Compost Tea

Our YSU Stadium Service

The view from so high atop Stambaugh stadium was stunning . . . especially on such a beautiful day! For me worshiping in that place was about contrasts: the beauty of broad view, but the ugliness of specific locations that could be seen; the privilege to be in that room, yet being aware that most often the room is filled with people who have money or connections and that most people in the nearby neighborhoods probably will never look out of those windows.

I appreciated Mary Ventresco's comments about how Jesus wouldn't be staying up on high, but would be in the streets with the people (definitely so). But, I was also very glad for Steve Montgomery's comment that he sure hopes that Jesus was up in that room with us. Our need for Jesus, actually, may be greater than the neighborhood's need. Most of us could be in that very dangerous spiritual state: the state of comfort.

Sin is so sneaky, so insidious, that we can have sinful pride and feelings of superiority even as we seek to help others. The people in the best position to help others--whether next door to us or "in the hood"--are those that recognize their own brokenness. And truly, we all know that there's brokenness among us. We need Jesus. We need his healing.

But here's the trick (or the blessed irony), we often find healing as we participate in the healing of others. It seems like someone once said that when we "lose" our lives, we actually "save" them!

For those present at the service, what did it mean to you? What will stay with you? How were you challenged?

Multicultural Worship Service: What Did it Mean?

For me, worshiping in a multicultural context wasn't new. I've been blessed to be a part of quite a few and have become acquainted with Christians from many different nations.

Some may say that religion divides, but I know that Christianity is the most powerful unifier in the world:

. . . for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27-28).

What was new about the experience for me was to be in a leadership position in such a service.  That was a privilege and gave me a sense of satisfaction knowing that our participation would have a positive shaping influence on our group.

Even more personally, though, I was reminded of my brothers and sisters of Christ who are on the Youngstown's front lines. I read the headlines about Youngstown's problems and feel saddened or disturbed from the  comfort of my Columbiana home.  Many in that service don't need to read about the problems, they hear the nighttime gunshots and see the drug dealers in the alleys. Thank God for his servants in the city. May God bless and protect them as they seek to be salt and light.