I just returned from a great Thanksgiving weekend. Not much to comment on, it was just great. Got a lot of rest and a chance to look over some things.

During this past week, I was blessed to go the National Youth Workers Convention, a great event put on by Youth-specialties. I had a great time. It gave me pause to think about a lot of things. Especially when Mark Ostreicher put into words for me something I knew all along. “Youth ministry isn’t working.” At least not the way it ought too.

I heard many dedicated workers restate the same thing in conversations all around. “It just isn’t working.”

Okay, now what do we do next. I will be thinking and praying about this and get back with you. Remember, I am still working my way back home.

 See you in a few days.

Greg

I know your here somewhere, God! I read that you once were walking in the garden looking for me! Look I am here!

I get it, I am lost among the creation. I have somehow blended in with the creation instead of ruling over the creation. Is that possible? You gave me dominion, didn’t you? You said I could name everything that came my way, didn’t you? Well, here I am, and I want to begin, now!

Wait just a minute, I have fallen haven’t I? I made that colossal mistake didn’t I? I let Eve influence me instead of you…now I remember! Wait! I guess I am no longer in the garden am I? I am lost somewhere in time. How am I going to get out of this mess?

Wasn’t there someone else present when you created me? Hmmm, maybe he has the answers.

Adam leaves the Garden, works the ground, tends the sheep, multiplies, kids grow up, they move off.

As a result of the continued procreation, man multiplies to the point that the same process begins to repeat itself. Man receives a worldly garden as a result of his continued sin and then begins to worship the garden once again. God allows them to fall, again, and out of his gracious love for them, he delivers them out of their predicament. However, this time, God gives them a book of rules, so to speak.  An owner’s manual for them to follow, or at least try. 

“Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: `You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.  `Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” (Exodus 20: 3-7, NIV)

“Now then, if “I” will only obey” Gods voice; if I will “keep His “covenant.” Hmm…

Once again, God comes searching for them, and their hearts (and mine), to see if they want to carry on a conversation with the creator.

Into the garden I go,  searching for God and what he has to say to me today, knowing full well that He is already there waiting for me and everyone else to engage in a meaningful conversation; and for just once, God wants us to listen.

The teens I work with are listening; they hear and are asking questions. They realize they need God and are searching for the answers; as a result, they are willing to admit they do not have the power themselves to keep the big ten on a regular basis. However, they are willing to try, and that is the difference. 

If we were only willing….

“Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed”(Gen. 2″8, NIV).  Our life as it was, peaceful, serene, surreal. I have to admit it sounds pretty awesome…to good to be true.” God really walking among the garden looking for Adam, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Gen. 3:8, NIV).

That was then…it is still today. God walking among his once beautiful garden laid waste by mans worship of such. God gave the garden…man took it and worshipped it instead of the creator. The creator walking among creation waiting to engage his artistry…his masterpiece. Adam hid among the creation not wanting to be seen…not wanting to be seen for the failure he had become.

Adam is still looking for a way back. I am still looking for a way back. I want to engage the Creator even now. I want to engage the creator in the land laid waste by Adam. I know God is there even…just waiting.

Paul tells us, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, NIV).

I am clearly “without excuse.”

Like I said, this is morning, the first day. I will continue to engage.

i wrote last week of my world…being an area of chaos, complacency, and compromise…well, i must come clean, i work in it; however, it is the world of student ministry…student ministry with teens of the community…my youth group…

i am priviliged to work with these teens, in fact it is a blessing…

my world centers on facts that are logical and life changing, their world is chaos, complacency, and compromise…that is how they survive…

not much different from the world of many people that carry the blessed name of Christ…

more tomorrow…