I'm Noisy on the Inside

I recently watched Rob Bell's video entitled "Noise", in which he talks about our desperate need for silence and solitude in order to connect with God in our very noisy world. I have been very fascinated recently with the idea that silence and darkness often precede transformation in nature. Just a few examples . . . a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. . . a seed emerging from the ground . . .and a baby emerging from the womb. It has also been my experience that spiritual transformation is often preceded by seasons of silence and darkness. I remember that before I was called into ministry there was a season of breaking ties with an old life, drowning in confusion, wanting answers in prayer, but dreading what God would say when He broke the silence. It seemed like a period of inactivity, but it turned out to be a period of incubation. This causes me to ask the following question: If we are not spending time in silence and solitude, are we stunting our own spiritual growth?

In the Wrong Line

So . . . Melanie and I went to Judy Drive-In over Memorial Day weekend to see the new "Indiana Jones" movie. There was a huge crowd and, when we got to the concession stand, a guy told us that the line started on the other side of the building. Excited about chili-cheese fries, Melanie and I went to the other side of the building and got in the first line we found. Much to our embarrassment, after standing in line for about five minutes, Melanie realized that we were standing in the line to the women’s restroom! I had wondered why the women in front of us were looking at me like an alien. I also regretted some comments I had made while in line like, "Wow, the line's not moving very fast". This whole fiasco reminded me of a John Wesley quote: “If you are in a broad way, you are in the way that leadeth to destruction. If many go with you, as sure as God is true, both they and you are going to hell!” The lesson from my misfortune . . . Be careful that the crowd you’re following isn’t leading you down the wrong path.

-AWS

What if Church were fun?

I know I'm just 24, but I am really fascinated by the crisis that some people experience at midlife because it seems to offer an opportunity for a new beginning. Sue Monk Kid has written an excellent book tracing her journey through midlife called When the Heart Waits. In the beginning of this book she introduces the concept of "Orphaned Voices", which represent unlived parts of her life. More specifically, she says, "They seemed to speak for all the unlived parts of me, and they came with a force and dazzle that I couldn't contain. They seemed to explode the boundaries of my existence. I know now that they were the clamor of a new self struggling to be born." So, I started thinking about "Orphaned Voices" in my life that are struggling to be born. The first question that popped into my mind was, "What if Church were fun?" As a pastor, I look out on my congregation sometimes during worship and they look bored, tired, unengaged, and sometimes downright miserable. Instead of breathing a sigh of relief when church is over, what if our youth hated leaving church the way they hate leaving their best friend's house? I agree with some people's concern that worship should not primarily be entertainment, but I've never understood the mantra that "Church isn't supposed to be fun!" My sould breathed a sigh of relief when one of seminary professors reminded me of Zecheriah's vision of the restoration of Jerusalem:
Zechariah 8:5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.
This is my vision of heaven: Children playing in the streets.
I'm not saying that we should start playing 4-square in the sanctuary, but shouldn't our worship be a reflection of the joy, excitement, and fun of the restored kingdom of God?

Adam

Relevant

There is a serious problem: We are living in a rapidly changing world, but many churches are still doing ministry the same way they did 50 years ago. Have we stopped being relevant? I think this video by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod is a real eye opener.

Matthew Mania

Bethel and Owingsville UMYF,

When I was a Freshman in college, reading my Bible definitely wasn't a priority for me. Actually, it was somewhere near the bottom of my list of things to do. I felt like a serious loser when my roommate Phillip pulled out his Bible and started reading one night before we went to sleep. He politely asked me if I was going to read my Bible and I said, "No, I left it out in my car." What he said next made me feel about an inch tall . . . "Is that the excuse you're going to tell Jesus?"
I believe that it is critical for our youth group to start reading the Bible together because it will bring us closer together and closer to God. I have chosen the Gospel of Matthew as our starting place because it tells us about the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Every week I will post some verses to read along with some questions to get us started thinking. Please comment about your reactions to what you read or any questions you may have. Then, when we meet for youth group on Sundays we will use the week's blog conversation as a springboard for our devotional.

READ: Matthew 1:1-17
To access these verses just click the link below:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%201;&version=31;

THINK: There are four women other than Mary listed in Jesus' genealogy. This is interesting because the gospel of Matthew was written in a very male-dominated society where women did not have many rights. In other words, they believed the woman's place was in the kitchen. Investigate who these women were and think about why Matthew would have included these women in Jesus' family tree. Hint: What do they have in common?

• Tamar (Genesis 38:11-30)
• Rahab (Joshua 2:1-24, 6:22-25)
• Ruth (Book of Ruth)
• Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11, 12:24)

Words of Wisdom

I really love it when I run across a quote that communicates so much wisdom in so few words. Here are some of my favorites:

"The Lord sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves."
-D. L. Moody

"A lie goes half way around the world before the truth can get its pants on."
-Winston Churchill

"Live deep instead of fast."
-Henry Seidel Canby

"There's no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit."
-Anonymous

"The devil will let a preacher prepare a sermon if it will keep him from preparing himself."
-Vance Havner

"Do all the good you can
By all the means you can
In all the ways you can
In all the places you can
To all the people you can
As long as you ever can"
-John Wesley

Camp Lewis 2007

We just finished another wonderful season at Camp Lewis in Breathitt County, KY. It is always amazing to see how God can begin to transform a person's life in just one week. When we imagine what Heaven is going to be like, we always think it will something like Camp Lewis. We are already counting down to next year. Here are the top 10 things we love about Camp Lewis:

1. Seeing God Change Lives

2. Cold, Sweet, Juicy Watermelon

3. Campfire

4. Playing Knockout

5. Offroading in the Golf Cart

6. Swimming Olympics

7. Birdie Report

8. Showering with Bugs

9. Screaming till your voice is gone

10. Tammy's Mashed Potatoes

-A&M