IN THAT PLACE AGAIN

So here I am, in that place again, realising that it’s been ages since I’ve written down my thoughts, wondering why I’m falling into old sin’s again, wondering why the initial passion that I had is now fading somewhat, realising I’ve let my quiet times become fleeting and often rushed.
Renew me afresh Lord, restore the passion into my life, revive my soul, and draw me back close to you again. I’m sorry for falling into old sins, allowing the temporary pleasures distract me from the eternal glories you have promised. I’m sorry that I’ve gotten so busy doing stuff that I’ve forgotten who I’m doing it for. Take this broken spirit, drained and weary, and fill me afresh with your spirit. Give me the passion and urgency again to communicate the gospel of Christ through my life, and in the work you have called me to do with a new generation in your church in Boardmills.
Help me to make you the priority in my life again, to run from sinful desires and thoughts that the Devil will place in my way to distract my focus from the goal. Give me a fresh encounter with Jesus that I may have that initial urgency and passion to tell of the grace and redemption of Christ like those shepherds many years ago. As I look back on a year that has been, and look forward to the year that is to come, help me to learn from the mistakes of the past, and move forward in the year that is to come, freshly enthused and inspired to draw ever closer to you, growing in knowledge, wisdom and stature as I seek to learn how to be Christ in all aspects of my life.Thank you Father for your forgiveness, mercy and grace, revealed in Christ that has saved a wretched sinner like me, and for the hope I now have as a child of the most high and holy God: creator, sanctifier and friend.

Bruchko

Just finished reading the above book about Bruce Olson, a teenager who followed his God given dream of bringing the Good News of the gospel to the Molitone tribe in the South American jungle. Amazing story of a guy who passionately pursued Gods calling in his life, no matter what the personal cost. An interesting point when reading that struck home with me : others had tried in the past to reach the tribal peoples with the gospel with limited success. Olsons approach was to spend time learning the language, investigating the culture and customs, and only then did he attempt to present the gospel to the people. And when doing so he didn't present it in a way that was threatening, he used customs and legends familiar to the tribal people in order to present te key elements of the Christian faith, the breakthrough coming when he found a way of presenting Jesus as a molitone who walked the jungle trails.

Struck me heavily that as we carry out our youth ministry programmes, we need to find new ways of presenting unchanging biblical truth's in a format relevant to the culture of our day. This is where the challenge begins!!

Been a while

Well its been quite a while since i've updated this, thing are pretty hectically busy at present and I haven't been taking the time to jot down my thoughts. But while i've got a few minutes at present i'll jot down a few things that have been on my mind recently.

MAKING TIME
Part of the reason i've been more hectically busy than usual is that youthwork responsibilities have increased over the past month or so, and will be that way for a while. Jill, a fellow youthleader who was heavily involved in youthwork has had to take a step back due to the many other stresses she is facing right now, so that leaves me with taking bible class and youth club responsibilities until she is well enough to come back on board. She has been so devoted and passionate over the past year, but it has got to the stage where she simply has to take a step back or face burnout.
Its a stark reminder to me to be careful how much I take on, and in my willingness to serve and tell our young people of the savng grace of Jesus, to be careful not to push myself too far. Learning to gain strength from God, dwelling in his presence regularly and listening to His voice are all disciplines I need to make a priority in my life.

TRADE JUSTICE
This is what i'm currently looking at with our young people, and hope to use for our youth service in a couple of weeks time. Tearfunds Lift the Label campaign resources have been great and have certainly opened my eyes to the tremendous injustices that exist in the area of internetional trade. The campaign seeks to highlight the need for ethical trading standards, where the worker receives a wage they can live on in working conditions that are hospitable.
The following comment sums it up perfectly
"Jesus asked us to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, but today it is the poor who are feeding and clothing us."
As Christians we should be voicing our concern's over the injustices in this area, indeed being a voice for the poor, and adopting a spirit of compassion as demonstrated by our Saviour

Pass It On

Psalm 78
1 O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old- 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD , his power, and the wonders he has done.

What are we passing on to the next generation? Are we corporately as a church, and personally as individuals, fulfilling the biblical mandate laid before us in this psalm?
These are a few thoughts that have been on my mind of late as I consider what we are about in our youth ministry at Trinity, and how we go about it more to the point.
A few points that i'm contemplating at present

• Is it solely the biblical principles and teachings of our faith that we are passing on to the next generation, or is it a tainted faith infiltrated by the prejudices and flaws of the culture and environment that shaped our lives.
• Do we simply pass on our faith and let them do church (as is hinted at in Andy Hickfords book Essential Youth) or do we insist that they conform to the traditional format and structure of churchlife as we know it.
• Are we adopting a missional outlook as we seek to engage in this cross-cultural presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that is the basis of our faith.
• How does this all look in practice

I guess the danger we can fall into here is undermining the bible teaching by adapting too much to the culture that surrounds us, and glossing over its teaching. Another neglection on our part is not giving prayer the priority it should have, seeking Gods guidance in all we seek to do in His strength and to His glory.

Whatever floats your boat

This weekend was the harvest services in our church, and as is normally the case in our rural setting the church was more packed than usual, with many faces making their annual appearance to church, and others visiting from neighbouring churches. Harvest is a very traditional thing, especially in the country, and for the first year I can remember I found it a struggle.
The concept of harvest I am totally OK with, I certainly am all for praising God for his goodness at this time of year. I guess it was just the format I struggled abit with, and maybe thats just down to personal preference, I dunno.
As far as format goes, alot of it was listening to our choir, and in the evening a male voice choir sing praises in beautiful harmony and melody. The evening service especially was for me more like sitting in a concert for this male voice choir, than attending church to praise and thank our God the great creator and provider in this time of harvest.
I guess my main issue was the lack of participation involved, it would feel much more like a community if we joined together in our praises and prayers uplifting our God of the harvest, and crying out to him for a hervest of souls to be surrendered to Him again in our land.
Another thing I couldn't help wondering is what make's God smile : the melodious and harmonious praise of a professional choir, or the genuine heartfelt praise of a redeemed sinner......
I'm not judging those who were singing as not being genuine, and i'm sure there's many people they blessed with their God given voices, but I guess I realised i'm more someone who pelts it out because it means something to me no matter what I sound like, and worship for me is very much participatory.

I guess this all stems to some things that have been on my mind recently about how we present "church" as such. For the teenager who struggles through yet another service they feel they have to go to, where do they possibly fit into the traditional format of how we do "church". Should it be the case that we present a "You fit in with our agenda and how we do it here" attitude, or do we provide a caring atmosphere where they are valued and feel like they bleong, and more than that allow them to express themselves in a way thats meaningful to them.

Quite possible that my thoughts are influenced by my musical innability and illiteracy, and the strong drum and bass influences of my teenage years that dont quite fit in with the choral melodies.