A Gut Response to the Tragedies of This Week

This week we have seen in our world two tragedies. Tuesday night a student at EMU was killed. Today we are experiencing the horror of a school shooting in Connecticut that has resulted in the death of nearly thirty children.

It is at times like this when I fall to my knees and ask God, "Why?" Where is God in the midst of this kind of tragic violence? Why did God allow this senselessness to happen? Why? Each one of the children in the Antioch Movement could have been at that school today.

Why?

We live in a world that is broken beyond our comprehension. Human sin is rampant. Self-hatred and hatred of others is at an all time high. Hate and distrust is the air we breathe.

So we ask, "Why God?"

The Scriptures are full of people experiencing pain, suffering, and evil. Psalm 88 is one of the darkest moments in human literature. If we are honest with ourselves we struggle in moments like these to believe that God is sovereign and good.

But he is.

We ask, "If God is omnipotent why didn't he stop this?" I don't know. I don't have any answers for the kind of pain that comes from moments like this. I struggle with God over why he allows evil to accomplish these kinds of things.

But, at the end of the day I am able to return to the fact that God is good and he is sovereign.

Do you know what comes after Psalm 88? Psalm 89, "I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness." It goes on to say, "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you."

While, in the moment we have no answers what we can know with certainty is that righteousness, justice, faithfulness, and steadfast love are God's. That is why the Psalmist can enter into a time of sadness in the second half of the Psalm and then close with, "Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen."

We may never know the why from this week. We as followers of Jesus must change the question and reorient ourselves to the reality that God is just, righteous, sovereign, good, and full of steadfast love.

As the days go forward some in your lives will argue against God and use these events as reason for why God cannot exist. In reality they point us to the fact that the world would be much, much worse if we didn't have a God who is restraining most of humanity through his common grace.

Some people in your lives may ask why, it's OK to say, "I don't know." Remember though that while we can't answer the why we can answer the what, God is in control and that even in these dark times he is just, righteous, faithful, and full of steadfast love.

These are the moments that serve as reminders for us the necessity of the gospel. This man, needed the gospel. He needed to know he was forgiven.

God is sovereign and God is good.

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The Difficulty of Staying True

When I began the process of church planting there was one thing that became abundantly clear, vision is the first casualty. Every time I share with someone about what is happening with the Antioch Movement they have advice for me. This advice is their vision, their hope, their dream of the church.

It seems like every time a conversation like this takes place there is a vortex that grows. Another voice is added to a litany of other voices that are clamoring for attention.

When you add to this the details, hoops, and other things that call for your attention it becomes easier and easier to move away from the heart of the vision. I look around for the people who sat in coffee shops with me and dreamed with me about what the "church" can look like.

Many of them are gone.

The ones that remain are a balm to my soul. They encourage me and refocus me.

The ones that are gone bring me grief. The ones who have "sold out" break my heart.

A good friend reminds me every time I spend time with him that the vision must be protected. That I must remain true to what God has laid on my heart. He reminds me that the draw to the world's view of success is real and it is significant. The sucking of the vortex cannot be escaped. Therefore, it is necessary to find a center place that grounds you and reminds you of what God has called you too.

Thankfully the community that God is building in The Antioch Movement provides that for me. He is raising up a people who own the vision and remind me of what we are together called to be. We have our roles and we each play different parts, but we are in this together and it's beautiful.

When I begin to despair or struggle with the calling an email or a Facebook post or a meeting over coffee happens that reorients me.

I'm not alone.

The difficulty of staying true is real.

But it's getting easier because...

I'm not alone.

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The Danger of Trusting in Celebrity

I have recently had a few people tell me, "Pastors keep failing. I think that God is raising up athletes to be his spokesmen to reach this generation." Then the names of certain prominent Christian athletes are brought up.

Pastors fail all the time.

So do athletes.

The ones we know about are also celebrities.

Christian celebrity is a new phenomenon. It really began with the First Great Awakening. Prior to that most pastors labored locally. Some traveled (the Methodists are the best example) but most settled in for a long faithful pastorate caring for and preaching the gospel to a particular people.

In the last handful of years we have come to see the rise of the Celebrity Clergy taken to a new level (Billy Graham is the prime example). When these pastors began to have moral failures (Bill Graham is thankfully excluded from this!) many Christians have begun to look for new heroes to share the gospel for them.

Thus, the rise of the celebrity Christian athlete. When a professional athlete wins and begins to state his faith in Jesus and praising God many good Christian folk begin to look to that person as one who can be a hero for them, one who can share the gospel for them.

When we begin to look for a celebrity to be a representative for Jesus on our behalf we are missing something.

Where does this come from?

First, many of these folks listen to many pastors. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. However,  it creates a competition in their heart over their local pastor. In my tradition becoming a member is like getting married. Vows are made. I think we need to consider the ramifications of searching out other pastors. I think there is something similar to this and men who "check out other women" and how that often leads to an affair. We are better to commit ourselves to a community and not allow our hearts and minds to wander by seeking out famous pastors.

Second, I think this comes from a desire for people who desperately want folks to come to know Jesus. They want this so bad that they are unwittingly giving themselves over to a worldly model of gaining acceptance. What do I mean by this statement? When the world wants to sell something they find a celebrity to embrace the view or product that is being pushed. We do the same thing by turning the keys of the kingdom, as it were, over to the next celebrity Christian. We want to be accepted and think that this acceptance will bring conversion. But we are wrong. This simply sets us up for failure

Finally, we have lost our sense of mission. We talk a good game but ultimately most of us in the West believe that you have to be a professional to share the gospel. We have forgotten that within each Christ follower is the capacity to launch a movement that will transform the world. Because we have forgotten this we place our hope in the celebrity, whether an athlete or actor, we look outside ourselves for someone to "really" represent Jesus more broadly than we ever could. No, God has not called celebrities to stand in the gap for us. He has and will continue to use the average, everyday Christian to be his witness.
These mindsets, attitudes, and actions are lies. We must call them out as such and move on from them. We must stop placing our hope in the celebrity Christian.

We have come to a time when we must place our hope in the living God. Or even better as Paul and Timothy put it in Colossians 2:6,7:

6 Therefore,as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,so walk in him,7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith,just as you were taught,abounding in thanksgiving.

Friends, it is time to "walk in him". Stop looking to celebrities. Look to Christ and walk in him.

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What is Our Christian Identity?

In the previous post we looked at the necessity of rightly understanding our Christian identity. Now we must ask, what is our uniquely Christian identity? 

Many times when I think about Christian identity the image of a superhero pops into my mind. Almost all superheroes have secret identities. They go through their everyday lives as mild mannered citizens. Then when a problem occurs they break out of their "mild mannered citizen" appearance and turn into Superman, Spiderman, or Batman and save the day. Their friends always wonder where they went during the crisis.

The thing is, this is a terrible image of Christian identity. 

Superheroes are not mild mannered citizens. They are superheroes, that's who they are.

I think a very helpful snapshot of Christian identity can be found in 1 Peter 2:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

This is Christian identity in a nutshell.

Stated Fact
Your identity is not an "if" but an "is". There is no question about you are in Christ. It is a stated fact. "You are"...

A Purposed Community
Each description of the "you are" statement could be posts (or dissertations) in an of themselves. Peter is talking to Jewish Christians and states the fact that they are a "chosen race". This chosen-ness extends also to Gentiles as they are adopted as children of God (see Romans 9-11). Peter firmly grounds the identity of the new Christian community in God's sovereign choice. To be in Christ is to be hand selected.

This hand selected people is also a purposed people. We are described as a royal priesthood that is holy and possessed by God. The priesthood had a responsibility to stand between the people and God. But this role has changed due to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, therefore, Peter clarifies. The responsibility of the priesthood is now to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Our chosen-ness is reflected by our activity as priests. Our activity as priests is primarily marked by our proclamation of the "excellencies" of Jesus. Consider what Peter is saying here, he is not saying that we are to set out to convert people. We are to set out to proclaim how excellent Jesus is.

A Mercied Community
Our identities are also wrapped up in the fact that "Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." What is critical here is the statement of mercy. We are a people who have been invited in as a people out of mercy. Mercy is defined as, "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm."

Our identity is shaped by the compassion and forgiveness extended to us by God. We were a people in darkness invited into the light, not because we were deserving, but out of God's great compassion and forgiveness. This means that we are proclaiming the excellencies of a compassionate and forgiving God. When we proclaim with the intent of conversion we often cease proclaiming the excellencies of the compassionate and forgiving God but become harbingers of doom. While we must help people understand the fact that they need a Savior, we must realize that our call is to proclaim the excellencies of Jesus. We can trust that the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

A Changed Community
Out identity is also expressed in our changed lives. Peter says, "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

We must understand that we are primarily sojourners and exiles in the world. This is where the superhero analogy is helpful, especially that of Superman. He is not from Earth. He is an exile from Krypton. When we become God's people we are adopted and no longer find our identity based here but based in the reality of our new family which is in God.

This means that we are at odds in a fallen world. We experience passions that wage war against our soul which means that our new identity demands a new lifestyle in response to the excellent Jesus and his great mercy. Our lives are to be different because the world is watching. Peter wants our lives to be ones that cause people to give glory to God in his second coming.

A final thought...
This whole discussion is in the plural because our identity is a communal one. We are a people. We are a community. While individuals are indeed saved by the grace of God in Christ we cannot separate that from the reality that we are saved into a community.

I think I would summarize Christian identity this way, "An ever changing community proclaiming the excellencies of Jesus  through word and deed."

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The Necessity of Rightly Understanding Christian Identity

The follower of Jesus is a strange person. He does not fit any place. Jesus told him to "be in the world, not of the world." What does that even mean? Christians have been struggling with this concept ever since Jesus said it.


Yesterday I spent some time with a group of men that I affectionately refer to as The Calvinistas. Our conversation turned to the topic of what it means to be in the world, what is our responsibility as an individual Christian? What about the church corporate? These are important questions because they go to the heart of our mission as followers of Jesus.

As a person who is leading a new Jesus movement, these questions take on a whole new meaning. This is because how we answer these questions will determine what we do as a movement and what our focus will be as a movement.

All that context leads me to the reality that we cannot answer this question in one post. However, I think that it primarily leads to this core thought: to answer this questions requires us to have a clear understanding of our identity as a Christians.

A right understanding of our identity is a necessity because it drives our decisions. It gives us clarity to the all important "why" questions of our lives. We cannot answer "why" without first having answered "who". What makes following Jesus a transcendent experience is that when we follow him our "who" is transformed which in turn transforms our "why".

We cannot live out our calling as representatives of Jesus if we don't understand what it means to be a representative of Jesus.

A right understanding of Christian identity is a necessity to living the Christian life. We simply cannot understand the why and how without first getting the who.

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Creating Rhythm and Routine In An Empty Calendar

I officially became a church planter in August. It's a weird and exciting experience. In many ways it is similar to when I was leading teams with Cru. The big difference though is that Amy has responsibilities outside our home and Ethan and Libby are in school. There is a new rhythm in our home and I have yet to really figure it out.

We as people need rhythm and routine. A church planter's life is naturally devoid of both. I keep learning that it is my responsibility to create the rhythm and routine of my life. There is nobody who will create it for me.

To create rhythm I need to come to some conclusions about what is most important and allow those things to shape my days and weeks.

How do you create rhythm?

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2012 Post Election Thoughts From A Pastor

As we enter into the post election calm it occurred to me that we as Christians need some perspective. Nothing on the political landscape has changed. Everything today is as it was the day before the election. What we must understand as Jesus followers is that this election has taught us a very important lesson. This lesson is as simple as this (whether you're happy or sad):

The world will not be changed through electing a man.

My relationships cross boundaries, they always have. I have friends from all walks of life. My friends are Republicans, Democrats, and everything in between. Over the course of this election season I have read mean spirited things written by and to these folks. I have watched as friends from the whole spectrum of politics have placed their faith, hopes, and dreams for the future on men.

When the election ended some rejoiced while others despaired. 

I have seen many state that this election was the most important election in our history. They say this because they believe that the election of a certain man would bring about justice. Some were concerned about justice for the unborn, some for poverty, others for homosexuals, and still others for religious freedom. There were a myriad of other issues as well. 

An ongoing conversation I have with some friends has centered around why folks are so quick to place their hope and faith in a political candidate. There are some obvious reasons but one friend is quick to push back asking, "what's beneath this?" 

I have been wrestling with the "beneath this" question quite a bit. I am coming to the conclusion that at the end of the day we place our faith and hope in a candidate because we don't believe that we can make a difference. We believe ourselves to be powerless and that we need someone with more power to change the world for us. 

We're wrong. 

Romans 8:9-11 says this:

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

You see, if one is "in Christ" then the Spirit lives within her. This means that within every follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the sovereign God of the universe, is living and active. Quite simply, the follower of Jesus has within him all he needs to transform the world.

One writer I follow proclaimed that Christians have officially "lost the culture war".

I say fine, good, praise God!  We are not called to win, nor even fight, a culture war. We are called to make, create, subvert, and define culture.

We are called to be representatives of Jesus to the world. This means embodying and proclaiming his story to all we meet.

How has the election changed this?

Not one iota. 

Our calling, who we are, has not changed. If you are a Christian there is no room, nor time, for despair. We have work to do.

Ephesians 2:10 says,

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Your candidate won? Great!  Get after the work of building the kingdom of God by using the gifts, skills, and passions that God has graciously given you.

Your candidate lost? Great! Get after the work of building the kingdom of God by using the gifts, skills, and passions that God has graciously given you.

It is my sincere hope that each of us would repent from the idolatry that so easily entangles us in these election seasons and return our trust to the sovereign good God of the universe. He alone is deserving of our trust, hope, and faith. He alone controls the future.

If you are despairing because of the election, your hope has been placed in something or someone other than King Jesus.

If you are rejoicing because of the election, your hope has been placed in something or someone other than King Jesus.

If you see before you great opportunity to engage the world with the gospel, your hope is rightly placed on the King.

In conclusion take heart in what the Psalmist tells us (Psalm 24),

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof,

the world and those who dwell therein,

for he has founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?

And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to what is false

and does not swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the Lord

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,

who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

Lift up your heads, O gates!

And be lifted up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord, strong and mighty,

the Lord, mighty in battle!

Lift up your heads, O gates!

And lift them up, O ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

he is the King of glory! Selah

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The Generation That Will Change The World

Received this in an email today:

The day has arrived - Einstein said it and he was right... 

Having a coffee...

Getting together at a restaurant...

Enjoying beautiful art at the museum...

Pleasantly chatting in a cafe'… 

Enjoying a day at the beach...

At the stadium rooting for your team...

Having fun with the girlfriend... 

A drive in a convertible... 

 

Albert Einstein: "I fear the day when the technology overlaps with our humanity. The world will only have a generation of idiots."

I see this attitude prevalent in many folks from my generation and older (Gen X through Silent). This is kind of thing breaks my heart. Here is my response:

I respectfully disagree with this email as someone who has given his life to take the Gospel to emerging generations.

Technology may be overlapping with our humanity but this generation is hardly a generation of idiots. There is great potential in this generation. They care deeply and are motivated to create change. Just look at what is happening in the Arab world. It is this generation. Every year thousands of students are going to the world with the Gospel through organizations like Cru and InterVarsity. Or just look at the members of this generation that serve faithfully in Appalachia.

Einstein was indeed wrong. I believe this generation will be looked back upon as one that sparked a great revival leveraging a global communication system that allows the Gospel to go to all peoples. Very much like the Roman roads allowed the Gospel to explode all over the known world.

No, Einstein was indeed wrong. This generation is not a generation of idiots. If we think that, then, we are the idiots. If we think that, then we have failed as their elders and mentors. If we think that, then, we need to get off our Facebooks, emails, and TVs and begin a relationship with a member of this generation. They are hungering for relationship with those older than them. Yet we ignore them or think we have nothing to offer. They are crying out to be discipled yet we are too busy or regulate that to the professional "youth pastor" who is a few years older than them.

This generation wants to learn to to worship but find it difficult as they have been largely shoved into a corner of most churches to only be seen and not heard. 

Einstein was wrong. This is not a generation of idiots. It is a generation of activists that desperately needs the Gospel.

I am disembarking from my soapbox. Grace and peace to all of you. 

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How Facebook Timeline Challenges Our Desire For Control

Do you want to see people rant like lunatics? Change something on Facebook.

There has been no change in the history of Facebook that the masses have initially liked. However, it isn't long until everyone likes the new feature or change and gets on with their life.




One of the biggest changes to come along recently was when Facebook changed from "profiles" to "Timeline". I was really struck by the keynote address that Mark Zuckerberg gave to announce this change. There were two key phrases that were repeated over and over, "the story of your life" and "complete control".

Facebook is such a powerful force in the daily lives of most because it was the first means by which the masses could tell their own stories to the world. The West is fascinated with fame. People can now be famous by simply trying to be famous (see the Kardashian sisters).

There is something intoxicating about posting a status update on Facebook and having scores of people 'like' it or comment on it. You feel famous. Facebook knows that we are a people who love to tell stories and we really like telling stories about ourselves.

The other thing that Zuckerberg was driving home was this concept of "complete control". We like to tell stories and we really like to be in control. The new Timeline was to give us not just control of our stories, but complete control.

All of this is a delusion though. Delusion is defined as, "An idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality,..." We are not in control. We are certainly not in complete control. We cannot be. We are finite creatures that are dependent on so many things for our mere existence.

More specifically what we have here is evidence of Romans 1 being lived out before our eyes. We have a social media company making promises that it cannot keep. We cannot have complete control because we are creatures not the creator. 

Yet, we are drawn like moths to the flame by this promise. We in our arrogance want to be like God. We want to have complete control. It is our desire to be the captains of fate and destinies. 

I wonder, what areas in your life are you trying to hold on to control? 

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Enjoy...

I am working through a life plan through Don Miller's storyline. This morning I was struck by this statement, "You exist to enjoy a relationship with God."

While not wholly an accurate theological statement, there is something in it that resonates.

It's something I've forgotten.

Enjoy a relationship with God.

Simple. Profound. Beautiful.

I am finding myself to be thirsty for deeper intimacy with God. How about you?

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Gospel Gone Gentile

Check out my recent sermon on the centrality fo the gospel that is by faith alone.

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The Social Experiment

My wife and I have a combined social network on Facebook of around 1300 people. While there is some overlap many are unique.

We are launching a church planting movement in Ypsilanti, MI called the The Antioch Movement. Part of launching this movement requires us to raise about $40,000 for 2013.

Amy and I believe that we have 40 friends who will give $1,000 each for 2013. We are going to try and primarily raise this via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

For me, this is a grand experiment of social media. Of our 1300 friends, will 40 be connected and invested enough in us and the vision of launching a church movement to actually give financially?

That is the question.

You can learn more about being one of the 40 by clicking here.

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A Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

We adore you for you are sovereign and good. The date, 9/11, while it lives in our collective memory like a splinter, serves as a reminder that we are a frail people, easily broken. You, however, are our rock and our shield.

Today, we thank you again for the bravery of those who ran in when everyone else ran out. Men and women who chose to be your hands and feet in a moment of chaos. They brought with them order and for some new life.

Today, we confess our need of vengeance and hatred. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness.

Father, we lift before you the broken families who lost Moms, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Brothers, and Sisters. Would you continue to bind their broken hearts and heal their wounds that run deeper than flesh and blood.

Thank you for caring for us and reminding us on days like today that there are things bigger than our momentary afflictions. Father, you are good and sovereign, caring and personal, may each of us today experience the touch of your hand.

Finally, remind us, that life is brief, that we are but grass. May today serve as a reminder for us to give our lives freely to that which is best.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can bet against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

 As it is written, 

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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A Sent Savior Sends a Sent People

The book of Acts tells our family stories. Take a listen as I share the story of the church at Antioch.

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Uncle Bob

Some have asked for the text of my message from my Uncle Bob's funeral. Here it is:

I remember the day well. I was sitting in my office when my secretary came in and said, "Dan, Doug's gone and Patti's mother just died. You need to do the funeral."

I had no idea what to do.

So, I called my Uncle Bob. He walked me through how everything works. Then he said something that I will never forget, "Alright buck-o, do me one favor. Whatever you do, listen to the family. The best pastors listen to the family. They sit down, shut up, and listen to the stories. Whatever it is you say, make it personal, whether you knew the person or not. And for goodness sake, don't talk too long. Alright? Alright, you'll do great." 

Uncle Bob, this is personal and I promise, I won't talk too long.

To me, this is was Uncle Bob in a nutshell, a straight shooter who would drop everything to help you. He was always there for me and my brothers and my mom. He was always there for so many of us.

As I look around this sanctuary I see him and feel him here. His laugh echoing down a pew. Hearing him sing behind us. Coming up from behind us and grabbing our shoulders in just the right place to almost make us drop our grape juice during coffee hour.

Uncle Bob was a man's man. He played hard. He worked hard. He loved hard.

The last few days have left us in shock, sadness, and for many of us a righteous anger. These things are all good. They are what we are supposed to feel.

I want to read a short portion of Scripture that has given me comfort these days as I struggle through all the emotions of Uncle Bob leaving,

Romans 8:37-39
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Uncle Bob loved Christ. He knew Jesus. The Apostle Paul makes clear here that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus was Bob's Lord. His hope was found in Christ. There is absolutely nothing that can separate him from his Jesus. Wednesday early evening when Bob died, Jesus welcomed him to heaven. Then the Snoops grabbed him by the ear and had a conversation with him.

If you find your hope in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin you will see Bob again. This is our hope and promise because of what Jesus has done for us on the Cross.

Uncle Bob was the hands and feet of Jesus to so many of us in this sanctuary. Like Jesus, he often stood beside us when no one else would.

Aunt Missy, Lizzy, and Mindy, I want you to know that he is forgiven. His forgiveness was purchased on the cross 2,000 years ago. There is nothing that can change that. Jesus, is standing beside him in grace and mercy.

I also need you to know that you are not alone. We will stand with you now. We will be the hands and feet of Jesus for you, the way that Uncle Bob has been for us. We love you. Look around. The people in these pews are here not just to say goodbye, but they are here to stand with you, to hold you, hug you, to enter in with you in good times and bad.

We love you.

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Something Old

Tomorrow I leave for Traverse City with two good friends. We are not going there to vacation. We are going to work. We are going to go and get before the God of the universe and align our hearts, minds, and vision to his.

When we return, something old is going to begin again.

A movement.

The Church in the West has largely lost its sense of movement. It has become stagnant, staid, and preservationist. Church leadership teams worry more about how to "keep" people who are "unhappy" about the "program" than they are concerned about going to where those far from Jesus live.

When we return we start again in the old way. We will pray. We will share the Gospel. We will go, build, and send.

The Antioch Movement is not a church. It is to be a gathering of the people of God sent to multiply as a living organism representing King Jesus.

People keep asking me, "How are things going with the new church plant?" The reality is we are not starting something new. We are tapping into something old, something ancient, something future, but not something new.

I believe that the Antioch Movement will be the embodiment of what the church ought to be.

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Thankful for Everything

We just returned from a week of mission in Menifee County, KY, and at Grace Chapel, we just finished a preaching series on stewardship. As I drove home the two collided in my mind and, hopefully, my heart.

Our key text was Psalm 24:1, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein."

During out week in Kentucky we didn't experience much of what we take for granted in the suburbs of Detroit. There were days without electricity. There were days without showers. There were days without air conditioning.

And everyday we were without ultra plush toilet paper.

Yes, I know it's a small thing. But, boy, it's one of those things you don't think about until it's gone.

It struck me that this directly relates back to Psalm 24:1. If we recognize that everything is God's we will be in a disposition of gratitude much more consistently. We will be thankful for all the small things and not just the big things in our lives.

This year during my time in Kentucky God drove home the reality that everything is his. He gives us everything and so often I am not grateful. Oh sure, I am thankful for healthy kids and an amazing wife. But when was the last time I was thankful for Quilted Northern Ultra Plush?

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Connectional?

Some news popped regarding the future of the PCUSA's connectional system:

A Presbyterian Church (USA) commission has voted 15-5 to allow non-geographic presbyteries. The move, which would allow churches to choose their own groupings for "missional purposes," follows defections over the denomination's vote to ordain noncelibate gays and lesbians. The recommendation needs approval at the General Assembly this June.

The resulting question that was posed by Christianity Today was, "Should denominations be organized geographically." The most prominent published answers that CT showed was "no".  Most seemed OK with affinity based connectionalism.

As a Teaching Elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church it makes me sad to think about a time when the geographic presbytery could be replaced by affinity. It is my belief that the geographic based presbytery system is best. I believe this for a few reasons:

1. Presbyteries at there best bring unity of the body, mission, and vision of the particular churches. 
2. Teaching Elders, who find their membership in the presbytery, are better served and cared for through geographic proximity.
3. The diversity of churches within a geographic reason is a good thing. It forces particular churches to wrestle with direction and theology. This results in an avoidance of group think. Doors are opened for conversation and debate that eventually should lead to unity and deeper relational connection. 
4. Cultural concerns are more unified geographically. While, a church from Ohio may be more similar in vision with a church in California, the concerns of culture are more aligned with a church in Michigan. Proximity is critical.

The move toward affinity presbyteries seems to be a "I'll take my ball and go home" response to difficult issues. It is my hope that the EPC will avoid taking this route at all costs. Although there has been some movement in this direction over the issue of the ordination of women. It saddens me that this would be the case. 

The Presbyterian connectional system, in my opinion, is the best there is. I pray it does not destroy itself because of an unwillingness to engage over difficult issues.  

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The Acts 2 Church...It Still Happens

If you're anything like me you read this passage and think, "hmm, OK...":

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.43 And awetcame upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

I don't know if I have ever really understood what was going on here. The surface details get in the way and for some reason muddy the waters for me. Maybe it is because I am an American that the whole, "sell everything and share" just doesn't resonate and makes me uncomfortable. Or maybe it's just that I am crazy selfish.

However, Saturday night and Sunday night I was engaged in group life at Grace Chapel. First in my own group and then I was sharing about the vision of The Antioch Movement in another group. After reflecting on these two gatherings I realized that Acts 2 is happening all around me, if I would just open my eyes to see it.

More and more I am convinced that the deeper issues of Acts are based in the fundamentals of "devotion", "together", "common" or "sharing". We live in a different culture than first century Rome. I am comfortable with the statement "that was then, this is now" as we try to apply the Scriptures to our lives. The Scriptures are "living and active" and so I think that Acts is much more descriptive than prescriptive in much of its content.

However, the principles of devotion, together, and sharing in Acts 2 (and the rest of Acts); I think point to the deeper issues at hand.

As my family prepares to follow God's call to Ypsilanti we must ready our house for sale. I don't know how to fix things. But, there are men in my life who do.

I just need to ask.

Saturday night, two men said they would help, without me really asking (I was whining more than anything, truth be told).  Sunday night, a small group, that I am not a part of, offered their help (without me really asking; in this gathering I spiritualized my whining).

These folks have skills that I do not have. They have abilities that I cannot comprehend. They are people who I know are devoting themselves to the Lord, they are committed to being together, and in this moment they are willing to share what they have that I do not possess.

Over the last 48 hours I saw the body of Christ incarnate Acts 2:42-47 in our day and age.

It still happens.

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Moves Like Abraham

On a warm summer day there is nothing better than being at a ball diamond watching my son play baseball. Our family enjoys the camaraderie and the fun of being at the park. We love being with the team and the families. My wife and I delight in watching our son play the game he loves. The life lessons for him are many.

I am beginning to learn that the life lessons for me are even more plentiful.

The thing that I am currently beginning to realize is that my son is an idol in my life. My desire for him to be a better man than I am, to be a better father, husband, and athlete (he's got the last one in the bag).

Yesterday during his baseball game he missed a grounder. My heart sank, I felt anger, frustration, and angst rising in me. It was a moment where the world then stopped and things began to crystallize and become clear.

Something was wrong, with me.


My son is ten.  He's an excellent baseball player. He loves to play. I love watching him play. But, if I can't learn to take joy in the gift of the game and his love of the game then it will be gone.

Last night as I was pondering some of this, the story of Abraham and Isaac popped in my mind.

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."2 He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boyt will go over there and worship and come again to you."6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"8 Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The Lord will provide";tas it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."t

What strikes me is the fact that God points out to Abraham the subtle idolatry he has in his heart in reference to his son. Last night, I realized that I have the same. My guess is that most dads do too. God tested Abraham by telling him to offer his son on the altar.

I don't want to experience that test.

It is in these moments that I am grateful for grace, mercy, and the indwelling of God the Spirit. I confess that my son is an idol. I am thankful for the forgiveness wrought for me at Calvary.

Now, it's time to move forward in that forgiveness as a Dad who will celebrate his son but not subtly worship him.

Another wing of the idol factory in my heart is hereby and officially closed.

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Why Are You Moving to Ypsilanti?

We are launching The Antioch Movement with purpose and clarity. The purpose is to launch a global movement of missionary communities that function as ambassadors of King Jesus. We are clear that this movement is to be built by multiplying missionary communities that begin in Ypsilanti, MI and spread to the very ends of the Earth.

As we are stepping out into this glorious adventure we often get a very simple question that has significant implications.

Why are you moving to Ypsilanti when you only live fifteen minutes away?

This question is powerful. It is based in what I call the "Dream of Detroit". Detroit is the center of the global automotive industry. Most people in the metroplex are employed either directly or indirectly by the very same industry. While this is changing slowly, it is still the fact of the matter. Not only is this true, but so is the "Dream", the dream of a city where everyone has a car and everyone drives. A city that is totally interconnected by the automobile.

The "Dream" has slowly decayed the foundations of neighborhoods and community. The "Dream" has drawn people further out from the center of their communities and relationships. The Church has followed suit.  Many churches in the Detroit area are "suburban" or "regional" type churches where people drive many miles and minutes to gather with the people of God. By necessity the Church's building becomes central and the Church runs programs to give people a "reason" to come to the building and drive "in" from wherever they are.

We want to flip this model and subvert the "Dream". We want to be a people totally immersed in our community. Where the Church and the town are intertwined. Our hope is that we will be able to model the incarnation of Jesus to people. To live out his call as ambassadors, as resident aliens, in Ypsilanti.

We simply cannot do this from fifteen minutes away.

No, we want to saturate Ypsilanti with the Gospel. To saturate a sponge you can do so by pouring water next to it.  That is not very effective. To be effective, you must pour water directly on it, into it, and the sponge soaks it up fast.

Derek Webb in the chorus of his song, Take to the World summarizes it this way,

And take to the world this love, hope and faith

Take to the world this rare, relentless grace
And like the three in one
Know you must become what you want to save
Cause that's still the way
He takes to the world

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Providence in the Problems

There are some doctrines of the faith that become ever more sweet during certain seasons of our lives. Right now I seem to be experiencing the doctrine of Providence in a profound and fresh new way. Maybe it is because God is calling my family and I into something new.

I wonder if it's similar to a person who was in a coma learning to breathe on his or her own again? Something that you have taken for granted for so long that God has to bring to a place where you can't help but notice his care and concern.

This morning I was spending some time with the Lord and was reading in Acts. I read this...

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

What strikes me is how Gamaliel was willing to trust a difficult situation to God. He knew that God would be exerting his providence. While the council feared this upstart movement, Gamaliel did not. He knew that if God was in it they couldn't stop it and really, didn't want to. This is in stark contrast to the story that immediately precedes, that of Ananias and Sapphira.

Gamaliel trusted.

Over the last few days I have been reminded that my plans are not my own. I am simply called to follow and obey, or as a friend says, "flex and obey"! I am learning that frustrations and angst comes from my lack of trust in the Providential King.

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Touch: A Parable of Providence

Over the last few years I have come to really enjoy smart, well written, dramatic television. I love the fact that the story is not capped in 120 minutes. It is able to be developed, often very intricately. Right now we are enjoying shows like Once Upon A Time, PanAM, The Firm, and Touch.

Touch is a fascinating storyline. This show is attempting to work out the theological idea of providence. Providence can be defined as, "divine guidance or care, God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny".

But, what if there was no God?

Touch seems to start there. The "universe" is personified. Numbers, sequences, patterns are the key to unlocking the mystery of pain and suffering. There are a few people who can understand the patterns and as a result can "feel the pain and suffering of the whole world."

Jake, a little boy who does not speak, is one of these people. His father, Martin, is learning to understand that Jake provides a road map for him to help set things right. Check out the trailer...

Our western world is in a state of confusion. We are not as prosperous as we once were. There is less hope than before.  Everyone is looking for answers.  Touch is providing an answer. There is purpose and order.  It comes from numbers, patterns, sequences, and formulas. Fate is driven by these things and if you pay attention you can see it. 

Fascinating. 

But it isn't true.

There is something better. 

Our world is being cared for by a gracious King. His providential rule keeps all things in order. There is pain and there is suffering. Not because he doesn't love or care for us but because it is in the midst of the pain and suffering that we learn our need to trust him. 

Check out what Jesus says about providence in Matthew 6, 

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?t 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 He connects providence to our experience of anxiety which is born out of our lack of trust.

Our great King cares for us and will provide all we need because of his providence. He is ordering the world and overseeing it. The question is, will we seek first the kingdom of God?

What you seek is what you find.

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Charmed to Charred

A few weeks ago Ethan was living the dream. Everything was going his way. He was dominating at the sport he loves, nobody could hit him. He had won a national essay contest where he was able to meet Sharon Robinson. School was simple.

Life was good.

Over the last ten days his world has come crashing down. He didn't make it into TAG (talented and gifted), he struggled on a test at school, he has been struggling in the field in baseball.

Life has been hard.

The height of the mountain and the depth of the valley. They are experienced back to back. Soon enough he will be on the mountain top again.

In the meantime, he has to learn how to deal with the valley. As his Dad I want to ease the blow. As a man who wants him to mature I know he needs to feel the depth of this valley in his life. This is something that will prepare for him for the real valley that he will experience one day.

Often times I think of King David and his battle with Goliath. It was a low point in the history of the people of God. They were taunted and teased. They were being embarrassed on the field of battle by one man. That is, until a shepherd boy came along. He had experienced God's faithfulness in delivering to his hand bears, lions, and wolves. He courageously stepped out in faith knowing God would do it again.

David, had fully experienced small valleys. When it was time to experience a deep one he was ready. He had practiced.

I pray that I will let my son practice so that when the valley gets really deep he will be able to say:

1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2  He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.t3  He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousnesst
for his name's sake.

4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,t
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5  You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.6  Surelyt goodness and mercyt shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwellt in the house of the Lord
forever.t

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DNA of Fatherhood Failure

This weekend Ethan's baseball team was in a huge tournament. On Sunday morning he played terribly at 3B, the worst since t-ball.

As Amy and I processed through we came to the conclusion that he was not ready. He has been a pitching more than he has in the past. In his league most kids can't hit his team's pitching and when they do they're late. That means most balls go to the right side of the infield. Prior to Sunday he had one fielding opportunity in the previous 16 games. On Sunday he got two hot shots back to back.

He was not ready.

At first I thought, "This is why the team needs more practice." Then it hit me. I was projecting.

I realized that Ethan had asked me a number of times to hit him grounders. I said no.

I was too tired.

I was too distracted.

I was too busy.

There was too much going on and I needed to decompress.

My son was not ready because I said, "no".

This won't happen again. The DNA of a fatherhood failure has been discovered, it is the all consuming, "I". It is engaged when our own comforts are placed ahead of our children. This is not to say that our children are to be the center around which we revolve our lives. We are however to engage them and enter into their joys and loves.

From here on out, my son won't have a dad that says he's too tired, distracted, or busy. Life is busy. God is calling our family to launch a movement. My son and my daughter cannot be sacrificed on that altar though. This is a wake up call that had minimum consequences.

I pray that I don't need another one of these.

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Faith My Eyes

Our family is getting very close to entering into the world of movement launching in Ypsilanti, MI. This is scary, exciting, and generates great opportunities to trust him. Right now is a time when I get to cast vision for the vision that, I think, God has laid out in his scriptures to us.

As we cast this vision we get many questions and many of them I can't really answer. I have come to the conclusion that is OK. I don't have to be able to answer every question. 

Why? That's a great question. 

I think it's OK because at some point in this process we have to yield to faith and trust. We have to believe that God is serious when he makes promises in his scriptures. He means it when he says that he will care for us. It seems to me that we have to come to the place where we can rest on the reality of his promises. 

Contrary to my boy Stuart Smalley: 

I am not good enough (just ask my kids and bride).  I am not smart enough (just ask anyone that hangs out with me). And, if I am really honest with myself "people" don't necessarily like me. 

No, the truth of the matter is that if any of this is to come to pass it will be because the Creator God will have lavished his grace on the community that he is sending us too. This means that faith must be our eyes. 

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A Christmas Sermon from 2011

What happens when you have a bunch of kids tell the Christmas story?

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Why a College Town?

Today we received a newsletter from some friends who serve Cru at Duke University. It got me thinking again about one of the reasons why we are launching The Antioch Movement in Ypsilanti.

Very simply: laborers.

There is no better place to raise up laborers for the kingdom of God than the university. Eastern Michigan University is a campus of more than 20,000. These are people who will have an influence beyond the average. Anywhere you go in Southeastern Michigan you find people who are directly or indirectly connected to Eastern Michigan University. Southeastern Michigan is the place that drives, quite literally, the state of Michigan.

We cannot underestimate the influence of the students from EMU.

College students are flexible. They are available. They are making decisions that will set the trajectory for the rest of their lives. They are not tied down and can go anywhere. Imagine hundreds, if not thousands of college students choosing to launch movements everywhere. That is  what we are after, a global movement beginning in Ypsilanti.

It has been said, if you want to change the world tomorrow, change the college campus today.

The Antioch Movement is a movement that will be launching movements beyond Ypsilanti to the ends of the earth. To do this we need laborers for the harvest.  There is no better place to find them than the university campus.

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The Power of Together

I am sitting in a gathering of Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders of the Midwest Presbytery. When we gather I am astounded by the humility, kindness, and respect of the people around me. What a joy to be a part of a connectional system where we press into relationship.

There are difficult issues that have to be dealt with. We examine candidates for minister of the gospel. We argue. We pray. We worship.  We celebrate.

We are a community together pursuing the King and his kingdom.

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The End

As I enter into this new stage of life I am realizing that I am about to embark on something unique. For the first time in my life I am the one who has to slow down and listen to God to determine what the ‘end’ is and how he intends to get us there.

I think that he is saying that the ‘end’ is ‘now’. 

As our family steps out into this adventure of launching a movement we will begin with the end in mind. What do we want this movement to be? Do we want a large worship gathering to be our end? 

No.

We want a movement that is engaged in their spheres of influence as representatives of Jesus. We want a community of people who are multiplying their lives and launching new movements in places we have not yet dreamed of going. 

Everything we do will towards this end. 

Everything. 

More on that some other time…

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Learning to Think...

A couple of years ago our community shifted our thinking about children. We moved from exclusion to inclusion.

A little background. We are a Presbyterian church which means that we hold to a covenantal view of the Bible. Which leads us to the conclusion that children are members of the community and are not to be excluded until some 'experience' happens so that they 'can' be baptised. However, we didn't include them in the worship gathering.

They were excluded.


But, now, that has changed. We include them in the worship gathering. We offer nursery care for the very young, but we encourage our parents to bring kids into the worship gathering as soon as possible.

Amy and I are discovering that as a result of our kids being in worship they are learning something that we weren't expecting.

They are learning to think. 

Our kids have learned the ability to listen to a 30-40 minute lecture (because that's what most sermons are) and can distill it to its major idea. When there isn't one, they can tell you that too. The ramifications for this are significant. This means that at school they are able to listen to their teacher and focus the lesson to its most important objectives.

They are learning how to think and they are learning it as we gather for worship.

The worship gathering is not just a place to sing, pray, and give. It's a time for us to teach our children how to think.

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Reasons I Left The Church - Please Stop

Recently there has been a number of articles that have surfaced outlining why people leave the "church". It was interesting when Barna published its survey results. But now it's become a silly and over done trend.

Are local congregations broken? Yes.

Why?

Because they are filled with broken people.

Why?

Because this is who Jesus came for.

We should not be surprised to find messed up churches, led by messed up people, and filled by messed up folks. It's the whole point.

I am sorry that your political perspective is not valued as you think it ought to be. I am sorry that you have to fight a pervasively male dominated culture to live out your gifts. I am sorry for all the things that have hurt you. Please forgive the church, it knows not what it does.

If you want to bring about change in the church you don't do it by whining on your blog. You bring change through reasonable, honest, and authentic dialogue. You bring change through engagement.

If you think you'll bring change by planting a church, you're wrong. You're just running away. If you think you'll bring change by airing your complaints publicly, you're wrong. You just sound spoiled, self absorbed, and arrogant.

Are there times to leave a church? Sure. If the church is not embodying the gospel, then don't just leave, run. But please don't turn to the internet to whine.

On the other hand, if you find a perfect church, RUN! You will mess it up.

I push the church and challenge the church as much as anyone. I criticize, critique, and call out. But, I will not run from her. Jesus died for her, Jesus loves her, and Jesus will return for her.

No, I will stay and fight for her. I hope you will too.

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Grace and a Wedding

Our community, Grace Chapel, studied Revelation 19 a couple of weeks ago. We focused on the metaphor of the wedding feast. This past weekend my brother David was married to the love of his life, Amanda. I couldn't help but think about the beauty of the day and how it erased a lifetime of disappointment.

It seems like every one of David's special days was somehow messed up.

But this day, his wedding day, was perfect.

Weddings change us because they force us to look ahead. They set our attention on the future. Weddings are merely gateways to marriages.  Marriages are everlasting adventures (or at least they ought to be).

This wedding in particular was, for me, a reminder of the redeeming grace of Jesus. He takes lifetimes of frustration and in a moment can transform them into something beautiful.

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Be Kind - A Call to Compassionate Debate

We are entering a time of political engagement.  The candidates in both parties are all but secured.  This means that those on both sides are starting to ramp up their rhetoric with the hopes of winning the White House and the power that comes with it.

What I always find interesting in this time of life is watching how Christians engage in the conversation.  There tends to be some different responses.  One is to ignore it all, to simply pretend that it isn't there.  A second, is to be snarky, mean, and condescending (it doesn't matter if one is a D or an R).

It's my hope that my brothers and sisters will find a third way.  This is the way of kindness. This means that we are to speak truth lovingly. It means that we must realize that the world within which we live is broken, nuanced, and messy.  Your party's candidate does not have all the answers and is not perfect. This also means that the other party's candidat is not evil, all bad, or always wrong.

The world we live in is not perfect.  The people who hold office should have our respect.  Those running for office should have it also.  They are stepping into a process that is heartless and cruel. These men and women have their goods and their bads.  Your preference does not make them God's choice. Your preference can not be supported by scripture.

Your preference is yours. You are not God. Therefore, you have a responsibiliy to speak into the preference with loving truth by calling both sides of the debate to the biblical ground. You have a responsibility to not see one or the other with rose colored glasses.

You have a responsibility to understand that neither party's candidate is Jesus. You have a responsibility to understand that neither party's candidate is satan.

Friends, if you say you follow Jesus then follow his lead.  Jesus would not be a D or an R. Jesus is not red or blue.  Jesus takes the brokenness that is before and redeems it for the glory of the Father. That means you have to pray, think, and engage with loving truthfulness.

This means no more silly pictures about the president or candidates you disagree or agree with. This means engaging with ideas and issues. This means no more personal attacks.

Realize people are watching.  The question is, "Who are they seeing?"

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The Resurrection = Victory

I bumped across an interesting post today.  It argues that, "The Symbolism of Jesus on the Cross has as main function to serve as a Warning that not even the Son of God could challenge the System." While this is would be true if the crucifixion is the end of the story, but...

It's not.

The crucifixion was overturned by a resurrection. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 15, "20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.27 For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all."

The resurrection is freedom and vicotry. The "system" has been subverted, nay, destroyed, according to Paul.

Don't be fooled.  The resurrection is victory and freedom.

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The Beast's Submission to the Jackie Robinson Essay Competition

Mrs. Brackett (Ethan's Teacher), Mrs. Robinson, Ethan

Hi, my name is Ethan and I learned in school that Jackie Robinson lived his life by nine values and used them to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball. This is a story about a time that I used those same values to overcome a barrier in my life.

At my school football got banned because some kids weren’t playing safely. I was very mad. It seemed unjust. I went back to my house that night to talk about it with my family. My father suggested a petition. At the time, I didn’t know what a petition was. So I asked.

He explained that a petition is like a letter stating what I think should happen. It also should have signatures of the people who think the same as me.

I decided to do it, but I was anxious. I couldn’t believe what I was on the verge of doing. 


When I woke up the next morning, my dad was still sleeping, so I tried to make the petition myself. It said:

Dear Ms. Lilly,I am one of the many who would like football back. Here are some reasons why:

1. The school wants us to be active. Football is a safe-fun way to be active.
2. Without football kids get in arguments over games.
3. Exercise makes you better in school.

On the following pages you will see the signatures of the people who think the same as me.

“Yeah, I think that is good.” I said to myself. 

The next day I asked my friend Jacob to help me.. Using teamwork, we got the signatures in one recess. Then we turned the petition into Ms. Lilly. I went to bed happy that night, thinking that tomorrow would be a great day. I would have a talk with Ms. Lilly and then football would be back! Well, did I get a surprise!

Days went by and no word from Ms. Lilly. I was getting pretty worried. What if she didn’t get the petition? What if she didn’t care? All of these possibilities were flowing through my head. Then, one day, during math, over the PA system I got a call from Ms. Lilly, saying that she wanted to talk to me. 

Ms. Lilly said to make a committee of three third graders, three fourth graders and three fifth graders. We would meet and make the rules for football. She said, “You will contact me when it’s done.”

I left her office feeling very worried. I didn’t know any fifth graders, let alone three of them! But I had to do this. I had to do this for my school and for my friends. I was determined.

Finding kids from each grade to join the committee took a lot of persistence, but with teamwork, we got it done. Now all that needed to happen was the meeting. I couldn’t wait.

At the meeting the next day, we started thinking of rules, voted on them, and then wrote them down. Soon we had a page full of rules. When we presented them to Ms. Lilly, she said, “Great job,” and told me to speak on the announcements the next day. 

The next day, on the morning announcements, I explained that anyone who wanted to play football would need to sign a contract to follow the rules that the committee had written. Twenty-five players attended the meeting and signed their names. And that’s how I got football back for my school!

***
To get football back, I had to use Jackie Robinson’s values. I was very committed to overcoming this barrier. Using a petition was an example of good citizenship. It took courage to talk to Ms. Lilly. It took determination to find fifth graders for the committee when I didn’t know any. I had to be persistent. My friend Jacob and I used teamwork to get the signatures. My school is very diverse, and football is a sport that we all play together. Getting football back for all of them felt good. Well, I got the job done, didn’t I? That shows excellence.

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I'm a Man!

The interwebs have been buzing about some Christian Superstars who are arguing for a masculine Christianity.  The response has been to show that Christianity is feminine. The pendulum keeps swinging. 

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

The fact of the matter is that our faith needs both the men and the women. Humanity as God intended included a shameless God-Man-Woman relationship in the Garden.

Men, relate and interact with God as men.  What does this mean? I don't know. I am a man and I meet God through reading, engaging with film, music, and other bits of culture.  I don't like hunting, fishing, or camping. But, I know other guys who love those things and meet God there.

Women, relate and interact with God as women. What does this mean? It is the mystery of which I have committed myself to in my marriage.  My Bride is a mystery and her walk with God is mysterious.

The point is simple, meet with God.

Men, don't judge women becaues they don't interact with God as men.

Women, don't judge men because they don't interact with God as women.

It seems to me if we could begin to take Paul seriously in Galatians 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Then we might be on to something.

The Church, the body of Christ, the Ekklesia, is comprised of both. It is time we stop trying to figure out who should dominate the conversation.  It seems to me that it's time for us, man and woman, to get serious about the mission that God has called us to. We need to go out on this mission together.

I am grateful for the women who lead with me.  They offer a perspective I will never have.  I appreciate the men who lead with me.  They give me courage and confidence.

Christianity is not masculine.

Christianity is not feminine.

Christianity is.

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No Really You Have to SEE It!

This morning while I was working away on annual reports, I heard a fascinating little interaction:

Robin: "Did you see what Bill did in the Breakaway Room?"

Doug: "I heard that he did some work on it."

Robin: "Umm...yeah, you need to SEE the Breakaway Room!"

Bill had totally repurposed a room.  It was an amazing thing to behold. You had to SEE it. Doug went to SEE it. Robin escorted me down to SEE it, she was so excited about what Bill had done. 

I am sure she will escort others to the room who haven't SEEN it.  

I immediately had this scene in my head, 

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of h

im, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"50 Jesus answered him,"Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these."51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you,t you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." (John 1:43-51, ESV)

Philip knew that he had found the Messiah. He knew that Nathanael needed to know him too. You can almost hear Nathanael say, "I heard that there was someone like that around here." Philip's response, "Come and see." You have to wonder if Nathanael heard in this response Psalm 66:5.

It's 2012, a new year has dawned.  What will you be about this year? Will you, like Robin, invite your friends to SEE?

My prayer for this year is simple, "Father God grant opportunity for people to see and hear."

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