Church in a strange but familiar place…

I hate to admit that coming home, and going to church with our old church family was strange, but it was. We were received well, and it was nice being there, but it’s just strange being where we used to be. I feel that in the time we’ve been gone, Jen and I have changed. Changed in ways that makes being in the old setting different, but not a bad different. It’s just there, here things were familiar, faith was more a matter of the head. It’s not the spiritual growth hadn’t occured or that we hadn’t witnessed God do some wonderful things. But being away, and having to rely on Christ away from the comfortability of family and freinds have added a dimension to our faith that I am not so sure would have been developed had we stayed in Ohio. Even now, it’s not that I have things all figured out in our new home or ministry setting, but faith has taken on more of an important active necessary role in our lives. Visiting family and friends are wonderful, but learning to trust Christ fully is something that I think occurs when you are stripped of comfortability and the familiar.

It was nice seeing everyone today, and I look forward to coming home again, but I know the old friendships will always be there, but I am thankful for my departure, and the lessons I have learned as result of those tough decisions and tough lonely nights where prayer was more than just a recital of neat phrases, but an active and necessary part of life.

Vacationing and Loving It…

I have gotten to spend several great days visiting with family. Hugs, turkey, and pumpkin pie, does it get much better than that? We are having a nice relaxing time away from ministry, and church. Sometimes, it is just good to get away. I like this time of year, it seems that we get to do quite a bit of our traveling towards the end of the year. Ohio in November, Colorado Springs in January, and Arlington in January as well. Youth Ministry has been very good to us.

Being home this week has provided me an opportunity to reflect on some things. 1) There is no place like home. It’s been great being back around family and friends. We miss them tons. 2) Moving on was the right thing to do, even if it was extremly painful at one time. 3) God is faithful. Learning to lean on Him daily was the most important lesson I’ve learned in my few years on this spinning orb. 4) There may be no place like home, but I am not real sure if things would ever be the same if we were back. When we were here last summer on our mission trip, being in our old congregation was nice, but different. We knew we didn’t fit there any more. I know that they may sound strange to some, but being in our shoes, I think the feeling would be similiar for you too. 5) Coffee shops in the mall have been one of the best innovations in male functionability for the shopping experience. 6) Jen, Rachel and I are really are own family. I am beginning to notice that while we share our family identity, we are uniquely our own family unit. 7) I am noticing more and more how important my role as a father is. Rachel has begun to desire my attention and time more and more. Even if her interest in sitting in my lap is brief, that she comes to me and points to my leg and says “up” is something. My wife has to put up with a lot, marrying me and all. I definetly married up. 9) Vacations are no place for trying to catch up on homework. 10) Vacations are to short. We leave Tuesday, and then it’s off to the races to finish the semester strong and add the finishing touches to Winterfest Southwest plans.

Well, I hope your tryptophan coma has subsided, and you have enjoyed your Thanksgiving as much as my wife, daughter and I have enjoyed ours.

A Lot To Be Thankful For…

Scripture of the day: Monday, November 22, 2004

A word from the Word: Read 1 Timothy 1:12-17
“13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 1:13-14).

Food For Thought:
I love this section of Scripture. Paul, writing and sharing his heart. I wonder if tears welled up in his eyes as he considered his former way of life. He calls himself, a blasphemer, persecutor, and a violent man. Those are harsh words. Thankfully, Paul doesn’t fold up the parchment right there. No, there is more, after, he shares his past, he writes about four marvelous themes in Scripture, mercy, grace, faith and love. I have heard mercy described as not getting what you do deserve, and grace as getting what you you do not deserve. Faith, is a belief in action, and love. If you need a reminder of the love of Christ, look to the cross. Mercy, grace, faith, and love truly made a difference in Paul’s life. Paul’s Damascus road encounter with the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ changed his life. This encounter with Christ will continue to shape, and influence this Apostle throughout the rest of his life, and in his writing. I am thankful that Paul lets us in his world, if only for a moment. His old ways, his sins were removed. Paul was shown mercy and given grace. A little further down in the reading for today, he writes, “15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen”( 1 Tim 1:15-17). I am glad Paul reflects here on who he used to be, for it reminds me of the story I too can share with others, about wasted years, and hoplessness all turned upside down by the breaking in of the kingdom of God. Because of Jesus Christ, we have a lot to be thankful for. Because of Jesus Christ, we too were shown mercy. Because of Jesus Christ we were given grace. Because of Jesus Christ we can have hope and faith, and because of Jesus Christ we can know the love of the Father. Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Re-cap of Sunday Night

I had a Winterfest meeting last night after church. I have about 30 kids signed up to go, and the ones that went last year are stoked for January.

Last night at our devotional we talked about being an imitator of Christ, and what that means. We also talked about how sometimes we let garbage into our lives, and how to keep the garbage out.

The kids that were present for the devotional gave some really great insight into thier lives, and the best answer to whole evening went something like this, when asked about spirituality, one young man said, “I think spirituality is best visible in the quiet one, who doesn’t need to hoot and holler for Jesus, but if you can’t tell someone is a Christian by the way they are living, then loud spirituality isn’t much.” From the mouth of babes.

Happy Thanksgiving and spend sometime with the Father this week giving thanks for all His blessings.

Thinking Through Calling/Vocation, etc.

Lately, I’ve been real contemplative. My wife and I have been praying, making some choices that will effect our futures, and feel confident with what we’ve decided. When you ask God to make clear a path, or any direction that you’re facing. Be prepared for Him to answer. Sometimes, He let’s us choose, and I believe, blesses either choice. Sometimes, it likes plain as day.

I had a great conversation the other day with a youth ministry colleague about knowing when it’s time to leave youth ministry. As we talked, his words were, “could you see yourself not working with kids? If the thought of not working kids disturbs you, you’re not ready to get out of youth ministry.” Great advice from the trenches.

Previously, on the youth ministry forum blog, the issue was raised whether youth ministry is a calling or a choice, or both. I believe the consensus was the it is both. God definitely establishes the call, but we must choose to answer. So, here we are, those of us in this upside down, kingdom adventure we call youth ministry. At the end of the day, I don’t think there is any work out there, that compares to blessings, tears, joy, frustration, excitement, suspense, intrigue, world of youth ministry.

This next week, Jennifer and the baby and I will be heading home for Thanksgiving. We are getting anxious. We are looking forward to catching up with friends, and family, and just being lazy for a few days. Keep us in your prayers next week.

Ouch…

In my Bible class, one of our assignments has been to read, and evaluate several of our class mates research paper. There is nothing quite like learning your paper was lacking some serious academic muscle.

Hopefully, I will get the hang of this graduate school writing stuff, and Turabian style won’t be an entrance requirement for Heaven!

Unpacking the Gospel…

If the Gospel is such good news, why do we mope around our auditoriums and church hallways on Sunday and Wednesdays? Where is the excitement that accompanies the missional nature of the Gospel? Have we too quickly placed our enthusiasm for Jesus, and even talking about Him to others in the same place we’ve placed our Bibles and song books? On the shelf. Like song books and our Bibles we’ve allowed the Gospel to become nice decorations that give the church a sense of sacred. Kind of a McDonalds approach to the nebulous, messy arena of Christianity. “I’ll take three church hymns, and little bit of Jesus, easy on the convicting of sin, and could you add, some cheese with the whole bread of life thing.” Does that sound absurd? Sure it does, but is it any less absurd than the pseudo-gospel we’ve allowed to permeate our theologies, and how we live, and relate with one another and the world at large?

Maybe it’s time we unpack the gospel, see the contents with all it’s good-news, and begin to live as though we were re-enacting the story of the Jesus in our lives.

Maybe it’s time we see the cross anew, and are struck with a sense of awe, unity, and power in weakness. Paul wrote to a church in conflict, that the message of the cross was foolishness to those who were perishing. We have sure acted like we could live without Jesus and his cross.

Maybe it’s time we once again admit that we “need”, or maybe should I say “crave” Jesus Christ. Our hungering and thirsting has constantly reminded of us of our desperate situation before and without God. We’ve tried to fill our lives with a little bit of what the Gospel offers, but that hunger pain, and those parched lips of yours are a constant reminder of something more that we are routinely missing when we let routine and tradition cloud our longing for Christ.

Something a little less lengthy

Okay, I admit, sharing the research paper was a little much. So today, I thought I would post something a little less in size.

Have you seen the movie, Ella Enchanted. It’s a cute film, my one year old is enthralled by the thing. I kid you not, she watches it several times a day, and if she is crying and really upset, and we ask her, “Rachel, do you want to watch Ella?” She squeals, and laughs, and runs to the living room, and sits down, and claps her hands. She loves this movie.

Wouldn’t it be great if the way our children were captivated by fairy tales, and singing and dancing was the way we were entralled by our Savior. As His children, when asked if we want a hearing with the King, we should get giddy, and squeal, and be willing to clap, and just give ourselves to Him. But, the reality for so many is quite the opposite. Somewhere in our over extended lives, we have allowed time with God, whether our own quite times, or corporate worship experiences to become just another thing we do. Where is our sense of wonder, our sense of expectancy? I admit my guilt here too, we rush through Sundays as if it were just another day. I challenge us this week, to slow down, and focus on the rule of God in our lives. Daddies love to here from thier children, when is the last time you called out to our “Abba?”

Taking a break from my paper

I have a major paper due tomorrow. I am happy to announce that I have started on it. I was a little leary how things were going to turn out, but it seems so far, that things are progressing quite nicely.

I have had to be rather distant this week from my family. I haven’t seen, held, or kissed my wife much this week. As a matter of fact, with Rahcel being under the weather, she has slight viral bronchitis, Jen and I have had some later than anticipated nights. Jen has been with the baby, and I have been with my reading. I miss them. Tonight should conclude a long post-poned assignment, and should also be the beginning of time well spent with family.

Do you have lonely moments, when life, or work takes an unexepected turn and you frantically try to stay afloat, only to sink or dare I say, drown in the torrential rain, and overpowering waves? I don’t know about you, but sometimes, it seems like I have put so many hours in doing ministry things, that I have neglected Jesus and my family. I understand more clearly those times in Jesus’ life where He would withdrawl from the crowds to be with God alone. Balance is important for our lives, but in a frantic quest to become balanced we can shift the pendulum so far the other way that in our attempts to balance life we are tipping the scales and remain unbalance.

Do yourself a favor, disengage from the world daily. Reflect on your spiritual well-being, ask, seek, and knock, hunger and thirst for righteousness.

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere, I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked”
(Psalm 84:10).

The Brain and Video Games

Carson Reed had an interesting post about violent video games and the brain. If you are in youth ministry or have teenagers that play video games, especially the violent ones, you have to check this out.

“More from the Economist:Video Game Violence
In the study mentioned in yesterday’s blog more interesting things emerge. Functional brain-imaging challenges another aspect of American culture. I think that I will simply quote the article without comment:

“Dr. Mathiak enlisted 13 gamers who played video games for, on average, 20 hours a week. While the gamers stalked and shot the enemy from the relative discomfort of a scanner’s interior, the reserachers recorded events in their brains.

As a player approached a violent encounter, part his brain called the anterior cingulate cortex became active. This area is associated with aggression in less fictional scenarios, and also with the subsequent suppression of more positive emotions, such as empathy. Dr Mathiak noted that the responses in his gamers were thus strikingly similar to the neural correlates of real aggression. As he puts it, ‘Contrary to what the industry says, it appears to be more than just a game.’”

Wow! I don’t know about you, but I have noticed in kids who are the heaviest gamers a lack of empathy. For many of these guys they are spending hours at home each week living in a false reality, escaping the real world, isolating themselves from family and friends, and even God.

How do we as youth ministers combat this? Do we tell our kids they can’t play video games? I don’t think this will keep kids from playing games. I have tried to have Friday Night Game Nights here at church where my guys will bring the X-Boxs’ and Halo, and we play games for a few hours. There have been some really positive things come out of this, namely, a few of our inactive guys have started coming to other youth group funcitions, as well as worship, and one young man has even given his life to Christ, not as a direct result of the Game Nights, but I hope by the Christ he saw modeled in me, and the other boys. On the flip side there have been some negative things from these game nights. Well, my guys just seem more aggressive, from what the results of the above study are showing, my guys aggressive behavior could be related to thier gaming? Hmm, maybe I need to re-think our game nights?

Let me know what you think about this study, and what we as youth ministers can do to help our teens.