A CITY ON OUR KNEES

In my last blog I touched on prayer and I'd like to continue it...take it a step further (if that's possible). In Toby Mac's newest song, we get a sample of what true community should be 'on Earth as it is in Heaven.' I decided to use 'The Lord's Prayer' (the Message version) as my transition from prayer to getting serious...

Click on the picture of Toby Mac to view 'City On Our Knees' on Youtube or just click this line. 

Once you're done watching the lyrics and listening (I recommend you really absorb it-listen to it more than once), come back to my blog to finish reading some of my thoughts...

So what did you think? Did you like it? What kind of emotions did it invoke from deep within you? It's the beginning that kicked me in the face: 'if you gotta start somewhere, why not here?' and 'if you gotta start sometime why not now?' Thought provoking is it not? I mean, in today's world it's all about convenience and how there isn't enough time in our day-not just for God, but for others too, we only seem to find time for us or at least what 'maximizes' our time (with the mind thought of: what do I get out of it?).

I'm curious...how do you spell CHRISTIAN? I used all capital letters so that it wouldn't give away my thought process, but seriously...how do you spell it? When I spell it, it's like this: 'Christian'-not just to honor or emphasize Christ as the root of the word, but to emphasize something behind it all: 'commitment'.

When most think of Christianity, or what it means to be a Christian, people automatically run through a list of what it means to be that...forgetting that it really means to be committed to that 'list' because they truly believe it in their hearts. And for some, this is where we find a line between the 'sinners and the saints'-even among those in the church. I mean think about it, the Pharisees knew God's word like the back of their hands, but not in their hearts. And when Jesus got more attention than them and they found he was wiser and had humility, they didn't welcome him with open arms...they became jealous, prideful and condemned him!

In today's world...this still happens-people attaching labels to others based on their preconceived ideas of what a 'true' friend would do or not do in any given situation, or even in the work place...when we take it a step further, that's how many see it in the church (no different). Instead of focusing on what unifies us as Christians: Jesus, we have a nasty tendency to point out our differences which leaves me to think-especially this time of year...'where is the love?'

So this holiday season I challenge you to focus on Christ this Christmas. Don't forget your prayer life and don't neglect God's call upon your life. If you're unsure of what direction He has set for you, it's time to purge yourself of too much 'you'. Because I really do think Toby's onto something...if not me, then who, if not here, where, if not now, when??? If we keep putting His call off until tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year-especially when we know what we ought to do, then we only guarantee it doesn't get done until we're 'ready'. Is being a Christian about convenience? 

THE POWER OF PRAYER

When was the last time you spent time with God in prayer? When was the last time you got away and had some 'me' time-just you and God? I only ask because I think it's important that we pray. Mike Yaconelli thought it curious when he realized that we could actually pray without ceasing. Curious indeed as it is hard to imagine praying continuously throughout the day...unless of course you don't take it too literal-as in, talking to yourself out loud. Perhaps we can achieve it in all that we say and do in our daily lives. Change comes from within and that what is within us is shown to others in our interactions, word, and deed.
If that were so, then I guess that would mean that we would actively live out the gospel and show no fear when it comes to colleagues or peers at school or work. We would have the confidence to approach someone in need when words aren't there (perhaps all they really need is someone to cry with or listen to them).
This of course, leads me to this scripture found in James 5:16 'Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.'
Now, in my previous blog I mentioned the freedom that God offers us and in reading James I find that I'm not righteous by any means. It's not that God hasn't blessed me, it's just that my frustrations from time to time could be of my own doing (which I alluded to in my previous blog). I've been kicking it around and I've come to realize that I don't pray nearly as much as I should. Oh I pray everyday, but I don't pray as long as I could and should...nor do I pray with the intent/reverence I should. It's easy to go through the motions when it comes to prayer, but prayer should be about humbling oneself and coming to God knowing there's nothing we could offer that would improve our chances of blessings (it's a gift) and that we shouldn't get bent out of shape when things don't go our way. Perhaps God wants us to remain 'stuck' until we learn what has already been revealed to us.
Forgive my randomness...I just thought I should share that God offers more than just freedom from our burdens, but power in the many blessings he gives us day to day-we just need to be truly grateful for that which we take for granted.

THE STORY OF STUCK

Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending one of Princeton Seminary's Certification Retreat and Forum in Hendersonville, NC (Kanuga Retreat Center). This was an amazing week filled with humbling insight and confirmation concerning that which I had been struggling with.
In Jeremiah 29 we read of God's people struggling with a situation...they were stuck. To be more precise: they were exiled into captivity and under Babylonian control. Ironically, this year's theme for the youth group is Jeremiah 29:11-13 and it's usually used like a 'Hallmark' greeting card...sounds good, so we use it, but in it's context...it's something hard to swallow.
Did you know that there are two ways to read the Bible? Traditionally it's either: literally or allegorically. However, I will refer to Francis Chan's definition: Exegesis is an attempt to discover the meaning of the text objectively, starting with the text and moving out form there. Eisegesis imports a subjective, preconceived meaning into the text.
I think we have a nasty tendency to 'import' our own 'preconceived' meaning into the scripture we read. While that's not exactly a bad thing, I do think it's a major contributor to twisted misinterpretations of what it was truly meant to say to us. Personally, I think it's best if we take a look at scripture from both perspectives-after reading a particular text or portion of scripture (if you don't know the reason for it or don't understand it, do some research-get yourself a Study Bible) and then ask yourself questions like: 'what struck me about what I just read?' or 'what does it have to do with me?' or 'what is it that God is trying to reveal to me through His Word?'
See, you and I get stuck and we tend to look for answers in all the wrong places from all the wrong people. Pride tends to get in the way of truth and sometimes we don't like what we hear. Which really leaves us with two options: pursue the truth or give up because it's too complicated, time consuming, or requires too much sacrifice.
If you were to read on in chapter 29 you'd find out that God warns the Israelites not to listen to or buy into 'false hope'. He tells them to get used to their situation because it's where they need to be (for 70 years) for all their short comings (sins). When we sin...we find ourselves in a 'stuck' situation. Until we either come clean and seek forgiveness or give up we won't find peace or happiness. And it won't be because God's denies us, but because we deny ourselves of the freedom He offers.
Again, there are two ways to read scripture, but there's two ways to 'read' a situation too...it's my fault or it's someone else. We either take responsibility or we place blame upon those who we deem are at fault for our own shortcomings.
So the question becomes: are you stuck? If so, why are you stuck? And if you know that you're stuck and the reason for your stuckness...then what are you doing about it? Read carefully Jeremiah 29:11-13 because I think there's something we can all learn here-the honest truth: we have failed to follow God with our whole heart.
My challenge to you is to continue the journey...to seek Him when it's inconvienent and hard. To do what it takes to find peace and happiness. Now, it may mean making some sacrifices, but didn't God make the ultimate sacrifice? Remember, 'for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'.

THE GREASE OF ALL MODERN ‘NON-RELATIONSHIPS'

1. WHAT DOES MESSY SPIRITUALITY LOOK LIKE?
Spirituality is home to those who don’t have life figured out, who don’t know the Bible as well as they could, and who don’t have their spiritual lives all together-the rest of us who thought there wasn’t a ‘rest of us,’ Christians who are trying to follow Jesus the best we can.

2. UNPRETENDING
There is no room for pretending in the spiritual life.
There exists an unwritten rule in some religious circles: pretend.
Give the impression everything is okay in your life when it’s not.
Pretend you believe when you doubt; hide your imperfections; maintain the image and don’t admit you sin or struggle with temptations.

*WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT-PRETENDING IS EFFICIENT, UNCOMPLICATED AND QUICK.
Honesty requires a huge investment of time and energy.
Pretending is the grease of all modern ‘non-relationships’.
Pretending perpetuates the illusion of relationships by connecting us on the basis of who we aren’t. Therefore, people who pretend have pretend relationships.
Being real and honest means our messiness is there for everyone to see.

3. THE TRUTH IS: WE ARE ALL A MESS!
None of us are who we appear to be.
We all have secrets we don’t want to share.
We all have issues we don’t want to admit.

READ ROMANS 3:10

*WHEN YOU AND I STOP PRETENDING, WE EXPOSE THE PRETENDING OF EVERYONE AROUND US AND THE BUBBLE OF THE ‘PERFECT CHRISTIAN’ LIFE IS BUSTED AND WE ALL MUST FACE THE REALITY OF OUR BROKENNESS.

4. UNFINISHEDNESS:
Unfinished means incomplete, in progress, imperfect, under construction.
Spiritual describes someone who is incomplete, imperfectly living their life for God.

5. THE WORK OF GOD IN OUR LIVES WILL NEVER BE FINISHED UNTIL WE MEET HIM FACE TO FACE.
Until we give up and give in to the things we are not.

*SPIRITUALITY ISN’T ABOUT BEING FINISHED AND PERFECT; SPIRITUALITY IS ABOUT TRUSTING GOD WITH OUR UNFINISHEDNESS.
Jesus understood unfinishedness.
When He left the disciples they were confused, depressed, afraid, and doubtful.

IF THE DISCIPLES WERE A WORK IN PROGRESS…IT SHOULD REMIND US WE WILL ALWAYS BE A WORK IN PROGRESS AND THAT THIS PROCESS IS MORE SPIRITUAL THAN WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.

6. INCOMPETENCE:
According to Dictionary.com it's defined as 'the inability to distinguish right from wrong or to manage one's affairs.'

Spirituality is the humiliating recognition that I don’t know how to pray well.
Spirituality is recognition that I don’t understand God’s WORD or know how to navigate it properly.
Spirituality recognizes that I don’t know how to competently live out commitment to God.
*The messiness of our spirituality affirms our spiritual clumsiness.

Did you know that Jesus responded to desire?
He responded to those who interrupted Him, yelled at Him, touched Him, screamed obscenities at Him, barged in on Him, crashed through ceilings to get to Him.
JESUS CARES MORE ABOUT DESIRE THAN ABOUT COMPETENCE.


SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS:
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS QUOTE?
‘Spirituality is home to those who don’t have life figured out, who don’t know the Bible as well as they could, and who don’t have their spiritual lives all together.’
DO YOU THINK IT’S TRUE? WHY OR WHY NOT?

DO YOU THINK THERE’S AN ‘UNWRITTEN RULE’ AMONG CHRISTIANITY?
There exists an unwritten rule in some religious circles: pretend.
Give the impression everything is okay in your life when it’s not.
Pretend you believe when you doubt; hide your imperfections; maintain the image and don’t admit you sin or struggle with temptations.

DO YOU THINK THAT PRETENDING IS THE GREASE OF ALL MODERN ‘NON-RELATIONSHIPS?’
Pretending perpetuates the illusion of relationships by connecting us on the basis of who we aren’t. Therefore, people who pretend have pretend relationships.

WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S SO HARD TO BE ‘REAL’ AND HONEST WITH OTHERS?
Is it because ‘being real and honest means our messiness is there for everyone to see?’
READ ROMANS 3:10

DO YOU AGREE THAT JESUS UNDERSTOOD ‘UNFINISHEDNESS?’
When He left the disciples they were confused, depressed, afraid, and doubtful.

DO YOU AGREE THAT JESUS/GOD RESPONDS TO DESIRE?
He responded to those who interrupted Him, yelled at Him, touched Him, screamed obscenities at Him, barged in on Him, crashed through ceilings to get to Him.
WHAT ARE YOUR DESIRES?

CHALLENGE:
READ ROMANS 8:26-28
WHAT ARE YOUR GRUMBLINGS?
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU CANNOT OR WILL NOT PUT INTO WORDS?

IS ANYTHING WORTH MORE THAN YOUR SOUL?

What an interesting question: 'Is anything worth more than your soul?' I would venture to guess that there's nothing worth more than your soul, however, in today's culture we are often too busy to even consider asking such a thought-provoking question.
I've been bothered by this question because I know the answer. But in youth group when I get the 'knee-jerk' response of 'no' because it's such an easy question I am not satisfied. What's worse is that I know they're content with their answer.
Yesterday I went to the Dare2Share Youth Leader's Luncheon at Wilderness Lodge and Greg Stier (founder of D2S) asked a simple question: 'What if Jesus used Twitter?' He took it a step further by asking: 'What would Jesus 'tweet' about your church if He came to visit?' And then he shocked us all by asking: 'What would Jesus 'tweet' if He came to youth group'?
I have an idea as to what He might 'tweet' about concerning today's church: 'They're still lost and there's no reason for it'. Or maybe it's something closer to this: 'They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me' (Isaiah 29:13). Now, if He were to stop by youth group he might 'tweet': 'They are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm...how sad' (Rev. 3:16). And I like what Francis Chan wrote in Crazy Love, specifically in 'PROFILE OF THE LUKEWARM': 'Lukewarm People tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives'.
Is this you? Perhaps it's time to take your relationship further and deeper. You don't have to quote lots of scripture or know all of Jesus' miracles, you just need to be willing to go deeper and not be content with the 'ho-hum'/busy way of life.
While I could go on and on about today's culture and how too many have bought into it 'hook-line-and-sinker'...I won't. I'd rather leave you with this verse to look up and the question first asked: Matthew 16:24-26

MESSY SPIRITUALITY: CHAPTER 1

I know it's been a while since I've actually written a post, but here's what you can look forward to. Each week-when there is Youth Group, I will be posting on Messy Spirituality, a book by Mike Yaconelli. Now, that's not to say that there won't be any blogs concerning scripture, recent events, or things I've been kicking around/thinking about. I just plan to share my notes and small group discussion questions with you-to give you something to chew on. *I suggest getting yourself a copy of the book. If you'd like a copy-ask me.
HERE'S CHAPTER 1:
THE WORKSHOP OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

Who wants to live a godly life?
Our author, Mike Yaconelli had been trying to follow Jesus for over 45 years, but kept losing Him in the crowded busyness of his life. Here’s a quote: ‘I know Jesus is there, somewhere, but it’s difficult to make Him out in the haze of everyday life. Yet when I look at the yesterdays of my life, what I see, mostly, is a broken, irregular path littered with mistakes and failures.’ (pg. 10)

Does that sound like you?
Is the only consistency in your life your inconsistency?
Are who you want to be and who you are very different?
So what is spirituality?
What do you think of when you hear the word spirituality?
Do you think of monks, the disciples, saints, grandparents?
Generally speaking, most people who use the word spiritual describe it or attribute it to those who they think pray all day long, read their Bibles constantly, never get angry or rattled, have an ‘inside’ track to God, or have special powers.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with that kind of living, monks are able to experience, seek, and know God in ways we haven’t…but what about the rest of us?
What about those of us who are single, married, have kids, or go to school, have a job, have friends, have the scars of rejection upon their hearts, are lost, seeking understanding and acceptance?
Is there a spirituality for the rest of us who don’t have it all together and probably never will?
YES!
WHAT LANDED JESUS ON THE CROSS?
The idea that common, ordinary, broken, screwed-up people could be godly.
WHAT DROVE HIS ENEMIES CRAZY?
Jesus’ criticisms of the ‘perfect religious’ people and his acceptance of the imperfect non-religious people. (Luke 11:37-54)
Jesus basically said anyone can be spiritual.
The pages of the Bible are filled with messy people. Think of Old Testament and New Testament.
God chose a murder to free his people…
God chose a crazy and a drunk to build a boat…
God chose a person who was filled with lust, had an affair, killed her husband, then married her.
That’s just the Old Testament, just look at the failures those few alone had-those are ones we would all be embarrassed of. But why should we be surprised? All of God’s chosen in the Bible had moments of weakness and strength, courage and fear…but they were also murderers, adulterers. Yet, they were men and women who could be gentle, holy, defenders of the faith one minute and insecure, unbelieving, grudge-holding tyrants the next.

THE SCANDAL OF SPIRITUALITY:
THE ANNE LAMOTT STORY (PG. 17-19).
THE TRUTH ABOUT MESSY SPIRITUALITY:
MESSY SPIRITUALITY UNVEILS THE MYTH OF FLAWLESSNESS AND CALLS CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE TO COME OUT OF HIDING AND TO STOP PRETENDING.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY HAS THE AUDACITY TO SUGGEST THAT MESSINESS IS THE WORKSHOP OF AUTHENTIC SPIRITUALITY, THE GREENHOUSE OF FAITH, THE PLACE WHERE THE REAL JESUS MEETS THE REAL US.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS A CELEBRATION OF A DISCIPLESHIP WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS THE SCANDALOUS ASSERTION THAT FOLLOWING CHRIST IS ANYTHING BUT TIDY AND NEAT, BALANCED AND ORDERLY.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS ANYTHING BUT A STRAIGHT LINE; IT IS A MIXED UP, TOPSY-TURVY, HELTER-SKELTER GODLINESS THAT TURNS OUR LIVES INTO AN UPSIDE-DOWN TOBOGGAN RIDE FULL OF UNEXPECTED TURNS, SURPRISE BUMPS, AND BONE-SHATTERING CRASHES.
MESSY SPIRITUALITY IS THE DELIRIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF A LIFE RUINED BY A JESUS WHO WILL LOVE US RIGHT INTO HIS ARMS.

QUESTIONS:
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JESUS’ CRITIQUE OF THE PHARISEES?
READ: Luke 11:37-54

WHAT DO YOU THINK JESUS WAS TRYING TO SAY IN VERSE 39?
‘You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness’
DO YOU THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH BEING A FAKE OR A ‘POSER’?
DO YOU LISTEN OR EVEN ACCEPT SOMEONE ONCE IT’S BEEN REVEALED THEY’RE A POSER?
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WAS TRYING TO SAY IN VERSE 46?
‘For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.’
DO YOU THINK JESUS WAS ASKING THEM TO BE MORE HUMBLE AND THOUGHTFUL?
ARE YOU THOUGHTFUL AND HUMBLE WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING, LISTENING AND SHARING?
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU HELPED?
HOW DID YOU EASE THEIR BURDEN?

JAMES BOND SAID IT BEST: ‘WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON GIVING ADVICE NEVER TAKE ANY ADVICE?’
IS THAT YOU? ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO JUDGES AND INSISTS ON ALWAYS BEING RIGHT?
-WHEN IT COMES TO FRIENDS OR PARENTS

DO YOU HAVE A MESSY LIFE?
CHALLENGE:
THINK ABOUT HOW MESSY YOUR LIFE IS…HOW YOU MIGHT BE TOO BUSY FOR GOD (READING YOUR BIBLE, GOING TO YOUTH GROUP, CHURCH OR SUNDAY SCHOOL) OR TOO BUSY TO DO GOD’S WILL (HELPING SOMEONE WHO’S HURTING OR MARGINALIZED IN SCHOOL-THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO SIT ALONE).

READ MATTHEW 25:31-46
ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHO ARE THE ‘LEAST OF THESE’ JESUS SPEAKS OF IN YOUR BUSY LIFE?

Safe and Fun?

Below is something I'd like to share with you. It has to do with what we all know too well about, but the question is, are we doing something about it? Parents, are you talking to your teens about this? Teens, are you talking to your friends about this?
It's a pretty intense video and I hope everyone is moved by this.