Survivor Retreat

Working on a survivor themed retreat...today will be dedicated to watching every season I can find on Netflix!

Style v. Substance

I came across a similar theme today in many of the articles and blogs I read, as I waited for the social media stars to align...are we spending too much time trying to look cool and impress people by how much we know and not enough time trying to take care of the people around us. One blog writer addressed the tendency of those of us in youth ministry to go with the newest trends in ministry, perhaps at the expense of our Catholic traditions. Another mentioned the idea that we consume as much information as we can and constantly desire more. We have progressed so far in our theological understanding that it should be a given that we constantly fulfill God's commands. Perhaps, we are like small children,who, when told to do something, engage their parents in a repetitive barrage of the question, "Why?"

"Scott, I need you to clean your room!"
    "Why?"
"Because it is embarrassing."
    "Why?"
"Because it makes it look like you don't care about what you have."
    "Why?"
"Because you are not taking care of the things you have been given."
     "Why?"
"Because you are young and have not developed the ability to appreciate the fact that others have not been given as much as you, and you are blessed."
    "Why?"
"Because we work hard and sacrifice so that you can grow up and be healthy."
    "Why?"
"Because we believe that you can grow up and do great things."
    "Why?"
"Because you are healthy and smart and young and kind."
    "Why?"
"Because God has blessed you."
    "Why?"
"Because He loves you."
    "Why?"
"Because He doesn't have to try to make you clean your room!!!!"


Or maybe it just ends with,
"Just do it, because I said so..."

Have we gotten so caught up in the dialogue that we have forgotten the request? Or worse yet, are we prolonging the dialogue in order to avoid performing the task at hand?
At what point do we simply say, "Ok, I'll get it done, because You asked me to, and I know that You love me!"

Maybe the style, the trends, the coolness, the need to know everything before we do anything, needs to be replaced with action.

Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, tells us the two most important commandments. Love God with everything you have and everything you are, and love your neighbor as yourself. Paul re-emphasizes this in his letters to the Romans and Galatians.
Matthew 22:34-39, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28

Romans 13:9-10, Galatians 5:13-14

Three parts. Love God, Love yourself (a beloved creation of God), Love your neighbor (also a beloved creation of God.)

Maybe instead of asking, "why?" "why?" "why?" we should be asking, "How?"

"How?" (do I love myself as a beloved creation?)
"How?" (do I love my family better?)
"How?" (do I love my friends better?)
"How?" (do I love my co-workers the way that God wants to?)
"How?" (do I love those less fortunate than me?")
"How?" (do I love that annoying lady that always wants to talk for like 45 minutes after church when all I want to do is go home and watch the Cowboys beat the Eagles in the playoffs, and I know she just needs someone to listen to her so that she feels like she matters and I know she matters to God, (and me), but, GOSH!)
"How?" (do I love those that can't even speak for themselves?)

Wouldn't that be a more productive conversation?

Thanks for the inspiration:
D. Scott Miller, www.dscottmiller.com
Steve Bezner, The Commons Church, citizenbezner.blogspot.com
Bishop Farrell, bishopfarrell.blogspot.com
and the other 18 blogs I just started following tonight...!

Digital Karmic Realignment

I am trying to bring my social media into alignment. tougher than I thought!