Is There Anyplace In Life Where God Is Not?

 As I am thinking about my last few blogs on Jesus’ discussion, with his disciples, about who he really was. I was reminded about how important it was for me to install in the minds of the confirmands that all we do in our lives is based on our belief in Jesus’ teaching.

 

Some of you have heard me speak about this many time in sermons and in my writings.

I began with my second confirmation class, at time of our my individual meeting together; by asking each students to imagine being at their locker in the school hall.  And one of their friend talking to them about their faith asking:  “Do you really believe all of that stuff?”

Now granted that is a tough issue to be talking about in the school hallway; but the exercise put the whole truth of our faith right in the middle of their everyday living.  

It caused them to at least pass the question through their minds.  

In the Lutheran Church Confirmation of one's faith is a serious and important milestone.  It is time to confirm what they believe or not.  

It is not just a time to be done with “learning about God” — like a graduation so-to-speak.

So to me our faith in the God Jesus came to show us, model for us and teach us about; is a God who wants us to live every moment of our lives acting and thinking about how it is that God wants us to behave, think, feel and display His love, forgiveness and acceptance.

The decisions we make, the opinions we have, the priorities we have, the way we think and do things are all connected to our faith foundation.

One of the tools I used to create conversation about this issue was movies.  I asked the student to suggest movies the they enjoyed, or thought challenging.  Then all of them were to watch the movie before the next class meeting.

The young people found it a fun way to have faith discussions.  

In one class there was a young man who resisted my teaching method; and my opinion about faith being involved in every faction of our lives.  

He was quietly rebellious for several weeks.  But I kept tying to engage him.  One evening he came to me and said:  “Ok. I have a movie that I challenge you to find anything about faith.”

I took the challenge. 

Everyone watched the movie.  I watched it several time.

The the next week I presented him with four typed pages of examples. 

After that class discussion on the movie, John Q, that young man was much more engaged in class discussion.

If you haven’t seen John Q it would be a good one to put on you list.  

By the way I would never have watched that movie if it hadn’t been for that confirmation student.  Too tense for my enjoyment.  But is was full of Christian ethics, Love, forgiveness and mercy.  

Many of Jesus’ core values.