Class taught at kid's camp

We have different areas in our lives.  We have our home part, we have school and friends, sports, hobbies and then God and church stuff. We realize that God needs to be the biggest part of our lives.  That can seem a little crazy since we aren't in  church as long as we are in school.  WE don't pray as long as we watch TV. That seems really tough, and it is. In fact it is not even what God really wants.  He wants more than anything a relationship with you. Relationship means there is interaction - friendship.  God doesn't want to be the biggest part of your life. He wants to be in every part of your life. He wants to interact with every part.  He wants to change the color of every part through relationship.

The number one reason for your relationship with Christ is your relationship with Christ. He saved you to have a relationship with you most of all.

We can get caught up with just going to church or being on a JBQ team or Royal Rangers that some times we forget about our heart.   Oh yes, we gave our hearts to Jesus, but we let only a part have any relationship to him.  Jesus said the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart.  Having your heart right is all that God wants from you.

Meditation on God's Transcendence

Grace alone that I know of you and know you.
Grace alone that I can form thougths and words in your light.
Grace alone that you love me.
Grace alone that you let me love you.
Grace alone that you care to lead me.
Grace alone that you care to use me.
Grace alone that you have designs for me.
Grace alone that you form in me your depth.

The Integrated Life

Psalm 119 Nun

A Meditation on Psalm 119:105-112

In the dark night of the sou, your word shines bright. Continually, I promise to follow the beam.  I suffer much of my self and your promise is still faithful.  I praise your with my mouth. Let me praise you with my walk along the beam.  Every day I take my life upon myself again. Temptation assails me and threatens to take it.  The letters of your law are my heritage forever. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.  Help me for my flesh is not so set.

N

Night of the soul is ever dark

Light of very light, your words shine

Never, I say,  will I leave

The path of your beam lies before me

Now and always I suffer much of my self

You are faithful anyway 

Near my ear oyu whisper your laws

Let me praise you with body and soul

Now again I take my life upon myself

Temptation assails and threatens to take it

Not knowing where I've come from or where I go

Your word is where my foot prints can be found

Now I have a rich heritage in your word

I never looked for it but your joy is mine

Never leave me

I need your help

Psalm 119 Mem

A meditation on Psalm 119:97-104

I love your word.  I like to think about it all the time.  They show me wise as I obey your wisdom.  The people with out your grace are blind.  Your word is the stuff of my dreams.  I love it.  My teachers' brilliance is dull next to my love for your word.  I love obeying your word.  I am excited about it and I run around my elders rejoicing. My feet dance avoiding the wrong path - all so I can obey your word.  I love it when you teach me.  Your lessons are my double glazed honey ham!  I love the understanding my dinner brings.   It is so good I'll never leave your table!

M

Mind over matter they say

I just love your words

My mind drinks your word

Filled with it I glow

More than the geniuses

Your words shine

Man can't contian me

When I think about your word

More and more I love your words

Savory and powerful

My feet dance around all ills

To rush to my dinner

Mmm good.

I dream about your words

My mouth waters

I love the understanding it brings

Written at Buckaroo and Straight Arrow field day, Pillager, MN

Meditation on 2 Chronicles 29-30

Oh Lord, it is exciting when your people return to you!  I love the story of King Hezekiah and the speed with which your people turned toward you.  It is also amazing the speed with which the left you with he died.  His son no longer had the influence... he was probably influenced by advisers who left off serving. Twenty-nine years Judah was yours though, they turned their hearts to you and saw you.  No doubt every day.  I love you!

You brought unity to north and south again and they celebrated your Holy Passover!  What a time!  Bring it Lord!  Bring your depth and power into our lives.  Bring the unity of mind to seek you.  Bring a Holy Expectancy.  Bring your word! Bring your majesty! Bring it!

Psalm 119 Lamedh

A Meditation on Psalm 119:89-96

The sky is blue into the infinite heavens, Lord you made it and it lasts.  Just like your words, nothing you say falls to the ground and is lost.  Con todo poder, you spoke the worlds into existence and millennia haven't threatened them. Your words are faithful. Just like you ordered the universe, so you are faithful to order my steps! If I wasn't yours, where would my feet take me? Now they take me to your breath and fall in your every syllable.  Your words have salvaged my life and enlivened me.  Your words are eternal, and eternally they will be my food.  Your words are perfect and with gentle violence they make me perfect.

L

Land appeared at the vibration of your vocalization

Created it shook - then stood

Lost words aren't a part of your economy

Every syllable races through eternity

Life bouncing here and there

Echoing through lost ages

Life giving words, never lost

Give life to my weary bones

Lasting words can be true

True to my feet

Lead my feet to that place

True perfection in crazy timing

Let my shape be new

With gentle violence

Looking forever, nothing is perfect

Except my dinner - your words

Who am I?

Through gritted teeth and furrowed brow I examined today the thoughts, attitudes and positions of others.  How can they say things like they do?!  How can they be so legalistic, so blind, so amoral, so lost? So insignificant and yet so arrogant? 

 Why so critical and cynical?  Perhaps my brow is so tightly furrowed that my eyes are forced inward. Oh loathable self.

Who am I truly then? The more I come to the end of myself, the more I see that the answer lies in knowing my Well Beloved. These problems that seem so absorbing are erased when I see myself as a reflection in God's loving eyes.  Eyes that see, eyes that reflect with true love, true judgment. This view is startling and comforting; directing and at the same time distracting to the point that I am lost in His life - Jehovah Tsdkanu, my Well Beloved.

Vision

To bring hope to hopeless children

The need

As a counselor at kids camp in 1999 I was brought to my knees with a buren for the hopeless. I had two in my group, Charlie and Chris who have had a tough life, because of it they acted out. They were picked on, different and volatile. In a world that creates hopeless situations, Christ brings hope. I also brought to the camp T----. Similarly she was socially affected by hard times. Can she function normally? Christ brings healing. With Joan's connections at county corrections, we have seen many kids who have been failed in so many ways. They are hurt, broken, scared and can't see any hope. Christ is all about healing hurt, broken, scared people. These hurts come out in unloveable and unacceptable ways, and we are called to love them, called to accept them.

The challenge

These kids have had so little exposure to God and the things of God that they have difficulties learning with those who have been exposed. The difficulties include lack of understanding of church-speak, not knowing how to act and most importantly they have needs so important and so large in their eyes that they can't see the very real need of God and salvation.

The Solution

Because disinterest causes behavior problems we need to be simple in speech, prepared and patient. Most importantly, we need to find ways to meet those felt needs so they can come to see their need for God and allow him to change them - to bring hope.

This has everything to do with evangelism. There is only one way to reach the unchurched and that is by meeting them where they are. The prayer, care, share model fits this perfectly. Prayer allows God to speak truth and knowlege of their situation as well as change our hearts to love. Care is a matter of meeting those needs that are paramount in their eyes. When met they are alowed to explore greater depths.

Who is equipped to meet these needs? Those who need to know the dpths themselves.

Leading Children into Discipleship

The Need

I have found discipleship to be the great joy of the Christian life. The joy of relationship and the romance of redemption aren't just frills, they are the whole point. Like Jeremiah, there is no greater testimony to God's desire to fellowship than a child who knows the Voice of God. It is the firm belief that children can develop wells of relationship with God that has driven me to minister with children. Over the last year as I have grown, the Disciplines have become more and more important to me. I have become a prospector, and knowing God my gold. Knowing God isn't a key part of ministry, it is all of it. As a heart grows to beat in rhythm with the divine heart, it changes all around it and lets the Spirit move it to the right actions. These hearts only beat as one as the grace of God enables. The Disciplines put is in a position where God works his grace in us.

The Challenge

The Disciplines are expressions of love and as with any love we must decide to love God in this way. Such a decision takes commitment. Children are capable of such commitment, but they don't usually understand the gravity of such a decision. They also need great support to stay focused with so many things calling for their time and attention.

The Solution

All the elements of Christian life must be continually offered to these young Christians that they may grow. Things such as worship, prayer, the word, baptism, communion and ministry are food for growing kids. For them to catch it however it must be done in context.

Ministry Within Context

The Need

To be effective in sharing Christ with children we need to be aware of the influences they face. To hold attention in an environment where everything demands attention, we must be aware of the culture they are immersed in and use it's keys and methods. In order to disciple and keep them we must nurture and and understand the context of the natural support system - the family.

Christ is Lord of culture who can reign as effectively over the Sawi tribesmen of Papua New Guinea as he can over the techno generation of suburban America. He can use the customs, music, art, and worldview to bring his Kingdom. Christ is not afraid of culture, but rather reigns. Kids have their own distinctives and sub-culture. Their cartoons, games, hobbies, interests, school life, books and families create a unique people to minister to. This context must be considered.

The family is the child's source of support and development. It is the place where values are formed and attitudes set. Effective ministry must recognize the place the famiy as the spiritual leadership for the children. Effective ministry nurtures and strengthens this unit, giving it them the resources to succeed.

The Challenge

Parents and children learn in different ways. They understand things at different levels. This poses two challenges. First, parents at times miss the importance of the spiritual needs of their children, placing their needs below their own. Second it is difficult to connect between generations. The culture is changing continually and as the distinctives of kid culture become more pronounced the adults have more difficult communicating. The American child is given many opportunities. Often these things play a tug of war with the child. Time is demanded at sports practices, school, homework, friends, TV, etc..., and family time is small. With so much vying for attention, it can be difficult to get their attention. We must be able to use things they already focus on to share Christ and in such a way that it doesn't further stress the family.

The Solution

The solution begins in study. I purpose to learn both kid culture and the family dynamics of the culture where I am. Armed with this knowledge, we must minister accordingly. Imitating God by taking what is meant for entertainment or even evil, and using it for God's Kingdom is a starting place into kid culture. Kids will like what they like. Our job is to teach Christ and him crucified through it. Ultimately this will mean riding the wave of technology and trend while balancing the delicate and taut line of The Spirit. That line points continually to Christ and never looses its focus.

With the knowledge of the family, every effort should be made to tap into its power as a support structure and value disseminator. Hope must be offered to the whole family. The elements of Christian growth, the Disciplines, are best experienced in this context and the sharing of the life of Christ corporately and individually at the level of kid culture can and should be enjoyed as a family.

Vision

My vision consists of the following elements, and herein lies my passion:

1. Bringing hope to hopeless children
2. Leading Children into deep relationship and discipleship
3. (Minister to the whole family) Minister within the family context and the cultural context

(SKIDS Church logo)