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Bike Race Through Faith

Just some musings about faith, music, sports, current events, and probably a slew of other topics.

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CMS: We Are Messengers

12/20/2016

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The Christian Music Spotlight (CMS) has moved! From here on out we will be posting this monthly article online! Easier to go directly to the music, like, share comment, etc... 
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Hi everyone!
This month I have another band from Ireland for you (Rend Collective is from Ireland too!). Introducing "We Are Messengers"!
"We Are Messengers" is a relatively young band, but have already made a good name for themselves. They released their first full-length album in April of 2016, and it reach #10 on Billboard's Christian charts. They've had two very popular singles played all over Christian radio: "Everything Comes Alive" and "Magnify". Magnify is currently #15 on the top 20 christian charts. Check out those videos down below.
Lead singer Darren Mulligan has a fascinating story to share including atheism, a life of selfishness, selling all his guitars and vowing to never play again, to now being the lead singer of one of the top up-and-coming christian bands in the US. Read more about Darren and We Are Messengers here:

We Are Messengers Biography
Give them a listen. Let me know what you think in the comments. Like and share on Facebook too!. If you have suggestions for next month's CMS, leave a comment too!
Happy Listening!
~Ben
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Camp Life = Real Life: 4 Life Lessons Learned at Camp

10/29/2015

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Lesson #4: Relationships Matter

Humans naturally crave relationship. Introvert or extrovert, I don't care. We crave relationships. We long to know and be known. We want someone to care about us, and we want to have people to care about. That is who we are.

Camp, again, is a great example. I believe that at its core, camp is truly about relationships. Nature, sure. Games and fun, yup. Food, absolutely! But NONE of those things would have been nearly as meaningful without the relationships built while enjoying those things. This was clearly demonstrated to me this summer while at Waypost during confirmation camp.

I still, and always will, have a special place in my heart for Waypost Camp. There are many special spaces there for me. But as I was there this summer, I felt that I was missing something. I am now far enough removed from my time there as a staff person, that I have personal relationships with few, if any, staff there. As I walked around camp and saw all of the treasured spaces from my years there, I realized that it wasn't the location or the things there that made it special to me, it was the people. It was the RELATIONSHIPS that I had built with so many former staff and campers that made the space special to me. That point is driven home to me even more so as I continue to see my former coworkers (now I call them friends). We still laugh and share meaningful time together, just like we did at camp. The bonds we made there are so strong, that they carry over anywhere.

We see evidence of our need for positive and meaningful relationships everywhere.
  • There is research that points to children's need for several positive relationships ("research" button below).
  • I hear anecdotal stories about the importance of relationships all the time. One example: Police in Spencer have made a walk-through of the Spencer schools a part of their regular "route". Students have now begun to build a relationship with those officers; saying hi and giving high-fives as the officers walk through. Police, students, and teachers getting along, feeling comfortable with each other, and feeling safer...sounds like a winner to me.
  • In our Disciples for Christ program, youth and their mentors take a meal to an elderly resident's home. They eat and talk with them. The folks they visit really enjoy the company and the conversation. And the youth and mentors generally say they love the experience. They love hearing the stories from previous generations and being able to share some of their own.
I could list more evidence and stories, but I think you get the idea.

Shouldn't this basic human need be the primary focus of the church? Sometimes we get so bogged down in the church with periphery like new programs, old programs, cool activities, praise bands, facility wants/needs, budget, etc. But if those things don't facilitate relationship building, then what is the point?

Peace, 
​Ben

Research
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Camp Life = Real Life: 4 Life Lessons Learned at Camp

10/19/2015

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Lesson #3: God is Everywhere!

     I had heard this idea all the time when I was growing up; God is everywhere, or God is in everything we do. I always just kind of shook my head in agreement, but I don't think I really had any grasp of that idea until I finished my first summer at camp.

     That summer was the first time I had ever heard the phrase "God moment". A God moment is an experience you had in which you felt God (really the Holy Spirit) was present and active or you felt that God's hands were in on the situation. As staff, we would weekly (sometimes daily) share stories of situations in which we saw God working. It took me some time to wrap my head around a "God moment". What was God working and what was just coincidence? How could you tell the difference? Was that really God working?

     I came to realize pretty quickly that God was everywhere; I just needed to pay attention! I started to simply step back every once in a while and ask myself, "Okay, what did God do in my life today?" I began to realize that God's fingers were everywhere. We know that God created the heavens and the earth, but God didn't stop there. God continues to create today. So we can see God in nature/creation. God sent Jesus to suffer and die for our sins on the cross, only to rise again, giving us new life. So we can see God despite our pain and suffering, knowing that Christ paid the ultimate price for our eternal life. There is joy in that. God also sent the Holy Spirit as our helper, who gifts us all with the fruits of the spirit. So we can see God in the actions of others around us. 

     My challenge to you this week is to take a moment everyday to step back and ask yourself, "What did God do in my life today? Where have I seen God in action today?" Whether its been a downright terrible day, an awesome, or somewhere in the middle, look for those God moments in your life. Because I promise you, they are there. And its SOOOOO good to be reminded every day that God has been walking with you.

Blessings, 
Ben
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Camp Life = Real Life...4 Life Lessons Learned at Camp

10/12/2015

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Lesson #2: Circles

     After 4 summers working at camp, the phrase "Let's make a circle!" has been embedded into my brain. Anytime we gathered as a group of any size for any reason, we started it out by say "Let's make a circle!" Just typing it now is kind of driving me crazy! :) 
     So what about circles, Ben? What makes circles worth writing about? What can we learn from the circle? Here are a few things I think of:
  • Inclusion: Circles put everyone on an even playing field. Everyone can see everyone else. The whole group can see and hear what is going on in the center (the focus of the group). Jesus sure liked to include everyone and anyone in what he did...just saying.
  • Value: In a circle, there is no beginning and no end. There is no first, no last, and no pecking order. I think Jesus talked about that sort of thing once or twice. We can certainly stand to remember that more often.
  • Faith Circle: I love the visual of "Faith Circle". Our lives are full of people, past and present, that impact our faith in some way and help us to grow. Those people make up our faith circles. Who is in your faith circle? Who is it in your life that loves God and loves you? 
     So maybe today and moving forward we can all try to be a little more inclusive and welcoming, value the gifts of others - not just our own, and remember those important people that play an important role in our lives. 

Peace,    
Ben

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Camp Life = Real Life...4 Life Lessons Learned at Camp

10/6/2015

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At camp, we would often talk about “camp life” being different from “real life”, because the schedule and day to day activities at camp tend to be far different from what we experience in a typical day at home. While “camp life” and “real life” may look very different, I have come to believe that they shouldn’t. At the very least, there are INCREDIBLE lessons to be learned from the “camp life” that would do wonders for our “real life”. 

Lesson #1: Ultimate Fun

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        We played a TON of games at camp. Basketball, ultimate frisbee, gagaball, capture the chicken, and so many more! As staff our goal with any game or activity was to have as much fun as possible. Imagine the bell curve above is measuring the amount of fun everyone is having. At the beginning, everyone is learning the rules of the game and just figuring out how to play. Once the group figures it out, the fun level continues to grow until it reaches the peak fun level...AKA "Ultimate Fun". Beyond that point, the activity can sometimes go on for too long, becoming boring and not as much fun to play again. If the game is stopped at "Ultimate Fun", those playing the game are left wanting more, and the game can, and should, be played again.
        I think we would all be better off if we applied this "Ultimate Fun" concept to our lives. Here are a few examples of some things I think we tend to take beyond "Ultimate Fun" (at least the things that have been on my mind lately):
  1. Food: We all know the feeling of overindulging. Not only are you left feeling stuffed and uncomfortable, but the long-term effects aren't great either...trust me, I know. :)
  2. Busy-ness: We all seem to be in competition with each other to see who is the busiest. The conversation usually looks something like this: "How are you?" "Ugh, busy! You?" "Yup, pretty busy." And then both parties go back and forth with all of the things they have going on. I think busy-ness is killing us! We've become so over-worked and over-stressed that we sometimes lose sight of what is important in life...our relationships with God and those we care about the most. Don't fall into the trap!!!!
  3. Athletics: Anyone who knows me might be shocked by that one. Trust me I love me some sports, but we can go to far. In this case, I'm referring to youth sports. I think in general, our kids are doing way too much, way too early! I question how much this is helping our kids. Trust me, I want them to be active and exercising, and to learn and excel in sports. What concerns me is what we're beginning to see at the upper high school levels. I'm seeing 2 major things becoming more and more of a problem:
    1. Kids are quitting sports programs around their sophomore or junior years because they are just burnt out. It is no longer fun for them. They blew by "ultimate fun" around 8th grade.
    2. Those who don't get burnt out are getting seriously hurt or developing chronic injuries. Kids are putting so many miles on their muscles so early that by the time they are in the upper levels of their competitive careers, they are riding the bench with some part of their body in a cast. It just kills me to see that! (not all of them experience this, but unfortunately it seems to be more and more)
        We have got to find some kind of balance between healthy               levels of activity and gaining meaningful experience on our             courts/fields.

Life Lesson #1: Ultimate Fun - Find a balance in your life. Don't over do it. It's okay to leave wanting more, it gives you something to look forward to.
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Spiritual Steak

5/26/2015

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This is an article written by Jack Busche, who served this past semester as an intern with us at Zion in Stratford's School-to-Work program. We asked Jack to write a response to a blog series by John Roberto, a leading expert in Faith Formation, called "A New Faith Forming Ecosystem". Thank you Jack for sharing your wisdom and insight with us!  
As Lutherans, we place an emphasis on the faith education of our youth, from Sunday School right up to their confirmation, and rightly so; having a strong foundation of faith is essential for ensuring that young adults continue to grow in their relationship with Christ. However, where Lutherans often drop the ball is at that point, after confirmation; because it is such a milestone, many of us treat it as a graduation, after which we have “completed” our faith education. We’re done now, right? We know enough to get by in worship, and we can relax until it’s time for our own children to go to Sunday School and go through the same steps towards confirmation. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, God has a greater plan for us than that; he doesn’t want us to just put in our time or to graduate from the church. He wants us to continue to grow in our faith, even after we affirm our baptism, as our confirmands did this May. As Paul said in his letter to the Jews, explaining how they needed to grow in their understanding, 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14). In this light, adulthood in the church does not mean allowing ourselves to become lax and content with just consuming soft spiritual food; as Paul said, we need to be able to take on the spiritual steak and be able to digest it, actively engaging with real-world problems as a mature faith community, strengthened by God’s word.

In John Roberto’s new blog series, “A New Faith Forming Ecosystem”, he compares daily Christian life and faith formation to an ecosystem, with many interconnected and interacting parts each affecting each other. When a faith formation ecosystem is working, the entire congregation depends on one another, growing in faith as they consistently learn, celebrate, pray, serve, and support each other. To do this, Roberto says, we must become “intentionally intergenerational”; that is, we must set a goal, as a congregation, to integrate and involve all age groups in the faith formation of youth and adults. In doing this, we will “foster intergenerational relationships, faith sharing, and storytelling,” strengthening our community of believers even as we grow in our faith.

Roberto provides many ideas as to how a congregation’s faith ecosystem can be improved, from improving a church’s digital presence to encouraging family faith formation at home; however, the common thread that runs through all of his ideas is the importance of continued faith growth for all Christians, no matter their age. By continuing to grow in the understanding of our faith throughout a lifetime, beyond confirmation, we can encourage and mentor young Christians as well as mature to reach a deeper relationship with Christ.

Eating solid food is a difficult thing for an infant; it takes months of work to slowly introduce new foods, but once they are able to take on those new foods, their diet is expanded, ensuring their future health. We must do the same; if we are to stay spiritually healthy, we must grow in our faith, deepening our own understanding as we encourage others who have just begun their spiritual journey. As Roberto says, being intergenerational is more than simply having every age group represented; it means having every member present, in every sense of the word. By doing this, we can become more than graduates of the church “system”; we can become life-long learners and teachers, building up our congregational community as it simultaneously builds us. 

Blessings,

Jack Busche

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Be Bold!

4/29/2015

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I'm not very good at that...being bold. I am much more comfortable in the background or just listening to what other people have to say. I generally don't pipe up in group conversations that get into personal opinions about hot topics. I leave that to other people. I justify it by telling myself I don't want to offend anyone or I don't want to come off stupid or uninformed. So boldness is not my strong suit.

And yet, I continue to run across this word a lot! A song I LOVE called "Boldly I Approach" by Rend Collective speaks of boldness in the chorus: 
"BOLDLY I approach your throne, blameless now I'm running home. By your blood I come, welcomed as your own, into the arms of majesty."
And in Bible study this week we came across 1 John 4:17 that says, "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have BOLDNESS in the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world"


Both of these put a picture in my mind of coming to the throne of God (or the pearly gates if you prefer that image) and looking for approval to join God in heaven. And according to the words in 1 John and the song, I can walk up with my head held high, chest out, and a  joyous smile on my face. Not because I did everything right, said all the right prayers, went to church every (okay, most) Sundays, or did ANYTHING to earn it. I can BOLDLY approach God's throne because of Jesus!  Because of the Easter story that we still celebrate. Because as Jesus is (perfect, blameless) so are we! 


What an awesome reminder! And what joy this message brings! Knowing that we can have that boldness in Christ, we should be living in that every day. That confidence and joy is the "light of Christ" we always talk about. It's that "something different" that we should have as Christians. So that's my challenge to myself (and you), live in the joy and confidence of Christ resurrected. Live knowing that one day, we can BOLDLY approach God in his throne and say "I'm home!" 
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Living Our Baptismal Call #3

1/20/2015

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Here is the third installment of the mission moment series. Feel free to share thoughts and comments!
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Living Our Baptismal Call #2

1/13/2015

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Here is the 2nd installment of the Living Our Baptismal Call series. Share some thoughts and comments if your wish!
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Living Our Baptismal Call

1/5/2015

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Yesterday, Sunday, January 4th, we started a month-long focus on Baptism and living out our baptismal call. Throughout the month, I will be doing a series of mission moments before worship, focusing each week on a different aspect of how we live out our baptismal call. We will be recording these and posting them on here each week for you to see in case you miss one. 

Here is week # 1. January 4th, 2015

Blessings, 
Ben
ps...I've never been a fan of listening to a recording of myself or seeing myself on video. So I hope you appreciate the sacrifice I'm making by putting this video up online. :) I'll try to do better next time! 
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    Ben Natzke - Director of Congregational Ministry at Zion Lutheran Church in Stratford, WI. A guy with few answers, but plenty of thoughts and opinions...

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