The 2014 Confirmation Class of 12!

Once upon a time, there were twelve.

Intelligent, funny, punny, beautiful, musical, handsome, smart, sassy, athletic, compassionate, patient, thoughtful, shy, out-going, go-getters, and faith filled are the words to describe our students this year.  As I am always blessed by the experience, this year is no exception.  This students are just gosh-darn neat people!

All of their classes, faith statements, interviews and mentoring meetings have wrapped up.  We are now preparing for three creek baptisms and twelve confirmations. (See the lovely, muddy creek to your left? That's some holy water!)

Their answers to "How has your faith changed since we started Confirmation class?" sounded like this:

• my faith is bigger!
• my beliefs in God are more solid
• my faith has tripled in size!
• my beliefs have clarity and boundaries.
• I actually know what I believe!

And you know what I believe as a result of these twelve young people?  I believe in the making of disciples in Jesus Christ because it does transform the world.

And the world transformation has started in little ol' Brownsburg, Indiana.

He is Risen!

He is Risen!

He is Risen!

What a glorious day this is!

Death, despair, disease, dysfunction, mental illness, cancer, depression, evil, injustice..... all have victory because of Christ's triumph!

God's last word is LIFE!

Amen!

And amen!

Preparations for Holy Week

A hundred golden eggs sit quietly on my table next to four bulletins for later this week.  This is just one example of craziness of Holy Week and Easter preparations a pastor goes through.  Coordinating a thousand details so that we, as a faith community, can move through symbolically and in remembrance of Jesus' last week.

Some times I like all the craziness.

Other times I don't.

Yet, I know I need to hear the stories over and over again.  Repeated for me one more time so that the stories sink deep into my bones.  I notice different things each time I hear them. And also my heart, my will and my mind respond to the stories each time so that my discipleship... my willingness to follow this Savior deepens.

May it be so for all His Disciples around the world this week.

Deepen your experience with Jesus by marking time with his last week of life prior to his Resurrection.

What I Did Miss During Lent Fast

While I experienced spiritual renewal during my fast from on-line games and Facebook, I must confess that I did miss connecting with my family, friends, and faith community through Facebook.

Hearing their stories, celebrating their high moments, and praying with them during difficulties...that absence in my life was noticed and mourned in ways I did not anticipate.  Again, that reminds me that these tools of technology and communication have their place in our world; it just behooves me to find meaningful and helpful ways to use them.

When I resume Facebook on Easter morning, I think I shall endeavor to limit my access to scrolling through the News Feed to one time a day.  And when I do so I hope to move through the news feed prayerfully; as a spiritual exercise of 'checking in' on others.

As for some of the other distractions of games... I will leave them buried deep on my iPhone where I do not see them and have no interest in playing them.

Learnings from my Lent Fast

My fast experience this Lent has been fascinating!  At first it was very difficult not to be tied to my phone or computer.  I thought I was missing something by not following Facebook or checking on my various on-line games.  I did miss writing for this blog.  Yet, life went on.  And life was so, well, quiet.

And then, I began to like the quiet.

I was still for the first time in a long time.  God did not change, but I began too.  So here are some learnings from my Lent fast:

• reading my devotion instead of checking Facebook starts the day with a sharper focus
• fasting from on-line gaming was an inspiration for my daughter to give it up too.  She remarked last week after I said fasting helps us focus more on God, "Well, it's working for me!" 
• my creativity output has increased especially in writing
• I can hear myself ponder again
• I am less agitated and stirred up over human drama that is not mine to own
• fasting really is a spiritual discipline that offers a huge impact because of the nature of our culture. 

Now, as the Easter season lingers close... I will resume some of my contact with blogging, Facebook, and on-line games.  Or maybe not.  

I do know that HOW I approach these contemporary tools of communication will be different, because I have been renewed, redeemed, and refreshed!

Alleluia and thanks be to God!