Where is Jesus?

We saw Jesus.
but we weren't in the Superdome.
We weren't in the Imax theatre.
We weren't in the learning center or the interaction center.
These are good places to be; air conditioned, acccess to rest rooms and food, happy places! Its a hot day in New Orleans.

But we were under a bridge next to the new orleans Mission on OC haley BLVD. We went there with cold drinks and some food at lunch time that we bought at a local grocer and, together with our friends from Christ Lutheran, Elizabethtown(PA), we gave them away to over 100 homeless people. Most of them were African American men. But there were white men and women, too. They told us their stories. They drank and ate. We prayed with them and listened to them.

We didn't learn about poverty in a movie or a lecture. We stood with the poor. We held their hands. We gave them water. We listened to their stories.
These people did not deserve us, nor we the privilege of serving them here. We were there because of Jesus, not because of them. Admittedly, our reasons were partly selfish. We wanted to feel good about our works of service. It was rewarding.
But God sent us today and they will be there tomorrow too and we will get on buses and go home. May we not forget that Jesus is found in the forgotten, overlooked, rejected, undeserving, punished, and broken ones under the bridge.
I will write more tonigh with pics and comments from all of the kids, whose fear turned to faith as we served the LORD and saw the face of Jesus today.

finding the cross

I came to the gathering with several motives, not the least of which was to experience the city of New orleans. I also hope to give some wonderful young people an experience of the church that they have not experienced before. We've had that. Its been great so far. French quarter does not disappoint. New Orleans charms you.
But I also realize that I come to New Orleans in search of the cross. The cross is where we find Jesus. It is where God reveals the revolutionary nature of divine power and justice. God, hidden in the midst of our suffering. Humanity in bondage to sin and death, walking in darkness and despair, thirsty and weary and longing. I want my kids to see the cross too. Because so much of what we are about personally and culturally avoids the cross and its power. We are afraid or ashamed or embarassed by it.The church is called, not only to witness the cross, but to bear the cross for the sake of others. So we are called to be cross-bearers in the form of humble servants,having the mind of Christ.
We've heard stories of triumph and hope from people who have experienced tragedy and pain. We've seen pyrotechnics and amazing shows. (I wonder how much that is costing us?) And in the end, the event will wrap up with a tidy mega-Lutheran church worship and farewell on Sunday. The story of this gathering will have a happy ending, if all goes as planned.
But not all stories have happy endings. Not all people get saved. I don't want us to get a false impression that God fixes everything that's broken. Some things remain broken. Some people lose. Sometimes we fail and its tempting to say that God fails too. It looks that way sometimes in this world. That is the cross.
Asa a follower of the crucified one, i want to fail. I want to be with the loser, with the one's who aren't making it or getting better, with the one who is broke and broken, with the forgotten and the ignored. I want to be with the hopeless case because Jesus is there. In the worst case scenerio. I want to stare down suffering and death and say, "Take what you will now. But GOD reigns forever. And GOD is merciful and loving and kind and gracious and GOD is my father and my promised savior." I want to say it through tears and with a shaky faith, in my weakness and in God's strength.
I like empowerment and inspiration and I get that we need it. But resurrection glory must follow crucifixion and death.
So tomorrow, may GOD reveal His love by revealing the cross to us in this place. And may we be too weak to turn away or reject it. May we receive the sign of the cross on our heads, in our senses, and on our hearts.

NOLA Pics

friday in the Big Easy

It started with a morning trolley ride and long walk down Decatue to the french Market for Beignets and coffee and the best Eclair I've ever eaten. That part of the city is quite beautiful. We squatted in a lovely old park, where we ran into the youth group from St. John's Center! We've run into many of our neighbors, including the folks from Zion, Leola; Trinity, New Holland; and Christ, Elizabethtown. They are staying in our hotel. We have the same servant project assignment.
It turns out, however, that our servant project is really a learning experience. We are supposd to hear a lecture from a professor who was here during Katrina. And we're supposed to watch an Imax move called "Hurricane on the Bayou." We would not be building homes or helping people. So I have developed an alternative plan for our group tomorrow. We will tell you all about it after we do it. I call it guerrila love service or just the way of Jesus. Jesus didn't sen us to NOLA on a bus for 22 hours to watch an Imax movie. But the Holy Spirit opens doors like you wouldn't believe. I am certain that we are doing what Jesus has sent us to do tomorrow instead! Tune in for the story tomorrow...
We had a good, but brief afternoon in the convention center at the interaction center. The have a sand beach volleyball court in there---built by the ELCA for the gathering! I can't describe what that place is like. We collect change for change that will benefit world hunger and the city of NOLA. Offerings are going to many sources and the goal is over 1 million dollars!
Afternoon was spent in the hotel chillin'. We had an awesome dinner at a really great Mexican restaurant a half a block from our hotel. Great enchiladas.
Then we got to Superdome early for excellent seats. The speakers were bearers of hope through lives of struggle and danger and seemingly tragic obstacles. We appreciate the speakers who have come to share short testimonies and to share the ministries that drive their passion. We've learned about me to we, servant trips for youth.
I am grateful for old friends here, like Anthony briggs who I haven't seen in 13 years. And for new connections, like Jay Jay Williams with lantern hill. Both Charlie roberts and Anthony Briggs are connected to Lantern hill. I think I'll be doing something with them in California and Mexico sometime. Maybe Beach camp/youth servant event 2010? We are already talking about the next mission trip together.
I want to say that I love these young people, all eight of them. I don't even think of us as coming from two congregations, something Gail mentioned in prayer tonight. I sort of think of all of them as disciples.
So that's it from NOLA tonight. The Lord grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. Amen.

"You're the child of my love, you're my choice"

I know we promised pictures and we'll get to it. Maybe tomorrow. Days are long and were exhausted by the time we gather to close the day and I sit to recap.
What an awesome day in New Orleans. We ate Gumbo at Joey K's, shopped in the french Quarter,worshiped in the Superdome again, heard amazing stories from women doing the work of Jesus by bringing justice to women and girls from Senegal and state prisons. We heard good music. David Shearer, aka "Agape" is a hip hop Lutheran. We went to his concert tonight and he was really great. I'm not a big rap or hiup hop fan, but I really dug his stuff. The kids did too.
We took part in various learning workshops and modules to provoke some thinking about our respective roles in massive global problems. Though not particularly inspiring, they were part of this way of life.
And that's just it. This is not an event. This is a way of life. IN some ways we could do this anywhere and should. And in other ways we could only do this in New Orleans. But it is clear that the unplanned surprises are just as important and necessary as the planned events. because this is about love---God's love for us manifest to us not in special events,but in the mundane experiences of daily life. And also,in the love we are seeing and sharing, especially inspiring stories of love we have heard. Love that has brought justice and peace and healing to broken lives.
This morning I got on the trolley to go downtown and sat with a woman who was reading her bible. I said, "Reading psalms,I see.I love Psalm 121." I quoted the psalm and she said that she had been searching for the very one, but couldn't remember it. We talked for the entire trip about her family, the city, katrina, faith in GOD, rebuilding, the ELCA gathering. I won't forget this child of GOD I got to meet on a trolley in New Orleans.
The energy of youth is contagious. And to mobilize them to practice compassionate justice as followers of Jesus is what this is all about.
We went to French Quarter today. That is quite a place. Some of it is rated 'R'. but we did hear a little jazz.
I miss Cherie and my boys today. So I bet the kids are missing their folks and they are missing their kids too. But we are all well. Everyone is happy, getting along really well, enjoying each other, etc...Friendships are emerging.
Tomorrow we will go to cafe du monde for beignets and coffee. We will spend the day in the interactive center, a fun place to play and serve and contribute to the greater good. We are raising a million dollars through our gifts.
And we will go earlier to the Superdome to get good seats. I will catch up with some friends, too. Anthony Briggs, Marissa, and Jay.
The connections and friendships and love in the church always blow me away at a thing like this. Old friends and new ones. Lots of hugs and high fives and shouts of joy as a sign of our unity in faith. I wish church were like this! Loving, joyful, hopeful, living for Jesus. I guess church would be like this if we let this experience shape us as the church where we are. There are 37,000 Lutheran here, most of them under teh age of 40. Baptized children of GOD following Jesus. For all of them I give thanks and pray.

The End of Day One

So, its hot and sticky. We sat by the pool for a while before heading back downtown. Dinner was a disaster. Not many choices in a short time for non-natives who don't know their way around too well. We went to French quarter and hit the Hard Rock Cafe. Service was slow, food bad---typical Hard Rock faire.
Went to the Superdoom. Its huge and it was packed. I stopped to use the rest room.When I came out I was alone in a crowd of 37,000 frickin'Lutherans. none of them from Akron or Mellingers to be found. I spent anhour wandering the halls and weeping to myself. Turns out Nick was on stage performing rap music. (not really--Thank the LORD). We accidentally ran into each other after the event ended. We decided to return to the Hotel for rest instead of mo nighglife tonight. Tomorrow is another day.
We are learning that we are caught up in a movement of God's Spirit here. Whether the 8 youth on this trip realized that they were aboutt o take part in a GOD thing, they are starting to get it now. We are identifiable here. And people are curious about us. They want to know who we are and what we're about. They want to know what we're going to do while we're here. I was invited into a conversation about GOD with a young man who clearly seeks to intellectually disprove the existence of GOD. He, at least, has given up on the possibility that GOD matters or that GOD cares. His mental gymnastics about free will and omniscience and sin and just punishment and hell left me feeling my exhaustion. but it was clear that he wanted to discuss GOD with someone who would "represent". I'm not sure I did GOD justice, but I listened and engaged. It's pretty amazing to be identified publically as the overt Christian witnesses in the city this week. We are the largest assembled body to inhabit NOLA since Katrina. And our presence equals the number of residents who are still displaced or living in FEMA trailers since katrina. We are a very large presence. heard some good speakers in the Superdoom too. Looking forward to more of those big events this week.
Tomorrow am we experience the learning center. We'll share about that tomorrow night.

New Orleans Day ONE

After a very long and tiring bus ride we arrived in New Orleans this morning around 9:00 am. Thanks to Georget Rudisill for transport to the bus launch in Hanover. We let hanover for Rt. 81 a little before 11:00 am yesterday. We made regular pit stops to stretch and use the potty. The bus ride included a teeth-rattling stretch of road in Alabama that woke the sleeping among us. I've never beenon a worse stretch of highway. It was Rt. 59 north east of Birmingham, ALA.
We had dinner at a Shoney's in Virginia. We had breakfast at a McDonald's in Mississippi. Some of the kids slept. Then average sleeper slept about 4 hours.
In a word, uncomfortable. And expected.
We listened to music. I finished a book and started another. Now I'm reading Brian Mclaren's book "Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and the revolution of Hope." Great read so far as I expected.I'll finish it on the way home.
After arriving so early we were able to unload our gear into Gail's room---the only ready room of the four we booked. We then took the trolley downtown and walked the several blocks to convention center to register, get oriented, and pick up supplies. We all get these awesome book bags, a tshirt, and a Lutheran Study Bible retooled for he gathering, including some gathering specific material. nice.
I caught up with Charlie Roberts and Jay Eckman and Newell Embley. There is a palpable buzz in the city about our mega-presence. We've already talked to locals. Its neat to be identified as Lutherans in the city and to be graciously welcomed here. We strolled down to riverwalk---a mall, shopping, dining pavilion on the Mississippi River---nice, like Inner harbor, Baltimore or navy Pier, Chicago. I ae cajun chicken and jambalaya. Nick ate Pizza. Karen and Ariana ate shrimp criole. Wes ate Chinese. Tonight we have opening in the SUperdome and community life activities until 10:45. More after that, including pics...time now for a swim and a nap. Peace out.

This Week---New Orleans

Okay, so I'm sorry that I haven't updated here in a while. Its been a busy summer. Synod assembly morphed into two weeks of confirmation camp, which led to a rapid fire July; all moving toward this week! I will, however, post about the synod assembly, some theological reflections on the rapidly changing picture of ecclesia in the North American context (and the congregational implications), and some conversations/encounters, as well as a post or two on some good books, and a post about Peter's Porch and local mission. I'll try to catch up after the gathering with a week or two of writing. I've not been writing much this summer, just because I've been so active in other ways. But now, I turn our attention to where Jesus is leading us tomorrow. THE BIG EASY! Its my first time...I'm a little excited.
ELCA Youth Gathering, 2009. Jesus, Justice, Jazz,in New Orleans! I will be blogging from NOLA all week, beginning tomorrow as we travel by charter bus from Hanover, PA. We leave at 9:00 am. I am leading a small group of four Sr. High youth---Nick, Ariana, Weston, and Karen. They are amazing people with faith and hearts for service in the way of Jesus. I dare say they shine when they are serving together. I look forward to experiencing their reactions and responses, hearing their stories, and teling them. We will blog together at night and post pics from the day, too. So check in this week to be part of the servant training school ELCA style. I'm sure we'll tell you all about the criole and the cajun cooking too. not to mention some french pastries to die for! And JAZZ! I hope we can hear some real live New orleans Jazz. Two days after we leavenis the Satchmo jazz festival. If I were 20 years old, I'd stay for it.
So, see you in New Orleans!