Hello from the Year 2030.

I know it’s hard right now. Life seems confusing and disoriented. And, it's normal coming out of a global pandemic to feel as if everything is shaken up as if our plans for the future were disrupted by something out of our control. Of course, that's exactly what happened... even for the church.

While you don't know what is going to happen, let me tell you that I’m so proud of the young adults who began gathering together as a Life Group on February 3rd at 6:30pm.

What did this Young Adult Life Group begin doing?

• shared meals
• found true friends and grew closer with old ones
• shared life stories 
• encouraged each other with grace and truth from the heart of Jesus
• invited their friends to explore the way of Jesus in a non-judgmental and safe space
• learned to pray with and for each other in powerful ways

I know you think the group is pretty small. And since you can’t see, touch, feel, or smell what God is doing right now, it’s really difficult to see where this is all going. And yes, the adulting that will happen in the group will be messy and confusing. But, don’t get discouraged. This is normal.

And it's all worth it because in just 7 years...

• Kids are who are being born and starting preschool this year have Jesus' unconditional love in their families and homes.
• Generations of people are now running toward the needs of others - not away.
• “Sinners” are welcomed with open arms - no questions asked.
• People are trusting people again around their kitchen tables and backyard fences.
• There is a new sense of belonging and friendship emerging that looks more like Jesus.

The unconditional love of Jesus has become unavoidable where these once-young-adults live, work, and play through their word and deed… all because a few of them got connected in a Life Group.

But don't take my word for it... take God's Word for it.

Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,
They will raise up the former devastations;
And they will repair the ruined cities,
The desolations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:4)

So if you're wondering if it’s worth encouraging an 18-29 year old to be a part of the new Young Adult Life Group starting February 3rd - the Year 2030 says, “absolutely”.

We still love you.
The Year 2030

It is no secret that the Global Pandemic has exposed what US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a 2017 Harvard Business Review article, is the most common human ailment: loneliness. While heart disease or diabetes are the most pervasive physical illnesses in America; loneliness is by far the most prevalent disease wreaking havoc in the mental, physical, and spiritual lives of people, today.​

According to a December 21, 2021 article in the New York Times​, one way to begin moving beyond our loneliness is by volunteering to serve. The article went on to share that Val Walker, author of 400 Friends and No One to Call: Breaking Through the Isolation and Building Community says, “Volunteering is one of the best, most certain ways we can find a purpose and meaning in our life”.

Perhaps those of us who experience loneliness - both extroverts and introverts - don’t necessarily need more people in our lives… we need deeper connection.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (1943) helps me understand that connection is vital to all of life. And while there are many scripture passages that affirm we have a forever connection with our very best friend, Jesus (we call that faith!), that is often too abstract to embrace - even for the most spiritual of us. Even communion, the tangible body and blood of Jesus with the bread and wine, is quite the mystery.

I need something tangible. Flesh and blood. Here and now. 

Thinking about it some more, Jesus has given me something tangible to help with my human loneliness (and yours): each other.

I need concrete human connection… and you do, too

And this is one of a few reasons why I need this Midwinter Shindig.

Perhaps there are others like me who need to be part of something bigger than ourselves. To enjoy being together and to give our time in the interest of others.

And Jesus gives it all to us. Like in the Garden of Eden, God gives people to people to enjoy connection. And that’s what heaven will be like, too. Ultimate connection. 

In the meantime, it’s the invitation to “be Jesus” to one another… especially when it may be hard for us to admit our own loneliness to ourselves. 

You can join me as a Shindig Volunteer to help make the event happen, or seriously... just show up… because sometimes we just need to be together.

​Before I get serious, I said that I would share what I learned about shindigs.

Thanks to Google, I discovered that besides being a “large, lively party, especially one celebrating something” (Oxford Languages), it has its roots in a Scottish game like hockey called, “shinty” (etymonline.com). There might not be much to celebrate right now when it comes to the Kraken, but there is plenty to celebrate when it comes to just being together.

So, grab your mask and come make new friends… catch up with old ones… and let’s have some boot scootin’ fun!

I also learned that ‘merrymaking’ happens at shindigs… I’m not sure what that all will entail - but it sounds like a whole lot of fun!

Alright, onto the rest of this week’s post.

In honor of MLK Day 2022 coupled with my conviction that racial diversity is close to God’s heart, I want to share some of my thoughts about how we as a church can become more racially diverse (like our local community). At the end of the post, I will offer a few ways for each of us to help shatter the status quo and better engage our neighbors and new ways of living.

Here’s the truth: we live in an increasingly racially diverse community.

According to US News and World Report, the student body served by Franklin Pierce School District is 31% White, 30.5% Hispanic/Latino, 15.8% multi-racial, 13% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaska Native, and 9.7% Black. Now, those stats are from 2017 or so, but I'm guessing we're just as diverse - if not more, today.

I’ve often thought about how can a larger church like Our Savior be so homogeneous while immersed in such a beautiful multi-racial community. If you're interested to hear where I'm at with this, I’m happy to grab lunch or coffee with you sometime. My treat.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what I think. Regardless of how we got here, there are ways we can work together to become more racially diverse like our local community. 

Considering today’s talking points on the right and left sides of the aisle, it’s easy to hold racial diversity hostage in the prison of politics. Simply put, politics divide people. And because race and diversity has been in the political hopper for quite some time, I understand how the lines get blurred.

We must remember that for a Jesus follower, racial diversity is a matter of the heart and mission of Jesus. Jesus’ heart is for all people. Jesus’ mission is to go into all of the world (Mark 16:15) and to every nation (Matthew 28:19-20) to be and share the good news of freedom and salvation. The mission of God has always been and will always be for every culture, class, and race. The gospel, which is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16-17), is the hope of the world - not politics. And, as Jesus’ partners on His mission to gather all people back to His heart, we desire to see a racially diverse church.

If our practice of pursuing racial diversity (or not) as a church becomes more about a political alignment than about Jesus, we have lost the gospel.

Bottom Line: Keep Jesus in the center of “why” we want to become more racially diverse as a church. . . and let the news networks fight about the politics of race.

​Sometimes… okay, maybe most of the time, how we do church is tied to our stories.

Jack Miezrow in his capstone book, Transformative Dimensions of Adult Learning says that we are all caught up in our own histories. This is true as both individuals and institutions. As a person, what I find valuable in my past is what I continue to do in the present and plan to continue doing in the future. The same is true with a church.

Historically, much of Lutheran tradition goes through Germany or Scandinavia (Norway or Sweden). It's not bad. . . it just does. I mean, after all, Martin Luther was European. It wasn't like he had a choice in choosing his race or ethnicity.

At the same time, racial identity and idolized ethnic pride has caused some tensions over the years - especially in the land of the free and home of the brave. For example, in 1911, Lutheran churches divided over whether to begin worshiping in English which gave rise to the “English District”. In the midwest, several churches celebrate Oktoberfest, a German fall festival featuring beer while their neighbors spoke Spanish, Hindi, and Mandarin. In communities rooted in Nordic traditions, Lutherans continue to share Lutefisk dinners around the Christmas holiday while Somolians, Ethiopians, and Afgans became the dominant population.

My point is that tradition is often times grounded in racial and ethnic distinctions. And while tradition is certainly not a bad thing, it's easy to forget that in a multi-racial community, one people group doesn't own the block on tradition. The goal must become creating equity and promoting equality when it comes to understanding and celebrating cultural traditions and dare enough to create new traditions together where all races and ethnicities can embrace something new and different, yet intrinsically familiar to everybody... which takes hard work, a lot of faux pas, a ton of vulnerability, and a whole lot of time. This doesn't happen in a year or two... it happens over decades and generations.

Reflecting on our own traditions makes me think about the role tradition plays in the ministry of Jesus. It seems to me that tradition for tradition's sake is not helpful; however, tradition that helps people see less of us and more of Jesus is much more valuable.

I remember hearing about a church who wanted to reach their growing Latinx community. So, they decided to post flyers around the neighborhood inviting their neighbors to an Oktoberfest complete with beer, brats, a polka band, and the chicken dance.

They wondered why nobody showed up.

Christmas (an entire season of tradition!) reminds us that Jesus came and "tabernacled" among us. Jesus surrendered his heavenly home to step into a foreign and different way of life. He learned what it meant to be human and at the cross and empty tomb, Jesus brings equity and equality between God and His creation.

Philippians 2 describes the Jesus way as one of surrendering our way or traditions and lifting up others’ for the sake of our shared unity with God through Jesus.

Reflection Question: What traditions does our community celebrate that may not look like ours? How can we learn about and be present with them in their celebrations?

​I used to think the ultimate expression of racial diversity and unity was a worship service.

You may have had similar thoughts of every race, class, and language in the same room singing the same songs worshiping the same God in the same ways.

Then in 2012, I was introduced to a new principle (which is really an ancient one):

What happens in the home is celebrated in the worship gathering and what is celebrated in the worship gathering happens in the home.

That is to say that if we want to grow in our home prayer life, model it in church. If we want people to grow in praying with others in church/public, then grow our personal prayer lives at home.

I believe the same principle is true when it comes to racial diversity. If we want to see a more racially diverse worshiping body, then let’s become more racially diverse in our weekly lives outside of worship. And if we want to become more racially diverse where we live, work, and play, let’s find a place where we can gather with other people groups at least once a week.

Think About This: Where can you go in your local community that is already racially diverse?

And now, as promised, here are three ways you can help shatter the status quo and better engage our neighbors and new ways of living.

• Read the Scriptures with Jesus’ Mission in Mind - Open “the Book” and every time you read a passage, ask what it has to do with Jesus reaching out with his unconditional love to you and others. The way you read the Bible (and apply it) might dramatically change!

• Spend Time in Racially Diverse Spaces - Find the spaces in your community that are already racially diverse. Go there and “just be”. Notice how you feel, what you smell, and what you hear. Then, consider how they may feel walking into “your space” (church, work, neighborhood, etc.). The good news is that the more you spend time in racially diverse spaces, the more comfortable (or “normal”) it becomes. That’s when the real fun starts because you become part of that racially diverse space! Simply put, you begin to belong to something greater than yourself.

• Make Friends with People Not Like You - Make a point to have at least one conversation with someone of a different race, each week. Think about it - a conversation a week can build a life-long friendship.

How else can you engage your racially diverse community? Drop me an email and let me know.

​​When you’re reading the Bible, have you ever found yourself thinking or saying, “I’m so confused!”?

Adam Grant in his book, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know writes: “I need time for my confusion. Confusion can be a cue that there’s new territory to be explored or a fresh puzzle to be solved."

Adam’s voice gives us all hope that while the Bible, Jesus, and spiritual things, in general can be really confusing, that there is so much to be explored and discovered.

​This week, I’m sharing three ways to explore and discover God’s Word - the Bible. And then let you choose how best you will grow deeper and wider in your understanding of Jesus - the star of the entire Bible.

Fill Your Toolbox
Studying the Bible by yourself is good for your own self-care and personal development. Working out and good nutrition can help care for your physical body. Sudoku puzzles can help care for your brain. Close friendships can help care for your heart. And, your time with Jesus and His Word can help cares for your soul.

• Get your own Bible and start reading. If you’re looking for a good place to begin, start with the Gospel of John. It’s all about Jesus’ life! And if you’re looking for a good translation to begin your reading, I suggest the New Living Translation or New International Version!
• Grab a notebook or journal (or your phone) to keep track of all your questions that will come to mind when you read. Your questions can also be your prayers!
• Looking for an Audio Bible? Click here to check out a few really good ones!
• Check out the Netflix of Bible Studies at Right Now Media. Click here to sign up for your free account.
• Want to go “old school? Read a commentary (other Bible researcher’s notes)? You can click here to get started with Logos (online library) or check out what we have here at Our Savior in the Chapel.

Find and Join a Bible Study, starting next week.
Bible Studies help us grow deeper and wider in your understanding of Jesus. Bible studies are courses taught throughout the year on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings to help people grow in their knowledge and understanding of Jesus.

• Ruth (sorry gents; women, only) - Tuesday Mornings
• Prophets (for everybody) - Wednesday Evenings
• Knowing God: Reading the Bible - Anytime, Online
• Click here to learn more about and register for these and other Bible Studies
• Looking for a Deeper Dive with Directed Study Time and Homework? Check out Bible Study Fellowship.

Find and Connect in a Life Group
​Life Groups are the main way we are in relationship with God together beyond worship and where we make disciples. Life Groups of all ages and types gather weekly to share, listen, laugh, pray, and celebrate on the journey of following Jesus and joining his mission together. Click here to find and connect in a Life Group today.

Let’s be honest, the Bible will always be humanly confusing because it’s God’s Word (not our word!). But, don’t let that intimidate or stop you.

• Grab some tools for yourself.
• Find a Bible Study.
• Connect in a Life Group.

Start these three habits and you'll be well on your way to growing deeper and wider in your understanding of Jesus and His love and plans for you, this year!