God borrowed my 1996 Chevy Blazer???
We literally just got back from the U2 Eucharist in Portland. Leah, Jess, and I met Laureh Johnson there (she was on her way back from lifeguard training in NH). To summarize, the U2 Eucharist was a valiant try, but in the end fell flat. It felt forced, awkward, disjointed. Ultimately, it just didn't feel like God showed up for the service.
But the U2 Eucharist was NOT why we were supposed to go to Portland...
On the way home, we had a hour-and-a-half conversation...and God showed up! Who knew He wanted to take us for a ride in my 1996 Chevy Blazer?!
Somehow, the conversation turned to the history of tragic deaths, widespread drug use, depression, teen pregnancy and blinding fatalism evidenced in some sectors of this community's culture.
I spoke of the fatalism that I have seen in some students; "Oh, that's just the way it is;" "Everybody uses drugs;" "Nothing is going to change things;" " _______________ (fill in program name or prevention idea) - THAT won't work here!"
We agreed that ultimately what needs to happen is a transformation of the culture - the worldview, the mindset, the ethos - of the community. Drug use is not acceptable. You have a future. You are too valuable to throw your life away. Sex is not the answer. You are not a victim - you can change things.
A transformation needs to take place in the ethos of this community. Ultimately, God is the only one who can transform a "culture of death" into a "culture of life." It begins and ends with Him. But what is OUR role?
OUR role? MY role? I can't do anything about this. The problem is too big. Too overwhelming. Too complex. Frankly, it's IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT haven't we been asking God what is the IMPOSSIBLE thing that He wants to accomplish IN and THROUGH US to show HIMSELF to be ALMIGHTLY?
Is THIS the impossible task we are supposed to undertake? Are WE supposed to be a part of somehow bringing change to the the ethos of this community?
On our very FIRST Tuesday together, I asked the question, "What do you bring to the table?" As Leah pointed out tonight; "That was the RIGHT question, but we all gave the WRONG answers." Our answers to the question were GOOD, but they were TOO SMALL. We mostly discussed musical and artistic talents.
But what about all the OTHER gifts, talents, and experiences that we each bring to the table!? You know - those gifts, talents, and experiences that God has given each one of us in order to SHAPE us for THIS MOMENT / to PREPARE US to answer the all consuming and eternally important question; "What is the IMPOSSIBLE thing that God want's to accomplish IN and THROUGH US to show Himself to be Almighty?"
God can borrow my Blazer anytime. It was worth the ride. I just wish I had a greater seating capacity so I could have fit all of you in there with us to join the discussion. So what do you think?
But the U2 Eucharist was NOT why we were supposed to go to Portland...
On the way home, we had a hour-and-a-half conversation...and God showed up! Who knew He wanted to take us for a ride in my 1996 Chevy Blazer?!
Somehow, the conversation turned to the history of tragic deaths, widespread drug use, depression, teen pregnancy and blinding fatalism evidenced in some sectors of this community's culture.
I spoke of the fatalism that I have seen in some students; "Oh, that's just the way it is;" "Everybody uses drugs;" "Nothing is going to change things;" " _______________ (fill in program name or prevention idea) - THAT won't work here!"
We agreed that ultimately what needs to happen is a transformation of the culture - the worldview, the mindset, the ethos - of the community. Drug use is not acceptable. You have a future. You are too valuable to throw your life away. Sex is not the answer. You are not a victim - you can change things.
A transformation needs to take place in the ethos of this community. Ultimately, God is the only one who can transform a "culture of death" into a "culture of life." It begins and ends with Him. But what is OUR role?
OUR role? MY role? I can't do anything about this. The problem is too big. Too overwhelming. Too complex. Frankly, it's IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT haven't we been asking God what is the IMPOSSIBLE thing that He wants to accomplish IN and THROUGH US to show HIMSELF to be ALMIGHTLY?
Is THIS the impossible task we are supposed to undertake? Are WE supposed to be a part of somehow bringing change to the the ethos of this community?
On our very FIRST Tuesday together, I asked the question, "What do you bring to the table?" As Leah pointed out tonight; "That was the RIGHT question, but we all gave the WRONG answers." Our answers to the question were GOOD, but they were TOO SMALL. We mostly discussed musical and artistic talents.
But what about all the OTHER gifts, talents, and experiences that we each bring to the table!? You know - those gifts, talents, and experiences that God has given each one of us in order to SHAPE us for THIS MOMENT / to PREPARE US to answer the all consuming and eternally important question; "What is the IMPOSSIBLE thing that God want's to accomplish IN and THROUGH US to show Himself to be Almighty?"
God can borrow my Blazer anytime. It was worth the ride. I just wish I had a greater seating capacity so I could have fit all of you in there with us to join the discussion. So what do you think?
posted by AdamK | 9:45 PM
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