No handlebars

"I can ride a bike no handlebars.. no handlebars.."

I met two a new bands this weekend; bands I really liked. The suggestion came from the back seat on the way home from a youth retreat, where two Sophomores were splitting an ipod. "Hey Pastor, I think you'll really like this one. Why don't you tune the stereo to our ipodradiostation?" I complied with the request and they were instantly surprised by the bose subwoofer behind them. "Woah.. cool!"

"I can ride a bike no handlebars.. no handlebars."

The band is Flobot, they sing rap and hip/hop. I usually hate rap and hip/hop! But this band uses violins & trumpets & accordions & ska. And, well . . they hand it over!

"No handlebars" is all ethics. What if you take arrogant male juvenile stupidity all the way to the White House and put it in charge? What if?

If?

"Flobot" - and my other new favorite band, "Cage the Elephant."

Leave it to the latest pagan bands to ask the really tough Christian questions.

Go boys!

Recipes

I just returned from a most exhilarating weekend with two hundred high school students at 3500 feet in the North Cascades, three hours from civilization. What happens when you take six busloads of hormonally alive teens to a very remote place in the mountains, mix in thirty youth directors, parents, pastors and planners, add a truly gifted Lutheran hip-hop/rap artist, (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron!) a pool hall, bowling alley, sauna, great food, ice cream, God’s Word, Sacrament and the Holy Spirit?

Good question, really.

That’s why we went, and that’s why we will go again. Because if faith development was scripted we could just print and mail out books; and we would. But it isn’t, so we go. . .

What happens on a retreat? Which part is the most important? Is it the worship times? The “prayer around the cross?” Sharing Holy Communion with kids from all around the Northwest? Is it small groups? Servant events? Mealtime? Bedtime devotions, song sessions with other churches? Is it deep faith conversations with youth leaders? Is it the guest speaker, or the pristine setting? Is it new friendships? Is it Rustyburgers, or adding wild complication to the timeless classic roadtrip game, “Slug Bug?” Is it narrowly avoiding adding fresh deer hides to the Pastor’s bumper on the way home?

More good questions. I imagine the answers will be different for each of us. That’s why we went, and that’s why we will go again. Because if faith development was scripted we could just print and mail out books; and we would. But it isn’t, so we go. . .

Faith development is so much like good parenting: The doctrine, philosophy, teaching and strategy are all important, but the real fruit of both faith development and parenting is borne in the unscripted times together: in the car, after the meal, before the session, passing firewood, passing gas, during free time . . . in the still and quiet moments and in the ruckus, as long as we are together! And like good parenting, the whole investment is done in love and hope; for there is no guaranteed outcome to our work- only irresistable odds!

That’s why we went, and that’s why we will go again.

I’m convinced that this is why Jesus was not an author, but a friend; not a lawyer but a lover. (Though he was divinely quotable and wonderfully competent in local law!) Jesus went on retreat with the crowds and savored the travel time, taking questions and conversations from the back seat as they came. He sang, laughed, relaxed, ate, cried, worked, “redirected” and rejoiced us through our wonderings into faith. No doubt, Jesus knew the playlist on Peter’s ipod.

That’s why we went, and that’s why we will go again. Want to come along?