It's not every new year you get to celebrate it with 17,000 of your closest friends. It's cause for dancing. More on that later.
Unlike the prior posts, I let this one filter and process in me. Needless to say, I'm exhausted as
I've been operating on less sleep than usual. Thankfully the God who is our cause to rejoice is also
our comfort and rest.
I was excited yet sad for Urbana09 to be coming to its finale. This has been an incredible week of learning, re-learning, affirming, encouraging, challenging, and all the above and more. I love my Urbana Tribe and while I am sad to be parting from them for the time being, I am excited to learn what God will do through us until we graduate.
After sharing in some Imo's Pizza with some non-St.Louisians, (I had a conversation with a girl asking what folks from St.L called themselves. I answered 'Cardinals Fans.), and an impromptu hymn sing at a hotel lobby piano, I sat in the Arts and Mission session.
I've noticed we tend to relegate arts, imagination, creativity, to the periphery of our Faith, when the very first act God did was a grand work of art called the Cosmos. The lady who ran the seminar, Ms. Harris, was born in Alaska and had classical music training, and was working in the mission field in Siberia and wondered why her love of arts and mission were separate. Until she ended up using those to help the Yukut people of northern Siberia to worship in their own native Heart language.
I've wondered myself how my eclectic personality, chimerical range of interests, swiss army knife skills set, and randomness but God will not give me an interest or ability that He will not ultimately use to bring Glory to HImself. God is the great bridge builder. What we have separated and compartmentalize, He will fuse together in Him and none can sunder.
I attended a business seminary next about the integration of faith and work. God gave Adam a job before He gave him anything else. Work when done under the Lordship of Christ, is worship. We must work with intentionality and integrity.
THe main evening session was the exclamation point to the week. Alec Hill reminded us we can't wait. Sharing the Good News is the most important thing we can do for another. God will use seemingly random encounters, and the times when we don't expect anything, to be used in powerful ways that we cannot even imagine. Michael Oh, who is Korean, living as a missionary in Japan, reminded us Christ is the heart of reconciliation for all peoples who have ever wronged another.
Brenda Salter McNeil gave one of the most powerful messages I've ever heard. She spoke from John 4, the woman at the well. (I remember using that text a long time ago in young life where I used Tetris as my primary illustration.) I recommend watching the whole thing here http://www.urbana09.org/program.webcast.cfm
From the moment she came out on stage singing, "River of Life" until the end when she had us on our feet,
The Spirit was there. I can't do her message justice here but, in summary, God has moved into the neighborhood because things aren't right. Because we need Him to. As He has gone into our neighborhood, we are to go to others' and "We must go out in the power of God." she told us. Let the love and character of God flood out of us to everyone.
Too often I don't and I sit on what God has given me like a dragon hoarding treasure, and after everything, I thought "why?" I thought about all the things I wrestle with. I thought about my fears be they rational or irrational, my insecurities, my inadequacies, the personal gravity I battle against to get off my rear and do what I need to. I also thought about my strengths; everything from my left step through hook, to my songs, my writings, my photos, my teaching, etc. I wondered if the sum of my abilities can overcome the totality of my fears. I don't know.
Ultimately, it doesn't come down to whether or not I can harness my abilities to overcome my fears, but will I present them all to God and let Him to with them what He wants. Nothing God gives us is a waste. Nothing we do in him is useless.
After Brenda Salter McNeil's message we shared communion. I had to leave Urbana06 before communion to be at a youth lock-in. There's nothing greater than sitting at the Table with 17,000 brothers and sisters gathered in the presence of the Lord, especially in a time of celebration.
The Redeemed of the Lord will Say So as the new year turns
This was by far the greatest New Year I've ever celebrated. After communion there was an electrifying
Drama/Dance/Rap/Music/Rhythm/I don't know what else to call it that was one of the most creative performances
I've ever seen. It started with tap dancing and narration based on John 1, and told the story of creation,
incarnation, redemption, and even featured Indians doing their native dances in full dress. The worship
team led us in a few more songs until in the middle of "Say So" when we counted down, and welcomed in
The New Year. And the Children of the Living God, danced with new life in their feet.
As I think back at everything that's happened to me since the last Urbana, it's been quite a journey.
I remember Ajith Fernando telling us God is bringing about a new humanity, where every tribe, nation, tounge
will gather before the throne and worship. He is using us to bring about that new humanity. That was the beginning
of my escape from the limbo of my mid-twenties crisis. That same year, I spent some time at L'abri where
I confronted my cynicism, and briefly found Shelter. Later that summer, I returned home to Discipleship Focus
where God showed me the years prior were not me fouling up everything I did, but His gift to me
to prepare me for where He'll take me.
I've made other professional, personal, milestones since then such as working two great jobs as a
special education teacher and youth advocate, both of which were gifts from Him. I finished the album.
I've seen the boys in my youth group grow into outstanding adults, all of whom are still walking with the Lord.
As I left this Urbana, I prayed for myself what I've often asked others to pray. I prayed for more than the emotional high
or spiritual rush that usually accompanies such experiences. I've prayed for a deeper understanding
of who God is, who I am and a greater realization of how desperately dependent I must be on Him
for All Things.
If Christ can remove the stone that barred the grave, He can break the stone of my heart. He can
break the bonds of the oppressed. He can open the paths He wants me to walk.
Let us go together.
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