Searching for Meaning and Purpose...

Here's the dilemma: mercy and forgiveness or safety and justice? I'm not entirely sure myself, but it is the question I'm face with... There is a situation where I'm torn because it could well have been an accident, but at the same time it could equally be completely on purpose. That's why I say it's a dilemma. Jesus always seemed to have the answers in situations like this, but I seem to never have an answer just more questions. Perhaps it's His being the Son of God and knowing everything while I'm just a guy who tries to make wise decisions and do the things He would have done... But, can I let mercy and forgiveness stretch to this 6th incident? I don't think so. If one or two, yeah. But this is after a stout talking to and a serious meeting to define hard lines so that we could keep everyone safe and make things run smoothly. Although Jesus was always forgiving people and is always forgiving me, how can I fail to forgive when I have been ...

Today I was really a happy camper. Ask students to do something, tell them why (and make sure it is a worthwhile cause!), and let them at it. Today my junior high students were awesome. They cleaned, fixed and worked for nothing (although they all netted a free drink, but that's pretty insignificant in comparison) except for the fact that it went to help people. That is something sadly missing in a lot of communities, not to mention the idea of real community. The very word talks about its key: unity in common. Not that I have any idea about word roots and things like that, I was a religion and philosophy major, not an English major. However, the point remains: community is about being in unity around something you share in common. That is something we try to build here, authentic community. Authentic community is a place where people gather and are treated well regardless of their social, economic, or age status. That doesn't happen often today, yet it is at the heart...

My newest kiddo is here! Today Nicholas Isaiah came to join the fray, making the Matt Schaffner clan 6 strong (Me, Kathryn, Gavin, Audra, Gabriel, and Nicholas!). He was 6lbs 14 ozs and 19" long. It's awesome to witness/be a part of new life. Seeing someone so helpless who is ours come to be, is incredible. But, I am also amazed at the parallels to spiritual life. When someone meets Jesus and begins to follow, those of us who have been around a while and are mature (we'd better be or else there's something wrong with everything we do to see "growth") are there to help and nurture. Why? Because someone who is new to the Jesus thing are like a baby (spiritually) and are unable to fend for themselves! That means some mature believers need to step into that person's life and be mentor/parent figures in a spiritual sense. But, have you ever seen that happen in your church? Probably not very often! As a youth worker, I hope that my students get to kn...