waiting... for the One who brings a new song

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.

psalm 40:1-3

*waiting...to become child-like

Jesus associates child-like eyes with our ability to see the kingdom of God in our lives and the world around us. On Saturday I invited the kids at ROJ to make Christmas cards to go with the gifts that we are giving to residents of a local teen homeless shelter. I told the ROJ kids that these children will not be spending this Christmas with their moms and dads.

The card below reflects child-like kingdom vision, where the only reason that a child would not be with their parent(s) on Christmas is because they were somehow lost and unable to find their way home.




The hope we share in Christmas is that a lost and broken world, rife with the troubles of tattered personal relationships, shattered dreams, financial worries, disease, death and despair; would find rest and peace in finding her way home through a baby who lies in a manger.

waiting...on the world to change

I think John Mayer has humanity pegged in identifying our inability to change the world on our own. You can be an armchair critic, a passionate and zealous advocate, or and indifferent clod. None of these will change the world.

The good news for the world is that we don't have to change the world because Christ already has! This is why we celebrate Christmas, because the light that causes darkness to hide has entered the world for the sake of the world.

Our challenge as those who have heard this news is one of faith: to believe this God-directed change is underway and that Christ is in charge, to identify where this brightening of the world is happening, and participate as we live into this changing of the world.

Such a life of faith ushers in peace and joy as we join in a conspiracy of change that gives life and hope to a waiting world.

waiting... with the voice of the homeless

I gave away my first glovebox bundle last night as we headed downtown to a concert. Three things about sharing this gift are stuck in my mind. First, the man’s voice saying over and over again “thank you, thank you, thank you” as we pulled away from the curb. It is a voice that will stick with me for a long time. Second, what seemed like a scene in slow motion as I was watching him in the side view mirror as he intently examined the bag and then looked up in wonder as we were driving away. And third, how the Christmas music seemed to touch me in a deeper part of my being.

Kinda weird huh?

Click here to visit the Love in the Glovebox website and see how you can share love one stoplight at a time.

*better days through forgiveness?

What do you want for Christmas this year?

"Boxes wrapped in strings and empty things?" Or something more? Something bigger? Something more meaningful and deeper?

Can we have a better Christmas through the gift of "faith, and trust, and peace" as we strive to live a life where the world begins anew with the "one poor child who saved the world?"

And you asked me what I want this year
and I try to make this kind and clear
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days
'cause I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
and designer love and empty things
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words and sing out loud
'cause everyone is forgiven now
'cause tonight's the night the world begins again

I need some place simple where we could live
and something only you can give
and that's faith and trust and peace while we're alive
and the one poor child who saved this world
and there's ten million more who probably could
if we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words and sing out loud
'cause everyone is forgiven now
'cause tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
and somehow stop this endless fight
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words and sing out loud
'cause everyone is forgiven now
'cause tonight's the night the world begins again

'cause tonight's the night the world begins again

join the conspiracy

This Advent, River of Joy will be perpetuating a conspiracy of love and peace that began with a newborn child with no place to stay- embraced by his mother and laid to rest among the farm animals. Care to join us? Click here for more information about how to get involved.

*kingdom dwellers

Kingdom's have citizens.

citizen
1: an inhabitant of a city or town ; especially : one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman
2 a: a member of a state b: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it
3: a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

Click here to see who these citizens are and notice that they are ALWAYS refered to in the plural and NEVER in the singular.

They are known in their nature as a community, a communion of saints, a rag tag army of forgiven, enabled, and energized people.

*kingdom talk

What does this kingdom of God that Jesus talks about look like?

Take a peek in scripture here.

playgrounds and the kingdom of God

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both.”

James Michener

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:13-14



Yesterday the faith community I lead, River of Joy Lutheran Church, gathered for a community meal and a service project. We were putting together care packages to carry in our gloveboxes in order to be prepared for the next time we see someone homeless on a street corner. Click here for more on this new missional initiative.

Anyway, before we began the service project a bunch of the kids (ages 2-7) were outside playing as the adults were setting up inside. One of the mom’s who was outside supervising came in and excitedly told us that some of the children were outside on the playground car giving care packages to one another; role playing the sharing of the care packages before we had even constructed them or officially “told” them about the project. Apparently, the tagging along as the gloves, hats, socks, and granola bars were purchased and the conversations around these purchases had sunk into their precious beings before the care packages were even constructed.

Now you might think this is a cute story, and it is. But it is more than cute. Because how children play is deeply rooted and highly significant in their development. “Play is freely chosen, intrinsically motivated and personally directed. Playing has been long recognized as a critical aspect of Child development.” I am no childhood development expert, but it would seem to me that to have our children engaging in play where “human behavior is structured by very different rules” sounds a lot like living in the kingdom of God, where the rule of love expressed by Christ is markedly different than the governing rule of our world.

So let’s play!!! Let's play as communities of faith that are called to live by different rules in this world. Let's play, as children of God who have been marked by the cross and set free for goodness, life, and light. May Christ’s spirit continue to inspire us and lead us as we create environments for our children to live out a life of playful, world changing creativity.

*which link are we called to be?

The one that is closed and bound. Tempered together and unable to break free?




Or the one that is easily clicked open by Christ and reconnected to others for the sake of building up and supporting one another in the traversing of life?

Check out the end of this post (sept 6) which was sent to me today. It is a great story of the spirit of Christ clicking people together for the sake of building up and encouragement.


"So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed."

Acts 16:40

*why do we gather?

Paul writes to his friends in Corinth, “What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”

Can it be that simple? We come together to build each other up. In Christ. With Christ. And through Christ?

Each bringing his/her unique life story and giftedness?

provisions- God's work. Our hands.

As part of our fall worship series, God’s work. Our hands., we are journeying together with provisions; reading some of the same books, listening to some of the same music, and watching some of the same movies.





Here are the things we are traveling with this fall:

The Big Sort- examines the ‘self sorting’ of American culture and the negative impact that this practice has in a more and more diverse world.

Freedom of a Christian- is Martin Luther’s examination of our paradoxical life as those who are completely free through Christ while at the same time bound to serve others.

A Generous Orthodoxy- challenges us to a life that is Christ-centered in practice, looking beyond us/them and embracing the mystery of we.

Jim and Casper Go to Church- is a a collection of conversations between a church consultant and an atheist as they visit churches and speak with Christians.

Everything is Spiritual- is a filmed teaching of Rob Bell, a pastor who is tremendously gifted at raising awareness of the nature of things spiritual.

Pleasantville- is a film that captures the rub of modern life (and world view) with postmodern life (and worldview).

Ben Harper- is the musical artist we are listening to with a recommendation of the CD Diamonds on the Inside. Take a listen to our journey theme song above.

Grab a book or movie at worship. Give it a chance and see what you think. Don’t like it, bring it back and try another.

dancin' shoes

One of the images that really resonates with me these days is the notion of our relationship with God being like a dance. Perhaps like the first dance of a newly married couple or the dance of bride with her father, or the joyful dance of a people in worship, or a tribal dance handed down, preserved, and stylized from generation to generation.

Dancing with God to the rhythms of life. Not alone, but together. Click the photos below to see God dancing!

A few months ago, ROJ joined a family dancing with God and on their way to India. The Borde’s (Jon, Swati, and Neil) quickly became friends, co-missionaries, and dance partners. Jon and Jodie Skyberg hosted a concert in their home to lift them up and we sent them on their way with our blessing and prayers and some money to purchase shoes for kids in our global neighborhood. The shoes worn by children in India pictured above are the fruit of a concert on a backyard patio in Lakeville! Dancin' shoes indeed!

I posted about our story with the Bordes a couple of times and one of the posts was reworked into an article for a congregational newsletter and a synod publication (July).

Our transglobal dance with Jon, Swati, and Neil continues as we support them in prayer and presence from halfway around the world. Our God is an amazing dance partner who meets us and invites us to dance: in a park in Prior Lake, around a swimming pool, at picnics in north Mpls, in the creating of art and community, with children’s hands in a garden, and in the lives of children living in orphanages in India.

Big arms. A gentle lead. Graceful steps.

Feel the rhythm.

Follow the lead.

Dance-

Your

Way

Home.

one concert- 40,000 children fed

Click me.

all are welcome- Agape

Some of the ROJ community headed to north Mpls last night and enjoyed a community picnic hosted by Redeemer Lutheran Church. It was amazing to see this faith coummunity open its backyard and welcome the larger community into a time of music, play, food, and laughter.

This video is of Agape, a Christian hip hop artist who helped develop JUMP worship, a hip hop service hosted by Redeemer. Enjoy, and remember...ALL ARE WELCOME.

hunger concert on august 15th

"Music has long been a vessel of change and hope. Music speaks a language of its own and has brought cultures together for thousands of years...."

“We are not going to bring local and global hunger to a screeching halt by gathering together, inviting our friends and neighbors and hosting a concert,” said Steve Bonesho, a pastor at River of Joy Lutheran Church. “But perhaps, just maybe, as we come together we can have a lasting impact on one person’s life by providing food for a global or local neighbor. We can have an impact by being a friend, by sharing some hope and by welcoming a stranger...”

"Hunger isn’t about just easing the comfort of a grumbling tummy, Heatherlyn said. It’s giving a student the strength to study and a parent the confidence to have a good job interview. It’s giving parents a peace of mind when things aren’t going well to know others around them care, she said."

Click here to read the article from the Prior Lake American about the upcoming hunger concert.

romans 3:21

with the Law and the Prophets testifying to it-


the clarity of God’s goodness and love

glistening in living water

flowing from a savior

hanging on a cross

and meeting us

in baptism

romans 3:21

the righteousness of God has been made clear...


with spittled mud

and a touch (or two)

for us

and

through us

for

the

world

romans 3:21

but now, apart from the law…


to believe it is to die

to live it- a saint

to give it voice- an apostle

to move in it- daring to be the new creation God wills

witnessed by the prophets

sin lies dead

and so do I

Where the Hell is Matt?

I posted this video on the worship leader’s blog the other day for them to see and then read in the Minneapolis paper this morning that the singer is from Northeast. Pretty cool video that speaks volumes of hope and joy without words.

I will let the video speak for itself but wonder if this is not what the writer of Revelation has in mind when he writes that into the kingdom will be brought the glory of all the nations. Perhaps the title should not be “Where the Hell is Matt,” but rather, ‘Where in the Kingdom is Matt?”

Enjoy!

sunshine, water balloons, and black bean lasagna

Yesterday afternoon, Micah, Ben, Heatherlyn and I were sitting outside at Caribou planning the Community Hunger Concert for August 15th. Let me rephrase that, Yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to warm my soul beside the fire of three creative and talented people as they began to give shape and form to what should be a great evening. We were sitting in the sun until a table with an umbrella next to us became available and we decided to grab that table instead. As we did, a man sitting at another shaded table got up and took the sunny table we were leaving saying that the sunny seat looked really good to him. In the warmth of the sun and the cool of the shade, we all laughed about the musical chairs we were playing.

The sun seeking man walked by a couple of times as we were meeting, off to grab a cooler and return to the warming rays. As he shuffled by us, he smiled warmly at the shade sitting crew. Our meeting went great, with the type of energy you garner when people are engaged in things they are passionate about and expressing themselves freely and openly. (To be honest, it felt a lot like Summer Grace for those of you who were there). The conversation stayed mostly on a musical track, with an occasional diversion to the topics of swearing, trips to Africa, living the gospel, and photography (check out the pics Jason took of HL and Ben Sunday). Our conversation turned to caring for people in (and as) community, in a broken world where relationships and lives suffer. I shared my plans to meet some folks at Let’s Dish later that evening for an impromptu mission to prepare meals for a family that was off to spend their 4th of July weekend surrounding their father with love and care as he entered into his last weeks of hospice care.

As our meeting wrapped up, we said our goodbyes and headed our own ways to our next appointments. I was the last to leave the table and the sun soaking man struck up a conversation as I walked by. (As often happens, the next appointment for me was not the one I had on my calendar.) The neighbor on the patio said that the seat in the sun looked pretty good to him as he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had six to nine months to live. Colon, kidneys, bone. My heart dropped as I gazed into his eyes and asked how he was doing with that news. He said with a wry smile that he was still putting sunscreen on and hadn’t given up…but the sunshine sure felt good.

Another woman, who up to this point had been a silent member of the patio community, got up from her chair and walked over and joined us in the conversation. She asked the man if it would be okay if she prayed for the man. She offered him hope in God’s ability to work miracles and he gladly received her words. I told him that he could be sure that there would be a whole community of people lifting him up in prayer. (God’s personally delivered blue prayer cards are powerful, so please add this man to the prayers you lift before God). As the conversation between three strangers closed, I walked away in awe of God’s power to compel us to act in order that those whom he loves would be comforted and know that they are not alone in their struggles.

A few hours later, a handful of compelled people gathered at Let’s Dish to be hands and feet. We prepared meals, laughed, and lived a deeper life as we supported a friend in Christ and a family who needed some sunshine as death looms and lurks in their future. I thought about how food is such a vital part of life together and the tremendous blessing it is to share food and companionship around the preparing, serving, and eating of food. I thought about how many people would be sharing meals this holiday weekend, family and friends gathering at cabins, on decks, at campgrounds, in homes. And then I considered all the stories about Jesus eating and serving food and drink in the gospels…Confusing those who follow him with talk of eating his body…Giving life to those he feeds…A new life…Beyond the limitations we see at work in our lives…A new life…That even death cannot conquer!

When we finished preparing the food we walked across the parking lot to Target. Our hope was to add some items to the over sized cooler to liven the celebration of life that this ordinary yet holy cooler was destined to become a part of.

Water balloons, super soakers, freezies. Chocolate. Gifts to enjoy the sunshine.

Gifts, to enjoy the Son.

A Son who makes a promise to all of us in John chapter 10:

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

Sunshine.

For all of us.

Update From the Borde's

Jon, Swati, and Neil are settling in to their new life in India. We hope to be able to have a live video feed at worship sometime in the near future so they can share for themselves what God's mission looks like in their new corner of the world. Here is an update I received this week:

Hi folks

It has almost been a month since we have arrived in Pune. We are beginning to adjust to living in the “State Fair” environment. We have found a rental apartment and will be moving into our new home on July 1st. We have been staying with different relatives here. Another praise report is that our house in Minnesota rented. We had renters move in on the 15th of June. God is good and we praise him for his faithfulness.

Neil started school on the 16th of June as we had to get some formalities completed. Keep him in prayer as this is a huge adjustment for him. He is studying grade 4 curriculum in grade 2 here. Other than school he has made many new friends here and cricket is quickly becoming his favorite sport. Rickshaw rides are also pretty popular with him.

Swati and I are doing well and even though it has been busy settling in we have spent time praying and soaking in his presence as we go forth into ministry here. We have done a couple of small meetings with small groups of people in the slums where the micro enterprise groups are as well as with the children in the Pune orphanage. We get to be part of the bible school reopening this Monday and that will be fun. We will be spending 3 days at the bible school and girls orphanage. The Lord is bringing many new friends into our lives here and also opening a lot of doors for ministry here.

We will have internet access once we move into our new home as well as a home phone. We will be available to skype once we move as we do not have internet access where we are staying. We will also send you pictures in the next update as we do not have our cameras with us currently.

Thank you for your prayers, support and partnership as we do his work in India.

We do pray for all of you and miss you all.

May he continue to do exceedingly abundantly more than any of you can imagine in all aspects of your lives.

Be blessed


Your family from the other side of the world

Jon, Swati and Neil



Prayer Requests

1)Neil’s adjustment to school in India
2)We are looking for some local volunteers and workers to come alongside us for kingdom business (micro enterprise) and orphan care. Pray that God would lead the right people our way.
3)The bible school reopening
4)Our move into our new rental home

Summer Grace. Pictures

We are gathering ROJ kids and their friends from the larger community into a creative adventure for kids we are calling Summer Grace. It is an opportunity for kids of all ages to explore art, music, faith and story as a community that is created to partner in God's ongoing creation. Here are some pics from the first day.

Click here to visit the Summer Grace. website.

new website

As we have been heading into this season for the stranger, we have been working on developing a new website. Click here and check out the new site mock up. If you visit the new site, please come back and leave a comment on what you think or email me your thoughts. This will help us to determine where we need to tune the site.

four strangers walk into a coffee shop

About six months ago the four of us pushed two mini-tables together at Starbucks. A chance meeting had found us in the same coffee shop for two separate meetings. A musician, a pastor, a health care consultant, and a finance professional; two acquaintances and two strangers sharing the presence of the Spirit with conversation that was deeper and richer than the coffee we were drinking. When we pushed the tables apart, there were no more strangers. Only friends, connected by the sinew of the Spirit.

Friday night we gathered in the home of the health care consultant. About 40 of her family’s friends had come to share some food, some music, some of their monetary blessing, and some love in support of the finance professional who was headed to India with his wife and their son to do battle against poverty and despair in some of the worst slums in the world.

The reach of that Spirit-led coffee shop conversation had grown wider and embraced friends, friends of friends, Christians and non-Christians, Sunday morning golfers and Sunday morning church goers. The Spirit moved freely (and freeingly) as the conversation around good food and good wine created an atmosphere of warmth and community.

the health care consultant, she welcomed people into her home

the finance professional, he told his story and engaged those who had gathered with a reality of life in Indian slums that touched them deeply

the musician, she took them even deeper- to the very depth of their souls

the pastor, he kept his mouth shut because the Spirit was already at work

the Spirit, the Spirit of Christ moved so that 250 children of God will have new shoes and in order that all in the world will know that God is love

a love that is far beyond measure

that touches us at the depth of who we are

and who we wish to become

*living water, strangers, truth and grace

Water. Two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom. With it- life. Without it- death.

Jesus, full of grace and truth, comes into this world and announces himself to be a new and different type of water. He declares himself to be living water, gifted to the world directly from the source of all life, his Father. Christ himself, a new living water that refreshes and quenches our inner beings at a deeper level of who we are.

And just as the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are bonded together, this gift of living water cannot be separated from the story of its giving. Take away oxygen and you have H2, or hydrogen gas, no more water. Pry Jesus’ teaching about living water away from the woman at the well in John chapter 4 and you no longer have living water.

The gift to the world, this living water is given to a woman who is an outcast among her own people. She heads to the well at noon as one who is not welcome to draw water with the other women of the village who meet at the well in the cooler morning hours. She is a Samaritan, one of “those people” who have little regard for God or the proper way of doing things. She is (and should always be) a stranger to any good upstanding God worshiping Jew.

Any good and upstanding Jew-- except Jesus. This one who is sent from God meets her at the well. On her terms. Truthful about her past and full of grace in his presence, he engages her and welcomes her into a new life of spirit and truth. “I am he,” he tells her, the one who comes to unite us all in a life of spirit and truth.

His disciples don’t get it. They show up and completely blow off the woman, ignoring her and dismissing her existence altogether. They ask Jesus if he is hungry and he tells them that he has already been fed by doing the will of God (by engaging the woman). As with many of Jesus’ teachings, this goes completely over the heads of those who should know him best, those who profess to be his followers.

But Christ’s stop at the well has not gone for naught. His teaching gives life. The woman, having drank deeply from the well of Christ himself, has headed into town and brought back a slew of people to meet him. Amazingly, these are the same people who have ‘estranged’ her and denied her the dignity of being welcomed in her own village!

These fellow strangers have come out to the well where Jesus is. They have come to taste this living water that is given freely to the estranged (and to those who would estrange) in order that they may be sustained at a deeper level of their humanity.

They come to meet a stranger, one who is like no other.

One that can quench thirst at a deeper level.

One called Jesus.

The Christ. A stranger. In his own world. Among his own. A stranger.

so a guy walks into a bar...

Plenty of bad jokes and truly destructive stories could be told about strangers who meet in bars, but Christ's life-giving and restorative presence will not be denied a seat anywhere that we go...

Our leadership team meets weekly in the bar/lounge of a local restaurant to discern action and plan activities for our faith community. So last night we got together and you could feel the joy of being together just oozing out of our booth with all the hearty laughter and the intensity of the dialogue. After 15 minutes of this ooze, we began with a Bible study as we usually do and we were suddenly quite quiet as we each studied the text at hand. A man seated beside us (a stranger) leaned over and made a comment about the sudden change of volume and we told him we were doing a Bible study which took him a little off guard I think.

We moved from quietly studying the text to discussing the text, which happened to be about being “salt” and “light” in the world. Again, the dynamic life and energy at the table was so thick you could taste it as we shared our thoughts and feelings about this scripture as it related to us as individuals and as it relates to our life together as a community. We talked about adding flavor to the world around us, being that which preserves and sustains, shining through ‘how we are’ as opposed to ‘what we think’ or the 'things we do.' We engaged issues surrounding authenticity, depth of life, and Christ’s radical call to live differently in the world and for the world God loves.

The stranger in the bar who had become our neighbor walked over and wished us well as he headed to the doorway to head home (wherever that home was---or did he stop by because this booth felt like home?). It was almost as if he wanted another touch of this unexpected ‘something’ that was happening beside him.

We spent some time talking about the business at hand and departed for home ourselves. Before heading to bed, I went to the computer and found an e-mail from one of our leaders in of all place the junk e-mail folder. In part, this completely unjunky and pricelessly valuable correspondence said this:

"I walked in tonight with a heart and mind full of stress - racing a million miles an hour. After a couple hours of being in the presence of the amazing thoughtful and joyful people that you are, I walked out feeling loved, having laughed, being restored, and for the first time all day...... my heart was calm. Thank you for sharing your light with me and for "being" you.”

Thank you to Christ.

who we follow wherever that may lead---

who calls and energizes us to be light and salt---

for each other

for the stranger

for the world


strangers on this road we are all, we are not two we are one

A Prayer for the Ages

I think a certain 12th century Franciscan monk is smiling as the Spirit inspired words he penned breathe life into a new generation.

strangers on this road we are all

To whom are you a stranger? To whom are you called to be the welcoming arms of Christ?

From Dictionary.com:


1. a person with whom one has had no personal acquaintance: He is a perfect stranger to me.
2. a newcomer in a place or locality: a stranger in town.
3. an outsider: They want no strangers in on the club meetings.
4. a person who is unacquainted with or unaccustomed to something (usually fol. by to): He is no stranger to poverty.
5. a person who is not a member of the family, group, community, or the like, as a visitor or guest: Our town shows hospitality to strangers.
6. Law. one not privy or party to an act, proceeding, etc.


From Jesus as remembered in Matthew chapter 25:

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’


From Mary Elizabeth Coleridge:

Christmas Eve I saw a stable, low and very bare, A little child in a manger. The oxen knew Him, had Him in their care, To men He was a stranger, The safety of the world was lying there, And the world's danger...

From Golden Smog:

Strangers on this road we are all...we are not two we are one.

shining brightly

Worth the seven minutes of your life to watch this video through to the end and consider the way that God has called you to be a blessing to the world.

idol worship or is this jesus' house?

From the song, "Israel in 4 BC had no mass communication..."

But 2004 years later we do.

Jesus will not be held captive by death, disbelief, the stone outside the tomb, the walls of an inward focussed church, the mistakes of a misguided outwardly focussed church, your heart, my heart, your brokenness, my brokenness, those who think they know him best, those who wish he was dead, those who know him but don't want to share him with others, those who want to believe but can't, those who want to use him for personal gain, those who think that religion is evil, those who think that those who think that religion is evil are evil, or anyone else. He is loose in the world and will not be bound.

This world is HIS HOUSE!

american idol bends a knee to Jesus

First Kid Rock.

Now Jesus finds his way onto American Idol for two weeks in a row.

What's next?

Isaiah 43:18-19

Invisible Children

I saw a T-shirt today for Invisible Children. Had no idea what it was about. I typed these two words into a box on a computer screen called Google.

I found three young adults from San Diego who made a movie that started a movement.

Or did they join a movement?

An ancient movement.

Of God.

"as you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me"


God, as spoken by Jesus Christ

recorded by Matthew

inspired by God's Holy Spirit

hoops, hope, and HIV

Mark 10:13-16

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.


Kid’s with AIDS.

Kid’s with a heart to help.

Kid’s with an amazing God.

how can i keep from singing his praise

*dying as those who WILL BE SAVED

Acts 15:8-11

And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit
just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.

So we can add a third tense to our paradox of understanding salvation. We will be saved. We live in hope that when we breathe our last, and though we dodge the thought- we certainly will meet death; we hope that God will save us from death.

So here we are

knowing-- we have been saved through faith
living-- a life of transformation as we are being saved through faith
hoping-- that we will be saved from death through faith

great grandmas, guns, and the gospel

The power of the Word to change situations and change lives is absolutley amazing!

*paradox, fear, trembling, and real living as those who ARE BEING SAVED

I Cor 1:18-25


For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.


Living as those who have been saved plunges us headlong into the mystery of paradoxical living. How is it that we can be saved by God’s own doing but still find ourselves in a world (and often a life) that seems so broken? Does this world really look like it has been saved? Do I really look like I have been saved? It must be that either I am not saved, or the whole Christ saving the world thing is a cruel joke?

The scripture above speaks of those who have heard (and proclaim) the gospel as people who are in the process of being saved. That, which has been done to us, and for us, in Christ, sets us free on a journey of Spirit-led determined discovery, eye opening experience, and transformational living. Through what Christ has done, we enter into a life of becoming and being.

As we live this paradoxical existence of having been saved (in past tense) and being saved (in the present tense), the Apostle Paul tells us that we are to work out or salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2).

And all the while we stake our lives on the absurdity that God would allow himself to be mocked, tortured, and crucified by humanity. “Foolishness, certainly an all powerful God would never allow that to happen” the wise say. “Oh but in the end Jesus will have the last laugh and plunge the last sword” the devout rage.

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

real living

with fear and trembling

for all

of

us

* dancing and skipping as those who HAVE BEEN SAVED

Ephesians 2:4-10

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

On this side of the empty tomb we are assured that we have been saved. Our salvation is a COMPLETED ACT in Christ. Through faith, we lay claim that our salvation is an accomplished act that was completed solely by Christ in his work on the cross. Scripture like the one above attest to God’s action and our passivity in this accomplishment.

But it is at this juncture that our passivity comes to an end and our activity becomes pointed and passionate. God’s action on our behalf comes with a purpose, that we should reflect God’s love in good works that have been prepared in advance for us to carry out. It is for this purpose that we have been created. This translation invites us to “walk” in these good works.

I don’t think God would be offended. I think it would be okay if we danced, and ran, and hopped, and skipped in these good works instead?

barabbas

Barabbas is a fictional novel written by Par Lagerkvist about the life of Barabbas (the actual person for whom Jesus died) after the resurrection. The book won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1951 and is really a parable about the life that is lived by those for whom Christ died. In the end, Barabbas, by a twist of fate and his own doing, finds himself crucified with a group of Christians:

“And so they were led out to be crucified. They were chained together in pairs, and, as they were not an even number, Barabbas came last in the procession, not chained to anyone. It just turned out like that. In this way, too, it happened that he hung furthest out in the rows of crosses.

A large crowd had collected, and it was a long time before it was all over. But the crucified spoke consolingly and hopefully to each other the whole time. To Barabbas nobody spoke.

When dusk fell the spectators had already gone home, tired of standing there any longer. And besides, by that time the crucified were all dead.

Only Barabbas was left hanging there alone, still alive. When he felt death approaching, that which he had always been so afraid of, he said out into the darkness, as though he were speaking to it:

---To thee I deliver up my soul.

And then he gave up the ghost.”

he is risen

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

death on a friday afternoon

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

“This day you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

“Woman, behold your son.” John 19:26-27

”My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?” Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46

“I thirst.” John 19:28

“It is finished.” John 19:30

“Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46

footwashing

We call this evening Maundy Thursday which is rooted in the new mandate that Jesus gives us to love one another in John chapter 13. Click here to visit Wiki for a pretty good summary of the history of Maundy Thursday.

This evening we also remember Jesus and the manner in which he washed his disciple's feet as an example of service and love. Click here to visit a website with some amazing artwork depicting Jesus and his footwashing.

they can be like a sun

They can be like the sun, words.

They can do for the heart

what light can

for a field.




St John of the Cross
1542-1591

mission outposts

One thing that I love about Catholic churches, particularly in Arizona, California, and Mexico, is the way that these buildings sit with their doors wide open, welcoming any and all who happen by. There is something very spiritual about walking into a centuries old mission church that has been an outpost for Christ’s message of love and redemption for so long. Click here to see the amazing history of this outpost for Christ that has celebrated over 400 Easters!

living as the saved

As we move into holy week and consider our Lenten journey, we turn to think about our own lives in relation to the work of Christ- giving his life in order that we may have a life of freedom. What kind of life are we living? When we look back at life’s end, will we be able to tell each other we have lived a good life that is worthy of the one who died in order that we may live?

This scene from Saving Private Ryan depicts Ryan as he visits the grave of one of the men who has given his life in Ryan’s stead. Ryan’s entire life has been lived in relation to this man who has died in his place.

peter mayer: holy now

This is an absolutely amazing song.

what would jesus do with a hummer?

This series of videos is pretty good humor as we look at ourselves as the church.

amen

kid rock- rockin with Jesus in his heart

I have to tell you that I am not a Kid Rock fan. Not for any particular reason, he is just not someone whose music really resonates with me. I must be getting old. This video has me second guessing however (not my aging mind you).

Anyway, It is worth the time to read what Kelly Fryer posted about Kid Rock's upcoming tour and watch the video posted above.

Note to Kid- You don't "send your kids to church," you bring them into a Christ-centered community that will embrace them and teach them about God's love and their call to extend that love into the world.

Perhaps part of our problem is the fact that we are "sending our children to church" instead of doing the hard work as adults of being communities rooted in Christ's radical call to love our neighbor beyond measure.

new monasticism

Click here to check out Church of the Apostles, a new urban church that has emerged out of the Lutheran tradition in the Seattle area.

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 02

Here is a comment that was posted about this video parody:

"This video shows me how Christianity, little by little, is becoming the religion it claims not to be.

Don't get me wrong, I, myself am a christian. However, I feel that many of us have forgotten how to be ordinary, everyday people. I think if we learned to be "Christ Followers" more than "Christians", then there's a good possibility that people will want to get to know the Christ that lives in us, and want to know him for themselves."

Food for thought as we engage the world: in the name of Christ, or as one who follows him, or as a disciple, or as a Christian. The name we use to describe ourself is not near as important as the life we live in relation to those we encounter along the way.

who are these spirited musicians?

loans that change lives

Have you heard of Kiva and the work that they are doing connecting people with means to people with needs? Click here to check this site out and consider the implications for the ushering in of God's kingdom....

Lord, when did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?

Perhaps on March 22nd?

seven habits of highly ineffective churches

Here is an article that was sent to me by a friend that was written by an author named Anthony Robinson that affords us the opportunity to laugh at ourselves and also to TURN and change.

ON THE THEORY that a capacity to laugh at ourselves and our foibles is good for the soul, I recently wrote a piece for use in my own denomination, the United Church of Christ, called "The Seven Habits of Highly Ineffective Churches."
I suspect it can be generalized, with some mental editing, to temples, synagogues and other religious congregations.

Tongue in cheek, here it is:

1. Elevate mediocrity to a spiritual discipline. Figure out where average falls and aim below there. Doing things with excellence, joy and flair may make someone uncomfortable. God doesn't really expect much anyhow.

2. Take no risks. A successful practice of risk avoidance is often best achieved by sending any and all new ideas to a minimum of four boards or committees who understand it's their role to say no to any new ideas. This process may need to be reinforced by remarks noting how a particular idea might make the church liable, cost money or ruffle feathers.

3. Practice the following evangelism strategy: "If they want us, they know where to find us." Assume that everyone does know where you are and what you are. It also can be helpful if your building looks like a medieval fortress. If you don't have that going for you, encourage ushers and greeters to look like palace guards as they perform their role.

4. Blame early and often. Maintaining dysfunction in a congregation is made easier if scapegoats are regularly identified. In some congregations, ministers make wonderful scapegoats. You may also blame "newcomers," or "people who don't understand how we do things in this church." If all else fails, blame the conference, the denomination or Satan.

5. Always be prepared to make an account of the excuses that are within you. Have an all-purpose excuse such as, "I've just been so busy" (elaborate at great length just how busy you are, implying that no one else is busy). Occasionally try out a creative new excuse, such as, "Our dog ate the printer-ink cartridge and required an emergency appendectomy. He is now very busy, too."

6. Make it clear to all that the job of the pastor(s) and staff is to keep everyone, meaning church members, happy. Think of your church as the "Love Boat" and the pastor as the cruise director and activity planner. The job of clergy and staff members is to keep everyone on board happy. If someone is unhappy, it's a sure sign your pastor is not doing the job.

7. Spend as little money as possible. Even though you may enjoy spending money on personal things like a car or a cruise, you can demonstrate your commitment to modesty and simple lifestyle at church. The very best programs cost nothing. And why would your church building need renovation? If it was good enough for your grandparents, it'll be good enough for your grandchildren.

The other half and literally the flip side of the booklet is, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Churches." But we'll save those tips for another time.

Churches, temples and synagogues have a high calling -- to deepen the spiritual lives of their members. And yet they are very human institutions beset by human foibles and, yes, sin. In this, of course, they are not unlike other voluntary groups, companies and other institutions. Sometimes it's good to laugh at these things.

What's even better than laughing at our foibles are the countless people in congregations who, despite frustrations and challenges, continue to work and serve with flair, courage and good humor. Such wonderful people manage to remind us all of the grace and love that often go unseen or are taken for granted in our various communities of faith.

After all, it's no great thing to be active and engaged when everything is going swimmingly. It is a great thing when people persist when frustration is real and change of ineffective habits is slow in coming. Hats off to those who persist!

changing landscape part ii

From 1990 to 2000 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America grew by 26,431 members in the greater Mpls/St. Paul metro area. This represents a growth rate of 6.8 percent over the ten-year period. This is in many ways quite concerning when we consider that the population for the metro area grew at 16.9 percent and the growth rate across all faith communities was 11.8 percent.

But considering that 9 of the 11 mainline protestant denominations decreased in membership at an average decline of 16.9 percent, the ELCA would seem to be doing a better job than its mainline counterparts in at least retaining its own members.

Or consider this: 56.5 percent of the population of the MSP metro is reported as adherents compared to 91 percent in Jackson County in rural SW Minnesota or to only 37 percent adherents in Seattle or Portland.

The religious landscape is indeed changing at a rapid rate right here in the heart of Lutherandom. Click here to visit an interesting site with everything you would like to know about demographics and adherents to particular faith traditions.

connecting people who care with people in need

Check out these two sites that are trying to connect people who have skills and a passion to help others with people who are in need of help. Ark Alimghty was introduced in conjunction with the movie Evan Almighty. Favorville is modeled after Craig’s list in the manner that it connects people.

be the music

I am
a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through-
listen to this
music.




The longing to live a life that is a creative and spirit-filled expression of Christ's love in the world has been on the human heart for nearly two thousand years since his disciples found an empty tomb and encountered a risen Lord. This poetic expression is from Hafiz, a Persian poet from the 14th century.

a deeper well within

Click here to visit an organization that we lifted up last fall as we considered our responsibility to the global community in response to Christ's invitation to meet him as we give water to the thirsty in Matthew chapter 25. Let the living water flow...

share the well

The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus, to the Samaritan woman at the well

buzz said the bee, luv said JC

How do we act intelligently and with common purpose in community? How do we collectively determine the most advantageous plan of action within a Christ-centered spiritually discerning missional community?

Martin Luther would suggest that the work of Christ allows us to regain our proper creaturehood in relationship to God. If our creaturehood is restored in Christ, then perhaps our organization should become more organic and creature like?

“Simple creatures following simple rules [like maybe a rule of love?], each one acting on local information…with complex behavior coordinated by relatively simple interactions…”

Check out this article on swarm theory and the way that its premise (and promise) may influence spirit led missional engagement in the world.

"I was a stranger and you welcomed me..."

One of the mandates from Christ in Matthew chapter 25 is to welcome the stranger. Click here to view an organization that is welcoming the stranger, sees the changing landscape of North American culture, and is working to expand the kingdom through the tough work of crossing cultural boundaries.

capturing imagination

There are some creative ideas that capture our imagination so fully that you cannot help but see God's fingerprints all over them. Click here to visit an organization that impacts the world and lays hold of your imagination.

U2 YAHWEH (Live Chicago 2005 Acoustic)

Check out the first entry on this blog for a little history of this song and the River of Joy community.

Great version of a postmodern Psalm.

religious landscape, marketplace, or God's place?

Click here to view and article based on recent data collected and released about the changing religious landscape in North America. It is an interesting article but I find it a little disturbing that the metaphor/language that is used for describing those who are spiritual is one of consumer/provider. According to the article, we live in a "dynamic religious marketplace" that is "highly competitive."

I guess my point is this, it is only a competitive marketplace if you are by design setting forth a product for public consumption. If we are in the transformation and impact in the world business, then the whole language of competition, marketing, attraction, etc, goes out the window. Anyone else see some mustache hair measuring here?

recaps of first three teachings

Find summaries of the teachings we have had in worship the first three weeks of Lent below. If you were not able to attend, didn't understand what I was talking about because I was unclear about something or you were checking out for a while, thought I was crazy and wanted to weigh-in, or just want to see what we are teaching about in this season take few minutes to read below.

I will recap the teachings for weeks four and five during week six as well. Hope that this journey to the cross together is blessing you as you travel.

Our theme in worship has been TURN so we are examining different definitions of this word and how they play out in our journey to the cross.

week one recap- Feb 9

Scripture: Matthew 4, Genesis 3 and 4- the temptation of Christ in the wilderness

Turn definition: to change or alter the nature, character, or appearance of


Here we looked at the temptation of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry comparing the three temptations by Satan that Jesus denies to the first three transgressions described in the Bible. At the outset of his ministry, Jesus overcomes three temptations: a temptation of the body (‘change these stones to bread’), a temptation of religious arrogance ‘(throw yourself from the temple and angels will surely save you’), and a temptation of power (‘worship me and all the world’s kingdoms are yours’). These stand juxtaposition to the first three transgressions of the Bible which are: Adam and Eve with the apple (transgression of the body), Cain murdering his brother Abel (a transgression of religious arrogance), and Lamech declaring his power and vengeance to be 10 times more fierce than God’s (a transgression of power).

Nutshell: Jesus comes to overcome the primal brokenness that humanity is unable to mitigate without outside help from God. Jesus comes to change or alter the nature, character, or appearance of humanity.

week two recap- Feb 16

Scripture: John 3- Nicodemus and being born again

Turn definition: to prevail on a person to change or reorder the course of his or her life

Here we took a look at probably the most well know verse in the entire Bible, John 3:16 and the story of Nicodemus that precedes the verse. In response to Jesus’ call for him to be reborn, Nicodemus asks ‘if I have already been born then how can I be born again?’ We looked at the way that we live in an if/then world where we are inundated with choices and decisions that are based on if/then premises. These if/then premises provide an order to life: If I work hard, then I am rewarded; if I make poor decisions, then there are consequences; if someone breaks the law, then they should be punished.

An if/then world provides stability and trustworthiness to our lives. But this world is far from perfect. If my boss is dishonest, then my job is in jeopardy; if a person is born into poverty and does not get an education then their chance for a life of despair increases; if a person has a stroke, then their life and those they love will forever be changed. So while an if/then world is stable, more or less predictable and manageable, it is not God’s intent for the world as it allows for the life-strickening and defeating influence of wickedness, despair, and death.

In contrast to this if/then living is the promise of a new grammar for living that is found in John 3:16. BECAUSE of God’s love of the world, THERFORE God sent his only son Jesus Christ, IN ORDER THAT those who believe in him may have a life eternal. The gospel of Jesus Christ is that the if/then world that we are accustomed to is being replaced by a new kingdom that is based in this new because, therefore, in order that grammar that shapes our common existence as this new kingdom comes. This kingdom living grammar places God’s love as revealed in Christ as the central point in all of history and calls us into a new life (a life eternal, a life for the ages) that is born out of this centrality of Christ in our lives.

Frequently, the gospel is misrepresented and given to us in an if/then construct. In its simplest form this construct of the gospel (that is not the gospel at all) looks like this: If you believe in Jesus Christ, then you will go to heaven when you die. Such a construct ignores the gospel’s essential rootedness in God’s love of the world and replaces the primacy of Christ’s action with our own if/then decision. Further, this construct fails to call us into a rebirthed new life in this world that God loves. This construct allows us to put a check mark by another good if/then decision that we have made and does not call us into the new kingdom reality that is rooted in living our lives in a because, therefore, in order that manner.

Nutshell: The gospel of Jesus Christ prevails upon us to change or reorder the course of our lives in response to Christ's because, therefore, in order that challenge.

week three recap- Feb 23rd

Scripture: John 4- the woman at the well

Turn definition: to direct one's thought, attention, aspiration, etc., toward or away from someone or something

Here we took a look at the story of Jesus with the woman at the well in John chapter four. Our intent was simple, to dwell in this story in order that we would know Jesus more fully. We used an ancient practice of focusing spiritually called Lectio Divina.

The goal of this teaching was to deepen our understanding of the manner in which Christ finds us in the stories that are told about him in scripture. Knowing, experiencing, and living through the stories of Christ that are told in scripture provides us with the necessary lens to discern the activity of God in the world. If we do not know who Christ is, his teachings, his holy take on life and humanity, we cannot begin to make spiritual assessments of the world around us that are in any way authentically Christian. We need to know these stories, which means that we need to read our Bibles.

Nutshell: In order to cultivate and develop our capacity to bear fruit the world as those who are called to action through God’s love in Christ, we are wise to direct our thought, attention, and aspirations toward Christ as revealed in Scripture.

nap time

Could be that you need to take a soul nap in the shade and to give yourself a little more grace.

Here is a link to a site that lifts up a wonderfully gifted missionally engaged child of God.

ancient spirituality

Interested in exploring contemplative prayer like lectio divina or centering prayer as spiritual disciplines? Here is a link to a good website for these ancient practices that are resurgent in 21st century spirituality.

Derek Webb on engaging culture

Some of you have been listening to Derek Webb over the last few weeks. Here is a short interview where he challenges us to dig into who Jesus is and what he says as we posture ourselves in the world.

Jesus Painting

What makes this so powerful? the titles at the beginning? The transformation before your eyes? The talent of the artist? How do you experience it if you hit the mute on your computer and watch without the music that supports the story that sustains the picture itself?

unconquerable grace

One of the characteristics of God’s life changing amazing grace is the manner in which it takes up residence and will not depart from the center of despair, brokenness, and human tragedy.

God’s grace through Christ- resident in the battle against slavery.

God’s grace through Christ- resident in the battle against hunger.

God’s grace through Christ- resident in the battle of patients and families in hospital rooms every day.

God’s grace through Christ- so powerful that absolutely no power of this world is capable of defeating it and separating us from the love of God.

As Paul, a onetime persecutor of followers of Jesus writes, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s grace through Christ- resident in all of life.

amazing grace at work in the world

What does God’s amazing grace look like in the world in which we live?


This amazing grace of which we speak and sing wouldn’t be so amazing if it only came out of the closet a few times a century to energize people for the sake of the world on monumental issues like slavery.

What makes God’s grace so amazing is the way that it finds its way into the world in the creative and redemptive work of ordinary people. Check out Project FoodStock, a grassroots effort to stop hunger that took root in Lakeville but whose seeds the Spirit is blowing across Dakota County and the entire metro.

Chris Tomlin - Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)

Have you seen the movie yet? if you have this will testify and witness to the power of the gospel to transform individuals and God's entire creation. If you have not seen the movie, check out this video to get a glimpse of what the gospel at work in the world looks like.

Amazing Grace History

Posted again by request.

measuring mustache hair (part two)

The challenge that we face in measuring transformation and life-giving impact in the world as indices related to our effectiveness as church, is that these elements are neither easily quantifiable nor readily visible. You cannot count transformation in the same manner as you count people in pews. You cannot count life-giving impact in the world in the same manner you can count offering, Sunday school children, confirmation students, giving units, number of staff or clergy, or members.

Transformation and life-giving impact rarely carry the criteria of empirical measurement that we are accustomed to having as we assess the world around us. It would be ridiculous to stand up and state, “we had 7 transformations last month.” “We had 4 life-giving impacts.” These goals that we strive to achieve as the church when we engage the world around us, simply do not fall into the realm of the numerically relatable. Oh for sure we can quantify how many meals we served or how many people we clothed but this scarcely captures the depth and profundity of this type of missional engagement.

I think we would be better served in considering a new (or rather very old) measurement matrix. This ancient/future measurement falls into the realm of what could be called the narratively relatable. Transformation always comes with a story. Impact in the world always comes with a story. If our goals as a Christ following community are transformation and life-giving impact, these elements by their very nature must be shared in truth telling story form.

And this truth telling story form is nothing more than what the early church called witness. Biblically, we are not called to be defense attorneys for God, or judge and jury of the world, or prosecutors of all the wicked people around us, or bailiffs bent on keeping world order, or unbiased court reporters, or grieving family in the gallery as the world we know has changed around us.

We are called to be witnesses.

Truth tellers, concerning what is important to Jesus, the one we call Lord.

Truth tellers, concerning Christ’s work in transforming us as individuals and as community.

Truth tellers, concerning the work God does through us in the world.

measuring mustaches

In a previous lifetime I worked for a large corporation that measured everything. No really, I mean everything. Honestly, EVERYTHING. If an auditor came in to your operation, one of the things that would be evaluated was the length of the mustache hair of your employees. Seriously, demerits for excessive length of mustache hair. IF you bite on this note card and your mustache hair touches the card, THEN your employee, and you, are out of compliance.

In the church we have a whole lot of mustache hair measuring going on. The problem is, we rarely mark it down and review it with our brother or sister for their growth and benefit [I would question if their actually is a benefit, and further argue that such review is defeating for those involved]. In most churches we are too polite and too ‘Christian’ to honestly address our brother’s and sister’s shortcomings so we tend to just store our evaluations up for future use and reference. Sorry for the cynicism so early in the morning, but this is a real problem for us as those who are called to action in the world for the sake of Jesus Christ. We mustache hair measure worship style, music, sermons, staff hours, the behavior of our leaders and colleagues, worship attendance (or lack thereof), positions on 16th century theological arguments, and an assortment of other self determined important elements of community faith life. To what end?

Do any of these indices have anything to do with our primary calling as Jesus following communities or do they reflect our personal histories within faith communities and our own personal preferences?

What would it look like if the two elements that we measured as the church were transformation (of ourselves, of our faith communities, and of our larger communities) and our impact in engaging the world in areas of life-giving and life-sustaining focus?

Transformation and life-giving impact in the world.

Beats measuring mustache hair.

turn, turn, turn

Eclessiates 3:1-8

3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.