• Integration versus Assimilation

    Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

    Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

    1 Peter 2:10-12

    alien-jesus-sin-no-moreThis is one of those passages of Scripture so easily twisted that it is used to justify all sorts of weirdness done in the name of Jesus. (My favorite is using this as justification of a position against immigration reform.)

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  • I loved Open Paris

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    Statement of the obvious post title, right? I mean… Open Paris was kind of my baby. So of course I loved it.

    But I mean that from a bigger perspective, too. I mean that I literally loved Open Paris. In so many ways its exactly what is needed in youth ministry. Risky, collaborative, relational, vision-casting, and informative.

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  • College Football Thoughts – Week 8

    the-adam-report

    What an insanely fun weekend for college football. That is if you like upsets.

    Notre Dame

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  • Photos from Open Paris

    When we launched Open last year we knew that we wanted to be in world class cities. Cities significant culturally. But also cities deep in post-Christian realities.

    Seattle.

    Boston.

    And now Paris.

    Here’s a few images from our first day in Paris. We flew from 10:00 AM Wednesday until 11:00 AM Thursday. So of course we ditched our bags and headed out to spend the afternoon and evening exploring.

    Apparently when you stare at the center of the window you can see Jesus.
    This is how you know they never allow youth group meetings in the church.
    I can’t remember the name of this church. But their window cleaning bill must be legit.
    Really enjoyed the play of light. Nothing done to this pic, just the light coming through the stained glass.
    This has to be intimidating to the current pastor, having the old pastor presiding over things and all.
    Dude must have a lot to confess.
    Some famous architect dude did some cool stuff with light and angles and water.
    The Cartel is in town. Viva la revolucion! (Where revolutions are a thing)
    Really cool to be here during mass. Felt a little odd taking photos while people were getting their worship on.
    A temple created to celebrate the Fighting Irish

  • Which social media apps are middle schoolers using right now?

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    In the past week or so I’ve presented my social media workshop 16 times. That’s crazy. It’s one thing to have a talk memorized but it’s another thing for it to become your meditation. I love that content and I love the impact of the workshop. But I’m also a bit thankful to not have any booked for a few weeks and concentrating on other stuff.

    All of those presentations were primarily to middle schoolers or parents of middle schoolers. (And one for pastors who focus exclusively on middle schoolers.)

    And in each of them, at some point, I gauge what social media apps middle schoolers are using on their phones or tablets. (iPad or Kindle)

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  • Football Thoughts – Week 7

    the-adam-report

    I didn’t watch much football this weekend as I was busy at the Campference. But here’s my picks!

    San Diego State

    Props to the Aztecs for coming from behind to give Air Force the old government shutdown in the fourth quarter. It’s the bye week, rest up, get healthy, and beat Fresno State!

    Week 7 results – 14-3

    2013 total – 36-14

    Week 8 predictions

    USC @ Notre Dame – USC

    Miami @ UNC – Miami

    UCF @ Louisville – Louisville

    South Carolina @ Tennessee – Vols

    UGa @ Vandy – Dawgs

    Texas Tech @ WVU – TTU

    TCU @ OK State – Cowboys

    Minnesota @ Northwestern – Northwestern

    Purdue @ MSU – Boilers

    Florida @ Mizzou – Florida

    Colorado State @ Wyoming – Rams

    Northern Illinois @ WMU – NIU

    Iowa @ Ohio State – Buckeyes

    Auburn @ A & M – Aggies

    UCLA @ Stanford – Stanford

    Oklahoma @ Kansas – Sooners

    Indiana @ Michigan – Blue

    Washington @ ASU – ASU

    Arkansas @ Alabama – Bama

    LSU @ Ole Miss – LSU

    Iowa State @ Baylor – Bears

  • Jesus in the Spaghetti

    SpaghettiYesterday, while completely unique, was absolutely typical.

    The lion’s share of my day was spent hanging out with students, parents, and the staff at Battle Ground Academy from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM. And by hanging out I suppose I mean that I talked all day with 5 classes of 7th graders, a 5-minute talk during the high school chapel, and capped it off by spending 2 hours leading a parenting workshop.

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  • College Footbal Thoughts – Week 6

    the-adam-report

    San Diego State

    Friday night on ESPN… this was the second national TV game for the Aztecs, and an opportunity for the country to see us play against more realistic opponent in Nevada.

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  • Validation, Vindication, and Whatever

    Validation

    I wish validation were as simple a thing as getting your parking validated at the restaurant after dinner.

    Validation is like helium. It’s a blast when you inhale it. And it’s present in the atmosphere all the time. But capturing it? Nearly impossible.

    There’s something gnarly in us that seeks validation. A desire to see yourself as legit comes from a dark, insecure place. Seeking validation is lonely. It’s unnatural and unhealthy.

    And although it’s an unhealthy place of loneliness it’s the corner pub, full of lonely and unhealthy people on a Friday night ignoring reality while seeking a fix.

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  • Where in the world is Adam?

    Screen Shot 2013-10-02 at 9.04.44 AMSaturday begins an 8 week sprint to Thanksgiving. Between now and then I’ll be away from home roughly 50% of the time, generally gone Thursday-Sunday.

    It’s a time of year my partner in crime is affectionately calling the insanity.

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