Journey

To anyone on the outside looking in, this summer would look like a fairly ordinary, somewhat dull summer. I've just been living in Warroad, trying to make some money at Subway, and traveling around Minnesota with Jeff. Nothing all too exciting. But God's really been taking me on a journey this summer. In fact, I can see where this journey began a few years ago, but it seems to have made giant steps this summer. It all started by reading books like Blue Like Jazz and Velvet Elvis a few years back. A lot of new ideas presented themselves to me through books like these. They really got me thinking and started challenging me.

Fast forward to this summer. This summer I have just been devouring books. Books that have proved even more challenging than the ones previously mentioned: books like The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President. Even though I was being challenged by what seemed like every page I read--challenged by everything from Fair Trade to being environmentally friendly to the war in Iraq--I still felt as though something was missing. (Now, I do not necessarily agree with 100% of everything I have been reading. However, my positions on matters such as these have been challenged, and some key beliefs have been altered.)

Enter camp. Although I was a counselor, God still did some pretty sweet stuff in my life at camp. We had some quality one-on-one time when we took care of some issues that needed to be taken care of. But even more than that, it was the interaction with my campers that made the biggest difference. I was finally able to use some of the knowledge from classes and the books I've been reading to help out. It was good to see some fruit from all those hours of classes and writing papers. It was very encouraging indeed. While I had been reading all this stuff that had been challenging me to the core, camp helped make it more personal. I needed the personal Jesus thing to help make sense of all that was challenging me.

Since then, I've continued to consume even more books. While I have been challenged in my personal life, I have also been reading these books with youth ministry on the brain. I can't help but read these books and think about how I can integrate some of these ideas into youth ministry. (It doesn't seem all that far off now...less than a year now and I'll be starting my internship. Crazy.) God's definitely been stirring in me and putting some crazy ideas in my head about youth ministry. I'm excited to be in a position where I can put come of these ideas into practice.

That's been my summer. Normal on the outside, but a whole lot going on on the inside. It's good times indeed. I know some of this might sound a bit vague, but if you want to know more, I would LOVE to talk with you about it. All you need to do is ask. Have a great everyone. much love becky

Books I've read along this journey: Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, and Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller; Velvet Elvis and Sex God by Rob Bell; The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne; Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw; Everything Must Change and Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren; Jim and Casper Go to Church by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper; and Lord, Save Us from Your Followers by Dan Merchant.