Wonder

We played this neat little game at youth group tonight. It is called, "I wonder. . ." We wondered the whole time about things that happened in the Bible and the things that God does.

It was awesome! Once we dropped a few wonders out in the open, it seemed the floodgates opened and shackles were thrown off and wonder filled the room. One wonder after another wonder. Wonder upon wonder. It was truly wondrous.

Why did we do this? Some may think this was a wasted class where we missed an opportunity to teach from the Bible. We "wondered" because all to often we get caught up in the details of the story trying to figure everything out that we miss the wonder of God. Tonight we wondered about God. It was beautiful! I saw teenagers' eyes open up and look once again to God in wonder. God is so much more compared to humanity. Wonderful! I saw teenagers be excited again about the stories of God they grew up with. Wondrous! I saw teenagers excited again to talk about God. Wonderment!

Go ahead and wonder awhile about God. Welcome the mystery and imagination back into faith! Wonder. . .

Those who have an ear let them hear

I found this on Randy Wray's blog. Randy was the speaker at Faith Quest this past Labor Day.

"I expected the teens at Faith Quest to be receptive and hungry for God. What surprised me was the reaction of the adults — that and the number of adult "chaperones" in attendance. The adults were into it as much, maybe even more, than the teens. The worship, the messages, the experience as a whole - the adults were dry sponges soaking up the power and presence of the Lord

My impression of the ZOE worship conference is that it has become a youth rally for adults. I’m not saying that as a bad thing. Thousands of adults gather together to experience the power and presence of the Lord - like they did when they were teens at a youth rally.

The reason adults flock to ZOE (again a good thing), the reason adults in greater numbers are attending Faith Quest (probably a good thing as well) is because this type of encounter - experiencing the power and presence of the Lord — is lacking is so many every day church gatherings (a very bad thing).

Think about the culture we’ve allowed to develop. The idea that one particular song is a "camp" song and this other one is a "church" song. Think about the mentality that says "this is allowed at camp or at a retreat or a youth rally but never at church." Think about the diservice we’ve done to our teens by saying the songs that speak to their heart are not good enough for our Sunday God.

If you wonder why teens have lost their voice in this world it is because our narrow minded, compartmentalized way of viewing "true worship" has ripped their voice right out of their throats.

Maybe we should take a hard look at our Sunday God and our Sunday experience? If we are not experiencing the power and presence of God we are not being renewed into the image of God. That’s why many of us love retreats, youth rallies, and worship conferences. For in these venues we engage our great God with heart, soul, mind and strength."

What do you think?

Following Jesus

I often ask myself what it means to follow Jesus. What does it mean to be called by Jesus into faith and obedience?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes. . .

"The call to follow implies that there is only one way of believing in Jesus Christ, and that is by leaving all and going with the incarnate Son of God.

The first step places the disciple in the situation where faith is possible. If he refuses to follow and stays beghind, he does not learn how to believe. He who is called must go out of his situation in which he cannot believe, into the situation in which first and foremost, faith is possible. But this step is not the first stage of a career. Its sole justification is that it brings the disciple into fellowship with Jesus which will be victorious. So long as Levi sits at the receipt of custom, and Peter at his nets, they could both pursue their trade honestly and dutifully, and they might both enjoy religious experiences, old and new. But if they want to believe in God, the only way is to follow the incarnate Son."

When Christ calls us, we must leave everything and follow him! He doesn't separate faith from obedience, like we tend to do.

So I ask myself, have I left everything for the privilege of following Jesus? I must admit that there are things in my life (electronics, consumerism, pride) that I have not left in order to follow the incarnate Son. Which brings me to the end of the quote above. Levi can sit and Peter can fish and still have religious experiences, but neither of them will be following Jesus on His terms. How often can I relate to that statement.

I am looking for a few people who will walk with me as we try to answer the call of the Son and again bring faith and obedience back together. That means accountability, prayer and faith/obedience practices. Who wants to join me as I try to answer the call?

Together in Alaska