I am taking a class now called "Discipleship in the New Testament" we talk about... thats right, discipleship. Right now we are walking through the book of Mark and looking at what was meant by discipleship there. It is really pretty amazing stuff.
Today we were talking about what it really means to follow Jesus, surprise surprise, and we came to the place where Jesus begins telling his disciples about what is going to happen to him. They, of course, mention that his talk is not becoming of a Messiah, so he should cut it out. Then he mentions again, that he must be crucified, and Peter rebukes him. Why were the disciples so upset by Jesus talking this way?
I think it is because they understood something that we often times do not. They understood that if this is how their Messiah would be treated, then they, if they continued to follow him, must also give up their lives. That was just not something they really were all about at the moment.
The gospels are so great to read because there is always someone you can identify with. The disciples are idiots, they don't want Jesus to be crucified because they don't want to pick up their own cross. We are idiots because we just want Jesus' crucifixion to stay in 30 AD. If Jesus is the one we follow, we must be willing to give up our lives. Let me encourage you all, moving to Denver, moving away from loved ones and giving up secure jobs, towns where you know your way around, places where everybody knows your name will be difficult. But, if you are called to do this thing, God will be faithful. This is the path we walk, the way of the cross. I think in our culture it is much more subtle. We will not be persecuted, but we may be broke for awhile. We will not be crucified, but we may be lonely. We will not be made to stand trial, but we may suffer through trials.
For you, taking up your cross may mean not coming to Denver, I don't know. I hope very much that you are listening, struggling, and talking with God though. Dr. Gloer is fond of saying, when driving at night, he can't see all the way to Dallas, but he can see as far as his headlights go, and that is enough. God may not have made it all clear yet, but again, pray. I am praying for you, mostly that you will all come, but also that God would guide you. What do you need prayer for now? What part of taking up your cross scares you right now? How can we help?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Change the World!
I think the great hope we have is that we will change the world. We have to believe that. The world we are in is full of depression, greed, sin and suffering. We know that our world seems to be going down the pipes, but I think some of the great hope we have is that we really can change the world.
Really.
We can change the world.
We can make a difference. We can bring the light of Christ to those who have lived in oppression and darkness. Our great hope is that Jesus died and rose from the grave, and we can follow him, someday soon. What changes do you see the world needs?
Robin and I are excited some of you are coming to visit in a week and a half, and I appreciate the update Bethany, the rest of you slackers need to post an update. Love you guys and pray for you by name every night. Peace and joy to you.
Really.
We can change the world.
We can make a difference. We can bring the light of Christ to those who have lived in oppression and darkness. Our great hope is that Jesus died and rose from the grave, and we can follow him, someday soon. What changes do you see the world needs?
Robin and I are excited some of you are coming to visit in a week and a half, and I appreciate the update Bethany, the rest of you slackers need to post an update. Love you guys and pray for you by name every night. Peace and joy to you.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Family Systems
Hopefully, our church will be a lot like a family in Denver. There are obvious reasons for that, most people really love their family, family know the truth about you, family are those people you can really count on. But what I am talking about this time is a little different.
When does a person become a family? When there is more than one committed right? So when Robin and I got married, we became a family, we were now a small family. When we have our first child, we will no longer be the same family. But we will also not be completely different. We will be the same people, but the family dynamic is not the same. That child will never know what it is like to be in a family of two, until the child gets married. Now imagine we have another child, that child becomes a part of a new, different family. The old family traits are still there, but by being born the family has changed, it has grown, but the dynamic will be different. The second child will not know what it is like to be the only child, and the older will have to adjust to accommodate the younger. Many times this leads to some resentment on the elder's side. Many times the middle child is constantly stuck in the land of its not fair, I know because I am one. This happens if the children don't adjust and change.
Now, how should a church be like that? I think, and this especially applies to us as we will be a small, young church, we have to adjust to new parts of our family. We have to no longer be the same church that we were before. Our character as a church should remain, our direction shouldn't change, but maybe we can adjust how we go about it. If you had a job, but someone comes on who can lighten your load some and is gifted and enjoys doing that particular job, maybe it will be time to move over and adjust the family. This is why Jesus told the disciples the parable of the workers in the vineyard. He knew that they would often resent the latecomers, and he knows that we might too. We have an obligation to help these people to be a part of our family. How can we do that in practical ways? What else do we need to do that is like a family?
What is going on with you guys? Give me some updates, let me know you are doing ok. We are looking forward, there are nights that I can't sleep because I'm so excited, and its still more than a year away. Please pray, and I continue to pray that God would provide us a meeting place, hopefully a free building, but it may be much less. Remember also to watch LOST tomorrow night!
When does a person become a family? When there is more than one committed right? So when Robin and I got married, we became a family, we were now a small family. When we have our first child, we will no longer be the same family. But we will also not be completely different. We will be the same people, but the family dynamic is not the same. That child will never know what it is like to be in a family of two, until the child gets married. Now imagine we have another child, that child becomes a part of a new, different family. The old family traits are still there, but by being born the family has changed, it has grown, but the dynamic will be different. The second child will not know what it is like to be the only child, and the older will have to adjust to accommodate the younger. Many times this leads to some resentment on the elder's side. Many times the middle child is constantly stuck in the land of its not fair, I know because I am one. This happens if the children don't adjust and change.
Now, how should a church be like that? I think, and this especially applies to us as we will be a small, young church, we have to adjust to new parts of our family. We have to no longer be the same church that we were before. Our character as a church should remain, our direction shouldn't change, but maybe we can adjust how we go about it. If you had a job, but someone comes on who can lighten your load some and is gifted and enjoys doing that particular job, maybe it will be time to move over and adjust the family. This is why Jesus told the disciples the parable of the workers in the vineyard. He knew that they would often resent the latecomers, and he knows that we might too. We have an obligation to help these people to be a part of our family. How can we do that in practical ways? What else do we need to do that is like a family?
What is going on with you guys? Give me some updates, let me know you are doing ok. We are looking forward, there are nights that I can't sleep because I'm so excited, and its still more than a year away. Please pray, and I continue to pray that God would provide us a meeting place, hopefully a free building, but it may be much less. Remember also to watch LOST tomorrow night!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Odds and ends
Ok people, this is not going to be anything profound, but just wanted to get some things together and such. Tanner and Jessica are planning on coming into Waco on Feb 23, I think Erin and Bethany may be able to come, and I assume Grant and Desiree will be in town, so any of you other jokers think you can come in? Tyler, Brandon, dunno who else has been lurking, but basically, I think we can just eat together, Robin wants to make enchiladas, and just talk, nothing formal or anything like that. Would be fun and would give us all a chance to maybe talk in person.
Also, I am doing what is called "mentoring" over the summer. Basically, I have worked it out to work on Denver stuff and get class credit for it, pretty sweet. So, a few things that I plan on doing are by-laws, constitution and basic gameplan. Probably more, but I will let you all know. So here is where you guys can come in. If you would like me to email that stuff to you guys as I am finishing it, I would love additional input. Basically, I will just do the basic stuff, and it will all need to be ratified so that you can all have a say in how it looks. Mostly, this is just stuff we need to have done and will give me an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone type of deal. So, here is what I need, you guys to email me your addresses and also to let me know if you can help some over the summer, not sure what else we'll need. I also plan on visiting some other churches, so if you want to visit a church and let everyone know what you think, you know take notes and such, let me know. Anyway, appreciate you guys and keep praying that God would provide for us, its much closer than when Tyler first put up this blog!
Also, I am doing what is called "mentoring" over the summer. Basically, I have worked it out to work on Denver stuff and get class credit for it, pretty sweet. So, a few things that I plan on doing are by-laws, constitution and basic gameplan. Probably more, but I will let you all know. So here is where you guys can come in. If you would like me to email that stuff to you guys as I am finishing it, I would love additional input. Basically, I will just do the basic stuff, and it will all need to be ratified so that you can all have a say in how it looks. Mostly, this is just stuff we need to have done and will give me an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone type of deal. So, here is what I need, you guys to email me your addresses and also to let me know if you can help some over the summer, not sure what else we'll need. I also plan on visiting some other churches, so if you want to visit a church and let everyone know what you think, you know take notes and such, let me know. Anyway, appreciate you guys and keep praying that God would provide for us, its much closer than when Tyler first put up this blog!
Monday, January 21, 2008
No offense or anything, but...
How often do we hear that phrase, immediately followed by something that could not be taken any other way? "No offense or anything, but this food sucks." "No offense or anything, but you really need a haircut." "No offense or anything, but your ministry is dragging the whole church down."
When we get started, each of us will have roles to play. Each of us will also have jobs to do. Each of us will come up short sometimes. I will drop the ball on a sermon or two, that is a fact. But we should not accept it as something that should happen often. One thing I think we really need to work at together, is the art of thinking together. Each of us will have responsibilities, but maybe someone will have some good ideas to help you with yours. And maybe you will have some good ideas for someone else.
We need to work together to ensure that we are open to constructive criticism, and also constructive at giving criticism. "Criticism" often gets a bad name. We should not shy away from helping each other to improve what we do. If there is something about my sermons that drive you crazy, or I say "um" too much or something like that, I hope we can find a way for you to tell me. Do not walk up and say "No offense or anything, but I slept all the way through that one. That was a snoozer!" I am confident we are all going to Denver because we want have an excellent community, and I think we can each help everyone else in some ways. What do you think about all this? Is there a good way to offer some help to you? How can we work together at this to help be excellent together?
When we get started, each of us will have roles to play. Each of us will also have jobs to do. Each of us will come up short sometimes. I will drop the ball on a sermon or two, that is a fact. But we should not accept it as something that should happen often. One thing I think we really need to work at together, is the art of thinking together. Each of us will have responsibilities, but maybe someone will have some good ideas to help you with yours. And maybe you will have some good ideas for someone else.
We need to work together to ensure that we are open to constructive criticism, and also constructive at giving criticism. "Criticism" often gets a bad name. We should not shy away from helping each other to improve what we do. If there is something about my sermons that drive you crazy, or I say "um" too much or something like that, I hope we can find a way for you to tell me. Do not walk up and say "No offense or anything, but I slept all the way through that one. That was a snoozer!" I am confident we are all going to Denver because we want have an excellent community, and I think we can each help everyone else in some ways. What do you think about all this? Is there a good way to offer some help to you? How can we work together at this to help be excellent together?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Forgiveness
Robin and I have started helping with the youth at a friend's church here in Waco. We are pretty excited about it, good to be back in a church for a few months until we move. Anyway, as side note, it is by far the most welcoming, kind group of people I have ever been around. One thing I want us to think about is how we can become like that.
But onto to main topic. We talked about forgiveness in the youth Sunday School, and the old guy that led the group told a very sad story. He said that when his daughter was young, a teen aged boy came over to his house and molested her. He was obviously still in some pain about this, but he talked about how he thought for awhile that when the boy got out of jail, he would go and kill him.
Eventually, he ended up on his face in his bedroom, praying for that boy. He talked about how God was helping him still to learn how to forgive, and so I started thinking about forgiveness too. What is so astounding about forgiveness is not what it does for the one who is forgiven, but what it does for the one who forgives. Bitterness eats at us on the inside, it tears away our humanity, it threatens to turn us into something less than human, and in the process tempts us to think of others as less human. As a church, we must help one another to forgive. Let me encourage you now, God wants you to forgive for your sake.
Maybe not much to comment on this time around, but again, if there is something you would like to talk about go ahead and mention it and I'll come up with something. Let me tell you all some of the things I am praying for, they may or may not happen, but maybe you can join me. I am praying that God will provide us a building. That some church would be closing its doors, or some other business and that they would just want to give it to us. I am praying that we would all be ready to move at around the same time. I am praying that God will provide jobs for each of us, places we can be salt and light in the world. I am praying that we find a way to be united as God wants us to. What about you guys? As I mentioned before, we want everyone to come into town for some Saturday afternoon, we can cook dinner and just catch up, nothing official, but maybe dream a bit and encourage one another.
But onto to main topic. We talked about forgiveness in the youth Sunday School, and the old guy that led the group told a very sad story. He said that when his daughter was young, a teen aged boy came over to his house and molested her. He was obviously still in some pain about this, but he talked about how he thought for awhile that when the boy got out of jail, he would go and kill him.
Eventually, he ended up on his face in his bedroom, praying for that boy. He talked about how God was helping him still to learn how to forgive, and so I started thinking about forgiveness too. What is so astounding about forgiveness is not what it does for the one who is forgiven, but what it does for the one who forgives. Bitterness eats at us on the inside, it tears away our humanity, it threatens to turn us into something less than human, and in the process tempts us to think of others as less human. As a church, we must help one another to forgive. Let me encourage you now, God wants you to forgive for your sake.
Maybe not much to comment on this time around, but again, if there is something you would like to talk about go ahead and mention it and I'll come up with something. Let me tell you all some of the things I am praying for, they may or may not happen, but maybe you can join me. I am praying that God will provide us a building. That some church would be closing its doors, or some other business and that they would just want to give it to us. I am praying that we would all be ready to move at around the same time. I am praying that God will provide jobs for each of us, places we can be salt and light in the world. I am praying that we find a way to be united as God wants us to. What about you guys? As I mentioned before, we want everyone to come into town for some Saturday afternoon, we can cook dinner and just catch up, nothing official, but maybe dream a bit and encourage one another.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Politics
Maybe this will draw Tyler back in... or Brandon. Right now we are in the midst of a huge campaign, the primaries are being decided and such. I personally think that there is no one that we as a church should absolutely support. I think each has some pros and some cons, personally, I really like Barack Obama. But here is what I'm getting at. It is ok if one of you doesn't like him or anyone I do like. I think as a church it is important for us to try to be informed on the issues, to encourage people to vote or to make their voices heard, but also to be sure that we do not try to say that "Jesus would vote for Huckabee" or something foolish like that.
Many have horrible feelings toward church because church often over steps the boundaries and begins to try to elect "God's man" or whatever. I guess, this is kind of hard to get at, what I'm wondering is, what role do you all think we should play in these types of things? Should we try to make all the candidates known, and their stances on issues so that our people can be informed, should we just ignore politics all together? This is complicated, and I don't expect us to figure it out completely, but I do think it is something we should try to come to agreement on. Hopefully we can agree to disagree on candidates, while finding some common ground about how to talk about politics. What do you guys think?
Many have horrible feelings toward church because church often over steps the boundaries and begins to try to elect "God's man" or whatever. I guess, this is kind of hard to get at, what I'm wondering is, what role do you all think we should play in these types of things? Should we try to make all the candidates known, and their stances on issues so that our people can be informed, should we just ignore politics all together? This is complicated, and I don't expect us to figure it out completely, but I do think it is something we should try to come to agreement on. Hopefully we can agree to disagree on candidates, while finding some common ground about how to talk about politics. What do you guys think?
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