Dan Marotta

Less Busy, More Faithful

Dan Marotta — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:32:38 +0000

Once again I’ve had it with Christian-motivational-writing-designed-to-inspire-you-to-do-more-for-God writing. For those who tend to err on the lazy side of life, those books/blogs might be helpful, but for folks like me who fall off the horse on the workaholic side, it just adds a big scoop of guilt on top of an already-guilty conscience. There are SO MANY problems and potential ministry opportunities that one can work a full-time job at a church or non-profit just organizing volunteers to meet needs.

Identifying, organizing, and meeting needs are good things. Inspiring others to get involved is a good thing. Spreading the word far and wide about ministry opportunities is a good thing. Implying that everyone should get involved with one particular ministry is subtly destructive.

AIDS crisis in Africa, teen suicide, world hunger, child abuse. ALL are VERY IMPORTANT and need IMMEDIATE attention from men and women who are gifted and called to help in these areas. However, when a person hears about an urgent need that demands that they get involved, they have a choice to make. If they choose not to get involved, they will most likely experience some form of guilt. This guilt will either grow until the person caves and gets involved, or the person will harden themselves against it, ignore it, and move on. I know I’m using dramatic language here, but what I’m describing happens within each of us almost every day. You see a commercial, a billboard, a picture on the side bar of your web browser, an email from the missions committee at your church, an email from a local non-profit, a missed phone call from the youth pastor… 98% of the time, you ignore it! You move on with your day because there is NO WAY you have time (or money) for all of these things. Also, you’re used to ignoring the millions of commercials you see everywhere and so its easy to ignore these ministry “commercials” too.

This system of “need advertisement” is subtly destructive because it doesn’t give a human many healthy options. It says DO EVERYTHING otherwise you’re a bad person. Organizations (including churches) adopt the same strategy of raising money and recruiting volunteers that businesses use to sell products. You never hear an organization recruit volunteers by saying, “Our mission is very important, and if you have free time and money, please help us; but if you don’t, then its OK.” The system is broken.

But changing the system might be a tall order for tonight, so I’m going to focus on cultivating a healthy response to a busted system. I really need to learn how to say “no” to lots of good things and focus on being faithful in the few things that I am called to. Otherwise my alternatives are burn-out or a hardened heart. (I tend to err on the burn-out side).

Less busy, more faithful.

Big NOs to lots of things and big YESs to a few things.

Where does peace come from?

Dan Marotta — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:21:23 +0000

Saturday evening, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit some friends who live on a big farm outside of town. When we pulled up to their house, one of the first things I noticed the moment I stepped out of the car was the general lack of noise. Gone was the background hum of the interstate highway, no cars honking, no lawn mowers buzzing, no cell phones ringing. The crunch of gravel under my feet sounded unusually loud in my ears as we walked towards the house.

Later on, as our hosts gave us a tour of the beautiful property, I felt myself becoming more relaxed, starting to unwind a bit. I felt tension begin to melt away as I walked along the footpath through rolling hills down to the pond. Now I’m a nature-guy for sure – so of course I love being out in the countryside, but I normally go outdoors for adventure, not for rest.

Hiking for exercise, couch for relaxation.

Driving home (back into town) that night I got to thinking about how healthy it was for us to visit a place so peaceful. Being in a peaceful place made me a more peaceful person. If I brought some of that peacefulness back with me, would it spread to my household, my friends, my neighborhood?

Most of us would agree that peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of … something else. Where does peace come from? I’ve been in plenty of places that are conflict-free, but they feel very different from places of peace. You know what I’m talking about. It’s difficult to describe, but there’s no mistaking it when you’re there.

So how can peace advance? What can we do to bring peace to our families, friends, neighborhoods, churches, schools, and cities?

New Orleans: Days 7 & 8

Dan Marotta — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:09:32 +0000

We’re on the road and heading home! Please pray for safety as we drive. We can’t wait to tell our friends and family about our amazing week!

New Orleans: Day 6

Dan Marotta — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:47:04 +0000

My apologies for the late post tonight. We just got back from celebrating our last night here in New Orleans! After team devotions, we drove over to the French Quarter and sat down at Cafe` Du Monde for beignets topped with powdered sugar. Everyone enjoyed eating authentic local fare and the one-of-a-kind atmosphere found in that part of the city.

Then the real party began when we got back in the van and headed across town to the Rock-n-bowl. For those of you not familiar with this establishment – you’re really missing out! Bowling ally + concert venue + dance floor = the best way to let loose and celebrate the end of an incredible week. The bowling was fun, the music was awesome, and the dancing was even better! We’re all exhausted and heading to bed. Tomorrow we will work for the 1st half of the day, then pack up and begin the drive North to Atlanta where we will spend the night.

Goodnight and thank you all for your prayers and support, we’ve had an amazing time and can’t wait to come home.

-Dan

New Orleans: Day 5

Dan Marotta — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:01:12 +0000

Perseverance won the day. Despite some opposition and general un-helpfullness from some folks at the work sites, our students pushed through and today was a soaring success! Its a strange situation when you have to ask teenagers to be more mature than some of the adults around them, but it provides a unique teaching opportunity and we all benefitted. Today I had the priviledge of watching high school freshman respond to adversity with patience, generosity, kindness, and a huge amount of grace. So cool.

Personally, my highlight of the day came around 9:55pm this evening. As we walked into Wendys for our end-of-the-day frosties, two members of our team – Evan and Noah – pulled me aside and asked me what I was going to order. Thinking they were just looking for some expert fast food advice, I told them that the vanilla frostie is an excellent choice. To my surprise, they informed me that they were buying me dessert tonight!

I didn’t know what to say.

I have been in youth ministry for 8 years and no student has ever offered to buy me anything before! I was completely blown away and still am. I barely managed to stutter out a weak “thanks” as they handed me the cup of frozen goodness. (I think I need to write those guys a note tonight).

Today was a stretching/growing day for all of us and we’re grateful to serve a God who cares about us enough to lead us forward towards maturity. I love New Orleans, I love the work, I love our Lord, and I love these students (and not just because they bought me a frostie!)

-Dan

New Orleans: Day 4

Dan Marotta — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:43:57 +0000

Even though it rained all morning and into the early afternoon, our teams still got a lot done at the worksites. That is, until 1:30pm, when the World Cup semi-finals were on TV and we just HAD to take a break! Don’t worry, once the game was over (Netherlands beat Uruguay 3-2), we got back to work and finished the day strong.

Highlights from today were: Listening to Mike’s (our new friend) story and then getting to work on his house and really help him out, getting vulnerable and sharing openly with each other around the table this evening during team Bible Study, and walking through a Wendy’s drive-thru and ordering frosties at 10pm!

Great day. Great students. Great fellowship. Looking foward to tomorrow!

-Dan

New Orleans: Day 3

Dan Marotta — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:16:35 +0000

The trip was worth it.

No matter what happens Tuesday-Saturday, the trip was worth it just for today. Our students were up at 6:30am, ate breakfast, broke into 3 work teams, prayed together, and then went out to the works sites. Painting, scraping, sawing, pulling nails, hammering nails, breaking concrete – they did it all and really accomplished a lot. Even more impressive than their work was their attitude. I didn’t hear a single complaint, and even when a few frustrating things came up, they responded with patience and maturity. I’m so proud of these students!

One highlight from this evening was our time of Bible Study and worship. Two guitars, one piano, shakers, a tambourine, and 14 voices smiling, laughing, and singing together – it was a sweet jam session!

Prayer Request: Please pray for opportunities for our students to minister to the men and women that we are serving at our work sites. Today we heard heartbreaking stories and we want to be open for the Holy Spirit to use us in these people’s lives.

-Dan

New Orleans: Day 2

Dan Marotta — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 03:42:56 +0000

We’re here!

Pulled into the Big Easy at 3:30pm, checked into our bunk rooms, and then went to stretch our legs at beautiful Audubon Park where we played an intense game of ultimate frisbee (my team won). Then it was off to a 4th of July BBQ with Redeemer Presbyterian Church. The food was AMAZING and we enjoyed making some new friends and watching the fireworks.

Before heading to bed tonight we gathered around a table for our first team discussion on Servant Leadership. Everyone asked great questions and contributed some really thoughtful insights. We kept things brief though because we’re up at 6:30am tomorrow to start working!

Please continue to pray for our safety and our hearts this week.

-Dan

Day 1: New Orleans Missions Trip

Dan Marotta — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 00:31:09 +0000

We’re halfway there! After 9 hours of driving, 2 pit stops, chicken and biscuts at Bojangles, we made it to Atlanta. Before we checked into our hotel, we got a chance to relax and stretch our legs at Six Flags White Water theme park. Even though we arrived at the park late in the day and only had 2 hours left until it closed – we had a great time! After a long, hot day on the road, nothing feels better than screaming down a water slide at 30 mph into a wonderfully refreshing pool of water.

I love our team! I’m already enjoying getting to know each student and leader better and I am so encouraged by everyone’s attitude. Before we hit the hay tonight we’ll pray together for each other and for the work that awaits us in NOLA. Then tomorrow we hit the road at 7:00am to finish the 2nd half of the drive!

More to follow.

-Dan

Charlottesville students head South to New Orleans

Dan Marotta — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 03:38:43 +0000

Tomorrow, at 6:00am, a sleepy-eyed group of teenagers will pull into the church parking lot as the sun rises over Charlottesville. They will load suitcases, pillows, ipods, work clothes, and water bottles into the vans and promptly fall back asleep as the vehicles begin the long trip South.

They are going back to New Orleans for the 4th Summer in a row, and when they arrive, they will ask the same question they always ask, “What can we do to help?” It’s the kindest of questions because of everything that is packed into those words. The question acknowledges that someone has a real need. It takes the burden of the need personally and doesn’t pass it off to someone else. It assumes that a shared partnership exists, “What can we do to help?” And finally, the question leads to action. Too often we acknowledge real needs and talk about partnership, but never actually get our hands dirty.

These students will get their hands dirty.

I can’t wait to tell you more about the ways they will serve and the things they will learn. If you have a moment right now, please pray for them. Pray for their hearts to be softened to the Holy Spirit. Pray for their minds to understand God’s love for the city of New Orleans. Pray for their bodies to persevere through the hard work. Pray that when they ask, “what can we do to help,” they will discover overflowing joy in responding to the needs of New Orleans.