Rest in Peace

My sister Ruth lived in southern Arizona not far from the Mexican border. The Huachuga Mountains provide a beautiful spectacle that can be viewed from her backyard.

Ruth's view of the mountains is even better this morning.  She passed away a few hours ago.

She is my oldest sister, and like all of us, she was far from perfect. But Ruth had a passion for life that could not be contained or restrained.  Even when her fiery feelings flowed in directions I found difficult to embrace, I learned to tolerate and then accept and eventually celebrate her passion for life.

One of the things Ruth was most passionate about was her faith. She loved Jesus... looked to him during tough times and lived for him all the time.

It was our mutual love for him that enabled us to move beyond personal, political and occasional theological differences to celebrate our oneness in Christ.  As Paul put it, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.  For you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

Viet Nam was one of the trials that tested that promise.  Ruth's husband, Jim, was serving in Viet Nam while I was protesting the war here in the States.  Jim was killed in Viet Nam during his third tour of duty, leaving Ruth with their several month old baby daughter, Kellie.

At Jim's funeral I offered to travel with Ruth and little Kellie on her return home from Western Pennsylvania to Jessup, Georgia. She accepted my offer.  As we began the journey south, I thought our conversation would be halted and awkward because of our differing points of view regarding the war.  It wasn't.  By looking beyond our differences to our faith in Christ, we found common ground, the solid rock of our salvation to stand upon.

Along the way we stopped for a brief visit at Tennessee Temple Bible College.  Ruth had gone to school there and wanted to visit some friends.  She had been a music major and while we were there she was asked to do special music for the chapel service.  Ruth chose to sing, His Eye is on the Sparrow, and I Know He Watches Me.  It was a powerful testimony to the one in whom she had put her trust.

Here's a beautiful rendition of that song. I hope it touches you as it has touched me.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior

The fish is one of the most well known symbols of Christianity. Jesus' first four disciples were originally fishermen, so it makes sense that they would choose the fish as a symbol of their faith.  

The Greek word for fish is ΙΧΘΥC, pronounced Ichthys (or Ichthus). Each of the letters creates the acrostic, “Jesus Christ, God’s son, savior”, (Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ”, Iēsous Khristos Theou Huios, Sōtēr). The image above shows the Greek word etched on a catacomb wall. Over time the symbol was expressed with the simple image of a fish as it appears here.

Through the ages, the Church has been most faithful to the mission of Jesus when the body place Jesus at the center of it's life and practice.

Here is a recent post from simplechurchjournal.com, written by Roger Thoman.  This is one of the blogs I regularly follow:

Jesus 

Jesus 

Jesus 

Make disciples who are followers of … Jesus. 

Not followers of doctrines, opinions, or church visions. 

Not reciters of creeds or religious points of view. 

But followers of the One. 

Followers who follow because they know Him. They have tasted, touched, and encountered Him and now they want to continue to develop that closeness, intimacy, and relationship with Him. They know no greater joy. 

They are not turned into members of denominations, attenders of services, or clones of the latest way to do Christianity or church. 

They remain His and they pursue Him and they follow Him and obey Him out of a loyalty and passion that comes from deeply knowing Him. 

They learn His voice because they love Him. 

They lay down their own, personal agenda because they value Him. 

They take up His vision to see the restoration of His Kingdom come to all people because they experience His everyday encounters that restore and free their own soul and they are driven to see this love transform others. 

They know Him, they have found life, and they continue to find life through Him. 

And because they know Him, they love Him. 

And because they love Him, they follow Him… 

Jesus

May Your Kingdom Come... May Your Will Be Done

        Seek the kingdom of God above all else,
       Live righteously, and God will give you
       Everything you need. ~ Jesus (Matthew 6:33) 

Jesus came preaching the kingdom.  Everywhere he went he had the same message;"The time has come, God's kingdom is near. Change the way you think and act and believe the Good News" (Mark 1:15).

It is Time to Act

Most of us live by the maxim, "Seeing is Believing."  We are slow to act until we see the need to act.  

I grew up in an area that has experienced frequent floods.  Even though everyone living there knows that, most people are reluctant to respond to the warnings to evacuate their homes until they see the flood waters breach the threshold of the house.  Seeing is believing!

There is a major problem with applying that maxim to the things of the kingdom: they are hidden, unseen, often mysterious.  Jesus told a number of parables to illustrate this point.  Here are a few:

• The Hidden Treasure, Matthew 13:44 - the kingdom is like hidden treasure.  It's value can only be known when it is unearthed and experienced. 
• The Pearl of Great Price, Matthew 13:45-46 - the kingdom is like a pearl of such great value that when it is found the merchant sells everything in order to have it.
• The Mustard Seed, Luke 13:18-19 - the kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that when planted in the ground grows to become a great bush.
• The Yeast, Luke 13:20-21 - the kingdom is like yeast.  When a tiny amount is mixed into three measures of flour it's power is released into all the ingredients.
• The Growing Seed, Mark 4:26-29 - the kingdom is like seed scattered in a field.  The sower only plants the seed.  It is God who mysteriously and miraculously gives life to the seed and enables it to grow and multiply. 

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, he instructed them to pray for God's kingdom to come and his will to be done, "on earth as it is in heaven!" Every Sunday hundreds of millions of Christians all around the world pray these words.  But our prayers will ring hollow in the halls of heaven unless we are willing to ACT as well as pray.

Pray for the kingdom to come... Seek the kingdom first

Those who believe God's kingdom has great value, like hidden treasure or a pearl of great price... will invest everything they have to bring in the kingdom.

Those who believe God's kingdom, like yeast, is able to expand and enlarge whatever it touches... will work to kneed the yeast of the kingdom into every part of their lives.

Those who believe God's kingdom has the mysterious power of a tiny mustard seed to grow and multiply wherever it is planted... will carry the seeds of the kingdom with them wherever they go and plant them all along the way.

May we pray for the kingdom to come, seek the kingdom first and walk in the ways of the kingdom until God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven!

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." That phrase keeps playing over and over again in my head.  I'm not complaining.  I love the phrase.  It is my sincere, honest, plain-spoken prayer.  It is a prayer that we can pray "without ceasing."

Okay, but what does it mean to be an "instrument" of peace?  Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God."  Is a peacemaker kind of like being a noisemaker for peace? No! Noisemakers do nothing more than make noise at parties, rallies or sporting events.  Peacemakers serve a far greater purpose. 

As followers of Jesus, we are called to do more than make noise, we are invited to make peace. Peace making involves building relationships with others that exhibit honesty... respect... trust... tolerance... mutuality...

Jesus drew near to Jerusalem as his days on earth drew to a close.  He looked out over the city and began to weep, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!" (Luke 19:42).

A few days later he gathered with the disciples in the upper room. "Peace I leave with you," he said, "my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).  Following his death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples and reminded them of his earlier promise, "Peace be with you."  Jesus offered his peace as a gift to be enjoyed, celebrated and shared with others. 

Peace is not a political position to be argued in the public arena but a spiritual gift to practiced in the public arena.

The key word here is "practice."  Peacemaking requires practice.  As instruments of peace we need to "recognize the ways that make for peace," and practice them.  Practice makes perfect. 

Here's some practical wisdom that will help us to become a skilled peacemaker:

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.  For

“Those who desire life

    and desire to see good days,

let them keep their tongues from evil

    and their lips from speaking deceit; 

let them turn away from evil and do good;

    let them seek peace and pursue it."(I Peter 3:8-11)

Instruments of Peace

"Great blessings belong to those who work to bring peace.  God will call them his sons and daughters" (Matthew 5:9).

Several months ago my wife and I were invited to  Washington D.C. to join with hundreds of Nigerian expatriates to pray for peace in Nigeria.  The event was organized by Nigeria Prays, an international prayer movement that organizes similar prayer events all around the world.

Nigeria Prays was founded by General Yukubu Gowon, who was Nigeria's head of state from 1966 to 1975.

Gowon was a career army officer who served twice in the Congo region as part of Nigeria's peacekeeping force there.  After a military coup in 1966, he was appointed chief of staff and eventually emerged as the compromise head of the new government.  

Following the coup, Gowon tried to resolve the ethnic tensions that threatened to divide Nigeria, but he was unsuccessful.  In spite of his efforts, the Eastern region of Nigeria declared itself the independent state of Biafra.  This resulted in a bloody war that took the lives of more than 100,000 soldiers and over a million civilians.  

When the war ended in 1970, a remarkable reconciliation took place, which was largely attributed Gowon's personal influence.  However, he was also held responsible for many of the attrocities committed during that period. Discontent began to brew within the army and on July 29, 1975, Yukubu Gowon was overthrown and replaced by Brigadier Murtula Muhammad.

My wife and I and a few others had a brief private meeting with General Gowon before the prayer gathering got under way.  It wasn't a long exchange, but long enough to get a sense of the man. I found it hard to believe that he had been a man of war.  He seems to have beaten his sword into a ploughshare. A man of war in the process of becoming an instrument of peace.

When the violence in Nigeria finally comes to an end, many will be standing in line to claim the credit. Don't expect Yukubu Gowon to be in that line.  You will likely find him with his Christian brothers and sisters continuing to ask God to bless the people of Nigeria. 

Solid Rock or Sinking Sand

Matthew 7:24-27 -- The Message (MSG) 

24-25 “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. 

26-27 “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”

Years ago a local farm near my home was sold to a developer and turned into a subdivision where more than 1600 houses and apartment units were built.  The same family had owned that farm for two hundred years.  It is unlikely that any of the dwellings built there will still be standing in another 50 or 75 years.

I say that because of the experience of one of the home buyers.  He decided to stop by one evening to visit the building site and was amazed to find the foundation already complete.  But when he pushed against one of the walls it collapsed.

If he hadn't been there to test the strength of that foundation, the builder would have filled in the trenches to the top of the cinder blocks and completed the construction of an outwardly beautiful but internally unstable house.

Though the foundation remains covered and unseen, it is the most important part of the construction of a solid building or a solid life. 

The Apostle Paul understood the importance of building on a solid foundation.  He had spent years trying to build a solid life on things like determination, manipulation, aggression and intimidation.  But until his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul was an angry, hateful, unlovable man.

Paul finally found solid ground when he build his life on the words and the ways of Jesus.  He offers these words of wisdom to anyone who wants to build a solid life:

"Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely" (I Corinthians 3:10-15).

Let's build something that will still be around for our children's children.  Let's build on the reliable words and solid ways of Jesus, the Rock of our Salvation. 

Unless the Lord Builds the House

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;

For the Lord gives sleep to those he loves. (Psalm 127:1-2)

Some of my craziest ideas are hatched during my early morning bike rides.  As I pedal the streets of the city and roads of the county on my trusty Schwinn, all sorts of "brilliant" ideas pop into my head, just waiting for the courage... resources... time... will... energy that transforms ideas into realities.

Usually, by the end of the day, most of these ideas seem premature... immature... fanciful... silly or down right crazy.  Some, however, still seem like good ideas by the next morning, and that's when an important question needs to be asked: Is this just a good idea or is it a God idea?

Those who are far better than I am at hearing the voice of God are able to rely on their spiritual insight to answer that question.  I use the sonic method... keep moving forward until you hear either the sound of broken glass or dented metal.

My theory about the parting of the Red Sea is that nothing happened, that is, the surface of the sea remained unparted until Moses waded into the water.  That's how I sort through early morning ideas to separate the good from the goofy...  the God ideas from merely good ideas.  As the old spiritual puts it:

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

So... for the past several months I've been chewing on the idea of forming a network of house churches where faithful followers of Jesus are available to help those with spiritual, emotional, relational or a whole range of other needs.  Not a place where needy people can go to live, but a place where godly people are available to... pray for... walk with... lend a hand to those in need.

I love the idea of restoring what has been neglected so that it can become helpful to others. So with that in mind, I made an offer on a house in St Cloud that might become such a place.  A place where God's people are available to pray for, walk with and lend a hand to the others.

The offer was accepted... So let's get ready to wade in the water, Children.  God's gonna trouble the water!

A Very, Very Fine House

"How happy are those who can live in your house, always singing your praises." -- Psalm 84:4

In the late 1800's the U.S. Treasury Department commissioned the construction of ten "Houses of Refuge" along the barren east coast of Florida for the United States Life-Saving Service.  I posted a blog about the Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge back in January.  It is the only remaining structure of this kind along Florida's Atlantic Coast

Back then I wrote, "Every church should be a House of Refuge; a place where weary, lonely, frightened, needy people are welcome.  After all, Jesus said, 'Come to me all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest!'"

Since posting that blog, I've been looking for an abandoned house in need of  restoration that might become a House of Refuge. Yesterday I bid on the house pictured above here in St Cloud, Florida.

The themes of Refuge and Restoration are prominent all through the Bible.  The Book of Psalms alone reminds us that "God is our refuge and strength," (Ps 46:1) nearly 50 times.  And the Shepherds Psalm reminds us that the Good Shepherd "Restores my soul and leads me in paths of righteousness," (Ps 23:3).  A prayer for restoration is offered three times in Psalm 80,

"Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved" (Psalm 80:3, 7, 19).

I love the idea of Restoring what has been Abandoned and using it to provide Refuge.  If God wishes, a very neglected property here in St Cloud will become a place of refuge.  This is my hope and prayer.

May it be a very, very fine house.

We Are On This Journey Together

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. -- Philippians 2:1-4

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my faith heroes.  After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. In his book Life Together he shares his love for Christian community. Bonhoeffer writes about Christian community as an essential experience rather than a theological construct.   

Bonhoeffer was part of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years.  His recollection of that experience reads like one of Paul's letters. Life Together offers practical advice on how the community of Christ can be sustained in families and groups. He underscores the importance of prayer, worship, everyday work, and Christian service in developing a deep sense of community.

Here are a few quotes from Life Together:

We belong to one another through and in Jesus Christ 

Christian community means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. There is no Christian community that is more than this, and none that is less than this. Whether it be a brief, single encounter or the daily community of many years, Christian community is solely this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. 

What does that mean? It means, first, that a Christian needs others for the sake of Jesus Christ. It means, second, that a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ. It means, third, that from eternity we have been chosen in Jesus Christ, accepted in time, and united for eternity.

First, Christians are persons who no longer seek their salvation, their deliverance, their justification in themselves, but in Jesus Christ alone… 

The death and life of Christians are not situated in a self-contained isolation. Rather, Christians encounter both death and life only in the Word that comes to them from the outside, in God’s Word to them… 

We live entirely by the truth of God's Word 

Christians live entirely by the truth of God’s Word in Jesus Christ. If they are asked “where is your salvation, your blessedness, your righteousness?,” they can never point to themselves. Instead, they point to the Word of God in Jesus Christ that grants them salvation, blessedness, and righteousness. They watch for this Word wherever they can. Because they daily hunger and thirst for righteousness, they long for the redeeming Word again and again.

We need other Christians who speak God's Word to us 

…When people are deeply affected by the Word, they tell it to other people. God has willed that we should seek and find God’s living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God’s Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened because, living by their own resources, they cannot help themselves without cheating themselves out of the truth. 

They need other Christians as bearers and proclaimers of the divine word of salvation. They need them solely for the sake of Jesus Christ. The Christ in their own hearts is weaker than the Christ in the word of other Christians. Their own hearts are uncertain; those of their brothers and sisters are sure. At the same time, this also clarifies that the goal of all Christian community is to encounter one another as bringers of the message of salvation. As such, God allows Christians to come together and grants them community. 

[Excerpt from Life Together, originally published in German by Christian Kaiser Verlag, Munich 1939. English translation by Donald Bloesch © Augsburg Fortress 1996.]

Called to Do Justice

Psalm 82 

God takes His stand in His own congregation;

He judges in the midst of the rulers.

How long will you judge unjustly

And show partiality to the wicked?   Selah.

Vindicate the weak and fatherless;

Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

Rescue the weak and needy;

Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

They do not know nor do they understand;

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are shaken.

I said, “You are gods,

And all of you are sons of the Most High.

“Nevertheless you will die like men

And fall like any one of the princes.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth!

For it is You who possesses all the nations.

What a powerful psalm.  Even with a few expressions that may seem difficult to understand, the central message of Psalm 82 is crystal clear: Do Justice!

Andy Harrington, Executive Director of Greater Vancouver YFC/Youth Unlimited offers a compelling message about Justice and the Kingdom of God in this video excerpt.  You can access it by clicking on this link: Justice and the Kingdom of God

Be Strong and Courageous

    

   If God 

   is 

For Us 

WHO

Can be

Against

US 

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -- Joshua 1:6-9

After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the people of Israel were preparing to cross the Jordan River and enter the land God had promised to give Abraham.  Even though Moses had faithfully led the people through the wilderness, he only caught a glimpse of the Promised Land from the top of Mount Pisgah east of the Jordan. Moses died and was buried in the wilderness.

Before his death, God instructed Moses to pass on the mantle of leadership to Joshua. That had to have been a terrifying assignment. But the Lord encouraged Joshua by speaking strength and courage into his life.  Three times the Lord said,  "Be strong and courageous... Be strong and courageous... Be strong and courageous!"

However, God's words of encouragement included some directions.  

First of all, Joshua was reminded that God had chosen him and would not forsake him.  His wasn't being asked to muster his own strength and courageous, but to rely upon God's strength and courage. 

The psalmist reminds us, "The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save" (Psalm 33:17).  When we rely upon our own wisdom, resources and muscle to save us, there is real reason to be afraid, very afraid.  But when we rely upon God's wisdom, resources and power, we are able to be strong and courageous.

Secondly, God's strength and courage are imparted to those who are committed to doing God's will: "Be strong and courageous.  Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.  Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or the left.  Then you will be successful in everything you do."

When we are careful to obey God's instructions, we will be strong and courageous because, "It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Finally, we can be strong and courageous because, "The Lord your God is with you wherever you go!"

Wow!  What a promise.  A young shepherd named David may have been sitting on a Judean hillside watching over his sheep one star filled night when he heard God's promise and put it into song, a song we know as the 23rd Psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows'
and leads me beside peacful streams.
He renews my strength 
and guides me along right paths
bringing honor to his name.  
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, 
I will not be afraid, 
for you are close beside me.  
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies  
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  
My cup overflows with blessings.  
Surely your goodness 
and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, 
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

I met someone yesterday who seemed troubled.  Since we were strangers it didn't seem appropriate to pry into the life of someone I had just met.  But I wanted to help and so I breathed a silent prayer.

This morning during my prayer time the prayer of St Francis came to me, and I immediately began to pray....

Lord make me an instrument of your peace...

Where there is hatred, let me sow love... 

Where there is injury, pardon...

Where there is doubt, faith...

Where there is despair, hope...

Where there is darkness, light...

Where there is sadness, joy...

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consolded as to console...

To be understood as to understand... 

To be loved, as to love...

For it is in giving that we receive...

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned...

It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. 

Servants or Consumers?

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” -- Isaiah 6:8

When the Lord said, "Who will go for us?" he wasn't talking about going to church.  For Isaiah, the call to serve God required leaving the Temple and going into the world.  Nothing has changed.  Today, many faithful Christians are finding that if they want to serve God they need to leave the church.

Why?  Here's one possibility.  Church in North American is designed for consumers rather than servants. 

Confession of a Consumer Driven Christian

I'm a consumer.  Nothing wrong with that.  I like nice things.  Shiny things.  Techie things.  Tasty things.  Dark beers with a rich foam head.  Did I mention?  I'm a consumer.  So... if you want me in your church, here's how to get me there:

1. Parking - I need lots of space for my big SUV.  And it better be close to the doors.  Don't want to do much walking.  So if it isn't... what about a shuttle?

2. Nice Building - This is important.  I'm not interested in some strip mall church that looks like it's struggling.  Or an old traditional church - unless you've done millions in renovations  I'm an upwardly mobile semi-professional.  I want my surroundings to reflect my importance.

3. Proper HVAC - This isn't important.  It's critical.  I want to be cool when it's warm and warm when it's cool.  68 to 72 degrees - year round.  Is that too much to ask.

4. Comfy chairs - And when I say chairs, I mean chairs.  Preferably theater-style.  With wide arm rests.  Give me some space for my girth - and safe distance from the other arriving consumers.

5. Be Punctual - I've already spent too much time getting me and the family ready and there for the meeting.  Begin it on time.  Have something cool playing on the big screens to entertain if we arrive a little early.

6. You've got an hour - Make good use of it. I want to be in and out in no more than 75 minutes.  Maybe a few more if you're serving decent coffee.  Decent coffee that's free, of course.

7. Music - Three songs up front.  One fast (to get us going). One mid-tempo (to help us be reflective). End with a fast one (that tells us how much Jesus/God/the Spirit loves us - just no Jesus-Is-My-Boyfriend songs. OK!)

8. Announcements - Get them over after the music.  Present them on your big screens so they can be done quickly.  This isn't a time to stick your B-team on the platform to give them some face time.  And, unless Larry David is writing for you, avoid humor.  Have the Final Cut folk edit your marketing stuff down to 15 second bites.  If it works for Sony, it'll work for you.

9. Offering - Now... it's up to you where you put it.  If the preacher is great, after the sermon might work better.  If not.  Go for the money after the announcements.  (Maybe show some shots of starving third world kids in the last announcement.  Heart-string-tugs work for Compassion and World Vision - why not your church.) "God loves a cheerful giver" and the Malachi 3 verses and the 100 fold blessing are important reminders.  A good story of how tithing worked for someone would be great.  No more than 90 seconds though.

10. Sermon - Twenty minutes.  Did I make myself clear.  20 Minutes. 20. Twenty!  We have the attention spans of gnats.  Keep that in mind.  Make it practical.  If I wanted systematic theology, I would have gone to seminary.  Use humor.  Steal from the best if necessary.  I want to leave feeling built up.  And it's a bonus if I can use the jokes/stories you told at work tomorrow.

11. Final Song - Let the band rip on the last song.  Feel good, happy-clappy works here.  You want us wanting to come back for more next week.

12. Benediction Segue - Let the band lay back and under as you Bless Us.  Speak multiplied blessings over us - and then do a fast pitch for whatever product you need to sell.  I did say.  Fast Pitch.

13. And then the band amps back up - This is the place for guitar or sax solos as we head out the doors to the shuttle bus or book store or free coffee.  It's okay to charge us something extra for Lattes.

Like I said, I'm a consumer.  Oh, and sort of a Christian too.  If you build this kind of church... I will definitely come!  

Do Not Be Afraid... Walmart is Open... Hallelujah!

The Resurrection of Jesus

28 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” ⁸ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Okay, the scary photo above was staged (the one below was not staged), but it serves to illustrate a point.  Let me explain.

Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  My wife and I decided to attend one of the newer churches in the area to celebrate Easter with the congregation and hopefully have an inspiring worship experience.

The congregation spared no expense in creating an attractive, inviting, festive environment for worship.

The service took place in a beautiful outdoor park.  As we entered the park we were welcomed by friendly greeters and given some free stuff before being directed to the breakfast kiosks to have some free breakfast.

We took our seats and were treated to moving music, by live performers.  The sound system was first rate.  The seats were comfortable.  The location was beautiful.  And the sermon was great.

The preacher was prepared, passionate and articulate.  His message was solid, scriptural, on point and to the point.  He had just the right blend of personal story woven into the biblical story.  He understand the local culture and was able to speak the language of the culture without surrendering the values of the kingdom.  The message was accessible to non-believers, new believers and long time believers alike. It was a good message and a good morning!

Yet, in spite of the enormous effort made by the congregation to invite and attract people to their Easter celebration, there were many empty seats.

Easter Morning Chapter Two - The Walmart Experience

I'm not proud to say that I went to Walmart following the worship service.  We had invited friends to Sunday dinner and I was in charge of making the fruit salad.  Unfortunately, I needed a couple of things to finish the fruit salad and the local grocery store was closed, so I headed to Walmart.

The only spaces available in the parking lot were out along the perimeter, so I decided to drive up and down the lanes of the parking lot until a car finally backed out of a space and I was able to park closer to the entrance.  

The traffic jam in the parking lot was nothing compared to the crush of crisscrossing shopping carts encountered inside the store. I only needed a couple of things and decided I could run the gauntlet more quickly without the encumbrance of a shopping cart.

So... with the grace of a Gisele fleeing from a predictor, I slipped through the maze of frantic consumers and clashing shopping carts, grabbed the missing ingredients for the fruit salad and headed for the checkout... the final, and most difficult part of the gauntlet.  The line was long and scary.

Question?

Why is it that people would choose to endure the Walmart gauntlet on a holiday but reject free breakfast and good music on our most holy day?

Photo taken at Walmart

If you know the answer, I'd like to hear it.  Just click the comment box and share your comment.  

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The Silence of Saturday

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and culminates in the greatest celebration of all: Easter Sunday. Many celebrate Maundy Thursday by partaking in a Seder meal. Some churches offer special Thursday services which include feet washing-representing Jesus' last night and reckless act of love and humility with his disciples. Good Friday is often remembered and celebrated in experiential services, where participants feel, taste, touch, and smell the events of the crucifixion.

What about Saturday? In churches today, Saturday is often a day of Easter Egg Hunts and hopeful anticipation for the Resurrection (or a delicious Easter ham). 

But that's not the emotion the disciples and followers of Jesus expressed on the day after their leader, teacher, and friend was executed. Only four verses in the whole Bible give us a picture of what happened on Saturday.

In Matthew 27:62-66, we read that the religious leaders of the time went to Pilate on the Sabbath (Saturday) to ensure Jesus' tomb had extra guard and protection. Ironically, the same people who crucified Jesus are breaking the Sabbath by traveling and working on that day. Those who condemned Jesus for doing healing on the Sabbath earlier, are now breaking the Sabbath themselves to do everything they can to be sure his body remains in the tomb and isn't stolen by the disciples.

What the religious leaders don't know is that the disciples aren't plotting a way to steal Jesus' body, but instead wallowing in the silence and unanswered prayers of that Saturday. Jesus is still dead. He's still in the grave. They are probably terrified that they are next; that the mere association with Jesus will lead to their crucifixion. They're grieving the loss of a friend and teacher. They're humiliated they really believed that he was the Messiah--the savior of the world. Doubt creeps in.

We get a little peek into how the disciples were feeling before the realization of the Resurrection in Luke 24:19-21.

A disciple named Cleopas and another disciple are walking on a road out of Jerusalem on Sunday. They don't recognize a man who begins to walk next to them who doesn't know what has just happened. So he sums up the last few days for the man in this:

Verse 19-21: "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. "

It's interesting to note that these disciples are on their way home-leaving the city the first chance they get once the travel restrictions are lifted after the Sabbath. The disciples are collapsing because of the confusion, grief, and disappointment in what happened on the dark day that was Good Friday.

The disciples must have forgotten about a conversation Jesus had with them just a couple days earlier. When talking to his disciples on Thursday, Jesus takes time to warn them about the grief, disappointment, doubt, and silence they would encounter during the days to come.

John 16:20-22 records Jesus saying, "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A women giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

Jesus is talking about his death-about the darkest day the disciples will ever experience. He knows they will be met with silence. But he's asking them to wait. To hold on to the hope he offers them-the hope that lies beyond the pain and grief and doubt.

I'm strangely comforted by the story of the disciples on that Saturday.

We're not alone in not fully understanding God's silence. The disciples had lost hope completely. They were confused and shocked by the silence of that Saturday. Their doubt caused them to abandon the cause completely and stop believing in what Jesus taught.

But despite the silence, Jesus promises that joy is coming. In our times of pain, grief, misunderstanding, and confusion... In our moments where we are left wallowing in the silence of God and unanswered prayers... When we are stuck in our Saturdays-the days following our darkest moments, we can hold on to this promise-one that Jesus gave his disciples some 2000 years ago: joy is coming. A joy that no one can take away.

I'm excited to be able to answer the refrain tomorrow: He is risen. He is risen indeed.

                                                                 -- Guest Blog by Margaret Feinberg