Fri 6 Oct 2006
Experiential Boot Camp
Posted by tom cottar under theology
My first session here at the NYWC was one of their early-bird, Critical Concerns Courses. An 8-hour whopper entitled 'Experiential Boot Camp' led by John Losey, of praxistraining.com . John is an interesting guy: scuba diver, Outward Bound trainer, corporate training specialist, and an inviting teacher.
We spent some intense time talking about taking people where they would rather not go and creating an environment where they discover meaning. Not manipulating people within that environment, but providing an opportunity for growth, discovery, and, yes, even failure [which, in my opinion, may be one important part of discovery that we too often try to avoid...perhaps more on that as I start to internalize what I've learned/experienced here.]
We had some great discussions around the praxis of experience, of course. (not just where theory and practice intersect, but where reflection plays a part in completing that equation).
Our students, I've realized, probably have 'application constipation' (John's words). They go from sermon to sermon, from small group lesson to sunday school lesson, etc., with every lesson focusing on 'what I should do' that they end up doing nothing at all. Like some kind of application overload. Interesting thought. If so, then what? Back off the application of God's Word to their lives? I don't think that's the point at all, but I'm not sure quite yet what to do with it.
We'll see what today brings. I'll be checking out Tony Jones and Dan Kimball (both of which I'm familiar with already and excited about hearing from).
Oh, …and kicking it with David Crowder off and on all day. I have the greatest job on the planet.
2 Responses to “ Experiential Boot Camp ”
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October 6th, 2006 at 11:20 am
We keep telling our kids to do pray more, read their Bible more, yet they learn by what they see. Is mom & dad walking the walk in front of their kids or are they sending them to church , while they stay home and watch football or desparate house wives? Some parents have given the job of raising their children to be Christians to the church. I’ve noticed that our youth don’t see how Jesus relates to them. We have them for only a few hours a week, but what else is influencing them….
Side Note:
Addison, my 11 yr old, blew me away. He wrote a worship song that brought tears to my eyes. He has a notebook that he has written songs in.
I wish you lived closer so you could teach him the guitar.
October 6th, 2006 at 4:04 pm
yeah, i don’t get it. It reminds me of the words of Christ when He said ‘come follow me’. They walked with him, watched him. We’ve got this crazy notion here in the states that we have to be ‘trained’ before we can ‘do’ ministry. In other parts of the world, a new believer is expected to do the work of the ministry (experientially learning by doing instead of learning BEFORE doing) right from the start. We’re so stinking lazy.
Sidenote: WOW. That’s awesome! If there’s anyway you can, send it to me and I’ll see if I can make a basic chord progression for him to play. It might really jazz him up.