God is A.A.A.

In this month's ENews I'm featuring an excellent reflection that came to me from Pastor John Matthews, of Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, MN. Pastor Matthews makes a powerful connection between our understanding of the marks of discipleship (authenticity, availability, affirmation) and the nature and work of God. Thanks John for connecting these dots for all of us.

Vibrant Faith Ministry is committed to providing tools for congregations, individuals, and families to live out and pass on the Christian faith to the next generations. VFM describes those who do this work as "Triple A" Christians. They believe that individuals who best communicate their Christian faith to the next generations are those who embody and express the qualities or characteristics of being "authentic, available and affirming."

While such descriptions can seem rather obvious and surely fit the spirit of our times, some have asked if these words conform to a historic understanding of Christian discipleship. In the brief epistle, I John, we read, "Because God has so loved us, we are to love one another." One can read from this that all human action and interaction is really motivated - has its origin - in God. Because God has first loved, we human beings can love; because God has first created, we human beings can create; because God has first been present with us, we can be present for others. It is in this spirit, as God's children, to live our lives in response to what God has first done, that all discipleship takes form.

So let us turn to the "Triple A" characteristics of Christian disciples, observing how these characteristics parallel the three articles of the Apostles' Creed: creator, redeemer, presence.

"Authentic" is a word that is highly valued in our day. To be authentic is to be trustworthy and transparent, to be real and reliable. Authenticity is when a person's outward actions conform to their inward disposition. Authenticity for humans is grounded in God's first being authentic with us. The creation that is our home does not play games with us; nature is reliable (and sometimes very dangerous), notice the rising of the sun and laws of gravity. God's faithfulness shines through every nook and cranny of creation. Authentic means that God is not duplicitous or two-faced. God's inner being, God's will is authentically expressed in God's creation.

"Available" is an attribute of persons that is often in short supply in a world that is so busy and so preoccupied with things. To be available is to value others enough to make space and time for relationships. Schedules, commitments, responsibilities all fill our days and consume our energy. Once again, all human availability is finally grounded in God's first being available for us. In Jesus Christ God says God is always and ever available to us. God is not too busy to become incarnate and to get as close to us as possible. God knows our passions and our pains because God lived those passions and pains. And God continues to be available through the eternal presence of God the Holy Spirit, the One who is always with us and never forsakes us. God is closer to us than we are to any others, and God gives us permission and challenges us to be available for others. If God is not too busy, how dare we be preoccupied?

"Affirming" is another word that is highly valued, but often missing in our day. To be affirming is to approach life with a basic 'yes,' to live positively and supportively. Even correction and punishment - as needed - are to be seen as ultimately affirming life and goodness. And again, all human 'affirming' is grounded in God's first affirming us. The call of Jesus' to each of us is ultimately an eternal affirmation. While human beings are often more at home with rewards and punishments, judgments and even condemnation, God's will is salvation and affirmation. And through the Holy Spirit God affirms all of life by giving each of us gifts, abilities and a vocation to serve God by serving others. It is because God has - and always is - affirming us, that we see Christian discipleship as living-out that same affirmation in our families and communities.

Because God has first been "authentic, available and affirming" for us, we are called to be those same things for others.

Blog me your thoughts on Pastor Matthews reflections.

The Four Questions Youth Ask of Themselves

Spurred by rapid brain growth and bathed in hormones, young adolescents have no choice but to explore, bump through, and navigate a unique part of the human journey. It can be an awkward time. I recall meeting a thirteen year old boy in Illinois who stood 5'2" and had size 18 feet!! It can be a time when adults are amazed by the rapid growth of these teens (many of my confirmation students are taller than me), and stunned by their decision making (You thought skate boarding down the stair rail was a good idea?!)

Researcher Peter Scales says that the adolescent journey is shaped by four questions:

1. Am I loved?
2. Can I love others?
3. Am I normal?
4. Am I competent?

They may not use this language, but much of adolescent life circles around these issues. They are important questions and how a youth answers them can shape their life for years into the future.

PEER MINISTRY LEADERSHIP, led by Lyle Griner, with the organization EveryDay, is designed to help youth explore these questions through a Christian lens. PML helps youth explore their relationships with themselves, others, adults and God. And through this exploration they learn how to minister to one another. PML moves away from the old paradigm of doing youth ministry FOR kids, and toward the Biblical paradigm of youth ministry BY kids. It is no longer about youth group, but about youth ministry. It emphasizes purposeful, outward-focused ministry, rather than self-serving, inward-focused clubs. PML helps people learn ministry skills and educate the heart to serve others! Most importantly PML provides a healthy and Christ-centered way of navigating the adolescent journey.

This summer many congregations will take mission trips, adventure trips, host day camps and VBS, and neighborhood outreach programs. Incorporating Peer Ministry Leadership training into these activities develops emergent, and compassionate young people who know who and whose they are. Check out the training offerings of PML at www.peerministry.org. Call Lyle at 612-418-5572.

Blog me how you think these four questions shaped your adolescence!

Coonskin Caps and Faith Resources!

Did you know that if you do a web search for coonskin caps you get 198,000 results? You get 619,000 results for "bobble head dolls", and you get a staggering 4,650,000 results for chain saws. Now maybe there are a wide variety of chain saws and dealers (and God knows we are cutting down a lot of trees), and I suppose you can put a bobble head on just about any figure (my favorite being my Martin Luther bobble head doll), but a coonskin cap is made of only one thing...a raccoon. You won't find coonskin caps with sequins fringes or mud flaps (but then I haven't checked all 198,000 results); you'll just get a cap that, in an earlier iteration, probably spent its life mugging and bullying those lower on the food chain, or tipping over trashcans.

Such is the nature of the information age we live in today. We have easy access to lots of information, knowledge and resources. It's flat-out overwhelming, even if all you want is one, medium size, coonskin cap. The question becomes, "How do we sort through all this digital stuff and find what we need?" To quote Proverbs, "this requires wisdom". Wisdom serves as a lens, or filter, to sort through and evaluate what is helpful and what is not.

At VFM we think we can provide wisdom when it comes to sorting through resources that are used in effective faith formation practices. And we think this wisdom is helpful. For example, a web search of "Christian Resources" generates 44,200,000 results! I doubt whether anyone has time to evaluate all this information.

To help you in your search, our new catalog has just been sent out featuring 100 key products we have evaluated and are confident in.

Plus, we've put together a core "tool box" of resources designed to help you with effective faith formation practices. We call it our Signature Resources. The Signature Resources provide the "wisdom" you need to pick products that help make a difference.

These twelve resources make up an essential set of Signature kititems to be used across generations, in the home, or in the congregation. The Signature Resources include items for doing milestones, 160 suggestions for prayer, and conversational starters from our FaithTalk® series. All these resources fit our model for effective faith formation practices.

It's hard to go out and get a coonskin cap these days, but it's easy to get a core set of resources that are proven effective and easy to use. Check out our Signature Resources on our website and grab a big discount in the process.

Blog me and tell me what you think.

We are Celebrating!

The incredible and spiritually moving, singer and songwriter, Ken Medema is coming to Vibrant Faith Ministries to help us celebrate our new name and our heritage. On March 21st Ken will perform at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome and reservations are not required. It is a benefit concert for VFM and world hunger.

Ken's concert serves as a milestone event acknowledging the many efforts of our board, team, and leaders who are passionate about our work, who helped us refocus and rename our organization. Our celebration serves as thanks to God for an exciting future we want to let others know about.

And we are celebrating our heritage. For example, Dr. Dick Hardel, senior fellow and former director, recently received a great honor from the Evangelical Lutheran Church Youth Ministry Network. At the most recent gathering of this group, Dr. Hardel was given the Tom Hunstad Award, or "The Tommy", for his many contributions to the field of youth and family ministry.

Dr. Hardel is the author and co-author of more than a dozen books including the groundbreaking text, PASSING ON THE FAITH. This book has served as a fundamental text for those committed to effective practices in faith formation, especially as it relates to youth and families. In addition, Dr. Hardel was a part of the team that developed the "Child in Our Hands" conferences in the early 1990's. These conferences, and the intellectual insights they conveyed, became the foundation for youth and family ministry practices used today. They reshaped the way in which we currently understand and do congregational ministry.

"It's not about me, it's about Jesus," Dick said in receiving the award. This has been a consistent message of his that he continues to convey through his dynamic speaking, teaching, coaching and writing. All of us give thanks for his many contributions and those of his wife, Carolyn.

Come join us on March 21st and help us celebrate!

Blog me and tell me what you think.

Restructuring For The Future!

I like to snorkel and scuba dive. It's an incredible sport with minimal risk as long as you follow the diver's maxim, "plan your dive and dive your plan." Divers usually get into trouble only when they deviate from their plan when in the water.

At Vibrant Faith Ministries we just completed planning our dive and now we are diving our plan. The planning began in earnest in the fall of 2007 when we initiated an extensive and thorough review and evaluation of our mission, our operations, our intellectual property and approach to ministry, our marketing practices, and our business model. Most importantly, we asked, "what is God calling us to do and be at this particular time in the life of the church?" We were deliberative and the process took a long time.

"The restructuring we have done was for the purpose of moving boldly and effectively into the preferred future we have chosen. It is not a sign of our demise, but a sign of our health."

We are really pleased with the results that have come out of the process. The announcement of our name change in November of 2009 marked our dive into the waters of our preferred future. Our restructuring as Vibrant Faith Ministries will allow us to be a vital and relevant organization to the church at this unique time.

As a part of the process, we needed to reconfigure and reduce our staffing structure. These moves should not be construed that we are in trouble as an organization. Just the opposite is true! The restructuring we have done was for the purpose of moving boldly and effectively into the preferred future we have chosen. It is not a sign of our demise, but a sign of our health.

• There are now five expressions of Vibrant Faith Ministries. These expressions are designed to help us fulfill our mission.
• Vibrant Faith Services: coaching, conferences and educational programs that transform ministries
• Vibrant Faith Online: new ways of delivering our educational programs, especially for the Youth and Family Ministry Certification Schools
• Vibrant Faith Publishing: resources that support and deepen our work
• Vibrant Faith Grants: funding for emergent leaders and/or potentially transformational ministries
• Vibrant Faith Associates: connecting with partners who expand our mission

Vibrant Faith Ministries represents our commitment to continue to equip individuals, homes, and congregations with effective practices in faith formation. And we'll do this work in new, refreshing and innovative ways. We have the talent, the intellectual property, a reputation for quality and competency, and a business model that bodes well for a vibrant future in service to the church in its many expressions.

Blog me and tell me what you think.

Affirmation Gives Testimony to Those Running Before Us!

We all stand on the shoulders of someone. Who we are and the things we accomplish are shaped, influenced and inspired by those who have come before us. Hebrews 12: 1 makes the same point:

"We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us."

With this thought in mind, VFM is celebrating a recent affirmation we received. For the past six years the Vibrant Faith Frame of faith formation has been worked deeply into the six synods of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Through youth leader certification schools, pastor's theological conferences, camp immersions, youth gatherings, coaching, and more, our work has been applied and embedded. The goal was to lift up the next generation of Christian leaders. Generous funding came from the Siebert Foundation.

Dr. Ken Inskeep, director of research and analysis of the ELCA, did an independent evaluation of what has taken place in Wisconsin. Listen to what he said regarding one phase of our efforts, certification schools in youth and family ministry:

The certification school positively affects the lives of young people:

"Respondents agreed that young people in their congregation have visibly grown in their faith."

The instruction is of the highest quality:

"The respondents were very positive about the overall quality of teaching at the certification schools and they were positive about the usefulness of the ideas and concepts. They...rated the certification school as "excellent" (5) on a 5 point scale."

Certification Schools help congregations leaders:

"The pastor of their congregation has adopted the perspective learned in the certification school on what it means to do youth ministry."

Students received support after their training:

" They were also very likely to agree that they have become part of an on-going network that serves to provide them with further learning and support."

These results did not come about by accident. The work done in Wisconsin is based upon the efforts of many:

• Researchers and teachers: Dr.'s Mert Strommen, David Anderson, Dick Hardel
• Local leaders: former bishop's Bob Berg, April Larson, Rev. Greg Kaufman and a team of highly skilled synod coordinators
• Funders: Mr. Ron Jones of the Siebert Foundation
• Organizations: Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa

That's a lot of shoulders! It is a huge cloud of witnesses!

As this New Year begins I say thanks to all of these folks and many more unnamed. Their legacy is the wisdom we have in effective practices in faith formation. It's a proven template, let's run the race with it! Who's shoulders are you standing on?

Blog me and tell me what you think.

 

NEW BOOK

Dear Friends,

Marilyn Sharpe is unique. Her effusive way of expressing herself flows like a warm balm over the listener's ears. Her faith permeates all the way into her DNA and touches those around her. Her love of children comes from years as a compassionate mom and grandma, whether in her own family, her congregation or community. And her ability to equip parents gives confidence to insecure and worried mothers and fathers.

Marilyn brings all of this to her new book FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! Parenting Preschoolers Faithfully. She builds a case that preschoolers are spiritual beings seeking connectedness to others and exploring their world with awe and wonder. Parents play a huge role in nurturing this spark of faith. Grounded in the Vibrant Faith Ministries model of effective faith formation practices, Marilyn's book provides practical, field-tested methods for equipping parents to be godbearers for their children. Parents who read this book will not only know why it's important to speak the language of faith to their children, but they'll know how to do it.

While her book equips parents and adults for faithful parenting, her methods help parents go deeper in their own faith journey. Based upon the premise that "faith is caught more than taught", the reader will discover they are entering into a deeper life of faith. Lots of parenting books teach us how to raise children. This one facilitates the work of the Spirit within the reader as well. Be prepared to grow personally even as you watch your child develop.

For more than 25 years Marilyn has met with parents on a weekly basis listening to their concerns and traveling with them on the parenting journey. I've interviewed some of these parents and they tell me they find spiritual comfort, energy, wisdom and guidance in their classes with Marilyn. You'll want this experience!

Vibrant Faith Ministries proudly endorses For Heaven's Sake! and is delighted to offer it through our bookstore. This book will help parents enrich their own faith and that of their children!

Order Marilyn's book and blog me your thoughts!

 

ADAPTING TO FULFILL OUR MISSION

The world is changing and it is changing quickly. Followers of Jesus need to continually adapt so that the Good News of Jesus Christ takes root in faith, and disciples are made who serve God by loving their neighbor.

At VIBRANT FAITH MINISTRIES (formerly known as The Youth & Family Institute) we are adapting to our changing world so that we better fulfill our mission:

"We equip households, individuals and congregations
to live a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ that is
authentic, available, and affirming."

Our new name does four important things:

1. The name better reflects our mission. We are passionate about the faith development of young people. But, as Jesus said, "no one puts new wine into old wineskins." We now work to strengthen entire church systems (create new wineskins) including lay and pastoral leadership development, congregational and household faith practices, camping ministries, judicatories and more.
2. The name speaks directly to the current needs of churches, camping ministries and people who are seeking a Christian spiritual life. We are providing tools and resources to kindle the flames of faith across many generations. And we are exploring ministry options with the "spiritual but not religious" crowd.
3. It reflects our renewed energy to work ecumenically.
4. Vibrant Faith Ministries more fully describes who we are and what we do. There are four expressions of Vibrant Faith Ministries:

a. Vibrant Faith Services-events, conferences, coaching, resources
b. Vibrant Faith Online-check out our newly re-designed Youth Ministry Certification School
c. Vibrant Faith Publishing-David Anderson's new book launched this expression
d. Vibrant Faith Grants-funding for those who want to make a difference

This is who we are and where we are going. Blog me and tell me what you think!

BELONGING, BEHAVING, BELIEVING

Dear Friends,

There is no single, or even simple, way that the Holy Spirit forms faith. Consider:

• A burning bush spoke to Moses
• Peter received a personal invitation while working on the docks
• The Apostle Paul was literally blinded by the light
• And on the road to Emmaus two of Jesus followers did a Bible study and shared a meal.
• You have to give the Spirit credit for creativity!

At Vibrant Faith Ministries (formerly known as The Youth & Family Institute-more on that next month) we teach effective practices for faith formation that are present in Scripture, Christian tradition and modern research, but yet it's always the work of the Spirit. With this thought in mind (to keep us humble and to avoid simple formula's), one way to summarize a common process is "belonging, behaving, believing". Often, vibrant faith begins to form when people gain a sense of community or belonging with other Christians. Faith can't happen in a closet, it happens amongst God's people. It is shared, passed on, communicated, and rubbed off.

Through the experience of belonging new believers learn the practices of faith or behaving. They learn the FOUR KEY faith behaviors of caring conversation, devotions, service, and rituals/traditions. For example (and it may be unusual but it is quite popular!) check out the new Lord's Prayer Karate Kata on our website to see how the practice of devotion can be incorporated into a physical discipline.

Finally, the articulation of the faith comes to consciousness, or believing. This is the process often described as "faith seeking understanding". It is the rich world of theological reflection, Bible study, immersion in the confessions and teachings of the church, and the application of faith to our daily lives.

A holistic way for this process to happen is through the use of the Milestones Blessing Bowls. Through the practice of using the bowls (available in our bookstore) they bring people together (belonging), unite them in conversation and prayer (behaving), and give expression to God's activity in our daily lives (believing).

Blog me and tell me what you think.

TYFI Announces the Release of a New Book!

The Youth and Family Institute is happy to announce launch of The Vibrant Faith Series and the release of the first volume,

From the Great Omission to Vibrant Faith
The Role of the Home in Renewing the Church
by David W. Anderson

In this new resource, Anderson identifies a repeated mistake happening in church practices all across North America. The mistake is not inviting, equipping, and expecting parents and other adults to play a vital role in the faith formation of their children and the young people in their congregation.

Anderson calls this error The Great Omission. The result of repeatedly making this mistake has had a negative impact. Young people have left congregational life in droves. Ironically, research shows they have not left their spirituality behind, they simply have not found communities of faith that embrace them and challenge them to live lives of faith and service.

In From The Great Omission to Vibrant Faith, Anderson traces how this has happened and what to do about it. He writes to congregational leaders, parents, grandparents, and adults who seek a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ for themselves and their children.

David Anderson is writing a three-volume series on effective practices in vibrant faith formation. This first book is written for congregational leaders. It offers new ways to think about congregational leadership with vibrant faith formation being the thrust of that effort. Volume two will address congregational practices such as worship and Christian education. Volume three will speak directly to parents and other adults regarding vibrant faith practices in their own lives and that of their children.

"David W. Anderson has written a beautiful and important book about the lush graceful life of the household and the way the faith travels as a gift across the generations. This book has a generous and inclusive view of families and homes and posits "valuing families" of whatever composition. I believe the renewal in mission comes with a renewal of the primal relationships that undergird the church in mission. At the center of this web of relationships are the home and the family relationships."
Stephen Paul Bouman, Executive Director of Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission, ELCA

To order David's book or to learn more, go to www.thegreatomission.org

I look forward to hear from you after you have read the book! My Blog

Warning: Marketing Aimed at You and Your Kids

Much of the media and the American marketing machine have you and your kids in their sights. They want to shape and define your values so that they can get your money. This is not a new or original insight.

However, a brochure I recently received added a double exclamation point!! The title read:
“The Youth Marketing Mega Event 09: The Original and
Only Truly All Encompassing Event Covering Kids, Tweens,
Teens, Young Adults and Families In One Shot.” (Underlining added)

Now, that is a mouthful of a title to be sure, or more like a shark mouthful, ready to ingest and devour the entire demographic of those ages 0-35.

The workshop titles clearly were designed to captivate and capture our kids’ values and allowances:

• Unlocking Cool: Reaching Teens with Integrated Marketing
• Get Creative: Rebranding to a Tween/Teen Consumer
• The Top 50 Kid Brands: Finally! A Model for Measuring Kid Affinity

And other workshops aimed directly at you and your household:

• What Really Happens in the Family Living Room?
• The Untapped Role of Dad!
• Marketing to the Youth Soccer Masses.

I found the brochure stunning, crass, unapologetic and dangerous. Billions of dollars and many human resources are being poured into capturing the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of you and your kids. The results are destructive. For example, in a recent book, Losers, Loners and Rebels: The Spiritual Struggles of Boys, one of the authors, Dr. Bob Dykstra, comments that the deluge of media messages makes it incredibly difficult for boys to grow up with a healthy sense of value and values. Their spiritual spark is snuffed out by the narcissistic messages of consumer capitalism.

There is a lot of handwringing going on regarding the boorish behavior of our adolescent boys. While not the only cause, media messages generally encourage self-fulfillment and a sense of entitlement. Without the counterweight of older males, grounded in deeper, more altruistic values, our young boys and men go willingly down the media stream of self-centeredness. The same could be said for our girls, who rather than becoming boorish, more often turn the media images regarding women into harsh self-criticism and personal despair.

The power, volume and quantity of media messages our kids receive seem overwhelming. Dr. David Walsh, director of the National Institute on Media and the Family, notes that the average teenager spends 44 hours per week in front of a screen. This viewing is often not monitored by grounded parents or adults.

At The Youth & Family Institute, we teach that our homes are an expression of church, too. They are a place to practice the Four Keys - caring conversations, devotions, service, and rituals and traditions – that nurture and anchor our lives in Christian spiritual practices. And they serve as an alternative choice, dare I say antibodies, to the media/consumer marketing virus.

This summer, as you go to Bible camp, serve on a mission trip, take vacations, or sit in your back yard, I encourage you to turn off the screens and the “it’s-all-about-me-pods” for a while. You would not allow the marketers into your congregation. Why would you allow them into your home, since home is church, too? In their stead, try practicing the Four Keys. And when the electronics are turned back on ask these two questions:

• “What values are being taught here?”
• “What do I think of them, in light of my vibrant faith?”

Blog me, and let me know what you think.

Three Questions For Our Times

"I'm exhausted talking about sex and sexuality!" I've heard these comments often over the past five or more years. Spoken by pastors, professors, youth workers, and church members they reflect fatigue with the ongoing, and not to be resolved, questions relating to sexual orientation and practices. I share this exhaustion. Make no mistake this conversation needs to take place. Perhaps most importantly because it forces us to look at how we study and read the scriptures. It sometimes seems however, that it is the only theological debate we are having.

We need a wider and more expansive theological conversation. It should focus on these three questions:

1) Who is Jesus for our times?

2) What is His will for all of life at the dawn of the 21st century?

3) How do we prepare the soil for vibrant faith formation that brings to fruition authentic, available and affirming disciples of Jesus for our times?

These are the questions that drive our thinking and work at The Youth & Family Institute.

My observations and experiences show that these three questions are energizing, exciting and motivating for church leaders and members. They demand acute study and analysis of our world, discerning prayer, and wise application of effective faith formative practices. Most importantly, they emphasize making disciples and doing God's mission.

At TYFI we are committed to vibrant faith formation. This starts with the clear assertion and promise that faith comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a gift not earned or decided upon, so much as received and acknowledged. Nevertheless, there is much we all can do to prepare and nurture the soil for the blessings of the Spirit.

Let's return to the discussion regarding sexuality for one more moment. (Try to hold off your exhaustion.) Consider these statistics about the Bible: there are roughly 600 references in Scripture to the use and misuse of wealth and money, and five references to homosexuality (and maybe less depending upon your sources of scholarship). These numbers reflect what the real issues are with us - greed and narcissism. Generally these references point out the responsibilities that come with money, wealth and "things", and of the temptations that lure all humans. We get one commandment regarding sex, but two regarding coveting. Jesus said nothing about homosexuality, but a lot about keeping our priorities straight.

This brings us back to the importance of forming vibrant faith. Vibrant faith provides a lens by which to look honestly at ourselves, our values, our temptations, our motivations, and where we put our trust. The world needs more from the church than a discussion on sexual orientation, it needs a church that prophetically tells us who we really are, who we really need, and how to love our neighbor.

Blog me and let me know what you think.

Why Jesus and the Apostle Paul Disapprove of Some Men’s Ministries

I want to be very clear from the outset. Men’s Ministry is neither Biblical, nor reflects God’s will, when it promotes the establishment of patriarchal family systems as a desirable, God inspired design for humans. I will be even more succinct. If, in order for you to be a Christian man, you need to make women subservient to you, you are not a man and you are a misguided Christian. This means that James Dobson, John Eldridge, David Murrow and others of this ilk are wrong and have been for years. Jesus and Paul would disapprove!

Men, we are being theologically misled by leaders either afraid of, or unfamiliar with, women who are every bit our equal in strength, character, value and worth. The case cannot be made Jesus taught patriarchy. In fact, Jesus called men to accountability for treating women less than their equal. In Matthew 5:27-31 Jesus roundly criticizes men for wanting to “control” (a better translation of the word “lust” in vs. 28) or walk away from women. Jesus teaching throughout all four Gospels is consistent in this regard. He is an advocate for women, for their intrinsic value and for the gifts and abilities they bring. They are not subservient to him.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul flips patriarchal thinking upside down in Ephesians 5: 21-33. The first verse is the most important. “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This is a completely egalitarian and radical statement spoken for Paul’s time and culture. The common thought about men and women of that period was grounded in Aristotle’s teachings on women. He thought they were weak of mind and body. (He obviously never delivered or observed the delivery of a baby.) It is Aristotle, not Jesus and Paul, who supports patriarchal family systems. Paul states Aristotle’s positions well in these texts, and then adds the Christian addendum to each. For example, “Wives, be subject to your husbands.” … that’s Aristotle. “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church.”…that’s Paul’s reworking of Aristotle. How did Christ love the church? By creating a pyramid or hierarchical structure to human community? NO! He did it by humbling himself, giving of himself and considering himself no more, or less, than equally human with us. That’s Jesus and Paul, not Aristotle. (See Philippians 2: 6-8). Paul has provided a Christian reinterpretation of Aristotle.

Men’s ministries built on reestablishing patriarchy are built on Aristotle, not Jesus or Paul. Men’s ministries built upon Jesus and Paul see women as equal, but not the same as men. Men and women are gifted by God in a wide variety of ways for the purpose of serving God’s kingdom. It is appropriate to call men to be accountable to their families, one another and to God. It is heretical to make women less, in order for some man to say he’s a man.

We in the men’s movement need to clean up our theological act. We need to start thinking, instead of reciting the false teachings of Dobson, Eldridge, Murrow and others. Men, I’ve laid it out there pretty clearly for all of you. Blog on!

MINISTRY DURING TOUGH TIMES

These are tough times. People are losing their jobs, or are worried they will. I recently worked in one congregation where the unemployment rate in the county had jumped from 1.9% to 11%...IN 10 MONTHS!!!

It is for times such as these that God made the church. This is why we exist, to bring the hope of the Gospel to hurting, hopeless people. And the church can help meet the physical needs of the hungry, the homeless, the unemployed and the anxious.

Not surprisingly, congregations are struggling to meet their budgets, or are cutting back in staffing. What churches have discovered is that The Youth & Family Institute can help serve as the staff they can no longer afford. Churches are looking to and contacting us to help them with faith formative training experiences and resources that lay volunteer leaders can then utilize and implement. In tough times such as these we are grateful and eager to fulfill this role.

Tough times call for a resilient faith. This faith does not promise easy deliverance from struggles and suffering. This faith recognizes that God became human as Jesus Christ to enter into our struggles and challenges. God doesn’t always promise success or deliverance as we would expect, but God does always promise the presence of Jesus in our midst. This awareness is the vibrant faith needed for tough times. May God’s Spirit blow in your midst with the gift of vibrant faith for tough times.

A Wide View of Vibrant Faith

In early December I wrote a financial appeal letter to our TYFI constituency. It was a fundraising letter telling stories of effective ministry taking place through The Institute. It had great merit, but my parochial appeal to "support us" seemed to miss the bigger perspective of Vibrant Faith in troubled times. So I tore it up.

Our times call for a wide view, or a bigger frame to understand our world and the role Vibrant Faith plays in it. The appeal letter I did send (in italics below) represents my attempt to understand what is happening through the eyes of faith. How do you think about it? How does faith help you interpret these tough times? I would like to hear from you.

Email me with your thoughts at phill@vibrantfaith.org

Dear friends, Christmas, 2008

During these troublesome and uncertain economic times, it is natural to be anxious. With two wars raging and senseless violence erupting, it is natural to be afraid. With national leadership in transition, it is natural to be wary. And with major business, church and educational institutions crumbling, it is natural to feel depressed.

As people blessed with vibrant faith in Jesus Christ, how are we to respond? In times like these I'd like to suggest a simple ritual and acts of generosity. First, the ritual It is common practice in our culture to greet one another with, "How ya doing?", and we respond, "Fine." Years ago I learned a different response. When asked, "How ya doing?", I learned to say, "I'm grateful." The reactions are fascinating. "That's great!" (spoken with an ironic chuckle), or "Isn't that the truth!" (spoken with a wise nod).

This ritual serves both as a reminder and a sermon. When I say it, I remind myself of what incredible blessings I enjoy, including:

• 33 years of a loving marriage,
• Generous and well adjusted adult children,
• Colleagues and friends who tolerate me,
• A sore back and achy joints that remind me of the active life I lead,
• The wisdom and perspective that comes from being hammered on the anvil of struggle,
• The pride of living in a country where passionate debate leads to an election, not a war,
• And that grandson!

And this ritual response provides a mini-sermon to those who hear. It says, "In order to be grateful, there is One who receives my gratitude - thanks be to God".

As people blessed with vibrant faith, and out of gratitude to God, I am asking you to be particularly generous this Advent and Christmas. Be generous with your time and wealth in as many ways as possible:

• Give to your local food pantry,
• Mentor a young person,
• Support your local and global social service organizations and congregation,
• Welcome the new people moving into your neighborhood or apartment,
• And should the Spirit move you, we welcome your gift to The Youth & Family Institute.

And should the Spirit move you, we welcome your gift to The Youth & Family Institute.

VIBRANT FAITH = DR. RALPH QUERE

One of my mentors is Dr. Ralph Quere, emeritus professor of Church History at Wartburg Seminary. I first met Ralph in the fall of 1973, while changing oil on my car in the parking lot of the seminary. He saw me working and said, “Hi, I’m Ralph”. I greeted him with an oily handshake and asked him if he was a student as well. “Ah no,” he said, “I teach here.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had rarely met a professor who didn’t expect to be called by “Dr. Knows Everything” or “Dr. Smart and Aloof.” I certainly had never called a professor by his first name, and it had been rare to experience such hospitality.

This was the beginning of a long, life-shaping friendship. Ralph has taught me more about Lutheran theology than anyone. I still go to him with my questions. In addition, for years Ralph and I shared a common passion for handball and racquetball, and we played every week.

Ralph is more than a professor; he is a pastor. While at seminary he counseled me through the break up with my college girlfriend, and he confronted me regarding my excessive alcohol usage. He invited me to his home for Sunday lunch nearly every week. I became his oldest son’s guitar teacher. And for 15 years we were prayer partners, meeting weekly at Wartburg Seminary.

Ralph’s life has not been easy. He and his wife, Jan, a prominent high school teacher for many years, lost two children in their infancy. They went on to adopt four wonderful children and have a pile of grandchildren. Yet, tragedy struck them again when their oldest daughter, Cindy, died of cancer in her early 30’s, leaving two young children and a husband behind.

In addition, Ralph’s wife, Jan, has had innumerable medical problems over the years, including two hip replacements, a head injury from a bike accident, and bouts with cancer. Ralph has had bypass surgery. These days, Ralph sits at home at the bedside of his beloved Jan, who is lost in the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. Ralph is a modern day Job. If anyone has a right to scream at God, or write God off completely, it would be Ralph.

Thanks be to God, Ralph has been blessed with a vibrant faith. He is still teaching (and I continue to be his student in so many ways), and he has a great passion for evangelism and youth ministry. (The reader must understand, church historians are not necessarily known for these two interests.)

A number of years ago, soon after Cindy died, I asked him if he would be willing to speak to our Wartburg Seminary senior high leadership school. I thought that his testimony would significantly impact the kids. Generally speaking, I would not choose a balding, somewhat elderly, Luther scholar to speak to a group of senior high youth. However, I knew Ralph’s authenticity would connect, and it did. You could have heard a pin drop in the Wartburg chapel when Ralph recounted the pain and losses in his life. And when he spoke of Christ who meets us in our suffering, it was incredible how the kids related to him and his message. I’ve never witnessed a more sincere incarnation of the theology of the cross, and I’ve never heard the Gospel proclaimed in a more relevant way to a group of young people.

Ralph would be embarrassed to hear me speak of his vibrant faith. He certainly would not want the attention, because he knows it is not about him. Yet, his is a story that must be told. It is a story as old as Joseph, who was thrown away by his brothers; Job left abandoned and tormented; and Jesus crying on the cross “Why have you forsaken me?” It is the story of being honest about what hurts, yet sustained in the pain. Ralph Quere is a man of vibrant faith, and a witness to Jesus Christ who meets us in our suffering and gives us hope of a new life.

Addendum: Two days after I wrote this article in honor of my mentor, Dr. Ralph Quere’s beloved wife, Jan, died. The funeral was held in Dubuque, Iowa on Oct. 27.

NEW RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE TYFI APPROACH!

A cornerstone of The Youth & Family Institute’s model for passing on vibrant faith is our understanding that living the Four Keys (caring conversation, devotions, service, rituals and traditions) is the way God often transforms us into A.A.A. Christians (authentic, available and affirming).

Recent research reinforces the appropriateness of this approach to passing on vibrant faith. In their new book, From Nomads to Pilgrims (Alban Books), Diana Butler Bass and Joseph Steward-Sicking of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice, identify critical factors and practices of vitalized congregations and individuals. They conclude that the process of doing Christian practices, not a program, is transformative for congregational life.

Specifically, the practices they identify include:

1. Listening and discerning for God: (The Key of devotions)
2. Hospitality: (The Key of caring conversation)
3. Tradition, keeping Christian wisdom alive: (The Key of rituals and traditions)
4. Narrative, stories of God who acts and sends people out: (The Keys of caring conversation, rituals and service)

The authors conclude, “practicing congregations are a compelling witness to God’s grace and transformative power to build both communities and individuals in virtue (pg.5). What they call virtue we at TYFI call authentic, available and affirming Christians, or simply disciples.

Significantly, the authors neglect to mention the important role of the home when doing these practices. Their examples are primarily congregationally based. Nevertheless, this research affirms the TYFI approach. Our Vibrant Faith Ministry offerings are well grounded.

VIBRANT FAITH CONNECTS THE DOTS

Our mission statement at The Youth & Family Institute says, “We equip congregations, families and individuals to pass on a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ”. So what does that mean? Allow for an illustration.

In many congregations a children’s bulletin is offered with word games and activities. Even as an adult, my favorite part of these bulletins is the “connect the dot” exercise. The page is covered with dots, and by connecting them a picture emerges, usually related to the Bible readings for the day. I probably need practice doing this activity because a lot of my pictures end up looking like bananas. Thank goodness there are children around to show me how to do it right. (Quick tip: playing dumb is a great way to engage children.)

It strikes me that to be a Christian in our culture today, it’s important to get really good at connecting the dots. We need to connect our work world, lifestyles, family life, personal space, and social engagements with a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ. If we don’t, we end up segmenting our lives or putting parts of our lives in separate silos. We think and act differently based upon which dot we have landed on, but we are not connected to what God is up to in our world.

For example, this is true when we Christians don’t connect our lifestyles with the terrible environmental degradation we are causing, including global warming. We justify our behavior as, “God gave us this place to have dominion (read-exploit)”, or “it’s about salvation, not the here and now.” A true aberration of this second way of thinking is found in the misguided theologies regarding an alleged “rapture”. This strange but popular theology says; “God saves the believers, the world and the rest are “left behind” to live in the mess they’ve made”. What a distortion of the Gospel.

“God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only Son.” Jesus Christ came to save the WORLD, not just the pious, self-righteous, or culturally superior. And from Jesus’ life we observe that the WORLD includes the poor, the outcasts, the lost, the broken, the socially unacceptable, the misguided, the young, and the creation!

So now let’s connect the dots. In connecting the dots the image of a vibrant faith for the dawn of the 21st century comes into view.

• God in Christ created us, and this planet, out of love…
• Seeing the mess we made of things, God in Christ has come to restore all things out of love…
• Out of love, God’s Spirit blows over the whole planet kindling vibrant faith that brings joy and meaning to believers…
• The fruit of vibrant faith is to care for God’s whole WORLD, especially the poor…
• Most of the poor are young…
• And since environmental degradation hurts the poor the most, then Christians can lead in preserving the planet.

In connecting all these dots we see that the work we do at The Youth & Family Institute is indeed global in scope. “Passing on a vibrant faith” is not a slogan, it’s a world changing movement.

On Paul's Belay . . .

For many years I’ve been signing off on my letters with the word’s “On God’s Belay”. At a recent retreat one man misread it and asked me, “What’s ‘On God’s Belly’ mean? We both had a great laugh.

“Belay” is a climbing term that means safety and describes a safety system made up of rope, a solid anchor point and a skilled person who keeps a climber from falling. When I sign my letters with “On God’s Belay” it is a form of blessing. It reminds the reader that God has them on God’s rope and holds them tightly and safely.

The word “goodbye” comes from “God be with ye”. “On God’s Belay” is my way of saying “God be with ye”. Sometime in the future maybe we’ll all be saying “Ogbe” to one another when we mean “On God’s Belay.” You heard it hear first!

Speaking of climbing, I’m delighted to announce a new program offering of TYFI in adventure education. Check out our website for the full details. Adventure education is an excellent way to do Christian community building, cross-generational ministry, team building and mutual discovery. Most importantly, it is a holistic, body & soul way of being church together in nature and through group activity.

You are all on God’s Belay,
Paul

Don was a AAA Adult

Every time Don slugged me in the arm I knew I belonged. When I was 16, I went to church under duress, except for choir practice. I went to choir because Don would slug me in the arm and say, “Hey Paul, how you doing?” We would then hang out together and sing in the bass section. Don was an adult member who also worked in the open pit mines of northern Minnesota. A slug in the arm was his expression of Christian love, miner style.

Don was a AAA adult. He was AUTHENTIC, AVAILABLE AND AFFIRMING. He was the real deal. He walked the talk. His lips and his hips went in the same direction. Don wasn’t perfect (that would be inauthentic) but his life flowed out of Christ’s forgiveness of his flaws. He spent time with me and he affirmed me for things I could never see in myself.

TYFI celebrates people like Don through our motto; Helping people live a vibrant faith that is…authentic, available and affirming.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit we try and help create AAA ADULTS; that is, they are authentic in the faith, available to the young, and affirming of the gifts of others. From the transformed character of AAA adults arises church revitalization. “Adult renewal” is a synonym for church revitalization. And AAA adults are the key to effective children, youth and family ministry. As we do daily devotions, study Scripture, live in Christian community, and serve our neighbor the Holy Spirit transforms us, and those around us.

Who have been the AAA adults in your life? To whom are you a AAA adult?