Today is the second week of advent. The theme many recognize on this feast day is peace. We are reminded that the Holy and Anointed one of God was coming to bring peace - wholeness, reconciliation and well, peace. May we embrace this message of the coming of The Christ. May we find ways to be peace-makers and live in peace with ourselves, one another, our world and our God.

A Scripture for Advent - 2

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this. Isaiah 9.6,7

A prayer for Advent 2:
Lord Jesus, Light of the world,
the prophets said you would bring peace
and save your people in trouble.
Give peace in our hearts at Christmas
and show all the world God’s love. Amen.

The start of a new liturgical year begins today. So, Happy New Year. Advent is that season of repentance, reflection and anticipation in preparation for God’s coming. My hope is that I will enter into this time alert and attentive; looking and listening with greater awareness of God’s working among us.

On this first Sunday of Advent we remember:
As our nights grow longer and our days grow short, we look on these earthly signs–light and green branches–and remember God’s promise to our world: Christ, our Light and our Hope, will come.

Listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet:

The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those who lived in a land as dark as death
a light has dawned.
You have increased their joy
and given them gladness;
They rejoice in your presence
as those who rejoice at harvest,
as warriors exult when dividing spoil. [Is. 9.1-2]

So we pray:

O God, rejoicing,
we remember the promise of your Son.
As the light from this candle,
may the blessing of Christ come upon us,
brightening our way
and guiding us by his truth.
May Christ our Savior bring life
into the darkness of our world,
and to us, as we wait for his coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

I often remind myself as I serve in youth ministry that what seems ordinary and mundane (a simple prayer; a routine Bible study; a retreat; another gathering) is the very thing that God can use as a burning bush in someone’s life. I read a story this past weekend that once again encouraged and reminded me again - “with God any old shrub will do.” God doesn’t need intricate programming or precise and perfected presentations - God uses regular, routine and upright efforts to bring life altering change. Listen to this story:

It begins with a teenager going to a Christian camp to hang out with his girlfriend and “horse around” for a week. Sound like anyone you know? I am sure a few kids come to mind - kids you may have wished you had the foresight to leave at home! Keeping the motives of this young man in mind - listen to the rest of the story in his own words:

“But one morning, we were asked by our cabin leader to go spend a little time in prayer before breakfast. So I wandered out of our cabin, down a hill, alongside a basketball court, and through an open field, and then I walked over to the campfire area, climbed a short incline, and finally sat next to a tree, and prayed what my cabin leader told us to pray: “Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit.” I wasn’t particularly open to spiritual things, but for some reason I said that prayer as our counselor advised. The Lord to whom I prayed that prayer caught me off guard. To quote the words of John Wesley, ‘My heart was strangely warmed.’ I don’t remember what I expected to happen (probably nothing), but what happened was surprising. That prayer, or should I say the answer to that prayer, changed my life. I didn’t speak in tongues, I didn’t ’see Jesus,’ and I didn’t ‘hear God.’ My eyes didn’t twitter, and I didn’t become catatonic. When I prayed, something powerful happened, and I went to breakfast a new person. Within hours I knew what I wanted to do for my life.”

The author goes on to explain his journey from being a regular kid attracted to girls and sports and “enjoying life” to becoming a young man with a voracious appetite to read, study and understand the Bible. This “hunger” to understand the Bible didn’t wane and prompted the author to dedicate his whole life to this pursuit. He is now considered a leading scholar in the area of the Synopic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and is becoming a popular author. The subject of the story is Dr. (Yo) Scot McKnight, and he recounts this story in his new book, The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible.

Youth ministry is important work. It is God’s work. Yet, maybe it is not as “hard” or as “complex” as we make it? Let’s help others engage with God using ordinary (even simple) words and leave the extraordinary results up to God.

Today no ancient wisdom; but nonetheless it is wisdom as old as the earth. The wisdom comes from an unlikely place and yet that is often the place where we find true wisdom (I Corinthians 3.18, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.”) So today we turn to find wisdom in a little known Christian Alternative band. I uncovered this little gem while working in a church as an associate pastor and it was the music of these artists that I often turned to in times of pain, feeling misunderstood and finding myself amidst the pressure and the glass house of expectations that can accompany public ministry.

I often led our youth in worship singing this song. At first the teenagers enjoyed the novelty and the intrigue of the verses of this particular song - it felt out of place to be singing many of the words as part of our “worship” in church. Yet, over time the song became one that led us to some of our most deep and transcendent experiences of worship. More than one time the song ended and a holy hush filled the room; time stood still and we were one with our Maker.

I think of this song often - each time I turn on Skype and see that message about “breathe deep” and many times the refrain of this chorus fills me up as I walk amidst God’s creation.

So may this universal message of God’s wide mercy and extravagant grace remind us of our privilege to know and encounter God and our need to be His agents of restoration to all people.

Breathe Deep (the Breath of God)
from The Lost Dog’s debut album “Scenic Routes”
Music and lyrics by Terry Taylor

Politicians, morticians, Philistines, homophobes;
Skinheads, Dead heads, tax evaders, street kids;
Alcoholics, workaholics, wise guys, dim wits;
Blue collars, white collars, war mongers, peace nicks.

(repeat chorus)

The Lost Dogs performing “Breathe Deep” on Cornerstone Mainstage 2008 (Bushnell, IL)

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?