The Magic Kingdom (in Detail)

Bursts of colorful light illuminate the dark night sky and bring a warm glow to spectators' faces. Loud explosions pierce the silence of space and send shock waves you feel in your chest. Fireworks set to emotive music. Then snow. Yes, snow. Well, not really snow...but it sure looks like it, and falls like it, too! Christmas in The Magic Kingdom where, apparently, a million dreams can come true this season (and probably will, as a visit to Disneyland is a dream come true for most kids!)

There are some smart people working for Disney.

Not that smart is the point but it sure is the reason for the fullness of the "magic" you experience at D-Land.

Last week, my family and I spent two days in Disneyland. We had a fantastic time. Interesting, though, it was very tiring, and we had our moments--but those aren't the first things I remember. In general, I keep thinking, "Man, that was really, REALLY fun...and good...and...I think we need to make this an annual family tradition!"

Before this past week, I had never thought about why so many people think Disneyland is the end-all, be-all. I had never thought about why it's so alluring and so...FUN! On several occasions, while waiting in (not-very-long-thank-you-very-much!) lines for rides, I was struck by the detail of the surroundings (think, the pre-ride). The Indiana Jones adventure is a great example of this. Rides at Disneyland aren't just about the (thrill of the) rides. They're about the whole experience; they're about what leads up to the ride. They're about being in a different world.

I could talk on and on about all of this...but I won't. Here's the point: regardless of the fact that Disney is bringing in profits by the bucket-load, the people responsible for making this place what it is have taken great pains and care in creating what we experience after purchasing our pricey Park-Hopper passes. There has been and continues to be great attention to detail in every corner of the park.

I don't want to overspiritualize Disneyland, and I'm not going to. But I'm perfectly fine using a modern-day experience that MANY people are familiar with as an illustration of a spiritual principle. After all, Jesus did this constantly, drawing spiritual analogies, metaphors and parables from the natural world around Him.

Here's my theory: Detail is one reasons why Disneyland is so alluring. What's the big deal about detail? Well, God is all about it--detail, that is. Before we were in the womb, He knew us and already had plans for our lives. He created us, giving us giftings and talents, and made us unique--not a carbon-copy to be found in 6 billion plus. He knows the numbers of hairs on our heads and keeps tracks of the number of tears we've shed. He has created infinite variety within each person...and He highlights these things as being the very things that make us special--that make us who we are.

When I'm at Disneyland, the details make me feel thought-of and welcomed. A place has been made for me (and I definitely pay for it!) The next time I'm at Disneyland, waiting in line for Splash Mountain, or cruising through the underwater land-and-cartoon-scape in the Finding Nemo submarine, I want to take a moment to tell my sons, "See how much detail has gone into creating this ride (and pre-ride)? God has put even more detail into creating you." He thinks about you, He knows you, and He has a place for you.

Yes, there's even more than fun to be had during a trip to the Magic Kingdom.

Unwrapping Your Gifts

I currently oversee the Junior High youth group at The Coastlands. We're about a third of the way into a 12-week series called "Rock Solid: Building Our Lives On Solid Ground." The overarching theme is obedience, and one of my goals for this study is to help our Junior Highers apply to their lives the things they're learning. I've been telling them that God wants us to progress from knowers to doers. Knowing God's word is HUGELY powerful in itself. But even more powerful--and more to the point of what God calls us to do in this life--is putting the things we know into practice so that lives will be changed (ours and others').

The paragraphs that follow are from the outline the Junior Highers read this past weekend. Mainly, I wanted them to understand how precious and gifted they are as unique creations of God AND that God gave them their uniqueness/gifting for the purpose of blessing and serving others.

What a joy and a privilege to lead young people in God's ways!

You are unique.

Not unique weird—unique like, God created you, fashioned you, formed you, put you together…in a very distinctive and exceptional way. On purpose!

God gave you gifts.

Not gifts like the presents you’re looking forward to finding under the tree 37 days from today. These gifts are actually better—way better…even though they may not seem that impressive at first. They’ll last a lot longer and serve you much better than anything you unwrap on Christmas morning.

These gifts come in a package.

Not a package wrapped in fancy paper and ribbon. No—instead, these gifts are wrapped in the package called you. That package is infinitely more amazing than the best and most creatively wrapped Christmas present from the pages of Martha Stewart Living. You are the container of these gifts…but you might not know it. They’re yours to unwrap… and God wants to show you how.

These gifts are yours…but they’re not really for you.

These gifts are truly appreciated only when they’re used for others. Instead of comparing yourself with others and wanting to be like them, God wants to show you who you really are—the person He made you to be—so you can feel good about that person, love that person…and use your gifts to bless and serve others. It doesn't get any better than that.

A Throwdown

Heartburn...

...was what I began feeling around 10:30 last night.

During the 7pm service last night, I challenged one of the Junior Highers to a jalapeno eating throwdown (that’s a contest, in case you’re wondering). They weren’t raw peppers but the pickled kind, so they weren’t quite as hot as they would otherwise be. Still, they lit a little fire in my mouth! (Delayed reaction, too! It took about 2 minutes for the heat to really kick in…and it lingered for about 15 minutes.)

I really like spicy food. Doesn’t matter if it’s Mexican or Chinese chilies, or Thai or Indian curry. I haven’t found a spice that I didn’t like.

I ate 15 slices. That was after eating a couple of really yummy Oaxacan tacos upon which I put probably 10-12 slices only 30 minutes earlier. My challenger? 10 slices. Not bad…not bad at all!

Gastro-intestinal disturbances...

...were what I experienced upon waking this morning at 6…

Afterburn…

...was what I felt this morning upon my two visits to the… Hmmm... maybe that’s too much information.

Todd and I had a conversation this morning that was very helpful to me. (I Thank God for putting people in my life who can help me see things about myself—both good and not so good—that I can’t see.) Todd and I both agreed that one of the vulnerabilities of my teacher-gifting is that I can make things too structured and formulaic in life. I don’t have to worry about not explaining things well or planning them out enough. What I can stand to do is allow myself to be a bit more…spontaneous (think: Jalapeno eating).

For a teacher, studying, teaching and learning can become ends in themselves. God’s word is so exciting! So simple and at the same time, so deep and profound. But learning and knowing God’s word is a means to an end—not the end in itself. I’ve been talking to the Junior Highers about how God wants us to progress from knowers to doers. The point of all this learning is to be changed by it and do things with it that will change others. Like having spontaneous fun serving…and eating pickled peppers.

So, what’s all this have to do with a jalapeno eating throwdown? Not that much, really. That’s the point. Life’s serious enough, challenging enough, and painful enough on its own—i.e., without me adding to it by always taking myself or things too seriously. There are a lot of parties in the Bible. God’s people have historically done a good job at having fun and celebrating life. I want to follow their example more and more.

Hmmm… I wonder what the throwdown will be next week.

The Nation Commitment

The two-hundred, forty-four words that follow are something I wrote that will run in The Nation panel of The Coastlands bulletin for Christmas Eve services (I think). I was asked to write something that would speak to parents about their kids--specifically, how we think about them. We'll see if it gets whittled down or otherwise edited before insertion!

THE NATION IS COMMITTED TO THE BELIEF THAT WORDS "TOO YOUNG" ARE ABSENT FROM GOD'S VOCABULARY.

How do we think of your kids? The short answer is, we think they are precious—a unique and invaluable gift from God. What drives us is a desire to see them as God sees them—to learn who He has made them to be.

There is no one else on the face of the planet like your daughter. The most recent estimates put the earth’s human population at just over 6.6 billion people...but your child is not just a face in a seemingly endless sea of anonymous people. She is known, loved and called by the Father God who created her.

God cares a lot about your son; after all, God created him. Your teenager is a gift—to your life, to this world, and to the Lord— because God created him to be a reflection of an extraordinary blend of different aspects of His character. We are passionate about helping him discover his true identity.

We believe that your sons and daughters are destined for greatness. They are intended by God to be a blessing to people and impact the world around them. The Nation is devoted to helping them identify the value of their giftings and talents, and launching them into the future God intends for them. Their future starts now.

That’s how we think of your kids.

THE NATION

4th & 5th Grade; Junior High; Senior High; College/Career

Merry Christm...Er...Happy Sweets & Treats!

I just finished intern class. Every Thursday morning, I get one hour with the interns at The Coastlands. Though it's definitely not my favorite (read: most awake) time of the day (and by "time" I mean literally the particular hour of ANY morning), I do cherish that time with that whole group together. This morning I was excited to hear from the interns about their experience during our Sweets and Treats event last night. In particular, I was curious to know what the out-of-town interns though; for them, this was their first experience with S&T.

I was so pleased to hear a couple of them equate the event with Christmas! I'll explain that a bit further... The comparison was between the "feel" or "spirit" of the night last night and the feel/spirit of the Christmas season. Here's what I think that means: togetherness, welcome, safety, warmth, unity, family, joyfulness, gratefulness...and not least important, giving. One of the interns who had the privilege of handing out welcome packets to families as they left the building said that he found himself wanting to say "Merry Christmas!" as he said goodbye to them. I love this. There was an intimacy to the night together last night that brought out the best in people. I'm sure there were glitches here and there, and an occasional attitude popping up. But for the most part, everyone seemed very happy to be around this place.

This isn't at all to say, "Wow, great job, Coastlands!" But it is to say, "WOW, thank you, God for what YOU can do through us..." And, it is also to say, "Well done!" to everyone who gave of themselves in this effort. It's not about this place; it's about people responding in obedience to the Lord's instruction to give; it's about people acting (in faith) upon the principle that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive; it's about taking seriously Jesus' words that when we make a place for, welcome and receive children, we receive Him and make His heart glad.

On this last note, I realize I may sound like a broken record. This morning I asked the interns what they felt were the creme de la creme events we do as a church. Their answers didn't surprise me: VBS, Easter/Pancake Breakfast, and Sweets & Treats (and they added that Christmas isn't bad either!). I then asked them what the common denominator was in all these events. They're sharp, so it didn't take long for someone to answer, "the kids." Interesting that the most life-giving, satisfying and fulfilling things we do as a church focus on making a place for kids. (They also happen to be the most tiring =) This is totally the Lord.

About that broken record comment. When it comes to the principle of blessing the kids, that is a groove I don't mind getting stuck in.

Whether you got to participate in Sweets & Treats this year or not, I hope you had an opportunity to give something sweet to a kid. Oh, and merry almost-Christmas to you.