I had the privilege and blessing of attending the Intermountain District
Teen Fall Retreat this past weekend. The retreat was in Challis, Idaho,
at a retreat center called Living Waters Ranch. This place is tucked
between two hills that were dressed with the colors of Autumn and the
air was as crisp as the brittle fallen leaves on the ground. Fall is my
favorite time of the year, if you couldn’t tell!

Over the weekend, we spent time in worship, fellowship, friendly
competition, and so much more! We broke bread together, we laughed
together, and we learned from God’s Word together.

The theme of Fall Retreat was Citizens: Strangers in the Land. Our
speaker spent time reminding us of the mission to which we are all
called as followers of Jesus, to seek first God’s Kingdom for we are, first
and foremost, citizens of God’s Kingdom. Being citizens of the Kingdom
of God means that we shed our allegiances to other things that vie for
our attention and worship. The speaker turned our attention to
Philippians 3:18-20, which says:

“For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my
eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really
enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction.
Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and
they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens
of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are
eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.”

There are people, things, and systems that somehow manage to seep
into our lives and attempt to turn our allegiance and worship away from
God, sometimes quickly and obviously, sometimes slowly and
inconspicuously. We’ve all been tempted to make these things greater
and grander than they should be, and sometimes we even use our
Christian faith to justify them.

For young people, this may be social media; it may be a relationship
with a boyfriend or girlfriend; it may be a club at school.
For adults, this may be the security of money or material things; it may
be having a nicer house or lawn than the neighbor; it may be a political
Party.

Certainly, these lists aren’t exhaustive, and there may be some overlap.
Not intentionally, the Fall Retreat happened days before this country’s
presidential election. While that was not a topic of discussion for the
retreat, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the tension and division I feel
regarding this nation. With that on my heart and mind, I left Fall Retreat
reminded of a few important things in my own life:

First, I want to live my life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. To do this, I have to practice humility and generosity, even and
especially when it’s hard.

Second, when I’m tempted to allow things, people, and systems to
shape my faith rather than allowing my faith to shape every facet of my
life, it’s time to allow God to do a new work in me and remind me who I
am: a child of God, saved by grace through faith, called and equipped
to be like Jesus by bringing Good News to the poor, proclaiming release
to those held captive, sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed
(Luke 4, Isaiah 61). That is who I am called to be, above and before all
Else.

And, third, I want to be a person who encourages and participates in
hospitable conversation around the things that attempt to hijack our
worship and praise of Jesus Christ.

I am thankful to be a part of a church family wherein I believe everyone
wants the world to be better. I love being on this journey of faith with
you. Will you commit with me to engage in healthy and hospitable
conversation for the sake of becoming better followers of Jesus? I
believe we are called and equipped to do great things for the Kingdom,
Together!

Grace and peace,
Reverend Val Soto