Some things that strike me as worth sharing. Most of the time at least.

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

A Generation in Search of a Profit When What We Really Need is a Prophet

We've been having this amazing discussion about preaching over the past few days. It's motivated by a lot of things not the least of which is that one of our own is leaving CIY to become a senior/preaching/lead/pastor dude here in the community. It was also brought about by another email sent to us by someone very interested in being on our stage to spread the gospel (or their own renown, I'm not sure which was first in their mind).

The result of that email has been a series of funny and poignant emails passed around the office about who we use and why and the kind of guy we're looking for. We live it over here though not to the extent conference does because we aren't quite as cool and in the words of my good friend, the lights aren't quite as bright on the Know Sweat stage.

I've been having this discussion with an old friend about preaching which I think I mentioned yesterday. In the midst of that I dove into the next text I'm speaking on which is James 3. I have realized a couple things:
a. I've never spoke on James 3 before
b. I was aware that it was the passage about the tongue thanks to the great old Third Day song
c. I wasn't aware it was the place where there is a warning to teachers that they'll be judged more strictly
d. It was pointed out to me by a commentator that just as a large ship is steered by a small rudder, just as a great fire is started by a small spark, so too a body of believers can be steered to bad places and bad motives by a small speaker. One person, standing before the body and having the sheer arrogance and audacity to think they speak for God can screw up an entire body of believers. They can teach poor theology, they can simply have their own struggles validated by their message, they can ignore or avoid challenging ideas or they can simply drink from the same shallow pool so often that the speaking is reduced to heresy or incomplete theology or simply shallow faith. Their ego can become so filled with their own voice that they are unable to get out of the way and though they think they are listening to the spirit, though they think they are saying what God would have them say they are really, well, in my opinion just making a lot of noise. Sure, I know God uses our foolishness (I sure hope so) and I know that the disciples freaked out about those who were performing miracles (a little different from preaching) in Jesus' name but they weren't "one of us". Jesus did the whole whoever is not against us is for us but I'm curious about that context. Paul makes it a little clearer in Philippians with the whole speaking out of selfish ambition deal and Paul's words are I hope true-- "The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice."

Finally, the words of a respected speaker around these parts on the subject:
He has laid a great burden (I hope that it is a burden – you see the apostle Paul wanted to get to as many people as he possibly could, but not to say that he had spoken to 1,000’s of people or that he had made it around the world – his heart was broken for the lost, especially his own brothers.) on your heart and that’s right where I would want you to be.

and more

wherever you are serving right now, continue to serve and preach your heart out right there. Preach where you get the opportunity to preach, keep your heart and life humble before God, burn with a passion to do what God calls you to do. Go where he asks, that may be to a small church in central MO or to a tribe in Ghana Africa or simply to the people that surround you. If they don’t sense a humble spirit of godliness, you message will fall upon death ears. (Italics mine)

and more

From St. Francis of Assisi in “Letters to Rulers of People”, “Keep a clear eye toward life’s end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received – fading symbols of honor, trappings of power—but only what you have given.”

Now to practice what I preach....

Monday, February 27, 2006

Exposed

What a weekend. Probably the most eye catching thing I could say about it was that for 0.000002 of a second I actually missed working in the local church. The first time I've felt like that in months. No worries though, the feeling is long gone.

I saw a ton of old friends, traveled for the last time with a hero, shared meals with people I have no business wasting the time of, watched some incredible stuff happen and even drove by the new Busch twice.

I heard some of the most incredible messages I've ever heard, I discovered a new CD that isn't so new, its just that nobody bothered to tell me about it. I was on my phone for over 2 hours talking about preaching and finding myself quite opinionated and passionate about its place in the body. I sat amazed at the teaching of many, one in particular. I learned that I have a lot to learn. I shared time with some who are going to literally save the world. I listened to the passion of a family who decided they were the ones to change an entire tribes eternity even though 7 months in they lost their 18 month old to malaria. They stayed for 21.5 more years. I came to realize that some times ministry is calling people to something we may have never experienced before ourselves. I listened to a man teach like Paul did. I sat and mourned with a good, good friend.

One final thought. I've been listening to peoples prayers a lot lately. I have this theory that what we say in our prayers reveals more about us than anything else we say. In the midst of a prayer friday night I heard these words and they stuck out as they they were bold. "Our belief is revealed in our obedience." Later in the weekend I also heard this: "Impatience is a form of unbelief." But seriously, this belief revealed in obedience thing has me spinning. What a thought.

Okay finally, for those of you who were aware of Tomlin's disc Live from Austin Music Hall and didn't tell me, we are fighting....if you haven't heard of it, thanks for living under the same rock I've been under but we're too good of friends for me to hoard it to myself. Go buy it.

By the way, the new stadium looks sweet.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

And The Hardest Part Was Letting Go and Not Taking Part

I have a love hate relationship with the radio. Have you ever noticed there are times when it seems as though every song is a favorite? Or that there are times when every new song seems amazing and you can bounce from station to station listening to so much amazing stuff that ends up being a part of your musical library at some point? And then there are times when everything sucks. Like every country song is playing Honkytonk Badonkadonk and every other station is playing Nelly or Fall Out Boy every 5 minutes. That or Mariah Carey splitting my eardrums and shattering windows across town.

The same thing happens with movies. They have a couple key times when the release stuff like summer and then of course Christmas. Like, that's the best time becuase all year long you see cool preview after cool preview and they all say "Coming Christmas 200?". Then there are times when like at Christmas every preview is for mind insulting crap like Tim Allen being a dog and basically anything with Nicole Kidman or Tom Cruise in it. Ironic they were married isn't it?

Well, if you haven't noticed, this is a bad time for radio and as I was desperately trying to find something to listen to on my way home yesterday (finally ending up in AM on ESPN radio again) it got me to thinking. I think this cyclical thing happens in business and church as well. I know some of it is because certain situations are perfect for bringing big things out of people and sometimes a certain cinergy is created by a group and it is a real sweet spot and things are amazing but these things don't last forever.

I know I can look back at my short lifetime and recognize moments where there was nothing but Top 40 hits happening and the people I worked with and the situations I was in were just incredible. There were also times when I felt like everything was a rerun of a tired old Kelly Clarkson song ( or another lame collaboration by Kanye and Foxx).

The encouragement is to enjoy the moments it is incredible and realize that those "songs" and times are incredible and we should look back with fond memories. It's also to look at the moments we're in and realize there's a reason and they are rarely as bad in the rearview mirror as they were as we dealt with them through the windshild of life.

Change is inevitable and it seems like no matter where I have been or what I have done God has given me incredible traveling partners. Some I wish were still here, some our time seemed too short but it was good nonetheless. A traveling partner of mine will make a transition soon and that is a real downer but yet at this moment I know its been great while it lasted and I'll always look at this time as one when every station I hit was a good one. The incredible thing now is that the songs will still be good, just some new ones that I'll have to aquaint myself with.

Here's to enjoying what's on the screen and not longing for previews. And here's to enjoying a little Coldplay along the way.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Hey Now, We're Wide Awake and We're Thinking

Let's just get all the sports stuff out of the way at the beginning:
In my opinion, our Olympic "team" has the comradarie of a middle school cheerleading squad. It's funny to watch but kind of sad if you think about it too much. Oh, and nice work this weekend Bode--you seriously made my weekend.Loser. Speaking of losers: Bonds, retire now. Nobody likes you. Don't look now but somebody pulled into a tie in the Big 12 yesterday. Two Words: Rock Chalk. (And yes, its spelled correctly). The dunk competition this weekend was the best in years. That dunk by AI was the most impressive thing I have ever seen..at least on the basketball court. I don't care what you say or how long you argue, NASCAR is not a sport, nor is it cool, nor is it worth wasting half of Sportscenter on.

Lowery-welcome back. I didn't tell you to come back on your blog because I was afriad it would distort your self image. Lines 10,12 and 14 lead me to believe it might have happened anyway!! It's hard for me to be too taken with your physical powers because I remember butterfly wings. Speaking of wings and awkward moments it reminds me of Ret's blog.

Ret-Thanks for the kind words and the pics. At least some of them...the captions may need a little work.

It snowed here this weekend. Well, the ground got white. Barely.

I finally finished a book. It wasn't very good. I loaned it out to somebody. I told them it was pretty good.

On another note I am rereading maybe my favorite book in the last few years: The Importance of Being Foolish. Incredible. You should also check out Ruthless Trust. Some people don't like it as well. I don't like them as well.

It is extremely difficult for me to preach on the same text back to back to 2 entirely different audiences. I'm glad I wasn't getting paid for it. The second one sucked. That's just my opinion.

I'm out of coffee.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Country Roads, Take Me Home, To The Place, I Belong

West Virginia. I'm headed there soon. Should be a facinating trip. Hopefully John Denver's "Mountain Momma's" leave me alone. I'm quite certain I'd be intimidated.

I've recently lost my ability for rational thought or even staying on one subject for very long. And since this is called tantrums it shall live up to its name.

If you are so old you can't drive the speed limit and instead are driving 45 in a 65 in a freaking sweet Chevy Full-Size Extended cap truck you should either realize that after 12 people pass you (I was number 11) you are a danger OR you should simply give me your truck because you no longer deserve it. I know old people get all the sweet cars becuase they can actually afford them ( and consequently the insurance) but crap! It's like when you drive by the car you can hear it crying and begging to be driven like it was created to be driven. I am quite certain that truck was not created to sit in a garage and be driven twice a week at 45 to and from Wal Mart. Okay I move on.

Bode Miller, you make me smile. Enjoy your RV and alone time. I don't think you'll medal and that makes me warm and fuzzy.

So my bold prediction back in the day on Indiana basketball has turned into a flaming bag of poo on my own doorstep. And look, there is Illinois which at least allows me to put out said bag of poo with a shoe on rather than my bare feet. My only condolences, Kansas and North Carolina are better than you all thought and Kentucky is more like Kensucky.

I have a new favorite conference in college basketball. The Valley. Call it my love for the geography of such meccas of civilization as Peoria and Carbondale but man is it good ball. Maybe its all the white boys that get to play somewhere. Someone should buy me tickets to the MVC tourney in St. Louis. Me and all my friends. Then I will steal that old mans truck and drive there.

16 days until the man child turns 3. I was going to post some pictures but I grabbed the cable for the video camera not the digital camera.Technology owns me.

We missed Idol last night because we were serving the LORD at church. If serving the Lord means listening to a Bible Study that went over time and left no time for family group so we watched some Simon Burch which is stuck in the VCR and then prayed. Many souls were saved including the dude who slept through Bible study in our room and then shows up only for family group. On the upside, they found out they planned the girls retreat on the same night as prom. That's a win. Glad I never screwed up like that in youth ministry. Oh wait...nevermind.

On a final note I got two emails this morning. They came 13 minutes apart. One from my time at Rocky, one from my time in Quincy. All I'll say is God is good. To me, to them, to His plan. I love getting older, watching things come about. Seeing God do His thing and finding more joy and completeness in that than anything I'll ever accomplish. Here's to your journey today.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

My Brain Is A Wonderland

I'm a little ADD today. I think it may be the insane amount of coffee, candy and granola I've encountered today. I've been realizing just how pathetic I am. In a good way. Here's what I've come up with.

In a little over a month I will gather with a bunch of other grown men to sing the national anthem, take me out to the ballgame and participate in a live draft for my 5th season of fantasy baseball in the White Castle Sportsmens Association League. Need I say more? Okay, I will. Yesterday I spent $6.29 on a fantasy baseball magazine to begin my preparation.

My V-Day gift to my wife is me working all day. For her sanity and peace I'll stay away which is the kindest thing I can do since my presence can be at times draining. You think I'm joking. Turns out the house is a different place when i come home in the evening. I'm sure its my incredible maturity. And humility. Don't forget that one.

I think I am most productive when listening to the soundtrack of Saving Private Ryan. It is incredible and so is my output. As evidenced by this entry.

I'm preaching this Sunday on a text I just chose to use last friday. Coincidence? I think now. It's almost like God is trying to get my attention or something. I've also had way too many conversations on some huge topics to think those are ironic. Unfortuantely I'm way out of my confort zone and wondering what God is up to.

To date, after reading 100 books in 2004 and 73 in 2005 I have in 2006 completed zero books. Yes folks, that is correct. Zero. I have started about 7 and finished none. This fantasy baseball prep takes up all my free time.

I think I am done with our taxes. It's all copied and filled out. Turns out I stink at this stuff and hate it with a passion. Those of you gifted in accounting stuff, that is a serious spiritual gift. If I had any, I would tear out my hair. I can't even work a calculator right. And why do I always do everything in pen the first time. Do I not think I'll make a dozen mistakes. Some of the sheets looks like something you'd find in my son's Sunday school class. Are those numbers or letters? And since when did it become a good idea to number everything. "You will need your 1099A W-90, EZ1903, a couple WWII and one UZI. Don't forget when filing jointly to properly conjugate your XYZ123 form unless you filed as a student between or thereafter." How about you send me $5000 and we call it even?

My PDA is possessed. I'm quite certain it has s demon inside that causes it to malfunction only when needed. When I'm not needing it to quickly retrieve information it works like new. I shall name it Damien.

Speaking of which, I think that if you have voicemail and email and you don't reply within a couple days you should be beaten with a wet noodle. Seriously, no one is so busy they can't show you the common decency of acknowledging your existence. And giving you everything you want. And since when did certain colleges think $24/night to stay in their DORMS was fair? Have you stayed in those things? They should require more immunizations for those things that they do to travel internationally. You should be disqualified from giving blood or handling food after sleeping in some of those places.

I see Brittany's husband has come out with a rap album. Incredible. Not the album, just the audacity.

Maybe It's Just Me.....

Okay, I know I find things funny that shouldn't be. I also know I have an odd sense of humor. But if you have been watching any of the Olympics, you should read this article. If you don't find it funny, you have my permission to be disappointed. But I'm quite sure you will. Find it funny that is.My personal favorites are:

Dick Cheney makes late bid for U.S. biathlon team

And numbers 4,5 and 7.

And yes, I do have a romantic dinner planned with my wife tonight. Under the arch. Well, make that arches. The golden ones. In Webb City. With the ManChild. Nothing screams romance like fries and "chicken" nuggets. Maybe there will be more ski jumping on tonight.....

Monday, February 13, 2006

Head For The Hills, The Kitchens On Fire

Mmmmmm.......Monday.

I've got a few things I think you should hear. None of them have eternal ramifications though not much of anything I say usually does.

1. The Olympics. I think the winter olympics are magical. I think its partially because I could never do almost any of those things. Granted, I can do nothing at an olympic level but at least some of the summer games events I can "do" such as basketball, baseball, running (okay, maybe not) but you get the idea. But winter, oh, winter. I've skiied (how the heck do you spell it?) once. I sucked. I bailed and it took every ounce of determination to not fall in such a way not to injure a small child who merely moved around me with ease. Much like when I ice skated. Those little demon children are whipping in between your legs while I try to make a basic corner only to go so wide I end up on the wall...again. And luge, who the heck thinks that's a fun idea? I don't have the abs to last 10 seconds on that bad boy.Of course some 54 year old woman can do it...oh this is not going well for me. But I really have 2 things to say about the Olympics.
a. Ski jumping is the greatest event ever. That stuff is amazing. Those guys may not be athletic or even real men ( 5'8" 108 lbs????) but they are fearless...and stupid..and incredible. I could watch that all day.
b. Somebody send Bode and Kwan and Apollo back to the US before they ruin the Olympics. They are what is wrong with most other sports and they are threatening to poison the winter games. The beauty of this sport is nobodies--the dudes from Home Depot in town who are representing our country, crying because they're achieving a lifelong dream and not because their new H2 got its first scratch. I'm glad Kwan is out--she was a joke anyway and Bode, your arrogance got the best of you. Apollo, that's what greed and probably not deserving the gold last time gets you. Here's to the flying Tomato and some dude who 5 years ago was sitting in Vegas and decided he should be a speed skater. Here's to those who won't win a medal and still will have the time of their lives, who's stories inspire us and who weeks from now will slip back into anonymity and be just fine with it.

2. Spiritual Warfare--dude this stuff freaks me out. All I'm going to say is there is so much going on that we don't notice and that scares me. Here's to keeping our eyes open and our hearts in the right place.

3. Flames of Heaven. If you have a computer you should check out Rob Bell's sermon on The Flames of Heaven. The series is great, part 3 is my favorite though I haven't listened to 4 yet.

4. The past. Oh to be wise enough to be able to look back and see why. I'm grateful for friends who open my eyes, for experiences I'd never trade and for bridges that have been strong enough to bear the weight I've put on them. I'm amazed at second chances, at rescues and at moments that define our lives.
I relived a bunch of memories while at the old alma mater. None were funnier than dozens of chicken bones in the ceiling tiles discovered many years later. Ahh the things we do as seniors...not that I knew anything about that. Or participated. Or thought it was funny.

And finally, Pizza Hut had a crappy lunch buffet today. Time with the family was priceless but its sad when the salad bar was the best part.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Just a little something to break the monotony

3 things I think you should know and since you're here you're going to read about them.

1. UNC-DUKE was incredible last night. Even if UNC lost I still was happy with how they played and as much as I hate to say it, Reddick is a player.

2. I stand corrected. We have had an incredible crew apply to be KS interns. I'm very pumped about it. We're actually going to have to turn down some people who would have easily made it in the past and could make it this year if it weren't for the caliber of kids applying. That makes me happy because I spend all summer with them and I don't need any extra drama!

3. Today is my fathers 60th birthday. When I turn 30 in September that means I'll be (almost) exactly half his age. That is pretty crazy. He is such a cool fella. Today he's doing what he loves, out driving his truck around the city and I'm sure keeping things cool. I so wish we could have made it out there to celebrate with him on his day. He's been the perfect father, an incredible grandpa to the manchild and a great role model. I could launch into a million stories about our times together but I won't because you don't care so I'll simply say this. The older I get, the more I try to father and be a husband and grow the more I realize I'm blessed now and how blessed I was then and how much impact he's had on my life. Happy 60th dad. We love you and we'll celebrate soon.

That's all for me. Still trying to stay healthy and productive. It's hoops day at CIY which means in about 90 minutes I'll be ticked as heck wondering why I drag my sorry rear out there to get beat up and embarrassed. I guess it beats sitting at a desk.....

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Poverty and Service, Part 5

"Right here we must see the difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant. When we choose to serve, we are still in charge. We decide whom we will serve and when we will serve. And if we are in charge, we will worry a great deal about anyone stepping on us, that is, taking charge over us." :::Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

I found that quote a few weeks ago and it struck me as very powerful. I had to think for a few moments about my own times of serving and realized that often I'm guilty of serving people but not really being willing to be a servant. By simply serving someone I hold back some of my personal pride, I reserve the right to be offended or injured. "When we choose to be a servant, we surrender the right to decide who and when we will serve. We become available and vulnerable." I like that.

And its true. I'm guilty and you may be too of choosing to serve in moments where it is convenient or when we schedule a trip to do so. It becomes a pain in the butt when we have a meeting to get to or dinner reservations or when we're dressed up. Have you noticed that you have special clothes for when you're going to serve? Stuff that can get dirty or "ruined" and things you don't care about. We'd never dream of wearing our nice stuff to serve. That would be foolish. If I drive by a lady with a flat tire on Sunday on my way to church I'll probably not stop (unless I'm especially convicted) because I don't want to screw up my nice clothes. But if its a saturday and I'm on my way to Lowe's to get some stuff I may be more willing because the investment isn't as great. I'm retarded like that.

Foster writes about this attitude in his book and found these amazing words from a favorite author of mine, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, from his book Life Together: "One who worries about the loss of time that such petty, outward acts of helpfulness entail is usually taking the importance of his own career too solemnly." I often define humility as not taking myself too seriously. Ironic how humility and service seem to go hand in hand.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.....Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.....Who, made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant..."

"If any of you wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."
"No servant can serve two masters."
"Well done, good and faithful servant." More on that later......

Maybe the most convicting line in the chapter for me is in a section where he masterfully explains the difference between self-righteous service and true service, this one line about true service: "It can serve enemies as freely as friends."

You mean like Jesus? Yeah, man, you see, well, that's tough. I mean, I want to be there for a pal. I want to bend over backwards for a friend. But enemies? Serve them? That would be _____________. And you fill in the blank. And in that blank, we might just find why we don't really become servants.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Poverty and Service, Part 4

"Poverty is a sort of leprosy." ::: French Saying

We got to the house just as they were loading him on the vehichle to take him away. The youth leaders had moved the kids to the backside of the house so they wouldn't have to see quite as much. It only took a couple seconds to figure out what had happened.

We'd met the officers the day before. They were really helpful for the work the kids were doing and were incredibly kind men. They could have made the call to remove him months ago but had been patient and kind, not wanting to take him away but rather to find some way to salvage his way of life.

His name is Paul. Right now I'm not sure where he lives. In many ways he'll go down in the history of K.S. as a failure. We didn't really help him. In the end our efforts were for nothing. He's a WWII veteran. His wife passed away a few years back and he has 3 kids. One in AZ and 2 somewhere up north. We never met them becuase we had to leave town before they got there.

"Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Paul's house was a project we had in Florida the week after Christmas. This man had a lot of junk. A lot of junk. He'd lived in his home for a long time and during that time he'd aquired a lot of things. The code enforcement officers said he was in violation of a ton of city rules. Some people have junk in their yard, Paul had no yard. When we measured the yard it was somewhere around 50 feet deep and over 100 feet wide. He had trash and stuff at least 3 feet deep everywhere. The kids moved over 12 dumpsters full of stuff and they still weren't within 25 feet of the house. They uncovered..uncovered...a van at one point. And a fishing boat still on the trailer. The cops said they'd found rats and snakes everywhere when they first found the place.

On the final day of the project they let a youth leader and one of the students inside the house. They wouldn't talk about it. The code guys said that when they were in there they watched in horror as an opossum came in through the wall and ate food out of a cat food bowl. Turns out he's become friends with the thing and it was his pet. Inside his house.

The first day we got there Paul was in the yard begging the guys to not throw all his stuff away. It was all good stuff, all useful, all stuff he was going to use or just needed a couple new things and it would be good enough. They began to barter with him, allowing him to keep certain items in exchange for letting us dump tons of stuff. We pulled a mattress,ski poles, trunks, boxes, cofee makers, tools, tires you name it, we moved it out of there.

By the end of the second day it was clear that we couldn't do enough. The house was a wreck, there was one place where they'd planted a tree too close to the house a few years back and now the tree had grown into the house. It had pushed through the side of the house and the bark was a part of the inside wall--you could actually see in and out of the house around the tree.

When we got there the second day it was just as they were taking Paul away. He was headed to a facility to spend the next couple nights until his family got to town and decided what they were going to do with him and his property.

The kids were in the back talking with a city pastor who worked with these things. He was telling them about Paul's future, about what their work meant to him and helping them cope with watching a huge orange CONDEMNED sign get slapped on the house. They'd wanted to say good bye but never got to.

As we were standing there the code enforcement officer came up to us with tears in his eyes. He told us how much the work meant to him, how he hated this part of the job and how they'd done everything they could to keep Paul in his house. Here's the part I cannot shake from my mind: "I feel like I betrayed Paul. After today I'm going to take a couple days off and have some conversations with myself because I feel so badly for Paul. I tried everything I could but in the end it wasn't enough and I hate that." He just stood there and finally turned away. I was so struck by this guys kindness, by his compassion and that a guy who wasn't a believer could have such a Christlike attitude towards his job.

I talked to the youth pastor for a minute. I told her that I was so sorry they had to see this but that I was so happy they got to see this. We talked with their kids for a few minutes and they looked emotionally spent. We talked about why we do what we do and that we'll never know what that service for Paul meant.

We left a few minutes later and as we were walking back to the truck our worship leader who was hanging out with us said "Oh my goodness." I looked up and saw he was pointing 1 block down. It was exactly one block down and across the street from Paul's house. A church. It's located at the end of the cul-de-sac and the only way to their parking lot is right by Paul's house. So they drove by it. Every Sunday, every Wednesday. Now I do not know whether or not they tried to help Paul. Nobody else in the neighborhood did, we do know that. Not even the guy with the Escalade across the street. Maybe the church did all sorts of nice things for Paul but I seriously doubt it. Clearly marked on their building and all over their property were signs with 2 words. NO TRESPASSING.

Ever since I started working here, ever since DC and some comments by Tom I've been telling groups every week that I don't give a rip if they ever come to K.S. again but that they start serving where they are, where they live. Their impact will be better and last longer there. I tell them all the time that they'd probably be shocked by what is happening within 10 minutes of their church building. Both outside the home and inside. And if there isn't anything happening within 10 minutes of your building you probably need to rethink what's going on there. Paul's house was 1 block away and I bet if you showed up on any given Sunday you could mention something about the house and most of the folks would know about it and you know what they'd say about it.

I'm speaking twice in the next 10 days on James 2. I've spent a decent amount of time studying the passage and until last night totally missed something. Mercy. The words been spinning since our discussion on the good samaritan and last night Jayson was talking about forgiveness and mercy and he read a verse from the passage "I'm using". James 2 in the context of favortism towards the wealthy, in the context of caring for those that are abused or neglected by society.

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

Mercy. Same word used in both places. Mercy over judgement. I am so convicted by that sentence because all I have to do is put myself back in situations where I come face to face with poverty or needy people and I know where my mind jumps first.

One final thing. The word mercy is the same one used of God "who is rich in mercy " Ephesians 2. mercy-the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of hi who recieves it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it.

Mercy-we've recieved it when we were powerless with our own spiritual poverty. So it's not as if scripture outlines a specific thing were supposed to do or say when we encounter those in need. We're simply to show mercy.

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Poverty and Service, Part 3

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

I spent a day a few weeks back with a guy in love with his hometown. He's lived there most of his life, serves there now and gave me a lifetime of thinking material as we drove the streets of Dallas. Turns out the term white trash is offensive. At least to a white kid who grew up in the wrong part of town, in a family with no money, on a street where you learned to fight or you either died or became the whipping boy of all the other kids. Turns out some kids by the age of 8 or 9 have to figure out how to stand up for themselves without telling mom or dad and without going to their teacher or principal because to do so would ensure certain death. Turns out some kids, all races and gender, see death too close and too soon and it leaves them sensitive to some of the terms and attitudes many of us have.

We were driving the streets of Dallas that day and we stopped at one point to visit an inner city mission group. They have offices down "there" which is to be expected. We met some folks, then got back in the car. We drove around a forgotten part of the city, a place where they aren't even trying gentrification, they simply tear down the houses and leave empty lots because that's easier to police than houses that might contain drug dealers, homeless folks or some other undesireable.

We were down by the Cotton Bowl, a place I'd always assumed was a great place, I mean they have the state fair there only to find out its a terrible neighborhood. We saw some stuff "go down", we drove around to some overpasses to see small communities of men and women, we watched some police activity and all the while he's telling me stories about things that have happened on particular street corners or in certain houses during his urban ministry experieneces. Then all of the sudden, in the midst of this, he says "There's the director of the inner city mission group's home. No lie, my first reaction was "What the heck is he doing down here?" Turns out he's married, with two small children, one of who is almost exactly the same age as my little boy. And there they live, in a terrible neighborhood full of all sorts of stuff, their kids will go to public school though people keep telling them they should take them out to the nicer Christian school--I'm sure its only because the education would be better.

Yesterday I was in Memphis. Ben and I were setting up some trips and spent a good portion of the afternoon with Pastor Jim. I like Pastor Jim. He's mid 40's with 2 kids. He pastors a community church and is one of those dudes with incredible faith and an amazing vocabulary. He uses phrases i don't hear much like "I believe by faith that she'll be back from lunch by the time we get over there. " And, "I believe God longs to use the church to be the change agent in our cities."

We went on a drive with him yesterday after lunch, its one of those drives I wish you could be along on. We drove through a couple neighborhoods, downtown, past the hotel where MLK was assasinated, pausing to look at the wreath commemorating that horrible moment and watching a couple news broadcasts about his wife who passed away yesterday. We drove by Elvis's favorite diner, by Sun Studios, past the old Baptist hospital where Elvis was pronounced dead, where Priscilla was born, through a terrible neighborhood, over by the zoo and ended up at a magnificent 3-story all brick Southern Baptist church. The property and building are valued at over $1 million. They got it for free.

Pastor Jim's church has been leasing a building since he's been there, 13 years. They couldn't afford a building but instead of doing any sort of fund they've decided to stay in the city, have an incredible outreach mission and trust God that in his timing he'd provide what they needed. So that's how we got hooked up with them--we've helped members of their church and a good chunk of people who are now members of the church. They have a homeless feeding program on friday nights, they have some overcomers groups for addicts, they've salvaged more marriages than I can count including a springer-esqe one where a guy moved in with his girlfriend and her husband and they lived together for over a year.

They have a number of "undesireables" in their midst because they have a reputation in the city that they are a place where you'll be loved and challenged but never condemned or looked down upon. He said on the average Sunday he's watching this beautiful mix of CEO sitting by recovering crack addict serving communion to the single mom sitting by the lifelong Christian. He has this crazy philosophy which I've only heard in classes that the church should reflect the community it is in and then go about changing that culture to look more like Christ.

We talked over lunch about all the churches that have moved out of the city to the east (read suburbs). It's in the words of Dwebb safe and white. It's got more money, you can get more land for less money all these good things and in the midst of it they've doomed city folks to hell. I have to be careful here becuase I believe in the suburban church, I just also am more and more frustrated that so many churches have moved out there and think one night a month sending a small delegation into the city absolves them.

So we walked the halls of this incredible building that Pastor Jim's church was given. And in God's hilarious kingdom a southern baptist church decided to give their building to a community church, for free. The rumor was that went over like a lead baloon with the SB's. We walked room to room and listened to this man dream, not of a huge church but a community impact. "We can do countless VBS's here, we can do day care for single moms for free so they can work and not worry about their children, we're going to use this as our office for our members who are going to go into the city reaching out, here's where we'll do our evangelism training for our street agents, here's the fellowship hall we're going to utilize for our homeless feeding program, here's the kitchen we'll cook the meals in, we think now we'll be able to meals more than once a week. Here's the area we're going to be able to run an after school.." Well, you get the idea.

In case you're wondering, I am headed somewhere with all this poverty and service stuff. This may be a bit of a sidetrack but I've got this theory running. It goes something like this. God rewards people who are faithful to him. I know, I'm probably wasted or something. God blesses churches who stay in the city. According to Pastor Jim this free building is all God. And to hear it given to him and instead of burying it in the ground till his master returns, they're investing it and I have this sneaking suspicion that 10 years from now we'll be in Memphis doing another set up trip and that place won't look anything like it did yessterday and that church won't be even as amazing as it is right now. I don't know if it will be bigger, they didn't seem to have much strategy on that outside of loving people and reaching their world and then maybe their church will grow. They don't seem to have near enough staff or programs in place (this is sarcasm) but it might just work. They haven't run 40 days of purpose yet but they might still grow.

Because they give a rip about the people that a lot of churches are too insert excuse here to reach. They won't be good tithers. They may not make good elders. They more than likely won't write any books that will sell millions. But they might change the culture of Memphis, Tennessee.

On another note, I put that above scripture because we were talking in our hotel room the other night and it was pointed out to me the response the expert in the law gives to the question. The story is obviously about the good samaritan and it struck my friend as interesting that the one who gave mercy was the good neighbor. Nothing is said about what he did, giving money or saving his life or any of that. Simply mercy. What if our church was known for that. Screw that, what if you or I were known as merciful people. I think that would be beautiful.