several downed limbs which took down my telephone line. After tarping both of our roofs, we covered my other neighbor's back window on her car which was shattered by a fallen limb. Her name is Lisha, and she's not a believer either. Please pray for her and her family too. Thankfully, we still had a ton of tarp left to take to a team from our church which has been going around to various neighborhoods, cutting trees and patching holes in roofs. Now that my house is cleaned up for the most part, I'm going to be able to focus fully on other people. Tomorrow, myself and a team of guy youth leaders are heading to Erica's grandparents to clean up their yard, since her grandpa can't walk very well. Take care of the people who can't take care of themselves! It's biblical! Read this passage. It's meant so much to me over the past few months. Okay, that's it for now. I'll try to update you more over the next few days. Until then, tell everyone you know that I'm fine and check out the pictures below of my house as well as a video I took from my camera during the storm.

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Gustav Update #1

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 08:16:50 -0700

Gustav has made landfall, and Baton Rouge is beginning to feel its effects. I woke up at 9:00 AM to some gusty winds, small limbs and leaves on the lawn, and a lot of rain. The massive amounts of rain that will continue are the major scare for me. I'm thankfully not in a flood zone, but Baton Rouge seems to flood a lot without a hurricane. I'll try and keep you updated throughout the day.

On a lighter note:

I think "squall" is a funny word. Our forecast for the day is calling for "squalls" and potential 58mph winds. I know it's childish, but I do think it's funny.
Finally, my favorite part of hurricane season is the news reporters who stand out in the storm and report. I just heard this quote from a lady from Fox News: "It feels like a shower of needles hitting me in the face."

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Gustav!

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:28:47 -0700

I'm sure you're thinking, "Wow! Michael is alive and still realizes he has a blog?" Yes and yes. I actually have some time to write tonight for the first time in a long time. I thought I'd have time because of Labor Day, but plans have changed down here in Louisiana. I have time to write because my Labor Day vacation is about to be extended and turn into chaos due to the impending landfall of Mr. Gustav.

Gustav

For those of you in South Carolina reading this, I'm fine. Baton Rouge is a long way from the coast, but we will still probably experience hurricane force winds tomorrow and a ton of rain. Please pray for the people of Louisiana right now. Furthermore, please pray for the churches in Louisiana. During Katrina, I saw the church step up and be what God has called us to be. We responded quicker and more efficiently than the government, and it was awesome to see how God was glorified. This time around the government is definitely more prepared but so is the church. Right now, The Chapel is housing over 150 nursing home patients, staff and families at our church that have evacuated from their homes. Please pray for me over the next few days as I seek to follow the Holy Spirit's lead in what to do with my time. I'm concerned for my home, and I'd love to stay here. I need to lead high school students and leaders through this difficult time. And I want to serve those in need. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom, strength and protection over the next few days (or months if Katrina was any precursor). I'll try to keep everyone updated as long as I have power, but I may not have that when I wake up in the morning for all I know. Thanks for your prayers! After you pray, take a listen to this song...

05 Never Let Go

David Crowder Band

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Since My Last Post...

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:48:25 -0700

Blogging has still not made it to the top of my priority list. I know it's been nearly a month since I last posted something, but there have just been more important things in my life that have taken priority. Here's some of those happenings:

"Gr8ness," our summer youth group, has been phenomenal over the past few weeks! The Spirit is moving like crazy! I really feel like God is about to do something huge!
My parents came in town for a few days! I love my parents so much! I can only hope that I can love and serve my children one day like my parents love and serve me.
I had the opportunity to preach both main services last Sunday morning at our church's second location, the Oaks. It was the first time I've been asked to preach in the main services since being at the Chapel, so I was a little nervous. But God showed up and was glorified! Thanks God! If you want to listen to the sermon, go here and find my name.
I'm getting ready to leave for Big Stuf Camp with our youth at 7:30 am tomorrow morning. I've been to plenty of camps but never to Big Stuf. I can't wait to see what God has in store! Erin, one of our interns (who practically runs the ministry), has done an outstanding job planning the trip. If you're in ministry, find someone who has been gifted administratively and let them plan logistics. There is nobody better than Erin though! I've really not done anything for this trip other than pray. Seriously, I've done nothing! I'm just showing up, and I'm not worried at all about anything because that's how good Erin is!
Finally, over the entire summer, the pastors have been talking to us as a youth ministry about some major changes. We just began announcing this past Monday that starting this fall, I will move into the role as High School Youth Pastor at The Chapel. I will be shifting from Youth Outreach Director to this new position. I'm excited about the possibilities of this new position but a little scared too. One pastor put it this way: I'll now have authority, autonomy and responsibility. I have the authority to make decisions. I have the autonomy to move in the direction that God leads. However, with the authority and autonomy comes being responsible for the decisions that I make. Please pray for the youth ministry as we transition to this new structure. Pray that we will find the right people to fill the staffing holes that we need, and pray that God would be glorified in this new endeavor.

I'll try to update more often after I get back from Big Stuf. Until then, love God, love people and make disciples!

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Vick, Pacman and T.O.

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:13:04 -0700

What do Michael Vick, Pacman Jones and Terrell Owens have in common? They are the role models of a 12 year old I met today. I was serving at a children's day camp with several of our students today for M*A*S*H week. At the end of the day, I had some time to just chat with one of the eighth graders I had the opportunity to tudor earlier. I asked him what he did for fun, and he said that he liked to play football. I followed that question with, "So who is your favorite football player?" His response was, "Michael Vick." He then followed that with, "And my favorite team is the Cowboys." It was hard for me to keep asking questions, because I was quite shocked. I didn't have time to follow-up on those answers, because the children left to go to lunch, and our group left for the day.

Michael Vick

I'll give the kid a pass on the Cowboys answer, because he may like other players on the team besides Pacman and T.O., but it's hard for me to overlook the fact that a 12 year old's favorite football player is a convicted felon. I love football, and I know Vick is an incredible athlete. But something is sincerely wrong when Vick hasn't played football in over a year, may never play again yet he is still the role model of a child! How much did this little guy even see Vick play at age 10 and under?

As a lover of sports, kids and God, this moment was a sad time in my life. Our culture and media push sin into the limelight to the point that children begin to see it as okay. I hope today's experience motivates me even further to love people and show them a role model that exudes the character of Christ. Do you realize how much our world needs Christ? Be sure to put a real life example of a Godly role model in front of the people you minister to on a daily basis. You may be the one flicker of light in a culture of darkness, and your light may be the one that brightens their path to Jesus. In fact, Jesus said it best when He made this statement.

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MAS*H

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:59:41 -0700

Today, our students began our yearly M*A*S*H week. M*A*S*H means "Mastering a Servant's Heart." Each year, we set aside one week during the summer to focus on serving the community of Baton Rouge. We cancel all of our weekly programs including Gr8ness (summer youth group) and community groups. Our students spend several hours each day serving at local food banks, homeless shelters, day camps for underprivileged children, or doing random acts of kindness all over the city. It's one of my favorite weeks of the summer, because I get to see our students worshipping God through acts of humble service. I was talking to several of our high school guys today after they served food at a local homeless shelter, and their comments amazed me. These were some of the things I heard:

"We had a lot of fun."
"While I was serving, I couldn't believe all the physical and mental handicaps these people had."
"While I was serving food, I couldn't help but wonder where these people were staying or going after they got their meals."
"They don't have a home to go to once they get their meal."
"They don't have a place to sleep."

M*A*S*H

I know some of these thoughts may seem immature, but for a group of 9th and 10th graders, their eyes are beginning to be opened to those people that Jesus valued so much. I was able to share some verses of scripture that God had really shown me over the past few months through various circumstances that I hoped encouraged them to continue to serve and love people the way Jesus did. Go read Matthew 25:32-46. Remember that the next time you turn your head away from a homeless person, shun the guy at work that's really awkward or make fun of the kid who looks different from you that you are turning your head away, shunning and making fun of Jesus, your Creator, Savior and Lord. "Whatever you do to the least of these brothers of mine, you do to me" (Jesus).

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"Pregnancy Pact" Makes Me Sick

nobody@vox.com(Michael Rhodes) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:15:35 -0700

By now, I'm sure most of you have heard the story from Massachusetts where a group of high school girls supposedly formed a "Pregnancy Pact" among themselves with a hope to all get pregnant and raise their children together. If you haven't heard about it, wake up and pay attention to what is happening in the world! Until you wake from your culture slumber, you can read about it here.

Honestly, I haven't had time to process this whole story, but it has definitely captured my attention. I love teenagers, so when I hear something like this, it really hits me hard. It makes me realize how important my job is. It makes me see how critical youth ministry is. And it makes me realize how important the Gospel is! But honestly, my first reaction to this story was not prayer. My first reaction was one of physical sickness. I didn't throw up, but hearing a story like this makes me uneasy.

I have a feeling that my reaction was much like Paul's in this passage in Acts. In verse 16, it says Paul "was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols." In the Greek, the word for "distressed" can mean upset to the point of physical sickness. It made Paul sick to see a city searching for life in everything except Jesus. It makes me sick to see a group of high school girls searching for life, community and love in motherhood and friends rather than Jesus.

What do you do when it comes to a culture that makes you sick? Do you run from it? Do you get angry and judge those people who are making you sick? Or does a sickening culture drive you to bring the Gospel to it? I'll be continuing to walk through this passage of scripture over my next few posts. Feel free to make comments.

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