Patience

Last Sunday, Jerry preached a fabulous lesson patience. In the middle of the lesson, Jerry comedically stated that our current administration could learn patience.

Look at the current article title by Reuters.

Bush warns Iraqis that patience has limits

I thought is interesting that our administration says that patience has limits.

Here is a link to the text of the sermon:

Patience

Tell me what you think.

Monday Night Football

One of the greatest NFL games I have ever seen in my life. A total melt down on the Cardinals part and an astonishing defensive comeback by the bears.

If you missed this game, I feel for you. I still can't believe it!

12

12 was my number in high school. Every time I signed my name, I added the #12 to the end. It became part of my autograph. It's in other people's yearbooks, all my high school memorabilia.

I could try to spiritualize that an 18 year old boy was identifying himself with discipleship but I won't. Honestly, I don't think I was that smart or even dedicated to God.

But, now I am looking for 11 other people so dedicated to God that they would be willing to do anything God desires. I do not so much care about how big a congregation is anymore. 200, 300, or 400 people who just come on Sunday are not really for me any more. Give me 11 people and we will go make a difference. I want to be associated with people who want to take spirituality and faith for real. I want to be with people who are tired of doing church (or religion) and just desire to be were God is in the community among the drunkards, the drug addicts and the prostitutes. Anybody esle desire this?

12!

Matt Tibbles #12
(No, I didn't play for UNC)

NYMS

Northwest Youth Ministry Seminar starts on Thursday. I am heading down to Portland tomorrow to make sure everything is ready. Pick up Scott Adair tomorrow and Randy Harris on Thursday. It is going to be a great weekend! I am looking forward to it. The relationships youth pastors have together is unlike anything else. I love to hang out with youth pastors!

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 

I have been back from New Orleans for almost 2 weeks now. I can't seem to get it out of the mind. I didn't realize that all the destruction would overwhelm me. This picture is just an example of what we did. We pulled everything out of the house (including the sheetrock) and left it in piles by the curb.

This is just physical stuff. Imagine the mental and emotional destruction! There were still 16,000 homes that needed to be mucked out!! 16,000!

Being down there and helping people get their lives back together is what Christianity is about. That is what God has done with me and that is what I need to be helping others do.

I was so proud of all those who went down to New Orleans. The FW teens did a fabulous job. I am so proud of all of them.

Camps are over and getting ready to head to New Orleans

Summer camps have ended. We had a fabulous time this year. JTS had the best campers I have had since I have been a director. I love those teens. Late night laughing, encounters, meadow time and God--what more do you need?

Heading to New Orleans on our mission trip on Wednesday. It is going to be great. I love that we are going with Lakeview and Orchard Street. Spending time serving God and others, praise sessions, spending time with teens, and spending time with two of my best friends. Can't wait!

North Korean Missiles

What is a Christian response to the current situation with the Korean missiles launches? Let me know what you think. . .

I will let you know what I think when I can put words around it.

An Unfinished Life

I watched "An Unfinished Life" the other day. It has one of my favorite actors in it: Robert Redford. It also has Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas and Jennifer Lopez. The movie is about forgiveness. I haven't seen a movie that has made me think about it (going on 4 days) for a long time.

I would recommend it fully. It has some language in it but is truly a great movie to watch and dwell upon.

The Last Word

I started reading a new book today. N.T. Wright's The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture.

I recommend anything done by N.T. Wright. He is being considered the C.S. Lewis of today. That is a pretty flattering comparison.

I will try to give chapter reviews as I read through it.


World Cup action the USA game was terrible. Brazil won. The USA plays Italy on Saturday.

Passion

Something amazing happens every 4 years--the World Cup. I am a soccer (football) fan. I grew up playing the sport and love to sit and watch the competition that a good soccer game brings. Not many people enjoy soccer. The major criticism is the lack of scoring. Some games even end in a tie (heaven forbid). It is amazing the watch the crowds. For months now commercials have been touting the coming of the World Cup. My favorite has been the Scotland fans. You see them walking together and the moderator of the commercial says that even though Scotland did not make the World Cup--the fans will be there to support Scotland.

Only in the World Cup! Fans show up to support their team but their team doesn't make it. And the fans know in advance but they still go. That's passion.

Soccer has been growing in popularity over the past decade. Supposedly they are expecting 3 billion people to tune and watch. 3 billion! One of our biggest games--the Superbowl--only had 144.4 million viewers. There is a big difference between 144.4 million and 3 BILLION! That's passion on the worldwide scale!

If you watch the crowds during game, they never sit down. They are never quiet! They dress up in team colors. They travel great distances. That's passion!

What if all the Christians united and had that kind of passion for their relationship with God and with other believers? I start drooling when I think about that! Supposedly there are 2.1 billion Christians in the world. Imagine with me for a minute a passionate mobilization of 2.1 billion people. 2.1 billion people sold out for God. My eyes are getting wide and a small smile beginning to creep into my face. Passion!

Let's take a lesson from the fans of soccer and get some passion for our relationship with God!

One of those days

Today was one of those days! You know exactly what I am talking about--when nothing seems to be going your way. Here was my day. I have been working on a video slide show for the Advancing Leadership class I have been a part of this last 10 month. I was up to about 2 AM this morning finishing the video. I set my computer to render the video and went to bed for a few hours. I wake up in the morning and immediately go play the video that was render just a few hours before. In a 16 minute slide show, I had 50 seconds missing in the middle of the video. I have learned with Adobe Premiere that not all jpegs are created equal. And once again I found the ones that were not created equal. That normally wouldn't be a problem but the video needed to work for the graduation ceremony that was supposed (you will hear more about that in a minute) Wednesday night. I don't have time to work on the video in the morning because I have a camp planning meeting and Faithquest meeting to attend.

I get to the church building around 1:30 PM and begin to rush to get the video together. I use another program because I don't have time to fix the video I made the night before. So I work for a few hours to get the new video made. I get the video made a few hours later. I am also working on canceling the youth group because none of my volunteers can make it tonight. So I begin to text and call everyone.

I rush home at 4:10 PM to change and iron my clothes for the graduation ceremony. I need to be at the Knutson Family Theatre at 5 PM. Julie is in the vehicle with me and we are on our way shortly after 4:30 PM. We get to the theatre right at 5 PM. I am going through in my mind the possible problems that I might have. I have brought a disk with the new slide show and my computer (just in case). We walk into the Dumas Bay Center and nobody is there. I asked Julie if she brought the invitation. She didn't (not her fault, I knew what I was doing! Yeah right!). I walk into the theatre and again nobody there. I go to the front desk and the receptionist tells me (reminds me) that the graduation is next week!!!!

By this time I am fuming on the inside. I am an idiot! Brainless! and Braindead! So all the rushing around and the pressure I have been under to get the video was pointless!!!!!!!! I canceling of class was pointless!!!!!!! Working up the second video--pointless!!!!!!! Getting even more frustrated--pointless!!!!!!!! Being ticked off--pointless!!!!!!!!!!!

One of those days!

Finished

I finished Simply Christian by N. T. Wright. I would recommend this book to any and all who want to learn about the Christian faith.

Wright has eloquently presented the Christian faith. The first few chapters may be a slow read but lay the foundation for the rest of the book. The last few chapters of the book can be read pretty quickly.

I would recommend buying this book for Christians and nonchristians alike. Anybody read it? Tell me what you think.

Sermon Seminar

I am currently in Michigan at the Rochester College Sermon Seminar. I listened to Warren Clark today do some serious breaking open the Bread of Life. I am still thinking about his talk on the sermon.

He was followed up later by Richard Hughes. He laid the smack down on our shallow war theology that our nation (mainly our conservative right wing brothers) seems to esteem. Why love our enemies (like Jesus said in the chapter 5 of Matthew) when we can just go and bomb them? Sigh!

Tomorrow comes who I came to hear--Stanley Hauerwas! I am jacked abou that!

Mother's day post

Check the video my friend made for his mother's day lesson.

Ike Graul

I think you will agree with me, outstanding!

New Road

A new road has come before me. A road that I do not know how to navigate. The layout? I don't know it! Is it paved, dirt, or rocky? Maybe all thee above. Whose on it? God! Where does it lead? Is that really the point? Maybe it is the road trip that matters the most!

Signs of the new road that I have seen lately:

1. The call to change.
2. The road map is for a different kind of journey
3. New people have come into my faith walk lately
4. The answers I had, don't match the questions
5. The Holy Spirit

Let's explore those together in the coming blogs.

The Drink

I sit here and watch one of my favorite TV shows in the whole world (Hint: duna dah. . . duna dah). That's right Sportscenter. During the commercials there are many commercials about drinks that revitalization the body. From Powerade to Gatorade Rain to Propell Water, all of the drinks promise to help the body revitalize vital nutrients that are either used up or sweat away during games or exercise or practice. The promise to revitalize due to a drink reminded me of an encounter Jesus had with an outcast at a well.

Jesus asked for a drink because his body needed some replenishment. This woman gives him a drink. He then offers her a drink. She is confused because he has no water to offer her, so she questions what "drink" he is talking about. He responds with "living water."

Now that is a drink I want! Water that not only replenishes but gives life. I was reading an email from a friend that has moved away for a learning opportunity. I see living water in her. God has taken her on a journey this past year. She is using language that she did not use before. Phrases like: every step of faith I take has parted a sea; may the living God be with. That is living water.

I want a drink of that water! Anybody up for a drink? I will be glad to drink with you!