REACHING THREE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS
GEN2GEN

An exciting modern worship with a full praise band	A classic service with piano, organ and the Celebration Choir	An interactive young adult service DEDICATION MAR 9

Christianity is not safe
for your children

As a youth pastor I’ve seen tons of parents asking how the ministry can best improve the life of their child. They might not be consciously asking for me to fix their kid, but their basic assumption is this: the more religious my kid is, the safer he or she will be. Many new to the church like the idea of religion for their life and the lives of their children, because it follows a safe moral code. I’m not sure when our faith took this turn, but when I read Matthew through Acts, I see a different picture. Not that the faith is not moral, but that it is not entirely safe.

A ministry friend of mine, Mark Yakonelli, tells this story. “I was brushing my teeth with my kids one night, right before bed time, and I started singing a song I had learned as a child. I am a C, I am a CH, I am a C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N. Do you know this one? Anyway, Noah inquired about the meaning of this song. He said, “Dad, what’s a Christian?” (I think I heard music playing. I was so excited! It was finally the time to explain the faith!) So, I sit with my 5 year old son, with my Bible in hand, searching for how to explain Christianity to my child. I started by saying, “Well Noah, the word Christian really means ‘little Christ.’ It means that we are seeking to join in God’s mission of love in the world.” “Well how do I become a Christian,” he asks. “Well son, you must say a prayer telling God you want to join him in his mission of love in the world.”

So, while my other son is jumping around on the bed, Noah and I kneel down beside the bed and pray. (It was beautiful!) So I sit down between their beds and sing to both my kids as they fall asleep, as was my nightly custom. They drift off to sleep and I get up to leave. Just as I am getting up Noah whispers to me, “Dad, I don’t want to be a Christian anymore.” I asked “why son?” (Thinking I have failed because my conversion techniques only last for minutes) Noah answers, “I was thinking about Jesus, and…he gets killed right?” “Yes son.” (then I started mentioning Easter and the resurrection; but he interrupted me). “Yea, but they nail him to a cross and poke his side with a spear. I don’t want to be a Christian.” “Yea son…but.” Then I realized that HE’S RIGHT. WHAT WAS I THINKING? I LOVE MY KIDS. I DON’T WANT THEM TO BE CHRISTIANS EITHER!

He’s right! As a follower of Christ, you might not live an easy life. You might end up in the margins of society. You might not have a retirement plan. You might not finish school and get a comfortable job! I was thinking as I talked to my wife, ‘THIS KID GETS IT. THIS IS DANGEROUS STUFF.’ What did I want for my kid? A religion called ‘Niceandsafe’.”

As I heard this story, I reflected on how we talk about the life of Jesus. Many times in our church, we spend so much time reaching religious seekers, that we don’t paint the picture of what it looks like to really follow after Jesus. We have promoted the religion of “Niceandsafe.” (By the way, youth pick up on this pretty quick. Then they get bored with the Niceandsafe Jesus.) We promote “Niceandsafe” with good motives however, trying to entice others to the virtues of the Christian life: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.” But what we have forgotten is this: the picture of a full life that Jesus promises in John 10:10 is fulfilled in John 12:25 “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Should our lives be well controlled, pretty, and put together? No, if they are controlled by Jesus, life starts looking more like reckless abandonment.

Funny thing about reckless abandonment; the more money I have the less reckless I want to be. The nicer my stuff, the more power and prestige I have, the less I want to risk for the gospel; rich young ruler anyone?
Teens have a keen sense for when they are being controlled, duped, and monitored. Our students feel like they are missing something in their spiritual life, mostly because they are missing something; because we have given them “Niceandsafe” and they know this is not what Jesus had in mind.

Final thoughts: Have you fallen into the religion of “Niceandsafe?” How might the idea of reckless abandonment influence your following of Jesus? Do your kids seem bored with Christianity? I think I know why…

Windows on the World
Can A 10 Year Old Truck Qualify To Be A Miracle?

We all have some sort of image in our heads about what we might envision that would qualify as a true miracle. Somehow 10 year old Toyota trucks don’t fit well with my image. However, hearing an animated Ramona Shawver tell her story of “The Miracle Truck from Oildale” just might make all of us change our minds.

It all started with a need. Didn’t we read that God knows our every need even before we ask? Transportation was needed by the Shawvers when they arrive in Mexico, in order to be able to go to the remote churches to encourage and teach courses from the seminary to local pastors who often have little theological education. To enter the country of Mexico and be licensed there the vehicle needed to be at least 10 years old. Their desire was for a Toyota since that make is reliable long after the new smell wears off; plus, parts and repairs are available for Toyota in Mexico.

A friend offered to search online and ebay and discovered that they are rare birds. After several weeks of looking he had only found 2 trucks that matched the need and they were both located East of the Mississippi.

Enter Ramona’s determination that there had to be one closer to home that was JUST right. She began to search the Californian and there it was under her nose. “1996 Toyota pickup with camper shell” (another need for staying overnight when travelling),” bucket seats” (easier on her back for dirt roads) “51,000 actual miles” (most of those towing miles) belonging to an older couple who could no longer do the outdoor activities that they had enjoyed. It had been lovingly taken care of.

Ramona went on her own to check out the truck; felt it was her own personal miracle and just the right truck. Next small problem was that she also knew that there really wasn’t any cash in hand to purchase the wonder vehicle now that she had found it.
BUT – Get ready for another God sighting…The evening before, Chuck had spoken to a small couples group about their work in Mexico. The group had inquired about needs, and he had shared with them their need for a truck. The group encouraged him to search and that they would stand behind the need financially.

Found right truck! Location convenient! Couple blessed that truck would be used to help others! Group stands behind promise of money to purchase! Bryan Cheney, Shawver’s son-in-law offers to help drive the vehicle to Mexico with Chuck!

Now – How much proof do you need to change your image of what a miracle looks like?

Be on the lookout for God in your life. He doesn’t just show up for Chuck and Ramona Shawver, our missionaries to Mexico. He is always way ahead of your needs too, and waiting to bless your faith and faithfulness.
Gloria Marshall for Big Mac

Financereport
Connie Farmer, Business Administrator

Finances Jan 2008

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