So after a month of Discernment–we had a formal induction–full of ritual. Everyone verbally affirmed their willingness to live our rule and signed the covenant we had made.They were given their tunic, had their feet washed by me and the other leader, were given the Franciscan Tau cross we all wear, were anointed with oil and of course we chanted.Many friends and family were there. We had gone from an idea to reality.We now felt the weight and joy of living in a covenant community with other men. But of course this was just a step along the way-we still had to live into the reality of what we had pledged ourselves to. But it was a sweet night.Maybe some of the monk warriors will share some reflections on the first TXA induction.

Closing Chant

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Signing of Vows

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It was clear we had 20 guys who loved Jesus passionately but many of them didnt really know each other well so we decided to jump-start our community with a lockin–that went from about 6 at night to 3 in the morning.In those 9 hours we took giant strides toward becoming real band of brothers.We learned to chant, we did physical stuff together including Indian runs and group challenging physical exercises. we leanred to do walking meditation, we were served dinner at the Allelon house whose members taught us about their way of life.We did some really fun team building exercises(frustrating too!)thta helped us learn about one another and how to work together.We shared things with one another about our spiritual lives.I never heard anyone all night do anything other than offer encouragement to their brothers.By the time the night was over I knew we had something special–a group of men who were radical in their desire to follow Jesus and who would lay down their lives to help their brothers in that walk. Maybe some TXA members will share some reflections on that night.

As you see on our crest, and by our closing yell, the number for TXA is “1″. There is the obvious meaning–we want to be united as a group–we want to be ONE-and I believe we are at that point where every member of the group tries to put the need of the others over their own.
But there is a second and perhaps deeper meaning, but it involves math(I know you were told there wouldnt be math!).Do you remember your fractions?When the numerator and the denominator are the same , the number is one(15/15).The denominator(the bottom number) represents our ability–we are not concerned with that.The numerator is our effort.In every area of life-physical,school,relational,spiritual–we want to give all we have–making the numerator match the denominator–thus making “1″!

In its early days, TXA has developed just a few rituals but they are highly meaningful to us.WE have an opening chant:”Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” and a closing chant:
“All praise to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever more shall be, world without end, Amen.”
When we gather back when school starts we will post video recordings so you can see how it is done.
We also always begin out meetings with the ringing of a chime that signals us to go silent–its pretty impressive to see 19 19 year old guys instantly go into silent prayer.
We greet each other with the “Y”, the oriental greeting of bowing as a sign of respect.
And we close our gatherings with one member shouting “Monk warriors!” and everyone responding in unison”ONE!” I will discuss the meaning of ‘ONE’ a bit later.I believe these simple rituals are important to our identity–we have not always respected ritual as we should. Maybe a few of the monk warriors will comment on these.And let us hear from the readers on ritual as well

I continue to give a quick history this summer of the formation and first few months of the TXA Monk Warriors.

After we had our first communion I gave the monk warriors a weird assignment–I gave them a metal pole about 4 ft long and asked if someone could keep it in their hands for the 48 hours leading up to a lock-in where we would spend almost 10 straight hours with each other since we still did not know each other well. The lock-in would then lead to a month of discernment before we did formal induction.In the next few posts we will describe the lock-in,and formal induction and our rituals.

But now the great pole adventure.I knew for the 20 guys to keep the pole aloft they would have to co-ordinate with each other and keep it moving from person to person so someone always had it.It was preparation in communication, co-operation and endurance so that we would be ready to do prayer vigil–that is keep prayer constantly going in our group when we were ready yo do that.Now I have to depend on the TXA guys to fill in the gaps because once I gave then the pole I never saw it again until the lock -in .Anyone want to tell us part of the story of the passing of the pole?

my friend Chris Altrock gave me permission to share this from his blog–a beautiful prayer based on the Sermon the Mount.

Enable me, God, to be poor in spirit, mournful, meek, and hungry for righteousness.

Empower me, Jesus, to be merciful, pure, peaceful, and willing to suffer for what is right.

Energize me, Spirit, that I might do the good deeds that act as salt and light.

Father, in my relationship with others make me the one who does not harbor anger but seeks reconciliation, pays any price to think and act without lust, does not divorce but is faithful, does not deceive but lets my ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and does not respond to evil with violence but with love.

Son, in my relationship with you assist me that I might give to the poor, pray, and fast for your sake and not mine; and that I might pray for your kingdom to come instead of for my will to be done.

Counselor, in my relationship with money help me to not be miserly and serve Money but to be generous and serve God; help me not worry but trust in the caring provision and kingdom purpose of God.

May I pursue the strengthening of my own weaknesses rather than pointing out the weaknesses of others.

May I trust in a God who knows how to give good gifts.

May I do to others what I would have them do to me.

Let my path not be the crowded one but the little-traveled one.

Let me not listen to others because of the fruit on their resumes but because of the fruit in their character.

Let me not aspire to the claim of sensational spirituality but to the claim of simple obedience.

O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, transform me so that I do not merely listen to these words but do live them out.

After receiving invitations, 20 freshmen guys decided they wanted to pursue this covenant together.We began a month long period of discernment before formal induction and the signing of our vows.At our very first formal meeting in my living room we read a selection from “The Martyrdom of Polycarp” to remind us of those christians who thought this cause was important enough to die for, and we took communion together .We passed the emblems to one another and called each person by name as we spoke the words of blessing.

The guys have had a few technical problems getting into the blog but hopefully a few of them will share reflections from that night.

Thanks to Doug Clayton for sharing this with us!

The sermon on the mount is not an ideal; it is a statement of what will happen in me when Jesus Christ has altered my disposition and put in a disposition like his own…” (Oswald C). May you and your young charges be blessed in living it out..

In November 2009 some second semester freshmen at ACU were invited to live the life of “monk warriors.” What would make an 18 year old want to do such a thing? What were they thinking at the beginning?

Allelon Community

I want to introduce you to some special friends- the Allelon Community. 4 ACU students living in intentional community. More about them later, but check out their blog.