Give Us A Shot

One of the many things I enjoy about my church is the fact I can be myself. No more putting on airs, no more pretending to be so pious, and no more lying about feeling good when I don't. When I first started to attend a lot of things caught me off gaurd:

1) My pastor actually told me how he was really feeling when I asked.

2) Several members of the church were just as geeky as I am and I finally had some people in the church who not only knew Dr. Who and B Star G, but actually enjoyed the shows.

3) The elders would go to a local bar after their weekly meetings.

I think it was #3 that really threw me for a loop. I know a lot of churches have people who enjoy to have a beer or two, but are so afraid to admit it. In fact a good friend of mine likes to go up to people he goes to church with when he runs into them at a bar so they can know they are not the only ones and can finally come out of the closet. That being said, my church also doesn't flaunt the fact we enjoy a few beers. We also support several AA groups to help those who do struggle with the addiction. I am giving this little introduction because of a few videos I saw recently both using shot glasses as a form of reaching the lost. There are two videos that are pretty interesting. I know in the past I wrote a post about how sad I felt watching a bunch of college kids at pub I visited to hear my friends band perform. Sorry, I am way too lazy to actually look for it to link back to it. In short, I was watching a bunch of twenty-somethings seeking connections in the most negative manner imaginable. None of what they were experiencing was real. I never was in the bar culture even now let alone when I was their age so it became pretty obvious to me that this was a ministry opportunity which I had no idea how to fill. I don't see these "Give Us A Shot" ministries as bad things. I am curious to see how successful they are.

Three Things

Over the past year or so I have noticed that certain areas of my life were lacking. After my bankruptcy ended and the majority of my financial and work problems were behind me I started to get this itch. I couldn't quite explain it at first, but I knew that I was feeling too complacent like I had kind of come to a sudden stop for no reason. Dealing with my mother's illness and death, going through financial ruin, losing my job, and having the church I loved pretty much implode made for a time of harsh reformation. That is why the book of Hosea is so important to me. As odd as it sounds that book gave me a lot of comfort during those difficult times. Since then things have been on the up swing. I am active in a new church serving in the youth and young adult ministries. After temping for three years I finally have a stable job at a medical supply company which I enjoy. Things are good. So the last thing I would have wanted was change. That was the problem. Just because things are now good I kind of allowed myself to become complacent. Being in the game, but only on the side lines happy to ride the bench while others got to play. That is when I came up with the first focus of my prayer: (1) To knock on all doors God puts before me. Over the years I have let a lot of great opportunities pass through my fingers because I was brilliant at talking myself out of whatever the opportunity happened to be. Whether it was professionally, religiously, artistically, or relationally I know I managed to miss many great chances to either further the kingdom or share in great opportunities with people. Then the second point came along: (2) Radical Inclusivity. I totally ripped this one off from Mike Yaconelli. At the risk at sounding like I am feeling sorry for myself it has been my experience with people I knew and considered friends to get to hear about the fun they had together after the fact. I usually ask myself, "Uhhh, why didn't you guys call me? I was around." It is never fun the be the last one picked or the one never considered. Working in youth ministry as long as I have that is a sad fact of life. There are always the few who do not quite belong and get ignored. Jesus always associated himself with many people who would be considered the unwanted ones. And finally the third point: (3) Don't keep me on the sidelines! While listening to the radio a few months ago a wizened older man kept talking about how he never wanted God to have him sit on the sidelines. This guy was 79 years old! He saw such a need for the kingdom's work to be done that he could never properly retire. Man, to be that vital and alive into old age like this incredible man of God! I never want to be taken out of the game. For as long as God has me on this earth I pray that I will always be useful for God's glory. So there you have it. Pretty risky things to pray for since God has the habit of following through with such prayers. I shake in fear and anticipation!

9/11

This is one of those where were you moments. I have heard people who are old enough ask that question about the day Kennedy was shot. Now I on occassion hear the same question asked for 9/11. Living a few hours away from Philly and DC I have very vivid memories of that day. The day was ordinary. Aren't they all? The weather was moderate, the sun was shining, and nothing special was going on. At that time I was working in a finance office for the state, a small closed off room sharing four desks. Each morning we'd listen to a morning program getting a few yucks when one of the mentioned a news report that a plane hit one of the WTC towers then kept going on their usual shtick. We all commented how it was probably some knuckle head who flew off course and didn't know what he was doing. We went on with our business and they interrupted again to mention how a second plane had hit the second tower. Now we knew there was something going on. Everyone in the courts kept working, but we all switched our radios to news stations and find a TV to see what happened. Now I wish I had never saw what happened. It is still upsetting for me to remember the images of desctruction and of people falling to their deaths. What made it worse is thinking about my father who works at a naval yard in Philly. I ran to the nearest phone to see if he was ok and to convince him to go home. I don't think he did. I remember where I was that day. I was probably planning on taking a walk on the AC board walk down the street from my office. Who knows?

So where were you?

Against Legalism

This past weekend my church hosted the east coast Presbitery. Church representatives for the Evangelical Presbiterian Church from Florida to Maine came to my little church to discuss the future of the denomination. I was fortunate enough to hear Rob Norris from 4th Pres. in Bethesda Maryland preach. His stance is that legalism focusses on the little rules that we are able to accomplish versus the big ones which are harder to live by. There were a few things that pleased me about his preaching:

1) He read from a pretty expansive piece of scripture. Most churches I have been to may read one verse here and another there, if they quote from it at all.

2) He's Welsh. Listening to him read was incredible. He was so poetic and passionate about the word fo God.

Afterwards several pastors and I were able to go out for a pint afterwards. Never in my life have I gone out for a beer and left with homework.

The Young and The Godly

NPR has done a year long look on the lives of young religious leaders in their first year of serving. It is worth giving a listen to see how people just starting out view their vocations and their faith.

Life Vs. After Life

Do people who believe in an afterlife take this life for granted? Even within the Christian community there are arguments about whether Christians should focuss more on the every day problems than on seeing people get to heaven and I at one point wondered if even discussing hell even matters anymore. I know that since I became a Christian I was always told to not put my hope in worldly things because this is not my home. Then they'd tell me to look at God's wonderful creation. Hmmm, sounds a tad contradictory to me.

Wisdom Comes With Age

There are many older men and women around me in my daily life. I think I'm long over due to spend some time with them.

RIP: Andre Waters

Andre Waters had a long career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He had fame, fortune.... he did what so few people get the opportunity to do: get paid well to do something he loved to do. What happens afterwards? The clapping becomes quiet, the offers become few and far between, and you are older having to leave behind the things you love. What are you left with? I don't think a person alive doesn't get scared thinking about the future when we are old and gray waking up in the middle of the night with the question:

What have I done with my life!?

It scares me to think of it. Praise God we do have a greater hope.
Pray for his family that they may find peace.