Update on Luke
June 24th, 2008
A few months ago I posted re: my son’s recently identified hearing loss. You can read the post HERE.
Thanks to all of you who have prayed for him! I am happy to say that Luke is doing just fine. He is adjusting well. I am very proud of him. He has been attending school each morning where he works diligently on his speech and interaction with other students.
It is amazing how much difference a hearing aid makes! His world is completely different. Again, thanks for all of your prayers and the many emails inquiring about how he is doing.
A Prayer of Walter Rauschenbusch
March 13th, 2008
Walter Rauschenbusch was a theologian and baptist minister. His theology, specifically around the subjects of biblical literalism and atonement, have always concerned some folks and have been held in question by many. Whose theology isn’t in in question by someone somewhere?
Never-the-less, Rauschenbusch is most remembered for his outspokenness against a word-based sharing of the gospel. Instead, Rauschenbusch and many of his friends (known as the Brotherhood of the Kingdom) preached a gospel filled with words but built upon Christlike actions of compassion and justice.
In his book entitled, Christianity and the Social Crises (1907), Rauschenbusch says,
“…no man shares his life with God whose religion does not flow out, naturally and without effort, into all relations of his life and reconstructs everything that it touches. Whoever uncouples the religious and the social life has not understood Jesus. Whoever sets any bounds for the reconstructive power of the religious life over the social relations and institutions of men, to that extent denies the faith of the Master.”
In doing some reading/research for my current book project I came across one of Rauschenbusch’s prayers. I thought I would share it with you all as I found it very inspirational and compelling.
“O God, we thank you for this universe, our home; and for its vastness and richness, the exuberance of life which fills it and of which we are part. We praise you for the vault of heaven and for the winds, pregnant with blessings, for the clouds which navigate and for the constellations, there so high. We praise you for the oceans and for the fresh streams, for the endless mountains, the trees, the grass under our feet. We praise you for our senses, to be able to see the moving splendour, to hear the songs of lovers, to smell the beautiful fragrance of the spring flowers.
Give us, we pray you, a heart that is open to all this joy and all this beauty, and free our souls of the blindness that comes from preoccupation with the things of life, and of the shadows of passions, to the point that we no longer see nor hear, not even when the bush at the roadside is afire with the glory of God. Give us a broader sense of communion with all living things, our sisters, to whom you gave this world as a home along with us.
We remember with shame that in the past we took advantage of our greater power and used it with unlimited cruelty, so much so that the voice of the earth, which should have arisen to you as a song was turned into a moan of suffering.
May we learn that living things do not live just for us, that they live for themselves and for you, and that they love the sweetness of life as much as we do, and serve you, in their place, better than we do in ours. When our end arrives and we can no longer make use of this world, and when we have to give way to others, may we leave nothing destroyed by our ambition or deformed by our ignorance, but may we pass along our common heritage more beautiful and more sweet, without having removed from it any of its fertility and joy, and so may our bodies return in peace to the womb of the great mother who nourished us and our spirits enjoy perfect life in you.”
Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918)
I am becoming bilingual!
March 11th, 2008
I have always wanted to learn another language. I have played around with French and Spanish, never sticking to either one of them, so I know enough to sound stupid. I also learned a few cuss words in German from my old man too. Now (starting tomorrow night), however, I am beginning to learn sign language.
My wife and I just learned that my son Luke (he is soon to turn 3) is hearing impaired. Luke is most likely 100% deaf in his right ear and the doctors think he has about 30% capacity in his left ear. A few months ago we began noticing that he wasn’t hearing us real well and his speach development was a lot further behind than his bigger brother and sister at this stage in their lives. We decided to take him in a few weeks ago for testing and sure enough, we heard from the doctor what we thought we might. We have since learned that there is a possibility that his hearing is progressively getting worse, therefore, we decided it would be important to learn sign language.
My wife Gina has been signing for years. She learned it while ago in high school in order to serve in the deaf ministry in her home church. The class we are taking will be a refresher for her. For me, it is a brand new thing. I am a bit anxious about it to be completely honest.
Anyway, I would appreciate your prayers for my son and if you have a hearing impaired child (or first hand experience with a parent, sibling, friend, etc.) I would also appreciate any advice you might be kind enough to give.
Although saddened for Luke, we are grateful that he is healthy, well and such a wonderful kid! We are blessed…
Look Again…
February 15th, 2008
On Monday and Tuesday of this past week I was in Boise, ID. Mike and I were meeting with Allelon and also with Mike Kipp from NNU. Great times…
While in Boise I met a new friend named Rickard. Rickard serves on the research team of Allelon and also cooperates with God and a few other folks to direct the Teen Center in a town outside of Boise called Eagle. The Landing Community Center is a wonderful project serving children, teens and adults through the arts, social action, giving trees, etc.
At first glance it might appear that Rickard is running an ordinary teen center. But this teen center is different. Rickard and his team go beyond the ordinary and have been able to explore missional youth ministry.
I had to ‘look again’ in order to move beyond my own presuppositions — but after a bit of time I realized that Rickard and the others are living amidst the needs of the teens and their families in Eagle. They are meeting needs for sure, but they are finding their way into the life of students in a real way.
It is one thing — a good thing, of course — to meet needs. I think it is completely another thing to consistently remove your own desires and take up residence within the suffering, pain, confusion, hurt, sickness, etc. of others. Out of a love that overflows from their love of God, Rickard and his team have been able to help students encounter and engage with God — in not so ordinary ways.
Believing that God is continuously at work around them and that by cooperating with his activity he can help transform the lives of many teens, Rickard faithfully serves the teens of Eagle.
A prayer for today’s youth…
“…Be present especially with the young who must choose between many voices, Help them to know how much an old world needs their youth and gladness. Help them to know that there are words of truth and healing that will never be spoken unless they speak them, and deeds of compassion and courage that will never be done unless they do them. Help them never to mistake success for victory or failure for defeat. Grant that they may never be entirely content with whatever bounty the world my bestow upon them, but that they may know at last that they were created not for happiness but for joy, and that joy is to him alone who, sometimes with tears in his eyes, commits himself in love to thee and his brothers. Lead them and all thy world ever deeper into the knowledge that finally all men are one and that there can never really be joy for any until there is joy for all. In Christ’s name we ask it and for his sake. Amen.” (from The Hungering Dark by Frederick Buechner)
Headed home from the NYWC
October 22nd, 2007
I made my way through the smoky air this morning from the hotel to the airport. It isn’t the kind of smoke that you can’t breathe in and see through (yet) where the NYWC is taking place. However, the smell of fires and the thought of the tens of thousands of people who have already been evacuated from their homes and the thought that many more may still be directed to leave all that they have and probably much of what they know, leaves my heart very heavy this morning.
I met some youth workers at the convention whose church (Mailbu Pres) burned down yesterday morning…
I am eager to see my wife and kids later today and mixed into my heart are two very different feelings. There is the joyful thought of the reunion I plan to have with my family when I land in Chicago and the anguishing thought that there are families and communities all over Southern California that are being dispersed not united.
You can pray for the families and communities more intelligibly by learning more about the fires HERE.
Pray with us…
September 20th, 2007
Would love for you to pray for/with us as we walk this new path.
Lord God, we believe that you have initiated a new path for us to take—one that fills us with not only expectation and wonder but also uncertainty and questions. Lead us by your sure hand and steadfast love. May all that we do in this endeavor bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Midday Prayer
September 13th, 2007
Some of you know that Sonlife and YouthFront have been working collaboratively on some new projects (content, events, youth worker training, etc.) Anyway, I have been spending a lot of time in the YouthFront offices lately. One of the things I enjoy most about working amidst the YouthFront community is the daily rhythm of midday prayer.
Here is one of the prayers we have been praying together…
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I have been deeply moved by this prayer of the church.
Tagged…
August 18th, 2007
I was tagged by my good friend Doug Jones nearly a week ago. Sorry I am just now getting to it…
As with most tags, here are the rules:
1. Apologize for three things that Christians have often got wrong. Your apologies should be directed towards those who don’t view themselves as part of the Christian community. Alternatively, apologize for things you personally have done wrong towards those outside of the church.
2. Post a comment at the originating post so others can keep track of the apologies.
3. Tag five people to participate in the meme.
4. If desired, send an email with the link to your blog post at the Christians Confess site, giving permission for your apologies to be added to the website.
Confessions:
First, I confess that I have not revealed through my own actions, words and deeds the accessible life and message of Jesus as well as I could have and should have. I have not always been the image of God nor have I always attentively joined in his kingdom activity where I could have and should have. For the many omissions, I am sorry.
Second, I confess that I have far too often let the frown on my face override the smile. I have let negativity, skepticism and cynicism guide my behavior and reactions rather than the hope, trust and faith that comes with being a believer in Jesus. I sincerely apologize for this disgruntlement. How would anyone be able to see Jesus in me if I am only displaying the me in me?
Finally, I confess that my prayers to God have been more about me and my needs and selfish desires than for the injustice, poverty, genocide, corruption, racism, war, etc. that besiege many everyday. I am sorry that I have not been more aware, concerned and benevolent.
Via Crucis-The Way (or Stations) of the Cross
June 4th, 2007
I wandered through a very artistic expression of the Stations of the Cross on a mountainside in Radium, British Columbia, Canada a few days ago. The bronze depictions of Jesus’ journey to death and his glorious resurrection were a great reminder of his love and sacrifice for me — for us.
The Stations of the Cross are extremely helpful. They assist the faithful follower of Jesus on a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer though the major scenes of Jesus’ final hours. This pilgrimage helps me to enter into the suffering of Jesus’ death and the joy of his resurrection in different way than the when I read the accounts in the Scriptures.
I first encountered the Stations at Colonial Church in Edina, MN. Tony Jones was on staff at Colonial at the time and each season of Lent he would set up the Stations in the fellowship hall and people from all over the Twin Cities would journey through them. Since that experience I try to experience the Stations at least 3 or 4 times a year.
Here is a couple of pics from the Stations in Radium…
Station # 1: Jesus is condemned to death
Station # 7: Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene
Station # 12: Jesus dies on a cross
If you would like to help your students on their way to encountering or experiencing more deeply the Stations of the Cross (you can do this anytime, it doesn’t have to be Lent!), I would encourage you to download this FREE guide written by Faith Bosland called Journey to the Cross (a Stations of the Cross adaptation) on the Youth Specialties website.
The Way of the Heart
May 7th, 2007
In a few weeks I am speaking at a youth event on the subject of prayer. I have taught on prayer a number of times over the years, of course — most youth pastors do at some point.
Lately, in preparation for my talk, I have been reading some books on the subject. I really don’t want to present to teens the same old thing about prayer. So, I have been reading and I have been deeply challenged by some of what I have learned about prayer in recent days. For example, today I read a little (barely 100 pages) but hugely significant book written by Henri Nouwen called, The Way of the Heart: Connecting with God through Prayer, Wisdom and Silence.
I learned that prayer, according to Nouwen and many of the Desert Fathers he quotes from, comes out of silence. Silence comes out of solitude. So, when we talk about prayer, we must talk about silence and solitude — for it is out of these two disciplines that prayer can truly help us “come to rest” with God.
Here is a part of Nouwen’s work on the subject of solitude… (that can lead to silence, that can lead to ceaseless prayer)
“In order to understand the meaning of solitude, we must first unmask the ways in which the idea of solitude has been distorted by our world. We say to each other that we need some solitude in our lives. What we really are thinking of, however, is a time and a place for ourselves in which we are not bothered by other people, can think our own thoughts, express our own complaints, and do our own thing, whatever it may be. For us, solitude most often means privacy. We have come to the dubious conviction that we all have a right to privacy. Solitude becomes like a spiritual property for which we can compete on the free market of spiritual goods. But there is more. We also think of solitude as a station where we can recharge our batteries, or as the corner of the boxing ring where our wounds are oiled, our muscles massaged, and our courage restored by fitting slogans. In short, we think of solitude as a place where we gather new strength to continue the ongoing competition in life…”
Nouwen goes on to say…
“…solitude is not a private therapeutic place. Rather, it is the place of conversion, the place where the old self dies and the new self is born, the place where the new man and the new women occurs.”
As you think about how to teach and model to your students what prayer is, I would encourage you to take a few hours and read this book. I think you will discover some new ideas on what prayer is and how we can help our students and volunteers encounter God in fresh ways.
