Waite for it...

My love-hate relationship with confirmation classes

Posted on April 13, 2015February 27, 2019 by William Douthwaite

“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?'” (Revelation 7:13)

Last Sunday morning, the answer was our church’s most recent confirmation class. With a red carnation pinned to their white robes, five eighth-graders had the promises of their baptism confirmed as they made public profession of their Christian faith. Over the past two years, I taught them the basic stories and truths of the Bible using Luther’s Small Catechism and a variety of teaching materials I’ve collected over the past thirty years.

I’ve known Corey his whole life, baptizing him fourteen years ago. I’ve known Adam nearly as long. They’re both in Boy Scouts, are very intelligent, and talk non-stop at an extremely rapid pace. I’ve known Kristina about six years, since her family moved to town. She’s one of the quietest people I’ve ever met. It was so fun trying to get her to laugh. I met Olivia when her older sister began confirmation class four years ago. She a talented gymnast with a contagious laugh. Cole’s only been here about a year, but he’s smart and has his head on straight. Everything they learned about God and His Word was important. But just as important was the relationship forged during each week’s 90 minute class. I usually make a few extra “unofficial” certificates with some of the nicknames I invent for them. (This year I was convinced Adam was an alien, so I called him “Alphonzo Zorf. And, for some reason we came up with “Potatolivia,” too.)

Confirmation is one of those powerful worship-family-Holy Spirit moments for me. Unable to believe in Jesus Christ or come to him by our own reason or strength, I am so aware of the Spirit’s work during this rite. I choked up a little because Corey’s grandfather, not in very good health, not only came, but was able to come to the altar to lay hands on his grandson.

You see, I have this love-hate relationship with the whole process of confirmation. Call me crazy, but I love teaching Jr. High or Middle School students. They have so many questions and desperately want to learn. High school students are different. They think they know everything. Seventh and eighth graders are just discovering who they are, learning what they can do and dreaming about what they can be. Teaching them involves laughing, teasing, yelling and threatening. It also involves transition, for they grow so much through their seventh and eighth grade years. Clueless in seventh grade, they show up for their second year suddenly having discovered the opposite sex, combing their hair and wearing makeup.

But as much as I love teaching these classes, I hate what confirmation will mean. Typically, I will never see half of them again. The drop out rate is consistently 50%. Tragically, their parents will stop bringing them to church and before long the entire family will drift away from the congregation. Like salmon returning to spawn, families show up with their seventh-grader because they need to make their children attend these classes. Sadly, when it’s over, these families will be gone.

This year will be atypical. Four of the families have been very involved in the church, and I expect they will continue. I only have to say, “Adios” to one. And next fall, I’ll start all over again with a new class of fresh recruits with a variety of backgrounds and personalities. And whenever we meet, it will once again be the most frustrating and rewarding part of my week.

Posted with Blogsy

Ministry

What’s your part of the wall?

Posted on March 10, 2015March 10, 2015 by William Douthwaite

In his book He Walks Among Us, Rich Stearns, president of World Vision, mentions the daunting task tackled by Nehemiah and those who returned to Jerusalem after exile in Babylon. The walls of the city had been destroyed many years before, but Nehemiah set out to make sure they were rebuilt. How in the world would they accomplish such a enormous task? Stearns writes

Nehemiah understood that great walls are repaired just one stone at a time, so he organized the people to each do their part: “Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house” (Nehemiah 3:28). The impossible task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was completed in fifty- two days because each person tackled the section of the wall that lay right in front of them (p. 40).

When there are billions of people living in poverty all over the world and thousands of children dying each day, what difference can any of us really make? Talk about a daunting task! Where would we even start?

Well, rather than feeling guilty or inadequate, we might want to ask the question, “What’s my part of the wall?” What opportunity has God placed before you to make a difference in what looks insignificant but is in reality a very important job? Who did you see with a need today? Whether in a far away place or across the street, that’s your part of the wall.

Stearns also quotes Oswald Chambers:

The great hindrance in spiritual life is that we will look for big things to do. Jesus took a towel . . . and began to wash the disciples’ feet.

A great way to start each day – to remind ourselves of both God’s mercy and the needs around us – could be to ask, “What part of the wall do you want me to work on today?” I am sure the Lord will let you know!

Posted with Blogsy

Stuff

Coming around the backstretch: This and that (for March 7, 2015)

Posted on March 7, 2015March 7, 2015 by William Douthwaite

We’re halfway through the season of Lent on our way to Easter Sunday. Hopefully I’ll remember to set my clocks ahead tonight so I’m not late for church tomorrow morning. I discovered a bunch of interesting stuff to share this past week.

Amy Carmichael wrote, ““Let nothing be said about anyone unless it passes through the three sieves: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” (aka, The Three Sieves of Socrates). Tim Challies reflects on the importance of that wisdom in The 3 Sieves.

Aaron Armstrong recommends these books to Christians who would like to read about Islam. A few more are added in the comments.

Walter Fretz is the name of a baby who survived just a few moments after being born at just 19 weeks’ gestation. He was tiny, but had a powerful message to send about preborn human life in this story from lifenews.com. According to this article from Christianity today, the Guttmacher Institute’s research has found twenty percent of women who have an abortion identify themselves a born-again, evangelical, charismatic, or fundamentalist Christians. That’s reason enough to make sure we (Christians and the Church) frequently and stubbornly speak of God’s mercy and forgiveness as well as His gift of life.

Food updates:

I made a batch of Pinot Noir Brownies. They are even more chocolately and delicious as I had hoped!
I like Peeps as much as anyone, but I’m dubious about Peeps flavored milk from Prairie Farms. I’ll let you try it and tell me what you think.
Do you like the Lemon Cake at Starbucks? Here’s the recipe you can make at home. They claim it’s even better.
Be sure to make the Brownies and Lemon Cake before you read this article from the World Health Organization, which states that we are getting way too many calories from sugar.
I have to make one of these for next week’s baby shower. I hope I can find a nice watermelon at this time of the year.

Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby have been in the news as companies begun by Christians. Here are a few more companies I’ll bet you didn’t know were also started by believers. BTW, the Chick-fil-A in Palm Coast opens March 19!

Life, Ministry

The Dropbox

Posted on March 4, 2015 by William Douthwaite

Last night my wife and I went to see “The Dropbox” a documentary directed and produced by students from the University of Southern California about a pastor in Seoul, Korea who constructed a box in the wall of his church to rescue babies that would otherwise be abandoned in the streets. It was a moving and emotional journey to the church and home of Pastor Lee Jong-rak, who not only continues to care for his own disabled son, but adopted more babies for a total of fifteen children he and his wife now care for. Over 300 babies were left in the box in 2013, surrendered mostly by single mothers who could not keep them because of social pressure or could not care for them because of congenital disabilities.

But rather than seeing the needs and challenges, Pastor Lee sees each child as perfect, beautiful and important. As I saw each child smile, I saw them in a different way, too. The film tugs at your heart in several ways. Your mind simultaneously says you should be doing something for orphans and asks how could anyone do what Pastor Lee and his wife have done?

The director of the film, Brian Ivie became a Christian during the six months he spent in Korea gathering information and footage for the film. He realized that he was one of those kids, and discovered that God still wanted him. He briefly tells of his own transformation in an interview at the end of the film. Once you realize how important your life is to Jesus Christ, you are reminded that every life is sacred and worth our love and care.

You can learn more about the film, which is only being shown March 3-5 in selected theaters at www.thedropboxfilm.com. I am sure the movie will be on DVD before too long, and it would make for a good movie night at church!

Devotions, Stuff

Brownies, beagles and badmouthing: This and That (for February 28, 2015)

Posted on February 28, 2015 by William Douthwaite

Here are a few things I’ve run across this week.

This is a tough one (but a good one) to read for those who are of a different political persuasion: Why you should think twice before badmouthing Obama.

Food news! (My weekly this and that apparently now needs a “food” section.) From the UK, a grandmother finds a Monopoly piece in her cole slaw. You’ll soon be able to get edible coffee cups in Great Britain and butter-flavored Kit Kats in Japan. And I’ll let you know when I’ve whipped up a batch of Pinot Noir Brownies.

Now that a beagle has won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, some may be thinking about getting a beagle of their own. My family had a beagle when I was growing up in Ridley Park, PA. His registered name was Sir Richard of Hastings, my dad called him Schnitz (short for Schnitzle), but we mostly called him Bo. (Why? It’s a long story for another post.) Anyway, he had all the characteristics of the breed mentioned in Beware the Beagle. Before he fattened up, he would bolt the minute the front door was open a millimeter too wide or a millisecond too long. He would search out the most minute crumbs of food throughout the house. And he never tired of guarding the yard from squirrels.

Grace, Life

Legend of the One Eyed Pastor

Posted on February 23, 2015February 22, 2015 by William Douthwaite

Fortunately this a story has a happy ending and I am still a two-eyed pastor, but it was touch and go for a few weeks.

It all started one afternoon in mid-November. I think it was a Wednesday. I was sitting at my desk at church, working on Sunday’s sermon, and noticed a shadow in the lower left corner of my right eye. I’ve got a few all-star floaters in that eye and sometimes my contacts get out of place, so I just rubbed it a little, and resumed what I was doing. But it was still there. Mostly when I looked up and to the right. Weird. About an hour later, it seemed a little larger, so I thought I’d give my eye doctor a call. “Come right over,” they said. It was just down the street, so a few minutes later I was there and Dr. Nunez was peering into my eye. He described a a horseshoe shaped tear in my retina, and it had begun to pull away. He used the sobering words “ocular emergency,” and called to see if he could get me in to the retina specialist. They were already done for the day, so my appointment was first thing the next morning. Continue reading “Legend of the One Eyed Pastor” →

Stuff

This and that (February 21, 2015)

Posted on February 21, 2015 by William Douthwaite

Just a few things from this past week that caught my attention:

Erik Raymond is just an ordinary pastor who has some interesting thoughts about “How to think about persecution when you’re not very persecuted.”

It’s long, but I found Graeme Wood’s article about “What ISIS really wants” in The Atlantic helpful in understanding the current situation.

I’d like to get a Playmobile Martin Luther, but they sold out in like three days, and are now fetching over $100 on Ebay.

Ministry

“This is my pastor.”

Posted on February 19, 2015February 19, 2015 by William Douthwaite

I drove down to the hospital today to visit someone in the intensive care unit. I found out she was there last night just before Ash Wednesday worship. Her diagnosis sounded serious, so I made sure I set aside some time to go and visit her.

She was not a member of our church. She and her family had attended for a while a few years ago. I had baptized their three children. I knew they had a genuine Christian faith. However, I had not seen them in several years.

As I sat and talked with her for a few minutes, someone stopped in to draw some blood. After I said, “Hello,” and asked if it was OK to stay in the room, my friend introduced me: “This is my pastor.”

Continue reading ““This is my pastor.”” →