Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Final Attempt

Here's the thing. I'm trying to make a comeback! It's going to be hard! Who's with me?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

For Such A Time As This...

Now before I go any further, I have to tell you that if you want drama and intrigue, hero and villain action, and some of the best reality television you will ever read, you have to read the entire Book Of Esther. Honestly it’s probably best for you to go read it before you finish reading this post… (Pages Turning)
Okay… so after reading Esther you remember this famous statement offered by Mordecai when he says “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) I recently shared this story in my community at Fieldstone and was reminded of how powerful this moment is in Esther’s life directly affects our life if we are willing to realize that we have been called “for such a time as this.”
It’s easy to get this twisted and think that we have to be willing to sacrifice our lives like Esther did, but then again maybe that’s exactly what this passage is about. I mean here’s what I’m thinking… From a Christian perspective we hear and read scripture that says, we can actually be transformed into a “new creation”, but we have to be willing to let go of the old way of doing life and take on the Way (read Jesus) and live a life of unconditional love and service. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
Now take a breath and think about that for a second. What I’m getting at is a real acknowledgement of another way of living and responding to life. Regardless of our approach to faith we can all acknowledge that we find ourselves in daily living that calls on us to make real time decisions that actually affect others and have serious implications.
You and I were made for such a time as this. Right now, you have the opportunity to directly bring help, hope, love and peace into someone’s reality. Right now, you have the opportunity to step into someone’s hurt and brokenness and bring healing and wholeness. Right now you have the opportunity to bring light into darkness.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking. What is he talking about? Those words don’t seem to truly speak to my situation or into my specific relationship. Well, here we go…
Do no harm. Think about the people in your life that harm like family, friends, co-workers etc. Do Good. What are some real ways that you can do good with those people? What are some ways you can do good for creation? What are ways you can do good for your neighbor? (Based on John Wesley’s General Rules)
We were made for such a time as this. With the amount of bad happening in our community don’t you think we can actually start doing some good? Don’t you think we were made for such a time as this?

Speak On THAT!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Thoughts...

Here’s the reality… We live in a politically correct climate that trend itself toward polarizing conversations and bureaucratic nightmares. For people of faith in the midst of this climate it seems we often find ourselves at a crossroads. If I go Left it means this or if I go Right it must mean this.
We make our mark in the sand with blue and red while pledging allegiance and loyalty to party. Look at every major issue that people discuss and ask yourself this question, “Which party defines you?” That answer writes itself into the fabric of our daily living. And as we live, people are reading what we are writing, that’s for sure. And they are wondering how or even if following Jesus really even matters.
What if instead of going Right or Left we went into the middle or maybe even a third way? What if we found the “via media” or middle way as John Wesley called it and in finding that middle way, actually found a “razor sharp, cut-glass” imagery and understanding of Jesus Christ? (Jesus Manifesto)
I believe that if we found that third way we would be given new eyes for seeing, a deeper understanding, and transformational information regarding the answers that are writing themselves into the fabric of our lives. I’m pressing myself and hopefully those reading, to dig deeper into the pursuit of following Jesus with total allegiance, sold out for the author of my life. Dude, this is what’s up!
“You and I are meant to be living epistles—that is, “Jesus Manifestos” – in our world. Cities set on a hill. Salt and light” (Jesus Manifesto) What are we writing?
The community of faith we share in at Fieldstone has a responsibility to teach others about Jesus. We need to learn more about what Jesus thought, how Jesus loved and how might change what the world is reading. Oh man! I don’t want to miss the opportunity to help someone see Jesus. This is the most important thing. Why would we keep the blessing a secret?
The world is hurting friends. Our friends and family and the people we see from day to day are hurting. Why won’t we help them see? What else do we need to do to make sure another student doesn’t walk into another school with loaded ammunition? How many more people are going to come to our door looking for enough food for the rest of the week? How many people are going to miss helping this year through SPY (Summer Project Youth)? The list goes on and on…
So let’s help others see Jesus and let’s follow the Way of Jesus knowing that in doing just that, others will be loved and we will help Heaven come down here.

Speak On It!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

A Mess Of Jesus

“Lord, we acknowledge that we have made a mess of what Jesus started. We affirm that we are wrong and Jesus is right. We choose not to defend what we have done and what we have become. We understand that many good Christians will not want to participate in our quest, and we will welcome their charitable critique. We acknowledge that we have created many Christianities up to this point, and they call fro reassessment and, in many cases, repentance. We choose to seek a better path into the future that the one we have been on. We desire to be born again as disciples of Jesus Christ. Now grant us wisdom and guide us in our quest, and created something new and beautiful in and among us for the good of all creation and to your glory, Living God” (A New Kind Of Christianity, McLaren, 25).

There are times when we truly do make a mess of what Jesus started. Sometimes we water it down just enough to kinda follow Jesus don’t we? Sometimes we open the playground of the mind wide open and allow other gods to come in and effectively take ownership. Sometimes we put our own agenda on Jesus so that he looks a little more like us and in those moments of messing with the real Jesus that we begin to move farther away from what Jesus has truly called us to do and who Jesus has called us to be. At least that’s what I think.

I was recently reading The Christ Of The Indian Road, by E. Stanley Jones and he talks about the travels to America around 1620, on the Mayflower and the “good ship ‘Jesus’ was in the slave trade” (The Christ Of The Indian Road, Jones, 16). Jones goes on to talk about a mess of Christianity build on prejudice. A mess of what Jesus started.
When I first came to Fieldstone people talked and shared their hopes and understanding of a place where we could really follow Jesus. The time is upon us friends to distinguish between modern/western Christianity and focus only on the person and work of Jesus the Christ. My personal prayer is that we all focus more on the Christ. May we come to a deeper understanding of Jesus and his teaching. And may we actually be a community of faith that cleans up the mess so others might see Jesus.

Speak on It...