A Milestone on THE WAY

It's graduation time! Not for me but for those who have completed the requirements of the schooling in which they have been participating. Serving in youth ministry, I have gotten to celebrate and be a part of a number of graduations. There is always a sense of hope and looking to the future. There is celebration of past accomplishments combined with the excitement of looking forward to new adventures. There is joy over the completion and sadness over the potential loss of relationships. It is an amazing time.

Over the last few weeks I have also been reading about what the church of Jesus is supposed to look like. Something interesting struck me when I was reading about baptism. Baptism is supposed to be a time of celebration of a new believer's entrance into the family of God. It is a time where the community of believers can gather around someone or someones and invite them into the fellowship of Christ followers. We can rally around this new disciple and encourage them that they are not in this adventure alone. Whether or not we are accomplishing this task in the way we currently due baptism is beside the point for this discussion.

What this led me to think about was other dedication rituals that we often partake in as a body of believers. We dedicate babies and vow to help the parents raise the child in Christ honoring ways. Do we truly mean it? Do the parents truly want the community of believers around them to take part in raising this child? Again, this may be material for another discussion. What I did think about were ways that we as the body of Christ can use times like graduation to gather around a young believer and challenge them in their journey with Jesus.

• I wonder if we take the time to publicly commission these young women and men to chase after the leading of Jesus in the next phase of their lives. We often stand them up and congratulate them and even give them gifts. But do we challenge them to boldly charge into the next phase of their lives with the desire to do God's will wherever He might lead them?
• Could we be more intentional about mentoring these young people as they walk through this modern day rite of passage? Do we take them under our more experienced wings and guide them in how to find God's will? How many of us offer to truly help them along the upcoming path? We cannot let them transition to a new phase of life and expect them to know how to do it while following Christ on their own! We must gather around them and let them know they have a family who cares for them and will help them on their way.
• The Bible tells about communities of believers commissioning new leaders by laying hands on them and praying for them. Are we taking the time to gather around graduates and pray for them?

Society has set up this time of year as a milestone in the lives of thousands of young people. As the church we need to use this milestone as a time for the family of God to encourage a young person on their way in Christ. Let's not just give these men and women token congratulations and gifts. Let's surround them with the love of Christ and help guide them on their new adventure on the Way!

Summer-Time

So it's Thursday night. Last week was finals week and I have finished my first year here at Asbury Seminary. (I'm amazed at how excited I am about that. I keep checking for my grades online about every hour.) Track season ended on Saturday and this is my first full week without the chaos of school and coaching. I don't think I realized how crazy things had been until I took the time tonight to reflect a little while sitting here by myself in the "everyone else is in bed" quiet. I've had the chance to think again over the last few days.

Think about how special this time is that I have at home with my boys. They are so amazing and I don't want to rush through these early years without savoring the moments. Watching Isaiah stalk a bird sitting in our backyard. Enjoying Micah's expressive mood swings and adventuring with him as he learns to harness his STRONG emotions. Noticing how Elijah is no longer a baby or toddler but a full-fledged boy who looks after himself and carries on great conversation with me as he looks out for his little brothers. This is precious time that I won't get back. God help me to soak in every second.

Think about how I love my wife. Listening to her talk about her passion for teenagers and remembering again why we are so perfect for each other even in the tough times. Enjoying serious conversations about life and God one minute and then laughing like idiots at the funny sounds I make when I see how beautiful she is. Thank you God for the amazing love you have given me!

Think about time with good friends. Throwing some washers with Tom and Josh and talking about who knows what in our backyard. Sometimes challenging each other spiritually and sometimes just laughing at card games, 7 year old diets, disgusting stories about blankets or whatever else might happen to us that you aren't going to understand by reading this blog but are funny to us. I have been blessed with such challenging friends who mean so much to me.

Think about our amazing God. Even in my time here at seminary, it can be difficult just to slow down long enough to remember who it is that we serve and how unfathomable God is. I was struck by what God says to Peter, James and John in Mark 9 when they are on the mountain with Jesus. "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" I have been so busy lately that I haven't taken enough time to just stop and listen. Time to just bask in who Jesus is and how I can live more like him. How I can live by his agenda rather than my own. God, thank you for your presence and help me always to listen to you!

I have loved this last semester of classes and coaching but I have to admit, this change of pace was much needed and I am praising God for the things he is showing me during this little hiatus. I'm praying that I can continue to grow in him through the people he has placed around me. And I hope to share some of that this summer in these writings. We'll see...