Author: Wick

So this will probably seem like a youth pastor putting a cheesy, over-simplification of something that shouldn’t be simplified. But I like it. So deal.

Sarah and I are having our 2nd child sometime REALLY soon! (she is scheduled to be induced on February 15th!) Addison is doing great, 18 months old…running around, learning words/sounds/people/etc….and SO smart! We have definitely been blessed, and continue to be.

Having 2 kids freaks me out a little bit. A lot bit. In many exciting ways. One way in particular is the risk that, in my human-ness, I might favor one child above the other. I love Addie…and I’ve had 18 months with her already, forming bonds, having great experiences, teaching her, and her teaching me. On the other hand, Sophie will need to be held more, carried more, rocked more…and will be a bit more delicately handled. Both girls will be incredible inspirations for a father who’s ready to love. Ultimately, I think I’ll be okay…I love Sophie so much already, but Addison is loved just as much. And thankfully I’m not alone. I have an incredible wife, who teaches me, and does it as if she’s been studying parenting books since she was 10. (come to think of it, maybe she has. 🙂 )

In this, I’m getting a very small glimpse of our Fathers’ love for us. We believe that whether someone begins living towards God at a young age, or whether they are “born again” just prior to passing on….God loves them the same. That can be hard to understand, and especially in ministry with teenagers, may seem unfair to the one who has put in time and effort “investing” in their relationship with God.

Seeing it as a parent/child or a creator/created relationship, instead of measuring it by our economic investment/return relationship….it’s a bit easier to swallow.

It may be easy to realize that, and say….well, that’s good for the person who gets in right before they die. But being honest with ourselves, I think we’d all rather it go the way God has it now. We don’t earn it. We don’t buy it. We don’t have to constantly measure ourselves up with “God’s will” measuring tapes. I’ve talked with so many who are really afraid of “falling out” of God’s will on accident…as if walking a spiritual tightrope.

If you’re worried about God’s will…seriously….you’re probably in a good place. Enjoy your life.
You are loved. Just as much as the mega-pastors. Just as much as Mother Theresa. Just as much as that smelly guy who always hangs out by the gas station. Whether you’ve spent years acknowledging God….or have just begun to. May that knowledge bless you.

On “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” this morning, they had a few guests on talking either pro or con the concept of “prosperity theology”. This is something I think most people have heard about…read books, or seen/heard some nonsense on interviews. I’m sure some amount of good is happening through ministries like these, but you can probably figure out on your own…that I don’t agree with much these people say.

At one point, Mike actually asks a minister from Chicago about flying on his private jet to do the interview this morning. The minister stumbles through a few excuses, mainly the fact that he has a family, and wants to be with them as much as possible, even though he travels around doing 2-3 interviews every day. Okay. Maybe. You almost feel sorry for his family. But then he goes and actually says, “I believe if Jesus were doing ministry today, he would certainly have his own leer jet”. Wow. Really?

So personally….I’m not rich. Probably won’t ever be. I’m cool with that. So for me to say “I’m not really that into prosperity theology”, not really a huge revelation. But I still struggle with some of these same principles in ministry. If you’re faithful, God will bless your ministry efforts.

I’m a full time youth pastor. With a budget. And I hope to be doing this for a very long time, here in one place. What will that look like? What should that look like? What would it look like if Jesus had total reign of it? What would it look like if I wanted hundreds of teens to show up? If all we do is study scripture, feed hungry, and care for those in need….we might only have 15 people show up. I know I’m happy if 2 come. But I’m accountable to God, not myself. And I’m paid by the church, not myself.

“Prosperity theology” works its ugly little head into everyday life unannounced usually. Those board meeting where we approve of spending ridiculous amounts of money to do unnecessary things, or to pay someone else to do something that someone from our church is trained to do. Over the past year, I’ve spent money on a really nice projector for the youth room. It’s great, because now 40 teenagers don’t have to hone in on a single 32 inch screen. Over the next year, I’ll probably invest in a sound system. In Youth Ministry, we spend thousands and thousands of dollars (probably millions worldwide) to entertain teenagers with sound, lighting, concerts, conventions, mission trips (vacations), etc. These are luxuries not required by scripture to accomplish ministry of feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and caring for those in need. Meanwhile, people die of hunger, disease, homelessness, etc. at an alarming rate.

How do I sleep at night?

But, I’m good friends with other youth pastors who have incredible resources at their disposal for ministry. And yeah, I get jealous once in a while. And I believe they are accomplishing great things for the Kingdom. And I know that, like it or not, a lot of people in my church may judge my effectiveness next to the appearance of these other ministries.

I suppose my calling is to be faithful to the ministries and resources that have been entrusted to me. And recognize that they are Gods’.
Without using everything I’ve just mentioned as an excuse to be lazy.

Remember, tomorrow is Fat Tuesday (and also the day you need to go VOTE, no matter who you support…get out there and DO IT!!) But this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, we celebrate the beginning of Lent.

Lent is 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter(not counting the Sabbaths, which are “mini-celebrations” of Easter, and our lives are already focused on God those days). Throughout scripture, we see examples of God using the number 40 with His people. Check out the Wikipedia article, so I don’t have to copy and paste it.

All of that to jump to today. What do we do for Lent? Growing up, a few Catholic friends of mine would show up to school on Ash Wednesday with a cross on their forehead. They’d compare and the darkest/largest one would win. These were also the guys who would talk about getting drunk on weekends. So I didn’t really care to ask them about their spiritual practices. A few of us would give up something like chocolate or pop for lent, and poke fun at each other and pretend to be suffering for Jesus for 40 days.

In college, I’m thankful to have had a pastor who loved the Church calendar, and got his congregation involved in it. I learned the heritage we share in this long-celebrated time of preparation for Easter. The things I’d “give up” became more important to me, less important to my social life, and my Spiritual life really would get a shot in the arm. Combining pastoral guidance with the theology courses I was taking in college….I loved this time of year. Reminding myself that from ashes I came, and shall return…and the same with the world I invest myself in.

Being no great theologian or Mega-church leader…just a guy who says “this is really good for me, and I think you should try it!” I would challenge you, my 10 readers, to celebrate this Lent season with the Church also. Find something you can fast from, that is difficult (but not life threatening)…that also gives space in your life for God. Use that time to be with Him…and serve Him.

Let a few others know how you are fasting, not to brag or moan…but for accountability and to encourage them. I will be giving up movies and books (except the Bible) this year, thanks to my brother Larry – who asked me casually “How do you watch so many movies and read so many books?”. I do spend quite a bit of time/effort doing these two things, and look forward to what their absence for a while leads to.