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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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?"

Read More