Leadership
Do you live in a Bible Minded City?
The following data comes from barna.org. It shows what they call “Bible-Minded Cities.” They define that as people that have read the Bible in the last seven days.
Question: Do you live in or near a Bible Minded City?
Honor Academy Post #7 for 2012–Passing the baton in the Honor Academy
As you may know, Dave Hasz transitioned out of the Honor Academy on August 11th after 17 years. Randy Olsson also transition out of the Honor after being in leadership over the last decade. Randy is moving into the Acquire the Fire department speaking on the Relentless Pursuit tour. Dave and Randy served the participants of the Honor Academy and have handed that baton of leadership to Jeff Pruett and I (Heath Stoner). Jeff and I will continue to empower Godly Men and Women to possess Passion, Wisdom, Vision, and Leadership so that the world will be impacted with the love of God. You will have the opportunity to meet Jeff Pruett on this blog over the next year as we will do several video segments. May God continue to bless Dave Hasz and Randy Olsson in their next endeavor and also give Jeff and I the wisdom to lead this new class of interns with gracious hearts.
Article worth reading about young guys: The Demise of Guys
This article was written back in May, but if you have not read it and have a young man or any man in your life, I would encourage you to read it and then send it to them. Knowledge is power and the more young guys can understand the addictive tendencies in video games and pornography the more they be free to be the men God wants them to be. Here is the article:
‘The Demise of Guys’: How video games and porn are ruining a generation
Is the overuse of video games and pervasiveness of online porn causing the demise of guys?
Increasingly, researchers say yes, as young men become hooked on arousal, sacrificing their schoolwork and relationships in the pursuit of getting a tech-based buzz.
Every compulsive gambler, alcoholic or drug addict will tell you that they want increasingly more of a game or drink or drug in order to get the same quality of buzz.
Video game and porn addictions are different. They are “arousal addictions,” where the attraction is in the novelty, the variety or the surprise factor of the content. Sameness is soon habituated; newness heightens excitement. In traditional drug arousal, conversely, addicts want more of the same cocaine or heroin or favorite food.
The consequences could be dramatic: The excessive use of video games and online porn in pursuit of the next thing is creating a generation of risk-averse guys who are unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school and employment.
Stories about this degeneration are rampant: In 2005, Seungseob Lee, a South Korean man, went into cardiac arrest after playing “StarCraft” for nearly 50 continuous hours. In 2009, MTV’s “True Life” highlighted the story of a man named Adam whose wife kicked him out of their home — they have four kids together — because he couldn’t stop watching porn.
Norwegian mass murder suspect Anders Behring Breivik reported during his trial that he prepared his mind and body for his marksman-focused shooting of 77 people by playing “World of Warcraft” for a year and then “Call of Duty” for 16 hours a day.
Research into this area goes back a half-century.
In 1954, researchers Peter Milner and James Olds discovered the pleasure center of the brain. In their experiments, an electrical current was sent to the limbic system of a rat’s brain whenever it moved to a certain area of its cage. The limbic sytem is a portion of the brain that controls things like emotion, behavior and memory. The researchers hypothesized that if the stimulation to the limbic system were unpleasant, the rats would stay away from that part of the cage.
Surprisingly, the rats returned to that portion of the cage again and again, despite the sensation.
In later experiments, when they were allowed to push a stimulation lever on their own accord, they self-stimulated hundreds of times per hour. Even when given the option to eat when hungry or to stimulate the pleasure center, the rats chose the stimulation until they were physically exhausted and on the brink of death.
This new kind of human addictive arousal traps users into an expanded present hedonistic time zone. Past and future are distant and remote as the present moment expands to dominate everything. That present scene is totally dynamic, with images changing constantly.
A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that “regular porn users are more likely to report depression and poor physical health than nonusers are. … The reason is that porn may start a cycle of isolation. … Porn may become a substitute for healthy face-to-face interactions, social or sexual.”
Similarly, video games also go wrong when the person playing them is desensitized to reality and real-life interactions with others.
Violence in video games is often synonymous with success. Children with more of a propensity for aggression are more attracted to violent video media, but violent media, in turn, can also make them more aggressive. This could be related to the fact that most video games reward players for violent acts, often permitting them to move to the next level in a game.
Yet research reported in the Annual Review of Public Health suggests a link between violent video games and real-life aggression: Given the opportunity, both adults and children were more aggressive after playing violent games. And people who identify themselves with violent perpetrators in video games are able to take aggressive action while playing that role, reinforcing aggressive behavior.
Young men — who play video games and use porn the most — are being digitally rewired in a totally new way that demands constant stimulation. And those delicate, developing brains are being catered to by video games and porn-on-demand, with a click of the mouse, in endless variety.
Such new brains are also totally out of sync in traditional school classes, which are analog, static and interactively passive. Academics are based on applying past lessons to future problems, on planning, on delaying gratifications, on work coming before play and on long-term goal-setting.
Guys are also totally out of sync in romantic relationships, which tend to build gradually and subtly, and require interaction, sharing, developing trust and suppression of lust at least until “the time is right.”
Less extreme cases of arousal addiction may go unnoticed or be diagnosed as an attention or mood disorder. But we are in a national, and perhaps global, Guy Disaster Mode that needs to be noticed and solutions advanced to fix a totally novel phenomenon, which will only increase in intensity and breadth without the concerted efforts of educators, gamemakers, parents, guys and gals.
It’s time to press play and get started reversing these trends.
Question: Have you seen this happening in the lives of guys? Is there anything you can do about it?
Say Goodbye to the ‘Armor Bearer’ Mentality
One of my favorite writer’s is J. Lee Grady. He writes a weekly commentary and I enjoy reading his refreshing thoughts. Here is one from last week where he challenges anyone that works with young people. Since the Honor Academy staff works with hundreds of young men and women, this is something that we as a staff need to follow in all of our lives to make sure we are loving the interns and serving them. Here is the article:
My friend Charles wanted a mentor. He was eager to learn the ropes of ministry, so he asked an older pastor for training. The pastor agreed—but Charles soon realized the man wanted a valet, not an apprentice. Charles became the man’s “armor bearer.”
The man never took Charles on hospital visits, involved him in ministry assignments or prayed with him. Instead, Charles was expected to carry the pastor’s briefcase, fetch coffee and take suits to the cleaners—with no salary offered. In this case, “armor bearer” was a spiritualized term for “slave.”
This bizarre trend became popular in churches 20 years ago, but it still thrives. It appeals to insecure leaders who need an entourage to make them feel important. Some pastors have even assigned trainees to serve as bodyguards—complete with dark glasses and concealed weapons. These young men are instructed to keep people away from the pastor so he doesn’t have to talk to anyone after a church service (because, after all, the poor preacher might be “drained of his anointing” if he fraternizes with common folks).
Excuse me while I barf!
I’m not sure what is more nauseating: That some pastors think they are discipling young leaders by exploiting them, or that church members tolerate such pompous behavior from a so-called man of God. And we wonder why many young people have stopped going to church?
When I turned 50, I decided to spend most of my energy investing in the next generation. This became my passionate priority because I met so many gifted men and women in their 20s and 30s who craved mentors. Many of them, like Charles, were looking for authentic role models but could only find self-absorbed narcissists who were building their own kingdoms.
If you want to make a genuine impact on the next generation, please make sure you are not infected with the armor bearer virus. Take these steps to adjust your attitude:
1. Get over yourself. As soon as Jesus began his earthly ministry the devil tried to strike a deal with Him. Satan offered the celebrity spotlight by showing Jesus the world’s glory and saying, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me” (Matt. 4:9). But Jesus didn’t buy it. He chose the path of servanthood even though He knew it would lead to the cross.
2. Stay accessible. Earlier this year I led a retreat for young Ugandans who are training for ministry. We prayed together, shared meals and swam at a local pool in the afternoons. When we finished three days of teaching sessions I asked them what they enjoyed the most about the retreat. One guy summarized everyone’s sentiment: “We loved that you were withus.”
Young people today don’t just want our sermons. They want to sit down for coffee after the sermon. They want to ask questions. They can listen to a hundred preachers on You Tube, but when you invite them to dinner, offer to pray with them or take them on a mission trip, you mark them forever.
3. Keep it real. Older Christian leaders have picked up some bad habits that turn off young people. Some ministers preach with affected voices, wear weird hairstyles and insist on dressing like funeral parlor directors—even on their days off. Please talk in a normal voice when you preach so young people won’t dismiss you as a fake. Be transparent, admit your faults and let everyone know you’ve had struggles. Young people don’t want to follow someone who pretends to be perfect.
4. Pour on the encouragement. Many young people today struggle to stay disciplined. Some have addictions. And many of them have attitudes! But you will never reach them if all you do is point out their faults. You have to win their hearts before you address problems. If you saturate them with the love of a caring father or mother, their spiritual growth will amaze you.
5. Don’t cling to power. Jesus was the Son of God, yet He willingly handed His authority over to His disciples and told them to finish the job. Likewise, Paul invested his life in Timothy, Titus, Silvanus, Phoebe and others—and he expected them to go farther than He did. Every good leader is already thinking of his succession plan. If you have a tendency to control, dominate or manipulate people, you must wrestle with God until your pride is crushed.
Young leaders today don’t want to be your butler or your valet. And they won’t follow people who strut and swagger. They are looking for mentors who walk with the limp of humility
Question: Which of the five points do you think you could work on more?
Honor Academy Alumnus Changing the World
One of the privileges working at the Honor Academy is hearing stories about what some of the alumni of the Honor Academy are doing. Pete Neal is an alumnus that is changing the world that God has called him into. He is going to change it by loving and serving the people he is going to interact with. Pete is one of those rare people that when you are in conversation with him you know that you are around someone that is concerned with you, wants to make sure you are ok and would do anything for you if needed. I am proud of the man Pete has become and the family he serves now. Watch the video below to see how you can pray and support this family:
Please go to their website below so you can find out more ways to support the mission God has placed in the Neal Family.
Question: Have you thought and prayed about becoming an international missionary?
Honor Academy Alumni Prospering in the Market Place
When people leave the Honor Academy where do they go and how does business leaders view them? Here is a video that shows how one business views them:
Question: Why do you think Honor Academy Alumni distinguish themselves in the marketplace?
Passing the baton in the Honor Academy
As you may know, Dave Hasz transitioned out of the Honor Academy on August 11th after 17 years. Randy Olsson also transition out of the Honor after being in leadership over the last decade. Randy is moving into the Acquire the Fire department speaking on the Relentless Pursuit tour. Dave and Randy served the participants of the Honor Academy and have handed that baton of leadership to Jeff Pruett and I (Heath Stoner). Jeff and I will continue to empower Godly Men and Women to possess Passion, Wisdom, Vision, and Leadership so that the world will be impacted with the love of God. You will have the opportunity to meet Jeff Pruett on this blog over the next year as we will do several video segments. May God continue to bless Dave Hasz and Randy Olsson in their next endeavor and also give Jeff and I the wisdom to lead this new class of interns with gracious hearts.
Question: Do you know where the picture was taken below? First person that submits the answer that lives outside of the Greater Garden Valley area will receive a free copy of Spiritual Leadership by J.Oswald Sanders.
Dave Hasz & Jon Hasz transitioning out of Teen Mania & The Honor Academy
For 25 years, Teen Mania Ministries has been reaching teenagers with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Still committed to this mission, we enter into our next chapter ready to meet this generation where they are in new and innovative ways. As we do so, we will be saying goodbye to two of our most-beloved leaders, David Hasz and Jon Hasz, who have served the ministry selflessly and with full dedication for decades.
David, who currently serves as Executive Vice President of Teen Mania and Executive Director of the Honor Academy, will be following God’s call on his life into a new direction, having spent 17 years working with the ministry reaching this generation with the gospel. He will continue on with Teen Mania through August 11, when the current class of Honor Academy interns will graduate. David joined the staff at Teen Mania in 1996; previously he traveled extensively with Ron and Katie Luce, sharing their vision for overseas missions and evangelism. David has served in numerous capacities within Teen Mania throughout his time with the ministry.
David said:
“What an amazing 17 years it has been to serve alongside all of you with Teen Mania Ministries. I am thankful for the great memories, incredible friendships, and most of all for the privilege of getting to play a small part in helping shape and influence the lives of this young generation—truly it’s been an honor. Though these have been such wonderful years, Beth and I now feel our time at Teen Mania has come to a close. We are praying about our next steps and are seeking God about where He would have us go. To all of you who have blessed us with trust, friendship, support and prayers, I say a heartfelt thank you. May God continue to bless you as we all seek to honor Him with our lives and move forward as He leads.”
Jon, who serves as Teen Mania’s Chief Financial Officer, will be departing the ministry on June 1. Jon has been a vital member of the Teen Mania staff for 12 years, and has a heart for reaching the lost for Christ. Jon came to Teen Mania in 2000 after working for eight years in Christian education and administration as a math teacher, athletic director and varsity basketball coach. He has served in a variety of roles within Teen Mania: the Honor Academy from 2000 to 2003, as Executive Director of Global Expeditions from 2003 to 2006, and as Executive Director of Acquire the Fire from 2006 to 2008, before becoming the ministry’s CFO.
Jon said:
“It has been a distinct honor for me to have rubbed shoulders with the many staff and interns at Teen Mania over the last 12 years. I look forward to what God calls me to in the next chapter of my service to Him and will continue to pray for the influence of Teen Mania to grow as they follow His direction.”
Ron Luce, Teen Mania’s founder and president, said the departure of David and Jon will be felt throughout the ministry and praised the impact the men have had on the lives Teen Mania reaches:
“Jon and David have literally seen millions of people impacted because of their sweat, their love, and their time they’ve poured into this ministry. The world is literally a different place because of their sacrifice over the years.”
Dan McLeod will be stepping into the role of CFO after June 1, and will be working alongside Jon over the next month to ensure a smooth transition. Dan has worked in Teen Mania’s Finance Department for a more than a year, and prior to that served as the CEO, CFO, and Finance Director for numerous corporations and non-profit entities of various sizes for more than three decades.
The Teen Mania family is sad to see the departure of Jon and David, and will be praying for them in eager anticipation of the next step for their lives. We wish them well and thank them for their years of service.
Teen Mania’s vision for bringing the life-transforming message of the gospel to teens and to the world will help pave the new direction for the ministry. We recognize that with all change comes new opportunity. A constant is our being fueled by Jesus Christ, and our love for this generation is strong and powerful. We are blessed and excited for all that the Lord will do in our next quarter century.
Do you have what it takes?
This is a question that most of the men in the Honor Academy often ask. They don’t always ask people these questions, but the following questions bounce around in their heads.
Do I have what it takes to be a success?
Do I have what it takes to love God with my whole life?
Do I have what it takes to live a significant life?
Do I have what it takes to love my future wife like Christ loved the Church?
Do I have what it takes to excel in my career?
Do I have what it takes to be a strong Father?
Do I have what it takes to make enough money to take care of my family?
Do I have what it takes to be a man that people respect?
Do I have what it takes to be leave a Godly legacy?
Do I have what it takes to find a job that is aligned with my talents?
Do I have what it takes that would make a man want to become a strong encouraging catalyst friend in my life?
Do I have what it takes to make a difference in this world?
Question: What would you say to the men in the Honor Academy that ask these type of questions in their heads?
