“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...
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
My Best...
So as I was trying to find some boots for this snow to come I was listening to Mercy Me’s Christmas album, which happens to be one of my favorites ever! They have some really cool arrangements of some classic songs like Silent Night, Angels We Have Heard on High and the most classic O Holy Night. But the one song that I really dig is The Little Drummer Boy.
It’s basically like you remember with all the pa rum pum pum pum’s, and what not, but then it goes into this killer bridge that gives the song a whole new life and causes me to rethink how I’m living my life before Jesus.
“Shall I play for you? Shall I play for you? Mary looked at me and nodded the ox and lamb kept time, oh I played my drum for him, I played my best for Christ… I played my best for Christ.”
Have I played my best for Christ? That’s when it hit me.
Have I done my best to serve Christ? Have a done my best to love others the same way God loves me? Have I done my best serving the people of Fieldstone? Have I done best offering everything I have to God?
As we journey closer to the manger this year, as we come bringing gifts, I pray that we all “play our best for Christ.”
Much Love & Christmas Peace,
Speak On That!
It’s basically like you remember with all the pa rum pum pum pum’s, and what not, but then it goes into this killer bridge that gives the song a whole new life and causes me to rethink how I’m living my life before Jesus.
“Shall I play for you? Shall I play for you? Mary looked at me and nodded the ox and lamb kept time, oh I played my drum for him, I played my best for Christ… I played my best for Christ.”
Have I played my best for Christ? That’s when it hit me.
Have I done my best to serve Christ? Have a done my best to love others the same way God loves me? Have I done my best serving the people of Fieldstone? Have I done best offering everything I have to God?
As we journey closer to the manger this year, as we come bringing gifts, I pray that we all “play our best for Christ.”
Much Love & Christmas Peace,
Speak On That!
Friday, December 11, 2009
TEll IT....
A couple of weeks ago we started throwing out this idea that God Is Not Done and God is still actually working in the hearts and minds of people all around. I have already seen in the past couple of weeks that God is still raising the dead.
As we journey closer to the manger, I can’t help but be drawn to new life. Now, I know that I’m grown up, have more grey hair than most and probably a little cantankerous/difficult at times. And yet, even for me, I have the opportunity to enter into something very new as I consider the ways God is moving.
I guess what I mean to say is that God can still do something within me but I have to be willing.
Are you willing?
I believe an emphasis of Christmas falls on the spirit of willingness to receive the gift offered in and through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to receive freedom? Are you willing to forgive? Are you willing to grow up and take responsibility? Are you willing to love even in those moments that hurt you the most? Are you willing to listen? Are you willing to risk your reputation for following God? Ask Mary and Joseph. They did.
This year God is looking to give a gift of life. Are we ready? Are we willing to say yes?
What if we did? What if we actually bought into the spirit and willingness of Christmas? What if we actually loved harder than anyone else?
Speak on That!
As we journey closer to the manger, I can’t help but be drawn to new life. Now, I know that I’m grown up, have more grey hair than most and probably a little cantankerous/difficult at times. And yet, even for me, I have the opportunity to enter into something very new as I consider the ways God is moving.
I guess what I mean to say is that God can still do something within me but I have to be willing.
Are you willing?
I believe an emphasis of Christmas falls on the spirit of willingness to receive the gift offered in and through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to receive freedom? Are you willing to forgive? Are you willing to grow up and take responsibility? Are you willing to love even in those moments that hurt you the most? Are you willing to listen? Are you willing to risk your reputation for following God? Ask Mary and Joseph. They did.
This year God is looking to give a gift of life. Are we ready? Are we willing to say yes?
What if we did? What if we actually bought into the spirit and willingness of Christmas? What if we actually loved harder than anyone else?
Speak on That!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Magic?
So basically our nighttime routine is like this. After teeth are brushed, flushed the toilet for the last time, Lori and I read a couple of books, take some time to pray and then one of us will lay with him for a couple of minutes.
Most of the time he wants Lori to read to him and then me to lay with him and during that time I hear all kinds of things from Kindergarten Drama, the next level of LEGO Star Wars all covered with various noises that little boys make in the midst of conversation.
Last night though, things were a little different. Jackson just blurted out, “Believe is a Christmas word dad!” He kept on going by saying, “we need to believe in the magic of Santa!”
In my mind I wanted to say something like, “Well, Jackson you know that the reason for the season is Jesus and blah, blah, blah.” But I didn’t. I listened. He asked me if I believed in the magic? Because if you don’t believe in the magic then you don’t believe in Santa. That’s when I had that Polar Express moment.
Jackson believes right now in something bigger than himself. He believes in something that is magical, something that changes circumstances, brings joy and laughter, filled with hope and expectation. Right now he believes.
Do we?
I’m not suggesting we believe in magic. Hello! But I am suggesting that we believe in something bigger that brings joy and hope, filled with expectation. Do we still believe? Are we right now, all grown up, paying bills and dealing with adult things that we don’t have time to believe in the greatest story still being told?
As we continue through the season of Advent, moving toward the manger I’m asking you to believe again. I’m asking you to believe in the power of prayer. I’m asking you to believe in the reality of forgiveness and peace. I’m asking you to believe in the power of community and the power of a servant king born on the outskirts of town in the middle of controversy.
Do you still believe?
Speak On That!
Most of the time he wants Lori to read to him and then me to lay with him and during that time I hear all kinds of things from Kindergarten Drama, the next level of LEGO Star Wars all covered with various noises that little boys make in the midst of conversation.
Last night though, things were a little different. Jackson just blurted out, “Believe is a Christmas word dad!” He kept on going by saying, “we need to believe in the magic of Santa!”
In my mind I wanted to say something like, “Well, Jackson you know that the reason for the season is Jesus and blah, blah, blah.” But I didn’t. I listened. He asked me if I believed in the magic? Because if you don’t believe in the magic then you don’t believe in Santa. That’s when I had that Polar Express moment.
Jackson believes right now in something bigger than himself. He believes in something that is magical, something that changes circumstances, brings joy and laughter, filled with hope and expectation. Right now he believes.
Do we?
I’m not suggesting we believe in magic. Hello! But I am suggesting that we believe in something bigger that brings joy and hope, filled with expectation. Do we still believe? Are we right now, all grown up, paying bills and dealing with adult things that we don’t have time to believe in the greatest story still being told?
As we continue through the season of Advent, moving toward the manger I’m asking you to believe again. I’m asking you to believe in the power of prayer. I’m asking you to believe in the reality of forgiveness and peace. I’m asking you to believe in the power of community and the power of a servant king born on the outskirts of town in the middle of controversy.
Do you still believe?
Speak On That!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Phone Calls...
Tonight I talked to a former student of mine from back in the day. I was his youth pastor about eight years ago, (yes for me that’s back in the day) and he was talking about his upcoming wedding next September. I will have the privilege of sharing in that moment next year, but the phone call really hit me…
First of all, I was in the middle of writing this note, so it put me behind. Second, I have a boatload of work to do in the next two days. Thirdly, my head is full of a stupid cold and hasn’t made my last 24 hours great. What about you? Aren’t you there? Many of us are making plans to cook turkeys or veggie delights to prepare for the trademarked “Turkey Coma” (Thanks Mary Devon).
Things are getting crazier by the moment, everybody is busy, everybody has something else to do on their list including this note, so I’ll wrap it up…
We are moving into the season of Advent, a marked Holy Time, set apart not to prepare our homes, but to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Jesus in Triumph! Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to put up my tree, and I’m going to eat my share of Christmas cookies, but this season of Advent is like the call of an old friend, happening to take your mind and heart to another place for a time.
It’s in that place away from all the hustle and bustle that you and I are already sharing in to make a point to share in what God has in store for us this year. God is not done friends. God is not done.
So take that phone call, sit at the table a little longer, laugh out loud, get on the floor and read to your kids, forgive someone, remember the poor, and whatever it is that interrupts your life.
I pray that you and your family have blessed Thanksgiving.
Speak ON That!
First of all, I was in the middle of writing this note, so it put me behind. Second, I have a boatload of work to do in the next two days. Thirdly, my head is full of a stupid cold and hasn’t made my last 24 hours great. What about you? Aren’t you there? Many of us are making plans to cook turkeys or veggie delights to prepare for the trademarked “Turkey Coma” (Thanks Mary Devon).
Things are getting crazier by the moment, everybody is busy, everybody has something else to do on their list including this note, so I’ll wrap it up…
We are moving into the season of Advent, a marked Holy Time, set apart not to prepare our homes, but to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Jesus in Triumph! Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to put up my tree, and I’m going to eat my share of Christmas cookies, but this season of Advent is like the call of an old friend, happening to take your mind and heart to another place for a time.
It’s in that place away from all the hustle and bustle that you and I are already sharing in to make a point to share in what God has in store for us this year. God is not done friends. God is not done.
So take that phone call, sit at the table a little longer, laugh out loud, get on the floor and read to your kids, forgive someone, remember the poor, and whatever it is that interrupts your life.
I pray that you and your family have blessed Thanksgiving.
Speak ON That!
Phone Calls...
Tonight I talked to a former student of mine from back in the day. I was his youth pastor about eight years ago, (yes for me that’s back in the day) and he was talking about his upcoming wedding next September. I will have the privilege of sharing in that moment next year, but the phone call really hit me…
First of all, I was in the middle of writing this note, so it put me behind. Second, I have a boatload of work to do in the next two days. Thirdly, my head is full of a stupid cold and hasn’t made my last 24 hours great. What about you? Aren’t you there? Many of us are making plans to cook turkeys or veggie delights to prepare for the trademarked “Turkey Coma” (Thanks Mary Devon).
Things are getting crazier by the moment, everybody is busy, everybody has something else to do on their list including this note, so I’ll wrap it up…
We are moving into the season of Advent, a marked Holy Time, set apart not to prepare our homes, but to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Jesus in Triumph! Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to put up my tree, and I’m going to eat my share of Christmas cookies, but this season of Advent is like the call of an old friend, happening to take your mind and heart to another place for a time.
It’s in that place away from all the hustle and bustle that you and I are already sharing in to make a point to share in what God has in store for us this year. God is not done friends. God is not done.
So take that phone call, sit at the table a little longer, laugh out loud, get on the floor and read to your kids, forgive someone, remember the poor, and whatever it is that interrupts your life.
I pray that you and your family have blessed Thanksgiving.
Speak ON That!
First of all, I was in the middle of writing this note, so it put me behind. Second, I have a boatload of work to do in the next two days. Thirdly, my head is full of a stupid cold and hasn’t made my last 24 hours great. What about you? Aren’t you there? Many of us are making plans to cook turkeys or veggie delights to prepare for the trademarked “Turkey Coma” (Thanks Mary Devon).
Things are getting crazier by the moment, everybody is busy, everybody has something else to do on their list including this note, so I’ll wrap it up…
We are moving into the season of Advent, a marked Holy Time, set apart not to prepare our homes, but to prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of Jesus in Triumph! Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to put up my tree, and I’m going to eat my share of Christmas cookies, but this season of Advent is like the call of an old friend, happening to take your mind and heart to another place for a time.
It’s in that place away from all the hustle and bustle that you and I are already sharing in to make a point to share in what God has in store for us this year. God is not done friends. God is not done.
So take that phone call, sit at the table a little longer, laugh out loud, get on the floor and read to your kids, forgive someone, remember the poor, and whatever it is that interrupts your life.
I pray that you and your family have blessed Thanksgiving.
Speak ON That!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tell IT....
So here's the thing. I stink at keeping this thing consistent. I need some help.
But in case you are not going to help, I'm just going to write, write, write....
I wrote a letter today to a friend in jail. She's in prison for whatever reason, you know how one things leads to another. It's taken me a while to write, I"m not sure why, other than like most things, we say, I'll get to it later. But I kept getting convicted about it. Finally with some prodding from the Holy Spirit, I finished it and it's getting in the mail. And as I'm thinking about it, it was one of those moments when I actually felt like I was doing something faithful. I actually felt like I was doing something that was kingdom-ish. Dude, how many times have I not done that? How many times have I neglected my responsibility as a follower of Christ.
This weekend we are moving into Christ The King Sunday, and Jesus says in John 18:37, "For this I came into the world (to inaugurate a world of peace and fellowship, of justice and respect for other people’s rights, of love for God and for one another) to testify to the truth." Speaking of truth, I can't help but think that you and I need to spend time finding ways to do that. If Christ is the King of me, it's time for me to serve my king right?
Speak ON THAT! Peace
But in case you are not going to help, I'm just going to write, write, write....
I wrote a letter today to a friend in jail. She's in prison for whatever reason, you know how one things leads to another. It's taken me a while to write, I"m not sure why, other than like most things, we say, I'll get to it later. But I kept getting convicted about it. Finally with some prodding from the Holy Spirit, I finished it and it's getting in the mail. And as I'm thinking about it, it was one of those moments when I actually felt like I was doing something faithful. I actually felt like I was doing something that was kingdom-ish. Dude, how many times have I not done that? How many times have I neglected my responsibility as a follower of Christ.
This weekend we are moving into Christ The King Sunday, and Jesus says in John 18:37, "For this I came into the world (to inaugurate a world of peace and fellowship, of justice and respect for other people’s rights, of love for God and for one another) to testify to the truth." Speaking of truth, I can't help but think that you and I need to spend time finding ways to do that. If Christ is the King of me, it's time for me to serve my king right?
Speak ON THAT! Peace
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)