Intersect with God

Many of you know that my home church, Bakerstown UMC, is located at an intersection on Route 8. For the past couple years, our leadership has been using the concept of "intersection" in the conversation of our church.

For example, last year, Pastor Mark preached a whole series of sermons on our new motto: Meet us at the Intersection.

Similarly, our newly-formed preschool ministry, which serves as an outreach to our community has the following tagline: Where Learning and Values Intersect.

I even refer to the youth ministry here as the "X-Factor" - with "X" serving as a dual image: the Greek letter chi in "Christ," and an "X" as a symbol for crossroads or intersections.

Our latest addition to this image is a new worship service, to which we are simply referring as "Intersect." We are hoping to target teens, college age, and young adults with a worship service that has a distinctly contemporary flavor. The service will include a large segment of time for praise and worship songs, but will also include reading and meditating on Scripture, and spontaneous prayer. We will also have an area set up in our balcony with prayer stations and leaders who are willing to do intercessory and healing prayer.

Our ultimate hope is that with this worship service, people of any age, but especially the younger folks of our community, will come to the only place where they can truly intersect with God: the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Please keep this new ministry in your prayers. It was Mark's daughter Lara who provided the initial vision for this ministry, and much of the work is being done by younger folks in our congregation who are really taking ownership of it. I support it enthusiastically and I believe that the Holy Spirit is working in it already.

I pray that the Lord blesses your ministries as well, and as we head into this holiday season, may you all sense the presence and power of the Ultimate Intersection between God and Humanity: Jesus Christ himself.

Preaching to the Choir

For my personal devotions, I'm reading a book by Brennan Manning entitled A Glimpse of Jesus. Just today I came across a sentence that totally resonated deep within me...I felt like Brennan was personally describing me when he wrote that sentence. Does this sound like any of you? "In preaching the Gospel I have been graced to speak fearlessly in the knowledge and conviction that the Word of God must not be fettered, compromised, or watered down; but in my personal life, my fears and insecurities continue to lead me voraciously to seek the approval of others, to assume a defensive posture when I'm unjustly accused, to feel guilty over refusing any request, to doggedly live up to others' expectations, to be all things to all people in a way that would make St. Paul shudder." Thank God for men like Brennan Manning who have the insight to discern the destructive motives that often undergird much of our ministry work, and who challenge us to just "get over it" and live in the reality of God's grace.

Praying our Theology

Austin Farrer (1904-1968) was Doctor of Divinity and fellow of Trinity College, Oxford. He was good friends with C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, and a member of their discussion group, "The Inklings." Although not nearly as famous as his friends, he was a published and highly respected theologian.

Recently I read a quote of his that deserves attention: "No doctrine deserves its place unless it is prayable, and no Christian deserves his doctrines if he does not pray them."

A remarkable insight, which reminded me of another quote by Saint Augustine: "The theologian is a person whose prayers are true."

Isn't it amazing how often in our personal lives, in our churches, and perhaps especially in seminary, we separate these two disciplines?

We often treat (and present) theology as a boring, cerebral enterprise in which only the "learned" can engage. We often use it as a means of confirming our own presuppositions, drawing distinct boundaries beyond which no "true believer" may go. And we certainly do not present it to our congregations as something that has any practical value for everyday life.

Conversely, how frequently are our prayers little more than sentimental "gift lists" offered up to a benign Deity Who (we think) should give us whatever we ask for? Does the language of our prayers ever represent a real recognition of Who it is we are talking to? Do our prayers express our hope in God's will, or are they mere expressions of our will?

After reading Farrer's quote and remembering Augustine's, I decided to share a couple examples of what my prayer life has included lately. I hope it'll inspire you to make your prayers good theology, and to make your theology a prayerful longing for intimacy with God.

INCARNATION: "Lord Jesus, at a specific moment in history, You poured Yourself out of the glorious heavenly realms and entered into the world of humans. Not just a generic humanity. You had a specific appointment among a specific people, with real hopes and aspirations, as well as real needs and hurts. You fully identified with those people, walking among the most desperately in need of help, You touched them, You visited them, You wept with them. I am Your disciple, Jesus, so help me to do what You did in this very specific appointment that I have among a very specific people. Take away my desire to remain in my comfort zones. May I so enter their world and identify with them that they may know, without me saying a word, that I love them unconditionally, and through me, may they come to know You as well."

THE TRINITY: "Almighty God, You who are not only One but Three, You have much to say to my culture that is so overcome with a mentality of individualism. If even You, the Ultimate Reality, exist in comunity, how much more important is it for us humans to exist in community? To draw strength and wisdom from our brothers and sisters? To exist in common purpose with others, even though we might have different personalities, functions, and distinctive gifts? Grant me the wisdom to know that in life, and in ministry especially, I can not pridefully act as a Lone Ranger, but must humbly recognize the need to depend on others."

Thanks for the Memory...

This fall, Bakerstown United Methodist Church has been celebrating 175 years of ministry to our community! From our humble beginnings back in 1832, BUMC has had a constant vision and attitude of expanding God's Kingdom. Recently, our senior pastor Mark Stewart reminded us all of that vision and attitude, and we are moving forward with more exciting programs and ministries.

Last night, we celebrated our "Thanksgiving Eve" service as the final portion of our anniversary celebration, and it was absolutely incredible. Pastor Mark, our choir and new praise team led us in some incredible worship, DS Don Scandrol was in attendance, and Bishop Tom Bickerton gave a great sermon about the importance of constantly giving thanks. It was truly an incredible worship experience.

I'm a history buff, so I love learning about past events, whether they are the past events of a local congregation in Western Pennsylvania, or of the first European colonists in what has become the United States. Our past is riveting story. But especially as I have gotten older, I realize that studying and celebrating our past is mainly important for one reason: it can motivate us to look to the future. It can remind us of the faith, dedication, and ingenuity of our forebears, and it can challenge us to utilize those same qualities to be proactive in expanding God's kingdom today.

Think about the courage of those first pilgrims, who braved a rough Atlantic passing and set foot on a new continent, all so that they could worship God freely.

Think about the faithful men and women of the past who planted the seeds of faith that have germinated into the communities that you are now serving.

Then ask, how can WE make the same impact today?

Let us be thankful for our past... but let us also challenge ourselves to move towards a compelling future.

Eucatastrophe

Strange word, huh?

It's a word that was invented by J. R. R. Tolkien, while he was creating the fantasy world of Middle Earth. Tolkien noted that the English language had the word "catastrophe," which Webster defines as "the final event of a tragedy" or "a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow and ruin." As a Christian, however, he felt the need for an antonym to catastrophe, and so he got out his old Greek lexicon and found the prefix eu- ("good" or "well"). A "eucatastrophe" is a good catastrophe...or "a momentous joyous event ranging from extreme good fortune to utter victory.

There are many illustrations of eucatastrophe in Tolkien's books (and the movies), but two particularly stand out in my mind (and you can see the photos above):

1. At the end of the movie version of The Two Towers, defeat is at hand for the King of Rohan as he failed to defend Helm's Deep. Yet right when the small band of heroes seem totally overrun, they look up to the mountain and see Gandalf, the White Rider, bringing an army of soldiers (not to mention a great Sunrise!!!) and they totally annihilate the forces of evil.

2. When Frodo and Sam finally reach Mount Doom, Frodo is unable to part with the One Ring. When Gollum wrestles Frodo and finally gets his "precious" all to himself, it looks as though evil has triumphed. Yet at that very moment, the unexpected happens, when Gollum himself falls into the fires of doom, unwittingly dealing the final death blow to evil.

So why am I writing a whole blog about one invented word? Because as Christians, we need to believe in the "eucatastrophe." It is so easy to get caught up in the negativity, fatalism, cynicism and despair of the culture around us. Rather than standing FOR something, the majority of people in the world are content merely to be perpetual critics, finding something wrong with everything but offering no positive solutions.

But we Christians believe that a eucatastrophe actually happened in history! Just when it seemed as though the forces of evil had triumphed, on that Good Friday afternoon, it was at that very moment that they were being defeated by the foolishnees and weakness of a God Who can not be defeated even by human wisdom and strength. We Christians have a resurrection faith! We Christians have GOOD NEWS to preach!

And you know what? I still see eucatastrophes happening all the time! In my own life, there were times when I thought things were going pretty bad, and all of a sudden an unexpected blessing would come in, reminding me that God is still sovereign and that Christ is victor over all the powers of the Enemy. God is always surprising me with joy, even in the midst of a culture of despair and death.

What are some eucatastrophes in your life? How has God brought unexpected joy and victory into your life?

"The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of human history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the Incarnation. This story begins and ends in joy." - J. R. R. Tolkien

Amen!

What Are You Reading?

As one of my seminary profs likes to say, "Leaders are learners." Over the years I've tried to live by that and intentionally schedule some one-on-one time with a good book. Still, it is often much easier, after an arduous evening committee meeting or youth event, to simply plop myself in front of the TV next to my wife and view one of the latest installments of House, The Office, or Seinfeld reruns.

Still, I believe there is no substitute for reading a good book and, at least for me, it is one of the chief ways that God forms and challenges me for ministry. Here's a selection of some of the stuff into which I've delved over the past year.

MINISTRY-RELATED:

Tim Conder, The Church in Transition: The Journey of Existing Churches into the Emerging Culture. I really enjoyed this book because it avoids two pitfalls: It's not simply a how-to book ("Do these five things and your church will be postmodern"). It's also not simply a book glorifying churches that were started as postmodern. Rather, it challenges existing churches to reframe the conversation that takes place among their members so that creative transformation can happen.

Avery Dulles, Models of the Church. This is written by a Catholic theologian, and is filled with references to a plethora of other Catholic theologians I've never heard of and never intend to read. Still, I absolutely loved it. In presenting six distinct models of the nature of the Christian church, I believe this book will challenge pastors to rethink some of their own biased ecclesiological practices, and also to think outside the box about how they can "do" church even more effectively.

Norm Wakefield, Between the Words: The Art of Perceptive Listening. As pastors, we love to talk...whether it's in sermons, lessons, prayers, or at meetings. We are often esteemed as the voices of authority and wisdom in our congregations. But we are often poor listeners, and we do not present ourselves simply as people willing to listen to others. This book gives some great practical suggestions and techniques for improving our listening skills.

Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia Keesmaat, Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire. This book is an exposition of Colossians, looking at the practical relevance of its theology for the political, economic, and social realities of today. While I take issue with some (not all) of their methodologies and conclusions, I am glad to have read it, and I believe that Walsh and Keesmaat have added some valuable thoughts to an ongoing conversation.

JUST FOR FUN:

Dan Brown, Angels and Demons. This one has been sitting on my shelves for a couple years now. His theology (if you can call it that) aside, I think Brown is an exceptional writer and have enjoyed every one of his books. This one challenged me to really think about the relationship between faith and reason, religion and science.

Bernard Goldberg, Arrogance. First, a disclaimer: This book does not argue that there is a liberal "conspiracy" within the mainstream media. What it does try to prove is that the media elite of this country are so removed from the views, beliefs, and realities of people outside their own circles, they are simply incapable of having an objective, balanced perspective in reporting and editorializing the news, despite their own assertions to the contrary. This book is extremely helpful for ordinary Americans to interpret the content of their news sources....whether it's the New York Times or FOX News.

Scott Turow, Limitations. This is the latest book from a great writer of legal thrillers. While the plot is not as well-crafted and integrated as some of his past books, especially Presumed Innocent, I thought it was overall intelligent and enjoyable. I think it's a good illustration of Christ's precept that one must deal with the log in one's own eye, before one attempts to deal with the speck in someone else's. Overall, it addresses the "limitations" of human justice.

Fall Back...or Spring Forward?

In case anyone has forgotten, this weekend we all turn our clocks back one hour as part of the "Spring Forward, Fall Back" ritual that occurs twice a year.

I, for one, always look forward to that extra hour of sleep that I'm able to get this time of year. And with working full-time, taking two seminary classes, and trying to be a good husband who spends quality time with his wife...I definitely could use that extra hour!

This morning on my drive down to PTS for class, I was also thinking about this in a theological context...no doubt influenced by early mid-life. As I look back on my life, I think about how many times I wished I had the power to turn the clock back on just one hour of my life. I think about how many times I've given Satan the upper hand and ended up causing a great deal of harm. I think of how many bad choices I've made that still affect my life today. I think about different directions I wish I would have taken in certain areas of my professional life. Is it just me, or do some of you wish we really could turn the clocks back on certain episodes in our lives?

So I was thinking about all this on my drive this morning down to the seminary. Interestingly though, after class as I was driving home, this particular, oft-quoted verse came to mind: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, I believe that meditating on the past has its uses: it helps us learn from our mistakes, it reminds us of God's faithfulness in past events, and it reconnects us with others who have inspired us on our journeys. Sometimes it is a good thing to "fall back."

But when "falling back" causes us to revisit old hurts, to punish ourselves or others for sins and mistakes long gone...then it is definitely time to remember the Gospel message of grace and spring forward in the bold belief that we worship a God who can make all things new.

So while we may be winding our clocks backward this weekend, let's remember to press onward in the amazing grace of Jesus Christ!

Be Selfish!

"The Weight of Glory" is a sermon by my favorite Christian writer, C. S. Lewis. In just 16 pages, Lewis took my understanding of Christian spirituality to a whole new level.

In a gem of rhetorical irony, Lewis says that the problem with modern people is that they are not selfish enough. This may seem like an odd criticism, especially today with the idols of consumerism and self-interest all around us. But I think Lewis is right. We're not selfish enough.

"Indeed," Lewis writes, "if we consider the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us."

I worry about keeping everybody around me happy; I desire economic security, job effectiveness, intelligent dialogue with friends, and entertainment. My mind gets distracted with all kinds of thoughts, temptations, and insignificant details. And these things all may be harmless in themselves. But when I spend all my time obsessing over these things, rather than nurturing and growing my relationship with God....well, that's like a 16-year-old wanting to hang onto his dirt bike when he's being offered a convertible. It's settling for something less.

Guys/gals, I don't know about you, but I want to start getting more selfish. I want to desire God and all the infinite joy that comes with being in relationship with Him. Yes, there are challenges, struggles, and sufferings involved in the Christian walk. But as Saint Paul wrote in Romans, "I consider our present suffering as nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to us."

I want the desire for that glory to empower the way I live my life now. I want to believe that God's vision for me and for this world is worth pursuing. And I want to challenge people who are immersed in this secular, materialistic culture of ours that they are settling for a mess of potage when they are being offered the birthright of children of God.

Personally, I'm recommitting my time to God. That will involve significant time every day in solitude, intercessory prayer for my wife, family, youth, congregation, and the world, and Bible study. I could very easily say that I don't have the time for this...that ministry, my wife, my job, my family all need my time. I'm sure I'll be tempted away from this. But I have to believe that this is the only way that I'll be truly effective at every other aspect of my life.

What about you? What are some ways that you all will try to selfishly desire God in your own lives?

A Plug...

Hey brothers and sisters...

I'm making a plug on behalf of one of my good friends.

Matthias Media is an incredible Christian publisher, based in Australia, that puts out quality biblical resources for churches. I've read their stuff, which includes topical bible studies, great resources for evangelism and kingdom building, and pastoral resources on everything from sexuality and parenting to addressing the threat of Islam. All of these are from a solid biblical position, yet they're also hands-on, practical, and down-to-earth. You can check out their website at www.matthiasmedia.com.au/usa.

Just recently, they've begun to distribute their stuff in the States, and my good friend Marty Sweeney is one of the guys who's heading up that effort. He's based right up in New Castle, PA, and he's got a small warehouse full of their resources. If you're at all interested, e-mail him at marty@matthiasmedia.com.au. Mention my name so he knows what a loyal friend I am!

Seriously, check it out!

Cheers..............

Modern Day Fig Leaves

In his book "The Eternal Now," Paul Tillich (I hope Zilhaver reads this) spoke of four ways that human beings attempt to run away from God. Like the fig leaves that Adam and Eve used to cover their nakedness, these are four ways that modern man avoids the responsibility of merely standing in God's presence nakedly, aware of our fallenness and our inability to save ourselves.

First, humans often use WORK as a hiding place from God. By focusing on our own competence, discipline, and production, it's easy for us to ignore God's voice revealing our weaknesses, inadequacies, and our need to be utterly dependent on Him.

Second, people avoid God by seeking FUN, or the ABUNDANT LIFE. I see it among both teens and adults today...the thought that seeking pleasurable experiences for "me" is somehow what life is all about (rather than doing the difficult work of becoming godly men and women).

Third, people avoid God by their CYNICISM and DOUBT. They look at the misery, pain, poverty, and death throughout the world...and they look at the hypocrisy among the faithful...and find it easy to believe that a God who would allow this is not a God worth pursuing.

Finally, we avoid God through RELIGION. I'm sure we all see this form in our congregations: people who would rather settle for old duties, superficial relationships, and committees rather than nurturing a vibrant relationship with our Creator. This is probably the worst of the four, because in some ways, it's the most deceptive.

I confess that I fall captive to all of these from time to time. I go through periods where my prayer life and Scripture reading are at a bare minimum, and I try to go through my days on my own steam. Those are the times when all four of these things become crutches, and I probably am much less effective in ministering to the needs of others.

The great thing is, Tillich notes that God can transform ALL of these into positive things IF we live in relationship to Him first. Work can be a fulfillment of our divine calling in the world; fun and the abundant life can give us a foretaste of the fullness of God in Heaven; cynicism and doubt can lead us into the depths of God's love; and religion can be a channel of a relationship that is already there.

What are some of your "fig leaves"? How do you flee from a vibrant relationship with God and try to fill up that emptiness with something else?

Love--A Tool of Satan?

This past Christmas, my brother-in-law gave me what is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorite Christmas gifts: CD-recordings of C. S. Lewis!

For someone whose love for Lewis borders on idolatry, this was an incredible gift. The recording features his broadcast lectures that would later become his famous book, "The Four Loves." Hearing that very British, very professorial, very deep voice of Lewis literally brought tears to my eyes.

I had read "The Four Loves" in college, and learned much from its wisdom, but hearing Lewis actually speak these words...full of his insight, wisdom, and humor...reminded me why I admire him so much.

Lewis distinguishes between four types of love: three common to all humans (Affection, Friendship, and Romantic Love), and one uniquely valued among the Christians (Agape -- he pronounces it A-guh-pee).

Lewis makes a major point in this book: That human love, even the very best expressions of it, WILL in the end become demonic IF it is not surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. Our natural affections for our parents or children, for example, can end up doing more harm than good (eternally speaking) if we do not in some sense kill those natural urges in us and trust Christ to resurrect them into their proper place under His authority. Lewis gives an incredible illustration of this "unconverted affection" in another book, "The Great Divorce." It is a scene in which a woman's maniacal affection for her son was so great that she would rather keep her son with her in hell than submit that affection to God and allow them both to enjoy heaven. (A modern illustration of this would be the wonderful Doris Roberts character on "Everybody Loves Raymond," Marie Barone, who, though motivated by love for her sons, actually smothered them and turned them into faithful drones rather than confident, mature men.)

This may sound entirely theological with no practical relevance, but I think it's a very important thing for people to be aware of, especially pastors.

How often do we do things, motivated by what we believe are the highest feelings of love, friendship, or affection for someone else, but in which the actions themselves are antithetical to our commitment to Christ?

How often do I, out of "love" for a person, fail to rebuke them for some egregious error (or worse, outright sin) that they are committing and of which they are failing to repent?

How often do we, out of "compassion," fail to take a stand on the clear moral teachings of Scripture?

How often do we, out of love for our churches and denominations, try to stay positive and keep everyone happy, rather than speaking prophetically and addressing doctrinal laxity, ethical confusion, and declining membership?

We may be motivated by the noblest of loves, but in the end, if not submitted to the Lordship and Truth of Jesus Christ, isn't that love nothing more than a tool of Satan?

"The Least of These"

I have been pen-pal and prayer-partner to a young missionary named Justin Grogg, who is working with youth and children in Huancayo, Peru...about a 7-hour bus ride west of the capital of Lima. Justin is a guy in his 20's from Fort Wayne, IN, and has been in Peru for the past year. It has been an honor and pleasure to provide prayer and encouragement for this incredible young man of God who left his family (including his fiancee) to go be a witness for Christ in an extremely poverty-stricken area of the country, where over 50% of the population lives on less than $2.00 per day.

Tomorrow is World Communion Sunday, and in Justin's most recent newsletter, he shared an experience that I feel is a great illustration of how we are called to share the "Bread of Life" throughout the world. What follows are Justin's words, and I pray that you'll be blessed by them as I was:

Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Earlier this month, I was walking just after I finished a run. As I walked, I passed by a lady who was dressed in rags. Under her rags, you could see that she had sores all over her body. Her hair was tangled and she was very, very dirty. As I walked by, she started yelling at me and throwing rocks (in Peru, to fend off the dogs, you throw rocks). I quickly jumped away, looked back and prayed for her and went home.

The next day, I was coming back from a little store with my bread for the day, and saw the same lady sitting on the curb just a few houses from mine. With the bread in hand, my heart quickly just poured out to her. I went to her, reached out and handed her the bread. Even in her mentally challenged state, I could tell she was extremely thankful.

As I reflected on this experience, the above verse came to me. When serving others here, I am not only serving “the least of these”, but I’m serving God too-what a blessing!! How much more would I stop and help “the least of these”, people in need I see every day, if I saw the person as God sitting on the edge of the curb dressed in rags. If I literally saw God dressed in rags and knew He was God on the curb, I would stop and drop everything in a heart beat, just like how Peter threw down the nets when he realized it was Jesus calling to him from the shore after Jesus’ resurrection. How much more would I give if I saw God in need, not a complete stranger. I want to encourage us when we see somebody in need, even a complete stranger, to see the person as God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to fulfill the needs of “the least of these.”

Weekend Update

Okay, so I don't mean the SNL version of "Weekend Update," although I will say that the above photo depicts an era in which that show was actually funny and worth staying up for. (On the other hand, maybe I'm just getting old and don't appreciate cheap, vulgar humor any more.)

Anyway, I promised everyone a brief summation of this past Saturday's kick-off of a new Young Adult Ministry here at Bakerstown UMC. So here are some of the highlights...

* Eleven couples, plus their kids, plus two or three "singles" showed up for a great dinner, fellowship and discussion. Everyone was in their 20's and 30's (which is kind of good, considering that's the age group we were targeting).

* I had a few of my youth on hand to take the kids after dinner, so their parents could actually enjoy an evening out.

* I shared a quick meditation which said, in a nutshell: Just like the people gathered in that room, the early Christians in the Book of Acts were all city-dwellers, working class/professionals, intelligent, most were probably aged 20-40, living in a land with declining sense of values and purpose, living in a culture with unprecedented advances in travel and technology. Even though the Roman Empire and Postmodern America are chronologically distant, these people were dealing with many of the same deep questions that we are today. So then I put forth the challenge: How do we create the same movement that the Early Christians did? How do we create the kind of authentic fellowship, prayer ministry, community service, and missional focus that the Early Christians had, right here in Bakerstown?

* We opened it up and had about 45 minutes of eye-opening discussion. One of the couples there said they had been attending the church for over a year, but never felt comfortable getting involved and haven't really met anyone else in the pews on Sunday. There just wasn't a sense of real welcome to them. While many of them seemed pleased with the new praise band the church has, we also found out that just because adults are young, doesn't mean they necessarily want a "younger-style" worship service. One couple said: "We see PowerPoint, videos, and rock music all week long. We don't want to see that stuff on Sunday mornings too." One guy said, "I'd just like to do more events like this: let's just break bread together or go see a movie. Let's just share our lives no matter what we do."

* Though a lot of planning went into the event, and I thought I gave a decent devotional to kind of set the tone and give some vision to it, I really believe the most significant part of the evening was just allowing conversation to happen. While I could have had a totally "planned" evening with games, activities, and a "sermon," I don't think that we would have heard the hearts of the people the way we did. At the end of the meeting, everyone seemed to suggest that those kinds of conversations needed to happen more, so we can just get to know each other better, to let our guard down, and let the Spirit lead rather than us.

* I went home with various feelings: I was hard on myself for giving a "boring bible study" when the conversation was what was really important; I was elated that we had a decent turnout and that they seemed excited to do it again. I was grateful to see that other young adults care about the ministry here and want it to grow; yet I was cautiously hoping that this will not become another "clique" in the church that doesn't feel the need to reach out to others.

So, there you have it in a nutshell. Thanks for your prayers. Keep me posted on your ministries and let me know what I can pray for as well!

Cheers.......................

Twenty and Thirty Somethings

In just the two years that I have been here in Gibsonia, I have witnessed tremendous growth in the surrounding community. Ten years ago, the area around the church was, for the most part, still farm country. Today, our stretch of Route 8 is beginning to rival the Cranberry area in terms of new businesses, housing developments...and the need for churches to respond to this growth.

A new shopping center, including a Lowe's and a Target, opened right across the street. Many young families are moving within a half-mile of our property. Bakerstown UMC is in such a prime location and has much resources to do creative ministry. Yet our church has no ministry specifically targeting those twenty- and thirty-somethings and their families.

Until now. God has really laid the burden on my heart to do something about this.

This coming Saturday, we'll be hosting a dinner/fellowship night for the young adults of our church and community. We've gotten a good response to the RSVP request, and we'll probably get a few walk-ins as well. I am praying that it will be an incredible opportunity for people to connect with each other and dream about what ministry can look like here in the future.

Please join me in praying for this. More than anything, I am praying that this will not be just another programmed ministry for another "segment" (aka clique) of the church. Rather, my prayer is that God will use us to be change agents in the church and community, to spark a conversation that will challenge and change the way we think about being followers of Jesus Christ.

I am nervous and humbled, because this is stepping out of the boat of what I've been doing for the past ten years. Although I definitely have my own vision of where I'd like this to go, I'm trying to have no initial expectations, other than that Jesus will keep His word to us and that He will show up where we gather in His Name. I'll keep you all posted on what happens. Till then, cheers................

Time to Serve

This past spring, my senior pastor Mark Stewart attended a large church initiative at a (naturally) large Methodist Church in Alabama. He came back charged up with a zillion new ideas and hasn't stopped sharing them with the staff, leadership and congregation.

One of the key things he has emphasized to us is the principle that in church, every member is expected to serve, and at the large church in Alabama, every member is bombarded with opportunities to share his or her gifts. Obviously this isn't a new idea...I think I read it somewhere in Paul's letters, maybe that Rick Warren guy talked about it in his Purpose-Driven books. But for some reason, when I heard Mark share his thoughts on it time after time, an insight occurred to me:

Why does this only apply to the adults of the church?

Here I am, spending 50% of my job with teenagers, attempting to disciple them to be faithful Christians and members of a church. Why should I merely compartmentalize their experiences of service to a summer mission trip and a couple work projects during the school year? Why shouldn't service be integrated into their whole church experience from the beginning?

So this past summer, after our mission trip, I met with both my junior and senior high groups and gave them a challenge: "If you guys and gals want to be members of the youth group this coming school year, you are expected to serve."

I had sign-up sheets with different categories and specific projects:

WORSHIP/THE ARTS: Be a worship leader when Jeff preaches; join the youth praise band; do the Children's message in Sunday worship; assist with Children's church; join in "Neon Buzz" (Youth Drama Team).

OUTREACH: Help develop youth group website; invite unchurched friends to youth group; help planning local work projects and the summer mission trip.

LEADERSHIP: Serve on SALT (Student-Adult Leadership Team); be a youth representative on COM; lead games or devotions at Youth Group (juniors/seniors only).

FELLOWSHIP: Be a Youth Group Historian (make scrapbooks of youth events); manage the Youth Group Facebook Page; attend the mid-week in-depth bible study.

Two things have surprised me. First, how willingly each youth there signed up for at least one thing. Second, they have (with some gentle prodding) basically kept their commitments. What's amazing is, I'm getting the sense that they are enjoying the fact that they have taken more ownership in the youth group. They no longer come to have ministry done to them by me and other adults...they are ministers themselves. They bring friends to youth activities, and I know part of the reason is that they take pride in the ministry into which they have invested.

Jesus was the Son of God and could do everything on His own, yet He willingly empowered His disciples, saying that they would "do even greater things" than He did (John 14:12). May those of us who lead have that same humility and faith in our flocks, even it means letting them do greater things than we do.

Homage to a Hero

Yesterday, one of my favorite writers passed away: Madeleine L'Engle. Writing in the tradition of George MacDonald, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien, she skillfully was able to weave Christian truth into her creative children's fantasies, influencing generations of young people.

I first encountered her in sixth grade when we had to read "A Wrinkle in Time" in Mrs. Gargano's reading class. Not only was I struck by her imagination, but also the fact that she quoted the Bible and referred to Jesus as the ultimate light who defeats "The Black Thing." After reading that book, my cousin and I actually started to write a few "fantasy novels" of our own...but don't look for them at Border's anytime soon!!

Like the Harry Potter series today, her books were often maligned by "reactionary" elements in the Church who did not approve of the "pagan imagery" included. In spite of this, she touched the lives of millions of young people (and even older people). I frequently have gone back to her books, just to be reminded of yet another writer who "baptized my imagination."

Just a few years ago, I found yet another book that she wrote: "Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art." I encourage all of you to read it; it has some great insights that could speak to our postmodern generation. Below are a couple quotes from that book that really stuck with me:

"Stories are in no way an evasion of life, but a way of living life creatively instead of fearfully."

"To paint a picture or to write a story or to compose a song is an incarnational activity. The artist is a servant who is willing to be a birthgiver."

"We all tend to make zealous judgments, and thereby close ourselves off from revelation. If we feel that we already know something in its totality, then we fail to keep our ears and eyes open to that which may expand or even change that which we so zealously think we know."

"There is nothing so secular that it cannot be made sacred, and that is one of the deepest messages of the Incarnation."

"We look into outer space, and because we cannot see a God we can touch, a God we can comprehend with our rational intellects, we invent new gods to take His place, all the little gods of technocracy, little gods who have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, hands and touch not, and who have nothing to say to us in the times of our deepest need."

"I do not understand this death, but I am learning to trust it. Only through this death can come the glory of resurrerction...It is not easy to think of any kind of death as a gift, but it is prefigured for us in the mighty acts of Creation and Incarnation; in Crucifixion and Resurrection. You are my helper and redeemer; make no long tarrying, O my God."

Madeleine L'Engle, 1918-2007

With All Your Mind...

Okay, I love serving God. I love working in the church. I spend 50+ hours a week, investing in the lives of youth, young adults, people of the community...I love giving practical lessons in adult Sunday school on living out the Christian life...I am excited about doing work projects in the neighborhood, mission trips, outreach events...and I am passionate about God-glorifying worship. All the practical, day-to-day grind of ministry and life---believe me, I'm all for it.

But ya know what? I'm also a bookworm. I get inspired and empowered by reading that dense theology of Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Barth, Bonhoeffer...and even Wesley. My wife laughs at me because I'd rather plow through a philosophy book by Etienne Gilson than watch American Idol (although I was relieved when they booted Sanjaya off). And the spiritual writings of guys like Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Richard Foster and Thomas Kelly have done more for my heart than any talk show, sitcom, or self-help book.

I was converted to the faith by a powerful sermon and a wonderful community of young Christians......but my faith was nurtured by the writings of C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton, and when I was in the classes of atheist professors who tried to disprove everything about the Christian faith, it was Lewis and Chesterton who kept me anchored in the truth.

In "Mere Christianity," C. S. Lewis says that people warned him not to write a book on the doctrines of the Christian faith. "The ordinary reader does not want Theology; give him plain, practical religion." Yet Lewis' book is a classic defense of Christian truth that has maintained respect for over sixty years. Apparently plain, practical religion wasn't enough.

Even St. Paul, the apostle and pastor, gave much practical wisdom and ethical admonitions to his followers....yet his practical advice was always the logical conclusion of his theology. Why should we be humble servants? Because Jesus made Himself nothing and took upon the form of a servant. (Philippians 2:5-7) Why should we love others? Because Christ loved us and gave Himself as a sacrifice for us. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Why should we place Christ above all other authorities? Because He existed before God made anything else and is supreme over all creation. (Colossians 1:15).

Our world today has radically opposing worldviews (or metanarratives, or whatever), all competing for the minds of people....including the worldview that avers that there is no true worldview. In the intellectual confusion today---with multiple opinions, perspectives, and outright lies on the TV every night---how can we tell people to live out the Christian life without telling them Christian doctrine? So many pastors present doctrinal points in sermons in the most simplistic ways because they're afraid that people don't have the attention span, the intelligence, or the interest to grasp things like the Trinity or the Incarnation. If that's the case, why is the DaVinci Code (a book that has chapters full of dense historical and theological material) a bestseller? Why do I sometimes get 15-20 teenagers out for my in-depth bible study, where we really explore the text and look at doctrines like sin, grace, justification, and election? (Although I confess, for some reason I can't get them to enjoy supralapsarianism....)

One of my profs in seminary once said, "If Christian pastors do not engage the minds of their people, they will be at the mercy of those who do." Yes, a heartfelt relationship with God is important. Yes, obedience to God's will is important. And yes, we must preach in a way that our people can understand. But all of this stuff must be rooted in the reality of Who God is and what He has done on our behalf. That, for lack of a better word, is Theology. And we need it more than ever.

A Celtic Prayer

I recently found this prayer in a book of Celtic spiritual writings, and I was really inspired. It's a great reminder of God's continued presence and sustenance in all of creation's wonder. It's also a challenge to entrust the care of my soul in the hands of that same God.


O Son of God, perform a miracle for me: change my heart. You whose crimson blood redeems mankind, whiten my heart.

It is you who makes the sun bright and the ice sparkle; you who makes the rivers flow and the salmon leap.

Your skilled hand makes the nut tree blossom, and the corn turn golden; your Spirit composes the songs of the birds and the buzz of the bees.

Your creation is a million wondrous miracles, beautiful to behold. I ask of you just one more miracle: beautify my soul.

(from Robert Van de Weyer, ed., "Celtic Fire.")

Christian Heroes

As a history buff, I've always been fascinated by the way certain religious themes are played out with very different nuances in different eras of our past. Whether it is the Doctrine of the Atonement, or church administration, our forebears in different time periods have often reflected diverse understandings of these issues, while still attempting to maintain the integrity of the basic Gospel message.

One thing that has changed considerably is the image of the "quintessential disciple" - the heroic Christian ideal, so to speak. At different times in the life of the church, Christians have projected very different conceptions of what it looks like to follow Jesus with absolute consistency, in a way that deserves admiration.

For example, the early church existed in an Empire which was largely hostile to the message of the Gospel, and in that early time the MARTYR was seen as the hero of the faith. Not only Christ Himself but Peter, Paul, James, and early church administrators like Ignatius of Antioch were faithful even unto death, and as Tertullian once remarked, "The blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church." By their deaths, Christian faith was preserved with integrity.

After Constantine, the church was beset with institutionalism, materialism, and nominal Christians who compromised on both doctrine and lifestyle. In that situation, the Christian ideal was the MONK who fled the temptations of the empire and went into the wilderness (or desert) to pursue a radical discipleship in solitude or in small, intentional communities.

In the Middle Ages, with the advent of the Crusades, the KNIGHT was the extreme disciple, willing to take up the sword and risk death, not for any personal or nationalistic pride, but for the sake of Christ's Church and the defense of the Holy Land. After the crusades, it was often the MYSTIC who devoted his/herself entirely to a life of spiritual contemplation.

The Reformation era produced the ideal of the REFORMER who, with prophetic voice, holds church doctrine and practice up to the umblemished standard of scripture, willing to risk excommunication and (at times) martyrdom for the sake of the Word of God.

Finally, the modern era seems to have upheld the MISSIONARY and SOCIAL REFORMER as the two types of Christian ideal. In both cases, their concern was not merely reform of the church, but the expansion of Christ's gospel through both evangelism and social action. Those who surrendered everything in pursuit of those aims have been greatly idealized in the modern church.

So after all this history, I just have two points to make:

1. Notice that Church Administrator has never been upheld as an ideal Christian vocation. Necessary, of course. Biblical, absolutely. But never the ideal. Why, then, do we in full-time ministry spend so much of our time, energy, and passion on administrative duties? If we are going to be leaders in the church who say "follow me as I follow Christ," should we not be more interested in modeling an ideal Christian discipleship than getting trapped in the quagmire of committees, budgets, business meetings, and worship planning? Can we not loosen our grip on administrating our churches, surrendering those responsibilities to trusted laymen and women, while we focus on living a more genuine Christian life among our people?

2. What do you think will be the "extreme disciple" of the Postmodern Church? I can think of two possibilities: The "worldly Christian" (ala Bonhoeffer) who lives in full commitment to the world and its systems but maintains complete Christian integrity; or, a "new monastic" who is willing to renounce the individualism and materialism of our day to live in intentional community with others. I'd be interested to hear more from you all.....but I think it's absolutely necessary to find "Christian Heroes" in our day.

Networking Opportunity

This blog is actually an invitation to all of you--especially those of you in the Pittsburgh Area--to a new ministry opportunity.

A group of younger pastors, mainly out of Pittsburgh Seminary, have come together and created a new network called Emergent Pittsburgh. They have a passion for creative, incarnational ministry and converting the church back to the missional vision of God in Scripture. Check out their website at www.emergentpittsburgh.org.

On Monday, September 10, they are holding their monthly "Missional Cohort" at the Urban Fusion Cafe in East Liberty, from 11 am to 1 pm. It's a great opportunity to get together for lunch, pray, and engage in conversation about postmodern culture, ministry, and mission. At the September 10th meeting, I have the pleasure of leading the discussion on Celtic Christianity as an inspiration for creative ministry among postmoderns.

I know you all probably already have way too much on your plates, but I just wanted to put this out for anyone interested in meeting other younger pastors, enjoying some fellowship, and getting encouraged in our vocational calls. If you are at all interested, please e-mail me at jkahl@bakerstownumc.org, so I can get you directions to the meeting and also some information on the discussion topic.

Have a blessed week ministering in His Name!

Reviving an Ancient Practice

For the past couple years I have been incredibly intrigued by an often-forgotten aspect of our past: Celtic Christianity. Recently, there has been an explosion of literature on that subject, and several of its spiritual themes are finding deep resonance with "postmodern" Christians. Indeed, I've found it to be incredibly valuable in my own walk with Christ, and I've used several of its practices with the youth of my church. One of these practices is the blessing, or benediction. While not exclusively Celtic, it does find a unique usage in Celtic spiritual writings. The word "benediction" (which we translate blessing) actually comes from two Latin words: bene (good, well) and dico (to speak). In its simplest form, a "benediction" is simply to speak well of something. We have often turned "benediction" (like so many other Christian practices) into a programmed, sanctimonious moment, in this case at the end of the service. It is something that only the minister does, and it is so formal and generalized that few people are truly "blessed" when it happens. In perusing their writings, I've found that the Celts had benedictions for everything...family members, friends, new babies, the elderly, the cow they were milking, the birds outside their windows, the fish they just caught, the field they were tilling for harvest. They believed that everyday words and language were powerful, and they wanted to be channels of positive spirituality in the way they talked. I have shared this practice with my youth several times. During retreats, on mission trips, or just in youth group, I will occasionally stand up and just start "speaking well" of each individual youth in front of the entire group. Sometimes I will tell them a spiritual gift that I see in them; other times I will praise them for a specific act that revealed Christ's love; other times I will make it more of a challenge for them to grow in some aspect of their lives. Whatever it is, I try to make it truthful and totally unique to each individual youth. Every time, something incredible happens. After I am done giving the youth benedictions, without fail, they start to give benedictions to each other. During one retreat, I allotted approximately 20 minutes for myself to do benedictions, and the process ended up taking nearly two hours because the teens just wanted to keep sharing. A similar thing happened this past June during the Work Mission Trip to Wesley Woods. Some adults might very well write that off as just touchy-feely, teenaged bonding experiences...but I disagree. Personally, I think it is an incredible alternative to what these teens see every day, including in our churches. I believe that in a world where so much of our conversations are reduced to pettiness, criticizing, fault-finding, gossip, and superficiality, it provided them with an opportunity to bless each other with deep truth and love. It enabled them to realize that Christianity doesn't just offer a free ticket into the pearly gates in the hereafter, but it also alters the way we should relate to each other in the here-and-now. The Celts are right: words are powerful things. I am humbled by how many times I've inappropriately used words in my relationships, when they've been curses instead of blessings. May God give me the wisdom to use words rightly: to practice the spiritual discipline of benediction, not just on Sunday mornings, but in daily life, that I might truly be a blessing to others. Psalm 19:14

The Life of the Beloved

I just finished counseling one of my youth who is seriously praying about possibly going into some aspect of ministry...specifically either youth ministry or mission work. I definitely sense a potential call in her life, and I have known about her interest in ministry for about a year. Still, in preparing to talk with her today, I went through some old books that have been crucial for me over the years as I have discerned God's call on my life.

One of those books is Henri Nouwen's Life of the Beloved. In it, he compares the call of the Christian to the communion bread in Christ's hands. In the words of the Catholic liturgy, Christ took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples. The book has challenged me to ponder how Christ has taken hold of me, blessed me, broken me, and then given me to the world.

Took: When were you totally grasped by the grace and love of Jesus Christ? For me, it was back in 1990, when I attended a youth meeting with some friends. I had been a church attendee my whole life, and my parents were and are faithful believers. But that night I heard a talk about the meaning of the Cross, and a challenge to give my all for Christ just as Christ gave His all for me. Up to that point, Jesus Christ was a historical figure I learned about in church--that night He became a Person Who was longing to be Lord of my life.

Blessed: How has God blessed your life? Specifically, with what talents and gifts has God blessed you that He might use? Unfortunately, I don't ponder the many blessings of God as often as I should, but I am so overwhelmed by His goodness. He has healed me of some very traumatic childhood wounds; He entrusted my care and nurture to wonderful parents; He provided a great education for me so that I could become as effective as possible in doing His work; and perhaps most significantly, He led me to an incredible godly woman who is a constant source of love and support for me. On top of that, He has given me gifts of teaching, counseling, writing, and music, and I am in a ministry that allows me to use all of those gifts for His glory.

Broken: How has God broken you of your pride and selfishness, and how has He broken your heart to the needs of others? One of my greatest experiences of brokenness happened right after I finished my Masters' degree: I was in an automobile accident that left me in a wheelchair for nine months. During that time, all of my plans for the future had to be thrown out the window as I had to accept a temporary helplessness. God used that time period to allow me to address some issues with my family that had been festering over the years; He taught me how it feels to be on the receiving end of ministry; and He reminded me that my plans are never the last word. At the time I was miserable, but in retrospect, it was one of the most spiritually forming periods of my life.

Given: How does God intend to give you to the world? What specific blessings is He telling you to share with others? When I initially sensed God calling me to seminary, I believed that it was either for the purpose of future graduate work leading to a teaching career...or to do youth and associate work in the church. I've been doing the latter for the past twelve years and God has graciously enabled me to see some of the fruit He has reaped through my efforts. In all these years, I always stubbornly refused to believe that He was calling me to be ordained, even though I was hearing it from professors, friends, and even my parents. For the past year I have been slowly realizing that, once again, my plans should not be the last word on the matter, and I've been noticing a slow softening of my heart. After some serious prayer and dialogue with some very trusted friends and mentors, I am convinced that God has indeed led me to make the decision to seek ordination. I believe that through that process, God can continue to use me in more effective ways for His Kingdom through the church.

So anyway, those are my answers to Nouwen's challenge. I hope they'll challenge you to ponder how you've been taken, blessed, broken, and given by Christ for His ministry in the world.

Myers-Briggs Mania

Of Horses, Carriages, and Drivers

Over my week-long hiatus, I read an interesting parable that inspired me and thought I'd share it with you. Eastern in its origin, the parable involves a carriage which represents the human body, a horse which represents human emotions, and the driver which represents the human mind.

We can all assume that along the journey there will be bumps and obstacles in the road. But if there is a malfunction along our own drive, the common sense thing to do is to check out the carriage first. Has it been maintained? Are its joints rusty? Has it been used often or has it been sitting around idle? For safe and efficient travel, certainly the driver (mind) must be alert and the horse (emotions) properly trained...but if the carriage (body) itself is in bad shape, the journey will still be messy.

I am convinced that the times in my life when I am most effective, emotionally stable, and mentally alert are when I am intentional about taking care of my body: eating right, exercising, and getting real rest. This doesn't mean that physical fitness automatically leads to spiritual maturity, or that striving for fitness should become an idolatrous replacement for godliness. But the bottom line is, in the biblical view of humanity there is no split between body and spirit; we humans are united beings, and what we do with our bodies WILL have spiritual, mental, and emotional consequences.

As a person in full-time ministry, it is natural for me to focus on the driver and the horse in the story. But sadly, far too often do I neglect the maintenance of the carriage. There are only so many hours in the day, I realize, but if this thing currently occupying my seat is truly a temple of the Holy Spirit, then I need to treat it with the same reverence and care as I do the sanctuary at Bakerstown United Methodist Church.

I hope this challenges you guys as well, but here are three things I think we all need to commit to in order to be effective ministers: We need to make sure that our bodies are properly relaxed, nourished and exercised, so that our carriages can make the journey of faith more effectively!

And in the words of the old Nike commercial: JUST DO IT!

Serenity Now!!!!

Those words, immortalized by Jerry Stiller (a.k.a. Frank Costanza) in one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes, are words that I've been saying quite a bit lately, and this coming week I'm hoping finally to enjoy their full meaning. I'm taking a full week off just to relax and unwind, and I have to say it is much needed.

Not to say that I'm suffering from the so-called "burn-out." At least, I don't think I am. But I am beginning to realize how much of my spiritual life revolves around my work in the church, and how little of it revolves around acknowledging my identity as a beloved child of God. It has been a sobering thought for me to dwell on lately. How much do I truly depend on my "successes" in ministry to feel spiritual? How much do I see the praise of the congregation as the justification for what I am doing...rather than simply being who God has made me to be and living that identity in honor of Him, regardless of what people think or how they respond?

Roman Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper wrote a great little book that has been helpful to me: "Leisure: The Basis of Culture." He argues that we live in a "work-a-day world" where everything is measured by its practicality and usefulness, and in such a world, there is little value placed on disciplines like contemplation, celebration, and communion. We see little point in simply being still and pondering the truths of God and the world, and as a result, we are like worker bees in a hive, whose entire value is wrapped up in their ability to produce.

I think of this and then I look at my ministry. Do I at times read the Bible only for its practical value of finding good material for sermons and lessons...or do I truly make time to let Scripture preach to my own heart and mind, regardless of whether it will immediately benefit my ministry? Do I say "yes" to every request for my time and energy because it is easier than dealing with possibly offending someone, or am I bold enough to draw a boundary and acknowledge my own need for Sabbath rest? Do I spend so much time encouraging my youth in the Lord that I fail to encourage myself as well?

My answers to the above questions often depend on the day that I'm asking them of myself. But they're definitely real questions that I struggle with. So I praise God that He has afforded me an opportunity to rest in His presence next week, to take the responsibilities of ministry off my shoulders. My prayer is that this week will ultimately make me a better husband, friend, and minister of the Gospel. But even that is using the vacation as merely a means to an end. Really, my prayer is just that I can enjoy some quality time with God and realize that it's enough.

Serenity now!

Thoughts on Teenagers

I remember a while ago reading Jonathan Edwards' A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God. In a nutshell, it describes the outbreak of revival in New England in the 1730's, generally viewed by contemporary scholarship as the beginning of the First Great Awakening in America. Many historians (even unbelievers) have averred that this religious movement provided the spiritual drive that first gave the 13 Colonies a national identity and ultimately led to the War for Independence. The Awakening had political, social, and economic consequences which, I'm sure, Edwards never imagined while preaching in his church in Massachusetts.

Given my professional orientation at this point in my career, I am struck by one particular aspect of Edwards' Faithful Narrative. He continually gave attention to what the youth of his congregation were doing. He writes, "I proposed it to the young people, that they should agree among themselves to spend the evenings after lectures in social religion, and to that end divide themselves into several companies to meet in various parts of town; which was accordingly done, and those meetings have been since continued, and the example imitated by elder people." It was out of this initial leadership on the part of the youth that the revival began.

Later in his narrative, Edwards also writes, "Those of our young people that are on other accounts most likely and considerable, are truly pious and leading persons in the ways of religion. Those that were formerly looser young persons are generally, to all appearances, become true lovers of God and Christ, and spiritual in their dispositions." Apparently Edwards recognized that much of the impetus for, and leadership in, the Great Awakening came from youth.

It has been under two weeks since my youth group and I returned from our Summer Work Mission Trip. As one of my former blogs testifies, it was an incredible week in which the teens and chaperones worshipped our Triune God, became an authentic community of faith, and reached out their hands to others in love. I'm sure its impact will continue to animate conversations here for some time.

Since that trip, I've held two events for the youth: A Movie/Game Night, and my youth bible study where I take interested students into a deeper examination of the texts of Scripture. The youth have invited eight of their friends--some unchurched--to those two activities, and I had the incredible chance to meet them, get contact information, and invite them back for more activities.

I have read enough in adolescent culture and development to know that today's youth are extremely cynical, deeply distrustful of traditional institutions and authorities (and I've seen enough to confirm that observation) but that is only a half-truth, and I think it says more about our traditional institutions/authorities than it does about teenagers.

Youth are hungry for relationships, eager to make a difference, and searching for something into which they can pour their whole heart and soul. When ministers are able to model for them that Jesus Christ can provide the answer to all three quests, I truly believe they will get excited about it and invite others to be excited about it as well. I believe that youth will rise to what is expected of them. If we treat them as selfish adolescents who sit up in the balcony, pass notes during the sermon and giggle during the hymns, that's all we'll get from them. If we follow Jonathan Edwards' example and treat them as leaders who can grow in holiness and influence others, we might just find another spiritual awakening that can transform the church...and maybe our nation and our world as well!

Holy Hollywood!

It seems as though the mighty movie moguls of Hollywood have found the Christian faith to be very marketable among the American audiences. Recent releases such as The Passion of the Christ and The Nativity Story contain explicitly biblical storylines, while The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings have overtly Christian imagery. Occasionally, a comical but still largely reverent parody of the Christian faith is made, such as Keeping the Faith, Sister Act or the recent Evan Almighty.

But throughout film history, several excellent movies have been made which, while not explicitly Christian in their content or purpose, nonetheless present themes that invite spiritual, even redemptive, discussion. Below is a list of 10 films that I have really enjoyed, and that I believe can promote such discussion. Some of them are R-rated, and a few have some objectionable content, but taken as a whole, each asks excellent questions to which, in my opinion, the Christian faith has the only acceptable answer.

There are probably many more films like this out there, but I've chosen these 10 just to start some discussion. If you can think of others, please add them!

1. Seven (1995) – Directed by David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman
Discussion Theme: What is sin/evil? What are the effects of sin in the world?

2. The Game (1997) – Directed by David Fincher, starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn
Discussion Theme: What is the purpose of suffering and evil? Can evil ever be redemptive?

3. On the Waterfront (1955) – Directed by Elia Kazan, starring Marlon Brando and Karl Malden
Discussion Theme: How should faithful people stand up to evil and injustice in the world?

4. Places in the Heart (1984) – Directed by Robert Benton, starring Sally Field and Danny Glover
Discussion Theme: What are the essential components of true Christian community?

5. The Shawshank Redemption (1994) – Directed by Frank Darabont, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.
Discussion Theme: What is hope? How should people translate hope into action?

6. Chariots of Fire (1981) – Directed by Hugh Hudson, starring Ian Charleson and Ben Cross
Discussion Theme: What kind of loyalties should a person have when God is the motivating force in his life? Other than God, what forces motivate people to action?

7. Elmer Gantry (1960) – Directed by Richard Brooks, starring Burt Lancaster and Jean Simmons
Discussion Theme: What happens when techniques, “numbers,” and a business ethic—rather than changing lives—become the motivation for Christian witness?

8. Signs (2002) – Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix
Discussion Theme: Can a person prove God’s existence? Are there really signs in the world that He exists, or is it totally a matter of faith?

9. Glory (1989) – Directed by Edward Zwick, starring Matthew Broderick and Denzel Washington
Discussion Theme: What are the marks of true Christian manhood? How can Christian men stand together?

10. Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) – Directed by Peter Jackson, starring everyone.
Discussion Theme: There’s plenty to choose from. I just included this because I love the Elves and think it would be cool to be one!

Down from the Mountaintop

Well, I survived a whole week up at Wesley Woods with all those energetic, hormone-filled teenagers. What an experience! I will limit myself to just a few observations, as I could undoubtedly ramble on for some time...

1 - Jesus Christ is just plain amazing! He was present throughout that week of ministry, I saw Him challenge, encourage, and uplift every single camper and counselor who was there. Our evening worship services were some of the best that I've ever experienced. And when we had a few unexpected emergencies (like when our beloved bus Shamgar broke down...twice) Jesus reminded us that He was in control of that camp and that He'd take care of everything.

2 - I had the opportunity to work with incredible, godly men and women whose love for Christ is contagious and who blessed me with their presence. Doug "Fluffy" Beitner is a wonderfully talented yet humble man who is an asset to Wesley Woods. Rev. Bob Zilhaver impressed me as a genuine pastor, and I hope he reads this and knows that I heard his words to me and am actively considering them. I absolutely loved working with Deb and Moki Decker every day...they have such joyful, generous spirits. And as for the chaperones I dragged up there: Ali Lapp, Dan Pouchot, Kevin McGrath, and Randy Lucas --- I just couldn't ask for better helpers, and I am so grateful for their commitment to the youth ministry at Bakerstown.

3 - I had the opportunity to witness 37 high school youth create a genuine spiritual community for a week, and also work together to do a small part in building God's kingdom on earth. Teens who I thought were shy unexpectedly came out of their shells. Others who I thought were kind of lazy literally busted their rear-ends to get the work done that needed to get done. And some of the "clowns" got serious about Jesus. I agree with my chaperone, Ali Lapp, who said that if there are more teenagers like these ones in the world, they can truly make our nation and our world a better place.

4 - The highlight of the week for me was being on Lake Erie at sunset on Friday evening, and participating in a baptism and communion service. The beauty of God's creation was matched by the beauty of the two sacraments instituted by the Lord Jesus...Everyone was literally immersed in a visible display of God's creative and redemptive love for humanity. No PowerPoint presentation, praise band, or sermon could ever recreate the transcendence of that moment.

So now I am down from the mountaintop, but I retain in my mind and heart a renewed vision of God's purpose for me, for those He has entrusted to my care, and for the church. And if I can summarize my current feelings in one word, it would be: GRATITUDE.

Soli Deo Gloria.

On A Mission!

This Sunday I will be heading up to Wesley Woods to co-dean their Youth Mission Work Camp. I'll be taking 27 energetic, hormone-filled teenagers, plus 4 other chaperones from my church, up to serve God through serving others....painting, construction, roofing, landscaping....you name it! Please keep us all in your prayers!

And yet, as I've been mulling it over in my head the last few weeks, I've realized just how reductionistic the term "mission" has become in our lives. For most people in our pews, "missions" is that stuff that we support financially...that stuff that happens outside the church walls, in other countries, and usually done by trained "missionaries." But what happens inside the church walls...well, that's not missions. That's all about discipling the faithful who come every week to get their spiritual needs met and, hopefully, to get challenged as well.

Darrell Guder, professor of missions at Princeton Seminary, has written that in the Bible there are actually three distinct aspects of the church's mission in the world:

First, there's kerygma - proclaiming the Word of God, the good news of the Kingdom, that the world might know the objective truth of the faith. Paul winning converts at the Areopagus in Acts 17 would be a good example of this.

Then there's diakonia - reaching out to others with acts of service and unconditional love, allowing us (as the book of James might say) to show our faith by what we do. Peter and John healing the crippled man in Acts 4 is the example.

Finally, there's koinonia - authentically living out the life of faith in community with others, presenting an alternative method of relationships from that which the world gives. The description of the early church in Acts 2 is the example here....and notice what Luke says: because the early Christians lived this way in community, the Lord added to their numbers daily those who are being saved.

The bottom line is this: Christians have been reborn, and the earth is no longer our ultimate home. And yet, we are all called to be a city on a hill, so that all may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Every believer should see his/herself as being on a mission. When we refer to our "work trips" as mission trips, are we somehow not doing justice to the fact that EVERYTHING the church does is "mission"....that EVERYTHING we do in Christ's name has the potential to bring the Kingdom of God on earth? Is it possible to communicate to our congregations that the way they relate to each other as brothers and sisters, the way they worship on Sunday mornings, the way they talk about their church in the outside world....all of these things are potentially missional moments that can give bring either glory or shame to the name of Jesus Christ?

May the Spirit of God convict us, and those under our shepherding care, to live every aspect of our lives in the intentional mission of our Lord!

Prayer 101

I'm currently reading N. T. Wright's little book, The Lord and His Prayer, as a resource for a youth Bible study. It's an excellent book and I recommend it to anyone. Wright elaborates on how Jesus' original hearers would have understood the words of His prayer...that in its original context, the Lord's Prayer is actually a "risky, crazy prayer of submission and commission." In reading it, I've become very convicted by how different my own prayer is when put next to the model provided by Our Lord. Actually, it is not surprising at all that in our individualistic, materialistic culture, Christian prayer tends all too often to focus on one clause in Jesus' prayer: "Give us this day our daily bread." Of course, there is nothing wrong with submitting our requests to God, with laying before Him our specific needs and those of our loved ones. What is wrong is that often, we fail to do this in the larger context of expressing adoration for Our Father, expressing our conviction that His Name should be hallowed, expressing our commitment to seeing His Kingdom come to earth, and expressing our honest confession of sin and temptation. As Wright comments, "We come to prayer, aware of urgent needs, or at least wants. It's tempting to race through the Lord's Prayer, as far as 'on earth as it is in heaven,' so that we can take a deep breath and then say, 'Now look here: when it comes to daily bread, there are some things I simply must have.' And then off we go into a shopping list. To do this, of course, is to let greed get in the way of grace....We owe it to ourselves, not to mention to God, to pray the prayer in a more integrated manner." I suggest that churches often misapply the Lord's Prayer in their worship, their Sunday School classes, and in personal devotions. What if, instead of merely teaching our congregants to memorize Matthew 6:9-13, we actually did something more "risky" and "crazy"? What if we model and teach our congregations to express God's attributes in prayer? What if we preached that hallowing God's Name means so much more than merely refraining from curse words, but actively living holy lives as representatives of His Name? What if we challenged them to not merely see "heaven" as a distant, otherworldly reality, but as the standard by which we should live out our physical, economic, social, and political lives here on earth...and then to pray for God's strength to make the necessary changes in our lives? What if we reminded our congregants that they are sinners who need constant grace, and that they must pray not just for forgiveness for themselves, but also for the strength to forgive others? And then, after all this is understood and prayed for, submit our requests to God. We might actually see that some of our requests need to be reformulated that light. If I understand Matthew 6:9 correctly, the Lord's Prayer is not necessarily what we should pray, but rather, how we should pray. May God give all of us the grace and understanding to take Jesus' practical guidelines and apply them, that we might grow in our relationship with Him and assist others in doing so as well.

Symphony of Triumph

The following is a piece I wrote a few years back, which my friend, colleague, and former roommate Jeff Vanderhoff always reminds me of, so I figured I'd post it here. It reflects my love for two things: Our Triune God, and classical music. Enjoy! We are all part of a great Symphony, which the Composer skillfully conceived at the beginning of time: Some of us are the Melody, our loud voices ringing out with the Message of the Music... Some are Countermelody, adding movement and variety, and enhancing the Melody with our bold originality... Some of us are the Bass Line, not outspoken or original but steadfast and supportive, without which the Melody would have no stability... All of us, playing our respective parts, make the Symphony a triumph. The Symphony is full of tension and struggle, but in the Composer's wisdom and design, the moments of tension always lead to a resolution of joy, while the most difficult sections are also those which challenge our abilities and make us better musicians. As we play our parts in the Symphony, there are three things we must always consider: We must strive to glorify the Composer by adhering faithfully to the Musical Score, and not glorify ourselves by adding prideful improvisation, for the less we deviate from the Score, the more the Audience will be convicted of its meaning... With the guidance of the Sound Man, we must strive to blend our parts harmoniously, that our performance may be a true reflection of the Composer's art... Finally, and most importantly, we must fix our eyes on the Conductor, who--with His nail-pierced hands--directs all of us to follow Him. The Symphony continues, and as we turn the pages to new and increasingly complex movements in the Score, we must be confident in this: One day, all the members of the Audience--whether they want to or not--will give the Composer a kneeling ovation. The Conductor will embrace each one of us warmly and say, "Well done!" And the Composer, sitting in the Balcony, will wipe the tears of joy away from His eyes as He declares once again that His Masterpiece is very good.

A History Lesson (the first of many!)

I recently finished a book by Robert L. Wilken entitled The Christians as the Romans Saw Them. It details the rise of the Christian Church from 100-400 C.E., from the perspective of the Romans who critiqued them. Not only was it just a good read for a history buff like myself, but it also was a very important reminder that we Christians should always be sensitive to how we are being perceived by the culture around us.

Interestingly though not surprisingly, I found many parallels between the situation of the early church and that of American Christians in the 21st Century: Christians being persecuted for their beliefs; intellectuals outside (and even inside) the church asserting that Jesus was not the very incarnation of God but merely a wise man or moral teacher; relativists proclaiming that Jesus is just one of many gods from which one may choose; and government officials trying to remove any trace of Christian truth and morals from the public systems of education.

It is very encouraging to know that 21st Century Christians are not the first to deal with a culture that seems hostile to our message. Indeed, the bitter sense of persecution is probably just what the Church needs right now. Christian Churches have been so concerned with "Power" for so long - whether at the national, denominational, or local level - that we sometimes forget about humility and service. We forget that it is not our calling to force our agenda onto the world, but merely be a loving witness to God's agenda of transforming human beings by the power of the Cross.

As human institutions go, the Roman Empire did very well...existing for well over a millenium, and several of its monuments still exist in Europe as testimonies to its greatness. Yet it fell. All human institutions are destined to one day crumble to the ground. Sooner or later, such will be the lot of the United States of America, the mainline denominations, even my own local church in Bakerstown. This should fill us with despair, but in my case, it doesn't.

Because while human institutions rise and fall, the Gospel of God's redemption has been steadfast and faithful from Noah and Abraham up to the present day. It has redeemed--and will continue to redeem--the only thing on this earth that is destined to live forever: the human soul. As C. S. Lewis reminds us in "The Weight of Glory," next to the sacrament of Communion, our neighbors are the holiest objects presented to our senses. If the Church of Jesus Christ wants to be involved in something that is truly eternal, it needs to be less concerned with maintaining its institutional polity and greatness, and more concerned with its original job description: Love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Inklings of Faith

Back in the 1930's and 1940's in Oxford, England, a group of scholars got together at a local pub (The Eagle and Child), and their expressed purpose was to discuss the implications of living out their Christian faith in the world. This group contained both Catholics and Protestants, but their shared concern was communicating the essence of the Christian faith to a materialistic world...and challenging the ineffectiveness of the Church in doing the same. This group referred to themselves as "The Inklings," and its membership included C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and Dorothy L. Sayers.

It is my conviction that what the American Church--especially its mainline denominations--needs today is a new group of Inklings willing to engage in theological conversation and find creative ways to transform the presentation of Christ's message, while maintaining its integrity and truthfulness. As it is, mainline leaders appear to be more interested in appeasing the various warring factions within their institutions. Regardless of what these leaders say about "our common bond as Christians," the various factions have NO shared epistemological foundations or like-minded vision of what the Church ought to be. In such a situation, those denominations have little chance of offering a united pastoral voice to a deeply troubled world.

So I'm opening this blog to post my thoughts on the future of Christianity, specifically on how we can communicate the message of Christ intelligently and compassionately, without selling out its substance, and without trying to limit the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit. If you share these concerns, please join me!