Just Kingdom

What is worship ?

2011-09-20T17:51:00.001-07:00

Read Psalm 43
1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

We sit in rows, week after week, singing songs, listening to messages and “doing” church. But what happens when we go home? What happens when real life hits and all of the sudden the idea of “worship” needs to be broader—your definition of who God is needs to be broader? Worship is about us and God, but it’s about so much more. It’s about the past. It’s about the people in our present life and it’s about the activity of our day in and day out world. Worship isn’t just singing songs. Worship is how we live our lives.

How would you define worship? How have you experienced worship, both privately and publicly? Is worship something you enjoy? What do you think of the idea that we can worship God with both music and also with our lives?

The Cinderella story

2011-03-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

We all love a good Cinderella story, where the main character involved goes from being walked over and pushed around to being the hero. And it happens in the most unlikely of places. Take VCU for example. Most people did not expect them to even make the NCAA Tourney and when they did no one expected them to beat USC or Georgetown or Kansas the list goes on and here thy are in the Final Four. We love it when we see it , the little guy finally beating the bigger guy. Or nerdy guy finally getting the cute girl or the job or whatever . There is something inside of us that makes us want to pull for the under dog, the not good enough or you will never be able to do that sort of mentality.
The question is do we just like a good story , the drama and the thrill of it all or is it because in some way or another we have all felt like the under dog. At some point in life we have all been told by someone we did not quite measure up, we are not quite smart enough or fast enough or whatever enough , you do not meet the standard. That is what is so great about the Cinderella story, we find out the things that are not good enough are not a part of the equation for what God uses for greatness, in fact I believe that God wants to make each of in to a Cinderella story.
Look who are Jesus picks as a part of his team, the not good enoughs the left outs and the guys who fish for a living. They are not trained they are not qualified, they really have very little going for them except they are willing. They are willing to drops their nets and follow Jesus, they are willing to give up everything they know to follow this guy who is proclaiming good news. The good news is that with God and through the help of the Holy Spirit we are all a part of a Cinderella team, a Cinderella movement a thing where the sum of the parts may not look like much but when moving in the right direction can change the world. That is what draws us to teams like the VCU Rams because they have overcome unbelievable odds when no one gave them a chance , their story draws us in because we hope it is our story to. That God may take my life for whatever it is worth and accomplish far greater things for Gods Kingdom then I could ever do on my on. It is what excited us about Easter , the Messiah defeats death the ultimate number one seed and replaces death with Life. That my friends is how I spell VICTORY. All I have to do is trust and believe that God through Christ is who He claims to be. My Prayer is that we may all have a Cinderella story when it is all said and done and claim the Victory that is ours. May you know that God is always calling the not good enoughs and may you have the guts to respond.

Go Rams !

Race to Nowhere | Share

2011-03-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Race to Nowhere | Share

Interesting thought on Worship..

2010-08-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

“If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goosebumps and sing songs together, there’s not much value in that. But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create – the people that are caring for the widows and orphans, that aren’t bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world – then that matters.” Gungor Band

I think most of us want to be engaged in this way and the truth is that every aspect of church life ought to lead to this end. Everything from finances to the way the church is maintained. Ultimately we want what we are a part of to matter, from the soccer team to youth groups , we want our time that we put into something to feel meaningful. And we can certainly feel this space with plenty of things but we usually still feel a bit hollow inside, shallow as if it is not quite enough. That is why this statement echos so much truth for me, worship is not about me as much as it is propelling me forward into the world and becoming fully engaged in the world. That is my prayer that I may become fully engaged with the world around me and not just watch it pass me by.

Happy and Sad all at Once ..

2010-07-07T11:52:00.000-07:00

SO I will be the new youth minister at Christ Church Episcopal in Short Pump in the end of July and could not be more excited. It is a large church and youth ministry w another full time youth minister. The really exciting thing is that they seem to be a church committed to serving their community and want to be and do more. I am excited by this because I know from my experience with Embrace Richmond, poverty is everywhere. In some places it is the poverty of not having enough resources and in other places it is the poverty of not being in community it is the poverty of love/ In either case Jesus has a lot to say about both.
I will miss my friends at Embrace and I am sad to leave them but I also know that I will have the opportunity to continue to serve alongside them and continue to strengthen the bridge between the church and the world. I really feel this is a great place for God to use my gifts and for our family to be in ministry together. Please keep me and my family in your prayers and if you want to check out a great church go to http://www.christchurchrichmond.org/

From the Sancturary to the Streets by Wendy McCaig

2010-06-10T18:14:00.001-07:00

It is interesting because as I read “From the Sanctuary to the Streets “ by Wendy McCaig I realized that even though I know most of the folks in the book their story really came to life for me. I have seen first hand from my experience with Embrace Richmond that hope is a powerful force and when hope is teamed with the power of resurrection incredible things happen. I have spent the last fifteen years in youth ministry in the local church and one of the things that we in the Church have lost is the power of the Resurrection, the power of a God sized dream that is at work redeeming the broken and shattered pieces of life. In the Church the Resurrection has become more about more people than normal showing up then it is about God restoring Hope to the world, restoring life from death and victory in the face of defeat. Wendy has reminded me that there is great power in the dream because a dream means we have not yet given up the fight, there is still a chance and more importantly there is still hope. It is the possibility of things unseen. A city united to embrace all is a crazy dream one that by our power will not happen but a God sized dream reminds us that God is in control and wants to do in us more than we thought possible. We must hold on to that hope to dream God sized dreams , believe that the impossible is possible and live as people of a resurrection story.

Buy the book here:www.embracerichmond.org or Google Wendy McCaig

Living Missional in the Burbs..

2010-05-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot lately about living in a missional community and what exactly that means. Working in the city I have plenty of chances to live out a missional call, serving alongside people who are different from me. It is great and often I think well maybe it is time to move into town into an under resourced area and live in a missional community in that way. How cool is that to live in that sort of intentional way loving and caring for those around us. But lately I have realized that I am living in a missional community now or at least the potential is there.
Here is what I mean, we intentionally walk around our neighborhood everyday, we say hello to as many people as we can and we actually really like hanging out with our neighbors. We know our neighbors by name and they come over to our house all the time as we go over to theirs. We are now talking about our yearly block party which this summer which will be Epic. We are really trying to live in this community with intentional purpose and offering hospitality to our friends. The truth is that as much as living in the city would be cool , we need community in the burbs too. In fact we need community no matter where we live. As followers of Christ we ought to be those people no matter where we live, we can live in intentional and missional ways without having to move. The truth is that poverty exist everywhere , it may mask itself in different forms but neighbors in need are everywhere. It is just up to us if we choose to answer the call of those in need. Can we offer Christ in such a way that it makes where we live a better place. Where people know one another and share in the journey that is life. I think if we live in such a way we can help bring forth the Kingdom of God even if it is in the burbs. So it is not about where you live but more about how we live. So here is the challenge , do you know your neighbors name, do you know anything about the lady up the street? If not let me offer this advice go for a walk and say hello to those you pass . You will be surprised where those hello will lead you.

What does church really look like...

2010-03-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

I heard the story of a lady from one of our community meetings that I would like to share.Last week her church had a fire. So the church decided to cancel Sunday morning services. Fran decided that instead of canceling who ever wanted to come to her house and have church they could. So the Minister came and the the piano player brought a small portable keyboard and made a Sanctuary in her living room. They were not sure if anyone would come, they just planned on the three of them being there. Well one by one they came and Fran ended up with over 100 people in her 2 bedroom house. No place for anyone to sit, so everyone just stood inside, outside on the porch, in the kitchen and worshiped for 2 hours together. Did I mention she lives in the projects. So picture this the gathered community worshiping an all mighty God litterally in one of most under resourced communities in the city.
When I worship I need a good band, comfy seats,good projector and sound system and a well versed message. She just needed the Holy Spirit and 100 of her closest friends gathered in her house. Which one is more like church in Gods eyes ? By the way they are having Sunday School this week before worship in her home. I might just go.

Blessing Day at Embrace Richmond

2010-02-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Day in Fairfeild Court and Hillside Court

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFXW2e2QA0I

2010-02-03T17:11:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we had our volunteer appreciation and community celebration in the East End. It is a time where we welcome new residents in the Fairfield Court Housing Community and celebrate our community volunteers who live there. It is a great time of hanging out, getting to know one another and celebrate what God is doing in this community. It is the truest expression of who we are as Embrace Richmond. (Selfish plug) Also during this time we recognize new community members who have joined the Embrace team with a very stylish Embrace t-shirt. This past time we recognized Trudy as the newest member of our team.
Trudy recently started coming to our community gathering and is there faithfully everytime we meet. She gives herself to the work we are doing in community and has a genuine sprit of hospitality. Trudy has a story full of trials and turmoil but still every week she is there and she gives with a servant’s heart. Her son is in jail, she has no job and her mom is in failing health. She has every reason in the world not to give but she gives anyway. So we gave her a t shirt.
When Trudy got her t shirt, you would have thought she just won a million dollars. She had invited her mom to the lunch to watch her get her t shirt and she beamed with pride as we presented her with her very own Embrace T. Believe me when I say the t shirt is cool but not that cool, it was about something more and bigger then a t shirt. Maybe for the first time in her life Trudy felt as if she belongs to something, she is a part of something. Perhaps she feels that she is a part of something that is making a difference in the world and that she is a valued part of that. Whatever the reason she cherishes that t shirt and she belongs with us.
There is something powerful about belonging, about finding a place where you fit, in fact most of spends lots of time and energy finding places to belong good and bad. It is so beautiful when we find a place that fits us and we fit it. Everyone is longing to belong to something; there is something primal about the need for and the desire to have community. A place where we are known and that gets us, the church should be that place. The truth is however most churches are not, we have to pretend, we have to put on our Sunday best, a t shirt would never do. We miss the simple joy of belonging because we are afraid people will not like what they see. Here is the good news Jesus was all about giving t shirts to people who just showed up, granted there were often strings attached ( no pun intended) like go an sin no more and such but the people to whom he offered most of them took the t shirt- the chance to belong. Let us not miss the invitation to invite people to belong because who knows it may be the first time they have ever been offered a t shirt most likely they will be thrilled for the chance to belong.

Here is an exaple of what it looks like when belonging to the the Kingdom looks like when it is lived in real life. A video from our last Blessing day at Embrace Richmond. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFXW2e2QA0I

What a gift...

2009-12-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone .. May the King of Kings show up for you in unexpected ways this Christmas...

Check out my friend Wendy's blog about an incredible gift shared by one of our team members.

http://wendymccaig.wordpress.com/

Fruit Roll ups...

2009-11-17T18:11:00.000-08:00

Today I had the great privilege of having lunch with Devon jr in one of our schools we partner with at Embrace Richmond. He is a first grader and knows allot already about life and the way the world works.As we were eating lunch talking about life and flag football, he pulled out a fruit roll up. Not just any fruit roll up but a fruit b the foot roll up. There was a foot of yummy sugar deliciousness before him and he was preparing to devour it like a lion after his prey. he starts to pull the fruit off of the paper and rejoices in his triumphant victory and prepares to take the first bite. He lifts the fruit goodness to his mouth and stops before taking a bite , he puts the roll up down and tears off two pieces one for me and one for his friend Jamal. Before he takes the first bite he offers it to us first. Who does that no one ever really thinks about others before himself, I mean we say that and sometimes consider doing it but none of us actually ever do it. Devon did , he offered his snack to us before he takes a bite. It was a powerful moment. At first I did not want to eat it because I felt a bt guilty accepting this gift from a friend , who knows really when the next time he will eat but I quickly realized he was extending hospitality to me and his friend , he was showing us a real life example of grace.He was wiling to share what he had with his friends. It is amazing to me how such a simple act, can be such a Godly experience. It was if I was experiencing the broken body and blood of Christ right there in an elementary lunch room Who knows when Jesus said no greater love is this when a man is willing to share his fruit roll up with a stranger.. There is much we can learn from our friends on the fringes when it comes to extending hospitality and grace.

So what do you think about this ..

2009-10-07T17:51:00.001-07:00

Recently I met with a young lady who has 2 very young children still both todlers and within a year of one another. She is in need of furniture because in her new place in one of the public housing she has nothing. When I went to see her there was a TV and a mattress on the floor, she has been living there for about a month. The story gets better. As I am getting to know her and listening to her story she tells me why she had to leave her last place. The house she was in was condemned because of all of the lead based paint that was found. She did not leave because she wanted to she had to leave because she was not able to afford all of the medical bills from her 2 kids being sick and could not pay the rent. The medical bills were from the lead based paint. For this lady it never stops. She wants better for her and her family but this endless cycle of poverty traps her and she is loosing the battle. By the way she is in her early 20's and life to her seems pretty hopeless.
When I left her house I was heartbroken , how could this happen to her and to her children, then my heartache turned to anger because such things happen in my city every single day. It just does not seem to make any sense. Kids dying from lead based paint poisoning and a lady getting evicted because of her sick children and for what. The system is broken in every sense of the word from top to bottom and the really frustrating part is that there are good people trying to do the right thing but there the problems are so large and the resources few.
Well Church that is where we come in. Either we bring Good News or we don't. I do not mean in a where are you going when you die " Good News " I mean new furniture for this lady, help with her medical bills, walking along side her in this moment, being a presence in her dark places. I am talking about the GOOD NEWS OF SHOWING UP AND WALKING WITH HER. I know that it sounds as if I am coming down hard on the church but from what I have seen thus far the Church and what God is doing in these communities already , before we show up , is really the only Hope we have. We must be the Church , the church that goes to the broken hearted , fights for injustice and seeks to walk humbly with our God and neighbors. This is a call to action, I am not talking about another program I am talking about relationship and solidarity. Martin Luther once said 'Here I stand" maybe the churc has taken that statement a bit to far maybe we should think "There we GO".

Changing what I Do ..kind of..

2009-09-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

So I recently decided to leave my position at a local church as their youth minister to pursue a calling to serve the under served in the city of Richmond. I will be working with Embrace Richmond an organization that has been doing great things in our city for a few years. Basically what I will be doing is connecting local churches to the needs in under served communities in Richmond, to build relationships, partnerships,and further the Kingdom of God. I will be meeting with lots of folks hearing their stories and building the bridges between folks who seem to live a world apart.
The truth is that most of us live in poverty. Maybe not the poverty of having enough food, money or shelter but when we are honest with ourselves we realize we are all lacking in something. Maybe it is the poverty of love or meaningful relationships , regardless the truth is we all need something, really we all need each other. Our goals at Embrace are to end poverty in the city of Richmond but I hope we end poverty in the "burbs' as well.
So here I am joining a revolution of sorts, a bunch of "ordinary radicals" trying to really live out this whole Jesus thing. So I guess we will see what happens . This is what I know I am completely dependent upon God in this , I am not real sure how we will make ends meet but I am trusting that God has all of that worked out and now I just need to be obedient. A friend of mine once said "God is never disappointed in a more radical step in faith in fact God usually blesses it". Well here we go.
If you would like to find out more about embrace Richmond go to www.embracerichmond.org
or give me a shout. I will be happy to fill you in. Iwill keep you posted no pun intended.

Blessings.....

2009-01-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

Well hello Blog.. It has been to long..so here is the deal this weekend I am teaching on Nehemiah which if you have not read I would consider a must read for any church leader. I am talking about the first chapter and How Nehemiah is weeping for the destruction of the wall of Jerusalem. The opening few verses speaks about how Neh is in mourning for days and how He feels God calling hime to do something about it. Have you ever felt that compelled or struck by something that you knew you had to do something, you did not have a choice but to take action for an injustice. My question is this ..what would I look like if I were moved to the place that I wept for days for someone else or what would the church look like if we cared enough to weep over something.. There are so many things that break the heart of God why are we so oblivious to it, why are we so caught up in things that do not matter we miss the things that do.. I was eating dinner the other night with some strangers which was very cool but I kept looking at my phone because I had a meeting to go to.. What did I miss in those moments of looking towards something else..that I am sure did not grieve the heart of God.. God forgive me for being so wrapped up in myself that I limit You and what You are doing in the world and my life..

On the Playground..

2008-11-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

So Yesterday we went to the playground for a little swing and slide action. Always a good time. It was fairly uneventful but something pretty awe inspiring happened. As we were palying this other little girl came and joined us. She was a second grader so a little older then my 2 girls. Anyway they played together for about an hour, laughing, swinging and having a great time. The interesting thing is that the little girl was of a different ethnicity, different back ground and different neighborhood. She was not like my 2 girls but it totally did not matter. They just played together and loved it. They did not see the differences they just saw a friend that they could swng with and all was well with the world.
When do we loose that sense of freedom? Letting down our guards and enjoying the people around us , even if they are different. I sat in awe watching them play because I want to live my life the way they do on the playground. It was amazing, it was actually a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God looks like. I hope that we may always see the need to have friends and relationships that are way different from what is the norm. In fact perhaps it is time to redefine the norm to what it was like on the playground.. Where we all play and laugh and all of the things we think matter, Don't....

See you at the playground....

A thought about the Super Bowl...

2008-02-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

We had a a super bowl party at church ..not really because apparently it is illegal so we didn't but had we have had one I might have been there. Maybe? Anyway after the fantastic halftime performance by Tom Petty I cam home and went to my neighbors house to watch the rest of the game. My neighbors are die hard Giants fans, they truly bleed blue and red all season and post season long. I have to admit I am a sports fan, I like spots, I watch sports , I listen to sports, I even from time to time play sports. I would call myself a sports fan. I am nothing compared to these guys, I have no understanding of what it means to be a fan. I felt as if I were a part of the game watching it with them, I did not really care who won and yet I was the most stressed out I had ever been in my life. I have never seen such pure joy and raw anguish in the same moments in my life. In fact after the Giants won another neighbor was congradulating the Giant fans on their win as if they had given birth to a child, it was one of the proudest moments in their collective lives. I have never seen anything like it, it was in many ways amazing and yet it raised an interesting question for me. If they can be that excited about a win in a football game why can I not be that excited when God is doing something amazing in someone's life.

When was the last time you saw to Christians exchange high fives and say God's team rocks. Or see a good chest bump when Jesus does a totally Jesus thing. I do not know if I have ever been so enthrawed with what God was doing my every breath revolved around that. Joy or agony for a healed or a broken world. I am just saying I know what the "Good news " is and not done a touchdown dance. Maybe we as a church are loosing people because we act as if the game does not really matter. We act as if the "good news" is just "ok news"... Seriously what are we doing... I don't know but I do not even like the Giants ( Go Skins)but after last night I have seen the light..or at least a glow. What glow are we proclaiming in our message, in the way we are living out Christ to the world. Sharing the most incredible message known to mankind.. God loves You and wants you to know that.. Go Giants..Now go and give someone a high five and tell them Jesus loves you...

Chic Fil-A VS McDonald's ( A battle of the ages)

2008-01-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

Most everyone knows my affection I have for the Chic , I truly hold it close to my heart but I also love a good cheeseburger. And what I mean is thinly pieces of sliced onion, 2 pickles, processed cheese and the perfect combination of ketchup or catsup (depending where you live ) and mustard on a slightly toasted bun. It is mannah with an additional 1000 calories. Of course I am talking about a Mc Donald's cheeseburger.

Recently our family went to dinner at McD's and I got my usual ( 2 double cheeseburgers and a small fry) the girls ordred roughly the same thing. It took forever and the service was lousy. I am sure that I will continue to support the Golden Arches but what makes an experience at Chic Fil A so much better. Here is what I think:
1.At Chic Fil-a they say "My pleasure " see blog below
2.They get your food to you quickly
3.It is good.
4.Most importantly They are concerned about Chicken.

They do chicken strips, sanwhiches and nuggets all be it in different forms but chicken none the less. They do not do, Mc Ribs , nuggets, pancakes, Big Mac, Iced Coffee ( although I hear it is good) cheeseburgers and so on. It is so cloudy and confusing in fact I believe it shows up on the face of their employees. Chic Filet does Chicken and I would never go there for anything else but Chicken. They make it painfully simple. And they do what they do really well. There is no doubt you know what you are going to get.So now you are thinking so what, well here is the so what.

What if Church was that simple,and I mean what if we did one thing and did it really well, to the point that we became known for that one particular thing maybe in varying forms but all the same chicken. It seems to me that many churches and denominations try to become all things for all people, the problem is when you become all things are you really anything. When you are all things your focus is everywhere, your people are stressed and unclear about direction and no -one or at least only a select few really know what is happening. Service is slow and the mission is not really accomplished. A singular purpose in various form seems to me to be a better way to go. Maybe it means you go somewhere else for a cheeseburger but maybe that is ok because if that part of the body is doing what it ought to be doing that cheeseburger will be delicious, in fact you will proably tell your other cheeseburger eating friends, you have got to try this. The Church can do what it does really well.

A clairity in purpose to pin point percision allows you to know exactly where you are going or at least what you are aiming for. It allows you to make necessary steps to get there. Everyting you do gets you to where God is calling you to be, because as Andy Stanley sugests , it is about one thing what God is calling your particular church to in your particular setting and context.

I say this to say when I want Chicken I go to the Chic when I want a cheeseburge I head for the arches, maybe the Church ought to think more in that direction. Just a thought.

2007-10-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

I was recently reading an article in Christianity Today and the author wrote something that was profound and simple in the same breath. He said "The problem with spectacle, especially religious spectacle, is that the steady, repeated, raucous noise will eventually make us hard of hearing. And that will make it impossible to hear God's normal tone of voice." Gods normal tone, the whispering in the wind the subtle movement in the Spirit, that still small voice. Perhaps the voice of God is less about being impressed and more about being listened to. I think about Moses and the burning bush, there have been so many times when I wanted the burning bush, the big loud declarative voice of God to speak in my life. And even though the burning bush was a spectacle it was only seen by one person. One not a thousand , not a video screen not even a good soundtrack , one person and a bush in the middle of a dessert. SO where am I going with this, well to be honest I am not really sure but my thoughts turn towards corporate worship.
I mean on Sunday mornings most of us across the country put on good show, the music is done well, the message is well crafted and inspiring but let me ask this question where is the voice of God speaking. Are the people in our pews becoming hard of hearing due to what they experience every single Sunday. As Pastors are we causing our people to become deaf. We talk all the time,a good video clip or the latest song but where are we making a space for the voice of God. Where are we allowing the voice of God to speak in an unassuming quiet sort of way, in a way that moves people to life change. I am not saying we need to spend all of our time in silence and meditation but what are we modeling for our people, what are we showing ourselves? Where are we allowing the "noise " of life deafen us from the voice of God?

Power of Love

2007-10-09T19:02:00.000-07:00

I just read this great quote from the legendary Hendrix that says
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power then the world will know peace"
This just resonates with me because I know it to be true . When I think about my life and the different walls and barriers I have had in various relationships it usually comes down to a question of love. Maybe I should say the lack of love. I want to have my way and the constant tug of war that follows. In essence it comes down to not loving as I should and wanting the upper hand, the power. Personal relationships, the world it all works the same, when we are loving one another it works, when we are not it doesn't. I realize I sound like a 60's throw back but maybe that is what made Jesus' message so radical. Because he believed love could change the world, love that nurtured and cared for the lost and the sick but a love that calls for accountability and mutual respect. It was not a message of power but a message of giving up power, strong when you are weak sort of thing. It is completely upside down thinking perhaps that explains why I am so drawn to it. Better yet perhaps that is why it works in a crazy mixed up world. I realize that what I am sounds a bit adolescent but perhaps this message does not need to be complicated. In fact Jesus put it like this, love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
Simple and world changing. Imagine if......

Just A Thought

2007-08-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well 5 weeks of mission trips behind me and here I am . What an incredible summer from western NC , to the inner city of good ole RVA , to Delbarton WV, and you have no idea where that is. The amazing thing is watching God at work in all of those places and seeing glimpses of the Kingdom in each. So often I think when I show up God will come with me but the truth is God is at work in those places already. Perhaps it is less about what we are going to do and more about what God is already doing. Less about God showing up and more about us showing up and taking part in Gods on going story. God is still busy creating and even though God rested on the seventh day I have a feeling God got back to work and is still working. Still writing the story, still at work in the world. Still waiting for us to show up.

If I learned anything from this summer I learned it is time to show up, it is time to "find my Calcutta " as Shayne puts it, It is time to be busy bringing forth the Kingdom. Stop waiting for permission and stop waiting for someone else to do it. In the movie Shaw Shank redemption there is a great line towards the end of the movie , "Its time to get busy livin or to get busy d.." so lets see what happens when we live the life.

You know it is a good thing God's story continues without me otherwise it ..well lets just say I wouldn't bother to read it otherwise.

The Zoo

2007-06-21T17:10:00.000-07:00

Besides see interesting critters at the zoo you can also overhear really interesting conversations. Or be nosy which ever you prefer. As the girls and I were walking these 2 other moms were talking about buying another house. With the 200,000 profit they made on one house and the other 300,000 they had to put down that would leave them with a monthly mortgage of 3500/month. I am no mathematician but I think this new house must be huge and pricey. Well you may be asking yourself ...Ah so what ..people by expensive homes all the time. This is not the interesting part of the story.
While Casey and Ellie were getting our free snow cones..( yep free snow comes) these 2 same ladies and there girls were beginning to have lunch they prayed for their food and other things ..in Jesus name..Amen.. Have you ever had those moments of being ah that's cool and utter disgust in the same breath. It was cool they were thanking God for their food but they were talking about buying a really expensive house earlier. Obviously I know nothing about these people and perhaps they live a life style that is very simple but how can these 2 conversations happen with the same people. It seems to me a disconnect between a $3400 /month mortgage and being a follower of Jesus. It just does not seem to fit my understanding of the Kingdom view of Jesus and what it means to give to the poor and to love justice. It seems that these things are mutually exclusive of one another. Eat a snow cone and let me know what you think.

Something Funny..Kind of..

2007-06-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

I love Chic Fillet probably without question the most enjoyable fast food experience in the world. First you have a perfectly done chicken sandwich not to greasy and seasoned to perfection, next you add the waffle fry. One of God's greatest creation. Who would have thought you could make art out of the potato. Then you have your choice of lemonade ( tart I might add) or the nectar of the gods Diet Dr Pepper. Lastly like a cherry on top they ( the people behind the counter) say "my pleasure". My pleasure, I am happy to serve you . I know they are forced to say it and severely reprimanded if not but what a great use of the English language. I feel like I want to give them my six bucks just because they appreciate me coming to their restaurant. They value my business or if not they make me think they do. Either way I am addicted and you get your food so quickly. It is a win , win.
You would not think saying My pleasure is not such a big deal but I am telling you for me it makes all of the difference in the world. I want to go back there , I want to take my family and our friends, if they would let my dog in. Do you see where I am going with this, I like feeling like I matter. That is what they do so well, they make you feel as if you matter. Often when I go to church I feel like that it does not matter if I am there or not. I don't feel welcomed or valued, I don't feel like people say we are really glad you are here. I think people , myself included are longing for that. To feel as if they matter , that for a brief second they are important to someone.
I long for the day the church is that way, a place that truly values people, The church becomes a place that cares if you are there or not and it is not because you give money but because you are a creation of God and therefore have infinite worth. What would church look like if on Sundays or Fridays or whenever there was a parade for your arrival, or maybe more simply every time someone said to you, "I am really glad you are here". I think it would go a long way.
I think it would help make church something you invited everyone to because you feel so invited, so welcome , so appreciated. Try it and see "my pleasure".

What is evangelism

2007-06-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I played golf with a friend, a relatively new friend but friend none the less. For the sake of argument lets call him Jake. During our time together we talked about life and friends. We laughed, smoked cigars and missed some really easy putts. I shot a 77 by the way , not bad for a hack. We really talked about everything including the weather. I have been nurtured in a faith tradition that would put little value in this conversation unless you make the sell but I am leaning to the thought that perhaps this time together was of the utmost importence. I would guess that Jake has known very few "Christians" in fact he was visited by the Jehovah witness earlier that afternoon and asked if that is what all Christians were like. The point is that I experienced a Holy moment on the Golf Course. Even though we never once mentioned God or faith everything we talked about was spiritual.
It seems that we spend a lot of time in church looking for the next best thing, the next great program or thing that will get people in the door but perhaps the point is not getting people in the door but getting us ( the Church) outside of it. In my denomination we have a new new slogan, open hearts , open doors and open minds. It is catchy but probably not that true. As long as you come to us outside we will be those thing but I believe we need to be more of those things on the golf course or basketball court, coffee shop or local pub. The point is for us to be where the people are and to hear the message, we care about you not to make our thing bigger and better but because you are a fellow journeymen in this great adventure called life. I believe that it is possible for God to use those outside the church walls to speak to us a word from God. Church this is what I am really like. It is not about the songs or the words, the message or the nifty graphics we use, it is a bout relationship and listening to the story of someone who just needs to talk , no agenda no hidden plan, just being and hitting a little white ball around. Maybe I should do more church on the golf course. FORE !!