re-think

The Illogical Misery of a Hard Heart

2012-01-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

This is my Life journal post for today:

God had sent the plagues on Egypt, but time after time, not only did Pharoah not let the people go, but he had his magicians imitate the plagues on his own land! And when asked when he wanted the frogs removed, his answer was "tomorrow." Really? Tomorrow? How about "right now?" But because of his need to maintain the appearance of control, his hard heart perpetuated the people's misery - and his own as well.

Hard heartedness can lead to some stupid decisions. It will cause us to stay miserable in order to maintain a semblance of power. It will keep us in our pain another day. It will not only hurt us, but others we love and are responsible for. Is there any area where I have been so stubborn and unwilling to concede control that it has perpetuated a misery for myself or others?

God, thank you for opportunities to evaluate the condition of my heart. Please keep it soft and open to your course correction. Forgive me when my pride and misplaced sense of power keep me or others in places of relational brokenness or pain. You are my leader. Help me to be a faithful follower. In Jesus name. Amen.

Don't forget to Chuckle

2012-01-17T21:06:00.001-08:00

Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you justkeep looking at each other?" They were in a desperate situation, in themidst of a famine and were at a loss for what to do. So what did thesepatriarchs of our faith do? They were sitting around looking at each other.Can't you just picture it? Brothers, sitting around in the heat of the sun,some tossing rocks and dirt clods on the ground - others fashioning somethingout of a stick - all sort of in a funk. Their dad walks out and basically says,"Hey, you're not helping here!"

I can't help but chuckle at verses like this. Thebible is so honest about its heroes. When we read about them we can laugh atourselves because we can so easily relate. Too often we read in monotone orwith such intensity that we miss the sense of humor that God offers. Don't missit. It is such a part of our story!

God, thank you for our ability to laugh atourselves! Help us to laugh today - to not get so consumed by either themonotony of the day or the intensity of our responsibilities that we forget tochuckle just a little. Amen!

Jacob Bothers Me.

2012-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

This is my Life Journal posting for today:

Genesis 28:18-20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

Don't even get me started with Rebekah - Jacob's mom - but as I read the story of Jacob's blessing this morning, he really bothered me. I've read this story many times before, but I can't remember being so struck by the apparent selfishness in Jacob as I was today. His name indicates that he is one who takes advantage, which he certainly did of Esau as he lied and deceived to steal his blessing. But the vow he made to God seems more like a deal for his own benefit than a commitment to the God who is worthy of our lives: "If God will...and give me...so that I...then I will give him a tenth." Still, God honored the blessing. Amazing.

God operates on purpose bigger than our shortcomings. The blessing he promised was to Abraham - Jacob's grandpa. God would fulfill his promise, even though Jacob, because of his actions and attitude, may not have deserved it. Ah, how familiar this is! Do any of us deserve God's blessing? We get so selfish and our commitments to God are lackluster, yet God in His grace and in the purpose of His love, through Jesus, still offers us blessing. Jacob bothers me because all too often, I am Jacob.

Lord, thank you for your promises, your grace and your love. Forgive me when I treat these blessings as a right rather than a privilege. You have blessed me though I haven't deserved such a blessing. I pray that my life will reflect an unselfish love for you in all I do, say and think today. In Jesus name. Amen.

Join the ADVENTure!

2011-11-22T09:02:00.000-08:00

In the first 45 years of my life, I didn't celebrate Advent. I had advent calendars. I knew about advent. I certainly had beautiful opportunities to anticipate Christmas. But I never participated in the beautiful tradition of Advent. Three years ago that changed, and I love it!

This Sunday we will light our first advent candle and focus our attention on hope. The next Sunday we will light the second and focus on peace, then joy, then love. And on Christmas day we will light our final candle for the Christ-child. There is something about linking our lives with the larger historical body of Christ that heightens the anticipation and celebration of the life-changing reality of the incarnation.

We also participate with Advent Conspiracy (www.adventconspiracy.org). This was started by a few pastors who wanted to redeem the meaning of Christmas back from the depths of consumerism. We are joining them in it this year with a desire to do four things intentionally:

Worship fully
Spend less money
Give more presence
Love like Jesus

If you want to join us on a daily participation, click HERE for a guide to follow.

This is going to be a great Advent and a beautiful Christmas!

A Leadership Lesson from the Indianapolis Colts

2011-11-21T07:30:00.001-08:00

I'm not a Colts fan. I'm a Cowboys fan since the days of Tom Landry and Roger Staubach - and a Seahawks fan since their inception. However, I joined a small fantasy football league this year and one of my first draft picks was Peyton Manning, the Colts superstar quarterback who puts up amazing numbers and surgically picks apart defenses with his passing prowess. He is arguably one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. Unfortunately he had a spinal fusion surgery which ended his season before it began - bummer for him, for my team, and for the Colts.

I've watched and wondered this season what has happened to the Colts. 2 years ago they won 16 games and lost in the Superbowl. Last year they were 10-6, made the playoffs, but lost in the first round. So far this year, they are 0-10 and look terrible. I can understand a dropoff after losing Manning - but 0-10? Their defense is not good and has been in decline. But their running game was to be improved this year. The difference? Peyton Manning Syndrome. This team has been carried by Manning for over a decade - and they have been very good with him. But you pull him out, and the team crumbles to 0-10.

It is not only important to have great leaders, it is important to have great teams around great leaders. Over-dependence on a leader in any type of team, including a church, will not be sustainable. Great teams can lose a leader and still be effective. But if everything rises and falls on the leader, when it falls, it will fall hard.

Jesus spent the bulk of His time building a great team. When He left, the team carried on to great effectiveness. If we are in a leadership role, a significant portion of our time should be given to building and training a great team around us. If you are a leader, and you were taken out, would the ministry carry on in strength? Are others trained to do what you do, and do it well? Are they given opportunity now to do it? Are the right people in the right places? What areas might suffer if you were not there to do them?

Avoid the Peyton Manning Syndrome. Build a great team!

Where's the Beach?

2011-10-24T10:17:00.001-07:00

Acts 20:24 - today's life journaling

Paul said that the Holy Spirit had warned him that in every city prison and hardships awaited him. But his only aim was to "finish the race" - testifying to the good news of God's grace. Paul knew his life was in jeopardy. He knew he was nearing the end. He had served well as a missionary. He had established churches, appointed elders, spread the gospel, risked his life... He could have retired. He could have felt pretty good about his legacy, become a church consultant, and then just kicked it on the beaches of Greece. Instead, he continued to go into the face of adversity, because his life was "worth nothing" to him.

Come on Paul, can't you give us a little justification to put it on cruise control, play some golf and bask in our own self-worth? Too much is at stake. Paul knew, as we need to remember, that he was on a mission that was not his own. The Holy Spirit cares about us. He warns us about what we will face. But He doesn't always follow it up with, "so you should do something safer." He prepares us and then goes with us. The good news of God's grace is too good not to risk our comfort, our calendars and even our lives for.

Father, when I am tempted to cash it in for a sunny spot and plaques of former fruitfulness, please stop me. Please always give me people in my life who challenge me. And remind me of the lengths You went to get the good news into my soul.

Jesus in the Midst

2011-09-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

Luke 5:29 "Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them."

Levi "left all", rose up and followed Jesus. Next we find him making a great feast in his "own house" with Jesus and many of his friends. So what did it mean that he "left all". We assume he left his job as a tax-collector. But is it possible that the leaving was a departure from what had been his life without Jesus? He left his old life and the next thing we know is that those things that he had accumulated, including his home and his friends had Jesus in the middle of them.

Jesus is interested in what has the attention and focus of our heart. In our "leaving" of our old stuff, He may ask us to sacrifice some tangible life benefits. But I think what He is most interested in is whether or not we are willing to place Him in the center of everything we have - including our relationships. We know that Peter "left everything", but still seemed to have his boat, his family, his home, etc. But Jesus became the center of what these disciples were about.

Jesus, where I have held control and left you out, please forgive me. My prayer is that in my home, my meals, my friendships, my efforts and the focus of my life, You will be found in the center.

Exponential 2011 - Reflections

2011-05-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

This was my first Exponential. When you’ve endured the kind of dreary Winter and Spring that we Seattleites have, any opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida is a welcome opportunity. And when we say it is dreary, you know it has been bad. Even those of us who are lifers in Seattle were contemplating fake UV rays or urban mission trips into the heart of Scottsdale or the mean streets of Kaanapali. That said, Exponential was far deeper than a sunny getaway.

Though I planted 17+ years ago, I now also oversee a regional planting network and coach and train planters. Though my temptation was to simply attend those sessions that would most benefit the church I still pastor, I was there to gather ideas and info that would best equip our organization. The sheer number of possible options was almost overwhelming. I signed up for the pre-conference intensive called “Denominational & Church Planting Network Systems” with Ed Stetzer. Ed is a walking Wikipedia of church planting and organizational knowledge and statistics. I was in a room full of organizational execs (old guys) all wanting to know how best to maximize their resources and release their planters into their missional dreams. The knowledge and tools there were abundant, forward thinking and practical. And there was truly a sense that we were in this together – Baptists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, Lutherans, Open Biblers, etc.

We then gathered in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, a little church of 14,000 in Orlando. Though I know nothing about the church (except that they were exceptional hosts), the very structure was a helpful reminder that being missional or incarnational has nothing to do with size or structure (although I did notice a few house church community guys secretly drooling over the three 1000” backlit screens over the stage). The first main session set a beautiful tone with the energy of planter-types drunk with vision and a soul-searching challenge from Francis Chan who shared his recent journey of personal mission discovery. He urged us not to simply pander to the consumer-driven culture we so easily succumb to, and reminded us that if we are unwilling to be lonely and misunderstood we really have nothing to say.

Scores of breakout sessions covering everything from personal spirituality to fundraising to ethnic planting to the latest made-up church planting words filled the agenda in the next three days. Rick Warren led the morning bible studies. Kem Walker from Granger Church taught me how to think differently about the use of technology. She used the term “digital missions”, changing forever the way I view our online presence. Elliot Grudem from Acts 29 talked about common pitfalls of church planting. Hugh Halter and Matt Smay, early adopters and pioneers in the missional movement reminded me that when we call people to join us in following Jesus, we are calling them to a radical reorientation of every aspect of their life – don’t be too quick to assume that because they sign up to be greeters that they are truly with us on the journey. And Matt Chandler , in a session entitled “Preaching the Gospel to Ourselves” told me in no uncertain terms that if I’m not personally right with God, no matter how much talent I have or how well I can cover things up, I probably won’t end up liking the church I’m leading. In fact his quote was “In five years what you hate about the church will be what you hate about you.” Back off Matt, alright?

The main sessions took us on a journey of what it meant to be “On the Verge” (the theme of the conference). Fruitful practitioners like Dave Ferguson, Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter as well as brilliant thinkers with cool accents like Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch proposed that if we are going to truly connect with the lost in our culture, maybe we should actually get to know who they really are. Perhaps the big question is not whether we should use an LED bar or a PAR can. What if we tweaked the metrics for kingdom impact from how many are in the seats on Sunday to how many neighbors would want to have us to their home because we are making a difference in their everyday life? What if we commissioned every person in our church as a missionary to their community? What if we really loved our city, and what if we hung in there long enough that our city really loved us too? Maybe, just maybe then we could be on the verge of something truly hopeful. But most importantly we were given hope and examples that this can all move beyond theory and philosophy into implementation and reality. Perhaps an apostolic movement that has a missional/incarnational DNA can also have a graspable plan and structure.

In the last session we were introduced to a young lady who worked for Exponential. The week prior, this young lady became a follower of Jesus. So in front of the conference, Rick Warren (who baptized her mom), baptized her for all of us to celebrate. I sat there with tears in my eyes cheering on Jesus and remembering that this really is what it is all about - taking people who are not yet convinced on the journey with us into the Kingdom.

(and it was 90 degrees…)

Is There Any Other Way?

2011-01-22T09:56:00.001-08:00

Exodus 4:13; Luke 22:42
God went to great lengths to show Moses how He would provide for him to fulfill his mission to lead the people out of Egypt. He appeared in a burning bush, He showed His power with signs, and He answered the questions Moses had. Still, Moses (understandably) said, "please send someone else." He felt the mission was beyond him. He had settled into the community of Midian and had found peace. And maybe he just didn't want to be the chosen one.

Even Jesus, in the night of His arrest asked if there might be some other way. But He was submitted to His Father.

It is not always easy to be chosen for God's mission. It will take us out of what we have known. It will challenge us beyond our own ability. It will often remove us from what has become our security and comfort. But lives are at stake. The freedom of people that God loves deeply is at stake. And the mission reminds us that Jesus is the Way, but in the crazy, sovereign scheme of things, we too are the way He operates.

Father, when in my human-ness I ask to get out of it, or when I have excuses, or fear, or selfishness, please forgive me and give me the strength to say, "yet not my will, but yours be done."

"High Places" of Authority

2011-01-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Luke 4:5-6
The devil took Jesus to a "high place" where they could get a good view. It is not nearly as cool to say from the inner depths of the wilderness "look at all of this", because too much of the view is obstructed. The devil thought, "If I could just get Him to see with His eyes how beautiful and powerful this all appears, He will want it with His flesh." But Jesus knew who He was. He had authority far above and beyond what could be seen and touched. He was the anointed one of Isaiah's prophecy. He could cast out demons and heal the sick and proclaim the good news of the kingdom.

We can get so caught up in the "high places". We stifle our authority and impact by pursuing only that which we can see. We need to remember who we are - worshipers of God, indwelt by His Spirit and commissioned by Jesus! Whether we are in the depths of the wilderness or in the high places, in Christ our view does not have to change.

Lord, help me today to see with your eyes and walk in the authority that you grant me for your purposes.

He never fails, even when we don't get it.

2011-01-01T10:29:00.001-08:00

Luke 1:37

The question Mary asked was a reasonable one, and the essence of it was familiar - "How can this be?" What God had spoken to Mary did not make much sense in so many respects. It was physically impossible. It was socially improbable - she was not particularly well known, nor was Joseph. She was young, unmarried, etc.. Still, God had spoken.

How many times has God asked me to do the unlikely, or that which I feel ill-equipped to do? When has there really ever been anything great done that didn't require a high dose of the illogical, unreasonable or unlikely? This is where God kicks in the best. It is in those times of our uncertainty where God gets the glory because of His certainty.

Lord, I am ready. I have so many reasons to say "How can this be?" But I ask that your Holy Spirit overshadow me so that the unlikely becomes reality. This year is Yours God. Let's do this.

My Advent Mini-Rebellion

2010-12-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

I love the season of Advent. I love the sense of anticipation and wonder. But there is also the push and pressure of the next Christmas responsibility - the next gift to buy, party to attend, event to plan, lights to hang. And with this pressure can come anxiety and crowds and noise until we lose sight of the simple yet profound meaning of the season and, in fact, look forward to it's ending. It should not be this way. So I am having a little rebellion against the culture's detraction from the power of the Advent story. Each day, I'm going to do a very few simple things - I'm going to turn it off - and I invite you to join me:

15 minutes each day. Find 15 minutes every day to turn everything off, find a comfortable spot, and be with Jesus.
1 hour block this week. Arrange a 1 hour block of time where you have no noise, no work, no kids, by yourself – relax and refuse to feel anxious or guilty.
In your car. As you drive in your car each day, choose a time to turn off your radio and your phone and just talk to Jesus.
In the midst of activity. Purposely practice stopping, sitting, watching and listening.

Turn it off, rebel just a little, and perhaps restore some of the wonder of Advent.

Fight the Urge to Hibernate!

2010-11-12T09:46:00.001-08:00

The barbecues are covered, the lawns have stopped growing, the temperatures have dropped and the rains have begun. The hibernation has officially begun. Here in the Northwest, connecting with neighbors is relatively easy in the spring and summer. The days are longer and everybody is outside doing something. We have now moved into the season of an occasional neighborly wave from the car just before entering the garage. Now is the true test of relationship. Will we invest into our neighbor's lives even though it is not quite as convenient? This might mean actually moving inside of houses. A little closer. This might mean having people for dinner around a table without paper plates and a nearby volleyball net. Maybe we could get some guys together and play basketball, or watch "The Office" together, or go see a movie, or ???

In the summer we tend to hang out with neighbors a little more and miss church a few more Sundays. In the winter we tend to hang out with neighbors less and miss church less. What if we saw all of it as community and just chose regularly to be in community together? It will take some intentional effort but it is what the kingdom is about - sharing Christ among those God has called us to.

Fight the individualism - fight the hibernation!

A Big, Powerful, God

2010-05-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Psalm 99:9 " Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy."

I'm in Leavenworth, Washington this morning. We've been here for the last couple of days as a family. This morning the sky is blue and the sun is blazing. All around this quaint bavarian-themed town are majestic, rugged snow-capped mountain peaks and tree-laden hillsides in endless shades of green. It is take-your-breath-away beautiful.

Yesterday we decided to find one of these hills to climb - and we did. We began the hike through meadows of wildflowers and then traversed through jagged rock outcroppings, following deer trails to the top where we could see panoramic views of the valley below and the mountains that surrounded it. And then this morning I read Psalm 99.

Psalm 99 speaks of the majesty, power and holiness of God. For me there is no greater visual reminder of God's power than the mountains. The mountains remind me of the vastness of God. They tell of His daunting power - that you don't mess with Him or treat Him carelessly. They tell of His creative beauty - that in one spot you can see insurmountable cliffs and in another delicate wildflowers.

He is a friend. He is personal. He loves us. But let us never forget that at the stroke of His hand and the sound of His voice He can make the mountains fall and the earth shake. Let us never cease to stand in awe of Him, to be reminded that we can not grasp His holiness or the perfection of His purposes.

Lord, we exalt You.

A New Song - a New Wonder

2010-05-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! - Ps. 98:1 (TM)

I know people like the old songs. Old songs put us somewhere. For example, Foreigners "Urgent" puts me in my dorm room in Bible college, "Just You and I" puts me at my wedding, and "The Solid Rock" puts me in a chair in the baptist church I grew up in. In worship, people generally want to hear and sing the songs that were meaningful during a period in which God was doing something significant in their lives. Stores play music from specific eras to target the crowd they are marketing to.

But sometimes we need a new song.

The Spirit of God is always at work doing something new. God has made a "world of wonders." But too often in the frantic pace of our lives and in the stifling noise of our schedules, we lose our sense of wonder. We miss the beauty of a budding tree, the simple joy of a quiet morning, or the opportunity that God has placed in front of our "today." So while we rush from here to there, we long for a lost time and a missing wonder - an old song and a lost inspiration.

God has a new song for you today. The world of wonders has not been exhausted. Stop for a few minutes. Look closely at the new things you haven't yet seen and listen to Him speak to you. Let Him give you a brand new song. And chances are, someday you'll be longing for the song He gives you today...

A St. Patrick repost...

2010-03-17T09:56:00.001-07:00

On this St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd repost this reminder from last year:

Happy St. Patricks Day! It is more than beer, shamrocks and lucky charms.

St. Patrick was born a Romano-British citizen. He was taken by Irish invaders from Britain at age 16 and served as a slave in Ireland for six years. During that time he prayed, and he studied. He escaped slavery and went back home, but he later returned to the homeland of his captivity, Ireland, to spread the gospel and plant churches.

In the 5th century, it is believed that Patrick was responsible for the planting of over 200 churches and he won 1000's of people to Christ. When Patrick entered a new town or province, he would often befriend the local ruler and introduce him to Christ. Patrick would then establish monastaries for the training of Christians with a strong emphasis on mission. He effectively established missionary training centers throughout the country in order to reach the whole of Ireland.

Patrick also learned the local language, the old Gaelic, and translated the gospel into their culture. He used their colloquialisms. He studied their culture. And he helped them understand Christ within their own context. Here are a couple of classic examples:

1. It was Patrick that used the indigenous shamrock (three-leaf clover) to explain the Trinity to the Celts. Three leaves, one clover; three persons, one God.

2. It was also Patrick who used a druid symbol of reincarnation, the circle, overlayed it with a cross and created this "celtic cross". This was brilliant in two ways: 1) it used the current cultural symbolism to help them understand the gospel, and 2) it represented the triumph of the gospel over the false religions of the day.

As you wear your green today, remember the mission of St. Patrick!

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, and in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

- a prayer of St. Patrick

A Missional Chuch Video

2010-02-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

The video below gives what I would call a starting point for the philosophy of missional church. What I love about it is the clarity of the difference between an attractional model of church versus a missional model. However, we have a tendency to swing the pendulum so far that we forget that our gatherings are also meaningful. It is not somehow unbiblical to invite someone to a gathering with the hope that they might see or hear the good news. But we must not also forget that we need to carry this good news with us into a world that is really not very interested in coming to our gatherings.

So I honestly believe that we need a "both/and" approach. Have great gatherings with sound, inspiring biblical training, and live as "sent" people ready to share the good news into a world that desperately needs Jesus.

His Kingdom Expressed in So Many Creative Ways.

2010-02-12T21:21:00.000-08:00

I have been fascinated this past week by the vast diversity of the kingdom of God. I met with a pastor who leads a church of 12,000. This leader, author and speaker who has taught and inspired leaders all over the world talked to me about the struggle of a hard conversation he was going to have with a friend in his ministry - he didn't want to have to do it, but knew it was for the best. He really cares - he has a great heart, a humble spirit. I then met with a guy who is just getting ready to take his church plant to a new season of weekly gatherings. He spoke of a mixture of excitement and concern about not meeting expectations - including his own. From there I met with a guy who pastors about 30 people. He's busy with his "real job" :), he loves this church that doesn't really look like a typical church, and he has vision to start these all over his community. He's wondering if he'll get support as he tries to start a gathering in a local bar.

Two days later I met and prayed with about 10 christian leaders in my community - from all different churches and ministries. I sat with gratitude as I recalled how one of them - from a large local church - blessed our church with a financial gift to help us buy projectors. And as the catholic church leader began to pray I thought of how we partner with their food bank. Then the covenant pastor prayed - this pastor who cares for some of my family every week. As one after another prayed I could think of how each has blessed my life or those I love in some way with the genuine love of Christ.

His kingdom work can not be contained, nor does it have to be bothered by a form or structure. He works through formal liturgy, barbecues in the park, house churches and typical evangelical church gatherings. Huge, tiny or in between - doesn't matter.

Too often I hear people speak in ridiculous generalizations about how shallow or materialistic large churces are. Or they talk of how ineffective or sloppy the small, humble gatherings are. There is not a right way or a more biblical way to gather. And frankly, it drives me crazy when well-meaning, zealous followers of Christ act as though there is. We miss so much of the beautiful diversity of His kingdom when we set it within boxes that Jesus never mandated.

He's just called us to love Him and love our neighbors. He wants us to make disciples. Let's do it the best way we know how and take time to stop and appreciate the creative ways others are doing it. I'm going to choose to believe that others hear from God too, and have honest, genuine and biblical motives for what they do.

Keeping Focused on What Matters.

2009-08-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I've blogged. I'm obviously not a prolific blogger. It has been a busy summer as we have re-evaluated pretty much everything about our ministry. What we have come to is this:
1. Reaching people with the love of Christ has to be job one in all that we do.
2. Helping people realize the fullness of Kingdom life must be at the core of how we do it. We can't "event" somebody into the community of Christ. It takes effort and time and sacrifice. It takes laying down our preferences for someone else. It means we really love people. As we grow it takes a strategy of connection and communication. It takes money. And it takes people committed to transformed lives.
3. Lives, marriages, kids, whole communities and the next generations are at stake so we can't be too non-chalant about this.
4. We can't do it. We desperately need the grace and strength of Christ.

I'm so glad He is with us!

"Don't settle or stop"

2009-05-15T07:29:00.001-07:00

"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more." - I Thess. 4:1
"Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more." - I Thess. 4:10

"That's good enough." This is such an easy attitude to take on - to do just enough to get by, or to get on to the next thing or to satisfy some minimal requirement. The difference between being average and being good is the willingness to go beyond what is required. The difference between being good and being great is going beyond what is required even when nobody else is watching.
The Thessalonians were doing well. But Paul was encouraging them to keep going, to not stop and to continue to excel.

Why should we excel? No so that God will accept us, but because God has already accepted us! This should cause us to want to do all we can to please Him in everything we do. Do the little extras. Finish the job. Go beyond what is expected. Extend a little more kindness. Make that call to somebody who could use the encouragement today!

Lord, thank you for giving everything for me. I pray that my life today would reflect my gratitude to You. Thank you for an incredible wife and kids. Thank you for this beautiful place to live. Thank you for an amazing church and the exciting things happening there. Thank you for the sunshine today. Today I will choose to go beyond the expected, to touch another life so that You will be honored.

To Him who Gives Us Strength

2009-05-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

It is so tempting to resort to our own strength and strategy. We examine the challenge, calculate our costs, count our resources, align skills with need and opportunity and execute the plan. It makes perfect sense. It seems to be the recipe for success. And we may find some success.

But if we leave out faith in a God who operates beyond human calculation, we have become a machine without a soul. We have lost the beauty of wonder. We have lost the terrifying exhilaration of abandon to the One who wants to carry us. And we lose opportunity to see God's strength made perfect in our weakness.

In 2 Samuel 24 David took a census to count his army. This seemed a logical enough question - "how much strength do we have", but it led to a painful judgment on David and the people. You see, David was measuring his ability without factoring the power and will of God into the equation.

Our church has entered into a new season of strength and a refocused strategy. But let us never assess our challenge without first relying on the strength of our God who loves our city and church more than we can even imagine. This way, the glory goes where it belongs - to Him who gives us strength.

Measure what Matters

2009-03-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

A reminder from a post about a year ago. How would we do if we measured these things as a church?

How is my community (neighborhood, workplace, school, etc.) more livable and open to Christ because of my influence there?
How many have invited me to hang out with their friends who don't follow Christ?
How many baptisms have we seen?
How many Christians have we been willing to tell that our church probably won't work for them?
How many young leaders are we intentionally discipling and developing?
How many are hanging out together after the "official" gathering time is over?
In what tangible, benevolent ways have we been good news to our community?

Let's count the things that matter.

St. Patrick - A brilliant missional example (repost)

2009-03-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

On this St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd repost this reminder from last year:

Happy St. Patricks Day! It is more than beer, shamrocks and lucky charms.

1. It was Patrick that used the indigenous shamrock (three-leaf clover) to explain the Trinity to the Celts. Three leaves, one clover; three persons, one God.

As you wear your green today, remember the mission of St. Patrick!

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, and in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

- a prayer of St. Patrick

Influence

2009-03-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had a conversation with a couple of friends over coffee (okay, I was drinking hot chocolate - I'm not a coffee drinker...) about the topic of influence. We were kicking around the question, "How much influence do you want to have?" We all agreed that we wanted to have positive, godly influence on our families. We talked about finding our niche and making a difference there. One wanted to rise to become president of the company he works for. But it was not for personal benefit, but to be able to direct that company in such a way as to make a difference, not only locally but also by sending teams from his company to help improve the infrastructure of impoverished nations.

As I read through the gospels, it is clear that the disciples had no idea the kind of influence they would have. They were just following Jesus. They weren't even sure who He really was at times. But they knew something special was happening. They watched Him. They listened to Him. They helped Him serve. They hung out with Him. Before they knew it they were doing the things He had been doing. People were looking to them for help and for answers. They had responsibilities for the church in entire cities and were recruiting and appointing others just to keep up with what was happening.

Influence that matters comes from God. It doesn't matter where we work, what we do, or what position we hold. But as we hang out with Jesus, be ready because God may just raise us up beyond the realm where we are presently comfortable to help Him change lives, communities and perhaps even nations!

"...they took note that these men had been with Jesus." -Acts 4:13

The Clock is Ticking, is Anything Happening?

2009-02-26T10:11:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in my office and doing something I don't do nearly enough - just watching and listening. I hear the sound of cars passing by behind me. I have a clock that doesn't ever change time - it is always 7:31 in my office - but it ticks as though something is happening. And outside my office window is a wintry picture of freshly fallen snow. The chickadees and sparrows are flitting from tree to ground, poking around for sustenance.

We move quickly from place to place, from task to task, and from deadline to deadline. The clock is ticking, but what of value is happening?

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" - Matt. 6:26,27

Alone With My Thoughts...

2009-02-21T17:23:00.000-08:00

I just spent about 9 hours in leadership training considering the greatest mission in the world - helping people to become followers of Christ. I was on the one hand incredibly excited and motivated, on the other hand frustrated by my own personal lack in this area with my neighbors and community, and on the third hand (?) overwhelmed by a sense that the task before me is far beyond me.

I think the third hand is a good one. If I can do it, I don't need God. But that God would use me is both humbling and an honor. I want to be involved in God sized things. Those are the things worth giving our time to. I can't make my neighbors yield their lives to Christ, but I can certainly have them over and share life with them. I think that's what I'll do, and then just maybe I can be a link in their chain towards Christ.

As I sit here in Seattle, alone in Panera Bread (the best cafe ever), I am also deeply grateful for a church leadership that was willing to host, serve, and learn so that we might be committed to the mission Jesus gave us. You guys rock.

Right Time, Right Place

2009-02-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

Acts 17:26 - "God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him..."

He did what?

"He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." Amazing.

God knows both when He wants us to live, and where He wants us to live, because that place and time is our best shot at seeking and finding Him. And if that is true for you and me, isn't it also true for those who haven't found Him yet? God has a purpose for our life in this specific point on the map of creation, in this specific point in human history. We could have been born in 13th century Rome or in Persia in 400 B.C. but He gave us 21st Century America. What an opportunity we have been given!

It is easy to complain about the economy, the moral decline and the injustice that we see. But God has given us this time and this place as our best shot at finding Him. Let's help others see it that way too.

Greater Heart Capacity

2009-01-28T10:02:00.000-08:00

"There was no needy persons among them." - Acts 4:34

When the Spirit is moving and transforming us, we loosen our grip. No longer are our possessions ours (Acts 4:32). Even as I write this, caution and rationalizations like "holding people accountable for individual responsibility" and other justifications for my own tendency toward protection and selfishness race through my mind.

Last night I was looking at my contribution statements and calculating my percentage of giving this year. However, the question is not, "How much have I given?" Better questions are "How much do I still believe is mine?" and "How much need is still there that I can meet?"

Mother Teresa once said, "Intense love does not measure, it just gives."

Lord God, please help me to open the capacity of my heart.

What Makes our Doors Beautiful?

2009-01-27T08:09:00.000-08:00

"Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
- Acts 3:2-6

People walked by this guy every day. Some probably gave. Some probably looked the other way. The common belief of the day was that if they were in this position, it was because of something they or their parents had done wrong. Some probably were tired of this guy imposing on their walk to worship. I'm sure Peter and John had seen him many times before because he was there "every day". And of course the beauty of this story is that God gave him more than he ever expected he could receive.

But there is another underlying part of this story. God doesn't want us to dismiss the real needs of people. This guy was truly poor and a societal outcast. God wants us to fight the temptation to become callous and closed-handed. He wants us to resist the mentality that says "I've earned mine, you have to earn yours too." He wants us to remain sensitive to the reality of need around us. Everything we have is a gift from God. It comes through different means, but it is all sourced in Him. The moment we forget that is the moment we lose the ability to see through the eyes of compassion with the heart of Christ.

People are losing jobs. People are losing their homes, and struggling to pay their electrical bills. We can argue about whose fault it is or we can step up. We can't just look past the needs to take care of ourselves. We've got to look them in the eyes as Peter did and give them whatever God has given us to share with them. This is when the doors to our worship centers truly become "beautiful".

A Prayer for Our President, Barack Obama

2009-01-20T14:11:00.000-08:00

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior"
-I Timothy 2:1-3

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."
-Romans 13:1

Lord, please give our new president wisdom. We pray that the enormity of the task ahead of him will be surpassed by the boundless enormity of your strength, your justice, your peace, and your will working in His life to accomplish your purposes in and through this country you have blessed us to live in.

Instead of a Show

2009-01-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

A friend just sent this to me.

“Instead of a show” caused me to weep. I long for this kind of honest expression of worship, and compassion-filled lives. How do we get there? One of the things it brings me back to is a desire to have a regular gathering where there is no expectation except to be with the Lord and listen to Him. No complicated preparation or pressure to perform – just friends gathering to worship God and discuss and discover together what it means to live Kingdom lives. No need for scheduled greeters, powerpoint presentations, or 3 point sermons because we are all greeters, our worship is spontaneous and the Word is living in and through each of us. Lives are changed by the sharing of common struggle and by the compassion of humble and grateful servants who understand their own need for grace. The noise of children is welcome as they are seen as learning participants rather than distractions.

Lord, let us never be about the show. Help us to "give love to the ones who can't love at all, to give hope to the ones who have no hope at all, to stand up for the ones who can't stand at all."

Glimpses of Redemption

2008-12-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

As I watched the news last night I saw the story of protestors at our state capitol building, signs and bullhorns in hand as they protested the atheist sign posted next to the nativity scene, which will be next to a menorah on the third floor inside the building. There were of course some typical idiotic signs about what God hates and some other signs about what God loves. There were well-known local pastors and congressman there leading and encouraging the 100's of protestors. I don't like the atheist sign. I think it is a blatant and ridiculous attention-grab by a fringe group from Wisconsin (who have accomplished their mission by the way). But I found myself feeling very distant from these protestors - not inspired, not motivated - just glad I wasn't there.

Is this really the best use of our energy? I think there are much greater and deeper ways to redeem the holidays. Here are a few we have begun to witness around here:

A family creating a food bank out of a spare bedroom in their home.
A young couple donating their kid's toys to young, pregnant, single moms-to-be.
A widow purchasing beautiful clothing to give to an ongoing ministry out of our church for homeless children.
A young family buying a new dishwasher for a single mom of six.
A family deciding not to buy one another gifts and instead purchasing a dairy goat for a family in a third world nation.
Individuals sitting down with advent meditations, listening to the heart of God, and walking out daily acts of mercy and generosity.

God gave everything for people He loves. Let's give our energy to people we love too. In this we will find some glimpses of redemption.

This One's to Joe

2008-11-14T09:48:00.000-08:00

"they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition." - I Cor. 16:18

There have been people throughout my life that have had the unique ability to lift me up just by being around them. They have a contagious spirit and an outlook on life that is always forward thinking and hopeful. They speak more of possibilities than problems. They are not self-focused and have a genuine concern for what others are going through. There is an energy about them, even when you know they are spent and exhausted. I think about a friend of mine, Joe Vandenberg who is one of these people. No matter how busy he is, how much responsibility he carries or how much he has been through personally, he has the ability to refresh the spirits of those around him. I haven't seen him in a long time, but I have a deep respect and appreciation for him.

So this one's to you Joe. And to others like you who refresh my spirit. You deserve recognition.

Lord, thank you for these people in my life. And help me to be forward thinking, hopeful, other-focused, possibility oriented, and Spirit-led.

His Dream is my Dream

2008-11-13T14:08:00.000-08:00

This is the heart of my son. I can only say "Amen"

“My friends really need a safe community. They need a community among whom they can know that they will be loved regardless of what they have done, are doing, or will do. They need people who are strong and who will support them through every season of life, but who will also hold them accountable to do what we have been called to do. My friends need people with whom they can let down their guard and admit to themselves their desperation and need for a Savior. They need a venue for artistic expression that will be free of all judgment.

I wish the church would be more accepting of people than the most tolerant in the secular world, but more determined to work together to "be perfect" than the most legalistic in the religious world. I wish the church would provide more opportunity for growth than it generally does, in all areas of life, not only the "spiritual" parts. I envision a church that educates its community, that is the heart of musical life once again, and that provides basic services to the community as it has done, such as recovery programs or the food banks. I wish the church would value compassion and solidarity as primary goals, because from these sentiments we are able to love more completely. I wish the church would respect the earth and care for it as we are commanded, doing what we can to protect it from impending disaster. I wish the church would grow as a body in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I wish the church would express itself artistically, articulating the cries of our times with passion, empathy, and meaning. I wish the church would recognize how futile our efforts are without Christ. I hope the church will strive to be a bright, strong, and confident light to our dark world. Above all else, I pray that we will be people full of life!

I wish the church would not step around issues that are challenging to take a position on, while still recognizing the possibility of different conclusions that come from the same truths. I wish the church would not ever look down on anyone, but instead that individuals in the church would see themselves as all part of the same journey regardless of where on that journey each person is. I wish the church would resist the temptation to conform to the evil that invades our culture today. I pray that we will resist individualism, consumerism, unjust war, hunger, disease, murder, sexual immorality, rebellion, and lies. I know that God will give us the strength we need to resist these things if we will ask and come to Him in fervent prayer.”

Three Legged Race

2008-11-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

In 1975 I was in sixth grade. Every year at Midland Elementary school we had something called "field day." This was an awesome day - relay races, wheelbarrow race, crabwalk, gunny sack race, individual challenges, ribbons for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place - I loved it! One of the races that we had was the three-legged race. Two people tie an ankle together and then at the signal have to run to the finish line, coordinating each step of the way. The more together you are, the faster you can go and the less chance you have of tripping, falling or spraining an ankle. One of the secrets of success was to make sure that you are tied tightly together so that you truly run as one unit. The other secret of course, was finding the right partner.

Galatians 5:25 says "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Everything the Spirit wants for us is good. We were once tied to our sinful nature which would lead us to pains and sprains, falling and destruction. But now we are tied to the Spirit. It is amazing really. He wants to be our partner! We need Him. But He wants to run with us! And the tighter we are tied to Him and the more we are in step with Him the more He can do in and through our lives.

So today God, let's tie up for the three legged race. I am so ready to have a field day with You!

I Shed a Few Tears Last Night...

2008-11-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a predominately white middle-class neighborhood in the late sixties and through the seventies. I felt within me and watched around me the struggle to overcome racism. I heard and saw some who were fighting against a growing demand for racial equality as though they were wielding a weapon of fear and false superiority that was not working any longer. It touched my family in profound and personal ways. I battled my own prejudices within while I fought against those who showed bitter prejudice against people I loved deeply. When I accepted Christ, He began to remove my own prejudice.

Last night as I watched Barack Obama accept the presidency - as I watched his family join him on the stage - and as I watched so many young people celebrating for this candidate of theirs - I shed some tears. In that moment it didn't matter whether or not my candidate won. What mattered was that as a country this outcome, that would have been impossible when I was a kid, was now possible. I spoke with my 19 year old son to express the magnitude of the moment for me, and his response to me was something like, "Dad, people my age don't see it that way (through a lens of historic racial inequality)." For that I am grateful. Today I am thankful that we have stepped away from much of the bigotry of the past. This is a good step for America. We can truly say to our young people, "anything is possible for you - this is a land of opportunity for you."

Some today woke up rejoicing. Some woke up disappointed. Some have great hope for the future and others have fear of what lies ahead. But remember, there is no authority except that which God has established. Barack Obama is not our savior, but he will be our president. Whether you voted for him or not, our job now is to honor him and pray for him and his family. And pray for this country and for those we know and love that they might come to know Jesus as their savior and God as their king and find the kind of kingdom life that truly is the dream and hope that they are looking for.

What Makes Jesus Cranky?

2008-11-03T10:49:00.000-08:00

Jesus went to the temple and "looked around at everything." The next day, "Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.'" Then "Jesus entered the temple and began driving out those who were buying and selling there." - Excerpts from Mark 11:11-17

Jesus went to the temple at night when there was not much activity to check it out. I imagine he saw the sales tables set up like a swap meet, waiting for the next day's opportunity to make a few extra bucks. The salesmen probably had great visibility - people could check out the trinkets on the way to prayer. And if the customers weren't normal temple-goers, maybe it would at least get them in the door.

I think Jesus stewed on this through the night. Factor in the next morning's hunger and the fig tree didn't have much of a chance. Even though it wasn't supposed to have figs yet, it looked like it should have figs. After blasting the fig tree with a dose of supernatural judgment, I imagine Jesus' stride was long and fast as He headed for the temple swap meet. It still looked like a temple, but it wasn't acting much like one.

At first glance Jesus just looks like He is using His authority rashly. But I think what makes Jesus cranky is when that which He has ordained to be used for His purposes has an appearance of spirituality but lacks the refreshing fruit and power of the Spirit within it. And I don't think the message of the clearing of the temple is that we shouldn't sell camp t-shirts or pastor's newest book in the foyer. A location doesn't contain the presence of God. The truth is, we are His branches, and we are His temple. As such, if we are in Him, we will bear much fruit (John 15:5), and we will be the dwelling place of His very presence for the benefit of others, not for personal, temporal gain.

So God, I pray that our lives will have both the beauty of Your design and the power of Your presence so that someone will find strength and hope through us today.

He knew what He was about

2008-10-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

"Let us go somewhere else...so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." -Mark 1:38

Jesus spoke these words just after a time in a "solitary place where He prayed." It was in these quiet moments with His Father that He focused His resolve to be doing what He was supposed to be doing. There was still a whole town full of people with sickness and in need of deliverance that He had just left behind. Peter let Him know that "everyone" had been looking for Him.

But Jesus wasn't driven by "everyone." He was driven by His Father.

There will always be needs all around us. We can be pulled in a thousand directions. This is why it is so critical to find those solitary places to get the direction of our Father!

"Groundswell"

2008-10-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

A sudden gathering of force. This is what our church seems to be in right now. It is an unexplainable, indescribable anticipation that something is building that will have great impact into our lives and into the community. What a cool time to be in. But also a time requiring diligent, discerning prayer.

The Hibernation has Begun

2008-10-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Politics

2008-10-08T12:15:00.000-07:00

Today I had a great conversation with a couple of friends about the church's role in politics. I'm sick of the campaign. I've watched the speeches and the debates. I've read the candidates articles and books and blogs and posts... I'm a bit of a political junkie. But I am more convinced than ever that it is not the government's role to solve our spiritual and moral crises. It can't. You can not change a heart through a policy or a law. This is where the church needs to step in.

To use the candidates own verbiage, there is a "fundamental difference" between the role of the government and the role of the church. Jesus told the religious leaders to pay their taxes in the midst of an oppressive government. Paul told Christians to submit to authorities in the midst of a corrupt and then brutal government. But they certainly didn't believe that the way to change the nations or the people in it was through government reform. They believed in God's power working through the church. They believed that heart change would result in societal change.

The trouble is that we have abdicated much of the church's role to the government. Those that I know who lean to the left want to be able to fund more programs for the poor, for education - to provide opportunities for hope for those (particularly children) who have not had the privilege & blessing of growing up in a stable home with two parents. Those that lean to the right hold high the value of personal responsibility and individualism. They see innovation and capitalism as the engine that drives the economy which provides the opportunity for anybody, including the poor to prosper.

But we must not forget that caring for the poor is the role of the church - not the government. We have seen that throwing money into more programs is not solving the problem. Education should not be laid on the shoulders of the government - it is the parent's role. And where there are not parents available or equipped the church should step in and provide mentors. Individualism is not a biblical concept. We were created for community - the kind of community that serves and supports one another. And when we work hard and prosper, we must remember that the source of our prosperity is God, and His purpose for our prosperity is not to build bigger homes or buy shinier cars, but to be His provision to those in need. And when we discover that our prosperity is coming on the backs of mistreated workers in underdeveloped countries, we have a responsibility to stand against that injustice rather than benefit from it.

We have to quit looking to the government to solve the ills in our neighborhoods. Neither John McCain nor Barack Obama can be our saviour. We already have One of those. And Jesus has told us how to bring the good news of the kingdom to our neighbors. That good news does not just secure eternity. The good news can also transform the tangible.

So yeah, I'll vote for the guy that I believe can best lead this country. I think we all should. I want somebody who shares my values and can lead us in such a way that my kid's futures are protected and our infrastructure is sound. But we must not place the responsibility that belongs to the church into the hands of the government. We, the church, have the message of hope that can transform lives, neighborhoods and nations.

Dramatically Different?

2008-09-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

God has called us to live like missionaries. I keep having to remind myself of that. I was in a conversation this morning with dear friends about John 17:1-19. "I have given them your word and the world has hated them...my prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one...they are not of the world, even as I am not of it. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."

Has the world hated us? Is our life so given to the Kingdom of Christ - are we so passionate about this message of life in Him - that the evil one is threatened by us to the extent that it necessitates the prayers of Jesus on our behalf?

What does a missionary have to do? He has to love people, go into their culture, understand the culture, learn how to communicate in that culture and build trusting relationships so he can explain why he is so obviously different. But by this time he is not so different in how he looks or how he talks. The difference is in why he is even there. He is not there to make a living. He isn't there to provide better material things for his family. He isn't there because he likes their weather or their way of life. He isn't working hard so that he can retire earlier. He isn't there to bring those people back to his country or culture.

He's there because at some point he realized how much God loved him, and then God sent him there to tell them that He loves them. That is the only reason he is there. That's why he's such a danger to the evil one - he's got nothing to lose because he already has everything he could possibly need.

It begs the questions, "Why are we where we are? Why are we doing what we're doing, and who is it really for?" If it is for Christ and His kingdom, we will be dramatically different - maybe not so much in how we look or what we do - but in why we do it. And our life will be secure no matter what happens because we already have everything we could possibly need.

2008-08-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

I just spent 2+ weeks vacationing in Florida. I played golf at LPGA International (a phenomenal course) with two retired locals who, with the head golf pro invited me to dinner and a bible study! True missional representatives!

As I stood on our balcony overlooking Daytona Beach, the guest in the balcony next to us (after having perhaps just a few too many drinks) would frequently want to talk to me. One of the things he said was "I try to go on vacation to get away from work, but it never happens. I can't get away from work. It's just a bunch of $@!@!." We talked for a moment about how so much of our life is driven and defined by our "work".

This experience, combined with an impending sabbatical, is a good reminder to me not to let my life be defined by what I can accomplish or achieve or do. Everything I have and all I do are a gift from my gracious and generous Father in heaven. Our "work" must be to know Him and to be so entrusted to Him that neither failure nor success can be determined by a paycheck, the lauding masses or the affirming few, goal accomplishments, grades, our kid's achievements, etc., but by the brilliant radiance of God's acceptance of us through the sacrifice of Christ and our willingness to absolutely lay our life in His hands every moment of every day.

A Lonely Place

2008-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

"In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there."

It was out of this time that Jesus refocused his purpose and told his friends "Let us go to the neighboring towns so that I can proclaim the message...that is why I came." It is our time with the Father that reminds us what we're all about. Don't forget to put some margins in your life that God can write in. Here's a great thought from Henri Nouwen in his book Out of Solitude (a book which I highly recommend).

"When you are able to create a lonely place in the middle of your actions and concerns, your successes and failures slowly can lose some of their power over you. For then your love for this world can merge with a compassionate understanding of its illusions. Then your serious engagement can merge with an unmasking smile. Then your concern for others can be motivated more by their needs than your own. In short: then you can care. Let us therefore live our lives to the fullest but let us not forget to once in a while get up long before dawn to leave the house and go to a lonely place."

Amen.

Stuff I Want to Grow In

2008-05-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

If I were making a list of characteristics that I want to be present in my life and in the lives of those God has given me to lead as we try to make a difference in our community for Christ, here are some things I want to see developed:

Be led by the Spirit of God. He's already at work, why not just join Him instead of trying to do our own thing?
A willingness to have compassion for the lostness of our neighbors without patronizing, condemning, belittling or exerting a sense of superiority over them. This happens by being a true friend without an agenda or an unspoken ulterior motive. If our goal is to "get them to church" or to "get them to God" and they don't come, we won't be motivated to continue to be a friend. If our goal is to simply love them it becomes much more genuine.
Motivate by personal example and stories. If our life is being changed by Christ, we should have stories to tell. If it isn't, we need to figure out why it isn't. I usually find that Christ changes me most in the midst of challenging relationships.
Don't be easily offended, either by sin or by criticism or by other ways of looking at things. I don't want people to feel that they have to tip-toe around me. And I don't want to give the impression that I can't or won't learn something from those who see things very differently than I do. I have much to learn...
Be positive. Believe the best about people and for them. They probably aren't struggling, aren't mad at you, and aren't purposely ignoring you.
Be willing to lay down your personal preferences for the preferences of others , if it may remove a barrier to their openness to Christ. Preferences are different than beliefs. We need to hold firmly to our core beliefs. But I would contend that many of the things we divide over are more preference than belief.

That's a good starting list. Maybe we'll add to it as we go along...

Mister Rogers Was Creepy to Me

2008-05-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, Mister Rogers always seemed a little creepy to me. The lilting voice, the cardigan, the music and the excessive niceness just didn't sit right. But it wasn't just Mister Rogers that was a bit disconcerting (and yes, I know - he was a good Christian man), it was the whole neighborhood. The postman's name was "Mr. McFeely". And then there was the whole "neighborhood of make-believe" with the horror-movie style puppets like the one that looked like a queen and the others. It was a crazy neighborhood. Give me Sesame Street any day.

The other day I was working in my yard, weeding and mowing a wet, overgrown lawn and I began to consider my neighborhood. I live smack dab in the center of my neighborhood. I've lived there since the homes were first built. I've seen many neighbors come and go but I have great affection for my neighbors.

I thought about some who have moved away who we miss because they became dear friends - Kevin & Pam, our Church of Christ non-instrumental music neighbors who moved to Arkansas. Our son was giving their daughter piano lessons before they moved away (funny, huh?). Blaine & Cindy - the Ward & June Cleaver of the neighborhood with their sweet kids who had become close friends until they made a military move to Germany. They are a great testimony to the Lutheran church. Sara moved next door for a short time and we love her - she attended church with us and journeyed toward Christ as she wrestled with difficult life issues before moving away to Idaho. And there was Jim & Sharon , and Gary & Kim, and others.

But there are those that remain: our neighbors with the perfect house and meticulous yard who keep our neighborhood presentable. They asked me to marry them in their home. They didn't want a "religious" wedding, but by the end, we prayed together - it was a blast. We have our neighbor across the street who wins for the biggest boat and most extravagant Christmas display (I'm still bitter). His daughter came to camp with ours. And there is the crazy neighbor who in a drug-induced rage threatened to call the cops on me after I purchased the lumber and built a fence around their back yard to "bless" them. And our secret agent neighbor. And our good friends the mormon neighbors - both chefs who are incredible barbecuers. Across the street are friends with two great kids. They are not regular church-goers but Lisa invited her to a bible study and she came, liked it and made some good connections. And now Adam & Nikke right next door - long time members of our church and good friends who we'll watch "The Office" with tonight.

Others might look around and say "that is a creepy neighborhood." But these are my friends. These are the ones Jesus told me love. The command to love our neighbors is not a theoretical concept - it is to be a practical reality. This is my mission as much as anything is my mission. As Sesame Street used to sing, "Who are the people in your neighborhood?" Do you know them? Are you loving them?

Won't you be my neighbor?

The Joy and Danger of Easter

2008-03-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

Easter - quite the celebration. Breakfast with friends, worshiping God, remembering how He loves us, two services, a packed house of celebration, meeting new people who gathered with us on this day, tons of kids. It should be a great party. After all, it's the resurrection!

I just got off the phone with a pastor-friend of mine. He expressed a common sentiment many of us have; "if I could just get them all to come back every week". And it is true - it would be fun to celebrate like that more often. But we have to remember that what will make a kingdom type of difference is not the next great event, but the next great conversation. It is usually the neighbor to neighbor and friend to friend type of relationships that translate into meaningful gatherings. Large, celebratory gatherings don't necessarily translate into meaningful relationships. Let's have some great conversations and build some friendships that will make the next great event that much greater!

After our "official" church gathering, we went and hung out with my family and a few friends. Ham & buns for lunch, catching up, sharing stories and a certain peace because of a deep love. Now that's what I call "church."

Then I sat in a gathering of people who borrowed our church's building that night. They were American's of Romanian heritage - six of them. They worshiped in English and Romanian. I sat in the back and joined them and heard the message of Christ's resurrection by a humble pastor. Communion was shared. I found myself wishing that there were so many more there for them. But this too was "church". This too was meaningful celebration. God was honored there.

The joy of Easter is new life in Christ. The danger of Easter is the thought that it is the event that makes it great. It is the bonds of Calvary that make it great. Those can be found over breakfast, in a worship service, in a living room, in diverse language, and across a neighborhood fence.

How He Loves Us So

2008-03-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

Luke 23:44-46 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

He took my darkness, He removed the veil that separated us, and the God who created breath stopped breathing so that I could start living.

"Oh, how He loves us so. Oh how He loves us, how He loves us so."

How He Loves Us Video

Inspired by Barack...

2008-03-20T11:27:00.001-07:00

Tuesday morning I listened to Barack Obama's speech on race relations in America. I thought he did all he could do to diffuse the controversy regarding his pastor, and his assessment of the dynamics of the racial tensions in America were thought-provoking and well-said.

He said "we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren." He then spoke of the "black experience" in America - then of the immigrant and "white experience" in America. As I listened and pondered his words, I thought about other things I had just heard recently. One out of every four teenage girls in America has a sexually transmitted disease (CDC). Teens receiving abstinence-only or no sex education are more likely to become pregnant than those receiving comprehensive sex education (UW Study).

I thought about these issues being treated as social problems, or public health crises, or economic problems - which they certainly are. The problem though is not the black experience or the white experience or a health crisis or even a moral crisis. The problem is the human condition. We so desperately want to be accepted and acceptable. So we compare ourselves to one another. We have races exalting themselves above others, nations fighting to prove their dominance and young people giving their bodies to one another. We want to be better. We want to look better. We want to feel better. We want others to think we're better.

The power of a relationship with God is that despite our human condition, we are accepted and we are acceptable. We don't need a jury of our peers to affirm our value or worth. Whether we are black or white, man or woman, slave or free, young or old - God values us. Our worth is in the mind-boggling reality that He wants to be with us and wants us to be with Him.

"We may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction – towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren."
Amen to that.

Relevant Measures of Effectiveness

2008-03-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

Too often I think we are faithful to busy activity and not necessarily faithful to the true mission Christ has us on. Part of the reason for this is that we do what we measure. If we use as our measure of effectiveness attendance at a given event, then we will put our efforts into boosting attendance. We might get more people there, but it is not necessarily an indicator that we are being faithful to the mission. In his blog, Hugh Halter (http://hughhalter.com/?p=19) gives some ideas for a "new missional report card." It seems to be a good measure no matter who you are. So, adapted from that I ask the question: what if instead of using as a measure how many gathered in church on a given Sunday, or how much the offering was, or how many small groups or outreaches we had, we measured our effectiveness in the following ways:

How is my community (neighborhood, workplace, school, etc.) more livable and open to Christ because of my influence there?
How many have invited me to hang out with their friends who don't follow Christ?
How many baptisms have we seen?
How many Christians have we been willing to tell that our church probably won't work for them?
How many young leaders are we intentionally discipling and developing?
How many are hanging out together after the "official" gathering time is over?
In what tangible, benevolent ways have we been good news to our community?

We need to make sure we are focused on things that make a genuine transformational difference in the lives of those God has allowed us to be in community with.