Messy!

Isn't life a messy thing, i find this continually. As soon as i think things are starting to take some order then they go and change again.

This has been realy evident this week for me. In my work i've tried to be really strategic, introducing systems and rotas and planning etc. I have an idea of where i conceiveably think things might go and then it all just seems to change again. I've blogged about putting God in boxes before and i guess this is linked.

I'm struggling to see logical systems of development within young people which i guess is a floored starting point. Ok i'm not sure if any of this is making sense but i'm trying to 'mind dump' into this post so i can try and work through it.

I am going to running a new discipleship course which i've written based around the nooma DVD's (which are fantastic by the way- thanks Lou). I'm not sure who if any will come but i thought it was something which i should try and develop and offer. My thoughts have been drawn to the 'what next' question. How do we encourage young people to be authentic church? My initial thoughts are to have some type of youth congregation and i have been involved with such things in the past. This would give young people the opportunity to try and develop community, try things out and worship God in ways that connects with them. But, what about the church as a whole with all its different elements, surely one of things that should make church stand out and truly family are a mix of people (ages, classes,sexes etc)? The church within which i work are very supportive but they i guess understandably want to see young people come into 'the church'. I'm gonna be honest, at the moment that's just not gonna happen. The places where the 'adults' and 'young people' are coming from and their expectations are just so different. There are times where i feel i'm trying to hold the 2 together and that at the moment just feels like i'm getting my arms ripped off.

So i come back to the old question that i and many others have been trying to answer for some time, how can these different congregations see themselves as part of the church and interact with each other whilst recognising different starting points and expressions?

Anyone got a simple answer?

Things are messy, i am realising more and more that i am a person of order. This is a tension but i guess the realisation might just be a place for me to learn from. Do i miss out on spontaneous youth work by being so order and programme driven? I think so!