Anecdotes from the past week

Part 1

I have to teach about worship for the upcoming trip to Shangri-la and had been kinda edgy about my material for awhile. Few days ago, whilst reading up a book on worship to pump up my material, I heard a clear, loud voice that sounded undoubtedly like GOD.

"Stop reading. Worship is not a theory. Just go out there and enjoy My presence with My people."

I cheered silently and shut my book immediately (honestly, I was sick of trying to absorb material and going through the motions). "Yay," I thought, "I just need to focus on enjoying God's presence." A load was lifted off my shoulders... the load to teach, to present, to do. God wanted me to focus on my being.
 
How true. Worship is inspired, not taught. It is inspired by who God is, and 'taught' by spending time worshipping, not talking about it. We need to worship more than we teach.... whether it's in worship school, seminars, workshops.... worship can only be understood through a direct encounter with the God we worship.

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Part 2 

Well, since I didn't have to spend so much time preparing my teaching, I was now free to meet some youths I owed a conversation. *double yay! Starbucks Toffee Nut Latte! Pancakes!* (now, meeting people is also an excuse to satisfy my astronomical gastronomical cravings)

To me, spending quality time with youths is a non-compromise. I mean QUALITY time, not playing-and-laughing-time. The kind of time you offer them where they know they are supposed to ask questions and air their issues.

One girl started talking about her needs - Mentors. Mentors to guide her in her new life as a young person working and discovering a new world that she wants to excel in. An industry where attending a Sunday service is irrelevant because of timing. She told me she couldn't find anyone to talk through these, much less ask about her when she doesn't attend Sunday service. The solution offered to her disappointed her: 1. Form a group of people in the same situation/industry as you; 2. When you reach a higher position in your company 5 or so years later, you'll have enough influence to change things.

Sounds strange to me (disclaimer: these are purely my views and I am a flawed individual) but....
1. Solving a relational problem using a structure: forming a group doesn't mean they'll relate. The issue is how you get people to relate/multiply mentors who pursue relationships
2. OK, how about the present?

I found it strange too that in youth groups we spend most of our time and energy on running events that our leaders (who are sacrificing their time and rights for the good of the ministry) don't have any more energy left for quality time with our young people. And wondered why multiplying mentors and pastors isn't high on the agenda because that is what builds lives.