Fight Night?

For our Wednesday Youth service this week we had 'Fight Night'. We went all out with a boxing ring, gloves, head gear, Rocky music, ring announcer, fight posters. As usual, I was there running the graphics and videoing the different fights and just generally enjoying myself. During the service we paused for worship and a sermon, then got back in the ring. I had to wonder what was going through those teens minds. Especially those visiting for the first time as they walked in and sat down to watch or joined in the fun. I mean, I know the reasoning behind why we did it. It was fun and got the point across, that we are in a spiritual fight. But it was also different from the normal everyday thing we have come to expect from church. But, did we communicate that?

Do those kids (sorry students) now think that it is true that Christians, especially Evangelicals, are just violent blow hards looking for an excuse to rachet up hate filled retoric. Or did they go home and think, "Yeah! I am in a fight for my soul and I need to train and be prepared all the time". Do they understand that it's okay as a Christian to have fun and to sometimes use light hearted measures in order to get across a heavy truth?

I often think of that during church services. As the media director, I can have a lot of influence over the feel of a service. Is it light and airy, dark and solomn, quick or slow? Does that mini-movie communicate the overall message of the what the church is trying to do or what the Pastor is trying to say? Does that flashing or moving background really work with a hymn from 1763? My job is to make sure that we are communicating the right message. Marrying creativity with humility is something I take very seriously and I often feel slightly embarassed whenever I recieve a compliment. But I do wonder if we ever think about what we are communicating. Are we all on the same page? Does the name on the outside of the building really say what we are about? Do you say alot but then not do alot?

What about you? Do you make sure you are communicating effectively? It can be what you wear, what you write, what you read, listen to, watch, the way you drive, where you spend your money, the look on your face? Tell me what you think.

What am I to do?

Do you ever get to the point where you don't seem to know which way to turn? Do I quit my job? Do I divorce my wife? Do I run away? Do I stop caring? Do I work harder? Do I cry out to God? Do I give up?

I am not saying I am contemplating any of those things, but I am sure that someone out there is thinking at least one of them. There is a war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya that we are part of. Health care is going through the roof. Jobs are scarce and it seems like if you are really dumb you get to be a leader. It can get very depressing. I know I get to the point where I start to depend on myself more and more. The bad thing about that is that I am an idiot as well and can never quit seem to get it all right. It is like being a juggler on a unicycle with chainsaws running full blast just waiting for you to miss. When you got it all going, it is incredible, but all of a sudden you hit that little pebble on the road you didn't see and the bike starts to wobble, just a little bit, then you start to swerve, but you're still good. Then you start going downhill a little and things are still all right. But then the hill becomes steeper, there are rocks instead of pebbles on the road, someone starts yelling at you and there is a kid hiding behind the hedges up ahead with a paintball gun. So, now what do you do? Stop the ride of course. Throw the chainsaws away from you, don't want them to accidently slice your leg off. Put your feet on the ground and catch your breath.

I know I need to turn to the only one that can make all of this right, God. How to I know that He can do this? Simple, because He has before and I know that He will again. It is hard to argue against your own experiences. I don't need to show historically, logically or archeologically that the bible is true and that God is real and that He loves me. I have experienced it, and I am honest enough with myself to know it was not a higher enlightenment within like that. I know He will take the wheel, guide the steps, light the path, hang the signs, write the manual, kick me down the path I need to go down. All I have to do is let Him and stop trying to do it myself. But it is definitely not easy.

How about you? How hard is it for you to let go? What do you want to do on your own? And why do you think it is so hard to let God be God?