Author: Wick

We took the youth group on our annual “Back to School” type thing yesterday. Every year we do something celebratory, and this year it took the form of us all heading to a “non-thinking” park. At the end of the day, with blistered feet, a wet shirt, and queasy stomach; I’ve learned a few things:

1. Teenagers are not adults. But then again, neither are many adults. I’m not sure we can say “act like an adult” to our teens, when so many adults out there aren’t even doing it. How easy it is for two men in their 30’s to be reduced to the level of my own daughter fighting over a toy she doesn’t want to share.

2. All that being said, man I love teenagers. Not just our own youth group, but to watch them all around the park. Establishing identities as individuals. Figuring out who they are in the context of who those around them are. Making sure they look a certain way. (either cool, or like they’re too cool to look cool, etc.) Even those “forced” to walk around with their “unhip” parents all day (you could tell who they were). Trying hard to look like they’re not trying. In the blazing hot August sun. It makes you smile.

3. We will buy ANYTHING when we’re “not-thinking”. (a-muse-ment) Seriously, the hats, glowing swords, light-up sunglasses, etc. that you will never wear again anywhere with as much pride or excitement. But $10 for a neon green and red Cat in the Hat-lookin’ thing? Sure!! 🙂

4. I’m not the coaster-buff I used to be. I’m not sure what else to say here. The ups, the downs, the twists, the turns, the speeds…..ugh. They affect my body a whole lot more than they used to. For a fun day, I would’ve much rather spent the day kayaking on a slow river, or even reading a book with some coffee, or just sitting in an air-conditioned room playing cards with some friends. Am I old, or just boring? Maybe both.

5. At the same time, I loved it. The anticipation of the ride. Discovering what each ride was like. Not quite scared of death, but awfully close to being afraid of injury. Being the one that screamed ridiculously long even before the ride began, to give the rest of the riders something to laugh at (or be annoyed/embarrassed by). The Cartoon Characters, the water park, and yah….Mr.Freeze was awesome.

6. It doesn’t matter how many forms/registrations/announcements a youth pastor makes. There will still be people calling last minute to tell you they’re going. (no you’re not) There will still be people who tell you they’re coming, but haven’t paid yet, that totally won’t show up…even though they’re the reason you told the first people they couldn’t come. Sigh. Still, we took 24 people on one bus, and spent the entire day open to close.

You’ve probably heard a number of people, especially those who have moved/will move to a new area, etc. Theories are as diverse as there are people church-hunting. But I’ve stumbled upon a suggestion to make to all of you church-hunters out there.

Take it with a grain of salt, I suppose, as I’m not a member of that category, and probably can’t speak to the exact issues of your hunting process.

We are called to “honor your mother and father”, and to “honor the sabbath” as well. These are in close proximity to each other in scriptures, not on accident. We are called, as believers, to honor those who have reached the “sabbath” of their lives. Often, in our behavior and desire to make church “desirable” to ourselves and others, we get dangerously close to forgetting this. Not to say the 65+ crowd should run things, or be given even more influence on whatever boards make decisions. But that they are to be a part of the conversation every bit as much as the 27-year old emerging church feller with the flip flops that joined last year.

But this goes beyond church politics and boards. I rambled.

As youth pastor, I’ve had opportunities both in Iowa, an here in Decatur, to be involved in fellowship and service to those several generations ahead of me. I’ve played dominoes (mexican train of course), sat in on “old man” breakfasts, chauffeured trips to museums and state fairs, gone mall walking, raked yards, and recently helped stain at 98-year olds’ gazebo. She was totally going to try and do it herself!

All of this to say, there are people in our churches who are way older than many of us. They are losing the ability to do some things for themselves. They have family that have moved away, or passed away. Many of them are lonely, and need to be given the message that they are honored/loved.

Want to find a good church?
A church where you will be fed, and given opportunity to serve/worship?

Find a church with a large community of the elderly and almost-elderly. Connect there.

You’ll probably get a lot of great recipes too. 🙂

I think there’s a great deal more to all of this than I’m saying here. But I at least wanted to say….I think this is important.

ps. Already have a church? Find a way to connect your life with this section of your church body. You’ll be glad you did. Promise.

So probably on a weekly basis, things like this hit the news.

This one stands out a little bit, because at least in this article, she doesn’t actually tell us she believes God purposefully made this Cheeto resemble the crucified Christ, and/or that it means she or her household/family are blessed.

But I haven’t heard/seen her other interviews.

We know that not everyone who sees the image of Jesus in things is a nut, right? Some of us just enjoy poking fun at those who take it VERY seriously in ridiculous objects having certain patterns, etc.

But she does mention toward the end of this article, she’s keeping it in a safety deposit box in order to best decide how to display it safely to the public. Which made me wonder two things:

1. What do people keep in safety deposit boxes? I knew it wasn’t all gold and jewelry….but seriously….a Cheeto shaped like Jesus? I imagine a VERY disappointed bank robber down the road. Have you ever used a deposit box? What’d you keep in it?

2. Will there ever be, and who will capitalize on it first, a museum of random things like this? Toast, McRibs, birdpoop on windows, cheetos, wood grains, carpet stains, etc….all that look like the image of Jesus or the Virgin Mary? If so, what state will it be in? Indiana? Kentucky? Tennessee? How much will admission cost, and who will buy sponsorship there?

If you’re looking to be the person to launch this museum of Jesus appearing in random artifacts, be encouraged. By the swarm of publicity usually offered to things like this lately, you’ll probably get a lot of visitors, if you can afford to purchase a collection. If it helps, I’ll offer you my window at whatever the cost of taking it out/replacing it with a new one would be. Let’s talk. 🙂