Re: Generation

Moving my blog

2009-01-26T09:36:00.000-08:00

I'm somewhat new to the blogging world, and I started on Blogger. It worked for me, as a beginner, but now that I'm a little more experienced, I found that Blogger didn't have all the features I needed.

So I'm moving to wordpress. It's self-hosted, so I'm actually not sure whether you'll need to update your feeds, but you should definitely update your bookmarks.

The new blog can be found at the homepage: www.gcfyouth.com. If there is a problem with your feeds, then you'll probably have to resubscribe at that one.

Sorry for the hassle, but it will be a better experience for all involved. This Blogger blog will not be updated past January 2009; you'll have to visit the new site for current blogs. Thanks for reading!

The Website as Digital Space

2009-01-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

It's an easy concept to grasp, for one who lives and breathes technology. Want to expand your company? Get a website. By now most companies have websites. And many of them are very good websites. Some, however, need work. Not just in the programming department, but in the imagination department. In the vision department. And we all know what a big thing "vision" is nowadays.

According to David Lee King, libraries have physical branches where you can do things: Search the catalogue, ask a librarian, check out a book, read the newspaper, etc. He then takes it a step further to consider a library's website as a type of "digital branch". And then he asks the salient question: Can you do the same things in the digital branch that you can do in a physical branch? And unfortunately, all too often the answer turns out to be no. All too often, he says, websites become simply signposts, pointing to the physical location. And that is bad, because there is an entire world of digital people out there who will never check out the physical location.

I think this goes for churches too. Perhaps more so, even, because what church have to offer is intangible. Thanks to Obama, we know now that you can market change. You can market hope. But salvation, man, that's just something that we need to get the word out. So let's put on our imagineers hat, just for a moment, and think outside the box. Let's think outside the church as a traditional one location, three service building.

What if the church were everywhere?

What if someone from Australia could be just as encouraged from our well-designed and well-thought out website as they could if they came to our physical location? Wouldn't that just be a glory to God? Wouldn't it be truly spreading the gospel to all ends of the earth if our website got regular visitors from 30 different countries?

What is keeping the church from expanding in this direction? Fear? A lack of knowledge? A lack of personnel? A lack of faith?

I can understand them all. Fear of the unknown world. A fear of technology. A lack of knowledge about what is out there and how a website can be made and used. No one to maintain the website, let alone set it up. A belief that no one will care or ever see the website. All very valid. And all can be overcome, though perhaps not easily.

Firstly, let's think about the fear of technology. Coming from a rural church, I understand this more than most, perhaps. I think that many people (not just Christians, though they may be more than most), simply see the internet as something to connect to to get your email. Maybe the more web savvy ones will pay their bills online, or check their bank account, or use the online yellow pages. But mention one technical thing about it, or new social networking application, and their turtle-reflex snaps in. It's over my head, they think, so they stop thinking about it. Or they dismiss it. Or, even worse, smile tolerantly at your geeky-ness in an "isn't-she-cute-in-her-obsession" kind of way.

The latter two excuses, a lack of knowledge and a lack of personnel can be rectified. Learn how to make a website. It's really not rocket science or anything like that. You don't have to have a computer engineering degree. Kids have websites. The information is easily accessible, and if you can follow directions, Web Sites for Dummies will take you step by easy step and you'll have a workable website in no time.

So for today's post, let's get out of our turtle reflex and understand that the church's website is not just a side hobby, but is integral for the spreading of the Good News. Let's start thinking about our website as a church "branch", and as such, as a reflection of the One we serve. And the one that we serve is Great and Mighty. So why shouldn't our website be too?

Next post, I'll be expanding this topic and thinking about the ways that the church website can be useful as a "branch", and some of the technologies that can make it happen. If you have any ideas or things that have worked for you, I'd be glad to hear them.

How Churches Can Tame the Web

2009-01-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

The web is an amazing thing. From all perspectives. It gives a global platform for corporations (or other business entities) not only to market their goods, but also to provide better customer service. How much better is life now that we can just google a company and immediately (usually) find out their store locations, contact numbers, sales of the week, etc. Before the internet, you were constrained by your own knowledge base and the yellow pages.

However the internet gives the consumer a much more vocal power base as well. Before the web, to find out if there were any complaints about a business, you had to call the BBB or Attorney General's office and the process could take much more time than the answer was probably worth. Now, it's a few simple clicks and you can view complaints, see reviews of products and services. Honestly, I rarely buy anything without searching for consumer reviews. Amazon? They've got 'em. Target? Sure.

One of the newer platforms for reviews is the blogosphere. Bloggers of all types can review new products, applications, technologies, and not only can their readers hear their review, but it's indexed and searchable. Have a bad experience with a company? Blog about it. Twitter it. Get it out there. You can almost see the PR execs scrambling for a handhold in this avalanche of Very Public Information.

One way that it seems companies have been taking control of this issue is to have someone scour the web (either by computer programs or actual employees) for references about the company. And then have that person, or someone in the PR department respond. I have seen a couple examples of this. The most recent involves the use of a survey on the Quaker Oats website. I was attracted to this post because I have had experiences like this (popups about subscribing to newsletters, as well as surveys) and it was annoying to me as well. So I read the comments. The post was blogged on Jan. 6 and by Jan. 14, someone from Quaker Oats commented. Not too bad of a turnaround. Granted, the replies are usually couched in typical PR-speak, but what it says to me is that companies are keeping track of what is being said about them.

So, how can we apply this? As churches, it's especially salient that we know what our reputation is in the community. This may apply more toward larger churches, who may have more of a web presence. But it's always possible that someone, somewhere is blogging about their great/horrible/boringly normal experience at your church. And that is hard marketing data that you need to know.

So, what should you do? Periodically search the major search engines for your church. I regularly do this for my own name, so why shouldn't I do this for my church (or employer) as well? The internet can be a powerful tool, both for the public, but also for corporations. That is, if the corporations (or churches) can learn how to harness that power.

Technology and Change and How it Never Changes

2009-01-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

As an information professional, I live in the world of change. The denizens of the library/information world are always abuzz about the latest new web 2.0 (or 3.0, by now) technology. Blogging? Who doesn't. Twitter? So old hat. It's always about making life easier, more integrated, and more interesting.

On the other hand, as a youth pastor, I war against the tide of apathy that technology brings. Teens who are inundated with images and action from every corner come to church and youth group and look blankly at us when we bring out a board game. What, no video games? No high-definition, professionally mastered, entertaining worship videos? Puh-lease!

The apathy and inertia that the technology brings can seem like the proverbial (or very literal) road to hell. It will never get better and the more technology changes and evolves, the more and more our youth will stagnate.

Would it make you feel better to know that this feeling is not new? That the fear of technological change is age-old? Imagine my surprise when I pulled a dusty book off my shelf for some light-reading, and I found this: "The Cybernetics Revolution" and its subsequent detriment on preaching. My favorite Christian author, John Stott, wrote this section in his book, Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth-Century way back in 1982. 1982!!! That's way back when the internet was nothing more than a geeky hobby for uber-nerds. Or academics.

Stott was, granted, primarily speaking about television (or "the box"), and it's desensitizing effect on parishioners and how preachers need to understand how television affects their congregations so they can tailor their sermons. In trying to understand how this rate of technological change would affect us by the year 2000, Stott had this to say:

"In such a dehumanized society, the fellowship of the local church will become increasingly important, whose members meet one another, and talk and listen to one another in person rather than on screen. In this human context of mutual love, the speaking and hearing of the Word of God is also likely to become more necessary for the preservation of our humanness, not less." (ch 2)

What Stott realized, and ministers today are still realizing, is that yes, technology can facilitate ministry. And yes, as servants of Christ it is our duty to use every tool at our disposal to propagate the Good News of salvation. And finally yes, it does behoove us to know our generation and how we can best reach them (even if it be through technology). However, Stott reminds us of the lesser-known companion to the great commission: The Great Caveat. Do this, he says, but beware!

Yes, we should use these tools, but we need to be aware that the historical method of preaching the Good News has always been face to face. There is something inside, something that makes us human, that craves human contact. And what better medium for the best news of all time than to fulfill the fundamental human need to known and be known.

I am a technology junky by profession and choice, but I am human by design. And no matter how many friends I have on Facebook, how high my Technorati rating is, how many "igadgets" I have, or even whether I am open source or proprietary, I am made in the image of God; and it is through humans that God works. And is still working.

So yes, technology can impact ministry, but it is our duty as the human images of God to retain that fundamental humanness and not get so caught up in keeping up with secular technology that we lose the message. Let's be counter-cultural for a moment and have a station of silent prayer. Of meditation on a scripture passage. Of silent, sober reflection on our actions the past year. Let's be low-tech for a while (or even, gasp, no-tech at all) and become fully human. Because the danger is always present for us to replace the message with the method. And this Message would be a terrible thing to lose.

The Immutable Calling of God

2009-01-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

So my husband and I have been thinking lately about God's calling over our lives and what our plan should be for this coming year. All those nice happy (or not so happy) thoughts for living better in 2009.

God's calling on our lives right now is unmistakable. Youth Ministry. Internet Ministry. Building up the church. And raising our (very soon to be growing) family. That's all well and good. But is that all we're supposed to do for the rest of our lives?

And so we were talking about the calling of God and how he can call people to different things in different seasons. Like for us, my husband is most comfortable in an academic environment. And nothing against out youth (whom we love dearly), but an academic environment it is not. I think our discussion of theology last night went as far as "why you should not crush cups while someone else is praying".

So is it possible that we are called to youth ministry for this season. It may be five years, it may be ten years. And we will serve to the best of our ability because we serve a God who is Worthy of our best. And when his calling moves us on to something else, we will serve that calling with all that we are.

There is nothing wrong with that. So in this post, let me remind you that God's calling is immutable in one sense: That His command for us to serve Him never changes. Whatever you do . . . the Bible says. So whether we're serving Him in this calling or a different one in the future, we will do it as best we can. Because He is Worthy.

But on the other hand, God's calling can also be transient. It moves and shifts to the situations that will bring Him the most glory. Youth Ministry for now, possibly something else for later. And all that His children can do is follow His lead.

So what should you take from this? If you're toiling in a calling that you feel doesn't really fit you, remember that God's not done with you yet. If you're in a calling that you feel is ending, then perhaps it is; but be aware there is always another calling lurking around the corner. So be prepared to move and change but still be faithful to God. And really, as obedient children, what else can we do but trust Him?

Mary's Magnificat: Advent Week 4

2008-12-23T21:31:00.000-08:00

Anyone raised in a traditional liturgical church should be familiar with Mary’s Magnificat, or Mary’s Song. Anyone at all familiar with choral or classical music should also recognize the name, if not the words. It’s basically her song of worship and praise for the baby that is in her womb as well as for Elizabeth’s miracle as well. At least, that is how it is commonly seen.

On this last week of Advent, people normally tell of the birth of the Christ-child, of peaceful mangers, starry nights, of Kings wrapped in swaddling clothes. While those are the reason for the season, I’m going in a completely different direction for this holiday. Let’s back up from Jesus’ birth for a bit to his mother and her song.

On the surface, it seems like a typical song of praise. And it is. Mary was praising God for remembering the humble and remembering his promise with Abraham. But Mary isn’t the only one in the Bible to have sung such a song. There was another woman, another miracle of birth, ages ago. 1 Samuel 2:1-10 is Hannah’s song of praise. Hannah and Mary’s songs sound quite similar. They have similar themes, even similar wording. They exalt the Lord, they praise God for his faithfulness to Israel, and his commitment to the poor and lowly.

Perhaps both songs can be seen as a part of one longer tradition. Mary’s song praises God, yes, but it also acknowledges that God favors the lowly. Reminiscent of many of the Psalms, Mary says that God brings down rulers but lifts up the humble (meaning poor in station). God fills the hungry but sends the rich away empty. Both women were in difficult situations: Hannah had just given up her child, and Mary was an unwed mother. Yet through the difficulties, they found the strength to recognize the sovereignty of God.

Perhaps, instead of a peaceful lullaby or a sweet song of praise, Mary’s Magnificat should be seen as more of a battle cry. She understands the pain of the poor, the hungry, the lowly, the outcast. She raises her voice on their behalf and tells of the Lord’s redemption.

During the Christmas season, it’s easy to get caught up in the dross that surrounds us. It’s easy to lose sight of the Christ when we are drowning in our own troubles. It’s easy to feel helpless when we’re eating Christmas dinner and so many people are starving. There are so many ills in the world that it’s easy to lose focus. And when those hurts are close to us, we carry them around with us; inside of us. Even during Christmas, supposedly a joyful time, churches are still filled with broken people.

So on this, the fourth week of Advent, a week generally associated with hope, let’s re-read the Magnificat and realize that God is not finished yet. He is still working. I repeat the cry of David in Psalm 27:

“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Ps 27:13)

Let us cast off our cares, just for the moment and praise God for His ultimate victory over the troubles of the world. Hunger? No problem. Poverty? Taken care of. Jesus Christ was born to die for our sins so that we can be redeemed. That is victory. That is the ultimate battle cry. That is Christmas.

Why Jesus Wept: Advent Week 3

2008-12-23T21:24:00.000-08:00

So it's a little late . . . I'm very pregnant with a toddler at home. :-) Thanks for your patience. Without further ado, here is my Advent Devotional for week 3.

There is no shortage of end-time prophets. Since the beginning of the world, people have been proclaiming the end of it. The Bible is no exception. Zechariah 9 almost sounds like it belongs in Revelation. It talks about the Lord coming in power to redeem his people and they “will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown” (9:16). But at the very beginning of the chapter, Zechariah wrote something peculiar, something very strange. He wrote

“See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey . . . He will proclaim peace to the nations.” (Zch. 9:9-10)

That doesn’t seem to match up too well with the war-like wording of the rest of the chapter. How can the King come riding on a donkey (of all the ridiculous things!) and proclaiming peace, if the Lord will come roaring in later, overcoming all his enemies and setting up his people like jewels?

The key to making this passage one cohesive whole is to understand its duality. The first part is talking about the Messiah proclaiming a gospel of peace and salvation. In verse 14, it says, “Then the Lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning.” The first part talks about the first coming of Christ, and the last part talks about the second coming of Christ.

The first coming is shown in Luke 19. In what is commonly known as the “Triumphal Entry”, Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt that no one has ridden. To a people steeped in tradition, they knew exactly what it (according to Zechariah) meant – the King had come! He was going to set up his kingdom of peace! Death to the Roman Empire! Is it any wonder that Jesus wept? You can hear the pain in his voice when he said in verse 42: “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

The sheer pain of that statement nearly brings me to tears. Even you, even God’s own children, missed the point. Even we miss the point still. Yes, God will come in power and glory, riding on the clouds with a flaming sword in one hand, as so many scriptures tell us. Yes, the Lord will come and rescue his people from tyranny. Yes, it will come suddenly, like a thief in the night, when we least expect it.

But the irony that they failed to see in Luke 19, and that we often fail to understand today, is that the Kingdom of God is here. It’s now. It’s me and you and these lives that we are given. Right before the triumphal entry, Jesus told a parable about the man of noble birth who went to a distant country to have himself appointed King, and then return. He put his servants in charge of ten minas. He went away, was crowned, and returned to see what his servants had made of the money he left entrusted to them. One was a good steward of that trust and made returns on the money. That servant was rewarded. Another servant earned less, but still made a return. He too was rewarded accordingly. But the servant who hid his mina away, not for safekeeping, but because of cowardice and evil desires, the King took his mina away and gave to the faithful servant.

This is the peace that Jesus brought. This is what they did not understand and what made the Messiah weep. The Kingdom of God is now, and we are the servants who have been entrusted with the good news of salvation. Last week we went over what we are to proclaim, so there is no excuse to not proclaim it. This week, we learned what can happen when the Lord returns and finds out that we have not proclaimed the news. And it is certainly not pretty.

So, for this third week in Advent, let’s meditate on what the Lord entrusted to us. Let’s stop for a moment and think honestly about how we’ve treated our good news. Have we made returns? Have we hidden it away for any reason? The Bible is very clear that the Lord will return suddenly. When that happens, there will be no time for us to gather last minute returns: We will be judged on what we’ve done to that moment. What will your moment be like?

And What Shall I Cry? : Advent Week 2

2008-12-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

Continuing last week’s theme of Isaiah’s prophesies, this week we will follow the official lectionary recommended reading and focus on making straight the way of the Lord. One might ask that if the Lord is so mighty, and so many scriptures tell of Him razing the mountains, why would He need straight paths?

Isaiah 40 tells us that it’s not so much about preparing the physical way of the Lord, but proclaiming comfort and hope to His people that the Lord is coming. It begins
“Comfort, comfort, my people.”

God’s people were in a bad way: They were besieged on every front, they were scattered and disillusioned. Isaiah has just told Hezekiah that all he knows will be carted off to Babylon, the den of heathens. How apt, then, is the next chapter. Isaiah tells of a voice calling, “In the desert, prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” Isaiah reminds us, as well as Hezekiah, that while our material world seems to be falling apart, we can be comforted because there will be restitution. The Lord will come and redeem his people. How will he redeem us? Through Jesus Christ, of course.

But before Christ can come and offer a straight path of salvation, he must be heralded. And who does the heralding? Why, a man wandering in the wilderness and crying out in the desert. Mark 1:1 quotes this prophesy in Isaiah and tells of John, a wild man in the desert who baptized and told of one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit, instead of simply water. He proclaimed. He cried out. He called.

Back in Isaiah, he goes on to explain how we cry out:

“A voice says ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ . . .

Isaiah tells us that we who bring good tidings to Zion, are to go up on a high mountain, lift our voices with a shout, and say, “Here is your God!” And then he spends the rest of the very long chapter explaining God’s majesty. He explains that God has marked off the heavens by the breadth of His hand and that the nations are less than dust. The repeated motif of “Do you not know? Have you not heard?” reminds us that this is what we are supposed to cry out. When we are discouraged and feel like the Lord does not remember us, or that “our cause is disregarded by the Lord”, we need to remember we are ever in his thoughts, and that he cannot grow weary. The chapter ends, as it began, with comfort.

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

This was Isaiah’s cry. This was his proclamation to a desolate people that their God hadn’t forgotten them and that comfort could still be theirs. We can go even further in our proclaiming because we know that God’s salvation is at hand. It is not some future event to be hoped for, but the ever-new salvation of the Christ. Mark 1:1 tells us that after John was put into prison for proclaiming, Jesus himself went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God.

And we can go even further. We can proclaim with Isaiah the sheer majesty and bigness of God, and we can proclaim the messiah that came and died for our sins. So the next time we’re challenged to proclaim the good news, we should never have to ask, “What shall I cry?” It’s all laid out for us: Forgiveness and comfort, just what a troubled world like ours needs to hear.

Prpohesy in Darkness: Advent Devotional 1

2008-11-30T06:54:00.000-08:00

It is all too easy for even seasoned Christians to think of the Old and New Testaments as being disconnected, or two entirely separate stories. One of the blessings of Advent is that we are tasked to remember the Old Testament prophets who proclaimed the Messiah. Their prophesies may have seemed like little more than wishful thinking to a land in decline, but having the benefit of time, we can see the obvious and God-given signs that point to Christ.

An amazing thought, isn’t it? That Christ was there even in Old Testament times. Ages before his birth, people were talking about Him. Then again, perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising to us. John 1:1 tells us that Christ was there in the beginning. Why should we think He wasn’t present during the Flood, or with Daniel, David, or Saul? Why is it so surprising when Micah tells us of a promised ruler from Bethlehem, whose origins are from ancient times, and says that

“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.” (Micah 5:4-5)

Isaiah 9 gives us the names to call this Messiah, and even his hometown: Our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace will come from Galilee of the Gentiles, by way of the sea, along the Jordan (Is 9:1-6). Of course, the Prophet Isaiah has the most prophesies concerning the coming Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 says that the “virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 11 tells of a shoot from the stump of Jesse and his peaceful Kingdom.

Isaiah 53, however, is probably the most iconographic prophesy where the Messiah is “pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” At the end of the chapter, after detailing further humiliation (“he was despised and rejected by men”), degradation (to the point where “his form was marred beyond human likeness”), and eventual glory for this Messiah (“after the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied”), Isaiah finishes with this: “he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

Sound familiar? You know, that little something in the New Testament about Jesus going through whippings and degradations to the point where he was not recognizable as even human, and then being crucified with criminals and even pardoning one of them? Does that give you goosebumps too? There is nothing more eerie than comparing a prophesy with its fulfillment.

So, for this first Advent Devotional, I encourage you to read Isaiah 53 in its entirety. Make note of the particulars. Then read the entirety of Luke 23. Perhaps the crucifixion is an odd meditation for a season normally associated with babies, lambs, and shepherds. Then again, perhaps not; for this is the cornerstone of Christianity. This horrifying crucifixion, dreamed so long ago by a despised Prophet, has become our peace. And that is the trick of Advent.

What NOT to do at a youth lock-in

2008-11-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

Now that the hubbub has died down, I have had plenty of time to reflect on our November Youth Lock-In and what we'll do better and differently next year.

What we did this year:

1. We did a twenty-four hour lock-in. Five p.m. on Friday to five p.m. on Saturday.

2. The theme was "Survival Basics", and we split the youth into two survivor teams who competed for points in various games and tasks. The winning team will get to go to a Kings game sometime in January. We has basic workshops like how to study the Bible and what prayer is.

3. We offered a large amount of points if a youth did a personal Bible study on their own personal free time. Most of the youth did them.

What we will do differently next year:

1. The lock-in will last from 9 p.m. on Friday night until 8 a.m Saturday with no time allotted for sleeping. Trying to get the youth to sleep at this lock in was futile and we still had to deal with 10 extremely grumpy teens all day Saturday (along with 4 tired and irritable youth pastors/leaders). Better to keep them up all night and then send them home to sleep all day.

2. Budget better. We were quite a bit over budget this year, but as I have the youth group up now on quickbooks (nonprofit edition), next year looks to be much better. Plus, if we only have the youth for twelve hours, it will cut down on the amount of food needed for the lock in.

Actually, this lock-in went extremely well, all things considered. The youth showed up, we spent some time in our groups making posters and doing a couple ice breaker games. We had free time, a couple games, and the Basics of Bible Study Workshop. All Friday night. We tried to have lights-out by 1:30. It worked for the girls, they were conked out by midnight, practically. The boys were quite a different story though. We had to intervene a few times, eventually taking some points away from the groups. I think I finally snapped and took points away at 3:45 am. Considering that we were making breakfast for the men's bible study that meets at 7 am, sleep came sparingly that night.

I also suppose that the fact that women who are 7 months pregnant really aren't made to sleep on bean bags on hard floors. Or go on that small amount of sleep. It took me a couple days to recover. But recover I did, and now I can blog about it.

The breakfast went well. We has the youth serve and cook, and I handed out rating cards to each man, and the reviews were very positive.

The games all went swimmingly. The big winner, by far, was toilet paper dodge-ball. I think it was the first time our church sanctuary floor was covered (two inches deep) in unraveled toilet paper. But everyone had a ball. It turns out that throwing toilet paper rolls at each other is good stress relief and more fun than you think. For now, in the open source / creative commons spirit, here are the games, schedule, and curriculum for the lock-in.

Game -Backwards Compatible
Game - Captionize Me
Game - Chairball
Game - TP Dodgeball

Lock-In Schedule (excel)

Workshop - The Basics of Bible Study
Workshop - The Basics of Prayer
Workshop - The Basics of Sin & Redemption

So, feel free to read, download, use, remix, whatever. They are certainly not copyrighted, and they are very basic. But the youth connected pretty well with the workshops, and it seemed really to their level of understanding (hence the "basic" part). We did end up scrubbing the sin and redemption mural, though. They were so grumpy by the end that we thought introducing paint was just a recipe for disaster. We'll do that one some other time.

Coming up: Starting Nov. 30th, I'll be posting a 4 week devotional series for Advent. One post per week, so stay tuned.

Reviews: Fireproof and Third Day

2008-09-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

So it's been an insanely busy weekend and I think it'll take me all week of normality to detox. Saturday we went with the couples in our church to see the movie Fireproof. I will be honest enough to admit that I didn't expect much, being that it was a Christian produced movie. I was wrong. Kirk Cameron held the movie up and it had some genuinely funny moments, some intensely sad moments, and we all left the theater feeling convicted and dedicated to our marriages. It was a warm fuzzy all around, so I highly recommend the movie, even if you don't do the accompanying marriage seminar.

Sunday we took the youth group out to see some really incredible Christian bands on the Music Builds Tour. It was totally awesome, insanely fun, and incredibly long. It was a festival-style concert, so there were four bands playing: Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Jars of Clay, Switchfoot, and Third Day. All headliners in their own right, so it was pretty packed with start power. I think the concert lasted four and a half hours, which was certainly longer than I expected. Needless to say, we all has a fun time last night, and I bet all the youth are having a rough time getting up for school this morning. Ahhh, the joys of youth group.

Business as Usual: A Family Model

2008-09-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

So it's become increasingly clear the past few months that the economy is unstable. It was brought into stark clarity this morning when I woke up to news that Lehman Brothers has filed for Chapter 11. How can a company over 150 years old lose control? And it made me think of something I heard a while back about how families should be considered as a business. And in this increasingly volatile market, it seems even more true.

So; how can one treat a family as a business? Sound business practices are always a good foundation. Ethical integrity in what you do; Knowing the laws and obeying them; Find out what is important to you and create a core value system; Periodically discuss your ethical issues; Create a stable financial portfolio; Maintain open lines of communication; All of those seem like great ways to shore up a family unit during turbulent times.

Financially, it's a good idea as well. In business, it's always "us vs. them". What do we need to do to ensure that we survive even while they may not? A bit of that mindset might not be amiss in families. Sure, too much of that leads to elitism and aggression and lots of other unsavory things. But a tiny bit is enough to realize that the world likes to break up families.

So, for family finances, as with business, a budget is primary. Do an expense report and an income analysis; monthly, and yearly. Figure out exactly where the money is going and whether it should be allotted elsewhere. Businesses (except, I suppose, sole-proprietorship's) are partnerships. Financial decisions are not made by a single person. They are discussed, debated, and voted on for the health and well-being of the business. Families should not be sole-proprietorship's. Share the financial work; Have one person do the budgeting and one person pay the bills. Or have both people involved with both. But having one person always doing both can lead to resentment and contention.

It's also important to plan for the future. You never know when the market will collapse, or the family will go through a difficult time. Have an emergency savings; plan for retirement; create a disaster recovery plan. These are all good practices for business and families both.

Finally, and most importantly, invest back into the family. Successful businesses funnel some of their profits back into the business. Why shouldn't families do the same? Invest in quality time with family members; Understand that the family is more than the physical, and that there are human beings involved with emotions and opinions, each widely different than the next.

So, how can one run a family like a business? Simple: It's all in the mindset. It's about financial management skills, communication and planning skills, people management skills. It's about understanding your place in the world and knowing your worth. It's about loving the family so much that you'll do anything to see it survive.

Which, after all, is more than many businesses can say for themselves; especially Lehman Brothers who has yet to even address their poor employees. Not much of a family indeed.

The Quarterlife Crisis

2008-09-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

I ran across a blog by Mark Batterson, Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington DC. He had some good things to say and a few books out that I thought might be worth a look.

Or, at least, a blog post. The primary demographic in Batterson's church is young professionals. Twenty-somethings, and youngish thirty-somethings as well. And I think that in a lot of churches this demographic gets overlooked easily. In leadership meetings and church boardrooms across the country, the main ministries usually get all the attention: children's ministry, youth ministry, men's ministry, and women's ministry. And yet, what about those who leave youth group, start making their way in the world and want more than a simple "ladies Bible study"?

Enter the quarterlife ministry. You see, the generation of twentysomethings is fundamentally different than any other generation. There is actually something called the quarterlife crisis; it's somewhat new in psychological circles, but that makes it no less important. Mark Batterson realized (and is continuing to realize) that these people have unique ministry needs. These young adults are cynical. They're tired of being comfortable. In a media saturated world, they need to find their own faith. A personal faith. They need to find out for themselves who this Jesus Christ is and why He is the center of their lives.

And so Batterson wrote a few books. Or devotionals. Or group-study manuals. Whatever. The first was In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day; all about how often the greatest opportunities from God come disguised as the greatest risks. Next came Wild Goose Chase, which seems a bit more promising to me. The amazon synopsis explains it like this:

"Chasing the Wild Goose pulls you out of "inverted Christianity." "Instead of following the Spirit," Mark writes, "we invite the Spirit to follow us. Instead of serving God's purposes, we want Him to serve our purposes." Such a form of Christianity is sinful--displacing God from the center and putting our selves there instead--but it is also deadly boring. Mark deploys the image of a caged animal at the zoo to describe the life of inverted Christianity. The natural beauty, freedom, and power of biblical Christianity gets locked away behind safe, comfortable, and predictable bars. If we want to chase the Goose, we have to get out of our cages. "

Interesting, and all too true in many churches. And the important thing is that twentysomethings realize this, even if subconsciously. That is why they tend to shy away from mainstream, cookie-cutter Christianity. To be honest, I haven't read the books yet. Wild Goose Chase, however, is certainly on my list.

So how can a church minister to the quarterlife segment? Singles ministry may be how most churches plug this hole, but what about the young married couples who don't fit the susie homemaker role? Why should they be excluded? Sure, couples ministry is important as well, but I'm know that I'm jealous of the singles ministry at my church. Why should they get to have all the fun, while I'm stuck plodding through yet another make-your-marriage-better workbook series? Why can't young married people and young single people be in the same ministry group? Why do most churches stereotype people?

I don't have the answers to these questions. But Batterson understood something about this demographic: That the "church as usual" scene is not working. It's not enough. Maybe if our churches could understand the same thing we might have more young professionals in our seats on sunday mornings.

Politics and Mainstream Christianity

2008-08-29T19:01:00.000-07:00

With the recent naming of the unsurprising, and very surprising, choices for Vice President, I thought a post was due out about the possibilities for Christianity. To be upfront, I am a registered democrat. However, my political beliefs are a complicated amalgamation of being raised with middle class, democratic values, and my personal Christian beliefs.

I have usually seen three separate camps in mainstream Christianity. The Party Line, staunch Republicans who think politics and religion are inseparable; The Lost Sheep, who don't pay much (if any) attention to politics but vote Republican because their pastor says to; and The Free Thinkers, who see no problem in mixing ideologies and political platforms for form their own, personalized views.

So, let's take a look at the two Vice Presidents. First, as he was named first, is Delaware Senator Joe Biden. While being a typical democrat with his voting record and stands on key issues, he certainly lends experience, age, and panache to Obama's relative inexperience. It is a good balance, and stands to reconcile the ticket with those who were wary of Obama's lack of experience in the high powered political arena. For Christians, Biden represents a mixed box of chocolates. True, he is a Catholic and has agreed that life begins at conception, but at the same time, he advocates pro-choice. It seems that his separation of personal religion and exercise of power will anger some Christians and placate others. Overall, Biden is not too different than any mainstream democrat, though he does tend more toward the populist mindset.

Today word spread over the blogosphere that McCain had named Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his choice for Veep. Shocking, I know, especially as she was practically a non-entity until now. Some hasty research paints an interesting picture. Her Wikipedia page seems to make her out to be a sort of "clean-government" crusader who resigned from her Alaskan Oil and Gas Commission under protest for the lack of ethics of her fellow Republican leaders. Looks promising so far. She is also a prominent member of Feminists for Life, whose motto is "Refuse to Choose: Women Deserve Better than Abortion". Their aim to to eradicate the underlying reasons for abortion and believe that we shouldn't have to choose between women and children. An admirable goal, and it will sit nicely with the younger set in mainstream Christianity and the free thinkers who like to mix their ideologies. Her voting record, however, is somewhat bare; thus showing her relative inexperience in DC politics. So she offsets McCain pretty well and fills in what he lacks. He is older, and she is extremely young (44); He is a stereotypical Republican and Bush-ite, and she brings freshness and a more moderate viewpoint; He can be snappish and curmudgeonly, and she exudes charm and charisma (being a former Miss Alaska).

So, what should we make of these choices? I honestly don't know yet. It certainly muddles the waters a bit and a choice that may have been pretty clear yesterday may not be as clear today. From a political standpoint, the Vice President choices are excellent and serve to round out and moderate the candidates. From a Christian standpoint, I am less sure of my vote than I was yesterday.

This much is clear: However you vote, come November, history will be made. Whether it will be for the first Black President, or the first Woman Vice President, it is a good day for politics.

The Power of Play

2008-08-13T08:56:00.001-07:00

It is no secret in Early Childhood Education that children learn through sensorimotor exploration. They learn through blocks and imaginative play and coloring and all those fun preschool activities. That's how they learn about gravity and interpersonal skills and everything they'll need to become functioning adults.

And then sometime over the next twenty years our self-esteem plummets and we forget how to imagine. Or how to let ourselves go and simply play. Even those things which adults call "play" (like golf or exercise) can often turn into work; and sometimes can even be more stressful than work.

That's why I love the urban playground movement. Call me a liberal. Call me a neo-hippie. Call me whatever you want. But anything that gets a group of adults together for a 7 minute game of duck duck goose in a San Francisco park is alright in my book. And it's not just San Francisco. These so-called "flash mobs" have been occurring since the late nineties, but lately they've been turning more and more toward play, rather than pointless havoc. A pillow fight in Central Park. A mass coordinated dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller". It all sounds like a bunch of fun.

So; what does any of this have to do with religion? Well, not so much on the surface. Underneath though, it seems to make a solid statement about society. Or at least, our discontent with the state or direction of society. People are realizing that they are not the only ones tired of consumerism; of the endless work week; of living life for nothing; can I go so far as to say that people are even getting tired of nihilism?

It seems to me, at least, that if people are realizing that something is lacking in life, it gives more room for God to move. Once people understand that life needs meaning (no, life demands meaning) they may be more receptive to the redemptive message of Christ. And anything that opens up the way for Christ (and can incorporate childish games) is more than okay to me.

When Did Tolerance Become Taboo?

2008-08-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

It's always a bit of a sticky issue to talk about tolerance in the realm of the church; and yet, that sentence reads oddly. Why should it be difficult to talk about tolerance in the church? Didn't Jesus tell us to "love one another"? As neighbors; as brothers; as ourselves? And sure, there is the small portion of society that cannot stand themselves, or abuse themselves, but usually, we are able to tolerate ourselves (sins and foibles and downfalls included) reasonably well.

So why do we have a problem with tolerating other people? When did tolerance become a bad word?

Adults can normally regulate their behavior. Usually. Sometimes. Teens, on the other hand, do not seem to have that regulating software hardwired yet. So how does one try to teach the youth tolerance and respect for others (read: religion, race, and sexual preference) without being labeled "new age", "heretical", or even (gasp!) a democrat?

Now, I'm brainstorming here, as this issue hits pretty close to home in my own youth group. What about attending a community sponsored discussion forum, like say, about the local Muslim community, listening respectfully, and then coming together afterward to discuss? Or, if you are a bit more adventurous, what about having your church or youth group host the forum? It'd be a great marketing opportunity in the community, to branch out, maybe even add in a bit of ecumenism.

The obvious problems to such a venture would foremost be the parent / church board objections. It's unavoidable that whatever you want to do, there will be someone who disagrees with you. They may disagree on the execution, the planning, the funding, or even the idea in principle. The point is that when you venture out into the hinterland of non-doctrinal outsiders, there will be dissent. The question would then be how to mitigate that dissent. Do you have parents sign permission forms? Have church-goers attend a "pre-forum" expectation meeting?

As with my last post, it seems like the only way to introduce a bit of tolerance into a uniform congregation is to put them into the real world. But, like leadership, you run the risk of failure and loss of witness. What if someone acted up at the forum and caused a disruption? Or said something really offensive? How can the church recover from that in the community?

So the question of tolerance really boils down to this: Do we let them test the waters, or do we throw them in and hope they swim?

Leadership and Youth

2008-08-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Is leadership truly ageless? Or is there an age that precludes true leadership? I'm musing on these thoughts because, as a youth pastor, it is my responsibility (or my pleasure, I suppose) to bring out leadership qualities in our youth.

Thought I admit, those qualities can seem far off sometimes. Teens are in a state of flux; they are ruled by their impulses as that is the part of the brain that develops first (bummer, that!). They want to be considered adult, but still submit to their childish whims. So what is a poor youth pastor to do?

On the one hand, we could keep putting them in leadership situations, letting them fail at the whole "leader" thing until they finally get it, or we could keep them out until we think they're "ready". Both have perks and horrible consequences. With the former, the benefit is that they gain experience in leadership situations. The downfall is that watching them fail is not only difficult for me, but can potentially harm our Christian witness. The benefit of the latter is that you know the people you put in leadership situations will be ready for it, but at the same time, how will they ever be ready if I don't give them chances?

It's almost like a catch-22. Whichever method I choose, there is the potential for failure as well as success. I suppose that the best you can do is the prepare them as well as possible, let them try, and if they fail, perhaps talk about why they failed and how they might do it better next time. It is said that you need to fail sometimes to truly understand success, and I suppose this applies as much to teenagers as to adults.

Lambeth and Tough Questions

2008-07-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

The Rev. Canon Dr. Kendall Harmon has a great blog that chronicles the news and steps of the Anglican Lambeth Conference going on across the pond. I think it's always important to be cognizant of what other denominations are going through. At the very least, to pray for them as they make life-changing, and often world-changing, decisions.

As the Anglicans go into the final stretch of the Lambeth Conference, let's all band together and pray for the faithful who travelled so very far to meet and discuss God work on this small planet. Especially as I've heard they'll be drawing out the biggies this week; the hard-hitting questions of the Episcopal civil war, and internal policing and such. It all sounds very serious, so let's pray for God to give them wisdom and compassion and understanding as they enter into the last week.

On that note, I have to say that I love Anglicans. I follow quite a few Anglican blogs. Sometimes it is easy for me to forget the mystery and the holiness of sacred spaces and architecture and liturgy and how they, too, work together for God's glory. Especially as my church is in an office building, and while we created a sanctuary and such, it certainly is no cathedral. It is easy to forget that buildings can glorify God just as much as people. And for reminding me of that alone, Anglicans, I thank you.

Some Kind of Zombie

2008-07-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

My husband has just finished reading Surprised By Hope by N. T. Wright. I have just finished the introduction so far, but am intrigued by what his premise is, as well as the discussions my husband and I have had about it.

N. T. Wright claims that modern Christians have deviated quite drastically from the early Christian belief in the "resurrection of the body". Back then, it was something accepted, that when we are resurrected, it will be in full bodily form. Modern Christians seems to have slackened, and now don't really know what we believe. I think Wright is right (horrible pun, I'm sorry) in this instance. It's common to hear about "going to heaven", or "living forever with Jesus", or even about how death is not the end for us. But what exactly is the life after death? Many Christians will waffle on this point. Is it fluffy white clouds? Indiscriminate beings of energy eternally worshipping God?

Wright claims that the early Christians (read: Church Fathers) believed in the full bodily resurrection. Meaning that we will be resurrected with the exact same body we have now, just perhaps . . . completed? Perfected? Fulfilled?

For instance, consider Jesus. He was resurrected with the same body He died in. The tomb was empty. His hands still bore the nail scars. His side still bore the spear wound. He was "himself" enough to pass as a regular human. So much human, that they didn't recognize him at first -- they thought he was the gardener! And yet, He could walk through walls (or at least get into a locked room). His physical body, that only three days ago was as limited as the rest of us, suddenly seemed better. It's a common line in theology that Christ is the most authentic human. If that is true, then is His resurrected body what the human form should be? What it was meant to be?

But that also brings up logical questions. Wright seems to believe that God will actually remake us with the same "stuff" that made up our body. But it's impossible to reclaim the exact physical make up of our postmortem bodies. Bodies take only a few months to decay. Once they start that, their chemical properties are changed. Our bodies are no longer what they were. And what of cremation? Or those who were martyred at the stake? They don't even have a body left to be remade.

On the other hand, that is linear human thinking. We need to think vertically. We need to think like God. I have heard (though I'm not sure of the veracity of it) that our body chemically changes and sloughs skin off and such so much that every ten years, it's like we have a whole new body. So maybe the important thing in the resurrection is that we are more than physical. It's the age old question: where does the soul reside? The brain? The heart? As some societies thought, the spleen or kidneys? It is clear that there is something more going on here.

The difference is, then, that there is not a man, but a God behind this curtain. And we certainly need to pay attention to Him! He is the crux. He is the defining rod that make us more than animals. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and irresistible. No matter what you think of the resurrection (be it bodily or not), we need to trust that whatever happens to us in this life, our God knows us beyond a shadow of a doubt. He can separate every single one of our molecules out from every other molecule on earth. And, I suppose, after I disintegrate into my grave, I suppose He, above all, would be able to tell me from the dirt. Maybe it's a bit morbid, but that is certainly a comforting thought. For me, at least.

Thanks for Your Patience!

2008-07-20T21:54:00.001-07:00

Well, as I'm entering my second trimester of pregnancy, I'm finding a little bit more energy lying around, so I'm going to be obedient and try to post more often. I am sorry for the short haitus while I napped. I'll be back later this week with a post. I solemnly swear.

The Emerging Church: Part 2

2008-06-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

And now continued:

However, this essay would be incomplete if the common criticisms of the emerging church were not voiced here. This is not a polemic; it is an education. There are a few criticisms that seemingly occur constantly. The first and most obvious is the claim of postmodernism to the point where they deny the certitude of truth. It all sounds nice and lovely until an emergent denies the inerrancy of scripture; or that Truth can be objectified. An emergent would counter (since I’m being fair) that we live in a postmodern world; thus, it takes a different form of evangelism. Scot McKnight calls this critical realism , or the understanding that this is the world we live in and traditional forms of evangelism might not be enough.

Others say that the emergents are too syncretistic in their spirituality. In their unrelenting iconoclasm of classic Christianity, some would say that the emergents go too far; God cares about sacred spaces and tradition too. In their emphasis on interdenominational and interfaith dialogue, some claim that the emergents are too lax and ignore the cost and consequence of sin. Emergents would likely counter that in the context of understanding, once someone knows where you stand, it would be better to let them make their own decisions and continue the friendship than continue harping and lose any contact with them. In theology, this is called adiaphora; to agree to disagree.

So what are you to take from this? Remember that the emerging church is not a single denomination; it is individuals along a spectrum of beliefs. While the more radical voices (of the Emergent Village and New Monasticism et al) tend to be the loudest, emergents as a rule refuse to be herded into a single label. I would go so far as to say that every Christian has some amount of emergent in them, for their causes and beliefs are essential to Christianity. We should all be concerned with our actions and how to live out Christ to the world; we should all be concerned about whole people and whole societies; we all need to recognize our underlying unity as people of a fallen race, all with a Common Story (of sin and redemption and sanctification).

The Christian Church, as an institution, has made some pretty poor decisions in the past. Individuals in the Church have hurt a lot of people. Emergents (listen up, mainstream Christians) attempt to bridge the gap and heal the wounds that the church created. No longer are unbelievers simply “unchurched”; people know quite well the message of Christianity in America – When abortion clinics are bombed, they hear you are evil. When homosexual rallies are protested with hate posters, they hear you are not worthy. When they think of Christians, they hear you will never be like us. Emergents understand something essential to being human; that having someone love you as you are is fundamental to life. We, as Christians, should also take that stance because we have a God who loves us as we are. The world needs a God that will love them (yes, even in their sin), and it is our job to show that God to them.

The Emergent Church

2008-06-11T21:00:00.000-07:00

So I'm going to join everybody else and post a little bit about how I see the emergent church and try to be as neutral (and journalistic) as possible. Let me know how I did, especially if any of you are emergent.

There is a new brand of Christianity on the rise; it’s called the Emerging Church. As with any- thing, the extreme version (the Emergent Village) gets the most publicity – not all of it good. This article will attempt to explain the beliefs that drive the emerging church, the popular criticisms about it, and what it means for the next generation of Christians.

At the core of the Emergents’ beliefs is the certainty that we all have a stake in one another. Emergents are strong supporters of ecumenism. As younger generations, they were raised in an increasingly diverse world, and as such, they revel in the diversity of Christendom. They appreciate the mystery of the Orthodox; they embrace the traditions of the Reformed; and they even encourage interfaith dialogue. The popular founder of the Emergent Village, Brian McLaren, calls it a “generous orthodoxy”. Emergents are most concerned with relational Christianity. They believe that the message of Christ is most effective when it’s conveyed within the context of an understanding conversation. They would prefer to sit down with you (perhaps over coffee) and say, “this is what I believe, but I may be wrong. What do you think? Let’s talk.” They believe that the most effective evangelism comes within the context of a trusting friendship; as such, they are more likely to be pacifists and peacemakers.

Another aspect of the emerging church is their acceptance of a Christian’s role as “earthkeeper”. They believe that God’s creation is blessed, and so try to promote healing for the earth as a whole. They believe not only in whole people, but also whole societies. It is for this reason that many emergents are activists of some type. The whole of creation (not just the welfare of unbelievers) was given to us to care for, and emergents often see the ills of the world (both social and environmental) as the disparity between what is, and what God intended.

As a part of what God intended, emergents are committed to living out the life and mission of Christ to the world. They call this “missional living”; it’s an emphasis on praxis, or acts. This term is taken from the Greek New Testament book of Praxis Apostolon, or the Acts of the Apostles (more commonly known as simply, “Acts”). They believe that the way we live out our faith (or our acts) will often be more of a witness than mere words. This is why a conversation among friends can be so powerful; they understand the importance of living Christ out to the world.

A final hallmark of the emerging church is their creative spirituality and re-interpretation of ancient liturgical rites for the modern day. It’s not uncommon for emergents to discuss the pros and cons of using the lectio divina, the Ignatius Examen, or even Orthodox liturgy. This is their focus on new ways of “doing church” and combining the differing elements from all traditions.

Now, I've gone over what I view as the main tenets of the emerging church. This is the first post. To be fair, next week, I will address some of the main criticisms of the Emerging church and how, possibly and hypothetically (as I am an observer), how the emergents might respond to those criticisms.

Procreation, Forgiveness, and Fear

2008-06-04T19:34:00.000-07:00

As a side note, I apologize for taking so long to blog. I'm going to ask your forbearance for the next nine months, though, as this pregnancy exhaustion is hitting me hard early on. I'll try to stay constant, but be aware that my health is (obviously) foremost.

I was meditating on the forgiveness of God, and this verse caught me as something odd at first.

"But with you there is forgiveness,
Therefore you are feared." Psalm 130:4

It brought me up short. The initial question is why should forgiveness be feared? Shouldn't forgiveness be sought? Be wanted? Shouldn't we be grateful for God's forgiveness? Forgiveness might be feared because:

It offends our pride?
It humbles us?
It's hard to accept?
We feel we need to pay it back?
In accepting forgiveness, we grant God power over us?
We don't like to rely on another?

And then we're back to the pride issue. Maybe forgiveness from God should be feared because it offends our flesh. Any encounter with God naturally humbles us and completely smashes our sense of self and importance. And when we receive God's forgiveness, it's even more so humbling because we know we don't deserve it.

So let's be thankful that we have a God who forgives, even if it humbles us.

The Authentic Human

2008-05-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Everyone has some sort of a mentor or hero, be it spiritual or worldly. I know that I tend to admire (and envy, if I'm being honest) the intellectuals out there. What is interesting is that Christians may talk all the time about trying to be like Jesus, but when it comes down to pure honesty, I doubt very many Christians would say that Jesus is their hero.

Why is that? Jesus was the only true human ever. He was the only authentic man. By living his perfect life, walking with the Father, Jesus set the bar as to what it means to be human. In Jesus, God's design for mankind came to completion because he was sinless. That is how God created humans to be; not this fallen thing of unconquerable cravings and irredeemable vices. Humans were created for something far greater than we can imagine in our fallen state.

Originally, the word "Christian" was a derogatory term, an epithet, hurled at the first followers of Jesus. It is a diminuative of "Christ", or hence, "little-Christ". Afer a while, Christians began to accept the term and use it to identify themselves; and, I think, what better term could possibly define us, but the One who is our standard and measure of what it means to be human?

This was a bit of a thought experiment for me yesterday; I was meditating on the life of Christ and how he was our propitiation and the perfect sacrifice, and I thought about how we are all supposed to strive to be like Him. Can you image what the world would be like, if it was full of "little Christs"?

If people were sinless, there would be no crime, no hurt, no brokenness. There would be no need for a government, even. Sound familiar?? Doesn't that sound a lot like visions of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God?

So while we know that this is an impossibility here on earth, that does not mean that we should stop trying to be like Christ; that is our duty. Our calling, therefore, is to live our lives in such a way that we might possibly bring a little bit of God's Kingdom here on earth.

... On the Bedpost Overnight?

2008-05-17T18:51:00.000-07:00

This is the second post entitled, "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight", dealing with ministry burnout.

The initial epiphany of ministry burnout (namely, that we should still do it even if it seems like no one cares) is followed by the subsequent, but no less powerful, revelation that we need to let God be God.

We need to pause in our planning and agendas and work schedules and endless strategies and give God room to work. If we are getting burned out, it might mean to we have come to rely too heavily on our power. It means that we came to believe that we are solely responsible for the success (or failure) of our ministry.

That is a lie. The true thrust of ministry is that we allow God to work. Sure, He uses people and the unique gifts He gave us; but ultimately, God is the one who works through us to will and to move according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).

That was a huge weight off my chest, once I realized that all I am responsible for is my calling. Anything beyond that (like reaching the youth and saving them) will be God's work. I simply just need to be obedient and God will be able to work through me to complete His purpose.

What greater comfort is there? So, the next time ministry burnout strikes, stay obedient, but relax. Pray, study, contemplate, worship, whatever you want to do; just remember that it is God who works through you. As a matter of fact, let the ministry sit on the bedpost overnight, for once, and see what God does now that He has room to move. You might be surprised.