Derelict Theology

Today I was browsing around Myspace, looking over some of the profiles that my youth have created on there, and like most times I’m on there, I got a bit discouraged at what I saw.  To any youth minister, a journey around Myspace would be discouraging, I think, because it seems widespread that those people who call themselves Christians really don’t want to live like it.  It’s much easier to talk about following Jesus than actually doing it, is the vibe that seems to be given off.  But is it really that hard?

Following Jesus to the letter would be impossible, I think, because there are some things we are still working out here in our flesh, but there are also a lot of things we can do that get us pretty close.  What it comes down to, I believe, is a disconnect between “our lives” and the life we live as a child of God.  There aren’t supposed to be two lives, just one.  “Our life” should be the life we live for God, not a compartmentalized Sunday/Wednesday block of time.  In each and every thing that we do, we should seek to honor and glorify God.  That’s where the hard part comes, though.  It’s hard to see sometimes how to honor God in all our ways, and we ask questions like: “is it ok to do this, or do that?”.  I have always thought it came down to asking ourselves if doing something would cause someone second guess Jesus because of our actions or words, then it’s not worth doing. 

People would argue that this would cut out a lot of life, and there are things we could not ever experience.  That’s very true.  But there’s a beauty to simplicity, to simply saying “no” and knowing that it’s something that would never cross your mind.  So what if you don’t experience a lot of things in life that are mostly negative anyway?  What do you gain by having those experiences, and what do you gain from not?  I say that what you gain from not having those experiences is much, much more valuable. 

Grace does come in, but grace is not the license to do what we want, it is the gift of God that we don’t deserve.  As Christians, we make a better statement to the world when we live what we believe instead of just talking about it.

I suppose this is going to be a cheesy blog entry.  Everyone always tells you about certain things in your life that will change you, and you never really believe them until they happen and then you realize just how right they are.  Sometimes I wish I could skip past the doubt and just get to the part where I believe and that would make life a lot easier. 

This past Monday something happend to me that changed my life forever.  Literally, I am seeing life through new eyes every day as I watch the world around me change.  See, Monday I found out that Erin is pregnant.  Something we never thought would happen, but now, here we are.  Through all the difficulties I’ve watched her struggle through, I never watched her give up hope, but I did see her finally become content with where we were, and with what God was doing at that moment.  I believe it was in the moment, when she finally gave it to Him, that He said, “Ok, you’re ready.”

Seriously, she is one of the strongest women I know, a lot of times she’s tougher than I am, but this was something that continued to break her down over and over, and to see something like this happen, when doctors and specialists have said no, well…..we know it’s a miracle.  It’s our miracle. 

As I sit here and type this, it’s almost unbelieveable, but I know it’s true.  The doctor’s results sit on our kitchen countertop and my wife, who is two weeks pregnant, is in bed on the other side of our house, sleeping and dreaming probably of what it’s going to be like.  I never thought I would be this excited about a baby, but I guess you can surprise yourself sometimes. 

April 26….what a day that will be.

I’m going to add a new feature fo the website, which may or may not work.  Each week from now on I’m going to to upload a video of the week, which has either made me chuckle, made me think, or has eaten up my time in some other way.  I hope that you enjoy.  Now, without further ado, the musical stylings of……….RAP CAT!!!!

I found this on a blog that I visit quite often and I thought it was pretty fun.  Below you’ll find some questions about books that I’m reading, have read, and are going to read.  And, for their trouble, I tag…….James, Jeremy, Erin, Mikey, and Steven.  Enjoy, can’t wait to read yours!

1. One book that changed your life: The Bible.  Seriously.  I mean, what else am I going to say?  This is the one book I’ve always turned to, one that I have more copies of than any other, and that influences a majority of my decisions.  However, there is another book that changed my life too.  Blue Like Jazz is a wonderful book, and one that all believers should read, I think, even if they don’t agree with it.  It definitely gets the juices flowing and the thoughts it inspires should create some lively discussion.  Both of these books are precious to me, but in different ways.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: I honestly can’t think of a book I’ve read twice, but I think I should do that more often, because thoughts change over time. 

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: The Bible.  Really.  And Searching For God Knows What, and Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone.  Wait.  That’s three.  Too bad, they would have to bend the rules for me.

4. One book that made you laugh: Mental Floss presents Forbidden Knowledge: A Wickedly Smart Guide to History’s Naughtiest Bits.  This book is hilarious!  Want to know about the Roman Senator who declared war on Poseidon, god of the sea?  Want to know what happened to the soldiers who escorted Genghis Khan to his final resting place?  Love scandal and hilarity?  Find it all here!

5. One book that made you cry: A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

6. One book you wish you had written: Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi by David Crowder, Survivor by Chuck Pahluniak

7. One book you wish had never been written: the left behind series, The Davinci Code

8. One book you’re currently reading: Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: Contemplative Youth Ministry, Deep Ministry In a Shallow World, Boundaries With Teens, To Own a Dragon, and plenty, plenty more that are stacking up in my “to read” pile.

and since this meme only had 9 items, but just seems to be begging for a more neat 10, i’ll add one:

10. One book you’d like to write: Someday, I hope I’ve stayed in youth ministry long enough to write a book to youth workers that encourages them, that helps them out practically, instead of being a bunch of theory.

I’m in an interesting situation in my ministry right now.  Since July 23, three young men in our are have all passed away in similar accidents, all of them involving some kind of vehicle.  The first was on July 23, then the second on August 1, then another yesterday.  To be honestly, it’s overwhelming.  The teenagers here in our community are having to deal with one wave of grief after another.  One of the young men was still in high school, the other two had graduated just a year ago. 

Whatever the cause of their death was, be it a mistake, a bad decision, or being wreckless, they all are a tragedy.  Whenever a teenager dies, it leaves a profound mark on a community and causes a stain that cannot be removed in the memories of the teens.  It causes them to doubt their salvation, and could cause them to turn their backs on God.  Unfortunately, many adults will also do the same.

So, the question is, how do we deal with death, and more specifically, how do we weave hope into the tapestry of despair that is already becoming real in their lives as a result of these events?  For one, we can’t do anything.  We can’t hope to instill peace and comfort into their lives without the help of Jesus.  And we have to be open to His leading, and open to speaking His words.  There will be opportunities that the Holy Spirit arranges to speak truth, and to show the ultimate hope, that of eternal life in Jesus Christ.  And we have to be ready for those opportunities.  We have to be ready to reach out to kids that aren’t in our youth ministries, that may never come through the door EVER.  Remember, they are grieving too.  And in no way should we ever use it as a plug for our Wednesday night service, unless there is going to be a special service for the deceased. 

We have to be open to the Spirit’s leading in ministering to the family of the deceased as well.  We have to be willing to step outside our comfort zones and arrange help and counseling if it’s necessary.  It may mean working extra hours, it may mean going in places we don’t want to be in.  It’s important in these moments to remember that we are the hands and feet of Jesus, physically representing Him. 

 Most importantly, for us, who may be dealing with grief ourselves because of knowing a deceased teenager personally, we must remember the tender words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Dear Lord Jesus, be rest for the people affected by these tragedies today.

I think I need one of these for my church van!  Of course, if brought near my house, the batteries would be used up in one day. 

 Every youth minister needs: The Fart Detector!

[credit to Marko from www.ysmarko.com for this gem]

Sometimes I think the past clings to us like shadows.  No one really knows where they come from, and where they go when they are gone.  Of course, we know for sure that light causes shadows to appear, but they follow us around, sticky and dark; mysterious.  Sometimes when I dive into memories from the past (especially when I’m looking around Myspace and see some people that I used to know), I sometimes feel as though shadows are attached, and that those shadows are growing.  A few of those shadows I’d like to get rid of, I’d like to detach them from my body and make sure they stay gone.

But there are others that I cherish.  I like to keep them close, keep the light shining so that I always see them, I’m always around them.  Those shadows are brought about by the light of time and maturity shining into life and causing them to appear, sometimes in a different shape and place than they were at first.  The challenge seems to be how to deal with shadows as they shift and change throughout the years, and how to continue to find places where they appear, and where they can continue to stick to our lives.