woah...didn't expect to see you here?

(preface)

I work for a church. Within the last year and a half, our church has expanded to 3 sites. I am the site director at one of these 3 sites, the Christian Life Center (CLC). It is a multipurpose facility that uses a "gym" as both a worship and recreation space. Our vision statement is to "involve people in a transformational relationship with Jesus Christ through sports, recreation, and fitness ministries."

When the site was being planned/first opened, as with any new endeavor, not everyone thought it was the best idea...one of many (well intentioned) concerns was that a facility such as the CLC would only be catering to only one group of people...that it was going to be a place ONLY for young people.

(preface concluded!)

I left work for a meeting yesterday to see over 30 cars in the parking lot at the CLC. If you are new to church, 30 cars in the parking lot on a Monday morning at 10:00am typically means there is a funeral. But there was no funeral at the CLC. Instead, there were about 50 people inside for a "S.E.T." Fitness class. (Seniors Exercising Together) I stopped and reflected on this simple observation...

Less than a year ago, who would have thought that we'd be using this space on a Monday morning for fitness classes...for SENIORS...in a building which some were concerned was built just for "young people".

I smiled, got in my car, and was extremely excited. I was excited that people (members and non-members of the church) were using our church to fellowship and experience God. I was excited that I had met so many new FRIENDS through the S.E.T. group. I was excited that our mission was working.

God was working...and in simple ways, in simple activities, and in places we might not have predicted. We offer more than just fitness classes at the CLC, but who would have thought our most popular fitness ministry would be a twice a week S.E.T. class? Admittedly, not even me...

So I got to thinking...where else is God ready to WORK that I am ignoring because of perception...where else is God ready to be made apparent that we are forgetting because we assume that God has no plans to be involved there?

...because that building is obviously just for young people, because that skate park is obviously just for kids skipping school, because that mall is just full of people who have no where else to go on a hot summer day, because the people in this neighborhood are too rich/poor/white/black/etc to think about God...

Today...I believe in my SOUL that as you read this blog, TODAY Christ is WAITING for you in unexpected places.

I can't remember (I should look before I type!) any place in the Bible where Jesus says "You know what, I'm only where you take me. I only exist in places where you have decided to say my Name outloud". RATHER, I think the exact opposite is true. Christ is sitting in the neighborhood you are scared to drive through, Christ is hanging out in the mall, Christ is outside the nightclub, Christ is inside the bar, Christ is at your dinner table, Christ is inside the building which was "just for young people" waiting for you to POINT HIM OUT! You aren't taking the gospel to them...I believe the TRUTH WAS IN THE BEGINNING and IS TO COME! GOD has been, and always will be. I think GOD IS ALREADY THERE, and we're just pointing to the gospel which we are blessed to know exists...

It is my job, it is YOUR JOB to point out the elephant/gorilla/SAVIOR in the room. "Hey, Jesus is real...oh yeah, and he's ready to be talked about and affect your life right here, right now".

This random collection of thoughts was intended to imply that even in places you LEAST EXPECT HIM, Christ is waiting for you to say His name...Jesus is here. He wants to talk. He wants to be a part of your life. He is ready to bridge the gap between where you are, and where He IS...between lost and found...

...between the "building for the young" and the "old".

I couldn't have been more excited on Monday that 50 of God's children (who just happen to be between 20 and 50+ years OLDER than me) were participating in a ministry...learning about themselves, fitness, and God all in a place where we dared to think that God had no intentions of talking to them...

God is working!...right in front of you...offering you opportunities to SERVE OTHERS, and indeed to be SERVED...don't turn away from serving or receiving simply based on the "location".

I'll be praying for you right now. Will you do the same for me?