Christians, Ever Wish it were This Easy?

We’re All in This Together

What happened in theaters across the US and Canada last night was nothing short of God at work.  What is happening to me today is a continuation of that.  If you saw I Heart Revolution: We’re All in This Together last night, you may be feeling the same way.  I can’t shake these two and a half hours from me, nor do I want to.  What I saw keeps coming to mind with a world of thoughts rushing in with it.  What I saw was what God sees every day.

I think of the times I’ve prayed for God to give me His eyes and the many times I’ve sung to Him, “break my heart for what breaks yours.”  This film is having a part in doing both of these things.

My mind can’t process the words to a generate description for it at the moment. 

See the link above, and when the DVD comes out, watch for yourself.

Update: See where to go from here at http://www.i-heart.org.

Stay for the Marriage

I recently watched a sitcom that I normally flip right past.  It wasn’t because there was nothing else on, but because this particular episode was about a wedding between two of the main characters.  It doesn’t matter if it’s a 30-minute TV comedy, a movie or even a pro wrestling event, if you want people to tune in, you can’t go wrong with a wedding. 

There is something that fascinates us about two people getting married.  When news of an engagement breaks, we share in the excitement of the happy couple.  It’s contagious.  We can’t wait for them to march down the aisle and make it official.  There is real emotion there for these people, and it’s not just over the heave hors d’oeuvres that await us at the reception.  However, our involvement often ends around the time the food runs out.

Just like on TV, when two people we know are just married, they can become just married to us.  We love them, but somehow our excitement dies down.  We showed our support with toasters and waffle irons, but are now back to business as usual.  Why aren’t we more involved?

One of the things I did last Christmas when I sent out cards was give a little something extra to two couples I know who had gotten married earlier that year.  It was their first Christmases together as husband and wife, and I wanted them to have a small token to use for a date night or however they wished.  I share that only to truly share it.  Maybe that’s a way you can show you’re there for the married people in your lives.

Why don’t we do more with the covenants we are a part of, such as marriage; or when someone in our congregation gives his/her life to Christ?  We all have a part in encouraging those around us to continue down the right path.  What are we doing with this?  Are we just checking in for the wedding and reception, and then checking out for the thing these commemorate?  Maybe the next engagement we get news of should bring forth a little bit of the feeling of, Where am I going to find the time?  And with that, feelings of responsibility.  We’re in this together.  Remember that with the newlyweds and the new-in-Christ you know.  Don’t just eat a piece of chicken and leave: stay for the marriage.

Uncomfortable with Being Comfortable

Do you know what disturbs me?  We have the ability to customize our lives to meet our every satisfaction.  Provided I have the money to buy a car, I can get a green Honda Accord with leather interior seating.  When I go to McDonald’s, I can get a Big Mac without pickles, even though they’re mentioned in the jingle.  I have over a hundred television channels to choose something to watch from and over a hundred different churches in my area I can choose to worship at.  Of all the options at our disposal at any given time, it’s natural for us to select the things that fit us best.  It’s what we do with that power with the bigger things in life (such as said church selecting) that I cannot rest with seeking my own comfort.  When it comes to God, no matter how crazy it may be, my desire is to dwell in the things He wants for me, no matter how discomforting they are.  And, even though I let it win a lot, I am uncomfortable with being comfortable.

I love the church I’m a member of.  I’m attracted to it because of the casual environment, the contemporary music, the practical message, and the lack of having to change the way I dress and conduct myself for a fraction of one day each week.  That’s why I’m attracted to it, but that’s not why I love it.  I love it because I’m challenged to be something more than a country club member.  By that, I mean I am engaging in authentic relationships and fellowship with other believers and non-believers alike who are on a journey together to be transformed by the Almighty God.  I’m inspired to grow, stretched to serve, and called to love.   

I have a few questions for you.  If you go to church, are you happy with where you go?  Do you love it?  Finally, what do you love about it?  You may not be able to say about your church what I can say about mine.  That doesn’t mean anything is wrong with where you go, but your intentions may be off.  Maybe you’re content with the comfort you experience at your church.  Maybe you’ve selected a place to worship, or have grown up in a place to worship, that you can tolerate long enough to meet your “needs,” but does not affect the way you live your life.  You are comfortable with the way you are, and you have found a church custom fit with where you are, and being there is in your comfort zone.  For you, that may work.  For me, I just can’t settle for that.

I’ve stuck with the example of selecting a church here, but I hope if you have read this and that example does not apply to you, you replaced it with what did.  If not, give it a try.  It’s great that we can make customizations with certain things in our lives.  However, I challenge you not to settle for anything less than discomfort in the things that matter most.  You don’t grow when you’re comfortable, only when you’re stretching.  Our goal should be Christ-likeness, and none of us this side of Heaven have accomplished that.  There is room to grow, so get uncomfortable.

New Leader? Prepare to Screw Up

Last Thursday night’s episode of The Office where Jim began his position as co-manager was brilliant to the point of personal.  It hit home to me because I saw a lot of what happened to him as a reminder of my year in a position of leadership in college.  For those who missed it, Jim went from being a favored colleague to the sales staff to a manager struggling between direction and maintaining good morale overnight.  If you’ve recently become a leader, prepare for this to happen to you, and prepare to screw up.

I often think of my year as a student leader of a campus ministry as one of the most difficult, most challenging, and most beneficial years of my life.  The year leading up to my presidency in this ministry was totally awesome.  I got along great with just about everyone who came through the doors.  I took on a position as Communications Leader and continued to grow into that role really well, having fun doing it.  I was also drastically maturing as a disciple, and life was just good.  The year ended with me answering God’s call to become President the following year.  That’s when things began to change.

I was excited about what the next school year would bring.  I have a visionary mind, and there were a lot of ideas floating around in it; a lot of things I knew would work because, after all, they’re visions.  Right?  This was about to the best year ever.  Right?  Well, it would’ve been had I done more letting go and worked with the team of awesome people God had given me.  Instead, my downfall as President was that I always wanted the final say to be MY final say.  Not healthy at all!  In retrospect, the previous year sure would’ve been horrible had I not gotten to pitch in ideas to the President at the time.  Yikes!

I can’t pinpoint one thing about that year and call it the root of all my screw-ups.  However, a main factor was the self-induced pressure I was putting on myself to be the best leader possible.  I wanted to stay on top and sound like I knew the best way to go at all times.  When I became President, I didn’t remain a member of the team . . . I somehow became a guy who felt he had to prove something, and someone whose ideas should take precedence always.  At the risk of sounding corny here, I will say that “president” does not equal “precedence.”  We’re all in this together.

Hopefully Jim will find his way in upcoming episodes of The Office.  More importantly than a written TV show, hopefully you will find yours with those you are leading.  Yes, prepare to screw up, but don’t give up examining yourself and growing from your mistakes.  God is there with you every step of the way.

A Conseqence of Getting It

As we follow Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, one of the greatest things that happens in our journeys is when we “get” something.  This “something” could be an insight to start doing things differently.  When it’s different from unbelievers, we may be encouraged in our convictions by our believing friends.  When we start doing things differently from our fellow believers, though, praise isn’t as easy to come by.

Have you ever found yourself with a fresh perspective after studying the Bible, listening to a song or sermon, or spending time in prayer, that no longer looks like what the believers in your life are doing?  We’ve all been there, and it’s tough to move foward after that.  You may become so excited about a vision you have on how to apply God’s truth to your life, and you can’t wait to share it with others in hopes they will be on board, too.  But, you may often find that God has not brought them to where you are yet.

Before I go on, it’s important to know we are all created equal, and the Holy Spirit–who dwells in every follower of Jesus Christ–works in each of us differently.  His counselling and direction does not halt our equality.  However, He may bring you to a higher place in some areas for your life before He brings those around you there. 

I find this is a hard place to be; especially when I am desiring to have community with other believers, and want all of us to grow together.  What seems to happen, though, is God has brought me to a place where I am separated from anyone else and looking back at those I was walking beside, flagging them to catch up. 

It can also be hard to watch a truth unfold in your life in such an incredible and transforming way and see your friends still caught in the same dead end patterns that aren’t getting them any further.  This is a consequence of getting it.

So, then, how do you have community with other believers when you feel like you’re ahead of the game?  Well, for one, you’re not ahead, but something has changed in your life for purposes God has for you.  The best way to cast that vision to others is to continue to live in communion with God and light the path for others to follow.  This also means not to quench the Holy Spirit and go back to the same place you were for the sake of conformity.

Also, realize the believing people in your life are being transformed in other areas.  Try to find the path they are lighting for you … you’re going to need it.

When we are alone, may we not give up on others, but continue to show them the way by living out what we were meant to do.

Excitement About Church

Do you get excited about what’s going on at your church?  I think for many, the answer is “no.”  The answer is “yes” for many more.  Some don’t give what their church is doing a second thought from the moment they leave a service.  Others go on applying what they have learned and telling people about what’s going on at their place of worship throughout the week. 

The question I would like to hear your answers about is this:

How important do you feel it is to be a part of a church you’re excited to share with others?

Comments please . . .

It Takes Action

There’s a lot of talk out there and starts with a phrase like what’s wrong with the church today…People are great at forming a hypothesis about the issues around them.  If you remember from science class, a hypothesis is only the beginning of carrying out a project to conclusion.  Unfortunately, it is also where many people stop when they feel things are not as they should be in the Body of Christ.  This causes a bigger issue than what may have been the initial problem at hand.  Bitterness and apathy are now in the picture because action was never taken.

I’ve never been big on the what’s wrong with the church today…sentiments.  I try to empathize with the real people with real emotions behind them, but never find myself joining the party.  I’m more concerned about being the disciple I was called to be, making an impact with those who I was led to, and being part of the solution.  I find those three things to be a much better use of my time than the former.  If we are going to make a difference in the lives of others, our communities and the rest of the world, we need to take action.

I do, however, come back to the conclusion that there is one thing the Church cannot go without: love.  We need it to survive.  We need it to stand out.  We need it to fulfill our calling.  God is love, and the Church without God is just another secular institution among the world.  Without God, the Church  may still be a charitable, motivational, philanthropic organization, but only with God will it be what it was designed to: a living organism that is the hope of the world; making an impact for the Kingdom and leading people to the cross of Jesus Christ.

The thing about love is that we need to find it for ourselves.  It’s not hypothetical, and is as real as God.  How real is God?  That’s how real your love needs to be.  It’s the most powerful thing we have.  Don’t ever think it’s a mushy cop-out to the issues we face.  John 13:35 goes as far as to say it is by our love that the world will know us.  When people see your love, do they identify you as someone who is following Christ, or at the very least see there is something different about you they aren’t getting elsewhere?

The more action we take in the way of love–and yes, love takes doing–the more people will see us as a vibrant and vital organism that is changing the world we live in. 

Let’s stop making hypotheses about what’s wrong with the church today and start working towards the conclusion that is spelled out to all of us.  It all comes down to love.  Take action.

It’s Not All Temporary

I’m writing this minutes after hearing about Patrick Swayze passing away.   I read about that in a Facebook status update minutes after showing my mother the Michael Jackson tribute at the MTV Video Music Awards.   Now, an AP News article is posted in the kitchen for her to wake up to. 

Here is my Twitter update:

Patrick Swayze now? Dear 2009, can you get any crazier? God, please be with his family, friends and all who are impacted by this.

We’ve seen a lot of people leave us this year.  It’s been unreal.  Some, like Swayze, have been expected.  Some, like Jackson and Billy Mays, have been nothing short of a shock.  I’m hesitant to post this tonight, as I feel we should be in mourning for Swayze.  I will say this: You may think everything is temporary right now.  If that’s the case, you’re only looking at what is temporary and not at what isn’t.  There is a God much bigger than any and all of this, and He is permanent.  He is the one to set our sights to.  He is the one we need. . . the only one we need. 

This is the God I prayed to be with the family and friends of Swayze.  He is the God I pray to give my mother strength when she needs it to get up for another day’s work.  He is the God whom, when I feel overwhelmed at what a crazy year it’s been, reminds me it’s not all temporary.

“On Christ, the solid rock, I stand.  All other ground is sinking sand.”

God, heal us.  Heal those whose worlds are constantly shattered by the events taking place around them.  May they know the hope you have for them.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

United We ROCK

Something within the Church that gets me spiritually motivated more than anything else is unity in the Body of Christ.  It’s nothing new.  Ephesians 4 will show you what we are capable of when we all work together.  I love me some unity.

I admire people like Billy Graham, Louie Giglio and Andy Stanley; movements like Hillsong and Passion; bands like David Crowder and Shane & Shane, and the list goes on in all three categories, for the way audiences unite to take part in what God is doing through them.  Because of that, God is doing A LOT!  There’s something about going to a concert or a conference or crusade that you don’t get anywhere else… all members of the Body uniting as ONE.  Under one banner.  For the one and only living and true God. 

The Bible delves in to a plethora of gifts, talents and abilities we have within the Church.  Then, it tells us that we are interdependent of one another.  I love that!  I love seeing that in worship gatherings.  It pretty much rocks.

I’d love to see as much of that as possible. May it not just be about what OUR churches are doing, but what THE Church is doing. 

Something I’m excited about is the upcoming WE UNITE series at TrueNorth Church.  It’s not just a few weeks of messages, but a wave of impact that is going to shake us and shake the area we live in.  People will unite in small groups, God’s Word, prayer, acts of serive, and giving.  It’s going to be nothing short of amazing.  My prayer is the Central Savannah River Area as well as the Decatur, IL area will be swept off their feet by what THE Church is doing.

May one church coming together just be the beginning.  May we parter with each other more than we ever have.  That’s a tall order, I know.  Theres are reasons people attend one church versus another.  Let me remind you, though, we’ll all be together in Heaven, so let’s start being together now.  We have a lot to contribute to each other.  I don’t know what this looks like, but I’m thankful for the glimpses of it I have seen (e.g. Passion, One Prayer, BCM, A Love Project, etc.)  Divided, we’re just another place that doesn’t have everything it possibly could to further the Kingdom.  By the way–Satan is a big fan of that.  Let’s keep uniting because united we ROCK!