Giving up invisible things

as i mentioned in my previous post, i am still fairly new to lent. however, in the last several years it has become a very meaningful part of my journey. for the last little bit i have focused on giving up things which you cannot see. this year i think i am being led to surrender "first-ness" for 40 days. i am going to try and give away the opportunities i have to be more important than other people. i have this opportunity at the grocery store (both with where i park and which checkout lane i choose). i have this opportunity at home with the wireless laptop and the tv remote. i have this opportunity on the road and in my marriage. it will definitely be a discipline. but i am hopeful that it will shape me, embracing Jesus' call to be first by being last. how are you going to be shaped this lenten season? how is God calling you to be formed into the likeness of Jesus by the invisible things you set aside in order to make more room for God's work within you? let me know (hit the comments link below)

an impoverished youth pastor

i did not grow up within the united methodist expression of the "way of Jesus". Words like advent, lent, and good friday were reserved for my catholic friends. i am not sure i saw anyone with ash on their forehead until i was 22 years old. this is my way of confessing my novice stature when it comes to lent. i am still "getting it", or perhaps it is eventually "getting me". i had heard people state (or complain) about giving something up for lent. i wondered why they would do this. why is lent so painful? along the way i have discovered that at least for me, lent is a way for me to set aside what i have in abundance so I can be more aware of the things in which I am impoverished. i am making more room within the space of my soul. i do find that the things which i have crammed into my life in great measure are not ultimately making me more like Jesus (or what might be as much God's intent, more like Matt). when i wonder why God seems so distant at times, 40 sunrises of lent cause me to consider the things which may be stiff-arming God's approach on my life. are my calendar, my anxiety, my stuff, my pride, my jealousy, my lack of contentment, my struggle for control and self-sufficiency creating God-proof bunkers where i am often content to huddle in, hoping for a divine flare from the outside? when i set aside part of my life during lent i am more awake to the things which i do not possess, the places of my poverty. i realize how much i lack God's voice in my life, and the rest of grateful contentment, and the joy of seemingly small, but significantly holy moments. when it comes to these things i find that i have holes in my pockets, and a negative balance. im famished for these things. i am malnourished. it is during lent that i cling to Jesus' words that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. i used to think that those in this category were the most devout, always wanting righteousness. however, i have found that those who hunger and thirst after something, do so because they are dying due to the lack of it. so if i can stop gorging myself for 40 days on the empty calories of busyness, loudness, activity, more, and most, perhaps i can trade my beggar's bowl in for a stomach full of peace, hope, love, joy, wonder, and promise. i would love to hear what you are setting aside for lent in order to make room for the things in which you find yourself impoverished. you don't have to state your name, so you can fast anonymously, but we would love to hear about your journey this lent. hit the comment button below this blog to leave your thoughts...

Doing Differently in order to Make a Difference Pt.2

I apologize for not posting for awhile. A migraine kept me home and away from the computer on my usually blogging day and I have been playing catch-up since. I appreciate those who have added to the conversation begun 2 weeks ago regarding the "effect" youth ministry has on teenagers as a whole. It might help if I back up a bit and provide some clarity on my end. I want to make sure and clarify my attitude as being one of optimism and intentionality. I was blessed by those who provided comments which provided encouragement in what has occurred, reminding me of the potential for true life-change within youth communities. I want to make sure that I don't diminish what has been accomplished at Oak Grove, both in recent history and throughout past eras. I also want to celebrate what has occurred within other youth ministries in other places that have literally been "salvation" for many teenagers. I apologize if I too easily glossed over that awareness in my last post. I also want to make sure and communicate that I am not speaking about sheer numbers of students being involved. My desire for Oak Grove is that we would help MORE students move into a DEEPER expression of the "way of Jesus". My concern springs from my desire that we focus more time on redemptive relationships (with adults and other students) than we do events. And that we would focus more energy on helping students develop habits that integrate into the other 165 hours of their week rather than just experiencing these things when we are together 3 hours a week. Around this time last year I had conversations with groups of parents and volunteer leaders inviting them into a "re-culturing" of youth ministry here at Oak Grove. We discussed the opportunity to do the following: Expand “the village” for all teenagers; Invite teenagers to revolutionary living; Remind teenagers who they are; Do less?; Become a ministry to families; Expand view of youth community. I have also recently added 2 more "What If?" questions to the list. "Adopt a rhythm of life instead of a calendar of events" and "Move from Focusing on Being Attractional to Being Formative." You can find these discussed in greater detail by clicking on the link provided on my blog (www.ogumc.org/whatif) . In the vein of "expanding the village of adults", we began a new mentor initiative this past year with the intent of inviting caring adults to invest in the lives of teenagers without needing to lead a Bible Study, play Capture the Flag, or chaperone a weekend retreat. They were tasked with the challenge of connecting with teenagers in a specific grade group in 4 ways each month (correspondance, extra-curricular, youth-calendared event, and one-on-one). Though we still have a long way to go to perfect the system, I feel we are well on our way. Your child may have already experienced the blessing of a hand-written note of affirmation, or conversation over a Frosty, or someone with no blood relation showing up at their soccer game. This is fantastic! There is every indication that the investment of adults in the lives of teenagers outside of church programming provides tremendous help in navigating adolescence and learning to live the way of Jesus. I am excited about how we might continue to explore these "ways of being" together which help us in "creating life-changing communities through Jesus Christ". Let me know your thoughts on how these can be played out amongst us...