thoughts from the common man....

DEEP

Julie and I work with a small group bible study called DEEP (with Redeemer Lutheran Church). It started out a couple years ago as an in"dep"th Bible study for juniors and seniors. It didn't turn out that way. What developed (a year before we came to Redeemer) was more of a fellowship time for freshman. Sure there was bible study, but it seemed to be more of a time for these students to recharge and feel safe in an environment where they could talk, laugh, and discuss Christ with those of the same faith.

Enter year two, and our involvement into DEEP...

We inherited the group after the groundwork had been set...these guys loved it! Their leaders ended up not being able to carry through to year two, and so Max, John and the gang decided to host it on their own (over the summer). There was a core group of 5 or so that would come week in and week out. We were astounded at their dedication.

It was a bit overwhelming at first. We didn't know who the "regulars" were, where they were all at in their faith walk and knowledge of the Christian faith, who was their just to meet chicks, who was there to learn, recharge, etc. It probably took 4-5 months just to figure this type of stuff out.

We learned in a number of different environments about them. We went to our first choir (or was it band) concert, and were floored by how thrilled they were to see us, and how much we learned by being there. Who their friends were, where they went afterwards, what a "section" was (same instrument....who knew), etc. It really is fascinating...it's like a different world. There are special rules, a language, culture... (I'm 26, and man do I not know Emo from Goth sometimes :)

As we closed that first year is really was exciting. The growth was tremendous (and I haven't even told you about the kids yet). They really have allowed us to become apart of their families. They allow us to meet their friends and families, tell us about struggles in school, ask us to go to the doctor with them, scold them, keep us up on slag/teenage speak/im/texting (is that what <3 means :) What a blessing.

As far as the kids go...wow. We have been asked about symbolism and theology as it relates to The Passion of the Christ (over text message), seen someone get to know Christ as their Savior (and contemplate Church work as a career), seen student go through the tremendous loss of a friend and mentor....It really has been an experience.

Why am I thinking about all of this? I really am not sure. I guess I really just feel blessed. Julie and I get to be apart of their lives in ways few people do. Part parent, part mentor, part friend, part immigrant. It helps me in my work, in my education and possible future career. I have seen and experienced a ministry that is much different than my past at camp (some describe it as a marathon as opposed to a sprint), a ministry that is much different than that of a camp. It took us 6 months to a year to really feel like we were trusted and invited into their lives. Would we be able to have an impact if we decided to hang it up after just a year (or six months)?

The phrase/cliché "It takes a village to raise a child" has never been so real to me. I can see it in my own life. No single person (parent, counselor, teacher, pastor, etc) made me the person that I am today. It was the fingerprints of so many people, through the power of Christ, that made me who I am today. What a blessing to have a part in impacting someone else’s life in that way!

Well I am rambling a bit, but I just wanted to digest some of the last year and a half. I am looking forward to another year and a half with (most) of these kiddos, and I only hope this time will be half as fun/educational/exhausting/etc. as the first year and a half.

I hope that you have enjoyed my ramblings (and my photos of the some of the DEEPsters)!

Christmas Dinner...

So I am cooking a deep fried cajun turkey for christmas with my parents. I am pretty excited. A friend of mine cooked one for Christgiving, and it was great! I have always wanted to cook one! A couple of fun images to thing about....

In the woods...


Some old guys...


This guy is really excited about it...


Hopefully this won't happen...

What is wrong with us....

I saw this bumper sticker a couple of weeks ago, and it epitomizes my feelings toward the current administrations campaign tactics. (Yes DEEPsters, this is going to be a boring adult post :) Why is it that they feel the need to use Jesus, and the Christian faith as a campaign tactic? Is God really so small that He fits within a particular political ideology? Should democrats, libertarians, liberal republicans, etc feel as though there is something wrong with them because they do not see eye to eye with Bush? I feel that all the GOP has done is polarize America through aligning themselves with the Christian right, and demonizing the left.

Why do I have to be told how to vote on a constitutional amendment in church? How about instead of spending our time hammering out legislation to ban homosexual marriage (by "defining marriage"), we spend time figuring out how to adequately fund a broken school system (not my opinion, the ruling of the Supreme Court). What does it say to a homosexual that we are so ready to spend time mobilize on a constitutional amendment, and spend so little time getting to know people that are not like us?

It is a bit of an exaggeration to claim the Bush the current administration is solely responsible for equating Christianity with conservatives and republicans, because I am sure that this was the case long before 43 came to be president, but it still infuriates me. I am sure my perception is skewed, growing up in Texas, in the heart of the Bible belt, but I still feel that it is occurring, and its growth is not solely a result of my increasing interest in the subject...

I guess what I am saying, is isn't it a bit disturbing to limit our witness to conservatives? Doesn't it hurt Christ's mission if we alienate those of other political ideologies? Those of other races? Those of other sexual orientations?