Take My Hand

It's All About Words

"I want to be a doctor."
"I want to be a teacher."
"I want to be a clown."
"I want to be a lawyer."
"I want to be a scientist."
"I want to be an archeologist."
"I want to be a police officer."
"I want to be a chef."

Can I ask where the theologians are?

I have a secret; I know where they are.

They’re everywhere.

They’re in your youth group.
They’re in your church.
They’re in your schools.
They’re in your neighborhood.
They're in your family.

Maybe the reason why you can't find the theologians is that we're not listening to them. But, I believe that a big part of the reason why you can’t find them is that they don’t have the “right” words.

Theodicy.
Sanctification.
Prevenient Grace.
Liturgical.
Atonement.
Eschatological.

It’s about the words.

So often, we don’t trust young people with the words that would allow their theological ponderings to make verbal sense. We fall into the trap of thinking that, “Young people are not capable of doing theology”. We (young people) are more than capable of “doing theology”.

Youth workers – in my experience – assume that young people are not (often) interested in anything other than being entertained. We assume that youth groups that “work” are those groups that have large numbers of attendees and crazy games; of course, we don’t want to scare the kids away by going too “deep” on them!

That’s where we are so often wrong.

Youth are deep. We need to trust them with the words and with the space to use those words in conversation.

Everything we (as people) do is a statement of our theology, of how we interact with, and what we believe about, God.

Theology is not something that should be accessible only to academics in ivory towers. Theology is for us all, young people included. We need the words that will help us to make sense of our stories.

When we don’t explicitly discuss theology with our young people, we are in effect telling them, “You’re not good enough, or capable of thinking about God. You are not a whole person.” Now, of course, this is perhaps understood subconsciously. But it is understood nonetheless.

I dare you to trust your young people with the words. I dare you to give space for those words to be used. And see what happens.

Perhaps then we’ll hear:

“I want to be a doctor, and a theologian.”
“I want to be a teacher, and a theologian.”
“I want to be a clown, and a theologian.”
“I want to be a lawyer, and a theologian.”
“I want to be a scientist, and a theologian.”
“I want to be an archeologist, and a theologian.”
“I want to be a police officer, and a theologian.”
“I want to be a chef, and a theologian.”

Or maybe, just maybe we'll hear:

“I’ll always be a theologian.”

I Haven't Disappeared Again

Just a quick note:

I haven't disappeared. I'm working on a post.

I hope to have it out by Thursday night at the latest.

Now, don't think that because I gave advanced warning that it's going to be all that good. You might be sorely disappointed!

Shalom.

Easter Day

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name

All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.

Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all

UM Hymnal #154 Perronet, Rippon

Good Friday

"O God, you sent Christ Jesus to be my shepherd and the lamb of sacrifice. Help me to embrace the mystery of salvation, the promise of life rising out of death. Help me to hear the call of Christ and give me the courage to follow it readily that I, too, may lead others to you. This I ask through Jesus, my shepherd and guide."

-- from The People's Common Breviary, Vol. II

Spring Break

This week is Spring Break for me and many other students in Georgia.  So, that's why the posts have been nonexistant;  I'm not disappearing again!  While many of my friends are off to the beach or are on cruises to Jamaica and the like,  I had the pleasure of visitng my grandparents and Aunt and Uncle and cousins. 

It was a good time (we got back yesterday)!  I went fishing with a pole, as opposed to a rod and reel.  It was quite an experience.  I even caught 3 edible fish for the fish-fry we had for supper!

We got to make the trek to St. Simon's Island for lunch and sightseeing.  Being the Metho-dork that I am we went by Epworth By the Sea (the S. GA Conf. Center) and Fort Frederica where the Wesey brothers lived and preached for a time.  I stood inside the foundations of a house where John Wesley stood to give sermons!

(Here's a picture of my cousin Jennifer and me messing around in the house where John Wesley preached.)

Also, while we were on St. Simon's we stopped by Christ Church (Episcopal) where John and Charles Wesley served as clergy when the church was a mission church.

(Christ Church)

(A Celtic cross monument in honor of the Wesley brothers.)

I'll start posting again regularly soon... tomorrow I'm buying myself a MacBook, so as quick as I can get it all set up and figured out I'll be posting!

Shalom.