“…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us…” (John 17:21)

When I was growing up it was popular among the “born again bunch” to hear a question like, “When did you invite Jesus into your heart?” or “When did Christ come into your life.” A dominant metaphor of many Christians that I talk to is this metaphor of Christ coming into our lives. I have been thinking about this and I wonder if it is the most helpful picture. I know Paul uses it on one occasion that I can recall, “Christ in you, the hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27), but is it enough to think in these terms. Is it enough for us; is God satisfied for us to go through our lives thinking in this manner - God in me.

If this is accurate then I am the host. In essence, I am still in charge. God is a guest. I have “invited Him in.” He is merely a part of my life. God is another aspect of my life which I must consider.

There is a greater metaphor at work in Scripture that we must understand (and help others to understand - especially those youth workers among us). It is the picture of us “in Christ.” That we don’t merely allow God into us - where we would like (where we can stay in charge and if we would like stay on the periphery) - but we are absorbed into Christ. The image of being in Christ moves us out of control. The image of being in Christ moves us from periphery or being the host of God to the place of surrendering to the Divine Center. It radically changes our relationship by changing the position of in from after Christ to before Christ. Being in Christ I think is the goal. For when we find ourselves resting or residing in Christ we become more fully integrated into the mind, will, mission and way of the God of the Universe.

How do you think of your relationship with God - is Christ in you; or are you in Christ? I think we need to think about both being true and both being integral to our understanding of the relationship between God and humans. Do you think it matters? Or am I making something out of nothing?

I had heard, not too long after Mother Teresa died, that if she was a saint it would be a saint to the doubting. I wondered about that - and did some research and learned that Mother Teresa had not felt or sensed God’s presence since the late 40’s. This boggled my mind. Was it since she was surrounded by Christ’s presence in the poor, sick, and homeless? Was it to quell her pride? Was it a “sharing in the sufferings of Christ?”

Time Magazine has written a fairly extensive article on this “little known reality” in Mother Teresa. It is well worth the reading. The “dark night” and the purgation of senses is often a topic we avoid. Yet, this is a necessary and requisite journey all of us take (and some take for their whole lives).

Mother Teresa’s Crisis of Faith

Upside down that is how I envision the values of God’s Kingdom as Jesus explained it. It is so counter to what we see valued and practiced in our world. I was encouraged this weekend as I was reminded of an incident from the life of St. Paul. It was so cool to hear afresh the story of Paul and Silas in prison. To see Paul live out the upside down values of God’s Kingdom under dire circumstances.

Here was Paul and Silas praising God in the midst of being beaten, flogged and put in chains in a dungeon - that is amazing enough, but the story continues. Following the earthquake the chains are loosened (an apparent miracle?) - yet they don’t escape - for the good of the jailer (who certainly would have been killed) they stay put and serve their sentence.

Talk about an amazing picture of, “Love your enemies.”

Just beautiful. I guess I often am guilty of seeing Paul through His letters (which are more “doctrinaire”) and miss these glimpses of his embodiment of Jesus’ teaching found throughout the Acts of the Apostles. It was a great reminder - and incredibly challenging. What a model for us to follow. May I be found in my everyday loving my enemies, praising God in all my circumstances and being satisfied even if my lot is to suffer for Christ’s sake.

It seems as I look around this world we call home… that often what motivates action is fear, guilt, or vengeance - or some combination thereof. I know that is pretty cynical. But it seems that from congress to the school house too often (how about that) we hear underlying building programs and new initiatives this motivation mix of fear (someone is going to out do us), guilt (it has been a long time coming), or vengeance (never again!).

I know that few things happen from pure motives (meaning only one motive) - it is most often a mix of motivations - but it has me thinking, what motivates youth ministry in my church?

Is it guilt? Are we attempting to make up for some past failures by providing “the best” for the next generation?
Is it fear? Are we trying to provide an alternative to the world in order to protect our children?
Is it vengeance? Are we trying to prove something to someone?

What are the motivations that move us or our church into ministry with teens? I am sure it is a mixture of all kinds of inner forces. Though, I am coming to learn and be convinced of this - if love is not a growing factor amidst those other competing factors, it’s not worth much.

God, may a holy love infuse our desires and motivations as we minister to others. May the love which moved Jesus from heaven to earth be the mark of your bride. May love rain on your church and be the fragrance she is known for. On earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.

early morning hours

stillness lingers on
not a drop spills over top
Mystery filling

awakened to find
each moment flashes your touch
new eyes moving slow

confined to God speed
brings a fresh way to be now
stillness lingers on

greeting a new day

Yesterday I had an internal meltdown. It came out of nowhere. The next thing I knew I was brooding, obsessing, reliving, rehashing, stewing, fuming, angry, frustrated, and thinking about what I could have said. I lived and relived in the past and was blinded to anything that was going on right here, right now. It didn’t last too long and then it subsided (I take heart that such episodes are less frequent and more short-lived).

It was interesting that in the midst of all these regurgitated bad feelings about bygone eras - I was able to “observe myself.” I was able to think, “hmm, where is this coming from? Why am I reliving and fuming about this? It really isn’t that big of deal. Why am I so angry?”

A low simmering anger and frustration that occasionally erupts and taking trips down memory lane are two of my not so pretty sides. It is a side I show to those I love most dearly - but seem to hide fairly competently from others. So yesterday, as I relived one of these petty incidents of the past I realized, I have a long way to go on the road of transformation. Yet I was also strangely encouraged, because although I am not transformed, I am on the right road.

For years (I have called myself a Christian or Christ follower for over 25 years) I thought transformation would result from my belief - correct assumptions and rightly understood certainties grounded in an orthodox theology. I thought it was my mastery of God and His revelation that would somehow enter my synapses and begin to change my behavior. You know for a while this did work - I began to think differently and some of my behaviors changed. But if I am honest transformation along that “right thinking” road slowed not long after I started trudging down it.

The road to transformation is a winding road that certainly includes our minds but it also must engage our emotions, our will, our relationships and our behavior. The road to transformation I have now found and am stumbling down winds through doubts, conversations and a realization that my attempt to “master God” is a climb up an infinite mountain (and one can be awed or despair in the frustration). Ahh, mystery - embrace it for at least on the road I am on - it is ’round every corner!! (Certainty is way over-rated, anyway).

The mysterious road to transformation is a road where we encounter doubts, set-backs, and frustrations, but also it is a road that slowly changes us as we engage in conversations (with soul friends), journey for a time with fellow pilgrims (enjoy community and hitchhike on the notes left behind by others who have been this way), encounter new ways of traveling (discover and try new spiritual practices), study the map (bad metaphor - don’t sue me!), and take new steps in the direction of the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.

I am a person in need of transformation - but I am encouraged by the road God has helped me to stumble onto. I don’t have it all figured out - this soul stuff is weird. I trust God, He is good - so sometimes even though I feel like I am in the fog - I figure the cloud of mystery has merely enveloped me for a time! I take courage in the following quotes from Chesterton’s, Orthodoxy:

“Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad, but chess players do.” He elaborates on this observation by saying, “Poetry is sane because it floats easily in an infinite sea; reason seeks to cross the infinite sea and so make it finite.” Later, he adds, “Mysticism keeps men sane. As long as there is mystery, there is health.”

So, have you found yourself on either of these roads (road of “right thinking” or the road with mystery round every corner), or have you discovered some other roads that have led you into the ever evolving relationship with God?

I want to strongly recommend that if you are in youth ministry in any fashion, that you read Dino’s post over at Z Life. I have been guilty of the tactics he mentions in the past - and he called me to task and I would encourage us all to listen to his challenge.

Check it out - Motivational Advice.

So I have been tagged over at Calacirian. A meme (whatever that is) has been started to identify a list of 5 things you dig about Jesus. So I am supposed to list them and tag 5 more folks… (who then, if you would be so kind would then leave a link to this old post in their list and so on…).

Okay here I go, 5 things I dig about Jesus…

1. I like that Jesus overcame the power of His day through weakness (and demonstrated his power in weakness - through serving, healing, suffering, and dying).

2. I am completely caught up in the paradox of Jesus and His teaching (strength through weakness, living by dying, leading by serving, be first by being last, love your enemies) - He didn’t just teach it, he lived it.

3. Well I hinted at it (okay I flat out said it, but it bears repeating) - I dig that Jesus didn’t come merely teaching a philosophy or sermonizing to hear himself - Jesus modeled and lived consistently what came out of his mouth. Jesus was a complete message - attitude, lifestyle, actions, and words all converged in a beautiful symphony ushering in His Kingdom on earth.

4. I dig that Jesus lived a balanced life - one that took time for feasting and fasting; action and rest; ministry and solitude; laughter and tears; time hanging with friends and time for the lost, least and last; time for worship and time for serving; time with His heavenly Father and time blessing little kids… Jesus was so together, so perfectly balanced, so whole and always present in the moment for whatever was taking place.

5. I dig that Jesus is love. Love embodied. This quote has been attributed to Napoleon (don’t know if it is true)… but it gets at why I dig Jesus (the Prince of Peace).

“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.” - Napoleon

so now I tag, the follow - what are 5 things you dig about Jesus, Hmmmm?

Dan Mayes
Friar Tuck
Mark Riddle
Monty the Nazarene!
Rustin Smith

and one more… Brian Eberly

Looking forward to seeing each of these reasons!!

Who are the individuals in your life that help to refresh, renew and revitalize your connection and union with God? This is a personal question I have been struggling with myself. I went through a geographical transition about two and a half years ago and I haven’t found people in close proximity to me who help me make sense of my journey with God and His people.

I have found that I need others in my life - folks who have access to my inner life and my real struggles or I can drift and become inauthentic. I long for people in my life that help me stretch my thinking and ways of looking at and considering life. I need that one special relationship with another person who can act as a spiritual counselor or director. I need some friends who I can be real around (and they will still accept me) and who also have permission to kick my butt (lovingly mind you) when I really need it (and I obviously can play the same role in their lives). I am at a point where this void in my life is one that I am noticing and it needs attention (it’s beginning to become a dull ache).

Who are the soul friends in your life? Who is the individual (or individuals) who act as Spiritual Guides in your life?

I have begun to really pray about this in my own life. I am taking to heart the following quotes I ran across from the desert fathers…

“Basil (d. 379), bishop of Caesarea, urged Christians to find a suitable person ‘who may serve you as a very sure guide in the work of leading a holy life,’ one who knows ‘the straight road to God.’ Basil warned, ‘To believe that one does not need counsel is great pride.’”

And this saying of the Celtic Christians, “Anyone without a soul friend is a body without a head.” (as quoted in Bruce Demarest, Spiritual Guide p. 46)

May we be diligent in praying for and seeking relationships that refresh.

I have a problem - many of you can probably understand or appreciate, I can never have too many books. There is always one more or another that is calling to be read. It really isn’t a serious problem, but I do love books. I love everything about them - I enjoy them in libraries, bookstores, and probably most of all stacked by my chair in the living room, and next to my bed! I don’t think I will ever be one to adopt reading books on electronic pads or listening to books on my ipod - I enjoy too much the feel of a book in my hand and turning pages!

I acquired three new friends in the past 12 hours. Well, to be truthful, they aren’t “new” friends - they are new works from old friends. I have acquired the following books:

Chris Folmsbee - A New Kind of Youth Ministry

Chris is the CEO and President of Sonlife Ministries and is already at work on his second book (tentatively titled, Story, Signs and Sacred Rhythms). I am looking forward to reading this book (besides Chris being a close friend, he is also a great resource for those working with youth in the church) - this is a book I have anticipated reading since it came out at the YS Convention in Cincy this past November, and one I look forward to reviewing. I have already scanned the contents and know I will be encouraging my church youth ministry team to go through it as we dream, pray and consider how to improve our ministry with/for youth.

Thomas Merton - A Book of Hours (edited by Kathleen Deignan)

This is meant to be a daily guide for leading a person in contemplative prayer over the course of a week with the pre-eminent 20th century spiritual guide, Thomas Merton. I have found Merton to be extremely challenging and often his writing has caused me to ponder a thought for days… and that is a good thing. The book is designed beautifully and has readings and prayers for prayer at Dawn, Day, Dusk & Dark for Sunday through Saturday.

A small taste: “I only have time for eternity.”

Think on that nugget from Merton for more than a second.

Dr. Bruce Demarest - soul guide (Following Jesus As Spiritual Director)

The third and final book came to my attention as a recommendation from a friend. It is right up my alley and the things that I am thinking about these days. It looks like a helpful and enjoyable read. What I have read so far is engaging and produces a lot of nods of the head and agreeable sounds.

A taste… (a bit more than Merton!)

As Christians we confess that Jesus the Christ is the fullness of God, come to us in human flesh to offer us the example of a life lived perfectly under the guidance and direction of God. As such, Jesus Himself is the perfect paradigm for completed humanity and the pattern for Christian ministry. Looking to Jesus as human beings we find answers to the questions and issues with which we all struggle. Looking to Jesus as disciples we find in Him the perfect pattern of how to minister grace to spiritual seekers.

Looking foward to gleaning more from these new books from old friends! Hope to share a full review of each of these selections with you!