Ask Dr. Youth

Group, Nov/Dec 2002

Dear Dr. Youth,

I need a Christmas skit with high impact, not the same old thing. Preacher's Wife

Dear Preacher's Wife,

Write your own! Ninety-nine percent of the skits you buy have humor so bland that nobody laughs, and these skits always end with five-- minute "sermons" (except, of course, for Group's stuff*). Find the funniest person in your church (usually the preacher's wife-she has to have a sense of humor), and recruit this person to write something about making Christmas card lists, finding a parking spot, or celebrating the birth of our Savior by buying someone a video game called Death and Dismemberment. Don't try to make a point, just try to make people think.

God Has a Sense of Humor

Dr. Youth

* See "The Reason" on page 76 in this issue for a Christmas skit adapted from Ultimate Skits by Bryan Belknap (Group Publishing, Inc.).

Dear Dr. Youth,

I have a father in my church who refuses to let his daughter date interracially. Her mom has asked me what to do. I've always been accepting of interracial dating and marriage, but what do you tell a redneck dad?

Dating in Texas

Dear D.I T.,

Everybody has prejudices. I personally can't stand: Fast-food employees who don't get your order right even though the pictures are right there on the cash register The people who took the guns and explosions out of Bugs Bunny cartoons. Weathermen/women who look good on camera, but who have no sense of geography The people who decided to take the taste out of food and then call it life. People who can't spell the word "light. "People who get to sleep in and then complain about being tired.

If you get a chance to talk to the dad, ask him if the young man respects his daughter. ff the answer is yes, ask the dad what more he wants. The tighter he holds the reins, the more likely he'll find himself alone when she finally gets the chance to run. The more time he spends with the young man, the more opportunity this dad will have to see his own prejudices.

God Has a Sense of Humor,

Dr. Youth

PS You might want to watch how you throw around the word "redneck." Somebody might think you're a bigot.

Dear Dr. Youth,

I'm praying about whether or not to produce a haunted house alternative as an outreach to the community. I envision it as a "hold a mirror up to society" event designed to give people the scare they paid for, while reaching those who would never darken the door of a church... Halloween is offensive to some, the gospel is offensive to others. What if we purposefully put them together and trust God for the results? More good than harm?

Brad Hughes

Dear Brad,

I once worked at a church where I was told that / couldn't hold a Halloween party unless all the kids came dressed as their favorite Bible characters. One of my more "adventurous"guys showed up as 'the crazy, naked man who ran among the tombs." The John the Baptist Pumpkin Carving Contest" didn't go over very well either.

People who hold up a mirror to society are usually happy to do so because it's only a one-way mirror Teenagers know this. We're better off showing kids the way to God as one hungry man shows another where the food is.

Halloween is more than just getting the cookies scared out of you. Teenagers aren't looking for "hell house"scares and "boogeyman's gonna get you" shows. Kids get into bad behavior in the first place because they're looking for connection. Give them something positive to connect to. Look up the worship service "Reinventing Halloween" in group Magazine (September/ October 2000), or check out The Book of Uncommon Prayer (Youth Specialties). Have your group lead a service for the community. Invite the Spirit. Connect with the spiritual. Don't scare people into the arms of God. Show them that his arms are open, and help them listen for his invitation.

Or if you really want to scare them, show them a re-creation of a church board meeting. Aaahhh!

God Has a Sense of Humor

Dr.Youth

"Ask Dr. Youth" is a humor and advice column for those on the front lines of youth ministry. Remember, Dr. Youth is a professional sarcasamist-some advice is sound, the rest is for cheap laughs. Email your problem to DrYouth @group mag.com.