I haven't posted here for a while. It was last year, actually. A little over four months ago. I have been busy - I got a job as a youth minister and I have been hanging out with my dad on The Fireside and with my wife and kids here at the house. I am in a play (Nano Romantico) - which my wife directed - and I am looking forward a few weeks to my third class at the School for Lay Ministries.

I have been busy, but mostly I have not posted because I haven't had anything to say.

The investigation into the spiritual disciplines has not been very fruitful. Here is where I am with this whole thing:

This is why people think that Jesus wouldn't like them. This is why people think that Christianity is for fools. I have failed miserably at evaluating my lifestyle and, if I were to subscribe to the common notion that failure and guilt were a popular theme in Jesus' teaching - I would be defeated and give up. I know this is true because I have believed that and I have done that.

I am reading a book right now that was recommended to me at least three times. I am reading "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller. It is changing me.

If Christianity were a person, would it like you? If Jesus were here today, would he seek you out?

I can safely say "yes" to both of these questions, and I can also tell you that I have failed to live out the disciplines that are listed in the widget at the right. I am a person, and that has baggage. I am a Director of Youth Ministries for a United Methodist Church, and that means nothing in terms of my relationship with Jesus. He doesn't care. He is interested in me, and if I fail miserably at my blog and at my job, then I just have to talk to Him about it, because if anyone gets that, it's Jesus.

If the guy on the radio sounds like he would yell at you when you called in, then turn the dial. Find some good music, for cryin' out loud. Or do what I do and find a nice podcast of This American Life. Ira Glass is near Genius. Trust me - it will do your soul more good than the bereavement that you will get from pastor #3 on the local radio station. If you need a sermon - you can get one here. Otherwise, just take a few minutes to yourself and tell God that you miss him and that you wish He were here. It is amazing what can happen.

And read "Blue Like Jazz," it will be pleasant experience for you no matter where you are in your journey through life. My apologies, specifically, to Josh and Ariah for not taking the recommendation sooner.

off to school - camping style

I am off to Indianola, IA, for the weekend to attend the first weekend of the School for Lay Ministries. This weekend is kind of an introduction to the coursework and a workshop on reconstructing the church. I have been reading the material for the first class, and it is really good. Its all about shifting paradigms and how the church is (or, more likely, is not) keeping up. It is all stuff that I have discussed with former church folks and roommates, but to read a fresh perspective and to go to meet with others to discuss it is exciting.

I have chosen to camp for the weekend. I borrowed a tent and a sleeping bag from our pastor (not Josh, Doug) and a nice sleeping pad that he thought might just keep me alive in the Iowa November night. We all have the option of hotels for the weekend, and seeing as how I consider sleeping in cushy beds and eating nice meals while discussing culture, poverty and church action to be somewhat hard to digest, I thought this might be a better way of experiencing the weekend for myself.

Plus, my family doesn't camp, so this is a great opportunity to retreat for myself. I am looking forward to some food and conversation, some study and prayer, and some quiet time with my thoughts and my really cold little toes.

I will have a full report next week (give or take a week or two).

Wesley, Claiborne, and 1607

I was sitting at my desk in tears during this video. (its kind of long, so carve out some time.)



I am going to Simpson college on November 2 for the weekend to start my Lay Ministries class. and I have been reading John Wesley and revisiting Shane Claiborne in my attempt at getting ready to enter servant leadership and embrace what it truly means to be a servant. I am excited, and I want to maintain the kind of excitement that changes my life and impacts the people around me. I think that I will watch this video twice a week until it really sinks in.

It has been amazing to read all of the blogs and emails from the folks from our community at 1607. I am encouraged by the ways that our experiment is playing out in everyone's life. And in my own as well. I think that I will be running on the inertia that I got from that place for a long time, and I didn't really even realize how much of a push I was getting.

I am enjoying Iowa, but part of my heart will always be in Nashville. (How's that for a souvenir t-shirt)

A final food budget...

I think that we have settled on a food budget after our monthly struggle trying to wrestle the budget down to one dollar per person per day. I think that the kinds of sacrifices that we have to make to get there start to interfere with other parts of our value system. For instance, I couldn't shop anywhere other than Aldi, and that store is on the other side of town. No walking and no stopping by on the way home for milk. I read on Ariah's blog that he allowed 100 dollars per person for food in his $1000 monthly budget, and I figure we can cut that in half. Of course, two of our people barely eat, so that has a huge impact. I am capping our food budget at $200 per month, knowing that some months will require more money than others, and I am hoping to average $180. So that's that.

Our weekly bible study is evaluating the spiritual disciplines along with our walk thought the book of Luke, so I am trying to use that as a springboard to be more intentional about this blog. I have to admit, it has been only a little better than a failure so far, but I am still trying to create a rhythm that will lend itself to more disciplined living. I am, sorry to say, a long way off.

I think I will go read a bit and say a prayer. Small steps, you know. Small steps.