I was talking with a pastor this week and we got onto the subject of the ineffectiveness of the church. I told him that from working with, in and around churches for the past seven years; I’ve lost my faith in religion (and the institutionalized church), but never in Jesus. From there, I continued the ideas from this conversation to others with my wife, co-workers and friends. And from those conversations we all agreed that something has definitely been lost. The church has:

lost compassion towards people in word and deed

lost touch with people on the the outside walls of the church

lost the reality that culture exists and matters (because it mattered to Jesus)

lost our love and mystery in pursuing God

lost our humility and the fact that we’re all sinners

lost our alien and nomadic nature

lost the journey in pursuit of the truth and being right

lost authenticity by refusing to be honest and broken and taking up the cloak of rhetoric

lost the here and now of the Gospel and traded it for the “was” and “will”

lost the grandness of following Christ and replaced it with a manageable life

Any to add? Any to argue?

Today we embark on a journey. A journey for a hamburger. 6 students, 2 leaders and over 1000 miles over 2 days. Madness? Probably. But it should be a memorable spring break for the youth.

Please keep us in your prayers for safety and spiritual growth. Yes, spiritual growth! This is actually a contemplative journey for 6 high school students that happens to involve fast food, visiting churches as we drive, prayer, questions and camping on the Oregon coast. I’ll tell you how it goes when I get back.

I’m headed to Cali. Later.

For more about our epic road trip, go here…

I feel like I’m hearing the same conversations and the same arguments about the same things lately. I’ve gotten ear fulls. And it’s always about the same two things. The two things that have been making me sick are: religion and politics. Needless to say, I’ve been pretty cynical lately. Then, I heard some quotes from founding father, Thomas Paine, over the radio today that only spurred me on further.

Thomas Paine on Politics:

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.

Thomas Paine on Religion:

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

So, I’ve come to these two conclusions: 1) religion and politics just don’t work and 2) there’s not much difference between the two.

They’re both about conviction, power, control and being right. Both involve pushing forward a certain dogma of beliefs and practices. The problem with both is that they’re all too human and easy to define. They both seem to boil down to “what we can do.” And the more I follow after Christ, I find out that life has less and less to do about me. It’s not about power or control, but giving those things up. The more I walk, the more I find myself being farther and farther from those two things. So I could care less about religion and politics, thank you very much.

I’ve been taking stock lately and all that’s been going on. You tend to miss things during the busy times. I feel like I’ve been a pretty aimless blogger lately. Life has been pushing, and I’ve been letting it run me. Maybe aimless isn’t the right word.

There’s a phrase “lost the plot.” It means to go crazy; to lose focus; to lose ones way.

Lately, I fell like I’ve lost the plot.

Nothing has gone wrong. Life is still good. It just seems that through the hustle and bustle of things, that my focus is shot. It reminds me of the other night. Samuel has been sick lately and waking up at all hours of the night. He woke up crying and I stumbled around looking for my glasses. I couldn’t find them in the dark so I went to him without them. I was so disoriented, being sleepy and out of focus. I could see, but I couldn’t focus. I knew where I was. I knew where I needed to go. I knew I was in the right place. I just lacked precise vision to see things clearly.

And lately I know where I am. I know where I’m going. I know I’m stumbling towards the Lord, I just feel like I need my glasses and a cup of coffee.

It’s done.

The 2008 Arlington Youth Dynamics banquet is done.

Last night was such a good time for fellowship and exposing this ministry to the community. We had over 180 folks show up! The preliminary totals are in and we’re just under $25,000. Praise God! We should also see more come in the next week or so. Many folks were going to pray about what to give - so keep praying for open and giving hearts!

Thanks for your prayers!