My Faith Story

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Brought Up in the Truths of the Faith
When I reflect on my life and my faith, I am reminded of Saint Timothy. I see parallels between my life and his, and the biblical letters addressed to him seem to resonate when I read them. Acts 16 suggests that Timothy's mother was a Jewish Christian and his father was a Gentile. My mother is a lifelong Lutheran Christian. And although both of my parents instilled in me what I would consider Christian values, my father is an agnostic. From childhood, Timothy knew the sacred writings able to instruct him for "salvation through faith in Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 3:15). Likewise, I was taught the scriptures from an early age. My mother saw to it that my younger brother and I were at worship and Sunday School every Sunday, whether we wanted to be or not. Mom also led family devotions during Advent, took me to first communion instruction, helped me memorize parts of Martin Luther's Small Catechism and the books of the Bible, and encouraged me to attend youth group events. Timothy's grandmother was also woman of faith. My mother's parents are also Lutherans and they too influenced my faith life. Both are children of Lutheran pastors. My grandpa is the is the pastor who baptized me (and later in life he preached at my commissioning as an Associate in Ministry). My grandma was one of my baptismal sponsors. And though they lived far away from my family, my grandparents tried to be at milestone events like my confirmation and commissioning.

Both of my parents were teachers in a small school district in central Ohio. My mother taught remedial reading at Millersport Elementary. My father taught business courses and later served as the guidance counselor at Millersport Junior/Senior High. Both of them helped instill in me a passion for reading, a love of learning, and a desire to teach. I excelled in the academic aspects of elementary, junior high and high school. I enjoyed most of my college courses. In addition to providing a solid foundation for learning, my parents also provided much of my college tuition.

Train Yourself to Be Godly
As I was not required to work in college, I had time to grow spiritually and socially. I chose to attend Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. One of my first courses was "The Art of Biblical Narrative." We were required to read about ten chapters of the Bible each night. This was the first time I had read the Bible on a regular basis. After the course was over, I continued to read until I had finished reading every book of the Old and New Testaments, and most of the Apocryphal books. I was also thinking about Jesus in new ways. What was Jesus like as a teenager? What was it like for Jesus to be human? What was it like for Jesus to be a man? What was the nature of Jesus' relationship with Joseph?

I found other college students who were reading and studying the Bible and asking questions about Jesus and about faith. They were involved in an evangelical campus ministry, which I eventually became a part of as well. With this group I experienced intimate Christian fellowship, which I had not experienced in high school. I found a group of friends who thought it was cool to be a Christian and to love Jesus. I found role models who taught me and encouraged me. They were the "Pauls" in my faith story. I learned to practice my faith by studying, inviting, and encouraging. I had the opportunity to lead a Bible study with the men in my residence hall. Though I was not active in a congregation during my college years, I attended worship regularly on campus and in the Springfield community.
At Wittenberg I majored in art, with a concentration in photography and computer imaging. I minored in writing, taking classes in fiction, nonfiction and journalism. I was headed toward a career in graphic design, but I was challenged to consider full-time ministry by my friends, the campus ministry leaders and the career development office. After graduation, I served as a counselor with the Amazing Grace Day Camp sponsored by the Southern Ohio Synod of the ELCA. While the summer was one of difficult transitions for me, I enjoyed working with the children and received valuable hands-on youth ministry training.

Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You are Young…As the summer of 1996 came to an end, I interviewed for the Director of Educational and Youth Ministry position at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jeffersontown, Ky. For my first year and a half of service, I was the only full-time staff person, as the congregation was without a full-time pastor. During this time, my primary focus was working with the youth group, comprised of junior and senior high school students. My involvement included visiting the families of the students to get to know them better, organizing youth events and retreats, and meeting with the Youth Ministry and Christian Education committees. I also publicized events through a special youth section of the church newsletter, which also featured a monthly comic strip that I wrote and drew. My involvement in Christian Education ministries initially included assisting with Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. I was also instrumental in implementing a new confirmation program, which was a radical change from the previous program. After our congregation called our pastor in 1998, the congregation articulated a vision statement which called for additional youth programs and Christian Education opportunities. These factors led to year-round Sunday School, a series of weekly youth nights during the winter months, a musical program about the Ten Commandments featuring our confirmation students, and weekly breakfasts for youth during the summer months.

The summers over the past 10 years have also allowed me and the youth group to be involved with synodical and churchwide events. I have chaperoned trips to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006. I was co-coordinator of the youth program at the Global Mission Event held at Purdue University in 1999. I represented our synod at the Young Adult Convocation at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 1999. I have served as an adult advisor at a Council of Synod LYO Presidents (CSLYOPs) meeting in Atlanta and at the LYO Convention held in 2000 in southern Illinois. For three summers, I attended Leadership Training School (LTS), where I served as a small group and workshop leader. I also served as an adult advisor for the Indiana-Kentucky Lutheran Youth Organization (IKLYO) Board from 1998 to 2003. The 2003 synod youth gathering drew over 100 people to Lutheran Hills for a weekend of fellowship, Bible study and fun. By participating in these events myself, I have learned more about the structure and ministries of the ELCA, and I have supported and encouraged young people who are active in synodical and churchwide youth ministries.

Thoroughly Equipped for Every Good Work
After working at Christ Lutheran for a year, I enrolled at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, so that I could study the Bible and so that I would be better equipped for church work. For six years I worked on a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education part time. My classes included the Spiritual Development of Children, Simulation and Discovery Learning, and the Ministry of Writing. I also completed two semesters of Supervised Ministry Experience (SME). My SME learning goals included maintaining a personal exercise regimen, exploring the opportunities and challenges of intergenerational Sunday School, observing our weekday kindergarten classroom, and becoming more comfortable visiting members of the congregation. Going to school part time allowed me to apply the classroom theories to a real world ministry setting, and in turn offer an experienced viewpoint in the classroom. As a Lutheran, I was in the minority at Southern, which was difficult at times, but I also found that it helped me clarify the differences in theology and practice of the two denominations.

Do Not Neglect Your Gift
As I neared the completion of my degree program, I also entered the candidacy process for the first time, with the intent of becoming a rostered Associate in Ministry. Throughout the process, I learned about my strengths and weaknesses, my gifts and convictions. My experiences, spiritual gift inventories, and the observations of others have led me to believe that my spiritual gifts include administration and teaching. I have come to see that my artistic abilities are talents that can be used as teaching tools, as well as in other ways. The aspects of my personality are also gifts—the introverted aspect of my personality allows me to think, meditate, reflect and study. I am shy and reserved, and at times I'm perceived as unfriendly. The aspect of my personality that likes to be organized helps me bring order and structure to the ministries I oversee. I like to learn to do new things, which sometimes prevents me from delegating responsibilities to others. I am a good listener when I set aside distractions. The youth I work with are often comfortable talking with me about their lives and struggles. I am sensitive to the feelings of others, but sometimes overly sensitive to the comments of others about me.

Let Them First Be Tested
I completed my degree in spring 2003 and I did additional course work in the fall. I was approved toward the end of the year. Christ Lutheran called me to continue to serve the congregation as an Associate in Ministry. I was commissioned on Palm Sunday, April 4, 2004 (04/04/04). My personal sense of call was affirmed by a call from the whole church, as well as a specific call from my congregation. At my commissioning, I was given two symbols of my ministry as an Associate in Ministry: a leather-bound copy of The Message (a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson) and a pitcher and basin from Louisville Stoneware, decorated with the ELCA and AiM logos. The symbols represent a call to the ministry of Word and Service that Associates in Ministries share. They serve as important reminders of what God has called me to do in my ministry. It has been a pleasure to get to know the other AiMs, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers in our synod. I enjoy learning about the diverse contexts in which they serve and live our their calls to ministry. Some work with youth and Christian education ministries; others focus on music or senior adult ministry.

Hanukkah

Friday, December 15, 2006

It was winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication. Jesus was in the area near the temple. Some of the Jewish people gathered around him and asked, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."

Jesus replied, "I have told you, and you do not believe." Jesus told them that the signs he had he had done in the name of his Father testified that he was the Messiah, but those who were questioning him had not believed the testimony.

Jesus concluded with a simple statement: "The Father and I are one."

This assertion angered Jesus' audience. In fact, they picked up stones to stone him.

Jesus asked, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?"

They answered, "It is not for a good wor that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being are making yourself God."

Jesus' claim was certainly a bold one, but the timing of his words was even more bold. You see, the Feast of Dedication commemorated the dedication of the temple in 165 B.C. after it had been defiled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a ruler who also claimed to be divine. Surely Jesus' words reminded the Jews of this day and the horrible things done years before by Antiochus.

Though they made similar claims, Antiochus was a liar and a lunatic; Jesus was and is the Lord. John's gospel begins with these words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God... and the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth."

The Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, begins tonight at sundown.

copyright Tom Pairan 2000

Why I Go To Church

Thursday, December 14, 2006

One reason Why We Go to Church is to "Celebrate CHRIST." Celebrate CHRIST is the first aspect of our Christ Lutheran youth ministry purpose statement. It is our way of saying "worship."

This coming Sunday, the middle school youth and I will study the Ten Commandments at our Here We Stand confirmation event. The First Commandment says "You shall have no other gods." We are to worship the LORD our God only. The verses following this commandment are also about worship: "You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship the; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God. (Exodus 20:4-5a NRSV).

I think the Second Commandment also instructs us about worship: "You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God." Martin Luther explained that this means "We are to fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice magic, lie or deceive using God's name, but instead use that very name in every time of need to call on, pray to, praise, and give thanks to God." Of course during worship services at church, we pray, praise and give thanks to God. But when we do these things in other places and at other times, we are also worshiping God and Celebrating CHRIST.

The Third Commandment reminds us to "Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy." For most Christians, our chief day of worship is Sunday (the first day of the week), rather than the sabbath day (the seventh day). Again Martin Luther's words are helpful as we consider what this means for us: "We are to fear and love God, so that we do not neglect God's Word or the preaching of it, but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it." On Sunday mornings, we hear lessons from God's Word read, we listen to Pastor Poisel and others preach the Good News, and we Celebrate CHRIST in Holy Communion. In Sunday School we discuss how God's Word applies to our lives as teenagers. During our confirmation events, we "gladly hear and learn" what God has to say through the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Apostle's teachings.

We Go to Church to Celebrate CHRIST in obedience to commands given by a loving God—a God who brought his people out of the house of slavery in the land of Egypt; a God who revealed his name through a burning bush at Horeb, the mountain of God; a God who rested on the seventh day, after creating us and all that exists.

copyright Tom Pairan 2006

Journey to Narnia with Aslan the Lion

Aslan is the beloved talking lion featured in the Chronicles of Narnia books by C.S. Lewis. He is vividly described in the novels. He’s been depicted in cartoon form in the animated version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He has beenportrayed by actors in lion costumes in stage and film adaptations. In the upcoming feature film adaptation of LWW, Liam Neeson provides the voice for the movie’s CGI version of Aslan. 

In The Magician’s Nephew, the great Lion Aslan sings the world of Narnia into existence with the “deepest, wildest voice ever heard.” In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie travel to Narnia. Aslan makes the ultimate sacrifice to save the life of the traitorous Edmund. The storyline of The Horse and his Boy takes place at the same time of LWW. In that book, Aslan is called “the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-beyond-the Sea, the High King above all kings in Narnia.” When the Pevensies Return to Narnia in Prince Caspian, Lucy must decide whether or not to follow Aslan when her siblings are unable to see him. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan appears as a lamb briefly before returning to his leonine form. In The Silver Chair, a drop of Aslan’s blood gives new life to King Caspian. In The Last Battle, Aslan and his friends live happily ever after as the real story begins. 

Aslan may remind readers of another character in another Story. In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Aslan tells Edmund and Lucy they won’t return to Narnia, but they will meet him in their world, in which Aslan goes by another name. “You must learn to know me by that name,” Aslan tells the children. “This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” 

What is Aslan’s other name? When asked by a reader, C.S. Lewis replied: “As to Aslan’s other name, well, I want you to guess. Has there ever been anyone in this world who •Arrived at the same time as Father Christmas? •Said he was the Son of the Great Emperor? •Gave himself up for someone else’s fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people? •Came to life again? •Is sometimes spoken of as a lamb? 

What do you think Aslan’s other name is? If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to read The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe see the movie with Spirit Group, H2H, LYO or with your family during the holidays. And invite a friend to accompany you as you "Journey to Narnia."

Journey to Narnia with Jadis the White Witch

With Halloween approaching at the end of October, it seemed appropriate to write about some of the scary characters in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia books. 

Jadis, the White Witch, is featured in The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In The Magician’s Nephew, Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer become unwilling “guinea pigs” in a test of Andrew Ketterly’s magic rings. Digory and Polly find themselves in a Wood Between Worlds, where pools of water lead to different worlds. One of the pools leads to the city of Charn, where Digory awakens the evil Jadis from her slumber. The children then return to Earth, inadvertenly bringing Jadis along, where she begins her plans to take over England, and then the world. The children manage to get Jadis back to the Wood Between Worlds, and then they all travel to the world that will become Narnia, as the great Lion Aslan sings the world into existence. 

In chapter 13, Jadis tempts Digory to take a forbidden fruit that promises to cure his ailing mother. The scene will remind readers of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Ultimately Digory does not take the fruit. 

Many years pass on Earth and in Narnia. In the opening chapters of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the four Pevensie children live with Digory, who is now an old professor living in the English countryside. Jadis is now the White Witch and self-proclaimed “Queen” of Narnia, a land where it is “always winter, but never Christmas.” Edmund Pevensie encounters the White Witch, who tempts him with Turkish Delight. Unlike Digory, Edmund makes choices that go from bad to worse, and ultimately betrays his brother and sisters. 

At age 31, The White Witch in the animated version of the story still gives me the creeps. And she hangs out with a creepy crowd, including “ogres with monstrous teeth, and wolves, and bull-headed men; spirits of evil trees and poisonous plants... Cruels and Hags… Wraiths, Horrors, Efreets, Sprites, Orknies, Wooses, and Ettins. I don’t know what some of them are, but they all sound scary. 

All the Narnian characters—good and bad—are “just pretend,” but they remind us of the good and bad in each of us.

Journey to Narnia with the Magician's Nephew

Alice’s tumble down the rabbit hole led her to Wonderland. Later she entered Looking-Glass Land through the mirror above the mantle. With the help of happy thoughts and pixie dust, Wendy flew toward the second star to the right, then straight on ‘til morning until she reached Neverland. Dorothy and her house were lifted by a cyclone and taken to Oz. Lucy found passage to the land of Narnia through an old wardrobe in a spare room in an large, mysterious house. 

 But before Lucy’s first trip to Narnia, Polly Plummer and Digory Kirke travelled there with the help of magic rings. Their story is told in The Magician’s Nephew, one of seven Chronicles of Narnia novels written by C.S. Lewis. A major motion picture adaptation of one of the Chronicles—The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe—will open in theaters on Dec. 9. In the coming months, we’ll offer additional information about the movie, about the Chronicles, and about C.S. Lewis. 

The Magician’s Nephew is the prequel to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (LWW). Though written and published after LWW, Lewis suggested reading The Magician’s Nephew before the other Chronicles. 

Aided by magic rings created by Digory’s greedy Uncle Andrew Ketterly, Digory and Polly find themselves in a Wood Between Worlds, where pools of water lead to different worlds. One of the pools leads to the city of Charn, where Digory awakens the evil Jadis (known in LWW as the White Witch) from her slumber. The children then return to Earth, inadvertently bringing Jadis along, where she begins her plans to take over England, and then the world. The children manage to get Jadis back to the Wood Between Worlds, and then they all travel to world that will become Narnia. 

Each of the Chronicles has parallels with stories from the Bible or allusions to the life of a Christian. In The Magician’s Nephew we witness the creation of Narnia, as the great Lion Aslan sings the world into existence. Compare chapters 8 & 9 of The Magician’s Nephew with Genesis 1:1-2:4. Also, the temptation of Digory in chapter 13will remind readers of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. 

We invite you to travel to Narnia this fall, as anticipation of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe movie grows. Next month, watch for information about “Inklings” and our Chronicles of Narnia reading program. You don’t need pixie dust, an old wardrobe, or severe weather to transport you to another world. Magical adventures await when you open the books of Narnia!

Kenosis

Kenosis 

If any encouragement in Christ, 

If any consolation from love, 

Be of the same mind, 

Having the same kind As Christ Jesus above. 

Meeting the needs of your brothers, 

Look to the interests of others. 

Share the Spirit, 

make joy complete. 

Do nothing from selfish conceit. 

Though Christ was equal with God, he 

Wore a corruptible body. 

Humbling himself, 

obedient to death, 

Until he breathed his last breath. 

Now he's exalted, 

lifted above, 

Giving glory to God, 

the Father of love. 

Every knee will bow at the name of the Word. 

Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.