It was a pretty amazi
ng thing walking into the arena and never seeing around 8,000 youth workers singing worship to God all together. This convention is pretty nutty with so many people here, and I keep thinking of the impact all this will have on the youth leaders and as a result then impact the youth in their churches.
Some highlights:
- The conversations with youth leaders - always learning what God is doing across the country. Meeting new people and being refreshed by hearing so much passion for youth. This gives me hope for the future of the church.
- The musical worship times in the main sessions and the very Jesus focused theme of all that happened.
- My friend Ryan Ingram drove from Atlanta here and stayed in my room with me and it was great to catch up with him and hang out. He is a youth pastor at a church in Atlanta.
- Hanging out with old friends and meeting new ones.... Lilly, Denise, Marko, Doug, Tony, Chuck, Alex, Jay, Jen, Les, Chap, other bloggers I ran into etc. 
It is weird meeting people that you have been getting to know them through their blogs, but never met in person.
- Late night theology discussion with Doug and Lilly.
- Hearing Mark introduce Doug Pagitt on the main stage and telling everyone he has four nipples. Doug really does have four. I have seen them.
- The seminars I was part of were very fun. We did the Tony and Duffy "Postmodernism: Good or bad" one where I moderated and they discussed/debated the impact of postmodernism on youth ministry. The "Super Seminar" on Emerging Worship with Lilly was fun and lots of people formed clay to represent a Scripture passage. 
I think there were well over 600 people at this workshop, so it made it rather interesting trying to be interactive. Lilly and I are working on a book for Youth Specialties about Sacred Spaces and prayer stations. Lilly is a joy to know and creativity oozes from every inch of her.
- I was surprised in one seminar I did where I unexpectedly got very nervous when speaking. It was one which raised the criticism and questions people in their twenties are having about church and Christianity. I was talking about some rather sensitive issues about how we must be understanding not only the world youth live in today - but what they face when they leave home and go to college. I was talking about the strange Christian sub-culture we have created with all the Christian music, Christian T-shirts etc. and I suddenly realized that I was in the heart of Christian music and a zillion churches here in Nashville. I didn't know how people would respond as I spoke about how people outside the church see us in regards to our attitudes about homosexuality, how we are seen as being an organized religion, how we are known to bring politics into religion and how during the youth years we lay out examples in our attitudes and what we teach them. I was challenging people to see if they have created or exist in a Christian sub-culture and thus lose effectiveness on the mission Jesus sent us on. But, I had more positive feedback from people afterwards than normal throughout the time here, so it may be a topic needed to be talked about more. So I was encouraged after being somewhat nervous. Here is a blogger talking about his experience of that seminar.
I am leaving in an hour, but I always leave Youth Specialties conventions so refreshed and hopeful. These events are so well run, the hearts are so evident and I really think these conferences are being used by God in a major way in shaping the future church of America and encouraging youth leaders to keep pressing ahead.
Last time I was in Nashville I bought Katie and Claire these red and pink cowboy boots and they wear them all the time. So yesterday I walked down to the main strip here and bought them matching cowgirl western outfits.I look forward to seeing them and since I arrive early enough home, Becky is bringing them with her to the airport to get me later. So I now must pack and get a taxi to the airport and then back to Santa Cruz.
May God use all that happened here at this convention in the lives of the youth workers and youth of all who were part of this. I know God uses this convention in my life tremendously and I am grateful to have been able to be here.
