Inch by Inch...

My mom used to tell me, "Inch by inch, life is a cinch, yard by yard it's very hard." The funny things moms say...

I'm a big picture guy. I see the whole of things and I'm not very good with details. This makes it difficult for me at times because the big picture seems, well, big. In fact, the big picture seems too big. We'll be talking this week about some of the challenges to following what God wants you to do. For me, this is the biggest one of all...the big picture.

The big picture is overwhelming. You see hurt and pain all around you. You see it in your home, your family, your church, your community, on the tele, in your state, in your country, in the world...just to name a few places. Even if I'm willing to serve God, how on earth am I supposed to meet the monstrosity of need that's out there?

Our church staff is holding conversations with our congregation about where they see areas of need in our community. The intriguing thing is how each of the needs fit into some categories...but the overall need is still immense. So how do you do it? How does God do it? This is a little bit of what I feel I'm learning as I see how much the world around me needs reconciled to Christ.

It's done in small ways, by perhaps a lot of people. It's in taking small bites out of a big pie until the pie is eventually gone...not saying we will ever meet all the areas of need around us, but there is much we can do. I'm looking at the big picture and then asking, 'what is it that I can do today?' For example, one of the areas of concern from our Vision nights is helping out single moms. Big picture...overwhelming. But an opportunity may be presenting itself to my wife and I to help out one single mom who's going through a divorce. We're not solving the whole problem, but we're helping one.

So inch by inch it's a cinch...well, maybe it's just more manageable. What about this idea...what about if instead of looking to just a few people to do a majority of the Kingdom work we look to a whole bunch of people to do a little? What do you think would be more effective? I'm grateful that's the direction our church is moving. There's an old saying that says 'We're better together', and I believe there's a lot of truth to it.

What are the one or two things that are small and right before you? What small ways can you make a large impact in someones life as you show on a very real level the love of Christ?

Celebrate Recovery

Imagine sitting in a small circle confessing the sins of the previous week to a bunch of people you don't know. These aren't just small things either, but these are major issues that you deal with. These are things most people don't know about and if they did they may not talk to you again, or they may not treat you the same anymore. I experienced this a few nights ago at a Celebrate Recovery service.

Celebrate Recovery is a ministry New Hope is looking at getting involved with. It looks to help those struggling with anything from alchohol addictions to sex addictions to self esteem issues. It's a safe place where people come very aware of where they are in life and very honest about their struggles.

The thing that's interesting to me is that this is the mentality Christians in general should hold. If we follow Jesus we first ought to be very aware of our sin and areas of imperfection (Psalm 51...check it out). However this is not even remotely the case nor is it a recognized reality in the church. We're all afraid of people knowing our junk. When I spoke to the gentleman afterward about why they find this type of meeting so helpful it was for this very reason: there was no facade. Facade didn't work there. In fact, I don't believe there's freedom in facade.

Celebrate Recovery comes to grips with the pain. It names it. It's amazing what kind of freedom comes from naming your oppressor. I've known girls who've been abused and raped and their oppressor hangs it over their heads making them afraid. They are fearful to name who wronged them. However, in the cases where the girls muster the courage to do so a weight is lifted. It doesn't solve everything, but it brings the darkness to light and healing can begin.

So I am challenged by this idea of being honest about who we are. What you realize in these meetings is that the people involved don't care what you think about them. They've been to the bottom and realize their need for others and their inability to beat their area(s) of darkness on their own. I wonder how many of us are at the bottom and are afraid to admit it.

A great passage from James 5. It reads, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Be Careful What You Wish For

Do you ever wonder why people stay where they're at? Why is it their life seems to stay the same and why is there very little interest in going beyond what they consider the status quo? I believe I'm getting a glimpse into why as I see what the cost is going to be for me personally to follow God in the way I feel called to and to be a part of a church that is interested and feels called to go beyond the status quo.

First some reasons why people stay the same. Frankly, because it's easier. It's predictable. You know what your routine is and you have something you're comfortable with. By and large you know what's coming, even though there will be small interruptions along the way. In addition, it doesn't take another part of you. Once you've achieved something you've already paid the price for it, but to continue to move forward would continue to cost you...you.

To go beyond is to want more. It is to follow God on a journey of deepening faith because you don't know where it will lead or what part of you it will take next. You aren't sure how you'll be reshaped, but you know you'll have to be in order for it to happen. I'm reminded of the language of Paul in Galatians 2 when he talks about being crucified with Christ. We no longer live, but Christ lives in us. We've been crucified with Him and now we live in this body by faith in the Son of God...who loves us and who likewise has given Himself for us. As we move beyond where we currently are and as we experience the pain of growth and of deepening faith we identify with Christ who underwent the same experience. I'm not sure I've thought of it until now, but as we move beyond the status quo into a foggier journey of deepening faith we somehow identify with Christ.

So is the journey easy, absolutely not. Is it even necessary...I don't believe so. We can follow Jesus with very little cost. But if we want to be a part of the mission of Jesus, to go beyond belief in him to participating in the Kingdom, it is then we identify with a crucified Christ and face the fact this is going to be a hard road, however profitable and worthwhile.

Be careful what you wish for.

Fear and Trembling

"Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." - a prayer of the early church in Acts 4

I preach today. Every time I do this I'm intimidated by the task but yet comforted in the calling and power of God. My heart each time I am enabled to speak God's word is to move our church in such a direction that witnesses and participates in the signs and wonders of Christ. That's my heart for the Church. I want us to wear the healing message of the gospel with confidence in the God who loves us and gave himself for us. I want us to be impacted by its message, and even more so I pray the impact would lead to us impacting others.

I've been convicted recently to move my faith from belief to praxis. Some may say I practice it weekly just out of what my job entails. Sort of. There's a great part of me that longs to see the gospel play out beyond the Church context. I'm hungry to be a part of that. I'm not sure if I've been in a place where I've seen the signs and wonders. I want more. I want to see God working more. I want to be more deeply involved in it.

Telegraphs and Typewriters, pt 1

I've been put onto a book that is nearly 40 years old but which has incredible application and challenge for today, especially (thus far) in the context of faith and the church: It is Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner's Teaching as a Subversive Activity. In it they are addressing the need for the educational process to change in the late 60's and early 70's because of the increased amount of change happening all around them, especially in regard to technology. There were a few things said in the first chapter, Crap Detecting, I thought to be profound reminders for the Church and especially those who have roles in leading the church.
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"Irrevocable commitment to any religion is not only intellectual suicide; it is positive unfaith because it closes the mind to any new vision of the world...

Defining a fanatic - "...a fanatic is someone who redoubles his efforts when he has forgotten his aim. In this case, even if the aim has not been forgotten, it is simply irrelevant. But the effort has been redoubled anyway."
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The first quote I take obvious issue with at face value as I believe faith not to be intellectual suicide, but intellectual engagement. Where I agree with the authors though is the close mindedness of most church going people to question and explore the faith they've been brought up with. I believe one of the greatest challenges of the Christian faith is to those who've been indoctrinated with it from their youth critically thinking about how they interpreted what they were taught and what sort of Christian worldview was shaped as a result. My challenge is faith must be owned by the person. You see this as college age students go through crisis of faith that leaves them with a personalized and thought out version of what they grew up with. Even when that crisis happens, however, we must never think we've gotten a handle on faith or on how church ought to be done. The false presupposition we can know all of God is deadly, for God is very much mystery, and while we are uncomfortable with mystery I believe faith in Jesus must live out in a certain fog of mystery and be comfortable in the tension of it.

Now to the second point. The Church has become fanatical to a point. I believe this because I see the same methods being used as those used 10, 20, and even 30 years ago. But we preach to a different culture. We relate to a different culture. However, the way we relate to the culture in terms of bringing Jesus to bear on it seems to differ little. Change is one of the most difficult things for the church to do. We vest ourselves into learning the latest methodologies only to find they are outdated. I would argue that we've become fanatics in the ways described above in two ways: first, we've continued with forgetting our aim. Programs can be a temptation toward forgetting why you're doing what you're doing. They provide a false sense of security. I do believe they are necessary, but I also believe in analyzing their effectiveness. Second, our methods have become irrelevant but we're redoubling our efforts at them anyway. So we see things not working (we know the program is now outdated), but instead of asking the 'why' question seeking to find out why they aren't working we ask the 'how' question to discover how we can tweak things to make them work again. It's always easier to do this than do any sort of overhaul.

Life in general presents continuous opportunities for change and growth. Faith does much of the same things. I believe if we look at the gospels Jesus is one to bring about dramatic change to the fanatics of his time, namely the Pharisees. Their methods weren't working. Indoctrination into the way they defined faith was done exclusively, not inclusively. Jesus blows the doors wide open and invites all who are intrigued by this new way of life. They didn't fit the mold, because what the mold looked like and did was changing.

I believe I, and any follower of Christ, is continually called to rethink and reapply Jesus to their culture. I'm not saying the truths of our faith change as much as the communications of that truth must change for the furthering of the Kingdom. I also don't want to condemn the church, but to provoke its thought. It's God's chosen vessel for the message, so I love it, but I love it in such a way I want to see it thrive.

Getting Out

I had a unique opportunity yesterday to go with my wife, Ruby, and visit a local city youth day camp. I entered the place a little nervous and feeling out of place, but I left with the realization that I had made a connection with the kids.

I'm wondering if most of the inner city youth aren't a bit misrepresented and misunderstood. As Ruby and I drove away I couldn't help but feel what these kids needed was someone to believe in them...someone to sow into their lives...someone to treat them like real people with a purpose and sense of worth. I wanted to be a part of this...I wanted to be a part of making this happen for them.

I'm that type of person. I see a need and I automatically want to try and meet it, even though it isn't all the time possible. Even if I did try I would burn myself out trying to meet all the needs I see. The frequent question I keep asking myself is "what area am I supposed to focus on? Where does God want me to focus my energies in the hurt of the world?" I don't know yet.

I really feel I must be involved in the larger society beyond the church - seeing the needs present there and meeting them with the practicality and hope of the gospel. I feel I need to do this beyond the pastoral role, although this involvement nonetheless impacts that role. I've got a burden to reach people and to be a part of reconciling people to God, but how that plays out yet I'm not sure.

The following verses from Paul encapsulate my heart for myself and the followers of Jesus (the Church) as a whole:

"And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."

Consecration

"There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory." Exodus 29:42-43

There are two things happening when consecration occurs. First, there is the consecration of the people by God and second, there is a consecration and committment of the people to God. The first has been done and continues to be done by God's own initiative. He does it when he calls Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeas. He's calling and setting apart a people for Himself. He continues to do this throughout the history of Israel and infinitely does this in the Church through Jesus God's Son. As is the character of God, what He established continues. The consecration of a people, His people, that began from the calling of one man continues to the followers of Jesus today...to those who are a part of the Church (the people, not the institution).

The consecration of the people, however, is not as definite. When it comes to the followers of Christ a choice is given to either prepare yourself for the Lord or not prepare yourself. This process of preparation in the Old Testament (and the passage above) took 7 days. It was not flippant but very detailed. Much preparation was made to follow the guidelines set by YHWH. I realize times have changed with the coming of Jesus. With every walk along the history of the Church (Old and New Testaments) I would argue that God makes Himself more accessible - culminating in Christ and in the Spirit being given to the church. However (and I'm speaking personally here) I've been convicted preparation for our weekly gatherings with God has been minimal.

We still hold, in a sense, weekly gatherings around the temple, only now all believers have access to the Holy of Holies. This was previously given to just one man, the High Priest. Now because of Jesus our High Priest we have the ability to enter in to such a sacred space daily as individuals and corporately as the Church. The gatherings of our faith communities are nothing less than entering into the holiest place. This leads me to believe as a church preparations must be made before dawning the doors of our churches. For leadership (myself included) there must be an awesome reverence for such a thing and preparations for us must be very intentional. I must admit, with three kids my Sunday routine would be to get up, showered, dressed, and off to the church...no 'consecrated' time of prayer except a few minutes beforehand. I always felt as if something was missing. It was. It was devoted time preparing for and encounter with the glory of God.

That's what it's about...glory. It's God being revealed in us, around us, and through us.

It's not a simple task. It's not insignificant. It's God. It's us. It's a collision of God's faithful promise and act of his consecrating a people and our act of devotion that bring about God's glory.

God's act...our devotion...His Glory revealed. Amen

Faith Tensions, Part 1 1/2

A brief follow-up to the last post...I had a great/timely/interesting conversation with one of our laypeople the other day in regards to what I was trying to articulate in the last post. There were a few things he said I identified with well.

First: "Everything is not good, but everything is good." He's speaking of a sense of discontent - what is not good. Everything else in life is fine, but he's discontent with his current role of ministry. He feels God's call to a certain ministry - to begin a certain ministry. He's not there yet. He's in a current role but his heart is calling him elsewhere. I identified with this in a great way. There are many things my current role fulfills in my sense of calling, but there is still much I want to do/experience for the Kingdom. On a greater level I wonder how many of us have a type of holy discontentment. There are things God is placing on our hearts (ways for us to serve...burdens for people, etc), but our ability to do these things is not yet here. Much like my desire for missions overseas.

Second: "There is so much to do it feels like you can never do enough." At first I was shocked because I thought only pastors felt this way. But here was a layperson completely vested in his role feeling the same way I did. It was relieving to hear this yet troubling at the same time. It emphasizes the fact that what we do for God and the church we must feel called to...not just putting a warm body in an open position. This is ineffectual for the body of Christ. We can do so much more when we serve where God puts a burden on our heart rather than where I feel I'm needed...BIG DIFFERENCE. Stewardship of time is critical and we must make sure we're investing our time where we are called.

I was very encouraged by our conversation. God's moving all over the place in our church. I'm privileged enough to have conversations with people I don't normally have a chance to talk with and I'm able to hear their heart. It's amazing what God is up to at New Hope. It's also relieving to hear others going through the same things you are.

Faith Tensions, Part I

What ever happened to a faith that is easily defined? How is it that some people who follow Jesus give the impression they have it all together? Why is it so hard to look at major Christian leaders who have purpose and passion and wonder where your own purpose and passion are? How driven must they be to accomplish such great things for the Kingdom?

Every so often I live in the tension of discontent, failure, and wander (not wonder). I question myself and exactly what it is I do. I think it's beyond personal insecurity. It's a faith issue. It's not that I don't believe. In these times I identify myself most with the words of Peter after Jesus asks the remaining disciples if they are going to leave too...his reply...'where else would we go?' My sentiments exactly. Following Christ is hard, but where else am I supposed to go? Ministry is difficult for me, but where else can I go? I know deep down in my soul this is where I am to be, but it doesn't help the tension.

The tension, at least for this post, is between what is and what could be...and my role in it. This immediately leads to another tension - my involvement at all in what could be. One of the remarkable things of faith is God's power to do things on his own but choosing to use humans. It's me but it's not me. So what do I have to do - what role do I have to play - in bringing what could be into existence? What role do I play in 'Thy Kingdom Come'?

I don't know, and this is what frustrates me.

There are times I know - times I feel inspired, filled, and passionate. But then there are other times, more frequent than the others, when I am left in wander and without answers. I identify well with the wandering in the desert - with Abraham waiting so long for a son. I wonder what went through Abraham's mind day after day after day in waiting for the promise?' What happened in his mind as he waited for his role in being involved with what could be coming into reality?

The Kingdom vision is big - too big for me to grapple. Yet I look at so many people I know and it appears (at least) they are grasping and moving with their role. Connections are made...they seem to know what they're doing. But me, I'm still figuring this whole thing out. Where exactly do I fit? What is required of me? What is my role?

When 'Thanks' is Enough

So I'm in the middle of redoing my basement...actually, I'm teaming up with people to redo my basement. See, I'm not a very handy person...I can do some things, but not many. I lean on people and their expertise to help me get through little projects like this. It got me to thinking about how much we lean on people, but also how this relationship benefits both parties.

There's nothing more fulfilling to me than to use something I'm good at...something I enjoy, to help someone out. First of all, I love to do it. I feel confident in it. It gives me a sense of worth. So just the chore itself, whatever it is, brings me a sense of fulfillment.

Then there's the other side, the part where what I'm doing is helping someone. It is lightening their load. It is doing something they can't do, or don't know how to do. Most of the time those who we help are grateful and would give us whatever we ask for to 'pay us back' for our time and effort.

This is the worth part. They don't need to give us anything. They've already given it to us in the opportunity. As much as we may want the monetary donation, the act of being appreciated seems to be more than enough. The act of being appreciated isn't a once and done thing, but it's a building block. Everytime one of these exchanges takes place it's more than just services rendered, it's people treating other like they would like to be treated. It's biblical. It's relationship. It's a moment where people gather around something for someone and are at harmony with one another.

If you could think of it in music: the need is the song and those who gather around the need are the ones playing the instruments. The whole thing makes music. It comes together as people come together. As community happens.

We find worth not only in ourselves but in those we help. They are worthy of help. They are worthy of our time. In them we see ourselves, human beings who long for people to come around them.

We find fulfillment as we work together to make the song, but the song never happens alone. A song (a need) happening alone is suffocating, but a need that's not a solo act is an orchestra. Much of life's beauty comes when we make the song with others.

Rob Bell...

If you have talked to me lately (as in the past few months) you would know I've become heavily influenced by the thought and teaching of Rob Bell, Pastor of Mars Hill (link is on this site). Anyway, for anyone interested, he's got a fall speaking tour coming out entitled "The gods aren't angry tour." There's a meeting in Philly and in Pittsburg, if anyone's interested. Here's the link to the site: http://www.thegodsarentangrytour.com/

A consideration, because this guy is in 'high demand'. Rarely do I see speakers selling out their events, but Rob seems to do this. Why? My take is that he's presenting the beauty of the gospel in a rich and meaningful way. He's all about the scriptures. He doesn't shy away from their depth in order not to offend those who are 'seeking', but he probes the depth of them because in them is truth.

This is why he's influenced me so much lately. The whole seeker sensative movement worries me because it does a disservice to both believer and seeker. For the believer it lacks depth and for the true seeker it doesn't give anything of substance. If I'm looking for something to believe in, I'm looking for a religion with depth, not a simple motivation with some verses thrown in to call it a sermon.

I've heard it said in the preaching circles to find someone to emulate...someone who has a style that you can identify with and then learn from. This guy is the closest I can find. He probes the depth of life and God and Scripture unapologetically. He does so without fancying it up. He let's the text do the persuading, because the text speaks and is alive.

So what begins as a plug for Rob and his ministry is really a plug for what his ministry is all about...the depth of faith in Jesus. If you haven't read them yet, check out his books Velvit Elvis and Sex God. The first was amazing and I'm halfway through the second...just as good.

Bewilderment to Worth

Ever been frustrated when you know you are right but somebody doesn't think so? Ever been dissappointed when you feel your ideas aren't received from someone, but then that someone receives the same idea from someone else and thinks it's great? These are only a few examples, but there seems to be a need for us to feel justified...to be proven right. It's normally not enough just for us to know that in our our minds, but we need it to be validated.

I've experienced this a few times over the past several weeks, and it's starting to get my attention. I feel I've been wronged in some circumstances. Perhaps in some ways I've wronged others. Other times I think the way I would do things would be better. At the moment I am hurt or passed over, but within the course of the day or days there are little things that come to me letting me know I was right. There's a big part of me that wants to go to the ones who've hurt me, the one's who've overlooked me and say, "See, I was right"...or something to that effect. There seems to be a need in me...and I think in all of us...not only to be right but to be proved right.

I think there is a lesson to be learned here. Justification happens before God, not people. Our attempts to justify ourselves before others neglect God's justice and the need for forgiveness.

In speaking of God's justice: Instead of feeling the need to prove ourselves right we accept that in God's sight we are right. We no longer need to hunt the person down or prove ourselves, be we take comfort and delight in the fact the God of the universe approves of us.

In speaking of forgiveness: Something amazing occurs when you care more about the approval of God then of your peers. This whole subject goes straight to the trivial things of life. People say things that are taken the wrong way. Some people say hurtful things they weren't aware of as hurtful. Sometimes things happen with the best intentions but still hurt others. We're human and we have great propensity to hurt others. However, we also have a great power to forgive. Forgivness cares about God's opinion and it acknowledges the humanity of the hurting party. The seeds of bitterness are disposed of because we are seen as right in the eyes of God.

Ministry demands those involved to look to God for their justification, worth, and rightness. I'm not sure if there's any other arena where one's heart is put on the line so consistently with the possibility of it being continually crushed. But the crushing happens, and as we love those who crush us we are able to forgive and allow our heads to be lifted from bewilderment to worth.