So lent begins tomorrow / today ...so what am I giving up I hear you ask? Well, coffee and chocolate (which made my friend tonight by telling me he'd be coming nowhere near me for six weeks!). Why? Well, for me coffee (and to a slightly lesser extent chocolate) are addictions for me, and I mean that quite literally as my body lets me know when I do not have it. Had been sensing God saying that that was what I needed to give up because it would cost me something, and after some resistance (me giving up coffee is not a pretty sight for a while, be warned, prayer needed) I've surrendered. So for the next six weeks (40 days) coffee and chocolate will not be consumed in any way, shape or form. The money that is saved on this will be donated to a charity at the end of the time - it won't be much, but God can turn the not much into something.
However, while giving something up is important, I remember a practice that the folks at YFC used to build into what we did at Mid-Year Retreat which always took in the beginning of Lent. The practice was not only to give something up that would cost you something (that is in part the reason we give things up at this time) but also then to take something up for the same period. So the thing that I am taking up (other than by natural consequence taking up or rather in a detox) is meditation. Unpacking that some, I realised during my placement how much I squeeze out time meditating on the Word, savouring it and digesting it, rather than merely reading for information, sermon points, or in the time left over after other things have been done. Yet the Word is something that really does need to be reflected on and savoured if I am going to live it out and let it clothe me.
Therefore, for the same period that I have no coffee I will have more meditation. Time that would be given over to coffee and my 'sanity' time will now be able to be devoted to creating time and space for meditation such as lectio divina or centering prayer and other forms if 'spiritual reading' of Scripture. Time and a new rhythmn will hopefully be developed, something that in six weeks should help form new habits for me, something I could certainly use. And in those same six weeks perhaps an addictive habit will be broken.
So please bear with me in love if for the next few days my moods are all over the place ... I am aware that may be the case and am praying it will not. Please keep me accountable as I try to build new habits and make meditation something that receives not just the time left over, but some of my best time. And please get excited with me as God speaks new (and perhaps reminds me of old) challenges, encouragements and all kinds of other things into my life and perhaps even the lives of others.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Next steps and holy friendships ...
Well, have been back from my placement a week ... and what a busy week it's been! Started back college, celebrated birthdays, met with friends for dinner, met with other friends for coffee, went back to work at the cafe, had first Sunday back at East Mains ...
I loved my placement. The churches I was with were fab and I learned so much when I was there. Having a female minister and supervisor made such a difference too - can't begin to say what a blessing that was!
One things I've realised in the time away, and through various conversations, is the importance of holy friendships. By that I mean the kind of friendships that shape you. There are various types of friendships, people that you're close to on a variety of levels, all of whom are needed. But then there are those friendships, often extremely intentional, that you simply can't live without. These are the people you share with the most openly and honestly, the ones who challenge and encourage you, the ones you share joys and sorrows with. Some of these will be the kinds where you share 'ministry' or debate and discuss 'theological tuff' with, yet equally some you won't. And one of the things every woman in ministry I spoke to shared was how much they needed those networks of other women they had developed - the holy friendships they had found in each other. In truth, while networks of women are needed like that, getting together with men that you have that kind of friendship with too is also equally as important. Holy friendships are the kinid in which together you shape each other, seeking the best for the other and together journeying to be and do all God calls you too, as you conform more fully to God's image.
None of this may make sense to people, but it makes sense to me. The time away was good for me to re-evaluate friendships and re-remember those friends that I have that kind of friendship with (you all know who you are!). It has also reminded me of my need for them, and without being big headed or anything, their need for me, for friendship is a two-way thing. I think what I realised is that all the stuff that I do may be good stuff, but if I'm not also intentionally taking time to cultivate and maintain those holy friendships then actually my growth is stunted. So that's one of the things that will form my next moves as I come back from placement - making sure my holy friends know how much I value them, and intentionally cultivating time to spent deepening relationships with them.
I loved my placement. The churches I was with were fab and I learned so much when I was there. Having a female minister and supervisor made such a difference too - can't begin to say what a blessing that was!
One things I've realised in the time away, and through various conversations, is the importance of holy friendships. By that I mean the kind of friendships that shape you. There are various types of friendships, people that you're close to on a variety of levels, all of whom are needed. But then there are those friendships, often extremely intentional, that you simply can't live without. These are the people you share with the most openly and honestly, the ones who challenge and encourage you, the ones you share joys and sorrows with. Some of these will be the kinds where you share 'ministry' or debate and discuss 'theological tuff' with, yet equally some you won't. And one of the things every woman in ministry I spoke to shared was how much they needed those networks of other women they had developed - the holy friendships they had found in each other. In truth, while networks of women are needed like that, getting together with men that you have that kind of friendship with too is also equally as important. Holy friendships are the kinid in which together you shape each other, seeking the best for the other and together journeying to be and do all God calls you too, as you conform more fully to God's image.
None of this may make sense to people, but it makes sense to me. The time away was good for me to re-evaluate friendships and re-remember those friends that I have that kind of friendship with (you all know who you are!). It has also reminded me of my need for them, and without being big headed or anything, their need for me, for friendship is a two-way thing. I think what I realised is that all the stuff that I do may be good stuff, but if I'm not also intentionally taking time to cultivate and maintain those holy friendships then actually my growth is stunted. So that's one of the things that will form my next moves as I come back from placement - making sure my holy friends know how much I value them, and intentionally cultivating time to spent deepening relationships with them.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Blog recommendation ...
I know many of you read this blog just to see what I'm up to rather than comment on my thoughts. But for those of you who may be interested one of the other students at SBC has begun to bog too. Ron has insightful comments and theological musings that you may be interested in. Check out his blog, Musings of a Scottish Jewish Baptist, at this address:
http://scottishjewishbaptist.blogspot.com/
http://scottishjewishbaptist.blogspot.com/
Snow days ...
Stevenage, like most of the country has suffered from heavy snow fall this week. While at home I am told life has carried on as normal, here it appears things grind to a halt pretty much when the snow comes. Schools have been closed, some shops haven't opened, some people are unable to get to work, and some of the groups I'm working with have been cancelled.
However, as a result people have been around to enjoy and make the most of the snow days. After getting over being ill at the begining of the week, I too managed to enjoy the snow. I adore snow, its like I become this big kid dancing and getting all excited. Anyways, has much fun sledging (and falling over trying to get back up the hill!), having snow ball fights, and walking. May even add pictures if I can get them on my laptop at some point.
Who said placement wasn't all fun!!!
However, as a result people have been around to enjoy and make the most of the snow days. After getting over being ill at the begining of the week, I too managed to enjoy the snow. I adore snow, its like I become this big kid dancing and getting all excited. Anyways, has much fun sledging (and falling over trying to get back up the hill!), having snow ball fights, and walking. May even add pictures if I can get them on my laptop at some point.
Who said placement wasn't all fun!!!
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Young people and passion ...
One of the (many) books I'm reading at the moment is Practicing Passion: Youth and the quest for a passionate church by Kenda Creasy Dean. Challenging read and I'm only a few chapters in.
In seeking to develop a theology that takes seriously the Passion of Christ and how that is to be embodied in the Church, drawing young people into it, she asks some brutal questions of the way things are. While at times it is nice to hide behind the fact that she is American and writes about American churches, it is a hiding that leads to further passion-less-ness (is that even a word!).
The key is not just reading Scripture and reading youth and culture, but developing a new or rather re-newed theology. After all, 'Theology that takes passion seriously offers a "portal" between Christianity and young people, a crucial link between the lived experience of adolescents and the historic practices of the Christian community.' (pg. 25)
Young people are passionate. Rather than discourage that or label them rebellious, problematic or whatever other title, Dean suggests that actually its a time where because they are so passionate they are most open to God and to joining in God's story. Yet if they do not see it lived out in us as youth pastors, youth workers ... or in reality any of us who claim the title Christian ... then they see that it is a passion not worth dying for, and therefore not worth living for.
Reflecting some on this it makes sense as to why so many young people responded at the youth worship event on Friday night, despite the oppertunity to respond in that manner being new for so many of them. What God had laid on my heart to speak to them appealed to their passion, precisely because God's call to radical discipleship appeals to passion, and points to the Passion of the One we seek to follow. It spoke of something, or rather Someone, beyond themselves. It spoke to their passion to make a difference. Of course they responded! In part what happens after depends on how we continue to allow them to excercise their passion, not discounting the work of the Holy Spirit in them. In part what happens after depends on what we do too. 'The theological challenge youth pose to the church is blunt: Are we who we say we are? Do we practice passion, transformed by a Love who never disappoints, and live by a faith so convincing that we stake our lives on it? Or are we just another sagging social convention, like Dracula, that needs young blood to survive?' (pg. 25)
How different would youth ministry be if we took that challenge a little more seriously? In all honesty, does it even enter our heads?
I end with the words of Dean again (pg. 25):
What of the passion of God makes a difference, not just for the way we approach Christian doctrine, but for the way we go about Christian ministry itself? What of mainline Protestantism's disappointing track record with young people (in and beyond the church) has not been primarily a failure of models, educational strategies, historical cycles, or institutional support, but a failure of theology? Is it possible that the "problem" facing youth ministry reflects all too accurately a malaise infecting mainline denominations generally: a flabby theological identity due to an absence of passion? That would be ironic. Most young people come to us brimming with passion. Could it be that, instead of fanning this youthful zeal into holy fire, we have more often doused it, or drowned it in committee meetings?
Hmmm, have we? Just how passionate are we?
In seeking to develop a theology that takes seriously the Passion of Christ and how that is to be embodied in the Church, drawing young people into it, she asks some brutal questions of the way things are. While at times it is nice to hide behind the fact that she is American and writes about American churches, it is a hiding that leads to further passion-less-ness (is that even a word!).
The key is not just reading Scripture and reading youth and culture, but developing a new or rather re-newed theology. After all, 'Theology that takes passion seriously offers a "portal" between Christianity and young people, a crucial link between the lived experience of adolescents and the historic practices of the Christian community.' (pg. 25)
Young people are passionate. Rather than discourage that or label them rebellious, problematic or whatever other title, Dean suggests that actually its a time where because they are so passionate they are most open to God and to joining in God's story. Yet if they do not see it lived out in us as youth pastors, youth workers ... or in reality any of us who claim the title Christian ... then they see that it is a passion not worth dying for, and therefore not worth living for.
Reflecting some on this it makes sense as to why so many young people responded at the youth worship event on Friday night, despite the oppertunity to respond in that manner being new for so many of them. What God had laid on my heart to speak to them appealed to their passion, precisely because God's call to radical discipleship appeals to passion, and points to the Passion of the One we seek to follow. It spoke of something, or rather Someone, beyond themselves. It spoke to their passion to make a difference. Of course they responded! In part what happens after depends on how we continue to allow them to excercise their passion, not discounting the work of the Holy Spirit in them. In part what happens after depends on what we do too. 'The theological challenge youth pose to the church is blunt: Are we who we say we are? Do we practice passion, transformed by a Love who never disappoints, and live by a faith so convincing that we stake our lives on it? Or are we just another sagging social convention, like Dracula, that needs young blood to survive?' (pg. 25)
How different would youth ministry be if we took that challenge a little more seriously? In all honesty, does it even enter our heads?
I end with the words of Dean again (pg. 25):
What of the passion of God makes a difference, not just for the way we approach Christian doctrine, but for the way we go about Christian ministry itself? What of mainline Protestantism's disappointing track record with young people (in and beyond the church) has not been primarily a failure of models, educational strategies, historical cycles, or institutional support, but a failure of theology? Is it possible that the "problem" facing youth ministry reflects all too accurately a malaise infecting mainline denominations generally: a flabby theological identity due to an absence of passion? That would be ironic. Most young people come to us brimming with passion. Could it be that, instead of fanning this youthful zeal into holy fire, we have more often doused it, or drowned it in committee meetings?
Hmmm, have we? Just how passionate are we?
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