I have been spending a bit more time reading in Benedict’s Rule of late - so rather than pull out a random saying from the Desert Father or Mothers; today we will hear some Benedictine Wisdom. Benedict wrote just a short treatise on his “way of life” that determined “who a person could become.” Benedict’s short, scripture saturated book, The Rule is where we turn today.

In Chapter 7 St. Benedict uses the image of a ladder as a symbol of unity and integration - or “harmony.”

Here it unites earth and heaven, standing firmly on the ground (community) and offering access to God. The two sides of this ladder are the body and the soul. [The ladder] is pulling body and soul together, recognizing the place of both, using the two together, that makes the ascent to God possible.

For a quite absurd image - picture a ladder that is lopsided with the rungs trying to pull together the two sides of a ladder that are out of harmony and not running parallel! This is the danger of neglecting our Body for the sake of the Soul or vice versa (preference to mind over emotions or head over heart).

Benedict calls us to harmony in our way of life. “That are minds are in harmony with our voices.” (or our hearts, or our hands, or our feet, or our ears, etc.). May our lives produce a beautiful harmonic music to the Glory of God.

O Father, may we find this kind of integration where the message of Your Son the Christ, that we understand with our mind, seep into our everyday way of life: in our speech, relationships, work, play, attitudes, and values.

Amen.

I often hear folks wrangle and worry about the rate of teenagers who once they head off to college, head out of the church. They quote statistics and studies about how this crisis could become the demise of the church. Fear of losing “our kids” and strategies to “bridge the gap” and retain young 20’s has probably raised lots of money and sold books and programs as the problem du jour - but is that the solution? Now, while I agree there is a problem (the church is growing old and failing to retain the young) I am not sure that I agree with the cause of the problem or the often suggested solutions. It is true that once young people are out on there own they often don’t go to church… but I wonder were they ever a part of the church in the first place?

Are kids leaving the church? Or has the Church left kids? The answer is, “Yes” but the crux of the issue is the latter. I think it is worth considering if the church has a place for young people. Oh, I know churches spend untold amounts of money on facilities, staff, programs and snacks to keep children and teenagers active, busy, and happy; but are they a part of the life of the church? Are they a valued and integral part of the larger life of Christ’s Body the Church? It seems children and young people are merely active in the church while their parents participate in the life of the Church? I have been wondering lately if the issue with young peoples exit from the church is a result that teens are a part of a youth ministry; but fail to be part of the life of Christ’s Body. That the loyalty of young people is often to a youth leader and their Christian friends; but they don’t understand or see the need to be connected to the mission and life of Christ body - the Church. One could even say, kids aren’t leaving the Church because the Church never had them.

So I am suggesting to you that our young people aren’t missing; the Church is missing in our youth ministries?

The Charlie Hall Band played a “show” at our church this past weekend. It was less of a show and more of a worship service. It was an exceptional experience. I have followed Charlie Hall since discovering him through Passion back in ‘96. Frankly, even back then, of those involved in leading the Passion conferences - Charlie was the worship leader I felt I most connected with (through the many recordings) - and it has only taken 12 years to actually see him live!

I had volunteered to help set up for the show and it was probably good I did - as it was a relatively light crew. We were all efficient and well ahead of the curve by the time the band showed. I actually wired a good part of the stage - (yeah, that is what my wife said!) - and it all worked. The only real snafu of set-up was the rented Vox AC-30 wouldn’t emit any sound - so that sent me back to the house to pick up my trusty Fender DeVille 4×10. It was great to hear Kendall (guitarist for The Charlie Hall Band) make my amp soar and sound so beautiful.

Charlie has just released a new album of tunes called, The Bright Sadness. When I first heard it - I knew it was going to be great; because it didn’t sound immediately accessible on a first listen. That is always a clue to me that this is a release worth giving some time to. This is a release that has some longevity (it isn’t just the sound of the moment). I have found that to be true. There are many levels to the recording; layers of sonic goodness and various layers of meaning - this is not your average worship release in my opinion.

It was great to worship along with my church family and with Charlie and his band as they led us through one of my favorite tunes of The Bright Sadness, called simply “Mystery.” The beauty of the songs melody; the intensity and passion of the groove and the great lyrics enhanced by singing possibly the most ancient of Christian creeds - makes this for me a perfect tune.

Here is a taste of the lyrics of Mystery:

Mystery
by Charlie Hall

Sweet Jesus Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus the Mystery

Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again

Anyway - I can’t commend Charlie Hall’s newest release highly enough - pick it up (and if the chance to see him comes along - take it!).

Set List from 10/12/2008 @ Chippewa Evangelical Free Church

I often think about my own faith wondering, “Is my faith growing, increasing and becoming stronger?” I am not talking about in a general sense, meaning when I speak of my faith - my entire spiritual state - I mean my trust, my faith in God, my resting in Him.

One way I often consider if my faith has increased is by looking at my patience and my ability to wait. I think one of the true measures of our faith is our waiting. Having faith when the answer comes quickly is not a real measure of our faith and trust in God - those celebrated for their faith in the New Testament book of Hebrews chapter 11; they were patient, trusting people who waited. Noah waited for rain; Abraham waited for a land and a son; Moses waited by a well in a foreign land (for 40 years); God’s people waited in a desert wandering for too many years (some patiently, others very reluctantly) for the promised land; and on it goes…

One of the measures (I think a pretty profound one) of our faith is how we wait? Do I wait expectantly for God to answer or to relieve my pain - or do I wait pouting; grumbling and/or bitterly? My hope is that as I look back at my life I see my faith increasing and that I see that evidenced by my ability to wait patiently and with hope in my God.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3.8-9]

Today’s weekly wisdom is again culled from Thomas Merton’s great little book, The Wisdom of the Desert. It is a delight to peruse and too often hits squarely between the eyes. The thing that again and again touches me is that the wisdom of these ascetics (people living difficult lives; living in poverty; and often alone for great stretches by choice) is more often than not the offer of grace. Oh, how we need to learn to be gracious. Oh, how I need to learn to be gracious - I am often willing to look at my life through the eyes of grace; but when it comes to the other the lenses of judgement often skews my view.

“An elder was asked by a certain soldier if God would forgive a sinner. And he said to him: Tell me, beloved, if your cloak is torn, will you throw it away? The soldier replied and said: No. I will mend it and put it back on. The elder said to him: If you take care of your cloak, will God not be merciful to His own image?” [Merton p. 76]

And one more today:

“One of the brethren had sinned, and the priest told him to leave the community. So then Abbot Bessarion got up and walked out with him, saying: I too am a sinner!” [Merton p. 40]

Project Renovation is a ministry venture from Lancaster Bible College led by Rick Rhoads, that I have had the privilege of serving with. In my opinion Rick and his team are an exemplary regional ministry and doing a great job serving, loving and caring for youth workers in Central PA, MD, and DE! There primary focus is the development of the youth worker - so through prayer, spiritual retreats and equipping conferences The Renovation Project attempts to fulfill its purpose. The times I have had the pleasure of serving with “the Project” I have been overwhelmed by the care and hospitality they have demonstrated. So it is no surprise that I am looking forward to the youth conference that Project Renovation is hosting on Saturday October 18! Mike King, president of YouthFront, will be the keynote presenter addressing the topic of “Presence-Centered Youth Ministry.”

If you are from the mid-atlantic states it may be worth checking out the Presence-Centered Youth Ministry Conference on October 18 (9 AM - 4 PM). It looks like it will be a quality day of training with some good elective options (and it is not very costly)!

I will be teaching a seminar at the conference; I have been preparing it to share at a couple of conferences I will be attending - I am looking forward to presenting what I am learning! I am calling the seminar, “On The Matter of Monks: sketching a youth ministry for today.” (Although in full disclosure - the folks at Lancaster didn’t want to freak people out - so no mention of monks is being made in the advertising! I instead refer to “transformative faith communities” or something like that.) I describe this seminar in the following manner:

In this seminar the participant will consider the history of Christian Monasticism and it’s implications for ministry with and for youth today.

• What is Ancient-Future? (Defining and discussing Key Terms to guide our learning)
• Why Monasticism? (What do Monks have to say to kids, anyway?)
• A Brief History of Christian Monasticism?
• A Monastic Matrix (lessons and qualities of transformative ministry)
• Sketching Youth Ministry for Today
• Q&A

If you happen to come by the conference - please say hello!

A prayer to commemorate this day observing Saint Francis of Assisi. A model of authentic spirituality. A reformer, activist and spiritual mentor to thousands… still impacting our world hundreds of years after he left this world.

Now, wherever we are,
and in every place,
and at every hour,
throughout each time of each day,
may all of us honestly and humbly believe,
holding in our hearts
to love, honor,
adore, serve,
praise, bless,
glorify, exalt,
magnify, and give thanks
to the Most High and Eternal God,
Trinity and Unity.
Amen.

- St. Francis of Assisi

I have often thought about the seven deadly sins. I think I have probably tasted them all in full or in part - and felt the full impact of their promise for more but instead leaving me drained, wanting and miserable. Too often I have been tripped up by trying to avoid lust and greed, etc. only to find my life going down a black hole of managing my sin rather than living a full life. I think it is a by-product of the attempt to live the Christian life - we can find ourselves focusing on all the wrong things; avoiding mistakes; sin management and keeping up appearances.

This provides the backdrop to a wonderful and encouraging charge from someone who knew how to live. He didn’t live perfectly (in fact he failed big time) but, he charged into life and it seems he learned from his mistakes and focused on falling in love with Jesus. He left us in the form of a letter, a better way. A way that doesn’t avoid the topic of sin - but doesn’t make it the focus of life. He writes to us about what I call a life-giving way. A way to find life to the full! I stumbled across this passage yesterday and it filled me with hope, brought a smile to my face and redirected my thoughts which again had come to rest on former things.

I hope you find encouragement and hope and life as you reflect on the writings of Peter.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. [2 Peter 1.1-7]

Ahhh - Stability. The virtue of persevering - in this instance persevering in relation to place. This is a much needed piece of wisdom that I need to hear and one for our overly mobile culture. Lord, help me, as Benedict admonishes, to listen (and there is that metaphor of trees - I am seeing a theme in my life!).

“An elder said: Just as a tree cannot bear fruit if it is often transplanted, so neither can a monk bear fruit if he frequently changes his abode.”

(quoted from Thomas Merton’s, The Wisdom of the Desert p. 34)