Youth Ministry: Don't drag dead possums
Here is the headline from a story in SMH yesterday: Youth leader escapes jail for dead possum prank (h/t Michelle). The youth group leader had a bunch of youth group boys with him when they decided to drag a dead possum behind the car that he was driving. They didn't hurt the possum... it was already dead... but the family of the possum were humiliated by the abnormal funeral service. Some observations:- I can see the humour in this story
- I can imagine youth group leaders I know doing this type of prank***
- I think the Magistrate overreacts
- People are watching Christians (including youth group leaders) wanting them to slip up
- Why does this article about an Australian written in an Australian newspaper use the American spelling for gaol??
- Youth group leaders need to make sure that they don't do stupid stuff ever... but particularly when they are with teenagers... it's not their name at stake but God's Holy Name.
- I used to have an imaginary friend named Possum. He was a Possum.
Have you ever been a youth group leader? What's the stupidest thing you have done in that role?
The picture is me as a girl... quite ugly... thanks for drawing it Kelly... it's now in the bin.
Thursday, August 31, 2006 8:36:00 am
On the contrary...
i) The Magistrate has rightly reconginsed that there is something abhorrent in this action.
ii) Such a man doesn't deserve to be a youth leader - I hope the church has disciplined him.
iii) I think I'm about ready to concede ont he "gaol" vs "jail" thing - much as I dislike American spellings, I think "jail" has now become the Aussie spelling. top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 9:01:00 am
I remember. top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:10:00 am
Hmmm...a prison sentence would have been excessive in my opinion. top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:18:00 am
We had a chilli eating competition on a Yr 5/6 camp about 10 years ago - we'd asked the local fruit&veg shop for some really mild ones, but as the kids started chomping in to them and then started to cry, we realised that we'd been given extra hot ones.....
Good times.... top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 1:30:00 pm
Hi Dave can't believe I'm doing this but ...
I remember very well!!
Jen S
(By the way it wasn't me either!) top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 5:52:00 pm
hey dan,
i remember tim's response when your uncle came to pick him up from a boating arvo we'd had for yr 7 boys... your bro thought you'd died... i could tell that he really liked his big brother!
hey jen...
is this your first ever blog comment??
i can't believe you're doing it either!
as for me... i don't think i've done anything super-stupid azs a youth leader... definitely haven't done the drag a possum or a dan on a sakteboard behind a car thing!!
i'm pretty conservative now... i'm the one who tells people to stop having fun!! top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 5:54:00 pm
hey john d:
1) i don't think this leader is any different from his peers.
and
2) that's why i agree that he ought not be a youth leader now?? (but maybe where there is repentence and an apology etc... and some time on the bench... maybe he can be restored...)
3) gaol is a bit odd... but until mac dictionary tells me otherwise... top
Thursday, August 31, 2006 5:54:00 pm
adam...
i love the fact it was with yr5/6s!!!
crazy leaders! top
Sunday, September 03, 2006 10:47:00 pm
ahhh, the things that seem fine at the time...
i) getting youth to eat goldfish
ii) playing soccer with a fireball (not to say how it was lit)
iii) fire walking
iv) there's a lot of deer at deer park isn't there, who's going to miss one of them?
some things just happen - isn't this what it is to be male?
ahhh, they we the times. Now it's all OH&S and risk mangement. top
Monday, September 04, 2006 8:50:00 am
Anonymous... i think i know who you are... top
Monday, September 04, 2006 10:09:00 am
I definitely know who anonymous is!! top
Tuesday, September 05, 2006 4:24:00 pm
Anon - number ii is "perfectly safe" if you take the proper precautions. top