Jesus Wireless: Now with improved mobility.

The question that I would like to tackle tonight is:  Can church professionals utilize technology to improve their proclamation of the Gospel?

The short answer: Of course!

Long answer: First let us delve into proclaiming the Gospel.  God calls every one of us to proclaim the Good News He brings.

"And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things."  Luke 24:46-48 NLT

So we have the task.  What about the method?  In the words of Paul:

"Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity."  

Colossians 4:3-5 NLT

Paul is a very wise man because he knew very well that people of all different cultures are going to be reading his words.  The method is that God provides the opportunities wherever we are at.  Paul is calling us to make the most of every opportunity to proclaim the Good News.  Paul himself was proclaiming from a prison cell!  If he can do that, then we can proclaim anywhere God provides.  

God has provided us with amazing resources in this the 21st century.  If we should not use them then we would be neglecting the words of Paul.  We can send a message across the world in a millisecond, we can fly anywhere we want to, reach the entire globe through the internet and God has given us these great gifts, it would be a shame not to use them!

In conclusion, there is truly something significant about the trends of the 21st century that Christians everywhere can make the most of sharing this magnificent news--that those who believe that Jesus Christ defeated death and rose again to erase their sins and grant eternal life--in every possible circumstance.  

Death Brings Forth Life

Here I sit, it is the end of May.  I've been in Marquette and a part of Redeemer Lutheran Church for the better part of ten months.  And in that time I have had the privilege to get to know plenty of people.  But there were two ladies that stuck out in particular.  They were best friends and they both underwent some severe medical trauma while I have been here.  The thing that I remember most is always being able to see a smile on their faces tagged with a hearty greeting every Saturday evening worship service.

They began to show signs of aging about six months into my internship and I never put much thought into it.  But there came a time when they both were in the hospital at the same time.  In the same room.  What a blessing they thought it was to be roommates during this time.  I can tell you one thing, when I went to the hospital to visit them, they always were optimistic.  They always showed God's love and were tough till the end.

And now it is that they both have passed away.  They have gone to be with their Heavenly Father.  Death no longer is in their future.  It is through their death that they received life eternal.

It makes me think of death as the cumulation of all sin.  Once we die, there is nothing holding us back from being in Perfect fellowship with God.  Do we have to wait until our earthly life is through to experience this?  Some would say so.  But I understand the words of Paul the Apostle in Romans chapter 6.  The entire chapter speaks to this act of being dead to sin and alive to Christ as if it happens right now, at baptism.

"The death [Christ] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." Romans 6:10  Christ did away with death and sin that we shall have life and life to God.  Praise and Glory be to God forever and ever for this great and wonderful act of grace.

This post is in honor and remembrance of Laverne Morris and Joyce Mills who are truly friends forevermore. 

Pyramid Scheme of Ministry

We often look at pyramid schemes as a negative thing.  Something that will take away and cheat you out of the things you want.  Well, in ministry I have learned that pyramid schemes may be effective.  I have spent the past several months beating myself up because I can't make it to everything the students are involved in.  I feel like I'm cheating them out of a quality youth minister.  I've been reading through Doug Fields' book Your First Two Years in Ministry and he talks about the art of multiplication as opposed to addition.



He sets this example:

"If I set aside one hour a day to spend with two students Wednesday through Friday, I can meet with six students each week--24 per month.  But if, during those same days, I spend 30 minutes a day training a leader to spend time with students and 30 minutes a day with a student, at the end of the week I've connected with three students and three leaders.  If each of those three leaders spend time with three students during the week, together we'll have ministered to 48 students a month, which is 100 percent more than I could have met with by myself."

Does this mean that me as a youth minister am ignoring the students?  I used to think so, but in fact, I am giving the students someone better to connect with.  I believe what a teenager needs today is to know that someone cares.  Then that student has someone to connect with, someone to look forward to going to church with.  This adult who would mentor the student and be available more often than I would make a larger impact in that students life.  It is simply stated that I am looking out for the greater good of the student.  I still connect with every student, I'm still there for every student; every student simply has a closer mentor to connect with on a regular basis.

I'm diving into a new territory here and I pray that the Lord guide me as He has to this point.  And I also pray for the students of Redeemer Lutheran Church, that they continue to walk in faith and are encouraged in everything they do.

Individual Spirituality - Oxymoron?

We live in America.  We have grown accustomed to a certain type of living.  It isn't a bad thing, it is just different; counter-cultural to the way the Bible and Christianity is presented in Scripture.

I am struggling through how to relate Christianity and Scripture which is so focused on community and the body of believers working as one to a society in which people strive to earn their own way of life.

I know for a fact that God's Word speaks to all people no matter who you are or what you do so it isn't a matter of God being selective in who He's writing to.  I also know for a fact that God loves the entire world and sent His Son for the entire world.

The thing that I think is causing me to stumble is individual spirituality.  You have your Jesus and I have mine.  My Jesus provides water for the crops that I'm planting, and your Jesus gives you opportunity to earn money to buy the things you need.  Are they not the same Jesus?

The God of the Universe knows each individual person's needs and cares for them in that way.  This is whether you are a believer or not a believer.  For in Matthew chapter 5:45, "[God] causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."  That passage is within the context of loving your enemies and praying for them.  God loves and provides for all people.  Where does individualism come in?

Picture a garden.  What do we do with a garden?  We plant the seed, till the soil, pick weeds, maybe prune bushes.  Do we make the plants grow?  Our Heavenly Father is the one who grows the plant, we take care of the soil.  Now if the world is the soil, and faith is the plant, do you see the picture?  God grows faith through the work of the Holy Spirit, but we as humans need to nurture the soil.  Plant the seed.  Can we do this alone?

In our individualistic society how does the soil get nurtured?  Maybe you can take care of your own garden soil, but what good is a huge garden full of soil for one plant to grow in?  God wants us to share our gardens! Don't get me wrong, God works miracles in those who have individual spirituality, but let's share these miracles with the greater community of believers!

This is not meant to be a legalistic thing, it brings me such great joy to be a part of a community who supports each other and builds each others gardens up and helps to nurture soil that God uses to produce bountiful fruit.  Fruit that can be shared throughout the community: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If God had meant for us to be alone in our faith, the Bible wouldn't have so much language about working together as believers and a community of faith.  The Body of Christ is full of great news of working together to bring glory and honor to God above all else.  God knows exactly what we as humans need, and that is a support network, people to trust, to share joys and sorrows with.  That is how the Church today can bring the Good News to an individualistic society.

So to wrap it all up, is individual spirituality an oxymoron?  I'll let you answer that one.