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Archive - October, 2007

Luke 10:25-37

October 10, 2007 in Discipleship, Faith in Action with 3 Comments

The situation in Burma has captured my heart over the last few weeks but I have been saddened and confused by the lack of media attention and the refusal of many within the Christian community to discuss the deteriorating conditions of the Burmese people. Tim Neufeld maintains a great Christ in Culture/U2 resource site called Occasio. Here is an excerpt from his article entitled “Can Christians Support Buddhist Monks?” The article was a great challenge to me and it helped reframe the way I think about and approach the situation and the monks. If you get a chance, click over to Tim’s blog and download the entire article.

“There is not only a need but a biblical mandate for such interaction. The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 is often used to teach that we should help our neighbors. While this is true, such a trite moralism falls short of the story’s intended impact. The surprise of this parable is that the abused Jewish man is helped by his enemy, the Samaritan—a man of different social status, different ethnicity and different religion. A vile Samaritan helping a pious Jew would have been incomprehensible to the religious scholar Jesus was speaking with. Even so, “Go and do likewise” was the teacher’s instruction to his pupil.

Christians are called to help the poor, speak for justice and stand against tyrants regardless of whether the people suffering from oppression are Christian or non-Christian. This is a critical time for Christians to support the monks and Aung San Suu Kyi and her followers. Theirs is a way of peace and non-violent protest. Can Buddhist worshipers share the same values as followers of Christ? It appears so. Should Christians pray for and support Buddhist monks in Burma? Indeed.

Pray for the monks. Pray for Aung San Suu Kyi. Pray for peace in Burma.”

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Refelctions

October 8, 2007 in Discipleship, Ethos, Ministry with 1 Comment

“Disturb me, Lord, when my dreams come true, only because I dreamed too small. Disturb me when I arrive safely, only because I sailed too close to the shore. Disturb me when the things I have gained cause me to lose my thirst for more of You. Disturb me when I have acquired success, only to lose my desire for excellence. Disturb me when I give up too soon and settle too far short of the goals You have set for my life. Amen.” -Sir Francis Drake, 1577

The Catalyst Conference completely rocked my face off this year. I walked away from the arena with a great sense of purpose and mission.

Apparently I wasn’t the only one.

On Friday night I hooked up with some buddies from college who had also been a part of the conference. After an hour or so of small talk we began to open up more about our hopes, fears, and struggles. We kept finding ourselves driven to our knees in prayer.

In fact, we spent the entire night in prayer for the future of our ministries.

Not that our ministries would be big or be blessed but that God would be glorified and that Jesus would receive all power and honor and glory through our ministries.
We realized that if this were to happen through the people we minister to it must first happen through us.

We we humbled and broken that night.

At about 3am we remembered that Craig Groschel had kicked off his session by praying that God would disturb some of us so much that we wouldn’t be able to sleep.

There we were disturbed and unable to sleep.

I didn’t sleep the entire night I was so shaken and fired up and thirsty for God. You read about moments like this but I personally had never experienced something so tangible and so holy.

I have been rocked to the core. Not from a great session (although there were 9 of them) and not from a worship song (too many to count) but I have been rocked by the Almighty God, creator of the heavens and earth.

Lord, may this fire burn within me from today until the day you call me home. May you set a blaze in me a desire for the things that you desire. May my heart break for the things that break your heart. Forgive my pride. Forgive my arrogance. Forgive me when I am more concerned with the ways of the world than the ways of your Son. To you be all power and wisdom and strength and glory and honor. Amen.

You Get What You Ask For

October 4, 2007 in Discipleship, Ethos, Ministry, Risk with Comments Off

When I posted my statement last week about taking risks for God and for my faith and for my ministry I had no clue that God was going to show up at the conference challenging me head on with this idea.

I feel a little like Neo tonight. I feel as though I’ve been offered a red or blue pill.

I can take the blue pill, enjoy the conference, sing the songs, jot some notes, board the plane home, and say “Well that was nice.” Of course, nothing will change. I’ll be just as effective as I am today. My faith will remain just as listless. My ministry be “good enough.”

or…

I can take the red pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes.

I think God is telling me something:

Yesterday Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Highland Village, TX, challenged me to take a risk by focusing on spiritual transformation and being honest with people that the Jesus way is a sloooooooow process. He likened spiritual growth to a baby taking its first steps. No parent watches as their child does the initial step, step, fall and then berates their baby for the poor job of running. No they celebrate because the child gets back up and keeps stepping. We go wild with joy when a baby tries and “fails” but we freak out (not in a good way) when a disciple takes two steps and falls. We write them off as hopeless. Shame on us. Transformation is life-long process. In ministry it is a risk to be that honest with people. People want transformation and growth instantly and too often we tell them that they can quickly “get right” by reading their Bible, praying, and reading their Bible. Risk challenging people to go deeper.

This morning Andy Stanley challenged me to risk my influence just as Jesus did by washing the disciples feet. All power was given to Jesus and he willingly laid that power down to serve. It is a risk to lead like Jesus.

Rick Warren challenged me to surrender my identity and my ministry to Him so that He can make it come alive. In essence, risk losing control. Rick also challenged me to pray the most dangerous prayer in the world, “Lord, Use me.”

Finally, Francis Chan challenged me to risk seeing my ministry as more than a job. It is a divine appointment. I need to risk seeing my life and ministry as the intentional way that God created me before I was born. I love my teens and their families. They are more than a job to me. I have been appointed to lead. Will I do it because of duty or out of a deep seated love? I know which one is a bigger risk.

I have so much to process right now but I keep seeing God’s hand holding out this red pill of risk to me.

Am I willing to risk it all for the sake of the Gospel? Am I willing to say “God, you are in control. I surrender it all to you. Success, failings, heart and soul. It’s yours.”? Am I risking it all to remain faithful to the things that God is calling me toward? Do I care more about my safety, my status, my reputation, my tradition than I do about seeking after the glory of God?

It all comes down to risk.

Catalyst Day 1

October 3, 2007 in Discipleship, Leadership, Ministry with Comments Off

For the first time I attended the Catalyst Labs. Labs are basically breakout sessions with different teachers on different tracks to help supplement your time here at Catalyst. They are a little more informal and they are a little more intimate.

Due to a slight rain delay in Dallas I arrived later than I had planned but I was still able to take in 2 incredible sessions and the evening round table discussion on the new research book, unChristian.

I’ll try and unpack some of what I experienced tonight over the coming weeks but I wanted to say something about Catalyst tonight before I hit the hay.

I was reminded again tonight why I come to Catalyst over any other conference.

At Catalyst I am not told what to think but challenged just to think.

There is a huge difference. Most conferences or books or seminars give you the step by step, cookie cutter approach to leadership.

I don’t walk away from this conference with a new curriculum or a new game or even a new lesson to take back home. I leave here with more questions than when I arrived. I leave here with my heart full. I leave here empowered to go out and make a difference.

I ask that those of you who read this blog will sincerely pray for me this week. This week is my spiritual renewal retreat. Pray that I will hear what I need to hear, change what I need to change, and connect more fully with my Jesus.

Thanks.

peace,
micheal

Frustrations

October 2, 2007 in Discipleship, Ethos, Ministry, Tragedy, Wrestling With Scripture with 4 Comments

In the current issue of the Christian Chronicle, there is a two-page advertisement concerning a cappella music. The ad is presented by a group who identifies themselves as “younger ministers under the age of 55” who are concerned about the growing threat of instrumental music in the Churches of Christ.

I have so much to say about this ad but I think Mike Cope says it best when he writes,

“The world is disoriented, hurting, and lost. God is seeking to restore and repair what’s been broken. And someone is paying for a two-page ad in the Chronicle for this?”

My thoughts exactly.

As a youth minister I’m dealing with students who are disoriented and confused about who they are and struggle with questions and doubts about whether or not God really cares about them. I meet students and families who are hurting because of loss or because of sin. Turn on the news and watch as students are harassed or monks are shot dead in the street or entire ethnic groups are obliterated and you don’t even get a glimpse at just how lost this world is.

We are desperate for God’s healing and grace and yet… this ad.

I am not saying that this issue shouldn’t be discussed. I’m not dismissing deeply held beliefs on either side of the aisle.

I just want us to put as much time and energy in promulgating the gospel message of Jesus Christ as we do in pointing our fingers at each other and devouring one another.

I am not ashamed of the gospel. However, I am more than a little ashamed of that ad.

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