Aaand We're Back!

Sunday marked our first day back to Sunday morning Youth Group, and I can't say enough how glad I am that I get to see you all on a weekly basis again! Plus, you did an amazing job serving the ice cream for the Rally Day Picnic, no? Well done!

We didn't cover any great thematic content this time, mostly focusing on expectations, calendar, and some fun games. We'll ramp up the blog posts when we've covered something more weighty!

And that's it for this week. I'm looking forward to seeing you all next week (or at least, all those of you who aren't helping with the first JAM Time unit) as we do a mini-unit focusing on serving. Don't forget, we'll be starting a DVD series the last week in September (two weeks from now)!

5 Minutes of God Time: Help Me Find It by Sidewalk Prophets

Avoiding Fiery Pants (and other practices)

This week's spiritual disciplines were a little unusual at first glance, but I hope you'll agree that they are very useful disciplines to consider, if not try them out in your life!

First up is Fixed-Hour Prayer.

The whole point of this discipline is to stop and refocus on God throughout the day. Fixed hour prayer is a reminder that Jesus is with you, every step of the way, and that God created time and is in every minute of the day. Fixed hour prayer is a way to keep remembering that life is about more deadlines and papers, practices and jobs; there's something (someone) more important. The quote in our book states:

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour and that one is what we are doing. A schedule defends us from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days. It is a scaffolding on which a worker can stand and labor with both hands at sections of time.

-Annie Dillard

If you've ever gone through the day and wondered what you did with it, if you've ever gone a while without praying because you just forgot (and now you maybe feel a bit distant from God), if you want a bit of extra strength to get you through the days, fixed-hour prayer can be a great way for you to structure yourself and your life. And despite Ms. Dillard's comment about defending from whim, I don't think fixed-hour prayer is opposite spontaneity and whimsical attitudes. It can go hand in hand with the breath prayer. It can go hand in hand with a spontaneous, unplanned day. Fixed-hour prayer isn't about plodding through the day, never letting something new and unexpected whirl you around. It's just a way of remembering that within the whirling, God is right there with you. So take a moment to talk to Him, and see if that doesn't make the whirling even better.

But this whole idea of needing a way to stop the busy-ness around you and refocus on God isn't a new thing. I was surprised to read that the ancient Jewish tradition included fixed hour prayer- I've typically always associated it with the slightly newer Islamic faith (though since they have the same faith root, it shouldn't be a big surprise to me). As a devout ancient Jew, Jesus Himself likely followed the practice of praying at the temple at noon and 3:00; His disciples also prayed at fixed times (Acts 3:1, 10:3, 9, 30). Early Christian believers were encouraged to pray the Lord's Prayer 3 times a day. St. Benedict is known for his 8 prayer times each day, and Benedictines continue the tradition today that was started 1,600 years ago. If you decide to go whole-hog, Benedict's focus on the "sanctification of time" includes:

• night prayer- vigils
• waking-up prayer- lauds
• prayers for beginning work- prime
• giving-thanks prayer in mid-morning- terce
• noon-day prayer of commitment- sext
• mid-afternoon prayer- none
• evening prayer of stillness- vespers
• going-to-sleep prayer of trust- compline

It might be hard to suddenly introduce 8 new times of prayer into your day- or it might not, depending on how good you are with a timer or the alarm function of your phone. Some of you might already have a set time that you pray- in the morning or before you go to bed, before you eat, or maybe you pray every day before you start a particularly hard task. To incorporate this discipline, maybe you just add in one or two times throughout the day that you stop and pray, then evaluate it after a week; maybe you decide you like this new focus and add in another time of fixed-hour prayer.


Our two links in this post are both links to the Islamic fixed-prayer tradition. In the first, we listened to the full Islamic Call to Prayer, which is played/called from the minaret of the mosque 5 times a day. In the second link (Saudia Arabian Call to Prayer), we see what that looks like: a woman doing a TV special is brought to her guide's roof in order to hear and see the call, and the beauty of it brings her to tears (even though she's not Muslim). And I can see why: EVERYTHING stops. No one questions why the shops are closing, no one jostles or fights- the beautiful singing just brings everyday life to a standstill as the people remember their god and their faith. And even those Muslims who can't get to a mosque (though we don't see it in the video) will stop at the prescribed times in order to face Mecca and pray; their entire faith community is united in worship, all across the world, 5 times a day. Their relationship with their god trumps money, social activities, and every other concern. God is truly first. Can you say that about your life?



Our second discipline is where we get our post title: Truth-Telling. We've all been taught since we were little kids that lying is bad. We probably all have funny stories that brought that lesson home to us. But this discipline is so much more than that. This truth telling is about how we spin, distort, rationalize, gossip, and lie to ourselves.

Do you find yourself giving partial explanations that make it look like a failing wasn't really your fault? Do you try to make yourself look better, take credit, or skew a story so that you come out on top? Do you follow through on your promises and commitments? Do you ever "suck up" to someone to get what you want? Do you make sure that everything you say about someone or to someone is true? Did you verify it, to make sure you aren't spreading lies (even unintentionally)? Do you exaggerate a story to make it more sensational/news-worthy? Do you tell yourself you have more time to complete a task, even though deep down you know that you don't- and your work (and potentially other people) will suffer for it? Do you rationalize behavior, activities, relationships, grudges or obsessions? Do you have to justify things in your life? Do you ever tell yourself that you're worthless, not good enough, or unlovable (or on the flip side, that you're perfect, couldn't possibly screw up, and that you always make great decisions)?

It's a rare person who can answer all of those questions with a "no." In fact, I'd venture to say that someone who said they don't now and never have done any of that is still right in the thick of lying to himself. We all do these things to some extent, though we may not struggle with every facet, and it's amazing the lengths to which we humans will go to stretch and manipulate the truth (even when it doesn't make us feel one iota better). And always, ALWAYS, there is a rupture relationship to pay the price. It might be that your credit-grabbing, exaggeration, or failure to follow through means that someone else is hurt or loses faith in you, or it might be that your truth-stretching, rationalization, or self-lies shatter your sense of your own worth and integrity. Either way, God is right there in the lie- and He doesn't miss a trick. He knows the sense of disappointment or betrayal of the other person, and He feels how your diminishing integrity and self-love create a gap in your ability to connect with Him. He feels them, even when you've yet to recognize the difference.

So what can we do to help ourselves tell the truth? The book has a couple of reflection questions (italicized questions are added by me) and then a couple of exercises (and of course, prayerful reflection and communication with God is always an answer):

1. How do you live out God's reality about the goodness of telling the truth? (Do you see why it's worthwhile? How does that show up in your life? What are you telling Him when you lie about how things really happened?)
2. When do you use a sliding scale of honesty, exaggeration, or partial truths to get what you want? (When are you most tempted to skew the truth? What tempts you- acceptance, admiration, avoiding punishment?)
3.  How has someone's honesty or lack thereof affected you?
4. When has it cost you to be honest? What was that like for you?

Exercises:
1. Take some uninterrupted time to assess your honesty. Think back over the past week. When/where have you been tempted to stretch the truth, take advantage of a privilege, break a commitment, or gossip? What do you see about yourself? Where is it hardest for you to tell the truth? (Write a prayer of confession in your journal, or tell it to a friend, asking her to pray for you).
2. Practice one of these habits for the coming week: not exaggerating, not gossiping, not rationalizing. What is that like for you?
3. What lies to do you tend to tell yourself? What tapes do you play in your head? Talk to God about what this is like, and then look at Psalm 139 (or look up The Father's Love Letter) and see what God has to say about His view of you. Does that change anything for you?


5 minutes of God Time: A dulcimer version of "Here I am, Lord" (here's a version with lyrics, sung by Bobby San Juan)

The discipline that doesn't hurt

As we did last year, we started our first Sunday in Lent (at least, the first Lenten Sunday that we weren't helping with JAM Time) by exploring some spiritual disciplines. I know they sound rather intense, since we typically think of "discipline" as either a negative consequence to an action or as a grueling tour de force whereby we forgo every pleasure in order force ourselves into better shape than we were when we started. Maybe you think of Rocky music playing in the background- beating up a half a cow in a meat locker, running up the steps of the Philly courthouse, etc. in order to beat his opponent. THAT takes discipline. The kind of disciplines we're talking about aren't quite that demanding.

The whole goal of attempting a spiritual discipline is to bring your focus more squarely on God, and in doing so, deepen your relationship with Him. It makes for an ongoing improvement in your life, rather than an intensely painful means to an end. An in addition to being not-so-painful, there are disciplines to suit just about any preference; the book we're using (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun) lists 62 options. We're covering a few of them, but there are a lot more that remain to be discovered. I'd completely recommend borrowing the book from Pastor Rich, or getting one for your own reference. I'm sure there's more to be said on each discipline than is covered in the book, but it's a great starting point to help you figure out just where to go.

So our first discipline this year is a repeat of last year- gratitude. You may not have everything you've ever desired (and Thank GOD for that!), you may not be exactly where you want to be, but all of us have some pretty amazing gifts sitting right in front of our faces. I showed you guys the quote that changed my perspective:



Not that God's just waiting to take things away from you, but thinking through this quote/question can really help you identify those little things that we often take for granted. Maybe you pray daily in thanksgiving for your family or friends, but what about some of those "standard" blessings we covered when we talked about India- for having running water and a hot shower? What about for the fact that you have easy transportation around town? The fact that you can read? Or that you have clothes and a coat to wear in the winter? When's the last time you thanked God for sending Jesus? For the ability to approach an all-powerful, glorious God and (through Jesus) be one of His children? We talk about growing our faith, but we also need to stop and be grateful for the fact that we have that gift of knowledge and relationship!

So what are some ways you can practice gratitude? The book has some suggestions: write a thank you letter to those who have touched your life, keep a gratitude journal, have a thank you party for those you'd like to acknowledge, stop comparing yourself to others, create a gratitude scrapbook. My suggestions are to use a breath prayer to refocus you when you get in a slump (look, another spiritual discipline!), thank God whenever you recognize something you like, love, or wouldn't want to be without, make a special time each day to pray in thanksgiving, take the time to say THANK YOU to those around you (holding a door for you, getting you your coffee/meal, letting you borrow the car), and make gratitude a habit, not just something for Lent. Lent is always a good start, but each of us, no matter our age or point in life, can easily slip into comparison, regret, and the "gimmies." Don't let yourself turn into a gratitude toddler. Find a way to make gratitude a part of your life- you won't regret it!


Our second discipline of the day was.... MEMORIZATION! For much of history, literacy rates were very, VERY low. It was very expensive to make a book, and only the upper classes and scholars even had access to the education it took to be able to read. So when people wanted to share information or stories, they had to be memorized.

Now, we have extensive access to books (I'm writing this across the street from a really big library, and there's a bookshelf behind me filled with different topics) and we have almost universal, instant access to the internet; some of you might even be reading this on your smartphones. When I have a question about a scripture passage, I can search for a biblical book, a phrase, or a close approximation to the verse I have in my head and end up with the right passage in less than a minute; I will probably even be given a list of suggested, similar verses. This is a huge benefit to me- and I use it often. But what happens if I don't have access to it? Either because the internet crashes (say it ain't so!), I'm restricted from using the internet (either by force or service range limitations), or I'm having a conversation with someone who desperately needs advice, but it's not appropriate to stop the talk to look up the scripture passage I'm thinking of? Even the beauty of the internet has an end to its reach.

But even within the ever-expanding limits of internet service and availability, there are still reasons to memorize scripture. First, it's for your benefit. If you're memorizing something, it's on the forefront of your mind. You're focusing. And in that focusing, you're getting to know God (and His will) better. Second, it's easier for you to recognize when someone else is misquoting scripture if you've got it memorized. Misquoting has been known to happen, whether intentionally or not. And if you know what a verse is meant to be, you'll know when what you hear/read isn't right. And finally, memorizing scripture gives your arguments, comments, and beliefs authority. Now, I'll grant that scripture doesn't hold authority if you're challenging a U.S. law, but when trying to figure out moral questions and spiritual conundrums, it definitely holds weight. I met a man the week after we discussed this, and I have to say, I was fully impressed by his knowledge of scripture. We discussed faith as he gave me a ride from the dealership to the church (my car needed some recalls fixed), and when he was able to point to specific passages, quoting them to me, it made me think about how often I give advice and thoughts based on things I know to be in the bible, but would have to take time to search them out online, if anyone were to ask me where to read it. I can't quote you a passage word for word, I can only summarize.

So perhaps you won't end up like the religiously-oppressed, young Christian woman we discussed (who prepared herself for her inevitable jail sentence by memorizing scripture and challenging her bodily comforts) and perhaps you will always have internet access. But perhaps you'll also see some real value in scripture memorization for your own faith journey and for the journey of those around you. If I didn't see the value before, I certainly have after my unexpected discussion during a short car ride; even if birthdays and anniversaries are beyond me, I'm going to try to memorize one verse a week (or if that's too much, at least one verse a month). Maybe you'll join me?


5 Minutes of God Time: Who am I by Casting Crowns

February Lock-In

As promised, here are the songs, verses and quotes from our Midnight Worship Service. Pictures will follow in another post!

We started our worship with the two verses I found using the spiritual tool/discipline of lexio divina. Lexio divina is my go-to help when I get stuck trying to figure out what to talk about. For those who don't remember, lexio divina is a way to allow God to reach you in your reading- asking for His guidance as you open the Bible, then reading the passage that your eyes fall on (on the page that falls open). Lexio divina includes the whole passage, not just one or two sentences (it's not pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey style reading); read it with an open mind, willing to hear what God has to say about it.

So, as I said before, I used lexio divina as a way to find our lesson/scripture- and the first verse I found was Mark 6:1-6. And I have to be honest, this was NOT on the long list of what I thought I wanted to speak about. So I tried lexio divina again- and my second attempt was the same story, one book later Luke 4:14-30. So despite my hesitancy to use this story (What on earth was I supposed to say about it??), I had to laugh and follow God's guidance. After all, I know that He knows best- that's why I was asking Him in the first place!

Both of these verses talk about Jesus returning to Nazareth after He's started His ministry. There are rumors that He's really doing something special, and when He returns home, the people are all awed and impressed. But then they start picking Him apart. "Jesus couldn't possibly be the Son of God- I remember when he fell and skinned his knee (or peed his robe or laughed so hard he shot food out of his nose). A god wouldn't do that. Jesus is just a man. We've known him his whole life. His parents weren't even married when his mom got pregnant. He's not from any sort of important family, and it's not like he's got tons of money or power to throw around, even now that he's famous." And as the second verse tells us, the people got mad. Jesus was no longer who they thought he was, but he also wasn't fitting into the mold they expected "important" people to fit. So what did they do? They tried to kill Him. Literally. Not just kill his dreams, but throw Him off a cliff. Luckily, Jesus IS the Son of God, and He was able to escape and continue His ministry.

So how does this apply to us? Maybe God's calling you to do something big, and you feel like it would fall completely outside of your comfort zone. Maybe you're worried about what people would say or think. Maybe you've tried to talk about it with someone and they shut you down- no, you're not capable enough. No, life doesn't work that way. No, I don't think God wants you to do that- why not try it this way instead? No. No. No. Hearing it over and over again can be really disheartening and make you question what you're meant to do. Questioning is OK if it helps you identify and refine how you hear God's voice. Questioning turns bad when you use it to procrastinate, avoid, and ignore God's will for you. If you find yourself in that second kind of questioning, take strength from Jesus' story- if God calls you to something, He will give you what you need to accomplish it (now whether or not that includes supportive friends and family....). God called Noah, a drunk, to build a giant boat in the middle of a desert. Moses was a stutterer who was called to travel across the desert to confront the Pharoah of Egypt and make him let go of his entire labor force- uncompensated. And Lazarus was dead...

Credit: http://www.jesussite.com/blog/2012/02/think-god-cant-use-you/

 

Clearly, God equips those He calls. If He has called you, you will have what you need to complete your task.

 

But maybe these verses were chosen to remind us about that other side of the story. Maybe some of us are acting like the hometown crowd. Are we discouraging God's chosen? Maybe we need to be reminded that no matter what we think we know of a person, no matter what our experience with them has taught us, no matter how poorly we think they might do, we need to allow for God's spirit to work in them. Throughout the ages, God has primarily chosen people who have little to no importance in the world to do His greatest tasks. Why would we think that's changed just because we're a part of the current story rather than the already-written story?

 

And finally, we ended with a C.S. Lewis quote (because what would midnight worship be without a C.S. Lewis quote?).

It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor.
The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor’s glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.
All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.
It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics.
There are no ordinary people.
You have never talked to a mere mortal.
Nations, cultures, arts, civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.
But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.
This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn.
We must play.
But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously—no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.
And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinner—no mere tolerance or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment.
Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.

—The Weight of Glory (HarperOne, 2001), pp. 45-46. (emphasis mine)
 

Read through that again. Seriously, stop and digest it. We are all immortal souls living in a mortal body. What does that mean for you? For the people you meet? For how you interact with them? This is big stuff. Deep. Soak it in, pray about God's calling for your life and for the lives of those around you, and meditate on Jesus' response to criticism in these passages.

Jesus, thank you for your guidance and your help as we begin to understand that our lives have purpose- not just the small, fickle "purposes" we've given them, but the Purpose with a capital P that YOU have given us. Help us to remember that we are all eternal beings with an eternal calling; may we treat ourselves and each other accordingly. Amen.


Our first song: A Thousand Years (Cover of the Christina Perry song by The Piano Guys)
Our second song: You are More by Tenth Avenue North
Background Instrumental Music (for those who stayed longer): Rest in Him

 

Walking Wet (What, exactly, is baptism?)

Baptism, at its most basic definition, is the Christian act of ritually "washing away" sins and dedicating one's life to Christ. But even that definition is a bit problematic- mainly because in trying to create a basic, one-size-fits-all defintion, I had to overlook so many differences between Christian denominations. When we hear (or read) the word "baptism," we probably have a well-formed idea come into our heads. For most of us (at least in the Immanuel UCC youth group), that image is probably a small baby in a white outfit being held in front of a church, while a pastor pours or sprinkles a small amount of water of his/her tiny head. Then a few words are said, everyone smiles, and the family goes home after church to perhaps have a bit of cake and give the child some keepsakes to remember the day. But....... why? Why baptize as a child? Why wear white? Why sprinkle water on his head? Is it just tradition? Or are there layers of meaning behind these questions?

Since even the first paragraph of this topic is starting to get deep, we played Jeopardy to answer some of these questions without being too serious. And I have to say, I was pretty impressed by how much you guys remembered from Sunday School and confirmation! Well done! Now read on, my faithful friends, to find the questions and our answers! (Note: Yes, I know there aren't an equal number of questions in each category....)

Sodden Speedy Scriptures

(whichever team can read it first gets the point)

100 points: Matthew 3:13-17

200 points: Mark 1:1-8

300 points: Mark 16:15-16

400 points: John 3:1-8

500 points: Acts 8:34-40

 

 

Soaked Symbology

100 points: What are people baptized wearing now days?

Answer: Pretty much anything. Sometimes they're naked or in their undergarments (primarily for infant baptism), some wear a swimsuit, sometimes it's a white outfit (usually either very plain or very intricately decorated), could be anything that wouldn't become see-through during submersion, or it could be a special baptismal outfit (like a christening gown).

200 points: Why do people wear a white garment?

Answer: Two reasons. First, to signify purity and the washing away of sins. And second, to symbolize equality under Christ. Converts used to wear regular clothes until baptism (old life), would be baptized wearing little to nothing (there is nothing that can hide us from God), and then put on a plain white garment after baptism (because it doesn't matter if you were wearing a king's robe or tattered peasant rags before baptism, once you are a member of the church, all are beloved children of God).

300 points: Until the Middle Ages, people wore ______ to be baptized?

Answer: Nada. Zip. Zilch. (It was sort-of answered in the 200 point question, but I know you guys always go for the higher point questions first... :) )

 

 

Christening Queries

100 points: Name three people who may complete a baptism.

Answer: A priest/pastor, a bishop, the Pope, a deacon/deaconness, a chaplain (like in the military)- all of these are more or less no-brainers. Some denominations routinely choose a layperson or a specially certified "mature believer" to perform baptisms (such as having your specific mentor complete your baptism rites). Other traditions state that a child can be baptized by his or her mother/father. And while some churches require the baptizer to be an already baptized member of the church, others allow a non-baptized believer to baptize if they intend to do it with the meaning and symbology of the church, particularly if there are extenuating circumstances (like a life-or-death situation, where getting to church is just not an option). And finally, a believer may "baptize" him- or herself (depending on the denomination) if it is a life-or-death, completely remote situation.

200 points: What does "anabaptist" mean? (hint: it's not just "the Amish/Mennonites")

Anwer: It means "re-baptizer." Anabaptists believe strongly that infant baptism is not a valid baptism, since the child isn't aware of what is being done; if a believer had been baptized as a child, they would be re-baptized as an adult (and if a person had grown up in the anabaptist faith, they would simply be baptized just once as an adult). Anabaptists do not practice "confirmation," as they view baptism to be the confirmation of a believer's faith. As a side note, the belief and practice of re-baptizing adults was hugely controversial in the middle ages (it was radical even for the Protestant Reformation), and it resulted in persecution and even death for heresy.

300 points: Can a believer become "unbaptized?"

Answer: Legally, no- unless you're in France. Many people who were baptized as infants and stop believing as adults simply drift away from the church- but some would like a much more formal split. France is the only country to have had this fight go through the court system, but others have attempted it. For those who aren't legally able to strike their names from the baptismal roll (such as the Catholic church keeps), there are atheist and agnostic organiztions that will offer a certificate of "unbaptism."

400 points: Is baptism a sacrament to all Christians?

Answer: Nope. Some denominations view baptism as a time when the Holy Spirit enters a believer, making it a sacrament. Others view it as a public proclamation of faith, a ritual that is spiritually symbolic, rather than a holy transformation of the individual. And others, like the Salvation Army or the Quakers, don't practice baptism at all! (The Quakers, for example, believe that a Christian believer is being inwardly baptized by the Holy Spirit in a process of ongoing purification- meaning Christians no longer need the outward, water baptism of John).

500 points: Give 2 reasons some churches practice paedo-baptism (infant baptism).

Answer Options: Some view baptism as a covenant with God, much like the Jews view circumcision. Some believe infant baptism marks the child as God's, something that is incredibly significant on the spiritual plane (i.e.- spiritual warfare against the devil). Some denominations believe that baptism is necessary for salvation (it is NOT just a symbolic act, but a real cleansing of sin). And finally, there is evidence that the early church would baptize entire families when the central family member converted (see the book of Acts). Also, it's important to note that these reasons can and do overlap within denominations.

 

 

 

 

Characteristic Classes

100 points: Pouring water over the head of the baptized (aka: affusion) indicates which Christian event?

Answer: The pouring out of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2)

200 points: Submersion, or completely covering the new believer with water (such as in a lake or a large tub) is symbolic of _____________?

Answer: The death and resurrection of Christ (see Luke 23:44- 24:12)

300 points: Immersion indicates which form of the baptismal right?

Answer: This is a tricky one (often confused with submersion). Immersion is having the convert stand or kneel in water, while having water poured over her head.

400 points: Sprinkling the baptized one with water (called "aspersion") reminds us of which covenant with God?

Answer: Moses sprinkling sacrificial blood on the altar during the confirmation of God's covenant with the Israelites in the desert. Now, before you think this is a bit of an odd event to honor, remember that this covenant included the 10 Commandments- which you can probably recall the importance of (see Exodus 24:6-7)



 

We ended the day with a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing, and the opportunity to dip a finger in our cup of water to remember the significance of our own baptisms. The prayer we read is from the UCC Book of Worship, very slightly modified for our group:

We thank you, God, for the gift of creation called forth by your saving Word.
Before the world had shape and form, your Spirit moved over the waters.
Out of the waters of the deep, you formed the firmament and brought forth earth to sustain life.

In the time of Noah,
you washed the earth with the waters of the flood,
and your ark of salvation bore a new beginning.

In the time of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam,
our people Israel passed through the Red Sea waters
from slavery to freedom and crossed the flowing Jordan
to enter the promised land.

In the fullness of time, you sent Jesus Christ,
who was nurtured in the water of Mary's womb.
Jesus was baptized by John in the water of the Jordan,
became living water to a woman at the Samaritan well,
washed the feet of the disciples,
and sent them forth to baptize all nations by water and the Holy Spirit.

Bless by your Holy Spirit, gracious God, this water.
By your Holy Spirit save those who confess the name of Jesus Christ
that sin may have no power over them.
Create new life in us this day
that we may rise in Christ.
Glory to you, eternal God,
the one who was, and is, and shall always be,
world without end. Amen.

 

And finally, our Five Minutes of God Time: an instrumental Can't Help Falling In Love. Why? Because our relationship with God should be less of a fear that "Big Brother" is watching us, waiting to punish us. It should be more like falling in love- when the more you know of Him, the more you want of Him.

When the Holy Spirit gives you a smoothie....

(and other thoughts on the Fruit of the Spirit)

So, perhaps that was a bit irreverent, but it is a delicious sounding metaphor for the Fruit of the Spirit that Christians "grow." Note that it's "fruit" not "fruits." That means that they're all interconnected, and they should all be present in a Christian- so, for example, you don't get to pick "faithfulness" and reject "gentleness." And if you give the Spirit free reign, He'll grow your fruit into a beautiful, ripe specimen of deliciousness. Try to avoid growing in one area, though, and suddenly your life ends up looking something like this:

Credit: http://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/node/3668/print

Not what you had in mind for your spiritual appearance? Hmmm. We'd best take a look at what a well-rounded fruit looks like.

First, what are the different parts of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Nine Fruits- and they can be hard to remember, especially in a list format (unless you memorize them, but listing them by rote doesn't really give you a good feel for what they are). So we had a fun, if a bit cheesy, way to help keep them straight- we linked them with edible fruit that shared some sort of characteristic or visual similarity to popular metaphors.

·         Love- a strawberry (which is kind of heart-shaped)

·         Joy- a banana (which looks like of like a smile)

·         Peace- a watermelon (because you have to eat it in pieces)

·         Patience- an orange (since it requires effort and time to peel away the outside and get to the good stuff inside)

·         Kindness- grapes (which are easy to share with others)

·         Goodness- tomatoes, later changed to blueberries (because they're really healthy for you!)

·         Faithfulness- a cherry (cherries have a pit- reminding us that faith should be the rock-solid center of our lives)

·         Gentleness- a peach (because, really, what requires more gentleness in handling than a peach?)

·         Self-Control- an apple (because you could really stretch it into looking something somewhat like a stop sign. Or you could think of the story of Adam and Eve, who didn't show any of this trait when it came to apples- (thanks, Rob!).)

Now that we know what they are, and have a trick to help us remember them, let's talk about what is really part of our fruity smoothie.

Love

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”- C.S. Lewis

We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. But when you think about how you love yourself, you don't always feel affectionate toward yourself. You might not always like yourself. And as part of loving yourself, you might just force yourself to do hard things. Often, your love for yourself is so well ingrained that you "love" yourself without even thinking about it- you just want to do what's best for you. That kind of love is our starting point- but just as you can love more than just yourself, there's even more to love than just that kind.

So how do you define love outside of yourself? Well, we often confuse "love" with the idea that we have to feel some sort of attraction to a person; perhaps a romantic attraction, but at the least a friendly one. The reality is, in our verse in Galatians, love is written as "agape,"- not philos, not eros. Agape is the kind of love God has for us, not the kind of love we have for a brother or the kind of love we have for a spouse. We are to love as God loves us. Unconditionally. Freely. And as anyone who's ever heard their parent say, "I love you, but I don't really like you right now," knows- true love transcends mere happy feelings. For more information on how this type of love plays out, see 1 Corinthians 13 (which is also the quintessential wedding verse).

Joy

As selfishness and complaint pervert the mind, so love with its joy clears and sharpens the vision.

-Hellen Keller

Just as love is more than affectionate feelings, joy is more than happiness. Happiness is certainly a part of it, but the word joy is translated from the Greek "chara"- which, in its root word, means grace. Joy comes from the grace of God, and true joy cannot happen apart from Him. Why is this important? Well, if we take the English dictionary definition of joy, we would find that it's primarily linked with pleasure, elation, distinct happiness- and these all positive emotions. We might experience joy while listening to great concert, seeing a good friend after a long time apart, or finding out that the person we really, really like likes us back. Those are all positive emotions that stem from positive situations. But then why do we find so many references to joy sprinkled through the bible, such as 1 Thessalonians 1:6, which refer to joyous people under intense pressure and persecution? Because as Christians, when we allow the Holy Spirit to grow joy in us, we start to realize that positive emotions don't always have to come from positive situations. Same way that others might tell you that you can change your circumstances simply by changing your attitude, the Holy Spirit tells us that He will give us joy, regardless of what we're experiencing, if we let Him. Joy comes from the grace of God, regardless of whether we're eating a delicious chocolate truffle while resting in the most serene woodland forest or caring for a dying leper in the slums of Calcutta. (I know Mother Theresa is known more for her kindness, but if you don't think she had joy in her work, you haven't read much about her)

Peace

Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace... If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you know what His will is. - Amy Carmichael



What comes to mind when you think of peace? Military peace? Being left alone by your siblings? Sitting in a serene and quiet environment? Maybe the symbolic peace sign or a white dove? All of those images deal with outward peace, and they are very valid descriptions of peace. Or maybe instead of those things, your first thought was that peace means calming your inner worries and concerns. That's a bit closer to what Peace (or eirene, in Greek, shalom in Hebrew) means in our verse. It's the idea of wholeness or completeness- and perhaps this is best tied to the parts of our smoothie. When you're so full of God-given love and joy (to name just two) that your inner parts can stop searching for other things to fill in the gaps, you are more balanced, less likely to be infiltrated by the chaos around you. Note that this peace doesn't require peaceful outer situations, and we as Christians are not promised an easy life. Sometimes eirene peace shows up most when life is craziest- when things are traumatic, or scary, or unstable, the peace of God allows you to not go to pieces along with everything (and maybe everyone) around you. It allows you to persevere and have patience- trusting in God and knowing that the chaos will not last forever.

Patience

The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. - Arnold Glasow

Patience is also called endurance, forbearance, fortitude, continuance, constancy, perseverance. The idea is the same- it is continuing calmly under tough circumstances. The tough circumstances might be small annoyances with people in your life, it might be continual disappointments in achieving a goal (Jonas Salk had 200 unsuccessful polio vaccines before he found the one that worked), or it might be something much bigger- such as religious persecution like Youcef is facing. And the reality is that depending on our mindset and previous experiences, the small annoyances might seem harder for us to persevere under than the religious persecution. Regardless of the circumstances, though, patience comes from God. Just remember that when you ask God for more patience, He might give you the emotional feeling of patience- or He might just give you more opportunities to practice patience. Use either gift with the joy of knowing that God has heard your prayer!



Kindness

I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. - Henry Drummond

Kindness (or "chrestotes," in Greek) is the first part of our smoothie the requires our interaction with others to determine how much kindness we really have. Our kindness is defined by how we treat others- whether we show compassion and consideration, or whether we stubbornly pursue our own interests first. Give someone the benefit of the doubt, seek out opportunities to practice the Golden Rule, talk to that person who really needs a friend (even though you might really want to focus on your other friends)... kindness, in essence, is trying to make others feel supported, cared for, recognized, and respected (shockingly, all things that you probably also want to feel).

Goodness

Badness is only spoiled goodness. - C.S. Lewis

Goodness is integrity, righteousness, virtue, moral excellence. It is knowing what the right choice is and doing that- even though it might be a lot easier to do the wrong thing. Goodness is the fruit that is concerned about the quality and condition of your inner being. Just the appearance of goodness isn't enough (though many people feel that if their reputation is good, they've got this one covered). The most commonly noted thing about this fruit is that it can be easy to get confused about where goodness comes from and become proud of how incorruptible we are. Even though goodness often requires tough decisions and extra effort on our part, goodness doesn't actually come from us. Our goodness, just like our sense of joy or patience, comes from God. We only know what is good by looking at Him and trying to follow along.

Faithfulness

When you look at the Cross, what do you see? You see God's awesome faithfulness. Nothing - not even the instinct to spare His own Son - will turn him back from keeping His word. -Sinclair B. Ferguson



Faithfulness ("pistis," in Greek) can also be summed up in a couple of other words- loyalty, commitment, fidelity. It is so much more than simple emotion, because emotions are temporary. Faithfulness is ongoing, and it requires continual attention. Faithfulness isn't promising perfection- it's promising continuity of intention. As you grow in this part of the fruit, your continuity of intention gets easier and easier to keep. Becoming a Christian is a lot like reciting a wedding vow to God- telling Him "through better or worse, in sickness and in health, I will link my life with You. I will trust You. I will love You." There's a reason we have the imagery of the Church as Christ's bride- and there's a reason we bring God into our wedding ceremonies. God is the originator of the idea of faithfulness. He created us- and when we fall short of what He asked, He doesn't throw us out on the street. He remains faithful, no matter how much we've ignored Him and hurt Him. He loves you- He is committed to you. So if we want to grow in our faithfulness to God, we can start by looking at how we as humans are faithful to other humans. If you marry someone (or are thinking about marrying someone), you notice them. You probably think about them more than you think about anyone else. You talk to them. You think about what they want/ask you to do, and you follow through. Does that look like your relationship with God? If not, maybe it's time to ask Him to help you grow in faithfulness.

Gentleness

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. - Francis de Sales

Ever watch a five year old being taught to hold a baby? The older child needs to learn how to treat the younger one, and a lot of attention goes into the details- where to support his weight, how much firmness should be in his grip in order to not hurt the little guy, what he can and cannot do with the one in his grasp. In a word, he has to learn... gentleness. Why does a parent spend so much time teaching these things? Because the parent knows, beyond a doubt, that the older child is much stronger and more powerful than the younger, and he is capable of creating great harm unless he knows how to be gentle. Gentleness is NOT weakness or powerlessness- you never tell the baby to be gentle with his older brother, because he doesn't have the strength or mental capability to do anything harmful. You don't tell the 100 pound weakling to be gentle with the 250 pound boxing champ. This command only goes to the ones with great strength. And we are not babies, we are not weaklings. We are more than capable of creating hurt, alienation, discomfort, and dissent. We have real power. So God, our Father, teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters. How to reign in our power (in words, thoughts, and actions) in order to build up relationships, be helpful to others, and how to correct a wrong doing without tearing someone apart.

Self-Control

I am a spiritual being... After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. - Max Lucado



Oooh. Self-control. Egkrateia. Quite frankly, even in Greek, it sounds... not so fun. Why wouldn't you want to let yourself do whatever feels good at the moment? Just roll with it, enjoy the moment, free yourself. We have all sorts of phrases that go against the idea of self-control. But have you ever felt the uncontrollable urge to laugh in a completely inappropriate place- like, perhaps, during a really important speech or at a funeral? Been terrified of falling while standing at the edge of a cliff? Blurted out a really private thought and immediately wished you could take it back? Those feelings of mortification, fear, and shame all stem from a real or perceived lack of self-control. We recognize within the fabric of who we are that there are moments when self-control is necessary and desirable (see the examples above), though we don't often consciously attribute our actions to a desire to remain in control. Instead, we usually fall into two extremes when it comes to self-control. One extreme is trying to control absolutely everything ourselves, forgetting that God is ultimately the one who makes our plans succeed or fail (both for our own good). You're never going to have control over everything, and you can knock yourself out trying. The second extreme is to say that self-control is old fashioned, boring, and for people who are too stupid to think for themselves- confusing self-control with unexamined rule following. Following this extreme is more or less flinging yourself all over the place, not worrying about the consequences- come what may, right? Of course, one person can have both of these extremes in different parts of his or her life, but either extreme is false and harmful.

So what is Christian self-control, really? It's really closer to a combination of self-examination and reaction. It's recognizing thoughts and habits for what they really are-- good and bad-- and what their causes and effects are; self-control then changes them as necessary to line up more closely with God's will. Self-control might just be recognizing that a TV show makes your thoughts discontent with your life and your faith- and then deciding to stop watching that show for your own ultimate good. Self-control might also be recognizing that volunteering to rake leaves will really help out the little old man who can't do it himself anymore- and then deciding to keep your commitment to do it, even though it conflicts with an invitation from someone you'd really like to impress. Self-control might be recognizing that your thoughts tend to be really angry and hurt when you think about a specific person- and deciding to say a breath prayer to stop yourself from spiraling downward. In all three examples, self-control is more than just following "orders" from God- it gives you a whole 'nother reward for practicing it. It makes you stop wanting things you can't have, it gives you a sense of integrity, accomplishment, and joy, and it keeps you from winding yourself up in anger. So if, with the help of God, one "fruit" could improve the emotions you experience, help you avoid situations that damage your person or your sense of purpose, and improve your relationships with others AND God- why wouldn't you want more of it?

 

 

 

5 minutes of God Time: Take my Life by Chris Tomlin

 

India!

We've spent the last two weeks talking about India and ways to support our ministries there. So, to start out the new year, we wrote letters to the oldest of our unsponsored students. You guys wrote some awesome letters, and I know the India travelers are really excited to have a personal letter to present to each of them. Way to help make the love of Christ real in a tangible way!

Our 5 minutes of God Time song for the start of the year was an acoustic version of "Live Like That" by Sidewalk Prophets.



And then last week, we talked about our blessings, our relative wealth, and how that plays into our role as Christians- all before we brainstormed ways to support our India ministry. When talking about money and wealth, the vast majority of people in our country will say that they're "middle class"- even if their income level indicates that they're upper-, upper-middle-, or even lower-middle class. Which means that we tend to think of ourselves as averagely wealthy- though our language often tends toward us thinking that we're "broke" or "poor." There's always something else that we could purchase, if we just had enough money. So the glut of options leaves us feeling like we're missing out, that everyone else has more stuff, more money, more _____ than us. The reality is this:

• If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep- you are richer than 75% of the world.
• If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change- you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.
• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are better off than the million people who will not survive this week.
• If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation- you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.
• If you can read this message- you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.

And then I gave you some even more sobering statistics:

•  If you took a shower this morning, washed your hands after using the bathroom, or drank water out of your tap (or a bottle), you're better off than the 2.5 billion people in the world who are without sufficient water sanitation and access.
• If you ate breakfast today (or had dinner last night, or are planning for lunch after youth group), your stomach is fuller than the 925 million people who are hungry and/or malnourished. In fact, 15 million children will dies this year of malnourishment.
• If you've never had to worry that your parents might sell you to pay a debt or because they couldn't afford to keep you (and you've never been so desperate for money that you were forced to consider selling yourself), your life is a wonderful dream compared to the estimated 29 million people who are modern-day slaves. 75% of those slaves are female, and 50% of them are children. At least 2 million of those children (some even younger than 5 years old) are sex slaves, working in brothels.
•  If you are able to go to the doctor when you feel ill, or you've ever had stitches, crutches, or a cast for a broken bone, you have access to medical care that 1 billion people in our world lack. Millions die each year from diseases and health care issues that are preventable.
• If you're receiving an education (at home, online, or at public/private school), you've been given an opportunity that 72 million children don't have; that's how many children in our world could be, should be in school but aren't. 57% of those children are female.

We are so incredibly blessed in our country- and in our comfort, we often forget what our lives could be. We complain because we don't have our favorite foods, though we've never lived through a famine in which we had to eat dirt just to quiet our stomachs. We're upset about our level of homework and how busy we are with extracurriculars, without stopping to consider what our opportunities in life would be if we didn't have any chance of going to school or learning a trade. And we gripe about our chores or the annoying attention of a sibling, all the while forgetting that we are so blessed to have a family to love us and care for us.

So I asked you to take your 5 Minutes of God Time (Give Thanks) and simply thank your Lord for all of your blessings. And I hope that you'll continue to give thanks throughout the week.

After that, we talked about what the value of $15 is. We all know that $15 is the cost to sponsor a child in our school, giving them education (and access to jobs in the future), food (for the lunch bunch kids), access to medical care and clean water, a school uniform, and someone who is watching out for them and cares about them. And if they can't get to school, Novahu will do something crazy like ask our church for a bus (thank you again to all of you who helped with the India Gala!)! And since we've already established that we're in the top 8% of the world's wealthy, and many of us are even higher up the scale than that, and we all have at least some discretionary spending money, we looked at what we would and do spend $15 on. I'm not asking you to give up any of the $15 items we listed (or the $15 units for larger items)- just that you need to keep in mind what the value of $15 is for us (you know, in case you want ammunition to encourage someone else to use 15 of their bucks to sponsor a child).

And then, keeping in mind what our ministry and our school does, we then brainstormed ways to help support our India ministry- both individually and as a group, and financially and in ways that require no monetary support. I'm so proud of your creativity, and I look forward to putting many of those ideas into practice! I'm not listing either set of brainstormed ideas on the blog, since that would make this long post into a novel- but they are posted on the walls in the youth room, and I encourage you to add to them, modify them, and put them into practice.

So that's the India summary! Our next two weeks are going to be mini-lessons. "Fruit of the Spirit" this Sunday (1/20/13) and Baptism/John the Baptist next Sunday. And then February is our month to help out with JAM Time! See you all tomorrow!

 

What comes next?

Before we get to the good stuff, we have to talk a bit more about the bad. So far, we've talked about why we as Christians should be talking about consumption, where our personal consumption level falls and we've talked about where we get our influences. Now we get to talk about the impact of our choices and our lifestyles, and where to go from here.

We started out discussing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch- a swirling vortex of plastic pieces and goo that is twice the size of Texas and is continually growing. If you'd like to get a bit more insight on this topic, check out some of the information on the side links. Or just search "Great Pacific Garbage Patch." There's a lot out there to find that we couldn't cover in an hour.

We discussed e-waste (electronic waste) and why it's so bad for the planet. There are soo many videos out there about it, but we watched a clip from this one. The summary of the e-waste problem is this: anything that's created will need to go somewhere at the end of it's life. Whenever you purchase a shiny new gadget, you need to think about the fact that it will eventually wear out or break, become obsolete (when have any of you ever seen an 8-track?), or you'll simply decide that it no longer fits your needs (or more likely, wants) and you'll want to replace it with something new. But because technology doesn't decompose or break down, that waste has to go somewhere (and if you sell it to someone else, that waste still has to go somewhere, you've simply added another step to the chain- which is good, but not the final answer). Currently, our world doesn't have the recycling capabilities to deal with our waste, and even in the places that do, most of the waste ends up in third world countries because it's cheaper ($2 vs. $30 for India vs. USA disposal facilities) to dispose of an e-waste item in a place that deals with it poorly. Many poor people with no other job prospects will dismantle electronics to resell the parts at a very low cost- and will release toxic gases and particles by melting the metals over an open flame (without proper protection) or dissolving the plastic coating in vats of acid (which are then dumped in local fields and rivers). There's so much more to it than that incredibly brief recap, and I encourage you to do more research to see why e-waste is an environmental, consumption -level, and social justice  problem.

Those two areas of external (affecting more than just us) consumption impact are just a small sampling of what we could have covered. We as Christians are doing a lot of damage to our world and our fellow humans without even realizing it. But the good news is that you guys now have at least an idea of what kind of consequences our lifestyles are creating. And realizing and acknowledging that are the first steps toward recovery! Part 1.a of the good news is that after you realize that things aren't right, making them better is really not that hard! And you, as teens and as soon-to-be-adults, can make changes right now to reduce your contribution to some of these very real problems.

So what can you do? I gave you a list of tips and tricks from zerowastehome.blogspot.com which is a great place to start. And then I asked you guys to commit to one change. Just start with one. When you've got that one down, you can try another! One at a time isn't so overwhelming. Don't get yourself depressed with where you're at right now- up until this point, you didn't know. But now you do! Maybe you decide you want to avoid (or completely refuse to buy) things that have plastic packaging. Maybe you want to bring your own bags to the grocery store (or the mall). Maybe you decide you're going to reduce your time in the car and try to do all your errands or visiting on one day. Maybe you make it a point to shut off your electronics (computer, TV, ipod, etc.) for one day a week. Maybe you decide to make your own personal care product. Or maybe you decide that you want to do all of these or none of these and try something else instead. The point is, one change is the start. And you might just find that it's a lot easier than you ever thought. And if we're all committing to making some sort of change at once, you've got yourself a ready-made supportive friend and accountibilibuddy somewhere within our group. :)

And since this post is being published almost a month after our original discussion, I'd love to hear how this is going for you in the comments!

P.S.- Our 5 minutes of God Time song was an instrumental version of "Be Thou My Vision"