Back to Basix

I don’t know if you know this or not, but I am currently an advisor for a youth group at a local Lutheran church near my college. The youth group is made up of 70-90ish kids from 6th to 12th grade, plus a bunch of advisors (some former youth group members and some not). I decided not to be an advisor my freshmen year of college just because I wasn’t sure what the work load would be like, what college was all about, etc. So, after getting a handle on things, I was invited to be an advisor my sophomore year and jumped in. Before this year started, I struggled a lot with the decision to be an advisor again or not, simply because I was doubting the institution of the Lutheran church and struggled with my faith and my call to be a disciple and what the heck that meant. I decided to be an advisor, and it’s been one of my best decisions this year. It’s so renewing to go every week to hang out with kids and teach about Jesus. This year the theme is “Back to Basix”. We’re looking at the life of Jesus and what that means to us as his followers. This couldn’t have come at a better time in my life, and it’s awesome to talk about it with teenagers and hear their thoughts (since most of the disciples started out at their age anyway). I’ve found that there is a place for me in the institution of the church. Ever since I was a young teen, people have been telling me that I have some sort of gift with teenagers (a hard thing to be a part of in college life), so in a lot of ways, youth group has brought me home. And the relationships are incredible. I agree with Tim, it’s not about your church, it’s about people. Me being one of them. It’s easy to disagree with an institution, but much more difficult when you have relationships with people within them. What is an institution anyway without people?
And after some conversations this past week, we are certainly not the only people thinking these thoughts and asking these questions…maybe something’s happening.

I also had an interesting conversation with a friend about the way Christian language shapes our lives. In particular, what does the word “calling” mean? I’m a huge supporter and user of the word, as it really has shaped the way I view myself and God. But, does “calling” exist outside of a community?

Its not about your church!

Penny,your reflection on being uncomfortable has spilled over into my reflections about rethinking church. Its time for me to make a break with some others in our Christian family. God has written things into my story that I must continue to write. Now that I'm aware of my calling to write this story I MUST STOP ADVOCATING WHAT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT I'D BE ADVOCATING. I simply can not go on advocating for communities to pull away from the church. If I'm honest with myself, its not about my own comfortability. It would be comfortable to pull away from the Lutheran church and do whatever it is I feel "called" to do. BUT, its not about comfortability. We need to stop thinking that this conversation is about our churches. Let me say that again. ITS NOT ABOUT YOUR CHURCH. Its not about your church because when we say that we mean our institutions, our structures and our messy shortcomings. But here's the deal. Its about people. Its about people even when we're in communities who aren't caring for people. If I want the church to change, I must begin the change by BEING the change. That is my calling. That is OUR calling as followers of Jesus. We can not be the change outside of those places that need it the most. Jesus calls us to BE the change IN the places where the change is needed the most.

- tim

Longing to be Uncomfortable

"God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable."
This quote has been roaming around my head and rattling my heart for the past 3 weeks.

When I went to Africa last year I was constantly uncomfortable with my surroundings, the heat, some cultural traditions, etc...but at the same time I was so comfortable with the lifestyle. A lifestyle that catered to love, fun, relaxation, and community. Infact, I promised not to let myself slide back into comfortability when I arrived home to the land of 'material'. I knew that I didn't want to come home and be the materialistic monster I once was, get busy with work and school, and forget about what was important to me -community.
Sometimes I forget what it is like to be free. To live day to day, not knowing what I am doing at 2 o'clock in the afternoon the following day. I let my schedule consume my life and yet I miss the adventure of life by way of sporadicness. I miss sitting under a shaded tree for hours, drinking water, dancing, laughing and loving with my brothers and sisters. Now, it seems as though I have to schedule in that precious time.
I know that my complaints can only be resolved through my own doings and efforts of minimizing my schedule, but it's a constant battle. Am I alone? I think not. I look around and see so many people longing for community. My own close friends say to me, "I wish we could hang out more often, but I need to study/I have to work/ (insert excuse here)". We are all falling into a trap of business and becoming distant from the gift-the beautiful gift of community we have around us
Recently, I find myself becoming more and more uncomfortable with my comforts everyday. Longing to be uncomfortable with the lifestyle I am leading. Longing for God to build up a resistance in my heart towards the "norm" and pressures of the society around me...
If being uncomfortable "materialistically" brings me joy, I take discomfort over comfort any day.

below is an email I sent out while I was in Africa and a few pictures just for fun:

" Yesterday we arrived back in Lome in the evening, after a packed week of singing and sharing the Gospel in some villages. The first village we stopped in was called Yobo, and we were greeted by fellow Christians when we arrived, they were eagerly awaiting us and welcomed us with cold water and smiles! In all villages we have to greet the Chief before we can go out into the village to do anything, we must tell him what were doing and then he decides if it’s ok. The Chief of Yobo was very laid back and told us we could go around his village and then he showed us his field of pineapples! We had a great time evangelizing in Yobo and stayed with a very wonderful family. They cooked for us, gave us a place to stay and treated us as their own family; it was our first host home experience so far and a great first…It was sad to leave them but they have definitely left a mark on my heart. We left Yobo after a two nights stay for Keve, a small village about 2 hours away. We arrived safely and were brought to another home, were we would be staying! It’s been really exciting staying with families, because we have been staying in guest homes for most of our stay in Africa-so interaction with people is great. The family we stayed with consisted of two widows, their children and some orphans, probably some of the most loving people I have met ever. One of the daughters name was Noelline, she was about 10 years old, and it was like having my sister around, in a fun sort of way. I got to play some hand clapping games, do hair, dance with her and what not-by the end of our stay she and I had become pretty good friends. Did I mention that she was also the one who washed everyone on the team’s laundry by hand? A ten year old washed my laundry cleaner than ive been able to get it the whole time ive been over here….I’m finding God shows his love through little people in big ways.