The Space Between

On the last day of Messiah Lutheran Church 's trip to Guatemala, we traveled by van from Antigua to Guatemala City, following our hosts, The Reverends Amanda and Horacio Castillo, pastors with La Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG.) Our journey on this Sunday would carry us to one of ILAG’s congregations, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. La Resurrección sits in one of the ravines that lie like deep opened graves across Guatemala City. This particular ravine is known as El Tuerto, a part of Zone 1 of the capital city. Parking our vans at the top of El Tuerto, we began our descent. On crumbled, narrow and mismatched steps we descended past cinder block homes with tin roofs rusted. Through narrow catacomb-like passageways we carefully maneuvered until suddenly we were at the church. Two large black metal doors, like those of a mausoleum were cracked open just enough beckoning. Through the opening emanated the light of La Resurrección. Inside we were welcomed by a c...

(This sermon, based on Matthew 6:24-34 , was preached at Messiah Lutheran Church , Knoxville TN for the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany. What is below has been edited slightly.) +    +    + Whenever this portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount comes around, I find myself tempted to hum a little ditty. It goes a little something like this: [sung]     Here’s a little song I wrote  You might want to sing it note for note  Don't worry be happy Of course that’s from the 1988 song of the same name by Bobby McFerrin. Or, some of you may find yourself drifting back even further, to something like this: [sung]    Que sera sera Whatever will be will be The future's not ours to see Que sera sera That you’ll remember is from the 1956 song by Doris Day. But, even at their best, I think those songs do not get to where Jesus intends in our gospel reading for today. His is no syrupy, sweet “Don’t worry; be happy.” In today’s passage, Jesus is pl...

I just discovered a very compelling blog site called Rethinking Youth Ministry .   Based on just a morning's worth of perusing, I'm recommending that my Youth Ministry Leader friends give it a look. While you're at it, and the real purpose of this post, check out two blog posts by one of Rethinking's bloggers, Brian Kirk found over at patheos.com . The blog posts are  Distractional Model of Youth Ministry Part 1  and  Part 2 .  I'm wondering, Youth Ministry Leader friends, what you think of Kirk's evaluation and recommendations? The congregation I'm serving is getting ready to call a Coordinator of Children, Youth & Family Ministry. I'd like to be able to set a vision for this ministry and start off with someone who shares that vision and expectations. I'd love to hear your approach, thoughts, recommendations and advice.