The truth is...

Before I begin... it isn't that I don't care about proper grammar or sentence structure, its just that I don't REALLY care THAT MUCH about proper grammar or sentence structure... :)

I don't blog much anymore, but when I do I find it therapeutic.  Tonight, in multiple conversations and encounters, a simple truth was revealed to me... a truth that I "know", but don't take to heart and act upon MYSELF often enough.

The truth is... enough.  

No, the truth doesn't fix every problem.  No, the truth isn't always exciting.  No, the truth doesn't necessarily lead to a better paying job, a happier marriage, a well adjusted child, or a front row ticket to a foo fighters concert.  

Still, truth is enough.  Truth is what happened, how you feel... it is genuine, authoritative, completing, and sometimes ugly-nakedness.  Its the truth.  

Now before I/we devolve into the madness of "relativity" (which is an entire sub-set of crazy that I am swimming through in mediation these days), I'm not here to play any "true is only true from a certain point of view" games.  

I'm NOT that smart?!?   What I'm talking about is, "I should have treated that person better" or "I shouldn't have lied" or "Embellishing that story did nothing for me OR the person listening".  I'm talking about sharing what is real - what happened or what you REALLY think and feel - instead of hiding behind what you think someone WANTS to hear or is EASIER for them to hear.  

I sometimes make those mistakes with truth too, and they are often well intentioned mistakes.  But they are still mistakes, and they are not the truth.  Why do I sometimes feel "truth" has to be sexier in order to cut through the hyper-stimulating noise of life?  (did I just answer that question just by stating the question? DEEP!?!)

I pray. Not often enough. (thats the truth)  I pray tonight that I/we tell more truths than partial truths.  I pray that I get comfortable breathing the truth.  (up, up, here we go up on the soap box)  I don't read Jesus the Christ as a man who was uncomfortable with truth.  He spoke truths, often difficult to hear, tempered with love and purpose.  I tell you the truth, love God and love your neighbor... all the law is wrapped up in that.  Not too sexy.  But truth.

I want to follow the truth. I want to be more honest.  I want to live without guilt or a spirit which wonders what might have been different if I spoke simply...

Truth does not seek to impress.  Truth does not seek to empower.  Truth is a companion; a partner that asks for you to treat it properly.  Just shine a light toward it, and let it speak for itself.  

This wasn't my way of confessing to robbing a bank, or to popping a child's balloon at the fair.  I'm probably making much out of a little...

...and you know what, hopefully its for the last time in a long time.  

Lord in Your mercy... hear my prayer.

here we go again...

If you would have told me a few years ago that a chicken sandwich restaurant and a man who makes duck calls for a living would answer a few questions about their beliefs (the comments themselves not withstanding because they could indeed be described as "controversial") that would temporarily send a whole mess of people in this country into a tailspin of hate and closed mindedness, I would have said...

...yup. sounds about right... humanity at its finest...and that's sad.

I know its not that simple.  Words and comments which make national news can and do hurt people and also send provocative messages to the public.  Those comments, especially when they are different from our own beliefs, mean that someone might be questioning our choices or our beliefs??... Often that does make us angry... perhaps because we can't understand how someone could have an opinion or belief different than our own?

I know that I don't have an answer about every social/political/religious/scientific debate we find in our world today.  I'm probably not adding a whole heck of a lot by preaching in a blog either?!?  I know I need the wisdom of someone wiser than myself (so, personally, I turn to God and the scripture for HELP because I feel lost right now!!!!).

But, I also feel like I KNOW that shouting at either side of an issue with more comments like,

"BIGOT, IGNORANT FOOL, RACIST, SEXIST, GAY, QUEER, HOMOPHOBE, RELIGIOUS FREAK, RIGHT WING NUT, LIBERAL TREE HUGGER, IDIOT"

does nothing to further the command I heard to "Love God with everything I have and to love my neighbor as myself".  

So today, I will pray for our world.  May God grant his peace and comfort to those who are hurting, and may the love of Christ inspire us to serve and love one another for His glory this season.

(and off the soap-box)

yup... bald. Can you see it too?

Yup. I'm even more bald than I realized...and I hate it.

I had to get a pair of dress pants altered today. I've been working out and, while I haven't lost weight, I've changed shape a little bit. So drove to men's warehouse to get the pants altered. Once I got to the store, I was asked to step up into a "hall of mirrors" to have the pants marked for alteration.

I have a love hate relationship with mirrors. I was/am infatuated with looking at myself in mirrors. I was the kid (am the adult) who just stood there and made faces at himself to see what they looked like?! But today was different. I had a mission as soon as I saw that crazy 48-sided mirror. I was gonna look at the back of my head...

While I didn't find a full fledged "hole" in the hair yet, it is certainly lighter, thinner, and AWFUL!! In my own little silly mind, my hair is all I have. I've always had thick crazy hair. My hair is ME!?! And now, I'm on the slow painful road to Andre Agassi. (no offense Andre...) Funny how I was almost completely content with my age/life/etc today until I saw the back of my own head.

The same thing happens to me just about every darn time I open up my Bible to read. I know what's inside of that book... I read it all the time for work. But really getting inside and taking the text into my soul is a lot like stepping into a hall of mirrors for me. I'm reminded of the things I've forgotten; the ways I'm called to love, the ways I'm called to serve, to obey, to teach, to be humble, to die to myself, to suffer, to receive, etc. There are days I close my Bible with the fear that my soul is on the slow painful road to Andre Agassi. Have I've lost the ability to grow hair? Have I lost the ability to bear fruit? Does everyone else know I'm "bald" but me? Why didn't anyone tell me about this?!?

About 2 years ago, as a joke, a friend of mine took a picture of the back of my head and said "Someone needed to tell you... you're starting to go bald". I was silently crushed, but it did cause me to think about how I did my hair. (Vanity, vanity)

A few months ago, I joined an accountability group. Occasionally one of the guys in the group will tell me about a similar baldness they see in my soul. It helps me to think about how I live my life, and I try to make changes and think about the way I live.

Go. Find a hall of mirrors. Take a good look at yourself. Bald is beautiful (I keep telling myself that), that is unless the baldness represents a lack of spiritual growth, spiritual fruit, or spiritual discipline. One of my favorite quotes (it hangs on my wall) is this... "the Bible is like a mirror in which you can see yourself more clearly, if you dare to look"

 Yup. I'm bald, and I'm back. I'll be praying for you... please pray for each other.

Is it the place?

Man, am I blessed...

I work in a building that is less than 3 years old. For the most part, it still looks very new. It smells nice, the carpet is pretty clean, there are nice chairs and tables, and I get to watch others appreciate the building's "new/niceness" every day.

It's no secret, I work in a NEW church. And I know the truth is that there are some people who (at very least) visited and started worshiping with us on Sundays BECAUSE it is a new church.

Is it the place? Do people really come to/stay away from church because of a building? The simple answer is YES. Whether we like it or not, the CONSUMER in us has been trained to look for value, to look for quality, and to avoid what might appear to be 'off-looking', or poorly maintained facilities. We do the same thing with malls/restaurants/parks/schools/etc.

If you haven't stopped reading yet, I want to share something with you. In a few more months/years, the building I work in won't be new anymore. If we're not careful, the holes in the walls will grow, more of the grass will die, the bricks on the outside of the building will begin to crumble, the parking lot will break-apart, the gym floor will rip, etc...

WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS?? I love that I work in a new building, but sometimes I wish I didn't. Right now, there are people who know me as the guy who works at the NEW church. I'm WORKING HARD to lose that label. I want to be known as the guy who works at the church that feeds the poor and walks with the lost.

Is it the place?? ... I think so, but only because we've let it become so. Scripture reminds me that the fruits of my life (my actions) will ultimately be what I am judged upon. What else does our community know us by if they don't see our FRUITS (God's love displayed in our actions) on display. They just know us by our buildings. The church with the big stained glass... the church with the gym... the church by the school... the old church... the new church... the church that is falling apart.

I work for a church, and I don't feel compelled to attend or worship at ANY of the places I just mentioned. But the church who LOOKS to serve, whose members are SEEN in service helping the world around them? I'd volunteer to FIX or REBUILD the old/broken/stained/smelly building which houses God's church... the church that brings glory to God by serving others.

If it is all about the place for you, if you see the community around you asking things like "why should we attend that church... its so outdated", maybe its because we haven't given them anything else to know us by...

I'm praying tonight to be a better follower of Christ. I'm pretty sure that means I have a LOT of work to do, and won't have much time to keep the church feeling SUPER new. If the church I work at falls apart in the interim, maybe you'll feel compelled to help me fix it when you see Jesus in me loving the community you live in.

(my grammar and language skills are AWFUL...)

I'll be praying for you... Please pray for each other.

Is it the time

Over the next several days I'll be working through the first paragraph of my initial Lenten post; what is keeping folks away from churches. I'm no genius, just trying to offer ideas...

Is it the time?

Our church is considering whether to add an additional worship service to the site where I am assigned. Of course, one of the first questions we ask ourselves is, "what time should the service be held?". As important as that question is for those who already gather for worship, it is more important for those who are not yet worshiping with us.

Is it the time of our services which causes new people to stay away? Possibly. In an era where 2nd jobs are more common, and when family time is more scarce than ever, perhaps the clock-time of service does matter more than we think. Perhaps gone are the days when people woke up on Sundays and thought, "man, it is probably TIME to go to church...". Perhaps time, sleep time/spare time/rest time, has become more important. So, will we simply stand on a soapbox and scream "get your priorities right and get to church on Sunday morning!!"? Back to that in a sec.

Is it that there are just more things to do during "church time"? This feeds into the last paragraph, but I've noticed that sports/club leagues/swing choirs/etc (my context) often take us away from our weekends (or old weekend routines) season after season. After a while, we get so used to being away/busy on the weekend that it becomes routine and we look to fill our weekends with more of whatever has become familiar.

Is it the time...in our lives? "I'm young/old/busy/etc, and I'll go back to church when I get the time...". I really think that this might make up a large and ignored "category" of what we would classify ignorantly as "unchurched". Those who are at least interested in the idea of God,Jesus, and even church, but have priorities which keep them away from church until it better suits their time. And WE in the church have fed them all of the insight needed to back up this theory about ignoring what we call "church". "Your relationship with God is personal, not social. God loves you, and no matter what you do, as long as you say you believe in Him, you're golden...".

In the right context, I believe the above statement has truth in it. But we've robbed a generation of an important truth regarding TIME. Time is an offering. It is a demonstration of priority. So when I ask "is it the time" that keeps you away, it is both an apology in behalf of the church for not acknowledging how much time it does take to follow Christ as it is a question about whether the 830am service is too early for you to wake up and come to church.

So, what is the answer... How arrogant would I be to suggest I had it!! But here is an idea. CHURCHES and church leaders, we can't assume the world will know about Christ if we don't offer people opportunities to come back (on the time we've given them) and hear the message of Christ. Start "church" (sharing the message of Christ and serving others as a community) at different times, in different locations, with different activities, etc. Make it worth their time so that you can teach them about how much their time matters to Christ. Maybe once we all sense the importance of worship in community and in action, serving the world and supporting each other, we'll be more apt to sacrifice a few more hours a week to enjoy the worship of God which does come with in the gathering labeled 'church'. (maybe even on Sunday? If that is important in your context...)

It is all about the time. Speaking of which, my daughter just fell asleep on my lap, so it's time to get some chores done while she sleeps!

If this post made any sense, share the idea with others. If it made you mad, or if you disagree, share that too! At least we'll be talking!

I'll be praying for you... please pray for each other.

Wanna help me with something?

Is it the time? Is it the place? Is it the people? Is it because there is no evidence? Is it because it isn't believable? Is it because it doesn't matter? Is it because it isn't worth it? Is it because it isn't good news? Is it because it is too hard? Is it because it isn't real?

(2 steps back)

Part of my job is trying to figure out what attracts and/or pushes people away from attending church. Along with that, I'm thinking about starting an alternate type of worship service at our church. As I sat down at my desk trying to figure out if/where those two things intersect, 2 more ideas thoughts came to mind:

*I better keep praying about this!
*Who would come to this service/how would I invite them?

"*" #1 seems to me to be obvious. "*"#2 isn't quite so easy. So, what better way to jump back into the blog than to ask some of my friends (and your friends/etc) the first set of questions above. What keeps you away from church? What would provoke or pique your curiosity enough to make you think about coming back?

Often we tell people to invite their friends to church. When they say no (creatively or otherwise) I think we forget to ask the follow up question... "Why not?" What is the real reason? What is their real answer? THEIR ANSWER, YOUR ANSWER, MY ANSWER IS SO VERY IMPORTANT!!!

I think corporate worship (oooh, I really dislike the word 'corporate') is a necessary part of the Christian experience. It fills a need, a desire which I believe God has for us to be in community... I think we need to be a part of a group that prays/learns/thinks/grows/serves together, and "church" seems to offer an opportunity to do those things.

SO, would you help me? Send me a note. Ask a friend. Why do people stay away from church? I'm going to spend time over lent trying to answer for myself EACH of the questions above with this blog. If you want to tag along, I'd love that. You should know, if you haven't read my blogs before, I'm NOT VERY SMART! But, I do want to find the answers...maybe you'll help me.

In the interim, I'm hoping to start a new worship service called "reCAP" at the CLC (the church where I work) on Sunday nights. It will be small and differently organized than our other worship services. We'll be quickly "recapping" the sermon of the day (3-5 minutes) in case you missed or chose not to come to church. Then, we'll attempt to "reCAPTURE" the essense/vision of the scripture used for the day (10-12 minutes). Think of it as the 2.0/next level version of the morning services, BUT with emphasis on PRACTICAL APPLICATION. There will be time for discussion, maybe an interesting video or 2, and perhaps some snacks.

WHY START ANOTHER SERVICE that perhaps NO ONE WILL COME TO??? (well, based on your feedback over the coming weeks, I may not!! :) ) My thought is that we need to better equip ourselves to not only SHARE the things we learn, but to LIVE the things we learn. We need to be better followers/disciples. This is just an attempt at digging deeper, and offering a new/different way to come together and worship.

If you're from around Ankeny, we'll start "reCAP" the Sunday after Easter and maybe I'll see you there. (unless you convince me otherwise!!) If you aren't from around here, but want to share your ideas, I'd love to hear from you! All ideas you have - even the ones which disagree with everything I've stated in this blog - are both welcome and appreciated.

Hey, I'll pray for you. Please pray for each other.

John

We are one (./?/:(/etc)

CLC Sermon question for the week - (sorry, no Michael Jackson performances this week)

If you hear the words "We are one" within a religious context, do you hear them spoken as a statement, question, or something else entirely?) I wonder if your response is directly correlated with your comfort level in church on Sunday morning or with the idea of church/organized religion to begin with?

Responses to this BLOG can and will be repeated during the sermon tomorrow! :)

Take up your cross...with Me.

This past weekend I delivered a message based on the last portion of chapter 8 in the gospel of Mark. This is an excerpt from the larger passage which was used... (34b-38)

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

This time of year, pastors often provide sermons/messages on Christ's journey to the cross. One of the ways we can follow Christ's example is indeed to do what he asks in the scripture above...take up our cross. This week, there were people in the congregation who both stopped me after service and also mentioned to me in emails that they WANT to give up their life as Christ asks...they want to give up their personal/selfish desires...they want to take up their cross, but they feel like it will be so hard. Or they feel like when they do try, it is too heavy to carry alone.

Some also mentioned to me that they feel like they've made small changes in their lives, but feel Christ calling them to MORE sacrifice...MORE service. All of these things can cause us to fear what we know to be true. As disciples of Christ, we are called to the cross.

I tried to tell each of them that I often feel the same way. Whenever I decide to "take up my cross", I find myself not only wondering how I am going to carry the cross more than a few feet, BUT ALSO how I will be able to carry it tomorrow.

What I didn't talk enough about in my sermon was this...taking up your cross is not something you have to do alone. Check out Matthew 11:29-30...

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Admittedly these scripture passages were not recorded together, but in the larger context of Christ's teaching I think they help provide to us a more complete promise and message. Jesus has already carried the cross for you. He asks us now, as His disciples, to be willing to do the same. THAT BEING SAID, he also promises us that we can learn from Him, lean on Him, and walk WITH HIM as we carry our cross.

My yoke is easy and my burden is light...those words DON'T tell me that a choice to live sacrificially and carry a burden/cross will necessarily be EASY, but they do remind me that I am making a mistake when assuming I ever have to carry the cross alone.

This lenten season, as I pray that God reveals to me ways that I can be a better disciple by taking up my own cross, I will also pray that God reminds all of us that HE has already carried the heaviest burden, the sin of all creation, with Him to the cross. That is a much heavier cross than I will ever have to bear. So, what burden should I fear? If Christ has already conquered the cross, let us all have the faith to acknowledge there is no cross we cannot bear WITH Christ when we choose to be yoked to Him.

I'm praying for you...would you pray for me.

Mmm...coffee...

I had an encounter with a starbucks "Barista" yesterday. As a way to say thank you, I had decided to pick up some coffee for the church office staff who support the church in so many ways. As I was attempting to carry all of the coffee away from the starbucks counter, it became clear to me that it wasn't going to be easy to get out to the car without dumping the coffee on the ground.

I mentioned to the Starbucks barista, "what are the chances I make it to the car without spilling?". Her response was interesting..."you are a man of God...the coffee won't spill. God wouldn't let that happen...

I have never talked about my church/faith/job with this particular "barista" other than once when she asked me where I worked. Because I was curious where this conversation might go, I responded to the gal by saying (with a smile on my face) "well then, what if I do spill? Does that mean I have to abandon my belief system?".

Her response was both confusing and also exactly what I needed to hear..."No, if you spill, it is only because you didn't have enough faith..."

My immediate reaction was "Wow...what a profound statement". Now, before anyone jumps to the conclusion that I somehow believe that all you need do is believe, and nothing bad will ever happen to you, trust me...that is not the intent of this blog. However, there are times in our lives where I believe God does ask us to simply have faith that the coffee won't spill...to step out, even if we think the burden might be too great, or the load too heavy to carry.

I've been wrestling with the next steps of my job/calling lately. I often worry that if/when I take the next steps in service to Christ, the "coffee" is going to be too much carry. So, I've been stalling. Just sitting at the Starbucks counter, refusing to leave because I'm scared of what is next.

Maybe...no, not maybe, I believe that God had a message for me that day which I am going to share...My plan is not for you to spill. My plan is not for you to fall. My plan isn't necessarily going to be easy, but if you have faith in Me, I won't ever leave you alone.

Prophets and angels, messengers of God are walking next to you today. God is reaching out to us, reminding us that faith in God is not something which guarantees a stress-free life...it guarantees a isolation-free life. It guarantees an ever transforming life.

My hope for you, and for me, is that we will turn our lives over to God again today. Recommit yourself to the work which He calls you to. And, if you find yourself wondering if you will make it from the coffee bar to the car without your life crashing into a brick wall, remember that God's plan for your life isn't for you to fail. It is for us to boldly step out in His name and walk together in faith, that others might see our lives...our deeds...our faith, and praise our Father in Heaven.

I'll be praying for you...would you do the same for me?

We NEED each other!

Today, our church staff participated in a workshop which was designed to teach us about how we communicate. As with any staff, corporate or otherwise, we are comprised of VERY unique individuals. I'd be lying if I said that we all ALWAYS got along, or that we are even able to completely tolerate one another.

So, we participated in an "Insights" development session. We learned about our communication methods, what we are good at, what we need to work on individually, and how to best communicate with others who have different strengths and weaknesses. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I took away from this session. We often hear someone say "there are no bad ideas/questions", but my cynical mind always adds in "yeah, but there are stupid people with bad ideas/questions!" ;)

After reading about my own strengths and weaknesses, it became more apparent to me that I need everyone else on staff. Those other staff members whom I don't always agree with are necessary to provide things to the congregation in the name of Christ which I don't have the skills to do. I left our meeting with high hopes that I would be more open minded to different communication styles. I am certainly not better than others...just different.

I was struck especially by a comment provided by the leader of the session...She very briefly remarked that Jesus' disciples were (paraphrased) a rag-tag, seemingly thrown together bunch of folk who might not always have gotten along or even associated with each other had it not been for Jesus.

So I ask you today, WHO ARE YOU SICK OF?!?! Is there someone in your life, in your home, in your church who is driving you UP THE WALL?! Do you feel like your life would be easier if they were just OUT of the PICTURE for a little while. OBVIOUSLY, no good can come from their presence any longer. Trust me...I've got a few of them too.

But today, reflecting more on the example of Christ, I'm working to see them as different, imperfect just as I am, but different reflections of Christ. The way that I relate to people, the way I write a blog, the way I understand Christ is NOT the way everyone sees it. It is impossible for me to communicate perfectly with everyone, hence I need help spreading the message of Christ. Jesus is the ultimate "communication seminar leader"...he is the guide which we should follow. If we follow his example, we can be confident that in our own ways (and in whatever rag-tag assembly of people we are a part of) we will be affecting and impacting people for His glory.

With what is left of this week, might we turn our differences into opportunities to reach more people for Jesus? I am not very organized. I need someone to help me reach people for Christ who think I am an unorganized lunatic! The person best equipped to reach others today might be the same person I just CAN'T STAND right now because they are so anal about X/Y or Z.

Embrace your differences today. Embrace the idea that while you have gifts, you also have weaknesses. We need each other, created by both genetics and all of our unique life experiences, to reach the world for Jesus. Too often we sit back and watch (or participate with) each other; moaning and groaning about which group is better/worse/smarter/has a bigger budget/gets more publicity/has a better leader. INSTEAD we should look for opportunities to serve where we have been gifted and where we are needed. Then, encourage others to serve in their own way...according to their gifts and graces.

I need you today. I am not equipped to reach some of you, some of your friends, some of the people in your neighborhood. I am imperfect, and while my personality profile said I'm outgoing, its not an "outgoing" that everyone will love. My personality profile said that my "personality" is engaging to some, but turns others off because it is too "outgoing". That is why I need you...why we need each other.

Most importantly, that is why Jesus needs whoever you are, whatever your personality profile shows, to reach out and serve with your gifts today.

REALLY STUPID BLOG today...but I enjoyed the session. If you ever have an opportunity to do a "communications" learning session with your staff/friends/church family, I strongly recommend it.

I'll be blogging tomorrow on my sermon for the weekend. Until then, I'll be praying for you. Would you do the same for me?

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?

...called to serve...

Notice, the title of this blog isn't "called to blog"!

I recently took an unintentional break from my short foray into blogging. 85% of the reason (don't you just LOVE STATS!!) I took a break was that I simply forgot to blog. (oops) The other 15% was because when I did remember to blog, I felt that had nothing profound to say.

WHAT A MISTAKE! I apologize. (before you think I've taken a head-first dive into an ocean of narcissism, hang on for a few more paragraphs...)

(I started this blog to accompany sermons which I was giving at the church. It was nice to have an outlet to talk about things which came to my mind during the sermon writing process...I really didn't think anyone would read it, or CONTINUE TO PESTER ME when I stopped writing) :)

What do YOU do when you realize someone is listening to you? More often than not, it causes me to think more about what I say. As I've grown in my role here at the church, I find myself fighting to stay 'relevant'. I find myself fighting to always have a 'home-run' message. I can't afford to only hit a "home-run" in my messages 2/3 out for 4 times in a month...at least in my mind. Quite frankly, who knows if I've ever even hit a single?! :) I know that on my own I've barely got enough strength to complete a bunt, and it is God who really drives in the runs.

Where I'm headed is this...I have been called to serve my God. I have been called to attempt to be TRANSPARENT and allow God to preach a message through me that an audience of 1, 2, 500 people might hear it an consider following Christ more consistently. With that comes a definable amount of pressure to complete that call...what if I don't say it right?

That being said, WHAT A MISTAKE it has been to fool myself into actually believing that I have nothing profound to say?!

Jesus loves you. Jesus died for you. Jesus needs nothing from you other than a gift of exactly who you are right now. Let Him transform you from the inside out. Listen to the voice which has been calling out to you. Do not ignore His call today. Love the Lord your God, serve each other as if you were taking care of yourself, and share the good news AS it is transforming you. Christ in you has the power to reshape the world around you! Answer the call.

A popular saying around the Iowa United Methodist Church is "be encouraged". I'll hit that one in a later blog. Instead, what I would extend to you today (simply as a humble follower of Christ) is to "be called". "BE" - as in its definition "to equal in meaning".

You need not wait for Christ's call. BE called. You have been called by Christ to serve...BECOME THAT CALL. Become a reflection of Jesus and His love for this world.

For the 3 of you who read this blog (I know 2 of you... :) ), I'll be more faithful to my call within the context of this blog. I'm also hoping to start a podcast with a very intelligent colleague of mine which I hope will be a reflection of a passion we have to connect the raw gospel with our time.

The most profound thought I have...the most AMAZING thing I know...Jesus loves you.

If you haven't ever considered just how PROFOUND that is, join me in BEING called.

I'll be praying for you this week. Would you do the same for me?

People are listening to the simple/stupid things I say....(scary!)

I was reminded in the last few weeks, by a member of the congregation where I serve, that I had stopped blogging.

"Where did your blog go?" Honestly, my response was 1 part confused, 1 part shocked.

1 part Confused - "Blog? Oh yes, the blog I was doing for the sermon series...right...I guess I stopped writing after the series was over".

1 part Shocked - (internal monologue) "WHAT?!? People actually listen to/read what I say? I better be careful!!"

While I haven't been as deep into my Bible as I know I should be as of late, I've been hounded by the Holy Spirit through other methods: Small group study, continuing education, outreach, sermon preparation, etc. A few distinct themes have been on my mind, but the one I'll share with the 1-2 people out in world listening today is this...More people are listening to you than you know.

Its amazing how your view of community interaction/conversation changes when you put a BIG OL' HONKING CROSS necklace around your neck. Since I've started working for the church, quite often I wear a "larger than typical/rapper sized" cross in public. As it slaps against my chest when I walk, it is a CONSTANT reminder to me of whom I serve. When I do wear it out in public, people respond to me differently. Sometimes, they are more courteous...other times, they are more distant. Either way, I am consistently struck by the trend (at least in my mind) which is that people remember more of what I say when I wear the cross!

Simple example - The lady behind the starbucks counter remembers my name is John when I have the cross on...when I show up without it, I am "Hello sir, what can I get you?" I find this type of thing happens to me ALL OF THE TIME! (and no, not just when I'm feeding my caffeine habit at starbucks)

What does this mean for you? I'm not asking you to wear a GIANT CROSS today out in public. I am asking you to imagine that you are...

Imagine/remember that when people see you in church worshiping God, and then yelling at your spouse/children/friends in public, that they associate you with "church-you", with CHRIST. I'm reminding all of us that Christ calls us to be different...to be the light of the world. Part of being a light in a dark world means that others will NOTICE you, and you might be judged by the world at a level which you may not realize.

I can't tell you how many times I've caught myself saying "I can't do this or that...I'm wearing a cross?!?!" How awesome, and yet embarrassing for me to tell you that. If only we "wore" Christ as well or as often as we wear our favorite piece of jewelery/clothes. I don't go mud-bathing in my best suit. Not only would I ruin the suit, but others would see my dirty suit and wonder if I was out of my mind.

Likewise, if we are to emulate Christ, remember that it is not only for our benefit. Remember that our likeness (or lack there of) to Christ affects everyone who looks at us. Sometimes the best thing I can do is CONSCIOUSLY act like Christ. By forcing myself to think "WWJD" (I just used that acronym...ugh) I act in such a way that not only pleases my God, but also allows others to see Christ in me.

To those who might read this...my apologies...I'm not even an average blogger...I'm A.D.H.D....I haven't learned how to stream a singular thought, or learned how to use correct grammar.

Know that my point was supposed to be PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR CHRIST in our world, and they are FINDING YOU! Are they seeing Christ? Are you wearing your cross?

I almost forgot...I'll be praying for you this week. Would you do the same for me?

missed a week...

...for the MILLIONS of people who read this blog (haha)...

My apologies for not writing a blog before giving my sermon last week. I was ill the last half of the week, and barely had enough time to finish my sermon as it was! For those who weren't in the service, our question last week (as a part of our sermon series "Got Doubts") was "Do you need church to be a Christian?".

I won't re-write my message for you, but I would like to add some content to the message. I think it will stand alone fine if you weren't in attendance.

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.

On Sunday, I spent about 2% of my message on the last 10 words of this scripture (and all the more as you see the day approaching). I'm not sure if I think about that line enough in my life, or in my conversations with people every day.

ALL THE MORE --> doing something MORE than I am doing now.

AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING -->as you see time running by/running out/running toward an event.

Are we meeting together with a sense of urgency? Are we looking to NEW opportunities, as a body of faith, to spend time TOGETHER in worship/study/fellowship/etc. Do you look for changes with your family at home to spend more time than you did yesterday talking about God? How much more focused on God would be be if we made an attempt to spend just 5 more minutes together today WITH our families talking about God. (praying to God, counting our blessings, asking for help, etc)

OR

Are we meeting together in church, and then through worship cultivating a desire to share the good news about God with others outside of our church, inviting them INTO the body of faith with URGENCY? Are we falling back on statements like "everyone I know goes to church, so I guess I'm safe and don't have to invite people to come"?

ALL THE MORE as you see the day approaching says to me that I should probably be trying to do more than I did yesterday to spread the news of God's kingdom.

I know the verse itself is talking about how early Christians shouldn't stop meeting together. But, if we are meeting today, and hearing the good news of the gospel which tells us that salvation is for WHOEVER BELIEVES in HIM and that we should make disciples of all nations, then I put 2 and 2 together and wonder if I am doing ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH as I see the day approaching. Don't stop meeting together...when you are together, don't stop ENCOURAGING each other to SPREAD the good news and INVITE new people to experience Christian fellowship with you in your church.

I'll pray this week that WE decide to do more...that when we see new opportunities to fellowship with our friends, we take advantage of them. I'll pray this week that when we see opportunities to share the good news, that we do so without hesitation.

I'll be praying for you...would you do the same for me? God Bless...John

Non-sermon week, but I still "got doubts"...

This is a 'non'-sermon week blog...but I thought I would share some of my own "random" thoughts in the middle of the "got-doubts" sermon series.

It was right about 1 year ago that I had some serious doubts of my own. Is this really what you want me to do? Are you sure I'm supposed to consider taking this job? Can't you make this decision any easier for me? I'll be okay if you decide to close the door...God, what do I do?

I was in the interview process for the Site Director position at the Christian Life Center, one of 3 sites that make up Ankeny First United Methodist Church. I distinctly remember feeling like this was my last shot. I had heard God calling me back to Him in some way, shape or form for a LONG time, but I was too selfish to listen. I can't describe to you what I was feeling other than saying that I felt like I was at my last "Y" in the road. Are you going to follow John, or are you going to walk away from Me.

I had doubts. What if this feeling isn't real? What if I'm buying into a voice in my head that it self-created as a way to calm my fear of the unknown...Our current sermon series at AFUMC has been about some of these same questions...what is going on? Why do we feel this way? Who is Jesus? Why does it matter?

As I reflect on my own doubts...even the ones I still have today...I hope one of the things that is clearly stated/understood in this sermon series is that DOUBT isn't necessarily equal to SIN. That questions and fear don't have to be one way streets away from Christ. I know that often times in my own life, it is the QUESTIONS and FEAR that cause me to rely even more on God, to listen closer for His voice, and then ultimately to make choices, hopefully, with HIS will in mind.

I have doubts. I was supposed to have a rather significant meeting with the district superintendent of our church conference to discuss my "future" today. In my mind, it was to be a "here is your future plan dictated by the conference" type of meeting. I was, mistakenly, hoping that the meeting would satisfy my doubts by providing me clear direction as to the path I should take. Ordination? Licensing? Garbage collector? But, alas, the meeting was cancelled due to the bad weather...

What I am realizing, even again today, is that the only place I can look for answers to my questions, to my doubt, is Jesus Christ. My prayer for you today is that you not ignore the questions you have about life...is that you not consider doubt as a stumbling block, but as an OPPORTUNITY to talk to God. Ask Him a question today.

Maybe we'll both get some new answers. I'll be praying for you. Would you do the same for me.

Is the Bible relevant?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

This week's message tied to our sermon series "Got Doubts" relates to relevancy. It shouldn't surprise us that our perception of relevancy is often FAR different than what I believe to be reality. Relevancy is measured, unfortunately, by opinion and individual morality. We say that certain societal changes/events are not relevant to us because there effects can't be measured, OR WORSE we turn a blind eye to relevancy because we have preconceived prejudices.

In my message this week, we'll be talking about whether or not the BIBLE is relevant to us as humanity today. I think it is important to look at the Bible's relevancy not only to those who call themselves Christian, but also to the rest of the world.

One of the scriptures for the message the passage from Hebrews above. With regard to the passage, I have certainly 'FELT' the double-edged sword penetrating my spirit and judging my heart. While this passage could be applied to the way we feel as the holy spirit moves and works within us, Hebrews 4 is talking about the GOSPEL being taught to the ancient believers. Hebrews 4 also reflects on those who have HEARD the gospel, but did not combine it with faith.

(as a related tangent, re-read the passage above, but think about the word "word" (no pun intended) the way the gospel of John uses the word "word" at the beginning of the Gospel. 'In the beginning there was the word...and the word WAS God'...while maybe not its intended meaning, it does speak to me about how the very essence of Jesus, the spirit of God, the holy spirit that penetrates my soul just as the gospel teachings do...)

(back to topic!!)

How many people do you know who have "heard" the word/gospel, but have done nothing with it because it isn't RELEVANT to them. Jesus was just a man...Jesus might not have even been anything special at all...Jesus isn't relevant to me because he isn't TANGIBLY affecting my life. The Bible is an unsubstantiated fairy tale which has no more meaning to me than Jack and the bean stock.

We make the mistake as Christians and non-believers of considering 'relevancy' as a side dish on life's dinner plate that WE somehow can choose "a la carte". "Oh, I don't feel as though this is relevant to me", so I will ignore the TRUTH there is for ME in it. How UNFORTUNATE!

As an ELEMENTARY EXAMPLE of relevance for today, I watched the news yesterday about a massive earthquake in Haiti which has potentially killed tens of thousands of people. Think about the portions of the Bible where we are commanded by God to love our neighbors, to take care of orphans and widows, to give freely for EACH OTHER...and then step back away from our primitive view of relevance, and let go of the NONSENSE which would tell you that because you don't believe in God, because church is to political, because I don't need a "God" to make my understanding of the world work, the teachings of the Bible are IRRELEVANT.

Today, with the world seemingly at war with itself, with global economies failing, with children starving, with people dying of diseases that are curable only a few thousand miles away, I CANNOT THINK OF A MORE RELEVANT BOOK, of a MORE RELEVANT TEACHING, of a MORE RELEVANT MESSAGE THAN THE BIBLE PROVIDES. LOVE ONE ANOTHER! LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU!

In our sermon this week, we'll spend more time on scripture(s) and God's will for our lives in light of "relevance" than on this blog. My belief is that ALL scripture is relevant, because all scripture is ultimately pointing back to the glory/power/wonder/majesty of our God, to the salvation offered by Jesus Christ, and to the teachings which would help us to be more like Him...maybe even be MORE relevant people.

This blog turned into more of a sloppy rant than a formulated argument about ANYTHING, but that's where I am today. My apologies to the 5 people reading this!

God Bless. I am praying for you. Would you do the same for me?

John

First week of 2010 - GOT DOUBTS

I'm taking some time over my lunch to share some thoughts on our sermon series for the first part of 2010..."GOT DOUBTS?" The idea is that folks from AFUMC might be empowered to answer for themselves fundamental questions about the faith through this series AND then also invite their friends who may not have a church home to join us in worship.

I'm responsible for the first message of the series at the Christian Life Center. The title/subject chosen for the message was "WHO IS JESUS". 2 of us (One of our lead Pastors and me) will be providing different messages (different sites) on this same subject on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010.

As I work to finish the message today, I am left with new questions, new revelations of my own on this topic. WHO IS JESUS? I'm dividing my message into biblical/historical/currently relevant sub-sections, and I am finding that some are MUCH EASIER to 'preach' about than others.

(I 'quote' the word preach, as I am still just a lay-person who is looking to answer God's call to serve...I still feel WEIRD saying preach and 'John' in the same breath!)

Back to topic! Specifically, the case for the religious "apologist" in our time is both difficult and concerning. As Christians, what do we make of the push in the last century, at least in terms of the volume of publications, stating that there IS NO PROOF historically of a man named Jesus who would match our Biblical description of said person? Holes have been, and continue to be poked in nearly all historical writings (non-canon/non-christian authored) which have been used by theologians in the past, at very least, to DATE/CORROBORATE Jesus' earthly existence.

I am still young in my study outside (and quite frankly inside) the Bible. What I know/believe is this...the gospels, letters of apostles/disciples collected in the New Testament point to a revolutionary man...a revolutionary God who had in mind a NEW commandment and a new way of being in relationship with God. After His life, (and I believe also His death and subsequent resurrection), disciples of His teachings were so moved that they were willing (according to the New Testament and even SOME outside historical texts) to be persecuted and die for their beliefs. What type of RADICAL influence must this God...this man have had? The movement to follow the teachings of said Man/God grew, and eventually became at least large enough that an EMPIRE would adopt the religion for its own, changing the religious landscape of the early civilized world. A tiny group of Jews, a small group of "gentiles" becomes millions of people across the world today? All this change/growth simply as a method of political/crowd control? A convienent side-plot to a fairy tale which has grown out of its own false clothing?

OR, the work of a God to bring about GOOD in humanity in whatever way He sees fit?

What to make of all this? I'm sure, even in my generalities stated above, there are holes to be viewed/reviewed/etc.

This week in my message, we'll reflect on these things, ultimately with the hope and prayer that God, through the Holy Spirit, will remind us that FAITH is essential to nearly ALL religious and historical accounts of ANYTHING/EVERYTHING! That history itself is like a puzzle, with missing pieces that ultimately take study, intuition, and FAITH to complete.

(that last quazi-analogy is not my own...this whole worship-leader/pastor gig has me feeling UBER-honest all the time...probably a good thing!) :)

Who is Jesus? He is my savior...my God...revealed to me through the Bible, and through a connection with God that I feel, and that I cannot describe to you as anything other than NECESSARY to my existance...my very being.

God Bless...see you Sunday.

INTRO to my blog

While I'm not sure anyone will ever read this, my name is John.

The intent of this blog is to better connect to those who I have the pleasure of worshipping God with every single week...whether that be at Ankeny First United Methodist Church or somewhere else.

The leadership staff of our church is toying with the idea of blogging about our thoughts/concerns as we prepare to lead worship for the week. This blog is one of my 2010 GOALS, so here we go.

AS A LEAD IN TO ANY BLOG YOU READ HERE, these are just honest thoughts from 1 man trying to know God better. I believe there is one path to God...Jesus Christ, who was sent to us by God the Father, who has also afforded us help/guidance/insight through the Holy Spirit.

So there you have it...read on if you like...if this isn't your cup o' tea, GOD BLESS YOU anyway!

:)