Beginnings: Ski Trip 2010

This year the youth of Mt. Auburn will once again brave the slopes of Perfect North, located in Lawrenceburg Indiana. The cost is $70, includes lift ticket, ski or snowboard rental and T-shirt. The weekend begins promptly at 7:00pm here at Mt. Auburn on Friday February 12th and concludes on Saturday evening with our return.

We will be leaving Mt Auburn around 8:00am on Saturday morning to enjoy one day of skiing at Perfect North. Dinner, Breakfast, and lunch will also be provided and we should return around 7:30 pm on Saturday.

Everyone under the age of 18 will need to fill out the waiver for Perfect North at the following website:

http://www.perfectnorth.com/waivers.php

Everyone under the age of 18 will also need to fill out the waiver & permission slip for Mt Auburn at the following website:
or
If you are a parent who would like to chaperon this event, you will need to go over the child protection policy and return to Marsha Armenoff

http://www.mtauburnumc.org/ministries/youth/index/php

This is always a wonderful weekend. If you have any questions, please give me a call!

Go Tell it on the Mountain

I haven't done any shopping yet for Christmas. Am I a procrastinator... maybe. Actually, I know I am procrastinating, because the stores have been screaming Holiday Savings and stocked with bargain Christmas paraphernalia since before Halloween. Now, I don't mean to sound like a Scrooge, but in the last several years the Holidays have made me cringe a little bit. Without a clear reason as to why, I have become increasingly hardened to this time of year. Not really Christmas mind you, but what the "Christmas Season" has sadly become for me. I thought that once we brought Mia home and put up the tree, and began a daily dose of Christmas songs that I would finally get over it, that the Christmas spirit would finally sink in and I would be just itching to get out and find that perfect gift for my little angel. But I'm not.

Maybe she's too young. Maybe when she can actually speak and begin to understand the concept of Christmas, my feelings will change. But as it stands right now, I look at all the bright colored toys strewn all over my living room, the puzzles, the music-makers, the boxes of new and hand-me-down clothes... Then I look in our spare bedroom which has now become a catch-all for the jumperoo, the wind-up swing, and the other objects she has already outgrown and I think what else can we possibly get her?

Where does the magic of Christmas really come from? Is it in the gifts? Is it trapped in our memories of childhood? Does it come from Jesus? Does Santa bring it? Does it exist in the faces of our children as we count down the days til the big night? I remember the magic of Christmas as a child. It was good and I long for it again. Back then (for me) it was about being a child. It was about the possibility of Santa Claus, it was about Christmas trees and snow, being out of school, and cookies.

What is it about now? Where does the magic come from now that I'm... old?

It's no big secret, in fact most people will tell you, Christmas is about Christ, and I want to believe that! I really want to believe that Christmas is the time of year when I celebrate the truth that God came down to Earth, reconciled us to Himself, and now I have peace in my heart and eternal life to look forward to! But do I? Do I celebrate THAT, or do I simply kick back by a roaring fire, count my blessings and then proceed to pamper myself and eat too much?

Do I even tell ONE person who might not have the gift of Christ the real reason for this season? Do I even try to share the gift of Jesus... with anyone?

There is NOTHING more important or valuable than the gift of salvation. Especially at Christmas, nothing I could ever give anyone even comes close to the gift Jesus offers them. I wonder if I offered the gift of Jesus this Holiday season, would I feel the magic return? Would I feel the excitement of watching the face of someone whose life just changed? Would I smile and feel the warmth of a regenerated heart because I introduced the gift-giver to someone who needed him?

This is the gift that I am commissioned to share with the world. How magical is this gift, how wonderful! The truth of this gift is worth telling... It's wonderful truth should echo from the rooftops!

"Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you." Isaiah 12:6

Remembering the Future

On Friday November 13th, my Father passed away. He died at home and I was with him; I watched him go. It's so odd that it even happened. Even now as I write these words it still seems surreal. It doesn't feel right, in fact it feels all wrong. It wasn't supposed to be like this; he was only 65. There should have been something we could do, but it just happened so fast. Well, no actually it was slow, but it seemed fast. One minute he was there, the next he wasn't. It's so weird that he should not be here. He was my Dad, he was supposed to be here. He was supposed to be papaw to my children, to Mia. He wanted to be papaw. But it's over, it's done with and I know she won't remember him and that makes me sad. Regardless, she needs to know! She needs to know about the man who was my father... But she won't get it, she won't understand, not really. The world has changed and now everything is different.

Now what?

I once read somewhere that, "Nothing hurts worse than remembering the future, especially a future we can never have."

I had ideas and dreams for my family, how life would be, things we would do. I pictured Christmas mornings at my parents house with my Dad singing some obscure song I have never heard before in the kitchen while cooking up one of his famous big country breakfasts that included everything from biscuits and sausage gravy to fried chicken and spam... You see, my Dad used to sing... and he used to cook.

But I know that Christmas won't happen... ever.

Last night in youth group we talked about things that get your attention. We looked up Matthew 4:18-20, where Matthew describes the calling of Peter and Andrew.

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him."

This passage of Scripture has always bothered me because I never really understood why they got up and left. How could they just leave? The Bible tells us that there was nothing special about Jesus' appearance that would have drawn them to him, so why did they leave, what got there attention? Didn't they have their own ideas? Didn't they have hopes, dreams, and responsibilities? Why would they abandon their own ideas of life and hang their future on "Come Follow me"?

I wonder... would I have left? Would you? What would it take to get my attention; what would it take to get yours? Would I surrender my future to Christ with a simple "Come follow me"? Or would it take something infinitely more life-altering to wake me up and get me moving?

I know in my head and truly believe in my heart that everything, EVERYTHING Jesus does (or allows to happen) is inevitably an act of love, designed for my own good to bring me into a deeper relationship with Him to enable me to carry out His purposes... Because He loves me. How do I reconcile that with my Dad dying?

My future has changed, my Father is in Heaven, Jesus has gotten my attention...

I'm Listening.
It's time to get moving.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes" - Romans 8:28

The Happiness Trap

"Doesn't God want us to be happy?"

In my ministry, I have been asked that question several times from teenagers.

The question usually comes at times of difficult decision-making, at times when someone must choose between obeying and trusting that the right thing is really the right thing, and disobeying and taking the easier, more pleasant-looking path.

Their approach to making their decision usually goes something like this. "Yes, I know what the Bible says, but I just feel in my heart that God doesn't want me to be unhappy, so I think I should do this... instead."

Sadly I have seen many people who think this way abandon their faith and chase after earthly things they think will make them happy, only to find out over time and after much heartache, happiness sought anywhere other than in God inevitably dwindles. They then feel betrayed, foolish and alone.

Did God want Moses to be happy?

I would say yes... God loved Moses deeply and wanted Him to be happy. In fact there is probably no other human being in history who has been as intimately connected with God as Moses. Yet God gave Moses a speech impediment, made him wander in the desert for 38 years with a bunch of whiners and once even gave his sister leprosy.

Did God want Paul to be happy?

Yes, God loved Paul and Paul loved God. In fact, God was the ultimate source of Paul's joy and contentment. Yet Paul was made to suffer almost more than any other apostle. He was imprisoned numerous times, shipwrecked, stoned, flogged (on more than one occasion), starved and eventually beheaded.

The answer to the question, "Doesn't God want us to be happy" is Yes, He really does want us to be happy! But for Moses, Paul, and all of the other prophets and disciples, happiness wasn't the main purpose, and nor should it be ours.

Yet God does want us to be happy. In fact that's why He sent His son to the Earth, to make us eternally happy. That is the goal of His love! To make us eternally happy! God knows that all things will eventually end. Children grow up and leave; houses, cars, knees, health, looks, marriages, boyfriends, and girlfriends all eventually will pass away. God knows that lives lived sold out to earthly things will leave us disappointed and so He wants us to see that He is the only source of Joy that is constant and never-ending.

"For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord". Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

"We Interupt this Regularly Scheduled Program..."

I love my sleep. In fact, I believe that sleep is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Sleep is the warm, tasty rest that comes over you after being awake for 16 hours or so. Sleep is God's way of letting us know that He is ultimately in charge, and that the world will NOT spin out of control if we take a few hours off. AAhhh sleep; what a wonderful gift you are.

Lately this gift of uninterrupted unconsciousness has become a lot more valuable. Kind of like TIME or anything else that we take for granted, I didn't know how priceless it was, until I lost some of it.

My sleep schedule now depends largely upon the needs and whims of a seven month old little girl who proclaims (very loudly I might add) her desire for my immediate attention regardless of my intended nightly schedule or my convenience. She knows only that she wants me and wants me NOW!

Over time I'm sure that will change. Over time and as she grows, I'm sure that I will eventually explain to her the virtue of patience and carefully explain that she doesn't need to have every impulsive desire met, the moment that she desires it.

However, right now I am amazed at my willingness to be interrupted for someone that I love! Most nights I groggily I make my way up the stairs at 2:00am to comfort her, sing her back to sleep, bring her a bottle or change a wet diaper. To some it may seem like an annoyance and sometimes it feels like it too. But afterwards, as I make my way down the stairs back to my bed, I receive the quiet satisfaction of being inconvenienced for someone I love without expecting anything in return.

The truth is that I love my daughter more than I love my sleep. Time spent with her (even at an inconvenient time) is more precious than my sleep schedule.

When it comes to my relationship with Christ however, I often am not that easy going. I have been given so many good gifts and yet the second I feel inconvenienced or interrupted, I grumble or wonder why this is my responsibility? Even though I am richly blessed, when it comes to being inconvenienced for Jesus, my tolerance for interruption is far less.

What a difference love makes.

Why is it sooo hard for me to understand that interruption is often God's way of telling me that He loves me and desires my immediate attention? Maybe if I sought His face everyday the way that I seek my daughter's, then maybe I wouldn't get so bent out of shape when He gives me the opportunity to meet Him at (what I feel )is an inconvenient moment.

When I love God more than my regularly scheduled routine, maybe I'll finally get it!

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

-Proverbs 16:9

It's not a head thing...

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He is known for and associated with many things; things like the Civil War, The Gettysburg Address, The Emancipation Proclamation, The abolition of slavery and top hats. His image is so familiar that I don't know many people who would not recognize even a child's rendering of his image.

Jesus of Nazareth, however, was a Jewish man born in Bethlehem around 2,050 years ago. His mother's name was Mary, His father was a carpenter named Joseph, and His cousin was John the Baptist. Jesus taught and preached the coming of God's Kingdom, healed the sick, the blind and the lame and occasionally brought dead people back to life until his crucifixion at age 33. Three days after His death, He rose from the dead and 40 days later He ascended into Heaven on a cloud.

Algebra is probably one of the main branches of what is called pure mathematics. It deals with general statements of relations utilizing letters and other symbols to represent specific sets of numbers and/or values.

Now your probably wondering what Jesus, Abraham Lincoln and Algebra all have in common. To tell you the truth, I can't think of one thing, other than the fact that we often look at Jesus the same way we look at anything else. We can know all there is to know about Jesus of Nazareth. We can study ancient texts and learn exactly where Jesus was born, where He and His family fled to in Egypt in His early childhood, and where Golgotha was geographically located during the Roman occupation of Jerusalem. We can study the Bible, and memorize every parable Jesus taught.

We can learn all that can be known about Jesus and still miss Him completely! I can affirm in my mind all the correct doctrine about Jesus and still not in my heart acknowledge Him as Lord of my daily living. If my Christianity is largely based on how much I know or how much Scripture I memorize, while failing to apply this wisdom, then I might as well be studying algebra because there is as much saving power in the historical person of Jesus Christ as there is in Abraham Lincoln.

"Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." -James 1:22

New Challenges, New Possibilities

Fuzzy Bunz, Happy Hiney's and Bumboozle's are new words that have recently been added to my vocabulary. They all refer to a separate brand of cloth diaper that Sarah and I are trying out on Mia. They all come in bright, fun colors. Some are softer, some more absorbent, and some just look more comfortable. Some have snaps, and some have velcro straps, but all are designed for the same purpose... They absorb life's unfortunate messes.

For the last several months, life for me (as I'm sure many of you) had gotten messy and some parts of it really stunk! With photography demands, church commitments, school work, my father's cancer, my stupid cat and leaky roof, life in general got crowded and uncomfortable! But now that I am a FATHER, I see that it doesn't get less so, but instead simply requires a more disciplined and prioritized schedule and a bright, colorful, strappy group of other villagers to help ABSORB THE LOAD.

On Sunday September 13th, we held a parents meeting to discuss the current and future needs of Mt. Auburn's youth program (to which I owe the turnout largely to Sharon Martin). The meeting was successful and several parents stepped up to the changing table (as I knew they would). I am convinced that better communication, and parent involvement in upcoming events, ministry & fellowship opportunities, combined with the opening of the new OFLC, will God-willing, usher in a spiritual awakening in our individual families and church as a whole.

We also formally introduced Matt Robinette (our college intern) to all those present and I would like to communicate to all parents how pleased I am that Matt has joined our ministry team. He is a senior at the University of Indianapolis, majoring in youth ministry and entrepreneurship, and is genuinely excited about his relationship to Jesus Christ and being part of this youth ministry.

Dick Davis, (a long-time member of Mt. Auburn) is doing his part by offering his artistic services in the new youth rooms. This is a huge undertaking and we are indeed blessed by his generosity.

I truly believe that with God's help, our commitment to work together this fall will usher in the most potent force for Christ that Mt. Auburn has ever seen!

"For we are to God, the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." -2 Corinthians 2:15

Foolishness...

For the past month I have been teaching out of 1 Corinthians in the Sr. high Sunday school class. Corinth was a Greek city and the Christian church there was relatively new and by apostolic standards, immature. Much like modern church people, the Corinthians were smart. They knew how the world worked and spent much of their time indulging in modern activities. Their lives were well ordered and everything had it's place, including their faith. They seemed wise and well rounded, however they were having difficulty identifying a solid purpose for the church. Some really liked Paul, others really liked Peter. Still others enjoyed Apollos (the Corinthian church leader). The NIV says they, "had a wrong conception of the Christian message."

So Paul, while in Ephesus, received news about their squabbling, their overall division, and general attitude. The letter itself is long and covers a multitude of issues. But, in chapter 4 Paul makes a clear distinction between the Corinthian "believers" and the apostles. Before he makes this distinction, he writes this:

"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a fool so that he may become wise." -1 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

This made me think... How foolish am I? On the contrary, I think I am a pretty smart guy. I know how the world works, my life seems relatively well-ordered and often times so does my faith. Then Paul shows up and basically says "Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool - that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid." -1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (The Message Bible)

PAUL EXPLAINS THE THE DIFFERENCE

"It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits (Meaning the Apostles). You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You (meaning the Corinthians) might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you."" When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better." -1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (The Message Bible)

SO, I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF...

Am I foolish? Am I ever called a name? Am I stared at? Am I viewed as one of the Messiah's Misfits? Am I kicked around? Do I ever go without anything? Do I ever bless my enemies?

ASK YOURSELF...
How does the world perceive your faith? What does it take for others to notice?

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of G0d. -1 Corinthians 1:18

Still Standing

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
-Proverbs 3:5

As many of you know, Sarah and I have been in the incredibly long process of adopting our daughter from Ethiopia. After 2 years of waiting, today, May 26th was the day our case was scheduled to go to court before the Ethiopian government. However due to a recent development in multiple adoption cases, our case along with many others was put on hold until further notice. We were told several weeks ago to expect this, however we still held onto the hope that maybe our case would pass in spite of the development.... Sadly it didn't, and now that time is standing still a little, I feel I should give an account for my lack of regular communication.

I began continuing my college education in March, and since then have found very little time to communicate with you, the parents of the youth of Mt. Auburn. I am still trying my best to manage my time wisely, although I still haven't found the time to construct an appropriate newsletter, but plan on getting one out this week. I have also fallen hopelessly behind on furthering this blog and for that I am embarrassed.

Since my last blog and newsletter I would like to inform you of some of the things we have accomplished as a youth group as well as offer upcoming opportunities your youth have to serve our community, and participate in fellowship that hopefully will strengthen their Christian relationships here at Mt. Auburn.

On May 3rd, fifteen youth helped work the Beaman hog farm. The Beaman family generously donated $300 to put towards the summer mission trip.

Earlier this spring the youth contributed $10 each, built and donated this see saw to The Jackson Center for Conductive Education. Dave McNamee helped oversee the construction and I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelmed the Depoy family was by the dedication of our youth on this project.

• Making dinner for Fletcher Place will be Monday June 8th. We still need families to make Sloppy Joe, Potato Casserole, Green Beans, juice, milk, fruit cocktail and desert. Call me if interested.

• Canoeapalooza 2009 is coming up on June 20th, the cost of which is $30. We will be canoeing all day and then camping in cabins in Nashville.
  

When I think about my daughter waiting across the ocean, time moves slowly and I cannot suppress the helplessness I feel. Sarah and I were given a picture when she was 1 month old; last Friday, she turned 3 months. Even though my family seems divided right now, it helps to look at the faces of my ministry at Mt. Auburn. I have plenty of family right here. Please pray for and encourage our youth ministry and please pray that Sarah and I find the peace that God offers those who are called to him. Just like all of you, we are standing on the promises that God will bring all things to pass... in His time.

My Lenten Devotion

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor. Aware of this Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Matthew 26:6-13

A Worthy Performance
By Travis Taylor

I don’t always give my best. Why give your best when something less will do? Although this statement doesn’t actually describe the way I think, my actions sometimes confirm its truth. Honestly, it’s difficult to give this kind of devotion without confessing a sin that I would rather not confess, but regardless here I am confessing it… I don’t always give my best.

On the 2nd Saturday of each month I along with several other volunteers bring food and clothing to the street people of Indianapolis. It doesn’t matter if it is pouring down rain outside or if it is 10 below, each month at least a hundred men and women line a narrow street corner to receive a little food and a new hand-me-down outfit from the back of a old truck. Ultimately I am there to let my love for Jesus spill over onto them. But sadly I often just dip the stew into bowls, smile and say things like “Have a blessed day.”

Another good deed done, another way to feel good about myself, another worthy performance…

But the story in Matthew 26 is about a woman who poured out her most valuable possession on her Lord to express her love for him. She didn’t have to; she could have given less. She could have just stood in the room observing the scene. She could have just “dipped the stew.” But it was her valuable expression of love that earned her a place among the Scriptures.

Jesus doesn’t want an army of do-gooders. He wants those who genuinely love him to pour out their lives generously to him and for him. The disciples thought it was foolish to “waste” something that valuable on Jesus. “Couldn’t it be better spent?” they thought. “Aren’t there more important issues?”

Dear Lord,
Help us today to see you as the love of our lives. Help us to pour out our best lives generously to those whom you came to save and those whom you have commanded us to love.

PG-13

Yes, I've seen 27 Dresses... I am a 32 year old man who over the years has dutifully sat through his fair share of "chick flicks". I must confess that I've also seen The Notebook, The Devil Wears Prada, P.S, I Love You, The Prince and Me, and The Princess Diaries (1 & 2).

In last night's Jr. High Youth group, we discussed True Love; what it is and what it isn't. We are going to talk more next week, but we started off by discussing Love in pop culture, primarily in movies. I asked what movies had they seen recently that were "love stories" and these are the responses I got...

-27 Dresses (seen it) -The Notebook (seen it) -He's Just not That Into You (have NOT seen it) -Titanic (seen it) -PS, I love You (seen it) -Wedding Crashers (seen it, unfortunately) and 5o First Dates (seen it)

After hearing this list, I had them describe the plot lines and "love angles" of some of the films and basically came up with something that resembles this... Boy meets girl (or vice versa), Girl does not like boy (or vice versa), After doing something stupid, Boy does something heroic and wins girls heart, Boy and Girl have sex... maybe they get married, the end.

We then tried to think of romantic movies they have seen where the main characters do not have sex or were married. We came up with Fireproof (have Not seen it).

I went online this morning and looked at all the ratings of the above mentioned films and realized all of these films that the youth mentioned (except Wedding Crashers -R) were rated PG-13. And what invariably separates the PG-13 from the PG films is the sex. I tried to add up the length of time from when the main characters first meet to their first sexual encounter and here's what I got... 27 Dresses (4th meeting), The Notebook (2 months, although technically longer), Titanic (4th meeting), PS, I Love You (2nd meeting), Wedding Crashers (I have no idea, but I know it's soon), 50 First Dates (23rd Date).

I know that these are just silly movies, but without question, stories like these ARE affecting pop culture beyond the movie screen. I don't know many 13 year olds who are mature enough to watch and process the love scenes and sexual dialogue that are in these PG-13 movies without their idea of love being somewhat tainted. People of all ages (but, especially our youth) are quickly accepting the popular view that love, sex, God, self-respect and marriage are all separate issues and are open to individual interpretation, depending on a person's extenuating circumstances.

Mark Driscoll, one of my favorite pastors talks about the eventual dangers of this issue here...

The Games We Play

Sometimes I miss my imagination... When I was little, I could sit in my room on a rainy day and play He-Man all by myself. I didn't always need to have friends over; for the most part I could keep myself entertained. He-Man would fight Skeletor on top of my nightstand until Skeletor was thrown to the ground. The battle would then ensue across my floor and into my closet. Sometimes G.I Joe would get involved and then Skeletor was really in for it (He's no match for a Bazooka).

On nice days, me and my fellow Bargersvillian delinquents would play war in the field behind my house. Dressler's Tool and Dye shop stood just beyond my backyard and was always unknowingly our enemy headquarters. We would spy on the workers through the windows, just sure that they were Russians. Old bits of junk machinery littered the field, there were tons of ramps and ditches to jump over and crawl around in. We would toss dirt clod bombs at each other until dinner time.

I look back now amazed at the hours I spent in a world of my own and wonder how my boyhood hands could control a whole army of action figures. Now entertainment is cheap and we struggle to walk and chew gum. But then, we were little warriors. Although still children; We were men on a mission.

There is a borderland between grown-ups and children and teenagers live in it. They like to look and act like adults, but much of the time they are still just using their childish imaginations, acting older than they really are. When I was a teenager, I thought my parents were old-fashioned. I dreamed that I would do something marvelous with my life. I thought I could have it all, but in reality, I had no idea what that meant. Because for teenagers, life can be more like a game than reality. The danger being that for teenagers, that the enemy is very much real and the war is really going on, whether they believe it or not.

In John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life, chapter 8 talks about living a "Wartime Lifestyle." The war is going on whether you know it or not or whether you choose to fight or not. John Piper uses the image of battle to inspire us to use the resources we have to fight for the cause of Christ, not to prosper for our own purposes. He says that we have what we have to use what we have to make much of God.

There are many excuses for stupidity and youth is a good one. If the devil looked like Skeletor, teenagers would probably fight him. But the Bible tells us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. The American Dream is a monster, constantly bribing teens with candy and then devouring them. It promises that life lived for yourself is sweeter than life surrendered to God. All they have to do to obtain "the good life" is simply not fight.

In the world of children, good guys fight bad guys no matter what... I have to ask myself, if He-Man ever stopped fighting and chose to let Castle Grey Skull fall into the evil hands of Skeletor, would I still have played the game? In the Lord of the Rings, The armies of Mordor outnumbered the armies of men... A despairing soldier told the King "Too few have come, we cannot defeat the armies of Mordor." The King replied, "No we cannot... but we will meet them in battle nontheless." My fear is that the games teenagers play often reflect a defeated heart. But, isn't a big purpose of the people of God to fight God's battles?

Oh the magic of childhood! When right was right and wrong was wrong and He-Man kicked Skeletors butt all over Eternia (The planet where He-Man lived). I sometimes think that bravery and a desire to fight for justice is mixed in with our childhood innocence. As innocence fades, we grow up and no longer play with toys; the fight becomes real and defeat is the result of just not fighting.

"All that is necessary for the conquest of evil is that good men do nothing." -Edmund Burk

"What We Do In Life Echoes In Eternity..."

"I want to leave a legacy; how will they remember me; did I choose to love to love? Did I point to you enough?" This popular song, Legacy, by Nichole Nordeman asks one of the deepest questions of our hearts. How will I be remembered when I am gone?

In the movie Gladiator (one of my favorite films) Emperor Marcus Aurelius asks the same question. In a conversation with General Maximus, he says, "I am dying Maximus... When a man sees his end he want to know their was some purpose for his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be remembered as the philosopher, the warrior, the tyrant? Or will I be remembered as the man who gave Rome back her true self?"

Our Solomon's Porch class is reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Chapter two is titled, "You Might Not Finish This Chapter." Again, the theme resembles my previous two illustrations, but emphasizes the notion that life could end for any of us at any time. So in Wednsday nights class, we went around the room and discussed the lives of people we have known who have died abruptly. We asked the questions, "What do you think they would want to be remembered for?" and "What regrets do you think they might have had when they died?" Although the topic was a little somber, I think it was good for each of us to discuss these things, because then we spun it around to ask, "What things would I like to be remembered for?" My kindness, love and generosity? Or will it be difficult for others to remember good things about me? Will I be the kind of person that gives generously of myself, dedicating my life to fighting for what is noble or will I be the kind that is so enraptured in myself that I live selfishly, taking more than I give?

In our last SPS study we studied the life of King David. One of the sticking points from that study (for me) is when Abigail tells David, "The Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the Lord's battles." -1 Samuel 25:28. I thought how cool would it be if I was remembered as someone who "fought the Lord's battles".

The conversation was good and I believe hearts were honest. Wednesday night reminded me that Jesus calls each of us to "Take up our cross daily and follow Him."-Luke 9:23. It reminds me now that there is not only a purpose to our lives, but there is also a purpose to this day. How each day we have a choice to do the right thing or the easy thing and that carrying a cross is hard. But it is also right and good.

We wrapped up the lesson talking about regrets... If today was the day you actually met God, what unfinished things would you regret not doing? Some of us confessed things, others just thought quietly to themselves and both were appropriate.

"Why you don't even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that lasts a little while and then vanishes." -James 4:14

Communication Breakdown

From the Moody Radio Program, Midday Connection: "A couple from our church came home and caught their teenage daughter having sex with her boyfriend. As you can imagine, they were extremely upset. All three of them came to a counseling session and sat down on a couch in my office. The mother and father sat with the girl sitting right between them, who was obviously embarrassed. Her head slumped down between her shoulders. The mother and father started to relay in detail what had happened and I could see the girl becoming very uncomfortable, so I asked for them both to step out into the hallway, while I talked one on one with their daughter. "I used to have a good relationship with my Dad" the girl said. " When I was little I used to stand in the driveway and wait for him to come home... when he got out of the car, I would hug him and he would ask, How's my little princess?" The girl started to cry as she admitted, "I guess I'm not his little princess anymore." I asked for her parents to come back in and they both took their positions sitting on either side of their daughter. The Dad began to speak. "I used to have a great relationship with my daughter... my favorite time of day was when I would come home and she would meet me in the driveway." At this point he reached over and took his daughter's hand and started crying too. "She would come and give me a hug and I would always ask, "How's my little princess?"

I heard this story last week and thought about how sad it was that these two people who loved each other very much had grown so distant. The truth was that they both wanted the same thing, but failed to communicate it. They spoke to each other in passing, but had each become unapproachable when it came to their feelings. Things get busy, work gets hectic, schedules conflict, kids grow up and think they know everything and parents in an attempt to avoid awkward conversations stop talking to their kids about important issues.

Issues like sex, faith, entertainment and friend relationships hardly ever get get talked about in our homes. In a discussion in last nights Senior High youth group, the majority of kids said that the most talked about issue in their home was their grades. When asked if their parents talk to them about drugs or alcohol they mostly said "NO" because they were smart enough on their own not to do them. When asked what they would do if their parents ever approached them to talk about sex, most said they would walk away or just shake their head and go to their rooms. When I inquired if any families prayed together other than just at meal times, 99% said they didn't. Then when asked if they were a parent, would they think it important to talk to their teenagers about faith, sex, friend relationships or drugs & alcohol and pray together as a family all of them said YES.

In our modern age, communication has never been easier... Everyone I know has a cell phone and almost everyone I know has email, myspace or facebook. The internet has changed the way the world works. These "communication" devices make it so easy for us to talk to one another but also often take the place of dinner-time, family centered communication. Texting is now overtaking conversation.

I asked a middle schooler last year why texting is so popular? She told me, "It's less personal... it's less emotional. You can choose to respond or not to respond and there are no real expectations."

It is sad when people have more of a relationship with their cell phone or their computer than they do other people or their own families... How much easier is it to lie or mislead people on a cell phone then looking each other in the eye? Many parents can tell how their kids are feeling, just by looking at them...

All meaningful relationships involve time investments and real communication. If we want to have a meaningful relationship with our God, it takes spending time in His Word and time on our knees in prayer. Christianity is a relationship, but I don't think God would settle for a prayer of, "OMG, How R U? luv ya bff, ttly" and neither should we. This kind of "communication" is a shallow substitue for real family time.

"The Problem with Communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished.."
-George Bernard Shaw

Kyphoplasty

My Dad turns 65 years old this Tuesday, March 3rd. Also on that day he will be undergoing a procedure at IU Med Center known as kyphoplasty to stabilize a deteriorated vertebrae and hopefully lessen the pain caused by a cancerous tumor in his spine. As many of you know, my Dad was diagnosed in early January with stage four, kidney cancer that apparently came back after 20 years of nothing (almost a record we're told). The cancer resurfaced as a tumor in his spine, which was causing extreme back pain and a tumor in his right lung. When discovered, the doctors immediately suggested that he undergo high-dose radiation (which we did) to kill the tumor in his spine and essentially avoid him going paralyzed. The radiation along with steroids took care of most of his back pain.

In the process of getting a second opinion for treatment options, my Dad has had a relapse of severe back pain which has now put treating his cancer on hold (which I hate). We were given a few options for treating this pain.

1. Pain medication (which he is taking, but is not ideal)
2. Extreme back surgery that involves removing the tumor, inserting rods and bolts to stabilize the spine and would require total bed rest up to 6 weeks following the surgery. Recovery time (if he recovered completely) would most likely take 3 months and might not reduce pain. This (we are told) is the "best" way to avoid paralysis, but at the same time could "cause" paralysis too.
3. Kyphoplasty: which is an outpatient procedure in which the doctor will insert a needle into the damaged vertebrae, burn out part of the tumor with a saline solution and then insert a balloon into the burned out area where it will be inflated. This will essentially jack up (like a car jack) the collapsed vertebrae. After the balloon is inflated the doctor will then fill the hollowed out area with thick bone cement which should ease his pain significantly.

The decision to undergo this procedure has not been an easy one... Risks can include paralysis (due to the tumor), spinal fractures (depending on bone density) and bone cement leaking out of the balloon cavity, entering the blood stream and going to the lungs... or death. Most of these risks are minimal, but are still very real risks.

As you can imagine we are all very afraid, but are at peace with the decision we've made. This will hopefully get us into a cancer treatment sooner although we run the risk of eventual paralysis because the tumor could still grow and compress his spinal cord. -Please pray this doesn't happen.

Yesterday, I was sitting in a staff meeting and we were praying over all of the congregation requests and prayer concerns. I hear all the concerns week after week for loved ones who are battling some form of cancer and I notice how this disease is no respecter of age... When I think of my Dad, I also remember George Roach (one of the bravest men I've met), Sarah's 27 year old cousin Andy who has sinus cancer (which has now invaded the bones in his face) and little Wesley Jaeger (5 years old) who continues to fight so hard. My Dad's faith has grown tremendously through this horrible trial. The other day we were talking and he said "Why should I be spared from this... just look at the life that God has given me. Others have not been so blessed."

God has commissioned us to relieve suffering. Although we cannot take away the pain of others, we can go through it with them. We can hold their hands, pray with them and for them, comfort and encourage them. We can laugh with them, cry with them or just spend time with them...We cannot spare them their trial, but we can share the load and walk along with them.

"Therefore, I urge you brothers to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship." -Romans 12:1

Lent

"Repent and Believe the Gospel

A Seed is Meant to Grow

"But Blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear." This verse is just one of the ways that Jesus forces us to make a choice. In Matthew 13, Jesus tells a parable to a hodge-podge crowd and then tops it off with "He who has ears, let him hear."

Interesting choice of words Jesus... I mean doesn't everyone have ears?

The answer is NO. In Matthew 13 (the Parable of the Sower), a whole crowd of people has the truth staring them right there in the face, but most of them will not accept it. Jesus says "if they would only turn and see with their eyes, hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, I would heal them." The sad truth is that many won't turn; the good news is that some will.

Jesus calls his true disciples blessed because they get it. The whole crowd has the seed of Gospel right there ready to be sown. Some will reject it right off the bat, others will follow along until things start to heat up and still others will follow, but refuse to grow. But the true disciples will bear fruit and reap a harvest.

What I tried to point out this ski weekend was that a seed isn't meant to just stay a seed. A seed is meant to grow. An acorn that stays an acorn, will just get eaten by squirrels, but I'd like to see a squirrel try to eat an oak tree. The Gospel is the seed. When we are willing to let the Gospel change us, we grow. When we mature in faith, God can use us to bring others to Him. He can use us to build Ark's, part oceans, fight giants and move mountains.

The skiing was nice too...

COM Meeting

The Council on Ministries is our group of Ministry Team Leaders who gather and discuss the various ministries of Mt. Auburn and how to care for and promote them. Although leaders NEED to be there, any member of Mt. Auburn is welcome to attend. Anyway, last nights COM meeting (made up of about 30 people) was focused on the O'Dell Family Life Center and the possibility of eventually using it (temporarily) for our worship services along with the possibility of moving from 3 services back to 2 on Sunday mornings. As you can probably imagine this would be a huge change to our Sunday morning programming, so we began by coming up with a list of Benefits & Obstacles. Many of each were named, but here are a few of the big ones...

Benefits

• More room for growth (as our present Sanctuary holds about 200 and most of our services are filling up.)
• Opportunities for more Sunday school classes and less confusing Sunday school schedule.
• Possibility of offering a Children's Worship Service in our present Sanctuary (which would be converted into a Children's ministry area.)
• Would be less taxing for our present choir (warm up's & practice) and Pastors.
• Less Congestion between services.
  
• Should get us to a new Sanctuary faster!

Obstacles

• A gym isn't as pretty to Worship in as a Sanctuary.
• Would take a lot of work to set up and tear down for Sunday services. Saturday evening use of the gym would be extremely limited due to Sunday morning preparation.
• Pleasing lighting and acoustics might be difficult to achieve.

Overall, last night's meeting was successful and (I thought) uniting. Obviously nothing is set in stone as things will have to pass through the Ad Board and be well presented to the congregation, but I feel that change is good for the soul. It keeps us focused on our worship of God and relying on Him to show up and make it what it is.

One of the best messages that I received from Jim's sermon this past Sunday was when he mentioned a passage from Deuteronomy 32. Although he was speaking figuratively about the current economic recession, I think the metaphor can be applied to the OFLC as well.

He spoke about a mother Eagle shaking her nest so as to teach her little eaglet to fly (as is its purpose). "The baby Eagle doesn't really want to leave the nest... In the nest he's safe and well fed by his mother." Jim said, "Like the Mother Eagle, I believe God is shaking our nest, so we can soar to new heights and fulfill the purposes that he has planned for us."

Whatever your feelings about the uses for the OFLC, please keep the matter in prayer. Mt. Auburn is a family and it is our responsibility as disciples to invite others into the family of Christ. A gym will not make that happen. But God can use anything he chooses (even a gym) as a doorway into the hearts of future believers.

Crazy Love

Most of the good things in my life were introduced to me by my wife... Although I have eaten food my entire life, it wasn't until I married Sarah that I realized that you probably should really eat from all 4 food groups. It wasn't until I married Sarah that I had a real appreciation for Broadway musicals. It wasn't until 1999 (in an attempt to win her heart) that I started attending Mt. Auburn and I believe really met Jesus Christ for the first time. From Broadway to green leafy vegetables, Sarah has introduced me to many of the good things in my life today.

Last summer, Sarah read aloud to me a book review of a book that she wanted to read. I didn't think much of it until I came across a sermon by the same author (Francis Chan). I watched the sermon and was intensely stirred by what the pastor was saying. He painted a picture of "Lukewarm Christianity" that was disturbing, but even more so convicting. Let me read you a couple excerpts from his book Crazy Love...

"I quickly found that that the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don't swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered. That's for the "radicals" who are "unbalanced" and who go "overboard." Most of us want a balanced life that we can control, that is safe, and that does not involve suffering. Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm and partially committed fit better?"

"If Life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream. Or to use another metephor more familiar to city people, we are on a neverending downward escalator. In order to grow, we have to turn around and sprint up the escalator, putting up with perturbed looks from everyone else who is gradually moving downward."

Now a lot of books I've read with this same kind of message end up guilting you into service by proving the disobedience of the church to God's Word. Now don't get me wrong, I agree that the perseverance required to Obey the Bible often get's lost in the magnitude of God's grace. But Crazy Love is unique, not in its message but in the contagious passion and awe that Francis Chan has for Jesus.

I am not the type of person to jump on the bandwagon of "New & Improved" Bible studies or "next Best thing to the Bible" books. But I really enjoyed the way Crazy Love inspired me to examine my life and the way that I feel about my God. http://www.crazylovebook.com

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."
II Corinthians 13:5

Acquire The Fire/BattleCry 2009

Acquire the Fire is a traveling, year round event put on by Teen Mania, a youth ministry organization out of Lindale Texas. Mt. Auburn has been taking teenagers to this event since Dave Buckner was the Youth Pastor and I myself have been several times. Most years, ATF is held at Ball State, but this year it's coming to Conseco Fieldhouse. The theme for this year is' "Here Comes Trouble". This promotional video will give you an idea of what the weekend is like.

ATF can be a very positive experience for young people as well as their parents. The music, drama and preaching is relatable to young believers who may never have worshiped in a conference setting with thousands of other Christians before.

This year I would like to invite parents to attend the event as well. There will be a special "break-out" session designed specifically for you that I think might be insightful to your family ministry. If you are interested or have questions about this opportunity, just call me or shoot me an email. The date of this event is Saturday, April 4th 8:30am-9:00pm

For more information on Acquire The Fire or The Honor Academy, log onto the following links.
http://www.acquirethefire.com
http://www.honoracademy.com

Parents Letter 2009

Dear Parents,

I just wanted to take a little time to chat with you about the youth program we have at Mt. Auburn. I intended for a parents’ letter to come out just after the first of the year but as always time gets away from me, as I’m sure it does for many of you. But I believe that God has a reason for everything, so I’m sending one to you now. If you would, please allow me to take the next 10 minutes of your time to tell you a story and relay my thoughts about real successful ministry.

On Monday, January 5th, my father was diagnosed with “incurable” renal cell cancer that began in his left kidney (20 years ago) and has now resurfaced in his spine and right lung. He was hospitalized immediately in fear that the cancer in his spine would cause too much pressure on his spinal cord and cause paralysis. He spent the whole week in the hospital for radiation treatments, biopsies of the cancer (which caused his right lung to collapse), and general observation. Naturally, during all of this I spent each day with him in his room so as to be updated on all new information by the attending doctors.

On Thursday of that same week, I was in his room and working on my January Youth Newsletter. My father looked at me and commented, “I’m proud of you Trav… I like what you’re doing over there… You do a good job”. Immediately, I stopped writing and the thought came to me, “How do you know? How do I know if I’m doing a good job?” Do I look at numbers and see if they are increasing? Do I monitor the youth’s enjoyment level and restructure accordingly?

My father’s statement forced me to take a step back and evaluate my ministry. So I asked God in prayer that day how to do my part in guiding the youth of Mt. Auburn. God answered, “Tell them the Truth.” Now, obviously I always try to teach the truth, but sadly the truth is sometimes hard to hear. The Gospel can be offensive and it does take faith to accept as truth. That’s why topics like Heaven & Hell, Selfishness & Selflessness, Salvation & Damnation make some people a little uncomfortable.

At one time, the Disciples actually told Jesus “This is a hard teaching…” and the Apostle Paul himself tells us:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” -1 Corinthians 1:18

And

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” -1 Corinthians 1:25

We learn from these verses in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 that the Gospel doesn’t make any sense to those who don’t believe it; to those who don’t receive it in faith, it's just silly. But Christians believe the Bible is true!

Jesus began his teaching time and time again with the simple declaration of, “I tell you the truth…” So let me follow his example and say:

I tell you the truth, Your Child’s faith will suffer without you.”

The truth is that your kids are quickly growing up… The truth is that culture today forces all people to see things they shouldn’t see, listen to things that they shouldn’t listen to and to laugh at things that make God sad. In a world that views the Gospel as foolishness, our children's faith is constantly under attack and can be crushed under the opposition, so they need all the help, support and guidance we can give them in Christ.

In 2009 I want so many things for our youth group. I want our friendships to be strong and encouraging. I want our kids to reach others for Christ and grow numerically. But most of all, I want our youth to deepen their own faith and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ… because loving the Lord with all your heart is what constitutes a real successful ministry.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother- which is the first commandment with a promise-“that it may go well with you that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
–Ephesians 6:1-4


Your Ministry starts in your home…
Talk about your faith with your kids…

Special Olympics

It’s Wednesday, January 28th and we have a ton of snow outside… In fact, all Johnson County schools have been closed and I’m thinking about breaking in my new sled this afternoon. I still think it is funny that Sarah got me a sled for Christmas this year; she knows how much I love snow.
This past Sunday, Sarah and I with seven youth ventured to Paoli Peaks (2 hours south) to help volunteer for the 2009 Winter Special Olympics. This is the second year Mt. Auburn Youth have been involved and it seemed like everyone had a terrific experience. We lodged at the exquisite Midwest Inn and like last year, were the only guests. One room was too hot, the other too cold and all the youth continued to confirm their doubts that we would survive the night… (They think an axe murderer lurks nearby) Despite their assurances of horrific death, everyone survived the night unscathed.
We began the evening with dinner at Chicago’s Pizza in French Lick and then went to the Athlete’s Ball in the French Lick Hotel. While there, I was reminded yet again of why I love chaperoning this event. Athletes of all ages were out on the dance floor, cutting a rug with moves seldom seen by much of the population. Humility was scarce, but in its place, laughter and friendship were in abundance. Elvis songs like Love Me Tender were karaoked with originality, heart and enthusiasm and many of us danced with the athletes who were brave enough to ask.
The athletes however were subjected to the dances and contortions performed by the boys of Mt. Auburn… Dances like the Lawnmower, school bus, shopping cart and sprinkler were among the many of the performances. My favorite was a somewhat disturbing number by Sean Peters and Alex Hutton, which must have been a dance move of previous study.
Monday morning came cold and early. We arrived at the lodge at 7:20am after breakfast and little coffee. We prepared the “start & finish” flags which was followed by an instructional meeting at 8:30am. The athletes arrived on the snow around 9:30 and we each found an athlete to assist.
The athletes range from first time skiers to borderline professional. Our jobs at first were to simply encourage and assist in any way possible, mostly just keeping them on their feet and going straight. If the athlete accomplished this, they moved on to snowplowing, followed by turning. This took about 2 hours at which point, most everyone was cold and ready for lunch.
Lunch kicked off with “Happy Birthday” sung in Texas Roadhouse fashion to Joy Atzinger who was celebrating her 14th birthday. We didn’t have a cake, but cookies seemed to be an acceptable replacement.
By 2:00pm we began the “Time Trials”, in which the athletes competed for the best time in various events according to skill level. This seemed to go much faster than last year…
We finished up around 3:45pm and were able to ski for a couple of hours at a discounted price. Amanda and Scott Musgrave as well as myself attempted snowboarding for the first time and I must say, It’s harder than it looks. After about half an hour of falling over and the hill beginning to really do a number on my back, I started to get the hang of it. First time skiers included Alex Hutton, Joy Atzinger, Connor Edwards and Scott Musgrave.
Everyone lived!