In the week or weeks ahead I will be posting the following (so I hope you will stay tuned):

Book reviews of a couple of fairly recent reads: The Great Giveaway by Fitch, The Search for God and Guinness by Mansfield and finally Book, Bath, Table and Time by Edie.

I also will be doing a post on Youth Ministry and the place of baptism in our theological and practical approach.

Finally I will be doing a post in the near future on A Prepositional Gospel 2.0.

Here in the east many are bracing for some serious weather - if it is affecting you - be safe and enjoy the “break” as the weather limits your activities. If your team is in the Super Bowl - well enjoy. I am anticipating a great super bowl menu, a shoot out of a game, and a few choice adult beverages.

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” -John Ruskin

Peace!

I have been giving a good bit of thought to the topic of The Gospel; really just attempting to think about clear ways to share the “heart” of God’s story. I have always thought that the Gospel reduced to, “Jesus died for you” was far too diluted and narrow (The Gospel is more than a theory of Substitutionary Atonement). I also think making the Gospel message a couple of steps of actions (1. Accept that God loves you. 2. Acknowledge and Repent. 3. Pray this…, etc.) makes it a far too process oriented thing and too dismissive - “Well, I took care of that.” (The Gospel is more than a golden ticket to the Chocolate Factory - or Heaven, as the case may be).

So I have some presuppositions about what the Gospel is and is not.

The Gospel in my mind is not just a “way to get saved” or the message that merely gets us started in the Christian life. When I think about the Gospel - I am thinking of it in terms of the “heart” of what God is doing in our world. Why is God involved in the affairs of Planet Earth at all? I also am thinking about the Gospel in terms of its ramifications for our lives. I think the heart of God’s story (the Gospel) obligates those who enter into the story on a lifelong journey of both understanding and appropriating this narrative into our life and world. With that in mind, the following is one (of many ways) that I have been thinking about as the essence of the Gospel story (I must acknowledge that the message in our church service yesterday - really helped this bumble of thoughts click to allow me to share them in this fashion).

On to a prepositional gospel:

God is with us - we see this very clearly in both the Creation narrative and in the promise and coming of Emmanuel (God’s new creation). God is near to all of us - will we open our eyes and become attentive to the God who is with us?

God is for us - we see this in the Exodus event and in Jesus willingness to walk toward and endure the cross (To gain victory over sin, death, & the devil). God is not merely with - but he is on our side - will we avail ourselves to God’s power, direction and loving provision?

God is in us - we see this in the promise of the new covenant (a new law written on our hearts) and the resurrection and ascension that leads to the sending of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. God is desiring to make His dwelling place in our lives - will we allow God to work into us His fruit that we might work it out into our communities - for the sake of others?

Any thoughts? What are the strengths of distilling out the Gospel in this way? What are the weaknesses?

I feel an affinity to Celtic Christianity for a variety of reasons:

-it was indigenous - first Christian mission that was not first Romanized (Civilized) before being Christianized
-it was about community / very tribal (belonging to the community often preceded having faith in the Christian message)
-it saw hospitality as a means of being Christ to another and placed a high value on the practice
-monasticism was at the center of their practice of Christianity and integral to its expansion
-it celebrated natural revelation
-it sacramental-ized every day acts - the folding of clothes, the making of beds, the awakening of fire/coals, etc (making them acts of praise/prayer)
-it provided a place for beauty and aesthetics
-it was unequivocally trinitarian
-the openness to God’s activity in revealing Himself right NOW

These are things that readily come to mind as I consider what the Celtic Church offers [and much of what they offer is needed in our world today]. For this reason I celebrate today with many in the Church who thank God for St. Patrick and his faithfulness in carrying on God’s story of redeeming and restoring this world.

The prayer that follows is very famous, The Breastplate of St. Patrick (note it’s themes of protection) - it is a prayer of lyrical beauty and carries many of the themes discussed above. I encourage you to pray it today as we remember St. Patrick.

The Breastplate of St. Patrick
(also referred to as St. Patrick’s Lorica)

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through the confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.

I want to continue considering the legacy of Youth Ministry - I am wondering in our current regime, “what are we passing on?” In the first post we looked at what we are leaving students in the area of content. I suggested maybe we need to revisit the tradition of the Catechism. (Read the post here)

In this post I would like to raise (or rant about) the question of: what are we passing on through our approach to youth ministry as it relates to ecclesiology?

How are students leaving our youth ministries thinking about, The Church? Are our youth ministries grounded in a healthy image and theology of The Church? I believe this question is vital in measuring or evaluating the health and value of our ministry to youth. The likelihood of a young person being a part of the Church in the future will be tied I think in large part to this question.

My observation is that in youth ministry we have not done a great job in helping teens be aware of the importance of participation with all the people who are part of the Body of Christ. Equally I don’t think we have helped students see their necessary and unique role in the local expression of The Church. I think we do great at getting kids to come to a church building and be active in the church building (via attraction-al activities; great programs; etc.) - but too often these are age specific experiences sequestered from the rest of what is taking place in that community. In my mind this doesn’t do the church (the priority of and purpose for) justice. This is a very truncated and impotent view of the church (the church as a building or a place to hang out with people like me).

Isn’t the church about being Christ’s body on earth? Isn’t the church mandated to continue the work of Christ in announcing and demonstrating His Kingdom on Earth? Isn’t the Church the gathered people of God - all His people a diverse group (of all races, shapes, ages, and gifts) of sinners in process of becoming saints? Isn’t the Church about gathering to communally demonstrate and celebrate the goodness, greatness and glory of God and then scattering to be the hands and feet of God in the midst of our community?

So what are we passing on to students about the church through our youth ministry? Are they getting it? My prayer is that we will pass on a vibrant picture and experience of the Church so they don’t decide to pass on it when they graduate.

Peace.

This prayer of St. Teresa of Avila kept going through my mind as I was writing so I add it here for all our benefit:

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours,

Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.

Laying awake in bed this morning I began to consider the question of this post. What are we passing on? In youth ministry are we passing on the Christian Tradition? What does that look like? I guess I am really thinking about the so-called conservative or evangelical brand of youth ministry - what is the (real objective and measurable) “tradition” or legacy we are handing over to our students.

Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come. [ Psalm 71.18]

When I think of that passage I wonder - what are we leaving the next generation with? (3 reasons to wait? have a quiet time? funny anecdotes? memories of other cultures?) As I was thinking about this I again was struck with the memory of reading Christian Smith’s book, Soul Searching. One of the factoids that I can’t escape is that after interviewing a bunch (that is a technical term) of adolescents about their beliefs - the most theological statement that emerged from his hours and hours of interviewing was, “Jesus died for me.”

This can’t be our heritage.

As a person involved in Youth Ministry - this can’t be the fruit of the hours and the energy and the resources that have been given and sacrificed.

Can I suggest that we return to the legacy of passing on a tradition of Catechism?

Let’s provide youth with a bit more substance than, “Jesus died for me” (that may be a good start but do students understand why Jesus had to die; and do they understand the obligations involved in appropriating that death?) - and augment that with helping them understand the meaning and memorizing the words of:

The Great Commandment
The Ten Commandments
The Lord’s Prayer
The Apostles Creed

Then let’s ensure they understand how to approach and participate in the Sacraments.

Any thoughts?

This week I head, along with a good friend, to the Great White North. I had no idea how much colder it was up there than here in Western PA; man I got to pack the long johns!! I am heading up to host a Spiritual Retreat as a pre-conference option for the Canadian Youth Worker’s Conference. I will also be one of the “Spiritual Directors” during the conference.

I am looking forward to the time. It will be wonderful to get reacquainted with some friends from long ago (my schooling days) and also seeing some of my colleagues and friends that I have the pleasure of serving with through Sonlife/Youthfront.

Well this is sorta a public service announcement letting you know that I don’t know how much I will be posting over the next week - but I will return if it is quiet (kinda depends on the access to wifi in Toronto).

A prayer I have been lifting up in preparation of my time in Canada… (From the late Brother Roger of Taize)

Dear Father,
Like your disciples on the road to Emmaus,

we are so often incapable of seeing
that you,
O Christ, you are our companion on the way.

But, when our eyes are opened,

we realise that you were speaking to us,

even though perhaps we had forgotten you.

Then the sign of our trust in you is that,

in our turn, we try to love,
to forgive with you.

Independent of our doubts or even our faith,
O Christ,
you are always there:
your love burns in our heart of hearts.
Amen.

Have you ever been asked, “What time is it?” Stupid question or maybe I meant it as a rhetorical question. Of course, we have all have been asked, “What time is it?” Lately I have been tempted to respond, “The time is now.” Not to be a “smart-alec” or a “wise guy” but to make a person pause and think.

Round my parts we have traded in the rakes of fall for the shovels of snow fall; and last night as I walked up from the barn crunching the new fallen snow and watching a light flurry in the moon light - well time didn’t matter. It was one of those “time standing still” moments; when the past is forgotten and the future stays distant and now absorbs the whole person (mind, will, emotions and spirit). Unfortunately this is an all to rare experience. We are often so absorbed with “time” (in a chronological sense) that we never enter the now (When is “now,” if we are always responding to the past or preparing for the future?).

During one of my earliest New Testament Greek lessons I discovered the two primary Greek words that convey the idea for time: Chronos and Kairos. The former conveys as you can probably tell the idea of chronological time (which we desire to measure with preciseness with watches and clocks that can click off hours, minutes, seconds and nano seconds); the latter conveys another type of time - time as opportunity.

Kairos, is the “fullness of time,” time beyond deadlines and “time is money” embracing instead each moment as an opportunity to enter into NOW. Now is where we can be. Now is where we are present to God’s activity; the words of another; the beauty or tragedy of the created order and where we live “to the full” (in our senses, our divinely created purpose and to our potential as human). It has been observed that Heaven will be an “eternal now.”

My desire is to be able to enter more fully in to the time that is now. For it is only in the present that one can be (in the past I was and in the future I may be…).

I was at a youth meeting recently at a local church and leaned over to a good friends and whispered, “Prayer as a crowd control.” He happened to be a veteran youth worker, and a huge grin formed over his face as he nodded repeatedly.

Have you ever done this? I know in years past I was “guilty as charged.” You just hear the phrase and you know of what I am speaking, right?

You walk up in front of a crowd of students (or other audience) to welcome or to introduce someone or the next item on the agenda - and no one seems to be listening. You try again, repeatedly attempting to get folks attention (seconds of failure turn into a minute) and people start shushing and saying, “quiet down.” Then it happens. You raise your voice just a bit and utter the magic words, “Let’s pray.” You pause and bow your head. Just like that - shuffling stops, voices diminish and a stillness sets over the crowd.

Prayer as crowd control…

Prayer isn’t about controlling others. Prayer isn’t about pushing our agenda or a technique to acquire what we want - but too often we use it in such a fashion.

Let’s make a resolution - no more prayer as crowd control - instead let’s work harder at gaining the attention of our audience with other techniques. Let’s leave prayer as a means to give God our full attention and to align our lives to His will.

On earth, as it is in Heaven.

peace.

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?

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]