Pete

I meet with a friend of mine every other week at a local coffee house close to John's house. The neighborhood is very diverse with some pretty unique places to eat and hang out. We study the Bible a little, encourage each other and just talk about life.

God has really transformed John over the last year. He really has a heart for people who are far from God. One of those people is Pete. Pete was sleeping on the porch of an abandoned house until John invited him to stay with him. At first Pete declined, but after a cold night he changed his mind. Now Pete lives with John.

Pete has come to church with John the last four Sundays. He has been somewhat hesitant because he grew up going to a church where everyone dressed up. Pete doesn't have the resources to have a large wardrobe of clothes. John has told him to come anyway.

One of the things about Pete, is he is blind in one eye and can't see very well from the other. John did say he can recognize a 40 oz. bottle very well from a distant though. His blindness has been a benefit as well, because he can't see some of the looks he has gotten when he walked into church.

Anyway, the first Sunday as the offering plate was passed, Pete reached in and was about to take out an envelope. John stopped him, explaining that it was an offering plate. Pete thought they we were passing out envelopes for some reason to everyone (Now that would be a way to get people to come to church, give out envelopes of money). If you know Pete, you also know this was not intentional, he was not trying to be dishonest in any way.

Another Sunday, when the plate was passed, Pete dropped $1 bill in the plate. Now that may not sound like much, but when you don't have much of any income, if any at all it is a fortune. $1 is over 50% of what a 40 oz. bottle cost. $1 was all the money Pete had in life. He chose to give his last dollar to God.

This reminds me of a story in the Bible where Jesus praises a woman who gave from her poverty rather than her wealth. It is found in Mark 12:41-44. I want to retell the story from a modern day perspective.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where offerings were being collected and watched a congregation of people put money in the church offering (you know God knows what we give). Many rich people threw in large amounts (Most of us do not think we are rich, but to most of the world we are). But a poor widower (Pete's wife died in the 90's) came and put a dollar in the plate.

Calling his followers to him, Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widower has put more money in the offering than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but he gave out of his poverty, put in everything--all he had to live on.'"

I think despite Pete's ability to see, he is starting to see God. He told John the other day he is getting tired of the life he has been living. The 40 oz. bottle is getting old for Pete. He is drinking it less frequently. Pete is noticing how his life is beginning to change. He is beginning to see a God who he once thought was so far away, as being a God who is present enough that he wanted to give God all he had.

This is not a story about Pete. This is a story about a real God, that is serious about reaching people who are far from Him.

Add Pete to your prayer list. Ask God to continue to reveal Himself to Him. Follow the example of John and do what you can to reach people who are far from God. They are everywhere. You work beside them, live beside them (maybe with them) and may even sit beside them at church.

"Probably" No God

The slogan that will be on the side of 30 buses in London will read, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." Ariane Sherine started the campaign and raised $113,000 in donations. Included in the supporters is Richard Dawkins, who wrote the book "The God Delusion." She is producing the campaign to counter Christian and Muslim groups who have advertised on buses in the past. Read the full article here.

It's funny how the add is going to say "There's 'probably' no God." "Probably," you mean there might be a God. Wouldn't that make your group agnostic, rather than atheist?

I will give it to Dawkins, he wasn't fond of the word "probably." Sherine said it was included to keep from breaking a transit advertising regulation of offending religious people. But it did offend religious people, it offended Dawkins and his religion of atheism.

The other thing I found amusing was the second part of the statement: "Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." Hmm, that's an interesting statement coming from a group of people who are consumed with their belief that there is no God. They seem to be very worried about "nothing" if you ask me. They have put up $113,000 for something that does not exist. They just spent money on nothing when you really think about it.

Maybe these so called intellectuals could use a vocabulary lesson: "worry"- mental distress or agitation resulting from concern (Webster's). It seems to me they are under mental distress and agitated over the existence of a God. They write books about it, they put up adds about it and they are agitated by those who believe in God.

I am one who is going to take their advice. I believe there probably is a God. So I won't worry like Jesus said in the Bible (Matthew 6:25-34) and I will enjoy life now and forever.

The Sent and Sending Church

I am reviewing some small group material. It is called "Sent" by Ed Stetzer. Ed Stetzer has a really strong grasp on the missional church. Check out Stetzer's blog(especially the recent blog called "When the Mission Gets Lost in the System").

In the material I am reviewing, Stetzer makes this point: "Sadly, many people's experiences with church have left them disillusioned and discouraged. It's not suppose to be that way, but ironically, at the root of much bitterness is the church's refusal to accept its role as both being sent and being a sender. Instead, many have experienced churches that did little more than take up space, not affecting any kind of difference or change in the community. If churches were engaged in the world around them, I seriously doubt so much criticism would fall their way."

As I was reading this statement something became clear to me. The church's failure is that it has not bought into it's God given role. God has established a distinct role for the church. The church is designed to be missional. Why has the church refused to get with the program?

The reason Dan Kimball can write a book called, "They Like Jesus but not the Church" is because Jesus stayed with the mission while the church has not. I wrote in an earlier post how Alan Hirsch said the church needs to rediscover Christology. Why? Because it has to recapture the mission Jesus laid out for his followers. We are sent and should be sending people to be a witness to the truth about Jesus.

What we have become is an institution with gimmicks, shows and programs that are developed to attract people. The most attractive thing the church can do is present Jesus in an authentic and practical way so that people will know we have been sent by the man Himself. The world does not need more church, it needs more Jesus. As His followers we have to get this one thing right.

When we present the real Jesus to a world that is in desperate need for Real Hope and Real Change, the world will come to Jesus once again.

So what are you waiting for-- Go! Stop reading this blog! You have been sent by God so the world can know Jesus. Introduce Him to people wherever you go-- not by what you say, but by what you do.

Your still reading-- Go!

It is all about the love

I have been reading an entry in Thomas a Kempis' book "Imitation of Christ" in the mornings I come into the office. This morning it was an entry on "Works Done in Charity." Here is a quote from the entry:

"God weighs the love with which a man acts, rather than the deed itself."

It reminded me of what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:3, "If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

In a church culture that places a high emphasis on serving others and giving to the poor throughout the world, it is important to stress the motivation for such charity. Kempis correctly points out that God weighs the love more than the act itself. If we are giving to and serving others for self promotion or self fulfillment, we have missed the mark.

Charity is a way to show our love for both God and others. This should be our motivation. This is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus. Jesus, surrendered his body to the flames because he loved us. He did not surrender himself for his own good. His surrender showed all humanity the weight of his love for you and me.

Teaching topics for 2009

We (the staff and myself) just spent two hours brainstorming teaching topics for Sunday morning in 2009. Some of the topics we have come up with include:

- Rediscovering Christology (a study on the life of Jesus)
- Taboo's: Topics we normally stay away from (homosexuality, Abortion, Suicide, Pornography and etc.)
- Parents role in discussing spirituality with Children
- Fire Proof, a series on marriage
- First Love: Finding it, losing it, keeping it and rediscovering it
- Discovering Rhythm with God
- Leadership Development (Heroes) - Mentoring

Any ideas? What do you think?

Shane Claiborne

I was invited to a Pastors breakfast this morning where Shane Claiborne was the guest speaker. Shane wrote "The Irresistible Revolution: living as an ordinary radical" and "Jesus for President."

I have read both books and am more fond of "The Irresistible Revolution." "Jesus for President" was a little to anti-war for my taste, yet has some good thoughts as well.

Seeing him in person was quite a treat though. He stood up with his dread-locks, black rimmed glasses and home made clothes (that's right, I said home made clothes). He spoke with a southern accent (which I love because it took me back to the mountains). Then he proceeded to talk about the kingdom of God in a way that most don't. He talked about a radical way of living that brings real hope and real change to the world.

He talked about his internship with Mother Teresa where he learned what it really meant to love people. He talked about his disenchantment with the institutional church. While he is thankful for the teaching he got growing up in a Methodist church, he still sought to discover what it means to really be a follower of Jesus. He talked about community living in the inner city of Philadelphia. He talked briefly about politics and said, "We need to stop worrying about donkeys and elephants and think about the lamb of of God."

At times in his books he has gone a little to far for my comfort, but I do not know if it is because I don't agree with him or if it is my unwillingness to give up some of the things I enjoy in life. Regardless, he makes me think about my relationship with Jesus and at times it gets a little uncomfortable. But, Jesus never called us to a life of comfortable living.

Here is my question to you: Have you gotten to comfortable in your Christian walk? What is it you can do to shake it up a little bit? Trust Jesus and he will take you places you never dreamed you could go.

"It" messed with me

Louie Weber recommended a book to me. When Louie recommends a book, I usually read it. Although we serve in two different places at two different churches, I know we are trying to pursue the same thing. Before I go on, I just want to thank Louie personally for this recommendation.

The book is called "It." The subtitle is "How Churches and Leaders Can Get 'it' and Keep 'it.'" Craig Groeschel spends time writing about churches that have it. He starts out by saying we have all been to churches that have it. You can tell pretty quickly if a church has it or not.

It is not about the quality of worship, teaching, ministry to teens and children or location (the big four in church growth). It is not about being contemporary or traditional. It is not the friendliness of the church.

So what is it? It is about having a passion for God. And this book messed me up!

Here is my confession:

In chapter 11 Craig Groeschel tells his story of how he shifted from it. My story is similar. He wrote, "It's difficult to describe, but while doing the work of God, I drifted from God. So many of us do. As pastors, we wholeheartedly believe that God exists, but we often do ministry as if he doesn't."

Let me explain. As Groeschel wrote, "I wasn't consumed by bad things; its just that I was not consumed by the best things." I began to think, if the walls are just the right color. If we have the right style of worship. If we just had more money. All these things are fine, but none of them is relying on the best thing (the best thing is God). We put our trust in so many things other than God.

You see, I often look back on my time as a student minister. We did not have the resources to have all the cool gadgets. We were not able to buy the best curriculum. We did not have a cool place for students to hang out. But the student ministry grew. Why? Because that was a time in my life that I had it.

We had to rely on God. Things were simple, but God provided.

Then something shifted. I became a senior minister. Again I really related to what Craig Groeschel said, "I was more concerned about issues that had never crossed my mind before. Instead of measuring success by my obedience to God, I measured success by how many people showed up and how many guest returned. With all my heart I wanted to be that good pastor. Since people offered more verbal feedback than God did, they became my primary audience."

I was once asked by someone to define success in ministry. After I thought about it for awhile I told the story of my father and me hiking on a small portion of the Appalachian trail. We hiked to a point called Mcafee's Knob view 1 view 2

As I look at the landscape I see a journey. A journey that changes often with the terrain. As I survey the journey I have just made, I see green valleys that remind me of the times the journey was peaceful and easy. I see hills and mountains that had to be climbed which remind me of those hard times in life. Now I stand and look at the journey and am reminded that God was there every step of the way.

My success is not built upon anything earthly, it is built on whether I relied on God. When this is our focus, we will have it. When we stop relying on things and start relying on God it is present.

I must go back to my old ways of relying on God, not men, not things and not myself.

Do you have it?

Love and Respect Conference

November 7-8 Northwest is hosting a "Love and Respect" Video conference. This conference is for married couples, couples about to get married, singles who will some day get married, people who have gone through a divorce and you.

The Love and Respect Conference is based on a book by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. The concept is from the Bible in Ephesians 5:33, "However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

It starts though in Ephesians 5:21, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This is why anyone should come. We all have relationships in which the "submit to one another out of reverence to Christ" applies.

One of the illustrations Paul uses to teach us what it means to submit to one another is the marriage covenant. So that weekend, we will learn how to love and respect each other.

If you would like to sign up, go to the Northwest's website and download a registration form and send it in today.

Awesome Video

I am reading a book by Craig Groeschel called "It" (No it is not a take on Stephen Kings book "It." I never read this one but the movie freaked me out a bit). Groeschel is the Lead Pastor at LifeChurch.tv. They have some videos posted on youtube and this one simply cleared up the concept of grace and the two choices we can make.

I loved the point that both thieves on the cross wanted to be saved, but they both had different approaches. The reality is that everyone will come to a point in life where they are confronted with the end. At this point people can not help but think about the reality of the after life (even Bill Maher).

As my friend Louie Weber says very simply to people "If you died today do you know where you will spend eternity?" Be honest with yourself as you answer that question. You have two choices- that's it. Which thief are you?

If you ask yourself this question and it moves you to want to know more about Jesus or grace email me at twochoices@nwachurch.org

Prudent Living

I am reading Thomas a Kempis' "Imitation of Christ" every morning. This morning I read an entry called, "Prudence in Action." It had such great wisdom I had to share some quotes from it.

"Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will."

A question to ask ourselves here is: How often do we really contemplate God's will in the decisions we make? How often does it get us in trouble when we yield to impulses and suggestions quickly?

Dave Ramsey teaches people that they should walk away and come back the next day before they make a purchase that sounds like a good deal. Most of the time when people walk away and think about it, they don't make the purchase.

This is true for every life decision we make.

"Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech."

Wow! What a time for this quote. During this political season there are so many talebearers out there that it is hard to discern the truth. It is out there, if we're prudent and do not jump to conclusions based on our own bias.

"Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom."

"Great wisdom" is what Thomas a Kempis calls the ability to slow down and discover God's will. How are you doing? Are you showing prudence in the decisions you are making? Are you truly seeking God's will in your decision making or are you trying to live independent from God? Independence from God is what gets us in trouble.