19
Jan
Changing the world…
“People don’t want to give anything to a church just to help them flush the toilets and turn on the lights. But if you can show them that you are changing the world, then they will make substantial sacrifice.”
Reflecting on something Chuck Booher said while at the Londen Institute I believe that Sunday’s Serve Gathering was a tremendous opportunity for people to see how Harmony is changing the world.
I only hope that we can take parts of the stories that were shared Sunday and bring them to the entire congregation over the next year. I guess it will be my job to make sure that happens.
17
Jan
In a pit…reflections on the rest.
Reflection on the last 82 pages of “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”
In Chapter 6 for whatever reason I was struck by a verse of scripture Mark quotes Matthew 11:12 , “…and forceful men lay hold of it.” I don’t know why but it never grabbed me like it grabbed me today. The Kingdom of God forcefully advances and is not some kiddie ride at the theme park, but involves life and death circumstances and only those whose intent is to forcefully advance the Gospel should be included. However, this forceful advancement is not with violence or vengeance, but is often at the cost of willing to be beaten to death.
Over the last decade I wonder if we just made being a Christian look way too easy. We failed to offend for the sake of the seeker. We failed to confuse for the sake of the prideful. We failed to be willing to fail for the sake of living in the known instead of the unknown. We cannot accidentally stumble into the Kingdom of God, but we must forcefully resist the evil in the world at every second of every day.
16
Jan
In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day – Reflections on the first 100 pages
I’m reading several books for class and in the context of that class I am to write an interactive discussion with some of the things the books highlight. I felt like that since I’m writing them for class I might as well share them with the world. So, here it goes.
My first 100 pages of “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”
In chapter 2 Mark writes, “When it comes to God there are no degrees of difficulty.” This truth resonates deep within me. It begged the question, “How often do I excuse the likelihood that God will intervene, solve the problem, heal the sick person, because it’s just a really big problem.”
In December, Mom discovered that she had some spots on her lungs and her liver. Today we know it to be a recurrence of her uterine cancer, which was thought to have been contained and removed three years ago. So many times before as I have prayed for people who have been infected with such a serious disease my prayers were soft. They would begin with qualifiers like “God if it is your will” or “God I know you can, but if you don’t.” In some way I was trying to give God a way out just in case what I asked for was not given.
With this perception that there are no degrees of difficulty with God then I realize that I’m not making a list for Santa Clause with a smattering of really big gifts and a few small ones just so I got something from him. If God is God, then I just need to wear Him out with my requests until He gives me what I desire, or until He reveals to me what my heart should really be asking for.
In chapter 3 Mark shares a story of Sarah when faced with fear was able to face her fears because of one reason, “I was called.” Recently I’ve had conversations about calling. I’ve asked questions about how old one has to be to know they have been called to do something. Should we limit short-term mission participation to only those who feel like they have been called to go?
While these questions aren’t necessarily addressed in this chapter I felt like Sarah’s one reason to go is really the only reason we should ever have for going to do anything. Many times we answer a general call like “Go and make disciples of all nations,” or “pray without ceasing,” but some times there is a specific call of God on our lives meant solely for us like Moses being called to go back to Egypt, or me being called to preach and lead the church. I believe we need to spend a lot more time quietly discerning our paths into ministry.
The last thing I want to mention is in Chapter 5. Mark summarizes the parable of the talents by saying, “The reward for good work was MORE work.” I often sense in churches that there is a tendency to want to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Pastors will lead a church to grow even beyond their own expectations and then prepare for retirement and try to ride the momentum as far as it will carry them thinking the reward for their hard work was rest, relaxation, full time vacation. In reality, we who lead should expect the workload and responsibility to increase. While that actually excites me I think that it might exhaust others I work with, and even one I live with.