Power. Glory. Music... God?

So today I received an email entitled "A NIGHT YOUR YOUTH WON'T FORGET!" as a part of a Youth Ministry promotion, so I opened up the email and saw this:

Is it just me or is there something missing here? Shouldn't there be some mention of encountering God? Some mention of our Lord, Jesus Christ? How about a filling of the Spirit?  This just looks like a rock concert promo, ala Pink Floyd.

"It must be in the fine print," I thought to myself, and scrolled down.

"...high-energy, interactive movie theater event..." That's not it.

"...a fuse of music, comedy, and inspirational messages..." Eh, maybe.

"...a moment where young people and those who believe in them fill theaters..." Huh? Believe in young people? I thought this was about believing in God?

"...Empower young people to overcome their fears they face regarding peer pressure..." Um... a high school assembly speaker?

"...Platinum-selling recording artists, encouraging  message, brand new song, TV personality, and hilarious speaker..." Am I missing something?

I knew I had come to the end of the email when I saw this:

I may be old-fashioned, but I truly believe that Youth Ministry (and all-ages Worship for that matter) needs to point to and focus on God, not a dramatic show of lights, sound, comedy, and motivation. These things are fun, and I'm sure will pack in a few thousand folk, but what are we offering; a product or a person? a show or a savior? glamour or God? a rock star or the Rock?

Years ago I stopped subscribing to a "Youth Ministry Tool" that provided free CDs of the newest Christian bands (which I had a hard time understanding why they were called "Christian" much of the time) and merchandising ads to hand out at youth group so that kids could buy the newest t-shirt or poster of their favorite intensely angry-looking band (seriously, no wonder folk outside the church think we're angry. what would happen if a Christian recording artist actually smiled? the 2nd coming? I could live with that).

This comic came across my computer screen today as well:

 and it made me think that this sort of Arena Event is kinda like this:

and just why would I encourage teens - young people who are looking for substance, for truth, for meaning, for acceptance, for a foundation to set their lives on, for love - to replace the Way, Truth, and Life found in Jesus for Power, Glory, and Music?

So I won't. and I hope that other youth workers, parents, and teens will instead grow in their local communities; maybe listening to a couple of learning middle schoolers play guitar in a living room as they sing a song of worship together, maybe standing in a field during a thunderstorm and witnessing the awesome grandeur of God in the sky, maybe just sitting in the car talking about how their day kinda sucked and listening to one another...
...and maybe, just maybe, a relationship with Jesus built in the everyday hustle, struggle, and boredom of their lives, the relying on His Spirit when things are hard, offering up a prayer to Him, and trying to figure it all out as they reconcile their faith with everything else that is thrown at them in 30-foot-tall technicolor, widescreen HD, surround sound, fog machines, and laser lights.
A relationship that my youth won't forget...

Yeah, I think I like that better. I think God will too.

patio heat...

Not that this is anything epic, but Stuart - a student from church - and I built a little patio in my back yard. Where there was once about 5 tufts of grass and a whole lot of dirt, there is now a level* place for table and chairs to relax and entertain... not many, but a couple could fit.

Oh, the heat; well it's been over 100 this week. Turns out eastern Washington IS hot during the summer. Last year was just a fluke. Too hot for the new patio ironically.

*well, more level than it was prior anyway.

2013: The Beginning

Well, whether Mayan, "Christian", Rev. Camping, or just random, we all survived the many apocali predicted.

I have been quite lazy in the upkeep of this little blog... I think I'll blame Facebook for no longer connecting blogger to my page there. Yeah, that's what I'll do.

Anyway, to catch up: I've been in Walla Walla for over a year now, and am quite content here. It's not hard to call it home, even though I do miss many friends and family over in the Portland area. Luckily, it's pretty close by and I get to visit several times a year...
...heck, folk can visit me quite easily too - like my folks who come up, stay at WildHorse, and hang out with me!

Taco Tuesdays @ Wahi

Ministry/Work continues to be the focal point of my life, working and playing with teens and their families, and sharing the Truth of Jesus with them and their friends. I've become known as "taco guy" at the local High School - I declared Tuesdays in November and December to be Taco Tuesdays and brought 30 or so tacos to the students from youth group and others. Pretty fun!

Sarah and I have been dating for six months now... oh, did I not mention her before? I guess not. 'gotta admit that we deflected folk for quite a while successfully on that! Ah, what a wonderful time we are having together!

Bryson Sessions

This past week I was able to play drums for a student's EP recording project, so that was good to be back behind the kit. Unfortunately they're back in storage once again... *sigh* Hopefully again soon...

Well, I guess that's all you get for now. I hope to get back on here from time to time and catch up, share thoughts, or work through the insomnia that sometimes infests my mind.

A Hot Cup of Coffee...

This morning I found myself up early enough to drink my coffee hot. For some reason that sounds more intense to me than it probably does to you. But as I heated water for the French Press, I grabbed an old notebook from college; my Spiritual Formation class notes and journal. You see, when I took this class, I kept a running journal of my thoughts, attitudes, growth, stagnancy, and even what I was learning. And I see that I haven’t really kept up on that.

I forgot how much I enjoyed that journaling. How much that helped focus my day. And even prior to that class – and after – I had a somewhat active blog on MySpace (remember that? Before it sucked?) where I shared many of my thoughts about spirituality, Christianity, personal issues, and thoughts on the world. I still like to read many of them, and remember that many of my sermons/lessons came out of those when I kept it somewhat regularly.  So that might be what happens here.

See, when I started this blog I thought it was going to be more about sharing epic and amusing tales of life, as I presented my wit to you. Yeah, that didn’t really go so well. A couple funny stories and a few updates on life in Walla Walla just didn’t do much. So now maybe I will return to this whole journaling thing via blog; in a way that I’m ok sharing it with folk, whether they buy in to what I’m saying or not. So I guess I’m making this blog into something for me, as opposed to for others. Gotta admit, I’m feeling a bit selfish by that though.

***********

“We cannot achieve spiritual growth through sheer grit and will power.”

I read that in the book Soul Feast several years back and thought it important enough to write in a journal… I even wrote that I wanted to put it on the wall of my office. It’s amazing how much I think I can get done on my own power and strength… and then I step back and look at how little power and strength I have. It’s right in the face of all the sports propaganda that tells athletes to push and grind and overcome because they are weak if they don’t; to embrace hate of self and others in order to persist and become better than everyone else. But you know what? All that gets you is a target on your back, a fleeting glimpse of “glory”, and then – when you can no longer continue at that pace – your life is empty.

Now, I am not an athlete in the least; I don’t do competition of the body well. (heck, I’m not very good at competition of the mind either!) So this might anger a heck of a lot of people. But it’s true about spiritual growth; we can only do so much. The rest is in the hands of God. And that’s a scary thing for most of us, to rely on someone other than ourselves – especially someone we can’t see or touch in the 1^st degree. I admit to a fair amount of micromanagement of anything within mere sight of my purview at work. I am cynical about the idea of someone else getting [whatever it is] done properly. I want my own hands, mind, mouth to do whatever it is that needs to be done… and that’s not how it works with God.

And yet I yearn for God to fix me. To strafe away the chaff of uselessness that I spend so much time on. I found another entry in my old journal that reads, “Lord, I yearn for you with all that I am, for without you I am empty and alone.”

I recently had a series of conversations with a young woman about what we do when we feel alone. Sometimes we do things to rid ourselves of the loneliness – if only for an evening – that will hurt not only ourselves, but those we love. Loneliness often causes us to act when we should wait. We don’t like waiting; not for the newest technology, the next season of a TV series, or for God to finish His work in us. Like Veruca Salt, we want it now, regardless of the work it might take to get [whatever it is], or that it might be in our worst possible interests to get [whatever it is] now.

And it’s not that we’re supposed to be miserable and ok with that. It’s that we consider ourselves only complete when [whatever it is] happens or is with us. And that’s why we so need God. Why we so need to understand the whole “waiting” thing; and not where we just sit on our butts waiting, but as we enter into the process of becoming whole. 

God doesn't lightning bolt us; he molds us, and sometimes that molding kinda sucks.

I found a bit under the heading “What does it mean to be spiritually formed?” and here it is for you:

“The visual: Hands molding a pot on a spinning wheel. Knowledge, practice, materials, patience, and time… all of these are needed. Also, it can be messy- it started by beating the clay to make it softer, then adding water. This is a process, completely changing the raw material to the finished, useable product. ‘You are the potter, I am the clay… mold me and make me; this is what I pray…’

Does God get His hands dirty in the process of forming us?”

Catching Up...

Truthfully, I just haven't gotten around to updating here much. I do alot... and then other times I waste time.
For example, just got done with a Mother's Day Lunch Fundraiser with the Youth for their Mission Trip this summer. Lots of planning, organizing, promoting, selling, serving, etc. Quite a success though! The Students did wonderfully, people enjoyed themselves, the food was great, and the string quartet sounded perfect.

Then I've also watched 100 episodes of 30Rock on Netflix, along with countless episodes of Doctor Who. Wasting time is just so easy.

Anyway, I thought I'd pop on here and mention that my facebook, the church's facebook, and the church's website all tend to be pretty up to date on my everyday life.

So there's that. Oh, and this epic picture of Hannah as an Aztec Fire Goddess in her school play. Yes, she is that awesome.

St Paddy's Weekend (and then some)

- Blogger failed yesterday, so the epiclly clever version of this blog entry is gone. Just plain gone. So this is simply a recap with some links and pics. -

So I took a few days off from Walla Walla and traveled down to Portland to see some friends, enjoy St. Patrick's Day, and visit with family.

Thursday found me joining the Richmann's at the Hollywood Theatre watching the 1929 Russian Silent movie Man with a Movie Camera, scored by the local musicians Bear & Moose. Epic times, though Tricie did manage to fall asleep during the show.

Sanchez Fried Pork Tacos

Friday I visited with Kathleen over breakfast, and then had many tacos over at Sanchez Taqueria. I miss those. Friday night brought more tacos at the CruzRoom, though not traditional; Green Curry, Buffalo Wing, Braised Pork, and others. We headed over to Powell's, where I picked up a couple of Sci-Fi/Steampunk books, as well as The Prophets by Abraham Heschel.

Casey likes to bounce!

Saturday I had breakfast with the Craker's, meeting little Casey for the first time, playing Chutes & Ladders with Tyler, and having some good catching up with Ali and Brian. Grandma and I went out for lunch at Rose's Deli in Sherwood afterward, which was a great time too!

Irish McMen-a-pints

Jenn and I went out, starting at McMenamin's to try their Irish Stout of 2012 and listen to the 'piper. After, we headed to the Fish & Chip Shop in N Portland, home to the TARDIS bar! Where else can I walk in with a 20 foot long Tom Baker scarf and no one bats an eye? Incredible Fish 'n' Chips, good UK beers, and an atmosphere of the Doctor made for more good times. They even had Sonic Screwdrivers as a beverage, in official 70s commemorative glasses! In between courses of spirits in the TARDIS, we wandered to Salt & Straw and tasted Bone Marrow ice cream - just one of many nontraditional options.

[censored] flavors

Sunday I picked up Hannah and we saw The Lorax in 3D... showing up just as a fire alarm went off and the theater emptied into the main street of Bridgeport Village. Ever wonder what it looks like when you yell "fire" in a crowded movie theater? Now I know. I found myself in Hillsboro at Syun Izakaya with Teresa & Jacob, enjoying and experiencing some new food (for me). A good time was had by all. :)

With my Sonic Screwdriver

Monday morning wandered to SE to meet with Shannon at Broder for a late breakfast... which apparently quite a few folk also planned on. Still, more food and quality time spent with a friend. The afternoon was disappointing, as I traveled from music store to music store looking for new tuners for my favorite guitar. Alas, a 1973 Crestwood is apparently an odd make to match. Still, John and I were able to meet and have a pint together in N Portland and catch up. Later Alex and I met in OC for a Pint, and catching up. The day was good for that.

Hannah at the Movies

Tuesday I wandered to Petite Provence in SE to have a late breakfast with Kim, catching up over coffee and a croissant. Having had enough of french pastries, we wandered around the neighborhoods, and finally stopped by Trade Up Music, finally finding appropriate tuners for my guitar's headstock. Next time I'm going there first...

Faceless...

I was driving to Portland today, and stopped to get gas at exit 104. As I turned toward the gas station, I noticed a figure holding a cardboard sign on the offramp. I glanced at the writing as I drove past and saw only a few words, namely "homeless," "ugle," and "help." It was the "ugle" that really caught my attention. I realized that, try as I might, I couldn't actually recall the man's face, "ugle" or not. That bothered me...

It seems that I am no longer seeing the faces of those who are looking for a meal, a handout, or a chance. I mean, I'm not going to start peeling out bills to every corner, but I am starting to look at the person standing there, rather than pretending they're not there (something that I see quite a lot of) and drive/bike/walk on. Hopefully eye contact will lead to some sort of connection beyond a hand grasping a dollar... We'll see.