Archives for January 2008

Here’s part of a text message exchange I’ve had with a student as of late:

Student: lets have a group nite at in n out sometime.

Me: Um. Ok. Not sure that they really want or that we could do a bible study there but maybe we could eat there.

Student: Ok. How about a challenge- more burgers wins.

Me: I saw a kid eat an 8×8 once.

Student: ya so what if u r scared. U can’t beat me I understand.

A few days later…

Student: So, there’s group tonight right?

Me: Yes, 6:30.

Student: ok. great. I’m taking a crap at school right now.

later that day…

Student: Hey, there’s a great book called a Christian Manifesto by Francis A Schaeffer. U need to read it.

Me: Did you read it?

Student: I’m on chapter 4. I really like it. I’m in class right now and my teachers don’t pay attention. Ok.. you should read it. See you at church tonight.

Me: great. see you then.

right before group that night….

Student: Hey my parents r drunk or a little buzzed so I can’t get a ride. See you wednesday.

Me: Ok. When do you get your license yo?

Student: wen I study the papers I have.

Me: you should get on that.

A few days later:

Student: We have group tonight rite?

Me: We have a worship night. 7 to 8:30pm

Student: K, I’ll be be there.

Later that night:

Student: sorry I could not make it tonight.

Me: No big deal. you were missed. Is everything OK?

Student: kinda. I have to return a saw to home depot. I need to pay for it.

Me: I’m confused, did you steal it?

Student: Yes, I stole the saw last sunday after church. I was at my friends house last weekend and we have always wanted to make a treehouse so on Sunday we went after church.

Me: Dude. We we need to talk on Sunday.

Student: Ok, on sunday can we talk about how God could help me stay away from porn.

QUESTION: is youth ministry still needed?

ANSWER: um… this exchange references drunk parents, classic christian reading by Francis Schaeffer, the bible, stealing, and porn. No wonder he’s confused. I also took a student to grab some ice cream after school last week and we discussed the pitfalls of drug dealing, and what God would have us do with $10,000 in cash piled up from such an activity.

CONCLUSION: Either my youth ministry isn’t working or discipleship sure is a long, slow, process.

Here’s part of a text exchange I’ve had with a student as of late:

Student: lets have a group nite at in n out sometime.

Me: Um. Ok. Not sure that they really want or that we could do a bible study there but maybe we could eat there.

Student: Ok. How about a challenge- more burgers wins.

Me: I saw a kid eat an 8×8 once.

Student: ya so what if u r scared. U can’t beat me I understand.

Me:

I just saw this post on marko’s blog and I clicked this link and watched the trailer for an upcoming movie called Expelled. Wow. I’m hooked.

In college I was the president of an organization called “truth seekers” for about a few years. We brought philosophical and theological debates from the foremost thinkers in their respective arenas to UC. Davis. We hosted debates on creation/evolution, the foundation of morality, and the existence of God with speakers of high reputation and writings on both sides of the coin. I don’t really love the debate format, but college students a Universities do, so it made for some interesting experiences in a format that often packed the largest rooms on campus to overflowing. This movie trailer brought back some memories and made me want to rush to the theatres. Very interesting. I’ll be watching in the spring of this year with my old UC. Davis alumni jersey on just for old times.

I’ve been wrestling with some questions as of late:

1. How can I care for creation, while ensuring that I do it as an act of worship of the Creator and not the created?

2. Is it really evil to live in a suburban house or drive an SUV? These two things have become the symbolic epicenters of the image of all things godless and evil among some Christian writers/bloggers I’ve been reading lately. Are they right or wrong and why do I agree or disagree with them?

3. Is there ever such a thing as “over-populating the earth”? Or is overpopulation actually really about sin and selfishness more than resource management?

4. How many of our planet’s resources are actually being used up for the sole purpose of keeping human beings from stealing what is not theirs? I wonder how many more products are being made to replace ones that are stolen or destroyed? I wonder how many trees have died and how many millions of tons of plastics have been created to keep people from stealing the product? Isn’t this the reason my son’s 2″ toy must come in a 12″ box or the reason my digital camera SD card must come in a box 500 times it’s volume. Maybe part of it is marketing, but how much? I think the sin of stealing causes a huge percentage of the earth’s resources to be unnecessarily used up. I wonder if all stealing stopped, how it would change our world economy and the planet as a whole?

5. If we were living perfectly in harmony with the earth, do we really believe that means the earth stops changing? Any run of the mill geologist would tell us that volcanoes are still building new mountains, while erosion of snow and rain is destroying others. Continents are shifting, climates are changing,and life is in a constant state of change. Most scientists even believe we at one point had an “ice age” and that one could even return in the future. Some changes I can influence. Some I’m merely at the mercy of the earth and God on. So if that’s the case, perhaps the real question is how can I live in harmony with the earth, the Creator, and it’s changes without being a catalyst to unnecessary planet change or harm due negligence on my part?

still thinking…..

Meet Geofrey Kakooza.