When I talk with youth workers I have been known to ask, “If you had to say what most signifies the ministry to youth in your local church would you say it is a calendar or a cloud?” Most of the time that question gets a pretty confused look as the first response. If I push most say, “A calendar.” But in a way you know that they know that isn’t the “right answer.”

I would say that the youth ministry I help right now - the most important document (well besides the Bible) is the monthly calendar. We ensure it gets published and well circulated. We refer to it. We live by it. We plan it far in advance. We try to fill it with variety. We try to fill it… cause it stares at us and asks, “what are we going to do.”

The tyranny of the calendar. The nagging question, “what are we going to do?” Well, events and meetings are important no doubt, but in time what happens more than we would like to think - is filling the calendar becomes an end in itself. The calendar driving our ministry… acting as the brain of our ministry… dictating our direction, energy and future.

Clouds aren’t so predictable. Just ask the weatherman! They are dictated by a complex system of tides, pressure, and humidity levels (among other things I am sure). Clouds in the Bible also remind us of the mystery and presence of God. I wonder what our ministry would look like if we allowed the cloud to be the predominant metaphor and representation/symbol of our ministries. Rather than mechanistic clocks and predictable calendars dictating our wheres and when-fores… what if the mystery of God would truly chart the course of when, where, and why we met. (now I know this is what we are all after - but HOW DO WE GET THERE?)

Are we led by God merely by an openning prayer before we meet with our volunteer and student leaders when we plan the calendar? Are we led by God when we ask him to bless our plans? I am sure that this is part of it… but does being moved by a cloud rather than a calendar necissitate a more radical departure from our 21st century way of life and event planning?

What represents your ministry to youth in your local church - clocks & calendars or clouds?

Some more thoughts on clouds in Part II… when the tides, humidity and pressure do there thing.

Just a little tour guide stuff - I am starting to add books that I have found helpful in the areas of Youth Ministry, Spirituality and the Christian Life - you can access it on the right menu guide. You will be able to see not only what I have, am or planning to read - but also if you look at the whole library you can access my rating and review of the book (you will also see more books than are listed on the menu to the right).

Hope it serves as a guide in helping you make reading decisions. I am choosing the books that I have found the most helpful. I will be adding quite a few more books in the next couple days and weeks.

Enjoy.

“My father was a wandering Aramean…” (Deut. 26.5)

With this declaration the people of God entered Jerusalem on pilgrimage to the Feast of Tabernacles. Three times a year God called His people to pilgrimage from their homes to the City on the Hill. Each festival was a reminder of God’s great actions in their history. At Passover they were reminded of God delivering them from Egypt; at Pentecost they were reminded of God’s giving them the Law on Mount Sinai; and at the Festival of Tabernacles they were reminded of the wilderness wanderings.

At the heart of pilgrimage and at the center of these festivals celebrated in Jerusalem Israel was reminded of an integral part of her identity. The people of God, Israel, were marked as aliens and strangers in this world. They were a people on the move following after a God who is on the move. A people not merely rooted in this world, but a people who are a part of a larger kingdom than the geographic boundaries of Palestine could contain (or limit). A people who are to sense a greater loyalty to God’s will and way than to “citizenship in this world.”

How do we see our identity in God? Do we consider this aspect of being part of a family of wanderers?

Wandering Arameans: from Father Abraham to Ruth to our Lord Jesus, our heritage has been one of wandering from one place to another. The hallmark of our faith has been following after a God of mystery who is on the move - and we are to be found in the space between here and there (on pilgrimage). Am I too wed to place? Am I unresponsive to the movement of God and His people due to my being rooted (the security of the familiar) and unprepared to “go where He leads”? Am I mired in my surroundings to the degree that my identity is wrapped up in my place and circumstances?

How can I remind myself of my identity as a pilgrim? What practices can help me in my desire to remain pliable under God’s direction and sensitive to God’s movement?

I would love to hear your thoughts on our heritage as pilgrims.

Nothing like a fresh start! A new day. That feeling of relief to have the past behind, a horizon ahead, and no where to go but up. Well, that is what I am feeling as I look at the refreshed screen of white - with limitless possibilities…

I hope you will join me as we venture off on a new journey…

On this new blog - Perigrinatio - I invite you to join with me in thinking and discussing some of the following:

the hope we have in youth;

new possibilities and opportunities that await those who venture daily in ministry with/for youth;

how pouring deeply into our own souls can make a difference to those we interact with;

great books;

how becoming deeply rooted in the past can prepare us for an unknown future;

what those who came before us can teach us about becoming more authentic to ourselves and others and more aware of God and His ways.

I am sure we will find more to discuss and debate as we pilgrimmage with God together.

Hope you will find reasons to return.