Several weeks ago the bookkeeper at my church went on vacation. At the hotel she received a complimentary USA Today newspaper and came across this article. The article is certainly sad, but it is quite helpful. It really is worth your 5 minutes.

The gist of the article is this: in a religion class, college students create and present their own religions. Most of the religions created were nothing more than individualistic, atheistic, relativistic attempts to be free from authority. That was sad. But the article was quite helpful in revealing some of the questions and idols people are truly seeking.

Christianity as the true religion does deal with the real questions people are asking. And as Christians, we need to be aware what questions people are actually asking. We are notorious for trying to answer the wrong question. For instance, in the 80’s, Evangelism Explosion’s question “What would you say if God asked you ‘Why should I let you into heaven?'” was appropriate and effective.

But heaven, as evidenced by this article, is not even on the radar of college students. Thus this is not the approach to take with them. If their idol is freedom and autonomy, we need to ask questions like “Is anyone really self-made” and “Is it really freedom when you are enslaved to doing your own will all the time?” The goal is to take their questions, expose their false answers, and point them to the true answer: Christ. Jesus is the one who sets us free, and we can feel unbelievable freedom in living without shame, guilt, fear within the parameters he sets in His word. That’s freedom, not slavery to whatever someone else has determined is cool or kosher.

Now it may happen that someone’s main question is What happens when we die, or how can Christianity be true when Evolution says it isn’t? But these, with some exceptions of course, are NOT the questions my generation is asking. So trying answering them and trying to prove evolution false will inevitably get you the response so what? What questions are people asking? You have to spend the time and figure out. But its not that hard. Just ask questions and listen.

Not too many things in this life last as long as we’d hope. Enter the tattoo. Psychologically speaking, I think they serve several purposes, with the foremost being that they provide stability. And keep in mind that I’m not bashing them; I do want one someday, thought the doors of opportunity are quickly closing-probably not a good use of resources at this time in my life.

Anyway, nothing lasts forever (even Cold November rain, according to Guns-N-Roses), but tattoos last as long as we do. Sometimes people will express the depth of their love with tattoos of loved ones. But deep down I think it really exposes the desire for relational stability. We’re serious now, and this tattoo proves it. You wouldn’t leave any time soon would you? It didn’t work for Angelina Jolie, although it may have bought her a few extra months with Billy Bob Thorton. Hard to tell at this point.

Personally, I stick to the airbrush license plates that say something like Geoff-N-Amy 4 Eva. When the relationship is over (not referring to mine), one can just take the plate off the front and get ready for the next relationship plate. Fairly inexpensive way to express your love.

But since divorce rates are very high these days, one thing you can surely count on staying this same in this transient world is NASCAR. Right? Well I saw a woman at Sweetbay’s Supermarket the other day who thought so; she tattooed Dale Jr’s number on the outside of her shoulder. The problem came when Dale Jr left DEI and changed numbers.

Although we have to applaud his sensitivity to his fans: his new number is 88. So that woman at Sweetbay’s can add an 8 and not miss a beat. The tattoo ‘addendum’ may be a little off-centered, but beggars can’t be choosers.

I apologize for this longer entry. Hopefully it will be a quick read.

During our Comm group this past Wed we did something a little different. Our senior pastor every so often ‘interviews’ folks to give them a chance to share how they came to Christ and what difference that has made in their lives.

So instead of continuing our 4 part video series on relational outreach called “Just Walk Across the Room,” I figured I’d steal a page out of an older coach’s play-book and interview someone who spent the last week involved in relational outreach. Staci and John, who deserve their own Wikipedia page in my opinion, have hosted week long reunions the last several years. You could call them family reunions of sorts, for several different families who adopted children out of the same orphanage in Vietnam reunite once a year down in sunny Florida (pronounced Flar-ida of course).

Largely successful and quite anti-Christian, these families have built a strong bond with John and Staci over the last several years. They already have planned a trip for next year.

Since I didn’t podcast my interview with Staci and John (interviewing someone is harder than it sounds on the radio-I have to give that to Jim Rome, who is the best I’ve heard), I’d like to just conclude with some of her concluding points, encouragement and challenges to our group.

1.) Hospitality-Having people in your homes opens up a new level of trust, intimacy, friendship. After several years, one woman quite hostile to Christianity allowed Staci to talk with her about the gospel. In addition, having folks in your homes allows people to see your strengths as well as your weaknesses-which gives you a chance to model repentance. Weaknesses probably give us more of an opportunity for the gospel, so there is nothing to fear (like screwing up or accidentally saying something you shouldn’t) for the repentant person! There is simply a deeper level of intimacy when people come into our homes. Staci mentioned that it is different than just being out in public or hanging at a coffeehouse.

2.) Intentionality-Staci specifically mentioned being convicted about being intentional with her neighbors. The Vietnam gang takes the initiative with this whole deal each year. While Staci has been involved in bringing several folks to Hope and even more into her house, she still felt a need to continually be intentional in seeking to bring folks into their homes. She has seen the gospel go forth in the context of hospitality over the years. Obviously a very hospitable woman already, we all felt challenged/encouraged to keep pressing forward to advance His Kingdom, not our own. I love it when ‘non-professional Christians’ (I’m being facetious of course) communicate my vision and live it even better than myself. I left encouraged, and excited to continue moving forward.

First of all, I do need to make reference to an earlier post. I left early from the Casting Crowns concert on Sunday night, and apparently the lead singer chose a later time to encourage people to find a church home. And one of the folks whom I thought didn’t attend a church, apparently, has been visiting a church. It takes a big man to admit he’s wrong, and sometimes I’m big. I’m being big now. Big and humble.

I chose not to attach an image to this post. You’ll understand why very shortly.

When one is an expectant father, he will find himself doing things he never would have seen himself doing. Here’s an example. Yesterday I made a few phone calls during my lunch break to doctor’s offices. Why? Our OBGYN doesn’t do circumcisions anymore. And neither does our desired pediatrician. I’m not going to do it, so I realized I would have to ‘hire out’ or ‘subcontract’ (not really sure what the correct term is) out this procedure.

The two offices I talked to yesterday both informed me of their prices. So I was trying to find the cheapest circumciser in the area (the strange thing is that we don’t know what we’re having so it all might be a moot point). Not sure if that’s really wise. The cheapest circumciser? One place told me they take cash only. 200 dollars as opposed to 250; but they take cash only. Not sure if that was a good option either.

I really wanted a boy at first (I would be happy with whoever God will bless us with-so don’t go nuts on me please) so I could take him fishing, coach his sports, etc….But I actually think we’re going to have a girl, which I will be plenty and JUST AS thankful for. And I really want a girl some time. Maybe sooner rather than later, especially after these strange conversations!

One of my favorite things to do (well that is probably an exaggeration) is to pronounce myself a “Good Samaritan.” Amy and I do it all the time if we do anything decently nice or nicely. On the way to the concert on Sunday, I did so again, and explained to those in the car that anyone who does anything good or semi-good automatically becomes a Good Samaritan. Especially on the evening news.

Just last night it was reported that a homeless man turned in a wallet he found with a hundred dollars in it. Now honestly that is amazing, and probably news worthy. But when he was interviewed, his ‘title’ was “Good Samaritan.” I’ve seen dozens of similar interviews where the person in question somehow garners that title. If you do something good, you’re a Good Samaritan.

This title has been used so haphazardly that it no longer means what it used to mean. A Good Samaritan was originally an oxy-moron. It originally referred to someone who risked his life and spent his time and money to save a clear cut enemy: the person he saved actually despised him (or Samaritans as a race).

Probably a more relevant term would be “The Good Talibani.” That might capture the hostility and the risk, cost, and grace shown by the parable of the Good Samaritan.

I don’t really like it when folks no longer use the word “Christian” (substituting ‘Christ-follower’) to define themselves-I think we should just redefine the term biblically. However, I understand why they do so. Just like Good Samaritan, “Christian” doesn’t mean a whole lot anymore. Anyone who does something ‘good’ could be interviewed by the news with the subtitle “Christian.”

And a Christian is a disciple (Matt 28:19-20) or ‘Christ-follower.’ So I guess I could get used to it; though I do think its a little too trendy for me to start using it! I wonder how long that term will last; I’m betting a century or less. Too bad I won’t be around to collect the money.

As a pastor, my calendar is usually filled with stuff. So being flexible is usually not an option. I usually have to plan flexibility, if that makes any sense (leave days open to be flexible). If my mother-in-law is a schedule ‘Bloodhound,’ my Mother has nasal blockages. My family is a last minute family. Because of Amy’s mother, they are a first minute family. Just for the record, I think both have good points.

On Thursday night my mother left a voicemail explaining that someone had given her a bunch of tickets to the Casting Crown’s concert on Sunday night. After an interchange of yes and no, wait-and-see phone calls, I felt led on Saturday to take the youth group, and a random spattering of others (friends, in-laws, roommate of friends and boyfriend, etc…). I usually hate to cancel normal youth group due to lack of momentum, but I’m glad I did this time. Change of pace is good some times.

The concert was great, the musicians skillful, and worshipful (Lyrics on the screen), and Christ centered. We were fortunate just to get there in time (I had to run to the ticket counter, arriving there 5 minutes before it closed-which would have precluded us from getting in). God providentially worked out several things of which I have neither the time to tell nor can afford the embarrassment of telling.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years: if you’re a Christian artist in a concert setting, you can say no wrong. People just go nuts. But at least the lead singer promoted the sponsorship of World Vision kids-and the line at the table was WAY LONG.

My only real critique of the evening was that he ASSUMED everyone attending had a church home. Unfortunately that is not always the case, and sometimes regularly not the case. You’d be surprised at how many people simply don’t go to church, or don’t go on a regular basis. With the affect he had on World Vision recruiting, I only wish he would have said: “Get thee to a church home and stay there, worship, connect, and serve.” I had folks with me who don’t go to church at all, or go off-and-on. It would have been nice for them to be challenged by someone else other than me.

Other than that, a late, but great, fun, and bonding filled evening. And flexible too.

As a father to be, I wonder how my own junk will affect my child. No father is perfect, and so all of us who were at one time children, deal in some way with junk passed down from our parents. One family I knew at a previous church always blamed others and never took any personal responsibility. It was passed down from father to all of his children. In Billy Madison, the O’Doyle family continually proclaimed “O’Doyles rule!” until the whole family drove off a cliff in their station wagon. I see it all around me. Even at the gym.

Let me explain. On Friday, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a beautiful Mulletino (aka the Latin Mullet). The long part in the back was bleached and permed, while the rest was dark brown. As I left the gym, I spotted one of his kids. The sides of his head were shaved, while the top was short, and the back was long, flowing, and pristine. Another Mulletino. Like father, like son. Sorry I didn’t get a picture with my cell phone. Maybe another day.

Since no father is perfect, it just reminds me of the need to be a repentant father and to regularly point my child to the Heavenly Father. Otherwise he might try to look a little bit TOO much like me. Although I’m not worried about him/her trying to copy my hair style: balding brown is not really ‘in’ right now.

This year for youth group, the main theme has been “How to live as a believer in an unbelieving world?” Our first step was to spend time studying how to study the bible. Our next step involved going through a study on the book of Daniel written by yours truly.

Our final step is a series on engaging culture by analyzing movies and music: teaching the kids not to be oysters (and suck everything in), but to engage with ideas presented, evaluate them biblically, and hold fast to Jesus. Well, one great joy as a teacher has been seeing a ‘student’ begin to teach.

I gave some framework to a youth and let him ‘run with’ the discussion on Harry Potter V. He did quite well. There is something beautiful in seeing information, passion, and skill passed on to the next generation.

The Harry Potter ‘Handover’ happened because I hadn’t seen ANY of those movies. I just watched the fifth one. While I enjoyed it, I wasn’t quite ‘qualified’ to lead the discussion, seeing as I couldn’t remember any of those weird names.

But for our next movie, I’ll be intentionally allowing another youth to lead the discussion. Hopefully I can train up some new youth leaders who can continue the process in due time. Allowing new people to lead does a few things.

First of all it allows me to see if they are ‘getting it.’ A seminary professor once said, “You don’t really grasp the material until you can teach it.” Whether in a classroom, discussion, or one-on-one setting, I think he’s right.

Next it gives youth more responsibility and ownership. If we don’t push them and expect anything out of them, we’ll see very little out of them.

Finally, giving over control of the these lessons, trains new leaders. It’s what Paul did to Timothy. But Paul did so with the expectation of him continuing the process of raising up new leaders (II Tim 2:2). In other words, do everything you can to make yourselves expendable. You won’t be around forever. One of the goals of a pastor or any elder or lay leader in a church should be to do all he/she can to work himself out of a ‘job’ and make himself more and more expendable. Strange goal, but I think a good one.

I spent most of today in Lakeland, FL. It was a “training day” of sorts for me and several others. An elder at Trinity Pres named Tim is on the board of I See Jesus (the study is called The Person of Jesus ) and trains leaders to more fully master the craft of leading these discussions. Our community group had been going through this study but have since taken a break.

The format was fairly loose. Five people presented and led us through a study of 5 different lessons. Each of these sessions took 45 minutes to an hour. Afterwards we all helped in evaluating the discussion, with Tim (all 6 foot 9 of him) of course taking the lead.

At first I felt a little nervous for those leading the discussions. Second, I thought, “I’m glad I’m not leading one of these babies.” I hadn’t really been in one of these group evaluation things since preaching Lab (where people critique your sermons and take notes while you’re preaching!). However the group was extremely loving, quick to commend, and yet still offered some constructive feedback.

Tim mentioned that there is very little evaluation that ever goes on within the church body. And he was not talking about people critiquing sermons. I think that he had a strong point. Very few people seek input on how they can do something better. Very few people even listen to input without getting defensive.

But the other day, Amy gave me some constructive criticism on how to ask questions in youth group. Its not too hard (its always a little hard because of that pesky pride problem we all have) to hear that kind of stuff from her, because I know she loves me and respects me.

I can’t read minds or hearts (I leave that to Jesus-and you should too), but it seemed like the discussion leaders actually welcomed the constructive feedback. No one was defensive at all. It was beautiful. It was loving. Not self-protecting, and not enabling (both of which pass for love these days), but actually loving.

Everyone in there definitely respected each other’s commitment to ministry and to Jesus. And over time, I really got to like the folks. When those two components collide, evaluation is much easier.

While there are many folks who reject all authority as evil, I found, via another blog, one who doesn’t. Stephen Colbert has a theistic worldview (I think he’s Catholic) and argues with a doctor on where good and evil comes from. Since his show is primarily comedy, I can’t tell how serious he really is. However I found this dialog humorous, somewhat surprising, informative, and slightly encouraging. By the way, it only takes 5 minutes. Click here to view the clip from his show “The Colbert Report.”