The Ernest Chronicler

Whew!  It is a pretty busy summer for me, so I apologize for neglecting my blogging duties.  That being said...

Last week I was in Chicago for an event called the Covenant Youth Nexus.  About 15 kids and their youth pastors (mine didn't come) from around the country (including 3 from Alaska {and 1 from Wasilla, Alaska}) came to the North Park University campus for a week of spiritual growth.  I think that it was intended to equip us to be leaders in our communities, but I think that I grew spiritually more than anything.  We did have speakers come to talk about various topics: human trafficking, prison rape, immigration, hate crimes, racial reconciliation, among others.  Speakers also spoke about spiritual practices like prayerful examen, lectio divina, and healthiness.  The prayerful examen is a review of the day where you try to see God working in ways that you might not have noticed at the time, note any times where you put God on the back burner, and resolve to do differently the next day.  A byproduct of this practice is a sharper memory.  I'm glad lectio divina was covered because I just got "the Message//REMIX Solo" which is a year long devotion based on the Message translation and lectio divina.

I debated whether or not to take my violin on this trip.  I knew there was to be a couple of worship nights at the seminary chapel, but I didn't want to put myself out there.  Sunday, the first night there, we had chapel and immediately after that I regretted not bringing the violin.  The atmosphere there with the other kids, their youth leaders from their towns, and the various Youth Nexus staff from North Park was amazing.  A couple days later I called home to see if there was any way I could get my violin delivered.  Mom shot that down pretty quickly but she offered to try to pull some sources to get me one later in the week.  If my mom was anyone but she, I would not be impressed.  But as it is, she is a well connected Covenant pastor who went to North Park and knows many MANY people.  So I rested assured that I would have one and some of the people there I know were praying because they knew what it would mean to me.  Come Friday, I had heard nothing from Mum or anyone about a violin.  Friday was the final night and there was chapel that night.  So I called Mom again on Friday and asked her about it.  She said that she'd try to get me one, again.  But this time, an hour later she called me back with a name and an address a minute's walk from where the seminary.  Amazing.

I also brought my buttons on this trip.  I sold a good many and sent some with a new friend off to Washington.  I know others are willing to sell in their states, so I am very excited about the possibilities.

Next week: CHIC