The Eyes of the LORD are Listening

I have found it a rather curious study lately to look into some aspects of prayer throughout Scripture.  It is quite confusing at times to be honest.  My thought that prayer is something that needs to be sacrificial, early in the morning, and consuming of large portions of time over many days is quite contradicted when I read of Asa.  He cried to the LORD, offering up a prayer that takes about 10 seconds (to read).  We get no indication that he did this day after day, week after week, month after month.  In fact, his prayer comes as a result of an army of "a million men" coming against his army of 580,000 men.  And still in this the LORD moved and gave Asa victory (2 Chron. 14:9-15).  

So why is it we wait?  Why is it some of us have labored in prayer without any resolution to the need before us?  Asa simply prayed, "O LORD there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak.  Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude.  O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you" (2 Chron. 14:11).  It is not even so specific to the need before them of this great army coming against them, and yet the LORD answered in a great way.   Many of us have offered "better, more specific, longer" prayers that we have yet to see the Lord answer.  But truly it shouldn't surprise us.  

Look at the Psalms.  You don't have to look far to realize that the psalmists struggled with God, and His timing in regards to prayer.  It caused the psalmist in Psalm 42 to expose his innermost turmoil as he can only ask, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?"  And in Psalm 44 the psalmist says, "Why are you sleeping, O Lord?  Why do you hide your face?"  

This is the great mystery of prayer.  God's timing will rule.  He has greater purposes than just to answer what it is we ask for.  I am challenged by this statement recently that I read: "...the goal isn't to get what you want at all.  The goal is to figure out what God wants, what God wills."  This is one of the great purposes of prayer.  God is aligning our will with His perfect will.  So embrace the wrestling with God.  

Further, He delights to draw us near to Himself in all this. That seems obvious, but it is lost on us when we are just seeking "answers."  HE is THE ANSWER to the prayer request we make, nothing less.  The psalmist (Sons of Korah) in Psalm 42 (also responsible for 43 and 44) says, "...my soul thirsts for You...for the living God."  This is amidst His pursuit of freedom from oppressive enemies.  His request is ultimately not for relief to no end, but for GOD HIMSELF.  Allow for prayer to draw us nearer to God.  

Lastly, it is all about His own glory.  The great author A.W. Tozer once said, "Glorify Yourself, at my expense."  This is just a more personalized version of "Hallowed be Your Name."  And so even when a guy like Joshua led the Israelites over the Jordan River into the Promised Land it was to the ultimate purpose "that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and you may fear the LORD your God forever."  

So I pray.  God seems to do some wonderfully irregular things on a regular basis for those who regularly pray.  We can't predict the when of it all, or even the extent of it all.  But hopefully we allow for what remains of 2013 to set in us a greater expectation of what God will do in 2014 even as we pray.   "For the eyes of the LORD run to and from throughout the whole earth to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him" (2 Chron. 16:9). 

This Baby Threatens Me

Matthew 2:3 says that when Herod heard the news from these Magi about a baby born, King of the Jews, he was greatly troubled.  Why is the most powerful man in the ancient near East troubled by the birth of some vulnerable, weak, little baby?  Too, it should be considered that since Herod had converted to Judaism some time before that, he should be welcoming the news of this Messiah.  

The reality is Herod had wealth.  One historian proposed that the personal wealth of Herod was one hundred times greater than the gross domestic product of the entire nation of Israel.  That he had wealth and power is clear given the remains of so many buildings he had constructed during his rule.  Indeed, even just two or so miles from Bethlehem stood the 3rd largest palace in the world at that time.  Herod assembled a team to build on the highest plateau in the Judean desert, and from there built a hill that ascended over two hundred feet higher, to where atop stood the Herodium.  There were four towers included in this great palace, the tallest of which was 60 feet while the three others stood at roughly 50 feet.  The diameter of this great building was roughly 200 feet.  It boasts of his great power, rule, wealth, status, and is today a reminder of the greatness of king Herod.  One can today venture to this area, just a short distance from Bethlehem and visit what remains at the Herodium.  

The stark contrast between these two kings could not be greater.  One is in the middle to later portion of his life, one's life as a human has just begun.  One has the riches and treasures of this world, while the other has none.  One's power is great, while the other is a vulnerable, weak baby who needs to be fed, clothed, and moved.  One sleeps in the finest of rooms, in the largest of palaces, while the other makes the first nights of his sleep in a manger (likely a cave).  So why is Herod troubled?

Four times in Matthew 2 (from verses 2-10) our attention is drawn to the word "star."  Matthew is seemingly wanting us to direct our attention to it. While I would not ultimately conclude it dogmatically, it is at least worth some consideration to note a prophecy made some 1500 years previous.  In Numbers 24:17-18 there is a word about someone in the future.  There the prophet says, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall come out of Jacob and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.  Edom shall be dispossessed..."  It is worthy to note that Herod was an Edomite.  Too, in the genealogy preceding this section (Matt. 1:1-17) we find Jesus comes directly from the lineage of Jacob.  This troubles Herod, and rightly should.  His kingdom cannot compare to the Kingdom of Christ.

Ultimately this baby will not allow for one to worship anything other than Him.  Herod believes his contentment will be in all he possesses, all his status and power, all his reputation.  But this baby Jesus will not stand for it.  The coming of Jesus to save (which is what the name Jesus means) is such that He exposes the many idols in all our lives and calls us to repentance and to a life of worshiping Him, the Only Worthy One.  He will not be just "another" in our lives, He wants and will have the first place if we are to have any part of the salvation He provides.  Indeed, this is what it is to be saved.  In Him we discover freedom from all these transitory things and full satisfaction in HIM.  But this is troubling if our view is temporary and not eternal.  Take away everything, if I get something better for eternity.  But if this is all there is, in this life, then I want no part of sacrifice, and selflessness.  So was the battle within Herod. 

And marvel just a bit more.  The very breath Herod breathes, all the food he eats, the riches he possesses, and his ongoing existence is every bit dependent upon this seemingly helpless baby.  It is the Divine Son of God enveloped in this human baby form who gives Herod all he has, even breath and a beating heart.  He upholds Herod's existence, even when it seemingly threatens His own existence.  And He does it all to show the power of His rule and reign, as the unmatched KING to whom all worship and adoration belong, now and forevermore. 

The Canvas on Which God Was Painting

I have come to marvel all the more at this glorious reality which is summed up in the word Christmas.  However, even as I use that word I know my propensity is to dwell on a day, a season, and all the sights and sounds that have caused us to romanticize it.  And so we do well to remember it is about Christ, such that our reflection of it does not just remain on lights, stockings hung, presents, and milk and cookies left out.  But really it is not just about Christ.  Before I am called a heretic consider some of the development of this even from a genealogy.  

Matthew 1:1-17 takes us through a substantial list of names, some of which we know, others of which we know little, and others of whom we know nothing.  And normally we just gloss over those we know, and blaze past the rest until getting to the terminating name of the list: Christ.  Our inclination is naturally to arrive at this "last name" on the list, but without realizing it we don't even have a good perspective on that last name (Christ) because we have failed to see any bit of the development of those  names preceding. 

The point is this: God was ever working to paint a picture.  The story involves a man (Abraham), but we don't stop there, the picture wasn't completed.  But not just about one man, but about a people. And it would appear monochromatic as we see just one group of people (the Hebrews).  But so as to add the expressive, vivid, diverse colors of the Artist's disposal, God involved the nations in His picture (Gentiles like Rahab and Ruth).  But then in the deepest shades of black the darkness of sin sweeps over this canvas (everyone named), before finally the oppressive chaos of a deportation (Babylonians) leaves gray clouds floating over all that is painted so far in this picture. But it is because of all of this by which Christ in all His glory and splendor absolutely and unmistakeably pops off the canvas that God was painting in this magnificent redemptive story. 

The fact is that God was painting a picture throughout history that culminated in and with Christ.  And indeed we don't see the brilliance of the picture, of which Christ is centered and the obvious focal point, because we don't see the backdrop God, in His beautiful, detailed, artistic design, was painting.  Note just a bit more of the details in this picture that we need to compare.  Consider some of these names on this genealogy: Abraham was called out of the land of his father.  Christ left a distance of time and space, of realms spiritual and physical to exit the proverbial "land of His Father" to embrace the incarnation.  Isaac was this one and only son of promise, who was spared from becoming a sacrifice by his father, while Christ is the One and Only Son of God the Father, who was sacrificed at the crushing blow of His Father, God.  Jacob was a deceitful, covenant stealing son, while Jesus in all truth shares the covenant blessing with others.  Judah sought comfort in sexual relations with his own daughter-in-law, while Christ sought out a woman at a well to reveal Himself as her eternal comfort, even after her sexual sins had left her broken, and then made her a daughter of God.  David whose unfaithfulness to the law (coveting and murdering) and to his wife in all surrounding his relations with Bathsheba is a great contrast with Christ who was perfectly faithful to the law and only continues to show Himself ever faithful to His Bride - the Church.  

So marvel at Him, whose picture was not some afterthought, but of intentional design.  Marvel at Him, whose picture was not at all limited by the diversity of people, or the wickedness of so many in and around it, but instead shows the sovereign purposes of God to work in it all, ultimately to display the beauties of the brilliance of CHRIST.  And marvel in the backdrop of that wonderful day, where the Son of God took on flesh.  In doing so we come to see a bit better the great glory of Christ and in doing so we understand just a bit better this Christmas.

Saved by Charades?

I am not sure when it happened.  I trust it was long before any of us were ever born.  I am sure this trend was popular many years ago in a variety of circles and came and went much like I anticipate it will with current trends too.  I am speaking of this social gospel that uses words like, "needs, love, acceptance," among so many others but has not the slightest clue as to what they are even saying.

I found myself in dialogue with a number recently who I would say have done a fantastic job of reaching out and meeting some needs in their community by feeding and clothing those in need.  This is great.  The church (at large) has done a rather lousy job of thinking outside its walls, its functions, its preoccupation with growing (whatever that means), and caring nothing for those right next door.  

The reality is, the extreme measure that so many advocate to "preach the gospel and if necessary use words" is a reaction not to the commands in scripture, rather a reaction against the church culture they previously knew.  And so we have found people saying, "We want to be a more accepting body," and "we choose not to use words like sin, hell, repentance, or even Jesus because that isn't our job.  Our job is to love," they say.  

Since when did truth and love oppose one another?  I yelled with urgency at my son who was approaching the open oven the other day with his hands out.  There was nothing offensive about what I did.  It was every bit truthful that he needed to back away from the open door and the intense heat that would have caused major trauma to his hands.  I did it out of love.  And even though he walked away from me scared, of me, I did what was best for him. 

Since when did our love not compel us to do something infinitely more important than give a shirt or a meal to a person in need?  Since when did this life, this SHORT LIFE, become longer than ETERNITY?  So excuse me just a bit if I get concerned when people say, "We are preaching the gospel...with our actions."  Oh really???!!!!!  When did anyone ever get saved without hearing the Word?  Paul had quite a bit to say about the need to proclaim this message (Romans 1:14-16; 10:5-17).  And none of these advocates of this social gospel were ever saved apart from hearing it, if indeed they are saved.  

Yes, the church has failed at regularly and consistently expressing the type of sacrificial love to the world around us in activities as mentioned previously (and beyond that).  And yes, the world will perk up and listen when we are engaged as such.  However, people do not understand they are sinners by us picking up a shovel and digging a garden.  People do not understand their need for repentance because we pull a turkey out of the oven.  People do not understand the need for faith by just seeing us smile and giving them a hug.  People do not see the eternal realm as a result of us taking a shirt off our back to give to them.  And so I argue as Paul so perfectly did, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word."  I care infinitely more about people having a soul feast on JESUS, the Bread of Life, who will forever satisfy the innermost desire, longing, hunger we have.  All our efforts to feed people food are but a reflection of this greater, spiritual, eternal reality.  So keep feeding, or start feeding people a physical meal, but bring and speak boldly the greatest food, the GOSPEL OF JESUS, that they all, we all need, by which we have been saved.

I WANT THE LOST!!!

I never really noticed it happening while it was.  I suppose none of us ever really did, but it happened and we were every bit a part of the problem.  For me it wasn't until I found myself deleting phone numbers from my cell phone.  I began to notice the greater number of people in my phone were believers.  In fact, I am not so certain that I had but a handful of people who didn't know Christ.  That grieved me.  Fortunately though God never stops working on us.  

Much of the world of church planting lately, with trends around, behind, and in front of me, rubs me the wrong way.  I find too many church planters are looking for more Christians with whom they can plant a church.  Now I don't mean for a moment to take away from the fact that I don't believe we do well to plant churches with anything less than believers.  However, I am beginning to ask the deeper question, if indeed God wants us to be about church planting in the fashion we have been so engaged in, or if there is the need for emphasis not on a Sunday morning worship service, small groups, and ministry opportunities (and all our other "Christianese" terminology), but a need to start with a team who wants to win souls, and upon winning souls, watch God grow a church. 

I have spoken some of this before, but it is continuing to strike me that we seem a bit wayward in such an approach.  God doesn't call us to plant churches, but He does call us to make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20).  He doesn't call us to have a public launch, but He does call us to mobilize people for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-14).  He doesn't call us to count heads every week, but that we present everyone mature in Christ (Col. 1:28).  I say this to shame nobody but myself.  My own presuppositions about how to do all this have been increasingly exposed.  My heart is ever being transformed.  Instead of measuring success by a number, and a growing number, I am seeing it more clearly in terms of how God is conforming me and those around me into the likeness of Christ.

For those out there who feel the need for "social validation" by more numbers, go ahead and take all those who think like you.  For those out there who want to have seats full of bodies on week one, take whomever comes.  I would rather not busy myself with those worries, with those expectations, with that unnecessary weight.  Just give me souls!  I want the lost!  The lost don't know how to "do church."  The lost don't care about our neatly folded bulletins, or our well-planned service structure.  They need to know of their brokenness, their sin and the glories of the all-sufficient Christ who will satisfy them forevermore. So I want Christians to join me in this if their heart will be compelled to activity as regards the GOSPEL.  But if they won't engage a non-believing world actively with the gospel and instead make it about church activities as they have known, I have known, you have known, I would not have them.  My hearts cry continues to cry, "Give me the lost, I want the lost." And I labor in prayer and activity toward making disciples who make disciples who make disciples.  All for the GLORY OF CHRIST.

The Dead Keep Speaking - (reflecting on Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Sadly Dietrich Bonhoeffer died far too young, and before he could pen all that his hand and mind would have crafted.  But a glorious reality comes to light in all of this.  Only the Gospel allows the dead to keep speaking, because Christ is alive and because of that, it (the gospel) is alive.  So as of late the few little pieces of Bonhoeffer's legacy of writing that I have been able to consume have meant a tremendous meal for me to eat.  In fact, I am finding there is so much that I need to share it.  I may eventually write on all these matters, but for now listen to these powerful words from his work Life Together.  My reflection is for now limited to the header above each.

We Make Far Too Little of Corporate Gatherings

"It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather in this world to share God's Word and sacrament.  Not all Christians receive this blessing.  The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the Gospel in heathen lands stand alone." 

Learning to Share in the Gospel Together and Not Just Leaving it to Our Pastor

"God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother, in the mouth of a man.  Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's Word to him.  He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth.  He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ.  The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother's is sure."

Small Groups Don't Do FOR Us What a Fixation on Jesus Does TO Us

"The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of all our fellowship is in Jesus Christ alone, the more serenely shall we think of our fellowship and pray and hope for it." 

I Need to Pray More...a Lot More

"A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.  His face, that [before] may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner."

We, the Church, Need to See Our Misrepresentation of the Gospel

"The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner.  We dare not be sinners.  Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous.  So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy.  The fact is that we are sinners!  But it is the grace of the Gospel, which is so hard for the pious to understand, that it confronts us with the truth and says: You are a sinner, a great, desperate sinner; now come, as the sinner that you are, to God who loves you."

Oh For Confession Like This With One Another

"In confession the break-through to community takes place.  Sin demands to have a man by himself.  It withdraws him from community.  In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart.  The expressed, acknowledged sin has lost all its power.  It has been revealed and judged as sin.  It can no longer tear the fellowship asunder.  Now the fellowship bears the sin of the brother."

Letting Jesus Qualify Love

I am beginning to wonder if the love of man to his fellow man as outlined in the law (then later clarified by Christ) is to be distinguished from the love of brothers and sisters (as in Christ) unto one another. I only mean that the qualifications placed on it are not as far reaching as the love for members of Christ's body, one to another.  Now before you completely discard this idea, consider some of the words of Christ that seem to indicate this. 

Ultimately what we find is that we are called, indeed commanded, to love both people who are not members of Christ's body (Matt. 22:39) and we are to love one another as members of Christ's body (John 13:34).  However, the qualifying words of each of these mentioned relationships and the love that is to be held between the two gives us reason to believe they are different.  One goes much further reaching.  Jesus simply sums up the commandments regarding relationships between humans and keeping of these with the word, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  But as regards the relationship among His own disciples He says, "...love one another, just as I have loved you." 

Now on the surface these two commands look like one in the same.  But there is a great distinction made in all this with what follows the commands themselves.  His qualification of each love is in the words following the word "as."  In the first instance of the love of people to anyone and everyone it is listed "as yourself."  Nobody would for a moment deny that there is built into them an intrinsic care, concern, desire for what is safe, joyful, in his/her best interests.  None of us has to look hard to realize we care about our self and it is this self-care to which Jesus appeals that indeed if we had this for one another we'd be fulfilling this original law.  But when appealing to His disciples to what standard of love they need to have for one another (as disciples of His) it is said to be "as I have loved you."  That is, Christ is somewhere in here qualifying a love that they do not know in and of themselves.  It is a different love than they have ever known that can no longer be qualified merely by the self-care. 

I would argue that the love to which Jesus is calling ("as I have loved you") far exceeds any self-care, intrinsic love that we have for ourselves.  This is the highest love known toward man.  I am no longer to measure the standard of my love for others by anything of me, but now Christ becomes the ultimate measuring standard.  If this doesn't convince you then consider further the words of Jesus.  In its entirety His word to the disciples is, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."  What about this commandment is new?  They know they need to love one another.  They have heard it before that they are to love their neighbor.  They are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan.  What makes this new is the very qualification to which Jesus directs our attention.  It is this new standard, namely CHRIST'S LOVE. 

We haven't known this type of love in the body of Christ.  We talk about it, in part.  We act as though engaging in it is who we want to be, but rarely attempt.  The reality is that we cannot perfectly attain to it.  There is no way my love for another will ever reach that of Christ.  So what?  Give up?  Never!  But to keep the standard of such Divine heights, and to keep our love for one another dependent upon His enabling He gave this to us (John 15:5).  To keep us from becoming ineffectual in our witness to the world He gave us this command (John 17:21).  Even to allow us to participate in a greater joy than what we ever conceived, He gave us this command and highest standard (John 15:11).  To allow us to show just a reflection of the glories of the gospel, He gave us this command (1 John 4:11-12). 

So love your neighbor.  Love them greatly.  Give for their sake.  And go love in increasing measure those with whom your participate in adoration of Christ, your local body.  Let the world see the powerful transforming work of Christ, even to unite people, who show off Christ by serving one another, sacrificing for one another, meeting the needs of one another.  The gospel commands not merely a commitment to Christ, but a commitment to one another.  It is no gospel to love Christ and care nothing or little, commit nothing or little to, sacrifice nothing or little for, and give no or little time to your brothers and sisters in Christ.  The gospel demands of us commitment to Christ and commitment to one another.  In this is freedom, and joy, and peace, and power because THIS IS THE GOSPEL.

Make Much of Christ!!! (And Christ's People?)

We make too little of God's people.  There, I said it.  Our priorities are fixed concerning matters related to work.  And even among our time playing, we have a great tendency to preserve such a window that nothing will hinder us from what we enjoy.  We make much of church, as far as the "activity" of church.  Call us legalistic, we may be.  Call us in love with the Lord, we likely are.  But don't call us in love with God's people, because we care far too little about actually meeting with them. 

When is the last time you missed a main church service and actually felt compelled to call or visit face-to-face with people you know and love who are a part of the same church to tell them you wouldn't be there, or weren't there?  On the other side of that coin, when is the last time you missed a service and were actually called by a church member?  And when was the last time both of these happened?  I am not for a moment saying the impetus of a call from either party should be driven by legalism.  However, it should be happening.  But the fact is we care little about the body around us.  

This is hardly becoming of the gospel.  We do rightly to get together and make so much of Jesus as we sing together, as we collectively give our tithes/offerings for the sake of the advancement of the gospel, and as we listen to the gospel proclaimed as the Word is read and preached.  In this we do well to rejoice.  This is the glorious purpose for which we can, do, and should gather.  But not to be lost in all this is that we are gathering.  We are gathering with others for whom Christ's blood was shed.  

Ultimately what I am coming to realize is that our ability to connect with Christ is every bit ours as individuals.  But we have an entire week to engage with Him in our many moments of solidarity.  We have but one window on the weekend to gather together to engage with Him.  My point is that it is a unique opportunity to connect with Christ which is only enhanced as we engage with Him both with one another and even because of one another.  That is, we all worship as individuals, but His glorious power is so wonderful that despite all our many differences, backgrounds, sin struggles, joys, pains, trials and temptations, He unites us to worship as a body.  

I am challenged by the words of Jesus who tells us that our being made "one" would be every bit powerful in speaking to the world and causing belief (John 17:21).  I believe this is nothing more than the echo of Jesus' previous words of what it is to "love one another" (John 13:34-35).  But how do we love when we don't miss the ones who are missing?  And how do we love when we don't show to worship Christ with the local body to which He's called us?  And how do we expect the world to want any bit of what we have?  Why would they?  Ultimately the gospel commands us to commit to one another.  It commands us to gather together.  It commands us to love one another.  Our Sunday gathering is not the totality of this, but it is the introductory level of commitment that we should affectionately show Jesus, and His people of whom we are built together with.  We miss the greater gospel application, even in all our affectionate singing, in our copious note-taking, in our weeping during communion, if we don't as greatly celebrate Christ's people around, with, among us, and prioritize meeting together with them.  

This is the call of Christ.  It is not a call to never miss a Sunday, but it is a call to feel something missing when you do miss gathering with God's people.  Too, it is a call to let God's people know they were missed when they weren't there.  This is the Gospel.  This is what it calls of us, and in this we make much of Christ.

Gospel Intentionality

For most of my life I have prayed.  I remember some of the earliest memories I have are of being in church, and my little Sunday school class in that old church building basement, praying about a variety of things.  I remember the impression I got from my parents that prayer was important.  Oh how right they were.  I remember even by the time I was ten years old making a list one new year's eve putting down the names of a number of family members and friends who didn't know Christ and praying that they might know Christ.  

I have continued in such for all the years since first learning about prayer, and in the meantime learned much more about it all.  Yet, I don't feel I really grasped much.  Indeed even now I hardly understand it, but at least one thing has become all the more clear to me.  It is right to pray.  It is right to think of people and pray that God might save them, call them, draw them to faith in Christ.  It is every bit proper to do this.  Keep praying all you who pray to God for Christ to be known in the lives of those who don't know Him.  But don't miss out on your responsibility.  

It is as though for so many years we figured the gospel would somehow magically or miraculously be known to those we pray for apart from human involvement.  And for those on our lists who lived right next door, somehow we were willing to identify it was God's job to save them and so we prayed, but side-stepped our responsibility in telling them.  

I bring all this up because lately it has really struck me.  I want to see God birth a brand new local body of believers (a church) out of the efforts I make here.  It is why I moved my family, it is why I wrestle in planning, meeting, dreaming, praying every day.  But I have come to realize that I don't do right to merely pray for souls.  It is too generic to say, "Lord, give us the lost."  It is inadequate to say, "Send revival."  It is insufficient to pray, "Save these souls Lord," if we are not engaging them with the gospel.  

Lately I have found myself praying all the more for the salvation of souls around me.  Suddenly I say, "Lord save Donald and allow me to get into his world."  And you know what?  I have found I desire to meet with him over a coffee to talk life.  I may not know him well, but I need to get to know him better and find ways and means through which I can better make the gospel known.  And so I find my prayer is working in that I am finally getting involved at the level at which my prayer should have drawn me in the first place.  God ever delights to use humans to bring this divine message to lost souls.  I call it Gospel Intentionality.  It is my way of saying that rather than solely praying, I will also put together a plan (flawed at best) to get into the lives of non-believers.  

So start where you are at.  Start by identifying even just ONE.  Identify one person around you (at work, school, places you "play", neighborhood) with whom you can start engaging.  Think of taking your relationship with them to a deeper level.  If you don't know them well, get to know them better.  If you can already talk to them, talk at a deeper level.  And allow for all to continually lead to the GOSPEL.  Be intentional.  Even today, set up an appointment to meet a couple for dinner, or an individual for coffee, or invite someone over to your place for dessert, and do what so many have done before you: boast of what JESUS has done.  This is the gospel and it requires we are intentional.

Delighted that God Draws People to Christ (Part 2)

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." - Jesus

It is a fascinating thing Jesus says here (John 6:44) of the work of the Father.  It is undoubtedly the work of God to enable humans to believe in things spiritual.  Nobody who is a follower of Christ would argue any bit otherwise.  God played some role in initiating something such that we might engage in this relationship with Him.  However, there is a distinction we must make.  Is God drawing everyone, and some choose to believe and follow?  Or is Jesus concluding that God draws some, and those He draws come (believe)?  Fortunately Jesus speaks further and unpacks matters that tell us just who it is God is drawing.  

There is little Jesus says in this episode that isn't controversial.  He has been talking about Himself as the bread (6:35), as one sent from heaven (6:42, 51), and whose flesh and blood these people must consume if they are to live (6:53).  It is clearly stirring controversy among those who listen, after all the Jews "grumbled" about him (6:41), and later "disputed" what He was saying (6:51).  So offensive was the language of Jesus that these disciples of His were "grumbling" (6:61).  And a number of them are so disturbed by His teaching that they ultimately left.   

Jesus tells His listeners that the words He is speaking are "spirit and life" (6:63).  That isn't so controversial.  But then He says, "There are some of you who do not believe" (6:64).  John adds a short commentary here that Jesus knew those who didn't believe, and even who it was who would betray Him, an obvious reference to Judas (6:65).  But why don't they believe?  Peter, one who does believe, later gives this great testimony to the fact that these very words are what convinced him to stay with Jesus and believe Jesus is the Holy One of God (6:68-69).  So why don't these people believe who Jesus talks to very directly about their disbelief?  

The fact is John's commentary in the second half of verse 64 breaks up the flow of Jesus' idea.  If we track Jesus' thoughts uninterrupted reads, "But there are some of you who do not believe.  This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father."  So then, Jesus very directly answers the question about what God is doing and who He is drawing.  For these people who don't believe, it is because God has not drawn them.  Further, in 6:37 He says, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out."  So how is it then that anyone could conclude the Father is drawing everyone, if there are some who don't believe, since Jesus says here that everyone God draws will come?

The fact is there are people, even in this story who don't believe.  There is Judas who was ultimately "going to betray Him" who doesn't believe (6:71).  The words of Jesus make it clear that the Father isn't drawing everyone.  If He were drawing everyone there would be no one who didn't believe.  But there are some, a lot who don't believe, and this is because God hasn't drawn them.

This isn't bad news.  This is the good news.  If you are in Christ, this is phenomenal news.  Fact of the matter is, every one of us deserves nothing of the grace, goodness, everlasting life from God.  So His drawing anyone to faith in Christ unto salvation is astonishing.  Let that take your breath away.  He is not required to draw anyone.  Secondly, God is drawing some to Himself.  Don't lose sight of this amidst what you might otherwise view as injustice.  Allow the first observation to remind you what you, I, and everyone else ISN'T OWED.  But still God draws some.  And if He draws them, they will come.  Thirdly, it is through the proclamation of the glorious gospel of Christ, these words, that God is drawing people.  Share this message.  It will not (necessarily) be that everyone who hears will believe.  But it will be that those who do believe will believe on account of the Word of Christ.  So share it, and share it boldly.  

Delighted that God Draws People to Christ

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." - Jesus

The profoundly deep, and controversial statement made by Jesus moves me...again today.  I spent much time mulling it over, studying it, reflecting, talking about it, and listening to what others have had to say about it.  I ultimately find great interest in learning just how it is the Father is drawing people to Jesus because I am crazy enough to believe we are participate in such.  If you have any understanding of the Great Commission you must conclude the same, and so you too should be in pursuit of answer to this question: How is the Father drawing people to Jesus?

The quote mentioned is from John 6.  A little context might help so here goes.  To open the chapter John points out that a "large crowd" was following Jesus because "they saw the signs he was doing on the sick" (v. 2).  We find out this crowd consisted of about 5,000 men (not to mention women and children present).  This is a massive following.  Yet as the day ends we find Jesus has removed Himself from these people.  They want to make Him king, but on their terms.  Jesus has no part of it and escapes from them.  

The next day there is a still a sizable group, enough such that John calls them "the crowd that remained" (v. 22).  Quickly we find what is at the heart of their pursuit of Jesus: they want more bread to eat.  But Jesus will have no part of the matter.  Not that He couldn't just as soon make more bread for them and anyone else for that matter.  It is that He instead wishes to convey matters that are far more important, spiritual matters, eternal matters, not just the petty issue of what to eat for lunch to take away the stomach aches of those around Him.  

There is something interesting about these groups of people needs to be noted.  Nowhere is it mentioned that they believed in Jesus.  Don't be deceived, the use of words like "following", or "seeking" Jesus looks so much and sounds so much like belief, but the context lets us know they didn't believe in Jesus.  And the drawing God is doing is such that people will believe in Jesus (see v. 35 of Jesus' use of the words "come" and "believe").  So apparently, God isn't using signs to draw people, nor is He using a welfare program.  Footnote: how pathetic are our efforts to attract people through better music, better programs, better buildings?  After all, Jesus put on an infinitely more amazing show, fed a far better meal, and still these people didn't believe.

As this story continues and Jesus continues talking and teaching about the need for Him, the true bread, sent from heaven, people begin to "grumble" (v. 41).  His words are offensive.  It gets worse though. He continues by telling them they to have eternal life they will ultimately need to "eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood" (v. 53).  Those listening were so appalled at these words that you get the sense they departed.  No longer are we dealing with a large crowd, or even a crowd, but presumably a small group of Jews in the synagogue (vv. 41, 52, 59).  And the more Jesus talks the more people leave.  

Then a few verses later (v. 60) many of his own "disciples" were notably bothered by His words.  They began "grumbling" about the matters of which Jesus spoke.  Soon thereafter these who previously considered themselves "disciples" of His, who learned from His teachings "turned back and no longer walked with Him" (v. 66).  You might conclude that if only Jesus stopped talking He might salvage a few people.  And it might appear that it isn't the words of Jesus through which God is drawing people to believe.  I mean we saw over 5,000 when He was performing signs, and a modest crowd seeking bread, and at least a group of Jews, alongside a group of disciples, but as Jesus taught they all left.  Then looking at the 12 (seemingly all who remained) Jesus said, "Do you want to go away as well?" (v. 67).  To this Simon Peter answers, "Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God" (vv. 68-69).  

So it was that the very thing that repulsed the rest of the people, the very reason for which those others couldn't remain near Jesus, was indeed the very thing upon which Peter says his faith is grounded.  It is the Word of Christ, these words of eternal life.  The point is not that everyone who hears the Word will believe, however it is every bit true that nobody will believe if they don't hear the Word.  (I will pick up part 2 of this soon to show a bit further what Jesus lays out concerning this reality of why some believe and others don't)

So speak the Word of Christ.  I want to plant this glorious gospel believing fully that God has people He is going to draw to Christ through it.  Why wouldn't I partner in this?  Why wouldn't I take the joyful responsibility to do that and join Him in what He delights to do to draw people to Himself?  You and I better believe the claims we make of Christ, that Scripture first make, are every bit controversial, but they too are every bit powerful, and sufficient for eternal life.  God is drawing people to Christ, through THE WORD of CHRIST.  Make this glorious gospel known, and rejoice greatly in Him.

A New Vision Regarding Something Old

It is so easy to think church and church planting is merely about finding a method, finding a few tasks, and then to strategize toward these.  I am convinced we haven’t done wrongly in our effort to search, research, view and review what the early church in the book of Acts did and even try to model much of our church/planting and lives after that.  It is amiable.  But, be challenged by this: they spent time with Jesus.  They spent much time with Jesus.  If we are going to try to take what they did and do it, we will miss entirely.  It will be powerless.  Indeed throughout Acts there is this underlying reality that the apostles KNEW Jesus.  They knew Him.  They spent time with Him. They learned from Him.  They marveled at Him.  They wondered about Him.  They talked often of the greatness of Him.  They asked of Him.  They didn’t somewhere get sidetracked by the fact that they had a task to do.  Indeed, the task was an overflow of their knowing Jesus.  And so rather than spend time figuring out how, we are going to a deeper question and more powerful source - Jesus Himself.  I trust the knowledge of Him will rightly inspire, motivate, guide, direct, consume, compel us.  Too there is a refining work He will do as we once again, for the first time, fix our attention on Him.  

In regards to vision - this is my vision: that we all see Christ better.  That we all delight in Him all the more.  That we know Him to be our sufficient, superior treasure above all else that this world has to offer us.  I am convinced that Christ our delight in Christ is our victory over the sin struggles we face.  A better view of Him will cause our lives to show increasingly who He is, just in our demeanor.  A clearer picture of Him will cause us to talk about Him, share Him, show Him.  And I believe an understanding of Christ and all He did to reconcile us to the Father, is the greatest reminder of who we are, and how we can do this thing called community, or life together.  

So consider some of the activities of the early church.  They would actually eat together in the homes of one another (Acts 2:42, 46).  It is easy to make that the template and seek to mimic it, without a deeper understanding of it.  It is not just about community, but it is an expression that bleeds the gospel.  Consider Christ.  He ate with the disciples.  In spite of how holy, how loving, how just, how infinite HE IS, He was still willing to step into a world of sinners, who hate, who are every bit unjust in a variety of ways, and who are mortal creatures.  An understanding of the gospel and of what Jesus did, even in something like meals together with those who were so different from Him becomes a model for us.  So let us put aside our gender differences, our political differences, our ethnic differences, and socio-economic differences, because ultimately Christ laid aside so much even to dine with them.  Further, consider for a moment the eagerness of the early church to sell what they possessed for the sake of others (Acts 2:45).  Rather than make this the template with no apparent reason other than the early church’s example, let us consider deeper the reality of the gospel in this.  Christ laid aside a throne in heaven to come to earth.  Christ laid aside the comforts of heaven for the pains of earth.  He laid aside a crown to instead wear a crown of thorns.  He took upon Himself our sinfulness so that He might make us righteous.  This is the great exchange.  So let not our efforts to meet needs of one another speak anything less than the gospel.  And on and on the activity of the early church profusely reflects the gospel.  Let us be sure we see the great gospel in all we are and in all we do, rather than just do things in which the gospel is not seen or understood. 

The Business of Being Sent

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."   - Ex. 3:10

The word of God to Moses as he stood there on his bare feet in the sands of Midian was something surprising.  Moses is not seeking this encounter with God when he happens upon this burning bush.  He is engaged with the duty of looking after his father-in-law's flock.  Moses though wasn't about to take this news as something sad.  Indeed some 40 years prior he saw firsthand the oppression of his own people and tried to alleviate some of the oppression and deliver his own race by killing an Egyptian.  Moses would have most definitely received such a word of deliverance for his own people from the Egyptians as great news.  And now to think he would be involved in it.  

It seems simple.  All he has to do is go to Pharaoh and bring these people out of Egypt.  This one verse gives the objective of God's design.  It is very simple.  Or is it?  In just 20 words (fewer in the original language) God lays out this design of His, and yet it is far more weighty than we might think.  Moses has no clue of the when of this.  He has no clue as to what Pharaoh's response will be like.  He has no clue as to the difficulty of leading these people.  He has no definitive instruction on how long he will lead them and to where they will go.  He doesn't at this stage know just how God will bring them out.  He doesn't know the ensuing crossing of the Red Sea as a result of their exodus. 

This has ever been the conundrum in which we as humans find ourselves.  God lays out a plan.  We stand firm in conviction that it will be every bit as He said.  But then there comes a time in which we have to face the unspoken details of His design.  But there is something to be learned from guys like Moses who went before us.  He eventually learned and saw the 10 plagues.  He eventually saw and dealt with the obstinate heart of Pharaoh.  He eventually saw and dealt with the opposition of his own people as they journeyed.  He eventually learned where they were going.  

We think we would rather read this story and see God lay it out all at once, but He didn't do that.  He gives us the big picture, but no insight into details of this one early on.  That came though, over time.  The reasons for this are endless.  I'd briefly conclude that God's purpose for not showing all at once is: 1) for the development of our faith, 2) to surprise us and cause awe to fill our hearts when in His perfect timing He does what we never imagined.   

And so again my resolve is no less to plant the gospel here in Lee's Summit and watch God establish a church.  My heart has been burdened as such.  It was to this end that God moved us here.  Since then though He hasn't revealed a lot, but still I find: 1) Every day I depend upon Him and my faith is growing, 2) He is surprising us and causing us awe as we see things that He does as we go.  We press on in hope.  God spoke to my heart and convinced me to move here to Lee's Summit.  But rather than get down and worry about people, provision, a place to meet, souls to be won, when, how, where it will all transpire, I find myself rather saying, "I have all I need for now and in His timing He will unveil more, and so I will just keep on doing as He convicts my heart."

So press on believer.  Christ is coming back.  I don't know when, and in the meantime I don't know all the details of what this world, your life, my life will look like.  But I know He is coming back.  Let's help people get ready and get right with God through Jesus Christ.

I'm Going to Talk to Him Who...

I have thought far too little of prayer.  It has been every bit eye-opening as of late how miniscule my view of prayer has really been over the years, when for the first time I am beginning to pray with expectation.  Further, passionate prayers have been so much more prevalent as of late.  None of this to say I have arrived in the least bit.  

It is almost as though we can be deceived into thinking prayer is where the power is.  Don't get me wrongly, I am not dismissing prayer as powerless, my introductory words would seem contradictory if that is what you assume I have concluded.  But prayer is every bit powerless if it is done without faith, done without passion and expectation.

And then there is a deeper realization I am coming to in all of this.  And apart from this  understanding prayer is really impotent, but with this understanding prayer is every bit life-changing, and able to change our very circumstances as a result of this.  That is, when we start to realize who it is we are talking to when we pray.  

I found myself beginning a day in prayer recently with the words "I'm going to pray to Him who..." and then I went into a series of characteristics and accomplishments of GOD Himself.  Concerning God, I simply said, "WHO created all that is, WHO has no beginning, WHO cannot be measured, WHO is wholly other than anything or anyone I know, WHO has all power, WHO is love, WHO knows all, WHO has no rival, WHOSE kingdom reigns forever and ever."  Of course I could go on and on and on about more, but you get the idea.  In this I have realized something wonderful.  It is no longer about what I need, but the ONE I need.  It is no longer about my questions, but how I know the ONE who is the answer to my desires, pains, and hopes.  It is no longer about when I need this, but taking that very moment to delight in HIM.  And on and on and on my heart and mind got swept up not in "prayer" but in HIM to whom belongs all glory and honor, majesty and power, for all ages, now, and forevermore.  

Let the realization of WHO you and I appeal to inspire in us a deeper delight to ask big things of our immeasurable GOD who seeks to glorify Himself in us.

HERE

I am here.  But where is here?  This was supposed to be the place I came to meet God in a new way and see Him use me in the lives of people here.  Here doesn't feel like such a place though.  It is lonely here.  Oh God is every bit here, but never have I so questioned my purpose for being here.  As I am here I have thought often about how it might be for me over there.  But I am not there, I am here.  In here I find myself wrestling, struggling over all I am and am not certain.  I am frustrated here.  I am trying to be useful here but over there they are useful (or so it appears).  Here I pray often, out of passion, desperation, utter dependence.  Here I know Christ...better than I did there.  Here I desire Christ...more than I remember there.  Here I speak of Christ...more than I ever did there.  And so even if here doesn't provide the "proofs" like there, I will remain...here.

What if we actually prayed with expectation?

I can think of a few seasons in my life where prayer has had with it this immense hope and joy.  The story of asking God for my wife years ago (before she was my wife that is) was one of me crying tears, and pleading with God to give Emily to me.  I had never taken part in such.  It was as though God had given me a desire and the faith to ask for Him to grant me what I was pleading.  He answered, in His perfect timing.  I was gripped the other day again by this sort of burden, as regards the efforts toward the gospel and church planting.  I felt compelled to ask God and ask Him boldly.  I want to have some benchmark to determine what I see Him doing.  So I and those with me are committing to 40 days of commitment to pray, and EXPECT God to do far beyond what we are asking (til Nov. 7th).  

I have had to go back lately to Scripture, to records others in the faith left for us, the stories of those around us, and our own personal lives.  I cannot help but notice a great theme in all this: for those who pray, pray expectantly, in much faith, and pray often, God sure seems to do some wonderfully amazing things.  We all believe this, we have all seen it in some capacity, but our own ability to believe it is anything applicable to us is still yet another story.  But I want to see if my story is any different than those I read of.  I want to see if God's faithfulness is seen similarly to any objective observer when we commit to such bold prayers.

I am not about to say that we will pray hard for 40 days and then cease such.  Hardly the case.  Rather, 40 days is but an initial time period within we will labor in prayer, and at the end assess just what God has done, and further determine how we pray. In fact, I am already committed thereafter to another 40 days.  In all this we are showing commitment to depend on God's grace and mercy in personal, family and corporate prayer so that in all our blessings the Giver will get the GLORY.  And in the process He will shape us into becoming more like Christ even as He aligns our will with His perfect will.  

So join with us.  I am excited, expectant, hopeful, joyful, and eager to pray in much faith (which He has given me to ask of HIM) for all that only HE CAN DO.  So pray with us, in particular for: 

1) souls to be won, 2) a place to meet, 3) provision, 4) laborers for this work, 5) a constant devotion to center all of who we are upon Christ.  In 40 days I am eager to see HIS work among souls, guiding us, providing for us, adding to our number, and to cause us all the more to exalt CHRIST.  

God's Sovereignty in the Pity of Others

"...she saw the child...she took pity on him..." - Exodus 2:6

These simple words of the story from an early day in Moses' life ring profoundly concerning the sovereignty of God.  The one who saw the child and took pity on Moses was none other than Pharaoh's daughter.  But why should she care in the least bit about yet another Hebrew baby?  Likely she has been close enough to the Hebrew people that she has seen their increasing numbers.  Surely she's heard of what her father decreed concerning the destruction of all the Hebrew baby boys.  But apparently she didn't fully agree with it.  At least during this moment in time, for this one baby, Moses.  

Make no mistake about it, God was the one who had designed and appointed Moses to be the one to deliver His people from the oppression, slavery, and polytheism of the Egyptians (Stephen in Acts 7 develops this).  God ultimately hand-selected Moses.  His training in the elite schools of Pharaoh's house would go to serve him well years later.  The leadership characteristics accrued from his position in Pharaoh's house would go to serve him well years later.  And even throughout Moses' life, God was growing in him a heart to save, protect, and eventually deliver his fellow Hebrews.  You can't help but see how considerable it was the way God positioned him.

But what if...?  What if this story never quite panned out?  What if Moses' basket was overtaken by the current of the Nile?  What if Pharaoh's daughter never saw Moses?  What if she only saw him and thought nothing of him?  And what if upon seeing him she was moved for a moment, but upon bringing the baby back to her father he wouldn't allow her to keep this baby?  

Of course we have to pause and reflect a bit to further appreciate the depths of the necessary details of this story.  We would rightly argue that God's sovereignty kept the basket upright.  We rightly argue that God's sovereignty made for certain that Pharaoh's daughter would turn at just the right time to see this floating basket.  We somehow though cross over these words, "she took pity on him," and think little of it.  

Let us make much of God in this.  He did not leave the story of this floating basket down the Nile River up to chance, but up to His sovereignty.  He did not leave the selection of Moses up to chance, as if to say, "Well, if he makes it, he's my guy," but up to His sovereignty.  And so too in a most necessary part of this story, the very pity of Pharaoh's daughter, we rightly conclude that it was God's work in her heart to cause her to pity him and save his life.  

I am reminded of the unsuspecting nature of so many out there who are being used of God in a plethora of ways.  And as we continue to make efforts to make the name of Christ known in our community, at our work, where we play, even to see God plant Redemption Church, I am mindful that we are every bit relying not on chance, not on ourselves (though He does involve us), but most greatly upon the sovereignty of God.  He is the very One who for His own good purposes even causes those who are our enemies to show us pity.  That manifests just another dynamic perspective of His sovereign rule.  I look forward to watching God unveil the sovereign rule of His choosing in and among people believing and unbelieving to ultimately make the greatness of Christ known through us. 

Marketing: a Cheap Substitute for Making Disciples

Call me old-fashioned, I am not in the least bit offended.  I continually find it interesting (to put it gently) as to all the things going on in the church today that have little to nothing to do with the gospel.  Of course these who participate in a myriad of activities that have just become our common "church culture" seem to have a way of justifying a lot of it in the name of being relevant.  

I have had to look lately at the reality of what it is costing so many to plant churches around the country.  Granted the cost of living is a bit varied in these different corners of the country, but it strikes me as very wasteful to put the amounts of money some have toward "church planting."  I kid you not that I have recently seen beautiful presentations available online from various planters who indicate it will require even as high as $600,000 over three years to plant a church where God has positioned them.  Now I do not wish to overstate matters here.  Church planting should probably not be viewed as something we put no resources towards.  I speak personally of the difficulty it is to balance getting to know a community, ministering, casting vision, meeting new people, in addition to meeting the needs of my family.  I think God's people do well to take note and participate, knowing that no church planter is seeking to strike it rich, rather we just want to have time to do all the necessary things to which we sense we are called, and eventually there is a big breakdown of some or all of the above mentioned where a full-time or part-time job preoccupies time.  However, I am convinced it likely doesn't have to cost as much as we think either.  There needs to be a healthy tension in all this.  

A high part of the cost for many churches is their marketing strategy.  When did we think marketing was more effective than building relationships?  I am not denying it is wise to get the word out on who we are, but we are first called to be a mouth-piece for the gospel.  I do believe it can create a buzz and generate a following, but I do believe it is easy to start measuring success by the wrong standard (Sunday attendance).  I believe when the gospel is made known through our actions and supporting words some real powerful transformation takes place.  I am convinced that marketing at so many churches anymore is their effort to reach more Christians who are currently unhappy with the present flavor-of-the-month at the church body they are attending.  But we aren't called to that.

So it strikes me as exceptionally irreverent and borderline faithless when I hear of a church that for their first public service gives a new TV away (presumably to get more people to attend).  I am not so convinced this is good stewardship.  I am not so convinced this is a good precedent.  I am not so convinced this is any bit of what Paul had in mind of becoming all things to all people" (1 Cor 9).  I am convinced it is probably a fair way of getting a few more bodies in the seats.  Likely I will never have a TV to give away.  If I did I guess I hope we'd be the type of people who give it to someone who we meet who doesn't have one and has notable needs (don't hear me at all concluding that a TV is a need).  

I am increasingly convinced that our ability to engage in the Great Commission and see God establish new churches is every bit connected with our capacity to be relational, not marketable.  I am increasingly convinced that our boldness to put Jesus front and center with people as we listen, as we speak, and as we act will continually prove to be a display of God's great power at work, rather than our ability to superficially engage people with what appeals to their eyes, ears, and stomachs.  We can get people in the doors in a variety of ways, but since when did that become our goal?  We need first to open our own eyes and see the brilliance of Jesus.  Then we will finally see what will both now and forevermore satisfy the deepest longings within all humanity.  And then we need to let His beauty shine in and through all of who we are both on Sunday mornings, as well as the other 167 hours during the week. 

Help Me With This Weight

"For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.  You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. "- 2 Cor. 1:8-11

Nobody likes to be real.  It isn't worth it to be real.  Being real exposes flaws about us, that we otherwise hidden from people. I care less about what people think of me though.  Because I care infinitely more about what you think of Christ, I'll suffer shame.  People would most definitely think less of me if they knew I didn't sleep well.  It is something I have struggled with for years.  I remember at an early age that my mind just turned over and over things once I laid down in bed, which has only continued into my adult life.  Often it postpones my ability to actually fall asleep.  Further, I have always woken up many times during the night.  Rarely do I get through a night of sleep and feel refreshed.  And I perpetually find my internal alarm clock going off at a consistent hour every morning.  Whether my body feels ready or not to get up, my mental clock rings too loud to shut everything off, or hit the proverbial snooze and so I get up much earlier than I want.  

This has all been increasingly intensified by all my many insecurities.  My many insecurities are only further exposed amidst the uncertainties facing us attempting to get to know a community, build relationships, plant the gospel, and ultimately see God establish a new church.  I have never before felt so utterly inadequate.  I wonder about how I spend my time.  I wonder about my family.  I wonder about the distant future.  I wonder about what the next day will hold.  I wonder if I am at all effective in anything and bearing any fruit.  

Pretty much every night I am up for extended periods of the night, unable to sleep.  The other night I spent 2 hours up in the middle of the night working on a sermon, as my body would not and could not sleep.  Tonight at a time I should have been in bed I found myself taking a walk outside to look at the stars, and cry painful tears of fear, confusion, doubts, and faith in the mercy of God.  Indeed, I have had to feel the weight of what the next day may hold, what shortcomings I possess, what hardships in provision plague and continue to perplex me, what fruit I might be bearing, if indeed this is as God has designed.  

Of course, I find comfort.  Paul suffered with something great.  So great that even he "despaired of life."  Not entirely sure I have been there, but pretty confident I have been close, if not right there.  Indeed, I have felt this enormous burden upon me that could probably be equated similarly as "the sentence of death."  It sure isn't something so enjoyable, something so inviting, something so comforting.  No, this is painful and excruciating at that.  But I press on.  Why?  Because this is God's plan!  Yes, every bit is God's plan.  And it is all "to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead."  

And so I am reminded: 1) this battle I endure toward intentionally seeking to make Christ's greatness known is every bit a spiritual battle, 2) prayers even from others are a sort of healing balm applied to the sores all over those in battle.

So come bear this weight with me and "help us by prayer."  Pray me up.  I am overwhelmed.  Pray me up.  I am lonely.  Pray me up.  I have great provisional needs.  Pray me up.  I want to hope in Him.  Pray me up.  I want to make Christ known.  Pray for me.  I want to believe God's purpose for me in all this is to make me rely all the more on Him and not on myself. 

Sorry Jesus, I forgot the privelege it is to Make Disciples

For some of you this will be repetitious, but I didn't think I could, nor needed to reword this.  Not that it is perfection (hardly the case), but it is as clearly and concisely as I can articulate these matters.  Read on...again.

"God's design has been for every single disciple of Jesus to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples until the gospel spreads to all people." 

This quote (thank you David Platt) has been reverberating in my heart and mind in the past few weeks.  As I take inventory of this present journey and season of cultivation and laboring toward seeing God eventually establish Redemption Church (if He so delights to do so), I cannot help but note the great work He is doing in me to keep bringing me back to Christ.  I am finding that all my church traditions, my expectations, my hopes and dreams, are being consumed by this one desire to FOLLOW JESUS, and to call others to follow HIM.  I probably continue to sound like I have nothing new to say, and quite possibly I don't, but it is because the depths, lengths, heights...of Christ's greatness, authority, worth, beauty, holiness, grace, justice, wrath, consumes me.  

I have been so amazed at how my eyes are being opened to what it is to make disciples.  It is a non-ending labor of love.  I find myself constantly meeting with people, and no matter where they are at - Saved, Un-Saved, walking closely with Christ, or distant from Him, newly saved, or nearly saved, or long-time saved, I find my mission in this - pursue HIS glory by making disciples.  It is no longer an event of one day a week where I "do discipleship."  I spoke with one pastor yesterday who said he is challenging his people to be so in the lives of each other that they don't let more than a day pass without having some form of substantive contact with each other.  I resonate with that.  

All this to say - God is ever shifting my expectations.  I have yet to see much "fruit" by way of people.  But that is ok.  I will be faithful with those God places around me.  

I close with this - I got a call from a guy/gal I met about 2 months ago.  They notified me about a week and a half before their wedding that their pastor had something major come up and couldn't do it.  I was asked to do their wedding.  They requested no sermonette, but like a world-record fastest-ever wedding.  I said I would do it, but only if I could share a little sermonette.  It wasn't my way of aiming to draw attention to myself, but rather my way of drawing attention to Jesus.  I spent 7-10 minutes showing off the gospel and how a marriage reflects Christ.  In any case, it was evidence of HIS WORK in me.  So I continue to rejoice in this season, of confusion, pain, loneliness, joys, adventures, with great hope as we plant the gospel .

Keep praying

expecting

hoping

BECAUSE OF CHRIST

Slow Down - God is in No Hurry

There is no need to hurry in ministry.  Ultimately our hurried demeanor is not beneficial to our own well-being, nor those to whom we minister.  I am increasingly convinced amidst this journey toward seeing God use us to plant the gospel and establish a newly formed church from all these efforts, His and ours.  However, there is nothing to be gained by hurrying in all this.  Let me state though that there is no part of me that for a moment believes in being slothful amidst intentional ministry and church planting efforts.  That is not at all what I am talking about.  

Often times our own hurriedness is nothing more than our own insecurities birthing an unrealistic and unnecessary urgency.  We somehow assume that the faster we are "established" the more validated our calling actually is.  I feel immensely bad for the Apostle Paul then, if indeed this is the standard.  He took considerable time to do nothing that he even felt burdened to share in the extended time before his ministry began (Gal. 1:15-18).  We might even think that Paul would have benefited more people, advanced the gospel further by taking less time on vacation in Arabia.  Yet, somehow we are o.k. with Paul taking such years to grow apart from such hands-on ministry, but the standard for us is different.  

And consider Jesus: His "established" and noteworthy ministry consumed the last three years of His life.  If I didn't know any better I might assume Jesus really didn't care about the sick.  I might assume Jesus really didn't care about the poor.  I might assume that Jesus really didn't care much about sin.  I might even assume that Jesus didn't care about the eternal souls of men, women, boys, and girls during those first thirty years of His life.  But nothing could be further from the truth. 

Increasingly it is my understanding of God's sovereign rule that encourages me to believe He is in no hurry.  A few things I have had to reflect on lately that encourage me as such.  

First of all, consider creation.  God spent six days (whether literal or figurative I do not know) to complete creation.  Why six days?  Was there something He needed to learn?  No.  Was there more time He needed to create what He did?  No.  Was there some limiting factor in His way that only time might remove?  No.  He could have done it all in one moment, with one word, or with no words.  He could have just thought it all into existence.  But He took six days because He wanted to do it that way, and in doing so He shows us that He was in no big hurry.  And after that He rested, even though His creation was not without an ultimate purpose. 

Secondly, with stories like that of Paul, God indeed had phenomenal purpose behind the season before Paul was so visible.  We don't have to know what that was.  Surely though there was some character development, some skills that were developed.  Likely some relationships that were being built.  Further examples throughout Scripture would equally indicate there are seasons of less visibility and as we see it (less) effective ministry, even after seasons of immense ministry and fruitful ministry.  In all this, God has a purpose and a plan.  We'd do well to hold loosely to our purposes, plans, and thoughts on what and when it is to be "established." 

Thirdly, God has a plan, but that plan is for an appointed time.  Look at Jesus for a moment.  Since the time of Moses, some 1500 years passed before Christ came on the scene.  From the time of David, some 1000 years passed before Christ came on the scene.  From the time of Isaiah some 700 years passed before Christ came on the scene.  In all of history there never was, nor will ever be another like Jesus.  Only He ever was and ever is able to save sinners.  And all throughout history mankind has been stricken with the fallen nature whose wickedness manifests itself in hopelessness, pain, and enmity with God.  How obscure the message of forgiveness and grace if only ever through slaughtered lambs.  How opaque the understanding of relationship with God if one needs to be proselytized to this Jewish faith.  How obtuse hearers would be to belief in One who is to come.  But when Jesus came He made sense of all the many things that were otherwise obscure, opaque, and obtuse.  So why the wait God?  Why so many years?  Because God had a plan.  A perfect plan.  Because God's sovereignty rules over all time and history.  And He will not for a moment lose one person who He has chosen to be saved.  Hurrying is not in God's language.  It is not in His plan.  It is a human concept that has no place with the Sovereign.  

Let these rich words convince you if still you think otherwise-

"...when we were children, [we] were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.  But WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (emphasis mine)

There is ever purpose in all the seasons, in all our waiting, because the Sovereign Lord rules.  Let us ever trust that the seasons in which we find ourselves are not so hurried that we forget God's sovereign rule in and over all things.  He has a plan, let it run its full course.  He has the power, so let Him show it in time.  He has many things He is working out that run concurrent, and be amazed when you later on see the fuller picture of this and are able to marvel at Him all the more. 

The Greatest Ever

 
I was only thirteen when I saw him in the flesh.  A mob of people rushed past me, but quickly in my youthful exuberance I caught up and passed them.  Fact was, I didn't know where they were going, or who we were pursuing. The noise before us and behind us made it clear we were getting closer.  And then it became clear.  A small group was already around him and in my haste to get there I had arrived before the mob.  And there I stood alongside one of the bodyguards of him: Muhammad Ali.  Quite arguably the greatest boxer of all time.  Some have deemed him the greatest athlete of all time.  

Surprising thing was he was not so daunting.  The onset of his Parkinson's was certainly apparent.  He walked without a real pep in his step.  He was notably shaky as autograph seekers put pens and papers in front of him to sign.  Words fumbled off of his lips.  Something didn't seem quite consistent.  This was supposed to be "the Greatest Ever", but now he was but a mere shadow of that.  

Of course for the remainder of time we shall continue to stack up on top of each other the accolades of mortals so that we can make comparisons.  We will continue to assess just who it is who is "the Greatest Ever" with the passing days of those from times of old with those current greats.  I guess it all shows the inadequacy of our particular perspective and definitions. 

"So when are you going to LAUNCH?"

The aforementioned is a fair question.  This is the world in which we live, and as church planting has become more and more commercialized, even industrialized, we expect to see the proverbial "finished product."  I have been asked this often.  Of course there are so many others who want to know where our building is, or at least where it will be.  I am glad to tell them that the Miller's house is suiting us quite nicely right now.  

There is a certain apprehension in many people upon learning that I cannot be so bold to circle a day on my calendar any longer.  I have no qualms with anyone who does such, that is their prerogative and the freedom they are granted by Scripture to do such.  My mind has shifted on this matter though, far as what is best, at least in my context, consistent with how I am wired.  

I care much about Sunday mornings.  I care much about the corporate gathering of God's people to celebrate the Risen Christ (when is the last time outside of Easter that we reflected on the decision of the early church to meet on Sundays?).  I make a big deal about the proclamation of the gospel from the Word as it is read, recited, preached.  That is all important, and I celebrate each and every church, pastor, Christian who is so bold to engage with God and God's people on Sunday.  However...

I have made too little of the rest of the week.  I have thought little about the life that is being lived, the pains that are being felt, the Sunday messages that are long forgotten by the Tuesday following.  And so I am challenged.  I am challenged to become mobile.  I am challenged to stir others unto become mobile.  Much of my time in church planting and in ministry has previously been preoccupied with sitting behind a desk and preparing.  I cannot at all cease this entirely.  But I must at least cease in portions or periods so that I am actively engaging my community.  Push back on me if you can find in Scripture where Jesus' desk is.  

And so we will aim to gather corporately, indeed we are doing it now.  We will aim to keep doing a weekly service where Christ is exalted in song, giving, reading, prayer, and the Word.  But we will not inadequately define "launching" as that Sunday we are open to the public.  Rather, our launching is constantly ongoing.  It is about being so compelled by the beauty, glory, work, love, grace, mercy, wrath, holiness...of Christ, that we are launched into our community, into our world, to put this Jesus on display.  I am trusting our celebration on Sunday will only be louder and more heart-felt as a result.