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Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

The Greatest Sin in the Church

Posted in Church, Community, Formation on March 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »

One of the guys I follow in the church growth and missions realm is Ed Stetzer.  I had a chance a couple of years ago to hear him in person at a conference I attended and since then I try and keep up with what he is doing.  I was listening to him on a video this week (you can watch it here) and have been challenged.

In the last few seconds of the first video on this link he makes this statement: “The greatest sin in most churches is that we have made it OK to sit there week after week and do nothing and call yourself a follower of Jesus.”

This statement convicted me on two levels.  One is that I had to ask myself, “Do I sit week after week and do nothing?”  And the second level of conviction asks the question, “Have I encouraged a church structure and system in which this sin has been fostered?”

I have to say, I feel like there are times when I can answer yes to both these questions.  But I also must say that my desire and calling is to combat this sin head on.  When the church has become a place where we meet weekly because it is the “right” thing to do or it is the thing we do to hold our social position in the community, then the church is no longer the church, it is a country club.  There is nothing wrong with a country club – but it should never replace the church.

How do you see yourself in light of this sin?

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Pottery of Significance

Posted in Community, Motivational on March 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I have all kinds of things on my desk, but one thing you would see if you came into my office is in the picture above.  Looking at it here, it does not look like much.  But for me, it carries many memories and a couple of reminders as well.

In 1988, I had the privilege of spending 6 weeks in Israel on an archaeological dig.  We were the first group to dig at Banias, which was Caesarea Philippi in the New Testament.  Since we were the group to “open” the dig, there was prep work necessary before we began our work.  I found this preparatory work interesting and contrary to what I would think would be normal activity for historians.  The government brought in a huge Caterpillar front end loader to scrape off, literally 2000 years of history, in order to get down to the first century.

Once they had reached what they estimated to be the approximate layer of first century civilization, we began our work of tediously digging to find artifacts and clues about what went on there.

But in my mind, I was puzzled by the fact that so much was pushed off and piled up as insignificant.  We were allowed to sift through the piles of “unimportant” stuff during our breaks and keep what we found.  This piece of pottery that sits on my desk is a base of a big pot that dates to the Mamluk period (1200’s to 1500’s).  It reminds me of my time in Israel and the experience of a lifetime with which God blessed me.

It also reminds me of something else.  While I understand that the goal of our dig was to explore the relevance of the site in the first century, this pottery reminds me that I should never see anyone or any relationship as insignificant.  While our purposes in Israel were not concerned with the Mamluk period, this pot sherd represents a person living during that time who spent several hours crafting this piece of pottery.  It reminds me of a person and a time much different from me and the time in which I live, and I choose not to take that for granted.  It serves to remind me that I must value the people and relationships in my life – all of them.

While this pot sherd was not significant to the work we were doing, it is significant to me.

Is there anyone you take for granted?  Take a minute today to let them know you care!

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How Many Remotes Does It Take?

Posted in Community, Formation, Missions on March 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

As I sat this morning in my chair and had my prayer and reading time, I looked to my right to see this sight.  The question came to my mind, “Just how many remotes does it take to turn on a television?”

I remember a day when the common statement in some households was something to the effect, “I don’t have a remote, that’s why we had kids.”  Not any more.  Now it would appear that it takes at least two remotes for each piece of equipment.

As I thought about this new reality, I began to think about the purpose of the remote.  Don’t get me wrong, it is a wonderful invention and one that would change my life if it went away.  But the whole premise of the remote is that it allows me to affect a change “remotely” – to change something without having to physically get involved.

The downside to the invention of the remote is that the premise has bled over into other parts of our lives as well.  Trying to make a difference without physical commitment has become a way of life.  I see something on television about the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and I am moved to do something – to give money and pray.

We hear about the living conditions in the local children’s home and we are moved to do something – again, give money or make phone calls.

Jesus called us to live an engaged life – not a remote life – an involved life.

How can you ditch the remote and get involved today?

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Another Milestone

Posted in Community, Formation on March 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Today marks a milestone in this blog “ministry” I started last April.  Today is post number 200.  That doesn’t even seem possible.  It has been a real blessing and a growing experience for me.  So today, I thought I would reflect for a second on what God has done in me through this effort.

The first thing that I would mention is that when I began this ministry, it was because I felt compelled by God to do it as a means of expressing what God placed on my heart as part of my journey along the Way.  But I counted the cost, just as Jesus said here.  I knew that committing to post 3 to 5 times per week would be a huge commitment.  I was nervous that it would cease to be meaningful and just become rambling.  But I took the step for several reasons, not the least of which was the idea that it would force me to be in the Word daily and to spend time in prayer and meditation – that has proven to be the case.

I confess, many days it may not be very meaningful to everyone, but another humbling thing I have learned is that God uses our efforts, no matter how insignificant they may seem, to make a difference in someone’s life.  I have received emails and comments on Facebook and Twitter, as well as comments directly to the blog, from people all over the world who God has touched through these simple ramblings.  So the lesson today is that each of us has something to contribute.  God does not call us to be successful, just faithful!

I sincerely appreciate all of you!  I pray that as we move forward together, that the next 200 posts will be used by God to draw us even closer into the community of Jesus followers that God wants us to be.

Be blessed today!

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Cancer of Complacency

Posted in Church, Community, Formation on February 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

During my prayer and reading time this morning, I was struck with an idea and I can’t let it go.  As I pray for our church and the entire movement of Christ followers, I am reminded that a true follower of the Way should be fully committed to living for Jesus and loving as he loved.

However, so often, we lose that passion.  Part of the reason, I have observed, is that we grow numb to God working around us.  In fact, we often reach a point at which we feel we have arrived – we are mature in our faith.

Unfortunately, “maturity” too often is actually complacency. Complacency is a cancer that is eating away at the very heart of the church today.

Why is it that once we have been a Christ follower for a number of months or years, we become less effective as disciples?

It is because we have lost the fire, the passion, the excitement of what it means to live for Jesus – to love like he showed us to love.

Complacency is a cancer – don’t let it go untreated any longer!

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True Community

Posted in Church, Community on February 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

One of the catchiest catch-words in church circles today is “community.”  But what does it mean – what does it look like?

Last night in our study, In The Dust of the Rabbi, we talked about what it was like in the first century in a Greco-Roman world to be a Christ follower.  It would have meant that you would have been excluded from society – the economic world would be closed to you, the political world would be closed as well – because you no longer would be willing to sacrifice to the gods so you would be shunned and even hated.

The early Christians had no choice but to band together to survive.  They needed one another to live.  Community was a way of life – and disciples were born in, raised by and developed in that community.  But today, in our culture, the idea of community is really a little foreign.  We enjoy being with others but we also want our space.  We live in an individualistic society that praises independence.  So living in true community seems odd to us.

Regardless of how independent we may think we are, God actually created us to need others.  So what does community look like in 2010 in America?

The first thought is that the church should be that community – and that is true.  But is it?  Do people really live in community in your gathering of believers?  Is your gathering characterized by transparency, honesty and solid relationships or is it more of a social gathering for an hour or two on Sunday mornings where masks are worn and fronts are maintained?

This morning I am sitting in one of my favorite places to think and enjoy a good cup of coffee and one amazing blueberry scone – Sugar Brown’s.  As I sit and write this post this morning, I am scanning the room and here is what I see:  I see two young females at the back table who appear to be catching up after not seeing each other for a while; I see a young business professional in his suit and kindle, listening with great compassion and attentiveness to a young man who has a speech disability.  On the other side of the room is a table with three middle-aged men laughing and having a great conversation.  Right behind me are two older gentlemen discussing politics.

Now let me clarify that I do not make a habit of eaves dropping on peoples’ conversations, but I have to confess that I am a student of people.  But the point today is that what I am observing this morning at Sugar Brown’s is a clear depiction of community – the way God created it – and it is not even happening in a church (although I could argue that the scone was a spiritual experience).

Where does community happen for you?

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Worship Can Get Messy

Posted in Community, Formation, Motivational on February 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In my prayer and reading time this morning I got all the way through one verse in Romans (now you can see why it is taking me multiple years to make it through the book – I’m up to chapter 12 now).

Romans 12:1 tells us that we should consider God’s mercy – that undeserved gift we have been given.  Upon considering this gift – we should act appropriately by sacrificing ourselves to God.  This is a verse we all know.  But there is something here I want us to think about today.

Paul specifically ties some things together for us here that makes all the difference for those of us who call ourselves Christ followers.  He says that in light of God’s mercy shown to us, we should offer our bodies (our physical beings, the flesh and blood you and me) as a living sacrifice – not some animal we sacrifice by killing on an altar but our living, breathing selves.

Now don’t miss this part – this is to be our reasonable, spiritual act of worship.  I know that different translations use either reasonable or spiritual here and normally I would not point it out but I want us to think about this specifically today.  Not to be a Greek geek, but the original word here is logikein – which can be translated as reasonable or spiritual.  But the point is this, which ever way you choose to translate it, the word carries the idea of our inner being – our spirit.

So what Paul is telling us is that our spiritual, intellectual worship is hollow without our physical commitment as well.  So often, we see our devotion time or sitting in a worship service and singing a few songs and listening to teaching as being where we truly worship.

But Paul is specific – spiritual worship takes physical action!  The Way is not for sitting – it is for getting knee deep in the messiness of life – in the time-consuming awkwardness of demanding relationships.  That is worship!

How will you worship today?

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On The Verge of Death

Posted in Community, Hope, Missions, Motivational on February 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

On the way to the office today, a song was playing on the radio that has stayed with me.  The song is by Kris Allen titled, Live Like We’re Dying.  Not to be confused with Tim McGraw’s song, Live Like You Are Dying – both songs have much of the same emphasis of making the most of our time on earth.   If you knew you had only 3 days to live, would it change you the way you live right now?

What caught my ear is the chorus of Kris’s song.  The words remind us that we only have 86,400 seconds in each day to turn the world around or to throw it all away.  It’s our choice.  Kris urges us to tell people that we love them and make a difference in the world around us while we have the chance.

The point is this: we should live each day as if we were on the verge of death.

So here is my challenge for you:  What are you going to do, today, with your 86,400 seconds of life God has given you.  Will you be selfish or will you spend some of those seconds showing God’s hope and love – making the world a better place?

Live like you are dying!

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The Wisdom of a 10 Year Old

Posted in Community, Family, Hope on February 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I had a parent tell me this story yesterday and I wanted to relay it to you.  This particular family got some bad news on Monday and they were talking and crying and praying through and sorting out all that this news would mean for them.  In the midst of the discussion, their 10 year old daughter made this observation.

“You know, God made the road and we are just the cars that drive on it.  Sometimes it snows and we slide into the ditch and get stuck.  But if we trust in God and pray, and with the help of God and our family and friends, we can get unstuck.  We are just stuck right now but we will get out.”

Wow – the wisdom of a 10 year old!

Have you slid into a ditch?  Are you stuck?  Reach out to God and to your friends and family.  God is faithful to pull us through!

Be blessed today!

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Successful vs. Faithful

Posted in Community, Formation, Grace, Motivational on February 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday, I was reminded of a vital truth that we all need to remember if we are seeking to follow in the Way.  Western culture is results driven.  You and I, if you live in the US particularly, are products of this culture.

We are not satisfied if we don’t see results from our efforts.  When we commit time and energy to something, we want to know it counted for something.  I always tell those who participate in mission trips that we may never see the fruits of our labor.  But we are not naturally conditioned by our culture to live that way.

Here is the truth for today: God does not expect us to be “successful” but God does expect us to be faithful.

Yesterday, I was leaving a local store after picking up some things for the church.  I followed a lady out who had a big bag of Ole’ Roy dog food in her electric scooter basket.  So I followed her to her car and offered to put her items in the car for her.  After loading her things, I said, “have a nice day,” and she said, “thank you.”  I walked away and she went about her day.

I did not hear an angelic chorus and the lady did not fall to her knees and begin to worship God.  It was just a simple act with no real apparent impact.  But that is the point, God does not expect us to be concerned with results – God just wants us to simply live in service to God and others.

Be faithful today – even in the small things.

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