Unpacking Words

There's an article on Relevant to check out - this man lives my (current) worst nightmare! He accidently checks his book/music/goodness filled carry-on right before a 25hr flight!!
Please LORD don't let that happen to me!
But I suppose the anecdote is not the point of the article. Unpacking words is the point. Unpacking words, like the way Alan unpacked "WORSHIP" today in church. Loved it!
Check the article (and not your carry-on) HERE.

The Art of True Rebellion

I just read a fantastic article on Relevant that I just had to share with you! Now admittedly it's talking about a different kind of youth ministry than what I've grown up on. But I have seen my share of entertainment-based, babysitting style youth ministry, that was lacking or uninterested in being something so much more.
This article really stirs me, because I want to see the youth of this generation rise up and be "peculiar people". Kids who live lives that are socially responsible and who above ALL are faithful to Christ. Even to give up their rights to a life of safety, security or predictability. The call of Christ is often wild and undomesticated - regardless of where they are living, what school they attend or whatever vocation they involve themselves in.
I really have big dreams for our up-and-coming youth, the kids in my church here at home are really amazing. I have a blast with them. It is these kids who I want more for, I want to see them embrace Christ, and enter the world as His bride!

"I’ve grown to believe that student ministry is about much more than just numbers and telling teenagers to “just say no” to temptation. It’s an opportunity to place oneself at the forefront of a great rebellion, a war on the idea that Christianity is just about your inactions. “Follow” is a verb. Something must be done in order to meet the requirements of the command. If I follow Christ and my students follow with me, then they no longer have to settle for being a shadow of the greater culture. Instead, they can lead the Church into the next generation, making her what God intended her to be—a cool shade for the world to rest beneath. If they can accomplish this, the world will look at the Church and know: This is where I go when I need help …when I’m hurting …when I’m homeless … when I’m addicted …when I’m far from home …when I’m hungry … when I’m sick …when I’m ready to give up … But if I choose not to go to the church, there’s no worry, for I know that she will come to me."

Broken Bodies

It's been a while - but here I am again, recommending some reading for your day. I was thinking this morning that it had been a really long time since I'd done this, and I hope there'd be something worth sharing with you, maybe even this morning. And what do you know but that a beautiful article appeared on Relevant!
So don't let the somewhat dull title block fool you. Beyond that basketball are 3 beautiful vignettes, well worth your time.
I love good writing.

Do You SEE People?

"Do you see anything?"
It's the question Jesus asked the blindman after He spit in his eyes. And it's the question Jeff (of New Brunswick - you know, Jeff in New Brunswick, ??) asked himself and now poses for us.
And his answer is the very same as the once-was-blindman's - "I see people."
But what difference does that make to any of us, we see people everyday. But I wonder if we really do SEE people or if we skin colour, style, careers, lifestyles, age, whatever. Do we classify people as this or that, so we don't actually have to see them as individual created beings. Children of God that He has a plan for, a will for, someone made in His image.
What if we stop labelling people? What if we just choose to love them regardless of what we might think they are?
So today I'm recommending 2 articles first the above mentioned-gooder by Jeff on 24-7 Prayer and one that hits on AIDS and inconviencing ourselves because God wants us to love others, by Ryan Hannah on Relevant.

I guess for me this is really at the front of my mind right now. As I head into school I'm trying to think of the things I want to remember to be, to do when I am fully engaged in all the busyness of missions and studying and living with others. I want to learn from all my past travels, from what God has been teaching me these last years. Most of these ideas, these goals have to do with loving God and loving people. That's all life ever seems to be about.

So I guess I want to remember to SEE people. To know them, to listen to them, to know their names, to go above and beyond, to pray for them, to think of others first.

The Anti-Hero Gospel

"As Christians, when we start talking about simple obedience, there's a triggered-mechanism within us that pleads for the dramatic over the daily and begs for short-term heroics over the long-and-steady obedience that comes with taking the commands of Jesus seriously. I think it happens whenever we cry out, "I'd die for you," or, "I'll burn my CD's for you," or maybe something like, "I'll move to Antarctica and freeze to death for you, Jesus." When really, all God wants is for us to take him seriously where we're at and make his way a pattern of life."

A really neat article on Relevant today, check out The Anti-Hero Gospel. Like the author, the Superhero phenomenon hits home for me too. I may not be dreaming of saving the world from some alien invasion, (believe me), but I often feel this superman-complex about needing to solve the world's ills. When really Christ hasn't called me to save the world. I can't - and well He already did. He is calling me to be faithful, He is calling me to love the poor and forgotten. He isn't looking for a spandex outfit or web-throwing skills. Thank goodness - both scare me!

Following the Ants

Fantastic article on Relevant today! I could never have quessed that there'd be so much to learn from a-n-t-s! Check it out and just see if your heart doesn't soften towards the little monsters just a smidge! Maybe God does have a reason for creating them afterall! (Except for fire ants, those can not possibly have a good purpose - dang those things hurt!)