A Prayer for Forgiveness

Hit the Back Button to Move Fwd: desert thoughts

Lord forgive us for we don't know what we're doing...

to the land, our land
our children's land
our children's children's land
oceans, waters, earth, soil, air, animals...

Lord forgive us for we don't know what we're doing...

we consume, and sleep... sleep and consume
taking what we want...
turning our eyes away from need
lifting hands to fill our pockets
fill our dreams
fill our desires
sending our souls into bankruptcy

Lord forgive us for we don't know what we're doing....

we want revenge when we are hurt
we want an eye for an eye
sometimes we want a life for an eye
or at least an eye for a life
whatever it is- we want something to be done
to erase the pain, the hurt, the violence, the bloodshed
but peace does not send me to that place...
of healing, wholeness... peace is too hard.... to impractical

Lord forgive us for we don't know what we're doing...

we've forgotten our stories
we don't look at the family pictures anymore
we forget Your story
the redemption that followed
the peace that you offered
the healing that came
you changed our names but we forgot how to spell them
forgot how to say them
still going by the same names...
it's just easier that way

So in this day of
exploitation
consumption
hate and violence
spiritual and social amnesia

Forgive us when we stray or fall or do harm to you or neighbor....
and continue to use us as blessings, despite ourselves.

amen.

THOUGHTS ON WAR FROM A METHODIST- pt.2

According to our United Methodist Social Principles:

"We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy, to be employed only as a last resort in the prevention of such evils as genocide, brutal suppression of human rights, and unprovoked international aggression."

I've had time to digest some thoughts and get a bit of a handle on how I feel about the issue of war and peace and the Christian's response. I realize from my previous post concerning this, and from the conversations that come out of that post that this may not be a reasonable argument, or at least maybe I approached it wrong (which I believe many Christians often do when it comes to social issues).

Do I believe that war is wrong? Quite simply- yes.

Why do I believe that war is wrong? I believe that Jesus taught against violence- to the extent that he lived the teaching out by going to the cross, AND, I am a follower of THE WAY of Jesus.

Do I think that a nation ought not use violence to settle disputes? Quite simply- yes.
As a Christian, I cannot condone the use of violence because it does not follow the teachings of Christ and the way he paved for HIS followers.

Do I expect a nation to follow THE WAY of Jesus? I expect THE CHURCH to follow the WAY of Jesus; to embody the teachings and ways of Jesus. I'm not sure it is realistic to actually expect a country/nation to abstain from war. Afterall, a country is much more than the Polis called "Church". For those outside of the Church it is impossible to understand the ethical commands of Jesus and to embody those teachings.

So maybe, just maybe, my expectations and hopes lie not with nations being non-violent, but just THE CHURCH. How can one expect nations to learn to play nicely with one another if there's not an example. Christians have an example because Christ taught and lived out his ideas. Maybe the world would have an example if all CHRISTIANS laid down their arms, walked away from military service, quit arguing and began listening to one another's disagreements, and welcomed "the other/stranger".

I know that some will disagree heavily with my statement that maybe Christians ought not serve in the military. But I remind you that the early church was pacifist. Prior to A.D. 170-80 there are no records of soldiers in the Roman army.

But if The Church takes seriously that It is the social embodiment of Christ then how do we live that out? I know that my "Just War" friends will say that God works through war (even if it is an undesirable action) to bring about the most good.

But let me entertain the notion that God calls God's people not:
1. to be the winners
2. to "make the kingdom happen" by all means necessary
3. to choose the option that makes the most sense

But God calls God's people to:
1. Be the Church
2. Live out the teachings of Christ in a real way
3. Love mercy
4. Seek Justice
5. Be the Church
6. Be the Church

MORE THAN ANOTHER PASTOR LEAVING

itinerancy:

"The system in The United Methodist Church by which pastors are appointed to their charges by the bishops. The pastors are under obligation to serve where appointed. The present form of the intineracy grew from the practice of Methodist pastors traveling widely throughout the church on circuits. Assigned to service by a bishop, they were not to remain with one particular congregation for any length of time." Source: A Dictionary for United Methodists, Alan K. Waltz, Copyright 1991, Abingdon Press.

I knew that it would happen sooner or later but I was really hoping for sooner. I received a call from my really good friend and mentor- Michael Williams. "Jonathon", he said, "I don't know if you are interested but my church, Blakemore, is looking for a part time youth pastor. I know that you are in full time youth ministry, but I had to lay it out there."

Things had not been going well at my church. I had said at one point that if the opportunity to work alongside Michael came available, that I would jump at it.

So I left the 1400 member church in the suburbs for a 250 member church in the city. I was pleasantly suprised at the casual nature of this church- the people were friendly, eclectic, and diverse. Michael, a story teller, writer and poet, fit in well with many of the artists who attended. I found myself as a song writer and poet to feel very much at home at Blakemore, this quirky- semi-traditional-but-open church.

Over the years there have been many rocking chair chats in Michael's office- ranging from displeased parents, gang related youth in our youth group, hospitality, to visiting monastaries and praying the hours.

Michael has been more than just my senior pastor or mentor. He's been a deep friend, the kind of friend that makes you want to be more than you are, but by the time you realize it, you've accomplished being more. He's like a dad- that helps me face the truth in myself but does so in a way that I don't ever feel like I've let him down. He's like a sage that I want to sit at his feet and soak in as much as I can because it always seems like whatever I find interest in- he already knows about it, has resources on it and guides me to it in profound ways. But mostly he's simply Michael- my good friend whom I have a special kindred spirit with. It is rare to have a friendship/ professional relationship such as that.

I knew that it would happen sooner or later, but I was hoping for later rather than sooner. Last Sunday, Michael and I were hanging out after a meeting and he informed me that the Bishop was moving him from Blakemore UMC to 1st UMC Hendersonville. I think I took it well, but it hit like a ton of bricks. My first thought that went through my mind was, "What the hell am I gonna do now? It won't be the same."

But then after I slept on it I became thankful for our system of itenerancy in the methodist tradition. Someone else is going to benefit from the gifts that Michael brings to a church. And Blakemore will be pulled and nurtured by a pastor who brings differnt unique gifts. And I will remain at Blakemore working towards developing our congregation as a "practicing church", a church rooted in practicing it's faith- or what Mr. Wesley would have called the Means of Grace.

Michael, I will miss walking upstairs and sitting in your rocking chair, but I look forward to driving across town and finding the same rocking chairs and having the same rocking chair chats, just in a different location.

FIRST ORDAINED METHODIST-GARDEN GNOME?

Philadelphia Inquirer: "Episcopal priest leaves for Druids."

An Episcopal priest who resigned from a Downingtown church last fall after his ties to a Druid society were made public has renounced his Episcopal ordination and become a Druid priest.

W. William Melnyk, former rector of St. James' Episcopal Church, has formed the Llynhydd Grove of the Druid Order of the Yew, which he is leading under his Druid name, OakWyse.

In a phone interview yesterday, Melnyk called his move "a joyous occasion."

WELL.....

This simply opens the door for me to pursue my desire to be ordained a garden gnome... whoo hoooo!!!!

HAVING MY SILENCE AND BREATHING IT TOO

STORY FROM THE DESERT
A brother asked, "I have found a place where my peace is not disturbed by thebrethren; do you advise me to live there?" Abba Poemen replied, "The place for you is where you will not harm the brothers."


MY STORY
A couple of months ago I went to one of my favorite retreat centers to “get away” for a day. When I got there I was so excited for a break- a break from life. I brought my Bible, and a couple of books that I had planned to read while there. After a few hours the excitement began to wear off. I felt kind of alone, a little lonely and my mind began to wander to thoughts of things that I had left undone back home.

Something that I realized was that as much as I desire solitude and silence in my life- I also need the voices, stories, love and affirmation of friends and family. With that comes conflicts, stress, and disagreements. That’s the part I wanted a retreat from. But one can’t have a retreat from the conflicts without retreating from the affirmation and love of others.
When I left the retreat center I left a changed person. I was ready to be back with those I cared for, and minister with- I was ready for both the stories and affirmations and the conflict and stress that life brings.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

Sorry I've been out of pocket for so long. After Connection (the united methodist youth workers conference that i took part in various leadership roles) was over I just found myself swamped with lots and lots of "stuff"- youth work, a writing project and family things. Sooooooooo, I've just not been gotten back into the routine of blogging.

I really didn't want to post until I knew that I was ready to come back on a regular basis. If you checked on my blog once or more while I've been on blog-o-batical, then thanks for checking in. I promise I'm back now.

Thanks especially to Shane Raynor from Wesley Blog for checking up on me. That meant a lot.

Some of the upcoming topics that I plan to dive into in the coming weeks and months are:
1. continued discussion on UM's and War
2. a conversation on the Eucharist
3. Living the Christian Calendar as a practice in Cultural Identity

Peace y'all,
jonathon

Another Night of Connection Over

Another day of Connection is almost complete. I am dddddrrrained. Our evening service tonight was great. Dayton Edmonds spoke and he did a fabulous job. Of course the worship space looked terrific (why wouldn't it since the worship team, myself included, are complete worship geeks).

Gavin has done a terrific job with the WORSHIP FEAST ROOM, which is an interactive contemplative prayer room.

Stephen Lee is our music leader for the week and he is amazing, too. He has written songs for the Youth Ministry Spirituality Project.

Like I posted earlier, this morning we dealt with the theme of "Beloved", picking up on the baptism of Jesus story.

This evening our theme was "What do these stones mean?" Dayton Edmonds, a native american pastor, talked about the need for us to pass the stories of our faith on to youth- "my story, your story, God's story, Creation's story = OUR STORY. It was wonderful.

I'll share some more tonight.

Peace,
Jonathon

CONNECTION '05: Going Great!!

It's day two of Connection '05, a United Methodist Conference for youth pastors. This year, it's being held in grand ole' Nashvegas, TN at West End UMC. I'm having a terrific time. It's been great seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

The thing that I'm enjoying the most is worship- morning and evening. Maybe its because have been working on the core team to plan the worship gatherings. Our team has been soooo creative and have worked really hard over the last several months.

Last night we kicked things off with a semi-traditional African American Service (pics coming soon). Today I led the group in morning prayer and Rev. Michael E. Williams talked about being "Beloved" and we closed with a re-affirmation of baptism.

Tonight's worship is being led by Dayton Edmonds, a native american pastor from the Washington area. I'm really looking forward to it. Our worship team is having a blast setting up the worship areas. I'll share pics as soon as I get them.

shalom,
jonathon

Thoughts on War From a Methodist

This is the first of hopefully a few rambling on war as it relates to the world and the Church. What has sparked this rambling? Maybe it's the fact that we have entered into year 3 of the War with Iraq/The War on Terrorism, maybe it's the fact that I consider myself an adherent to Non-Violence but wonder how one can adhere to that way of life and live in the 21st century, maybe it's that I led a Prayers for Peace Candlelight Vigil on Sunday evening and the Tennessan (our local newspaper) quoted it as a Protest Event (that bothers me but I'm not sure why). All this is moving around in my head right now. So I'll write about these issues a little at a time and hopefully through process- both mine along with your contributing thoughts we might come to some "idea" of how the Church ought to respond to violence and war.

MY TRADITION SAYS
"We deplore war and urge the peaceful settlement of all disputes among nations. From the beginning, the Christian conscience has struggled with the harsh realities of violence and war, for these evils clearly frustrate God's loving purposes for humankind." -The United Methodist Social Principles

PERSONAL REFLECTION
My tradition does say that we deplore war and urge the peaceful settlement of all disputes among nations. I agree with this statement. And I believe that war is wrong and immoral. I also know that I have Christian friends, methodist in fact, who also deplore war and urge the peaceful settlement of all disputes among nations- BUT they also think that war is inevitable and sometimes the only way to settle world conflicts and injustice.

So the question I am dealing with- what makes my IDEA that war is incompatible under any circumstance with Christianity valid?

Ok, many will disagree with me on this because I know that this will not fit the conservative or liberal side of politics northe conservative/liberal church agenda either.

I believe first and foremost that the role of the Church is: to BE the Church. For me, this means that we are to be THE COMMUNITY that lives out "God's loving purposes for humankind." We are to be that body of people who incarnate God's hopes for all creation. Does this mean that war happens? Yes, because the world doesn't understand what it means to live under "God's rule". The world takes matters into it's own hands, but the Church can live a different way- with hope that God will work things out in God's way.

I know there are some folks who believe that involvement in war for a "good cause" is one way God works things out- that those troops fighting for a good cause are instruments of God's justice in the world. I think that is a very naive way of viewing God and war- it's a Crusader/Constintinian mentality. War is between nations; it's never really good versus evil; there are always multiple motives behind war. Let's be realistic.

But if the Church concerns itself with BEING the Church, then our role in the world is simply to be an example of how one can get along with others in the midst of conflict (wow, did you hear that Liberal and Conservative Methodist Friends?). Also, if the Church concerns itself with BEING the Church and we as Christians are trying to live out God's "telos"/purpose/end for the world where peace is part of the framework, then it might just mean that Christians might want to question whether or not military service is moral.

These are my thoughts for now. More to come.

Prayers For Peace Vigil Very Peaceful Indeed

Well, the Prayers for Peace Candlelight Vigil went really well. In fact, we had a really nice turnout, a diverse group of folks from the neighborhood, church community, youth and adults.



Apparently word got out about the gathering because a few people who had been at a protest to bring our troops home from iraq, came directly from there to the vigil. The vigil also got a little attention in the Sunday morning Tennessean Newspaper .
The gathering was contemplative in nature, with very simple chant songs, prayers read by youth, myself- sporting my brown monastic style alb- read from the prophet Micah lectio style, periods of silence, prayer stations, and the ending with "Give Peace", a beautiful song from the Taize' tradition.

To see more photos from the vigil click here.

I'll have more to say on Christianity, culture and violence in days to come. As I approach next week, I'm getting really busy so I won't be able to blog as much.

But for now, as we go to Golgotha tomorrow, and wait in silence for Resurrection...

"Give peace to every heart, give peace to every heart
Give peace; Lord, give peace Lord."

Candlelight Vigil For Peace

We are coming upon the two year anniversay of the US/Iraqi War. Since March 19, 2003, more than 1,400 U.S. soldiers have been killed, as well as tens of thousands of Iraqis.

This Sunday night, March 20, I and my youth group will be hosting a Candlelight Prayer Vigil for Peace, (in the tradition of Taize') at Blakemore United Methodist Church. It will start at 6:30pm.

We'd love for anyone in the area to come and share in this prayer for our leaders, troops, victims, enemies, and world- prayer through chant, artistic prayer expression, and silence.

for directions, call 615-297-6519

COME IN HOSPITALITY LEAVE IN PEACE

STORY FROM THE DESERT
A brother came to see a certain hermit and, as he was leaving, he said,"Forgive me abba for preventing you from keeping your rule." The hermit replied, "My rule is to welcome you with hospitality and to send you away inpeace."

MY STORY
As I’ve grown older in my youth ministry I’ve shifted some of my thoughts about why I do what I do. Providing young people a place where they are accepted and can feel a sense of “holy rest” in the presence of loving adults and other young people seems to be a strong motivation. In this fast paced, over-committed society we all need places of “Holy Rest”- a place to simply sit in the presence of God.
I recently spent an entire day with 17 of my church’s 6th grade confirmation class. One of the exercises was to sit in silence listening for God’s voice, and to listen for God’s words to each of us through reading scripture meditatively. It was amazing when this rambunctious group settled in and became very receptive to God’s quiet spirit. Many came to me later and said the experience was cool and really peaceful. My rule was to welcome them with hospitality and send them away with a word from God and in peace.

STANLEY J. GRENZ 1950-2005

I was helping with our confirmation class all day today, but Gavin called me to let me know that Stanley passed away today. I am really saddened by this, even more than I thought I'd be. His books- especially Beyond Foundationalism has had a real impact on my theology, and last year when he spoke at Emergent I had the luxury of picking him at the airport and act as his Nashville contact and friend.

Gavin and I treated him to local food, talked theology, family and life. In those few days I really got to know someone that I look up to. I'm sad he's gone and my prayers are with his family.

-jonathon

WORSHIP FEAST IS OUT!!!

So yesterday I went to Cokesbury bookstore looking for Small Group Leadership as Spiritual Direction by Heather Webb, which I bought. When I walked in I saw my good friend Eric Coomer standing in line with a book.


I went up to him and he had MY BOOK!! I didn't think it was supposed to be out for another month, but apparently it's in stores early. So apparently Eric may be the FIRST PERSON to buy the book. THANKS ERIC!!!! I hope its both helpful prayerful.

Wow I should give you some kind of prize. I could give you my 3 year old son to entertain you for a day. You can start the morning playing with Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles. Then it's Dora the Explorer Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch. After lunch you can cuddle up and nap together (he always naps at 1pm), then it's playtime with his star wars action figures. After that I'm sure he'd love to sit and watch Blues Clues or Code Name Kids Next Door. Just let me know.


So, I'm really excited to see the book in a bookstore and I hope it does well.

shalom all,
Jonathon

I AM (DR.) EVIL :)

So it seems that I indeed have the mark of the beast. I now understand why I people say I'm eeveel.


Are you evil? Check this out and see.

Wow, I'm stressed

Wow, this has been a super duper crazy hectic week. Sorry I haven't posted lately. Connection is taking up too much time, there's extra studying that I'm fitting in for no apparent reason except that I'm a real dork like that, youth group stuff, family, blah blah blah.



Keep me prayers for this week to come to an end.

"Gracious God, lay your hands upon me this day."

peace

Welcoming the "Stranger"

In benedictine thought- a monk is to view his brother as none other than Christ. In this way of thought the monks treat one another in total love and service. But the monks don't stop there. Any stranger that comes into their midst is to also be treated as Christ. Wow, how different our lives would be if we viewed others with that kind of radical "hospitality".

Ruban Garcia is someone who shows that kind of hospitality. He's the director of Annunciation House in El Paso , a ministry and home for illigal immigrants who come from Mexico to the U.S. to find work.

According to Garcia "As we reflected on scripture," he recalls, "we realized that the God we believe in is one who first and foremost identifies with people who are oppressed, people who are enslaved, the stranger in our midst, the poor. We realized what we needed to do was place ourselves among the poor in our own area."

Annunication House in a sense is a missional/emergent church- reaching out to people whom God has called beloved but will have a difficult time finding a community of acceptance in the U.S. Annunciation House also opperates within the benedictine tradition of a community who all share in responsibility. Staffer Megan Hope says,

"You don't know from one day to the next if you'll be helping somebody get medical assistance or get hooked up with a lawyer, or if you'll be running some errand, or talking to the Mexican consulate, or unclogging a toilet."

I'm not writing this to stir up a political debate but to point out in a real way the radical nature of the Christian Practice of Hospitality.

I think Ruban Garcia sums it up nicely:

"Like our guests, all of us are on our own solitary journeys, with moments of doubt and loneliness and isolation and frustration, and with an incredible need for faith and hope."

and

"For God there is no such thing as an illegal human being."

So is there anyone who, when coming into our midst, is "out of bounds" when it comes to grace?

So is there anyone who, when coming into our midst, is not the face of Christ staring at us wondering how we'll respond?

Read about Annunciation House in Sojourner Magazine by clicking here

HOW IS IT WITH YOUR SOUL?

We Wesleyans love the phrase- "how is it with your soul?". In his article, "How is it with your soul" Keith Matthews writes about the Renovare community started by Quaker author Richard Foster. For those of us in the Wesleyan tradition, where living out our faith is done through participating in specific Christian practices (Wesley called this the Means Of Grace), Renovare is a great resource for the emerging methodist church.

In his article, Matthews states, "Perpetual spiritual infancy does not please God nor does it honor Christ," says Richard Foster, founder of the spiritual formation movement Renovaré. "The fact is," continues theologian and Renovaré team member Dallas Willard, "our existing churches and denominations do not have active, well-designed, intently pursued plans to accomplish discipleship in their members..." to read the rest of the article click here

SO WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

So last week I hung out with some of the coolest folks who happened to be Christian leaders/youth pastors/spiritual directors/book editors/writers/and teachers. This was one creative, passionate and motley bunch. I LOVED THE EXPERIENCE! We came together to discern the direction for a youth curriculum/ study on Spiritual Practices.

So in a heated discussion a disagreement came up. The comment was made that "practicing" our faith gives Christians a language and counter-cultural actions that "set them apart" from the culture at large. Someone else made the comment that the language of being "set apart" was bothersome to him and not effective in reaching youth.

In an interview by Christian Century Magazine with Dorothy Bass, she says, "Practices are the things people do together over time that shape a way of life. One of the short definitions of practices is "embodied wisdom": a certain knowledge of the world is embodied and engendered by the way we go through our daily lives. "

So I throw this out for conversation: Are Christians to be a "set apart" people in the world, living examples of God's Kingdom (even in our imperfect states),

or

do we blend in with culture and effect change by assimilation with certain standards?

LENT- week 2

In this second week of Lent I found myself awake late; it was cold, a particularly windy evening. I noticed the moon was just a small crevice in the dark night. Stars were absent.

I woke up in the night, I couldn't sleep. So I wandered over to the living room and looked out the window- the city was sleeping. Except that I heard whispers coming from next door. I strained to hear the voices- fearful that my neighbors would see me, yet drawn by interest and curiousity to hear what these low voices were speaking of in the midnight hours.

I recognized the visitor, standing in my neighbor's doorway- I'd seen him many times before- a well respected man in the community. The voices were louder now, the conversation was getting heated. I heard the visitor say, "What do you mean when you say I have to be born of water and Spirit? What does that mean?"

My neighbor said in a soft voice, "Nick, I know why you're here- even more than you know why you are here. When you left your house tonight you were unsure who you were going to see. Your friends say that I am a threat to your way of life. Somehow, you know better than that. You don't understand this now, but things will not be the same after tonight. My closest friends will alienate me when I need them the most, but you will provide a place for me to rest my head when no one else want to say they know me. When the time comes you will understand what I'm saying."

He continued, "Nick, you have been born of water- for nine months you lived in the womb of your mother- you share that with all humanity. But there is also another birth- the birth of a New Life- The Kingdom. In this Life we are not led by law, but by Spirit. The Spirit of God is breathed out from God's breath and breathed in by God's children- a symbiotic relationship. We move together by the guidance of God's breath, we exist through God's breath."

"I hear what you're saying," Nick said, "but it doesn't make sense to me."

My neighbor continued, "don't try to make sense of it. Just know that God the Creator breathes New Life into God's children and like oxygen, we thrive and exist from it. That breath gives us a New Life- a new way to see others, a new way to respond to others, a new way to live our lives, a new way to love the unlovable. It's all about breathing God's breath, loving with God's love, seeing others the way God sees them."

At this point, my mind was racing. I had heard this before, but it had never danced in my mind and heart the way it was right now!

"I want this New Life! I want to breath in that New Breath! What do I have to do", Nick asked?

"Follow my Way of Life", my neighbor said. "You are on your way, Nick. You really are."

And with that Nick went on his way. My neighbor shut his door and the lamp in his living room turned off. And once again all was quiet in my small city neighborhood. I heard a dog barking in the distance. For a few moments as I sat in awe and energy of the conversation I had overheard I became aware of the chilled night air and darkness that I was staring in to.

I breathed in a long breath... imagining that new breath- God's breath- flowing into me... and breathing out- sharing that Spirit with others who slept, unaware of the love that undergirded them in the night time.

-Jonathon

The Practicing Church

Wow, what a busy week. I'd love to be able to say that I'll be glad when the week is over- but all that really means is more to do next week. Oh well, that's the way life is sometimes (most of the time it seems).

I am excited however about the direction that the ministry of my church, Blakemore UMC, is heading. We are moving from a committee based ministry structure to a team based structure based on Spiritual Practices.

We've created a blog to begin the online communal aspect of this interesting model of church. I know for some it doesn't seem like anything new but I think that in some ways we are remapping the way an institutionalized local congregation can structure its ministry. Check us out at www.blakemorepractice.blogspot.com. There's not much info up yet, but give us a week.

cheers all,
Jonathon

LENT- WEEK 1

Journey through the field of temptation into the desert of abandonment.


Lent: "spring," the time of the lengthening of the days. Lent is one of the six seasons of the church year and is the forty-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). The period is actually 46 days, but since Sundays are feast days, they are never included in the count. Lent is intended to be a period of preparation and penitence marked by fasting, meditation and sobriety. Lent is widely associated with denial -- "giving something up for Lent." - http://www.holycross.net/anonline.htm

In my tradition within the United Methodist Church, Lent is celebrated and looked forward to every year. Since I've become a Christian Lent has become my favorite time of year. It's probably because I tend to be an introspective type of person. I identify with the idea of Jesus going into the wilderness to fast and discern God's will. I identify with giving something up/denial and spending time in prayer. Every year I look forward to taking that journey to the wilderness with Jesus and listening for God's direction in my own life.

This week the focus is on temptation. Our spirituality is based around Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and Adam and Eve's temptation to eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden.

Wow, temptation is all around for everyone. I'm not even really talking about the temptations we think of as "the bad stuff" in life- cheating, stealing, infidelity, etc... but even the everyday choices of life. Daily I am tempted to be less than who I am. Do I give full concern and care to those people in my life that God has called my to be a steward of? Do I show love and compassion to those in need who somehow find their way into my life, even for a brief moment on the street? Do I choose to get up and take care of my body by exercising regularly or does sleeping in seem like a better choice at the moment?

These are my daily struggles- these are the sins of the daily life that I share with every other human on the face of the planet. These are the temptations and choices that create habits of character or vices.

When I follow Jesus to the desert I have nothing around me except all this "mess" to deal with and focus on. I am left alone to pray for strength, to surrender it to God, and realize that I am needy. When I follow Jesus to the desert I realize that there are angels all around me waiting for me to empty myself so that they may attend to my needs.

Wandering, wandering
Feeling my way... dry earth
Hot, weary
Sweaty, scared
Alone, afraid
Of what I might find
In myself
Denial, want

I follow him
into the desert storm
Wind, sand, dust
Scars my skin
fills my throat
cuts, raw, fierce

But then the wind subsides
I'm left alone
tired, cold and hot at the same time
these rocks won't change into water
so I wait for You
To speak to me
To give drink to my
thristy soul...

Warmth In Winter- Very Warm!!

Warmth In Winter 2005


Wow, I just can't get the weekend out of my head! I spent the weekend with 35 of my youth, 8 adults from my church and 2,500 youth and adults from all over TN attending Warmth In Winter, a youth conference for United Methodist youth in TN.

I just didn't think our youth group could get much closer than we are, but we did. At the conference our speaker was Ray Buckley- a Native American Christian who lives in Alaska. Throughout the weekend he shared stories from his tradition/culture, family, and the faith that not only moved me and our group but in many ways moved us each to different places in our faith. He had a quiet way of speaking that instantly won trust and invited me to listen closely. His words danced all through my head weaving a soft blanket that invited me to wrap myself up and get warm. By the end of the weekend, as stressed as I was (I was coordinating our Sunday worship with a group of youth- which went beautifully) the Blanket that continued to warm me also brought me a sense of peace.

I don't think I've ever had a retreat experience quite like this one. God came to our group this weekend as a Warm Blanket- a comforter, a giver. I'm still breathing in and out the rich Spirit that we came away with.

EVANGELICALS ON LARRY KING LIVE

Brian McLaren On Larry King Live


I'm watching Larry King Live right now. Larry has several of Time's Top Evangelical Christians on his show: The LaHayes, Franklin Graham, TD Jakes, and Brian McLaren.


Wow, the LaHayes are totally indoctrinated in right wing philosophy (big surprise)


TD Jakes and Brian seem to be on the same page. Brian is calling for Christians to hold the president accountable for issues like- like concern and care for the poor, care for the environment, and accountable for being a peace maker.

This raises the issues of how polarized Christianity seems. Brian raises legitmate questions that Christians ought to ask but I can just hear a lot of folks saying, "hhhmmm, just another liberal..."


Now they are going to the topic of gay marriage. LaHayes: "we'd like to see children raised by a normal father and mother." "We love homosexuals, we want to HELP them." (help them what?)

Franklin: "God created sex to enjoy. He gave sex as a gift to a man and woman. God is gonna judge sin, but Jesus will come to save and forgive sin. There are millions of gays, and he loves them, but he will judge them."


Jakes: "Redemption is the choice. We have a right to accept Jesus in our life, no matter the sin."


McLaren: "Jesus came to forgive our sins and RECONCILE one another. The question we should be asking is HOW do we reconcile with one another in the midst of disagreement?"


RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
LaHayes- Schools should not teach anything that is ANTI-GOD, nor anything that is theory- such as Evolution. We should be able to and ought to say "Under God" in the pledge of allegiance.


Ok, it's a commercial. This is fairly humorous. We are living in a post 911 world, we're at war, a tsunami has decimated countries and we're talking about whether we can/cannot, should/should not say "Under God" in the pledge of allegiance. Wow.

I think Larry King likes Brian. I can tell it in the way he says BRIIIIAN MCLAREN!


Q: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED: SUCH AS 911/TSUNAMIS AND SUCH.

LaHayes: The Fall, part of the plan, we're heading toward the end of the age.

Graham: was in s. asia, did God judge these countries in some way? we all will stand someday and account for our lives in front of God. We must accept Jesus into our lives.

Jakes: Christians need to recognize the things they are for and stand in one voice- instead of the polarization we face now. All sins are the same in size.

A GAY MAN HAS CALLE AND ASKED IF JESUS HAS CALLED US TO LOVE

McLaren: Evangelicals need to start making friends with folks who are different, especially someone who is gay- and not to change them but to really get to know them as a person.

LaHayes: Would you rather have your child raised by two men or two women? What's wrong with a good wholesome family? (can a gay couple have a wholesome life?)
No they cannot.

WHAT WAS 911 ABOUT?

Franklin: We need to be in prayer right now, because we are at war. We might be attacked again and we have to be ready. The god of this age is Satan.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

COULD YOU SUPPORT JOE LIEBERMAN- A DEVOUT JEW?

LaHaye: Yes

CALLER: JAKES AND MCLAREN SEEM TO BE THE MOST OPEN MINDED OF THE EVANGELICALS.

CALLER: LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS- IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE'LL HAVE A LEADER THAT WILL UNITE THE WORLD?

Graham: Yes, the antichrist is coming who will unite the world. He will fight God, fight Jesus.

Jakes: We are confusing predestination with foreknowledge. Our God already knows the end.

LaHayes: We're gonna have a one world religion, one world gov't. God will give us an opportunity to accept Christ again at the end. The UN will fail because they exclude God.

No response allowed for McLaren. That is the second time that Brian was not called on for an opinion. Let me speculate his answer: we should be more concerned as Christians with living out Christ's call to discipleship and work towards creating the Kingdom of God now- a Kingdom where all people's needs are met, where we are good stewards, and strive to be peacemakers.

CALLER- STEM CELL TRANSPLANTS?

Brian: huge challenge that we face. It's not helpful for Christians to shut out any diaglog for it, and it's also not helpful to jump into accepting it without looking at who profits from it.

MCLAREN'S LETTER TO PRES. BUSH PRIOR TO 911
Brian: we're grateful for the elections and proud of the iraqi people. Many Christians are still raising questions about America's role in the world and war.

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.

MY FRIDAY SABBATH AT PENUEL RIDGE

THE WELL (worship/prayer center) AT PENUEL RIDGE

Friday Gavin and met up at Penuel Ridge Retreat Center for a Sabbath day of prayer, and rest. It was nice.

I arrived at 9am, unloaded my stuff in the Howard Thurman cabin, where I was staying. Then I wandered to The Well, a contemplative circular prayer room for midday prayer. The well is a unique structure- made out of straw bales and stucko.

I hiked around the lake and began reading a wonderful book- "To Pray and To Love: Conversations on Prayer with the Early Church" by Roberta C. Bondi. This book became my focal point of conversation with God for the day. It is an absolutely beautiful book.

Gavin showed up and he went off to spend time doing afternoon prayers while I took a nap.

Later than evening we ate a nice meal in the main lodge- sandwiches, mac and cheese, grapes, and water.

Then we went and said evening prayer together in the well.

I stayed overnight in the cabin and continued a night of prayer and reading and woke up early and headed on my way.

Penuel Ridge was definitely a sacred place for me to Sabbath Friday. And I look forward to continuing this practice throughout the year.

BOYCOTTERS LIVING LA VIDA LOCA!!!

Ricky Martin stands up for Immokolee Workers and BOYCOTTS TACO BELL


My friend Kevin posted some wonderful and challenging questions regarding the "Blessed are Those... pt.2" post in regards to the Taco Bell boycott. You should scroll down and check them out, and then see my feeble attempt at a response. :)

We're gaining ground- I'm sure when Ricky speaks out half the battle is won!

JACK BAUER IS THE SHIZZLE

JACK BAUER

Ok, if you have not watched the tv show- 24, then you are missing one hour of intense and great television!!! Kieffer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer, a special agent, who in each season has a top security crisis that he is helping infiltrate. I just have two things to say about this show- WATCH IT!!! (Monday nights on Fox) and JACK BAUER IS THE SHIZZLE!!!

BLESSED ARE THOSE... pt. 2

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

Matthew 5: 9-10; 9‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I recently read a post at Shane Raynor's Blog, The Wesley Blog, entitled "Can't I just Order Tacos Without Tomatoes?". The post basically is questions whether or not it is effective for the United Methodist Church to boycott Taco Bell because of the low wages Taco Bell pays to it's South Florida Tomato Farmers. His basic argument is this:

"...the Taco Bell employees who depend on their jobs to feed families and pay college tuition. Unfortunately, as far as the radical left is concerned, all corporations are Satan and they must be cast down. The truth is, Taco Bell is made up of plenty of ordinary people. Yum! Brands stock is also owned by lots of main street Americans- much of it in retirement accounts. Is it smart (or Christian) to screw over a lot of people (many who are poor themselves) to help a few? "

Raynor's argument is a fairly weak one that, in my opinion, does not take the issue seriously. What this boycott is really about is STANDING ALONGSIDE THE DISPOSSESSED. Jesus used the phrase "blessed are the peacemakers", and "blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake". Standing alongside people, like the Immokalee Farmers, is part of the Christian call to discipleship. I am one of the priveledged- socially, and economically (as I imagine Raynor is). I am not persecuted, so the question becomes- what is my responsibility as a Child of God? Part of it is to stand alongside those in my community who are oppressed. So I am called to be a Peacemaker- to stand alongside.

The reality is- my not participating in eating at Taco Bell, along with every other United Methodist (or other groups boycotting as well) is not going to hurt the employees who are working at Taco Bell, in fact, according to a recent article in USA Today low wage jobs are increasing at a fast pace. What boycotting Taco Bell will do is send a message that all people deserve a "living wage".

According to the Florida Department of Labor, the Immokalee Farmers' " average wage (40 cents per 32 pound bucket) has not changed in more than 20 years.” Six L’s Packing Co., one of the largest U.S. tomato growers, has been cited by the coalition in particular for exploiting its workers."

I have to admit that I have eaten at Taco Bell, even within the last two weeks, with my senior pastor. It happens to be our favorite meeting place to discuss ministry. But after reading Raynor's post I began looking into the issue more closely and I have to admit that I feel convicted to speak out on this matter; simply because my faith invites me to stand alongside those whom I see as dispossessed. I will not be eating at Taco Bell until the Immokalee Farmers feel they are getting fair wages for what they provide (however I still will probably poke fun at social issues that we stand for in the UM Church, that's just who I am:) So I invite you to consider looking at issues such as the boycotting of Taco Bell not as another looney venture by liberals in a certain denomination, but look at it from the perspective of those people that live day to day on slave wages.

So whether you consider yourself a conservative Christian, a liberal Christian, or just a middle of the road (barefoot Methodist) like myself, "the LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: "See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God." - Micah 6:8

Shalom all,

St.Phransus

BLESSED ARE THOSE... pt.1

BLESSED ARE THOSE... PT. 1



MATTHEW 5: 6-8 6‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are those... those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are led to seek TRUTH.

Blessed are those... those who are merciful and full of compassion, showing compassion to others, and where compassion is- Christ Incarnate is there in the midst.

Blessed are the... the pure in heart, for through practices- prayer, meditation, fasting, sacramental living- our hearts are shaped.

Could one say that these three statements of Jesus are basic ingredients for a balanced FAITH DIET?

Moving away from the Balanced diet metaphor, let's use a metaphor that's one of my household favorites:

What if we even look at the Church as though it were a Cake. What are the ingredients that one might use to create a Cake? Eggs, sugar, yeast/bread/flour, icing, sprinkles, candles, chocolate chips, or cocanut shavings, etc...
The Cake has certain ingredients in that make it a Cake- the egg, leavened flour, sugar. Without this you can't have CAKE. I think quite possible that's the role that these beatitudes take- 3 central pieces that make up DISCIPLESHIP in the Church.

1. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness- The search/craving/desire for TRUTH/GOD. One needs this desire if one is going on a journey to seek a relationship with the Living God.

2. Blessed are those who are merciful- God shows mercy and grace to God's children, thus we are called to show mercy and compassion to others. It is in showing mercy that others experience God's grace and that we are shaped into more compassionate and loving people.

3. Blessed are the pure in heart- One becomes pure in heart through the practice of spiritual disciplines -such as fasting, silence/solitude, centering prayer, reading/studying scripture, worship, serving the needy (John Wesley would call this practicing the Means of Grace). Good Methodists like myself would call the process of having one's heart purified through participating in spiritual practices- Sanctification. All this means is that through spiritual practices we are trying to imitate Christ and become like Christ in spirit and practice.

All the other ingredients that we bring to Christianity- is what makes it RELIGION (I'm not sure about this statement, but I'm pondering it). And to go one step further, maybe all the differnent varieties and flavors of icing, or toppings that we put on our "CHRIST CAKES" are what make up all the many varieties of doctrines and beliefs that make each one (denominations/faith traditions) different and unique.

In the end, what we all have in common though is a Loving Savior who calls us BLESSED because we hunger and thirst for TRUTH, show MERCY and experience MERCY, and seek SANCTIFICATION through PRACTICING our faith.
Whatdoyathink? Shall we eat Cake? Come, taste and see!

Shalom,
St.Phransus

BLESSED ARE THE CHEESEMAKERS

BLESSED ARE THE CHEESEMAKERS


One of my New Year's Resolutions for this year is to be more intentional to do Bible Study as a spiritual practice with my youth group. We tackle hard issues of faith and culture, we worship, but Bible Study has not been quite as intentional. So I have basically mapped out a plan for the entire year, utilizing a series of resources put out by the Mennonites, called "Generation Y" Bible Studies; http://www.mph.org/flr/youth-genwhy.html.

From now to Lent we're doing a series on Matthew 5 called: Rocky Road: What can youth expect in a life of discipleship? This series explores the Sermon on the Mount under four main sections: the Beatitudes, Salt and Light, Jesus and the Law, and Heavenly Teachings.

During Lent we'll do a study on temptation and sin from Genesis and Luke called: THE SERPENT'S APPLE: Youth are wrestling with many temptations. Each session of this unit invites youth to explore different temptations they face, including the temptations to control, to grab power, to have sex, and to have wealth. It challenges them to overcome these temptations and find courage to be followers of Jesus.

During the Easter Season and Summer we'll be back in Matthew doing a study on "The Radical Rein"- the parables of Jesus: Jesus used parables to reveal what the kingdom of God is like, and how God relates to us. This study highlights how the parables reveal God's reign as radically different from the world we live in, and what that means for the Christian life.

In the Fall we're gonna do a study on Romans called "Morphed- New Life in Romans": For youth, there is an ongoing war between wanting to do good, and being able to do it. Paul faced the same problem, and wrote about it in his letter to the Romans. He outlined the problem and how Jesus is the answer. This study helps youth begin to reconcile the war of internal will.

Matthew is the main gospel used this year in the Revised Common Lectionary, along with Romans for the epistle reading, (www.gbod.org/worship/lectionary/default.asp?year=2005) so the kids will hopefully make some connections in worship with what we talk about on Sunday nights.

Can you tell that I'm excited about the experience we are going to share together this year? I'm typically not one to use much curriculum to plan programs, but if you are a youth pastor- check out the Generation Y series- it is SOLID!!! The Mennonites "got it goin' on"!
peace- jn.

MAMA'S BURPING BABY


Ok, so tonight after Jen had finished feeding Abby she looked over at me and said, "I don't know why but every time Abby burps, I burp too."

I wonder why that's so? Mystery of Faith? Strange Coincidence? Hmmmmm.... I wonder.

WORSHIP FEAST READINGS

I came across this brand new worship resource in Cokesbury's catalog and I must say, it looks great. In fact I urge EVERYONE to just drop what you're doing and run out and pick one up (well, don't run out until April). And I hear the author is simply DASHING :)

Expect the Unexpected when it's Epiphany Sunday. 

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED WHEN IT'S EPIPHANY SUNDAY

So this morning for morning prayer I read the story of the magi visiting Jesus, Matthew 2:1-12, and what I heard through the reading was this- "Jonathon- today look for Me in the unexpected." Being a Sunday Church day and being a youth pastor (this may sound extremely practical and sacrilegious) I really don't expect for there to be much in the way of unexpected at Church. Sunday tends to be pretty routine- get the kids ready and out the door on time with a bit of sanity left, Young Adult Sunday School Class, Worship, Sunday Dinner at my Parent-In-Law's home, and then back to the church to get ready for Youth Fellowship in the evening. Yeah, right God, expect the unexpected....

So I get to church this morning and the youth and I have prepared to hand out flyers informing the congregation that the youth want to spearhead a special offering to go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief to help the relief effort in Southeast Asia. I get up, make my pitch and the youth hand out the flyers- SMOOTH SAILING NO PROBLEMS.

Then it happened... I opened a door and God walked through...

A member of our congregation approached me during the passing of the peace. Bob T. a wonderful person who films documentaries. He tells me that in Feb. he is travelling to Thailand for the month to help with the relief effort. He says that he wants to be helpful with our project in a huge way and to let him know how he can help. He then says he has a lot of resources. I am stunned. I just stood up and shared the effort of UMCOR; I wasn't ready to respond to Bob about what's next...

Then it happened again... the door obviously was still open and God walked through...

It was just after the worship service that Diane S. came up to me and said that what we ought to do next was gather health kit items and have a church wide assembly line day after church and assemble these health kits to send to SE Asia; care of UMCOR.... I said ok, and now I'm heading up the gathering of these materials and next Sunday our church along with our sister church- West Nashville UMC will have pizza after church and assemble health kits to send overseas.

When I woke up this morning I knew that I would be presenting our congregation with a way to be involved with supporting the relief effort in S.E. Asia, what I didn't know was that God was going to show up and expand my commitment to this.

In reading the story of the magi- when they visited the Christ Child, that little Jewish baby boy, they had no idea who he was or exactly what the fullness of his life was to the world. But they were led to him. And when they left the baby, leaving their gifts with him, they didn't leave the same way they came. God showed up and things were different. God opened a door through a dream and they travelled a different route. I suppose God shows up often and we are just so accustomed to living in our routines that we forget to look for God in the ordinary.

But today was the most unordinary ordinary Sunday I've had in quite a while. And now I have much to do this week to plan and mobilize for next Sunday.

Matthew 2:1-12
2In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,a 2asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’b 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.c 5They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’d 7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.e 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’
9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.f 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.g 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!!!

DEC. 28 FEAST OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Matthew 2:13-23
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt,a 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’
16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.bc 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’ 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.d 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’

Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents within Christian Tradition. It is not an accident that the Feast of the Massacre of the Innocents follows so close upon Christmas: the two are deeply interconnected. The Christ child is only half a story - a full reading confronts us with not only the joy and promise of Christmas, but its cost and its redemptive agony.

As we move into a new year, we are reminded with both the tragedy of the Tsunami in Asia and the war in Iraq that we live in a world where many innocent people are victims to both imperial oppression and natural disaster. As Christians who are neighbors with all God's children in the world let our response to victims of war and to victims of natural disaster be quick and compassionate.

"Lord, you give us life even before we understand" (Prayer Over the Gifts, Feast of the Holy Innocents).

PRAYERS OF AND FOR THE PEOPLE


FROM THE UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF:
South and Southeast Asia: UMCOR Responds to Catastrophic DisasterUMCOR has issued an urgent appeal for donations to assist tens of thousands of earthquake survivors in South and Southeast Asia.

The death toll has risen above 59,000 according to press reports today, in one of the most devastating earthquakes in a century.

UMCOR will be working with church-related alliances such as Action by Churches Together and Churches Auxiliary for Social Action to provide food, clean water, shelter, and sanitation services in a broadband of nations from Asia to Africa. The areas affected include parts of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and islands such as Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The exact extent of the destruction is not immediately known. Waters from tsunamis-the term is Japanese for tidal wave-pushed far inland, and many of the affected regions are remote.

In India CASA has deployed 12 teams to assess needs and assist people in the coastal states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. The organization told UMCOR it expects to work with 50,000 families.

The island nation of Sri Lanka was one of the hardest hit. As many as 10,000 died there. UMCOR assistance there will be coordinated through the National Council of Churches of Sri Lanka. Immediate need is to provide food and housing for displaced people.

Cash gifts will be most meaningful in the initial days and weeks of this response, according to the Rev. Kristin L. Sachen, head of UMCOR's international emergency services. "We have some initial funds to send this week," she said, but noted that long-term support will depend on the offerings local churches receive in response to the disaster. A bulletin insert will be available at umcor.org later this week.

You can get involved through giving to UMCOR Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency. UMCOR is also accepting online donations at http://MethodistRelief.org .

A PRAYER FOR THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS DISASTER:
O God, Master of this passing world,
hear the humble voices of your children.
The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude;
you are still the Master of land and sea.
We live in the shadow of a danger
over which we have no control.
The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant,
can awake from its seeming lethargy,
overstep its conventional boundaries,
invade our land and spread chaos and disaster.
Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid
and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time.
O Virgin, Star of the Sea,
Our Beloved Mother,
we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf,
so that spared from the calamities common
to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude,
we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son
to reach the heavenly Jerusalem
where a storm-less eternity awaits us. Amen.
Source: Rosary Creations

REFUGEE ECCLESSIOLOGY


Matthew 2: 13-23

MARY, JOSEPH AND A NEW BABY
The birth of Jesus comes to us a festive retelling- with the excitement of angels singing, shepherds coming to visit, the incredible scene of Mary and Joseph not finding room in the inn and settling down in a stable for the delivery, animals around, a bright star, and then several months later- strange star gazers coming to bring gifts for child. What a way to start your life…

But my thoughts quickly turn to what was going on after the birth. When Jen had both Jonas and Abby I think of the number of family members we had waiting in anticipation in the waiting room for me to come out and say, “He’s here, or she’s here”. And then the excitement that came with that. In then since then, the support and nurture that has come with having family to surround and love Jonas and Abby. This has been a large part of our lives.

But for Mary and Joseph, what should have been a time to enjoy this new baby, God’s child of hope and promise, through a dream God came to them and tells them to leave their home, family, and sense of comfort and community and head to Egypt.

(When have you had to leave a place or a way of life for another?)

HEROD
Now in the midst of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus and heading to Egypt, we hear about Herod. Rome has occupied Israel and appointed Herod, a Jew, as the king over this area of Palestine. Herod was known as ruling with an iron fist. He was the kind of leader who reacted ruthlessly and violently if he felt his power was in some way threatened. So when Herod hears from the wandering magi that they have come to worship a king- the king of the Jews, Herod becomes concerned, to say the least. So concerned that in a drastic action to make sure this child doesn’t continue to be a threat- he orders that all male children 2 years of age and younger be killed. It’s interesting how far leaders in the world will go to “KEEP THE PEACE”.

In Christian tradition this story has been known as the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. The children killed are called holy innocents because they represent the people of our world who have no voice, who have been marginalized and victimized.

(Who are the “holy innocents” in our world today? Who are the babies and children at our mercy in our public life – who suffer from the lack of clean air and water, medical care, good schools? Who are the holy innocents who suffer in war, who endure violence in their homes and neighborhoods, who have no voice in the life of our community? Do we recognize them and speak out on behalf of them, or simply read about them, and then turn the page, and move on with our lives?)

THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT
When I hear the story of Joseph having the dream where God tells him to take Mary and Jesus and head to Egypt, it connects them into the story of God calling God’s people into a certain way of life.

We recall Abraham hearing the voice of God come to him saying, “Abraham, I want you to leave your country and way of life and go to a place that I’m calling you to. If you go I will make you a parent to a nation of many people. So in a sense, God is calling Abraham to become a refugee and to uproot his family and go to a new place. With that new place comes a promise from God.

We recall Moses who lives in Egypt, whose people are being oppressed by the Pharaoh. God calls Moses to lead the people out of Egypt into a “promised land” where God will be their God and the Israelites will be God’s people. And so this people become refugees wandering to a new place.

God’s calling Joseph, Mary and Jesus to leave their home and head to Egypt is calling them to become refugees- uprooted from their family, community and way of life, but it also suggest two things
1. Jesus is living out of the same “way of life” as those who have gone before him.
2. Jesus’ leaving his homeland for Egypt, the place his ancestors where oppressed, enslaved, and brought out of is a symbolic act of reconciliation. Through Jesus, God is bringing people together, tearing down walls that separate us, bringing peace where there is division, and, through Jesus, embracing all people as The People of God.

(When have you experienced God’s presence when you didn’t expect to?)

CALLED TO BE REFUGEES
I want you to consider the idea that God is calling us as God’s people to become a refugee people- a people that gives up places of power and are open to God’s leading and direction. Because it’s when we allow God to lead us that we are able to meet and become a blessing for those in our world who are the voiceless, the needy, and powerless.

Maybe God wants the church to look like a refugee camp- providing friendship, hospitality, basic necessities to those who have been uprooted and driven away from their home. Why, because our God is a God that entered the world as a baby who quickly became a refugee.

Last week I worked at the 61st Ave. UMC “Last Chance Toy Store”, where we gave out toys to low income families so they would have gifts for their children. In the course of 4 days, over 3000 children were served. On Tuesday I carried gifts to the car for a young Hispanic woman. I tried to talk to her, I know no Spanish. Very quickly it becomes apparent that she knew no English. But every time I asked her a question, she smiled and said, “Merry Christmas”. In fact, she probably said Merry Christmas at least 10 times to me with such joy. At this refugee camp- where people came to receive gifts of hope that their children would have a meaningful holiday- I met and angel who blessed me, and hopefully I was an angel to her as well.

May we be both refugees in this world and a refugee camp for the world. Amen.

ITS COLD AND I LOVE IT!!

Well, it's 34 degrees and Jen and I are off to see the TN Titans play. I've never been to a pro football game so I'm really pretty excited! It's cold, we're bundled up and ready to see some Monday night football. GO TITANS!!! I'm not even a big sports fan and my adrenaline is flowing. SHALOM ALL. Wind chill at the stadium- 24 degrees YES!!

ADVENT IS NOT THE SAME

Advent is stirring me more than usual this year- and not in a good way. Maybe its the fact that as I sit here writing this post, there are church family members off in Iraq fighting a war. Maybe its the story I heard on the news about 3 children who are left at home with grandmas as both of their parents, who are in the reserve, are being shipped out to Iraq for Christmas. I'm sad. I am waiting this year... really waiting... for something to change.

(GOD, PLEASE, CHANGE OUR DIRECTION, CALL US TO RENEWAL)

I've been going back and forth on Doug Paggitt's blog this week in talking about a Christian's role in being nonviolent. I am disappointed, though not surprised, that many have no problem following a Savior who went all the way to the cross rather than calling up an army when faced with conflict, and supporting the resolving of conflict among nations with violence.I have no neat and insightful answers except that I follow a God that chose to come to show us a better way to live, and I choose that way- LIFE not DEATH.

So I pray- for peace.
So I pray- for friends I know and those I dont' who are away from home and serving their country.
So I pray- for our leaders: that they will make decisions that reflect "True" Christian Principles. So I pray- for not my will, nor yours, but God's will be done ON EARTH.

In times such as this my patron saint theologian Stanley Hauerwas brings me words of wisdom:

"For Christians, the proper home for the language of evil is the liturgy: it is God who deals with evil, and it's presumptuous for humans to assume that our task is to do what only God can do... Does that mean there is nothing we can do? No, I think that a lot can be done — once we free our imaginations from the presumption that the only alternative is capitulation or war. Nonviolence means finding alternatives to the notion that it is ultimately a matter of kill or be killed... "

SHALOM ALL

WAITING AND WATCHING

Waiting and watching
pacing back and forth
in eager imagination
anticipating a young girl
expecting a child
a child of hope
a child of promise

fill my arms
steal my stares
Apease my cares
Concerns for you
Concerns for a world
In desperate need of your return

Need...
for a people...
a kingdom...
That loves like...
you love

Monday's Musings

Last night our youth group hosted our 3rd contemplative worship gathering. It went really really well. Several youth groups from the Nashville area came which made it quite an event. My partner in crime Gavin and his youth group helped plan and pull the worship off. In fact if you check out his site, http://gavoweb.blogs.com, you can see pictures from it. It was a beautiful Advent worship, with multiple prayer stations, art, poetry, contemplative music. Very fun, and very prayerful, or prayer-filled.

I just started reading through Robert Webber's book, Ancient-Future Time. The premise of this book is shaping our spiritual lives through the traditional Christian Year. I've thumbed through the entire book and like the way he sets it up. Each chapter he visits a Christian season- Advent, Christmas, Lent, The 3 Great Days, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time- and talks about the significance of each season and how the season can uniquely inform our spiritual formation as Christians.

The other emphasis that I like about this book is that the Christian Calendar represents the countercultural nature of the Christian Community. By living our lives based around the Christian Calendar we show ourselves as unique and different to the culture at large- it is another way to show that we are resident aliens in a foreign land.

I look forward to reading this book and seeing where it will take me in my exploration of a faith rooted in scripture, tradition, reason and experience.

Jive Turkey

Happy Jive'Turkey Day my shizzles!!!

St. Benedict's Youth Group pt. 2

"As often as anything especial is to be done in the monastery, the abbot shall call together the whole congregation, and shall himself explain the question at issue. And, having heard the advice of the brethren, he shall think it over by himself, and shall do what he considers most advantageous. . " - The Rule, "About Calling in the Brethren to Take Council"

I really liked this passage when I read it this week. Although the abbot, whom I imagine as a very wise sort, is the spiritual leader and administrator of the abby, still he is mindful to call all the monks together to discuss issues of the community.

I see this speaking to the youth pastor as abbot in a way that allows a youth group to really be empowered to be the incarnated body of christ when it comes to "doing ministry" together. So much of my past youth ministry has been me planning events, service, and study "for" my youth. Obviously I've been the man with the mission to help my kids grow in faith.

Although my passion is to see them grow in faith- what I take from this passage is how youth ministry is not about the youth director anymore than the monestary is about the abbot and the vision of the abbot. Youth ministry is about a group of people creating a community that runs counter to the world. Everyone in this community has a place and something to offer.

I have discovered that some of my best moments of Youth Ministry have been when I've opened decisions and direction of our group up to the youth. In fact they've never let me down.

Interestingly enough Benedict doesn't say that the abbot decides in favor of the community's opinion every time, in fact the abbot after asking for direction from the whole community, takes aside some of the elders of the monestary and talks seriously with them. Then through prayer the abbot makes decisions.

I think we call this discernment- what a novel way to function as a youth group.

Thank you again Benedict.

Need sleep....

Man, oh man, classes have kicked me in the butt this week. I ought to be reading Hans Frei and Jurgen Moltmann right now- but every part of my body and brain is hurting right now. Oh well...... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Our Contemplative Worship Gathering Needs a Name

Ok, so our youth group has really gotten into contemplative spiritual practices- reading scripture meditatively, silence, creative prayer stations, icons, prayer candles, etc....

We were doing these practices on Sunday nights for our youth group meetings and then decided to put together a worship gathering and invite others- adults, youth and children to come and share in the cool way we worship together as a group. So last month we led our first contemplative worship experience. It went so well that we've decided to give it a go at once a month.

We don't really have a name for this worship time, but I'm thinking it needs to relate the vibe that it emits- sort of ancient meets modern (ie postmodern???) feel.

So here are my ideas for naming this new venture (please after reading- reflect and then add your own ideas):

1. "BREVIARY": the breviary is an ancient pattern of worship that follows a daily rhythm of morning, midday and evening. Monks prayed this worship together and still do today. The style of prayer/worship that we do together is a form of breviary. Check out: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/21/story_2169_1.html for more information.

2. "BENEDICTION": prayer, a blessing; http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=benediction

3. "BENEDICTUS": old english version of benediction

4. "SANCTUS": middle english/latin for holy, http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Sanctus

5. "ENIGMA" OR "CONUNDRUM": A custom was among the ancients of proposing an enigma at festivals. --Pope.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Please post your vote or add an idea.

Great Local Music in Nash'Vegas

All right everybody- here are my picks for upcoming live music in Nashville for the month of November. If you happen to be in D'ville, then you should definitely catch these bands playing.

Nov. 3- Model Citizen at Springwater; cool emo/alt.rock band, pretty intense
Nov. 11- Dubconscious at Windows on the Cumberland; spiritually uplifting reggae band playing at a historic music venue, great brew selection too.
Nov. 13- The Guy Smiley Blues Exchange at Windows on the Cumberland; this is one amazing jazz/funk jam band, many of the musicians whom I know. You will definitely not want to miss this one!
Nov. 20- Foggy Bottom at Windows on the Cumberland, bluegrazz and jazz, what a blend!
Nov. 23- Del McCoury Band at The Grand Ole Opry, probably the finest bluegrass band around
Nov. 25- Mile 8 at 3rd and Lindsley; rock flavored jamband from knoxville, tn, great guys and great music.

Catch some of this toe tappin' booty shakin music. I'll try and keep ya' posted on the music scened monthly. Maybe when Emergent folks are in town we can all catch some music together!

Peace.