Amazing.

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Asking Why

Continuing our discussion of demons, we learned about Traditional beliefs about evil spirits this week in youth group. We spent most of the meeting by candlelight, to remind ourselves that the ancient world could be a dark and scary place. People did not understand why bad things happened, so they attributed everything unexplainable to evil spirits. For Jews, beliefs about the devil developed while they were under occupation of foreign forces in the 200s B.C.E. They struggled to be faithful in a world where they had little control over the forces that oppressed them.

This week we were reminded that the world is not so different today. We are struggling right now to understand why a college student would take the lives of 32 other people, but we should be careful not to think of Seung Hui Cho as a demon. I've seen a lot of angry and violent messages on the internet, but that doesn't help anything.

Instead, we need to try to understand what would drive a person to such measures. What can be done to prevent more people from reaching that point?

Why do you think shootings like this happen?

These are my wounds

Through Lent and Easter I have been struggling to articulate some thoughts that have been bubbling around in my mind. Today I realized that (once again) I am struggling to be genuine, because people sometimes equate struggle with lack of faith.

This week's Gospel reading was on Thomas. I preached on this last year, and had reflected on the fact that Jesus is not angry with Thomas for doubting. Jesus knows Thomas' need ("Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."), and provides.

Today Pastor Amy talked about community of faith as being a place where we can express our doubts, and provide each others' needs. It hit me like a ton of bricks that the thing I am struggling with is my need to express my needs to my friends. I often feel guilty doing this, but one of my goals this year is to reconcile relationships, and I think this is one step in that.
I need to stop trying to be strong and allow myself to be vulnerable.

We usually try to hide and guard our wounds, but Jesus didn't do that. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. I know that I need to share my wounds, because they are part of the story of how God is creating me into something else.

Its Been Awhile

So I haven't blogged in awhile. I think I go through phases where I write a bunch of "essayish" blogs on issues, and then feel like I have to keep that up. So this is going to be a random and frivolous blog.

Good stuff has been happening lately. The last couple months have been hectic and stressful with school and work and worship services and car accidents. Things are finally starting to even out again. I'm done physical therapy, I get my car tomorrow, and once I file the medical claim stuff that will all be over. I'm getting caught up with school and work.

Serving on team for Chrysalis was awesome. I ended up giving the Single Life talk, as well as serving as Assistant Spiritual Director (usually a pastor job) which basically meant that I helped do readings and was available for prayer. It was a really cool experience, and I felt so privileged to give the Single talk. I got to stand up in front of a bunch of teenage girls and talk about how God has blessed me so much in the last couple years, that I love being single. It has made me think that I need to blog more about being a Christian single 20-something, because that is a voice that needs to be heard. Christian culture tends to push people toward marriage. I want to get married, but I want it to be in God's time. Things are cool for now.

Easter was really great too. I had some awesome worship experiences. I got to sing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today." I got to see how much Jacob's Well has become a community. I got to spend quality time with some youth. I was reminded how much I need God, just in time to really put my heart into celebrating Easter. God is good.

And I get my hybrid tomorrow!!!!!