Do you get those crazy questions or thoughts that won’t let you go? They just keep rolling around in your mind - hitting you when you least expect it or hounding you when all you want to do is “veg-out?” Those mosquitoes on the mind just keep buzzing and buzzing in a threatening kind of way. I have had one of those suckers poking about my mind and heart the past couple of days - don’t know where it came from or when it will leave cause the question gets too close to “what it’s all about.” It is a question that I think right now I can’t answer the way I “should.” The answer is too revealing and disappointing.

I wish I could just smack this mosquito and put an end to this buzzing in my head.

The question:
Am I living from a posture or position of willfulness or willingness?

[Willfulness being a posture of stiff-armed distance that projects, “I am in control here;” and willingness is the position of the Gethsemane prayer, “not my will, but Thine be done.”]

I think the concept of helping people immerse themselves into the biblical story is one that we can’t take too seriously. I believe it takes time, energy, creativity and engaging the five senses to really begin to understand and perceive the mystery and the magnitude of what scripture is conveying then and now. It takes more than one step to move from revelation to application. To move from “what it says” to “so what” demands more than just a casual thought - and more than a single step.

How can we engage ourselves and others in the scriptures so that we capture the flow, the time, the issues, the heart, the emotion, the force and the tension that is present throughout the story of God and His people? I think at the heart of the question is the idea of how do we begin to “embody God’s word?” How do enter in and join in the unfolding narrative?

It is easier asked then answered. I think those involved with teaching and desiring to see people formed by the pages of scripture have been asking this for a long time. I know that there is no easy one-size-fits-all answer. Different learning styles, differing abilities, and differing needs of people means that we must have an assortment and variety of tools and strategies to capture the attention of students.

Well, I don’t intend to solve this problem in a blog post, don’t worry! But I hope we will work at attempting to be creative and be willing to take risks to help people get closer and more personally engaged (in a multi-sensory way) with God and the words that He has provided.

A few years ago I developed an experience designed to help students walk through the life of Jesus. It was an attempt to help students become familiar with key events of the life of Jesus and to move through His life devotionally. Through 13 scenes the participant focuses on His coming and on the final days of His life. It is an active process where I envision groups physically walking through the “scenes” in a manner similar to the Stations of the Cross. It is meant to be done with each station lasting on average of no more than 5 minutes so that you can complete the experience in a little more than an hour… or take a bit more time and complete it in two 35-40 minute sessions (you could divide it fairly neatly between the “Public Teaching of Jesus” and “The Lord’s Supper”). You could also use this effectively on a retreat where you were teaching on the life of Jesus… well there are many different scenarios - check it out and see if you can use it.

It is just sitting around collecting dust - read it; change it; use it; toss it; just download it! I only ask that if you use it you send me an email or leave a comment sharing how you used it.

journey-with-jesus.pdf

I took this test - from the Upper Room the other day and I found it both helpful and affirming. (I was reminded of it by my blogging friend - Brian Eberley) It reinforces an idea of mine that our temperament and our “personality” can actually be transformed. For many years while I was in full time Youth Ministry I proudly wore the badge of Type A - driven personality. I found that to be something that could excuse my plowing people over and being emotionally and relationally unengaged…

But over time I came to see that Type A personality in my life for what it was - an excuse to sin! After my life began to come apart at the seams I sought God in new ways (new to me - not new mind you - actually kind of ancient ways!) and over time I began to be put back together.

That was nearly 10 years ago and I have attempted to stay on the path that I started journeying on for that amount of time. So it was a real joy to see some of the results of this test and others like it. It is not scientific or even close to 100% accurate - it does however reveal that a transformation has taken place in my life! That is encouraging to me. God does transform us. It is a mystery how it happens, often slowly and over time, bit by bit God rearranges, replaces, composts, and recycles our sin and brokenness to create us into a whole new creation that honors Him.

So anyway the test I took - reveals that I am part of the school of the mystics (a far cry from the driven results oriented, just the facts kinda guy I tried to be [and thought was desireable] in my earlier days of youth ministry).

The Test Results Write Up:

You are a Mystic, known for your imaginative, intuitive spirituality. You value peace, harmony, and inner silence. Mystics are nurtured by walking alone in the woods or sitting quietly with a trusted friend. You may also enjoy poetry, meditation, wordless prayer, candles, art, books, and anything else that helps you connect with God.

Famous Mystics:
Thomas Merton | Enya | John (the Gospel writer) |
Brother Lawrence (Practicing the Presence of God) |
Desert mothers and fathers | Charlie Brown |
Sister Wendy | Phoebe Buffay (Friends) | Julian of Norwich |
Luke | Anthony de Mello

Hey if you want to try the test check it out over at The Upper Rooms Spirituality program called Method - X

Today I wrapped up the critical concerns course with Mike King and with Jeff Johnson. It was a wonderful experience overall. Mike shared some great stories about pilgrimage. Probably the most memorable and powerful “take-a-way” for me was his statement, “Jesus in the Incarnation, displaced himself. We need to find ways and be intentional in displacing ourselves. Pilgrimage is a way to help us in this displacement and find a place of transformation.”

Wow.

The convention began with a general session. The technology and excellence of this multi-stage production is phenomenal. In the first session for me the highlight was Flatfoot 56. What a fun “old school punk band” tinged with Irish tendencies.

I was able to connect with a number of friends in the afternoon. Shared a great meal with Folmsbee, Matt and Mike. Then Matt and I caught the Atlanta Hawks vs. Supersonics at Phillips Arena. My first live NBA experience was full - a double overtime game that ended with buzzer beater to break the Hawks hearts. During the fourth period we learned that back at the convention during the second general session, Shane Claiborne’s message was a word-for-word reading of the Sermon on the Mount. I don’t know how you top that sermon?! But, at the same time, I am sure some were left shaking their heads.

A wonderful day complete with good music, insight, meaningful discussions, laughter with real friends, and a beautiful day under the sun.

In less than a week I will be heading to Atlanta. I am looking forward to this time. I will be heading down south on a pilgrimage to gather with Youth Workers from across North America for Youth Specialties - National Youth Worker’s Convention (NYWC).

This will be a special time. As 20 years ago I made the pilgrimage to Atlanta for this very same convention. It will be great to head back, maybe with a bit different perspective (sadly not as wide eyed, but possibly not as arrogant or ignorant to think that I could save the world). I have also attended the NYWC in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati (I really need to attend on the West side of the Mississippi!).

I am looking forward to a number of things:

enjoying renewed friendships
making some new acquaintances
pre-conference “retreat” led by Mike King and Jeff Johnson
hearing Shane Claiborne
eating some good grub with my partner in crime (or ministry?)
just taking in some of the general sessions
Morning Prayer (Lauds)
Vespers
Enjoying the moments of each day!

If you are also making the pilgrimage to ATL - let me know in the comments below, it would be cool to say, “hey” and maybe share a beverage.

I also hope to be blogging throughout my time in ATL… so “stay tuned!”

Seriously - just say hey if you have endured the shortage of dispatches from here @ perigrinatio.

It has been a while since I have been able to just sit down and clear my head. I have been busy with life, work, autumn, getting ready for rebound and just too scattered to make a helpful post. I hope to be back on track here in the next few days.

I hope you will join me and make the pilgrimage of life together a better one.

Seriously, say “hey!”

Comment below.

In one Peace… (mostly).

Mike King, President and CEO wrote a prayer for the new relationship between YouthFront and SonLife. This is pretty fitting I remember 3 or so years ago as SonLife was undergoing massive change and re-culturing we invited others to pray a prayer of blessing with us as we labored on a new day in our history.

So again, as YouthFront and SonLife join together to be one - will you pray with us?

Lord God, we believe that you have initiated a new path for us to take—one that fills us with not only expectation and wonder but also uncertainty and questions. Lead us by your sure hand and steadfast love. May all that we do in this endeavor bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A touch of fall this morning in Western PA - waking up to temperatures in the high 40’s. Most youth ministries have ramped up a new season - the fall kickoff has taken place (even though the Autumnal Equinox is still more than a week away). Yet this is that time for new school years, new fiscal years and new seasonal calendars bringing increased activity, more rigorous schedules and new hopes, goals and expectations.

We need to guard against being carried away by the flurry of activity. We need to be wary of becoming focused on all that we are doing. Just as an engine needs a periodic check-up and rest from being run at full RPM’s, and words only make sense with end marks and punctuation - our lives become absurd when they unravel to become merely a flurry of activity. As we “ramp up” the fall season it is important for us to also put time in our calendars for rest, reflection and unhurried time with family, friends and God. It is interesting that Jesus seemed to follow this pattern - a pattern of intense ministry/activity followed by time withdrawn in solitude or pulled away from the crowds with the twelve.

In my own life, I need to take this advice. It is so easy for the calendar to fill up with an abundance of activity and appointments. In the midst of this I need to allow some days to have no ink, and other dates need to be in red saying things like - rest, retreat, and accountability.

Gordon MacDonald suggested in his book Rebuilding Your Broken World that we need to submit ourselves to a spiritual friend and periodically “check the gauges” of our lives by answering some or all of the following questions. It is crucial that we have a spiritual check up and when better than at the beginning or in the midst of the fall season. Let these questions provide a fresh perspective to the activity, priorities and relationships you invest in during this season.

1. How is your relationship with God right now?
2. What have you read in the Bible this past week or month?
3. Where do you find yourself resisting God these days?
4. What specific things are you praying for and who are you praying for?
5. What tasks/projects are you facing right now that you consider incomplete?
6. What habits intimidate you?
7. What are you reading?
8. How are you engaging in play?
9. How are your immediate relationships with family (nuclear and extended)?
10. If a person were to ask the person closest to you about the state of your mind, spirit and energy level, how would they respond?
11. Are you sensing any spiritual attacks from the enemy right now?
12. What is the state of your sexual perspective? Tempted? Fantasies? Entertainment?
13. Where are you financially right now?
14. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships?
15. When was the last time you spent unhurried time with a good friend of your own gender?
16. What kind of time have you spent with someone who is a non-Christian?
17. What challenges do you think you’re going to face in the coming weeks?
18. What would you say are your fears at this time?
19. Are you sleeping well?
20. What are you most thankful for?
21. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage?
22. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God?

Well, there is a lot there. I hope that some of these questions might help us as we check in with ourselves amidst a busy time of year. I hope you will schedule a time with a good friend to be honest about what is happening in and through us. I hope you will follow a pattern of advance and retreat, doing and being, activity and rest.

In a bit over a month in a half I will have the great pleasure of being part of the Evangelical Free Church’s annual youth worker’s retreat, Rebound. I am looking forward to the time with my old tribe. For just under a decade I worked as a youth pastor in the Free Church and I again attend and volunteer at a wonderful Free Church, in Western PA. I have to say, some fine folks can be found ministering in this cool denomination.

I wrote a little “promo” for how I would be approaching my part in serving the youth workers at Rebound, so here it is:

Ministry can become consuming - it is a rewarding, challenging, frustrating, and joy-filled experience; as a result, it can become a dominant and driving force in our lives. In the process of fulfilling our ministry roles with and for youth we can lose our bearings and find ourselves near empty, somewhat depleted and maybe even wondering when we look in the mirror, “who am I, and how did I get here?”

As we gather in Daytona Beach for Rebound ‘07 we will be looking to God and to the Scriptures to replenish, refresh and restore our souls. We will rediscover and experience again the ways of Jesus learning how we can nurture a “sustainable faith” (a faith we maintain and develop week in and week out). We all know intuitively that old saying, “what is down in the well, comes up in the bucket,” our hope is that we will learn to dig and maintain “deep, full and life-giving wells” in each of our lives.

In taking this time away we hope we will return to our Faith Communities a bit more authentic and ready to share from hearts of integrity with our own family, students, parents and others that God has put in our care. Replenish, refresh and restore us, O God.

If you are a reader of this here blog and you are from the free church tribe… please leave a comment!! And I hope you consider making the pilgrimage to the beaches of Florida’s East Coast at the end of October!

Oh, and just to make this a one stop shop… the brochure for Rebound is below!

Rebound Brochure

Brother Roger was the founder of Taize (a small ecumenical monastic community) which has become a regular gathering point for young people around the world to take part in prayer and reflection. I enjoy his prayer as he incorporates the powerful picture of Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus.

Dear Father,

Amen.

The following prayer is one used at Taize, so we can join in praying with the pilgrims at Taize, today…

Jesus, light of our hearts,
since you rose from the dead,
you have never stopped coming to us.

Amen.